Amps

If your budget won’t stretch to the flagship amp in Trace Acoustic’s range, perhaps now is the time to consider the TA100.

Within the suite of three amps now on offer from Trace Acoustic, this model offers perhaps the greatest value for money. This is because within this diminutively sized package lives a collection of technologies which enable it to produce acoustic amplification with such impressive clarity and definition not only does it belie its size but it also produces a studio quality tone. Just how impressive is it?

Build Quality

The all new TA100 is a welcome solution to many acoustic live and practice requirements. Why is this the case? It is due to the long term efforts and design principles of Paul Stevens of Trace Acoustic. In many ways it provides as much tonal flexibility as you are likely find anywhere easily and in the most compact of form factors. Add to this the fact that it is incredibly light, weighing in at no more than a humble 6kg, (14lb) and you have a recipe for acoustic portability and performance that is hard to beat. In this version of the TA series, the 100 watt combo is equipped with two 5 inch neodymium speakers. What is particularly heartening about the TA100 is the honourable nature of what is on offer here. It is not a cut down and retarded version of its big brother models in that it offers nearly exactly as much functionality as they do and so you only really lose out on the number of speakers. The beauty of this is that you can always purchase an extension cab at a later time and place it exactly where you choose for optimum separation and spread of your wall of tone. This can make for wonderfully full sounding results in live use with flexibility according to the venue. It is built solidly with a recessable carry handle, hard wearing anti-scuff covering and an intelligent signal path for optimum control over your sound. It also comes with a six way footswitchable pedal board, comprehensive manual, a three year warranty on the amplifier section itself which is extendable to 5 years if you complete the registration card and a one year warranty on the speakers themselves. All the final test certificate, packaging and assembly quality control aspects are individually signed off, so you can buy with real confidence.

Sound Quality

The calibre of the tone from individual notes as well as chord work and strumming is as clear and bright as you could want it to be, but don’t overlook the fact that the built in compression function can be used or excluded according to how much gain you dial in at the front end of channel one for the instrument channel. If you have it set to low gain you have minimal compression which then allows you to alter your actual volume output to taste at the master volume control. It’s very simple and incredibly flexible. You also have the quintessential shape button for that inherent mid-scooped Trace tone which is superb along with a piezo switch to boost your transducer output from the under saddle strip. The hi and low trim pots are self explanatory allowing for a more or less enhanced mid scooped or flatter tone to your tastes. The phase switch enables on the fly feedback busting should it creep in uninvited. In conjunction with the notch control dial and master EQ sliders which incorporate Trace’s Feedback Locating System (FLS) you are ensured of a stable performance tone tailored to your needs. As you play, a red light above the respective frequency which the slider operates over illuminates so you know exactly where the rogue frequency is occurring. With a subtle adjustment to the EQ you can easily ’chop’ out the irritation.

The digital effects are clear and the stereo chorus is simply hypnotic and very deep. On offer are foot tap delays, analogue delay, ¼ note and 3/16 note mono delays, a ping pong delay, reverb, flange, phaser and tremolo. There is also a very useful mute switch for when you are not playing or simply tuning up. When back lit in green the pre-amp section really looks the part too. Each channel also supports a balanced DI output and there is also a tuner out socket if you want to plug in your preferred unit to use in line.

Another  ‘hidden’ gem is the stereo support the amp offers if you plug in a stereo cable from your stereo output guitar into channel one which will auto-detect this and split your signals over both respective channels for independent control. Simple and stunning!

Conclusion

The TA 100 is a superb sounding and professional item of hardware which will faithfully reproduce your playing, right down to the smallest of details. It’s not forgiving of your errors; yes it is clinical and should help whip your technique into even better shape. It has many very practical features for live use and controllable compression which can work independently of your master volume. The varieties of digital effects are usable in the real world to a recording and studio quality standard. Something of this size could and should easily find its way into your home and be ready to get you performing with confidence at your local venues. It represents the most distilled form of Trace Acoustic technology in the least physical space and exudes value for money at this price with a recommended retail of £1,021. You know it will be on the high street from £999 or there-about. It comes highly recommended.

Russell Welton