Trace Elliot 1518 - What can you tell me about it?

[The Chuck]

This is for sale in my area for what I think is a really great price. The seller says it works just fine. I am going to test it later today and buy it if it sounds OK.

I am told it is a 1518 but there seems to be variations of that cab. Are there any trace folks out there who can provide some info on this cab just by this picture? (I've googled it but I'm still not sure what the correct specs are)

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I had one that looked similar - mine was green carpet and spring loaded handles (circa 1985). Great sounding cab, but about 75 pounds.

 

[murphy]

15 inch celestion speaker 8 ohms....I do believe

 

[Bassmec]

Used to have one with the port blockers.
It was a great sounding cab.X

 

[amper]

I haven't heard any of the gear produced by the new Trace Elliot company, which as I understand it has no connection at all with the original company that was destroyed by Gibson 15 years ago. So, YMMV.

A 1990s Trace Elliot 1518 is a kick-ass cabinet, if a bit on the heavy side, because TE built all their cabs out of MDF instead of plywood.

 

[murphy]

TE built all their cabs out of MDF instead of plywood.

Are you certain? I am shocked....especially at their prices....and reputation

 

[delta7fred]

TE built all their cabs out of MDF instead of plywood.

I don't have my circa 1998 TE combo at home so cannot check but am pretty sure they used 3/4" ply.

They certainly are heavy though!

 

[amper]

Are you certain? I am shocked....especially at their prices....and reputation

Why would you be shocked? MDF is a superior material for loudspeakers and is used by many companies, because it damps vibrations that can color timbre.

It’s main drawbacks are its weight and its somewhat reduced strength compared to plywood.

 

[amper]

I don't have my circa 1998 TE combo at home so cannot check but am pretty sure they used 3/4" ply.

They certainly are heavy though!

I have owned a 2102, an 1153, and a 1248, and disassembled them all. The material is quite visibly MDF.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Remember, is the time when TE was putting out its stuff, weight was not the big issue it is nowadays. My rig was a 2x10 combo with the 115 extension cab - weighed over 150 pounds.

 

[delta7fred]

I have owned a 2102, an 1153, and a 1248, and disassembled them all. The material is quite visibly MDF.

That explains why it felt like it had a concrete block in the bottom!

My 7215 (?) combo weighed in at 96lbs.

 

[Raulplaysbass]

I was an avid TE user back in the 90's and that looks to be a post Gibson cabinet. 1518 = (1) 15" 8 ohm speaker and rated at 300 watts I believe. I owned an early green carpeted 1518C until recently and that was a tank of a cabinet even though it was the smaller C ("compact"). It weighed at least 60-70lbs! I purchased another 1518C with a similar look to this one (tolex and similar logo plate), but it was made w/ plywood and had a Neo Celestion 300 watt speaker. So the weight was a lot less. The newer 1518 sounded good, but the early MDF/green fuzzy one sounded tighter, more focused & louder.

Hope this helps & good luck!

 

[The Chuck]

The deal fell apart. The seller had replaced the driver and didn't know whit what. So.... I placed an order for a Rumble 200 15 combo this morning. I am excited.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Too bad. Apart from the badge everything looks like a full on refurbishment of early 90's. Shined up corners, new black tolex, black paint on grill, replacing the battleship grey scheme.

 

[walterw]

I have owned a 2102, an 1153, and a 1248, and disassembled them all. The material is quite visibly MDF.

i lusted after those small trace single 15s forever (1153?), but if they were MDF i'm glad i never bit.

 

[amper]

i lusted after those small trace single 15s forever (1153?), but if they were MDF i'm glad i never bit.

The 1153 was easier to move than the 2102, but all the Trace Elliot cabinets were overly heavy for their size. They sounded great, but I'm not sorry not to be moving that stack, anymore.

 

[Raulplaysbass]

I'm with you! I've gotten rid of all but my BLX80. I used to lug it around for small gigs and low volume rehearsals but even that is probably 60-70lbs!! It's retired and stays at home now. I play it as often as possible. Such an innovative design and sounds great. A real head turner.

 

[Bigbri]

Are you certain? I am shocked....especially at their prices....and reputation

their reasoning is/was you won't be leaving it out in the rain.

 

[sonic 7]

That is a Peavey / Trace Elliot. I have one that i pair with a TE 2x10. Sounds great but I don’t use it as a stand-alone cab. I have had a few Kaman era and Gibson era cabs and they were in fact MDF , the Peavey cab is plywood, I opened it up and it’s well braced and and seems very well constructed.

 

[sonic 7]

Doh ! Just finished my coffee, brain now functioning probably, that cab is possibly a Kaman era cab , but has a Peavey era badge ? And from the picture it doesn’t look like the original tolex so it could also be Gibson era. The most obvious difference between the Kaman and Gibson is Kaman used the original Trace “Black Pimple “ tolex , Gibson used that hideous green rat fur, otherwise the cab design was the same. Peavey totally redesigned the cabs for the better in my opinion.