Trace Acoustic Transit A

TOTAL GUITAR APRIL 2018
106
T
here’s a common
misconception that
playing acoustic live
means plugging the
guitar straight into a DI
and job done. But why should
electric players have all the fun of
eff ects? Reverb, delay with tap
tempo, chorus and boost – there
are useful tone shapers and a
whole preamp too in this
compact-but-sturdy, sleek, black
metal unit. Trace Elliot are
presenting a do-it-all solution
that’s refl ected in the price. Is it
worth it?
For ease of use the Trace
Acoustic Transit A certainly takes
some beating – the control layout
and bright green LEDs let you
know exactly what’s in operation
at any point. There’s a handy
Pre-Shape button – boosting lows
and highs while cutting mids for a
smooth EQ for piezos. There’s also
a piezo button that raises the input
gain and impedance – eff ectively
a 10db boost, in addition to a
dedicated boost switch with a
level control.
That comprehensive approach
to options is refl ected at the back
with outputs including post and
pre-EQ XLR. The latter allows you
to send a signal direct to the PA
that’s unaff ected by your changes
to the preamp controls. The post
option allows your processing to
be heard front of house.
In practice, with both magnetic
soundhole pickup and piezo
guitars we found the Transit A to
be very intuitive. The preamp
boosts levels considerably, which
could be especially useful for
passive piezo players; the eff ects,
though certainly not as editable as
standalone stompboxes, sound
very good. This represents an
investment for a gigging acoustic
player who wants more control –
and its performance refl ects that.
Rob Laing
TRACE ACOUSTIC TRANSIT A
A do-it-all gigging solution
TYPE: Acoustic preamp
and effects unit
FEATURES Three-band
EQ; chorus, reverb, and
delay with tap tempo;
notch filter; phase
reverse; boost and gain
controls; pre-shape
and piezo presets;
chromatic tuner;
INPUTS 1/4"
instrument; 1/8 " aux
OUTPUTS 1/4" out
(Mono and Stereo); 1/4"
dry; XLR Pre and Post
outs with ground lift;
1/8" headphones out
POWER 9-volt DC
power supply (included)
Nylon carrying case
included
CONTACT Barnes &
Mullins 01691 652449
traceelliot.com
AT A GLANCE
PERFECT FOR A GIGGING ACOUSTIC
PLAYER WHO WANTS MORE CONTROL
TH
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OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
FEATURES
USABILITY
BEST BUY
AWARD
£435
TGR304.gear_quick.indd 106 3/1/18 1:09 PM