Traynor Amps

**millman** · 11-17-2009, 12:35 AM

Hi all. I'm new here and to playing. My guitar is an Ibanez AS-73. So far I'm quite satisfied with this, but my amp is a Raven 20. It was okay starting out about a year ago, but now I see that I need something a little better. After researching for the last 6 months, I have been impressed by the one Traynor amp that I have checked out. Besides the sound, I have been impressed by the warranty and construction. Is anyone here playing through one and are they all that they are cracked up to be? I played through the YCV40WRand am also considering the YCV20WR.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

**Teletypist** · 11-17-2009, 07:28 AM

I currently have a YCV40WR, and had a YCV40 before this one. I've been pleased with them, both from the reliability and "tone" standpoint. I prefer the WR because of the Vintage 30 speaker and the reverb, and also replaced the V1 12AX7 with a 12AT7 for a bit "smoother" clean tone on either channel.

**GuyB** · 11-17-2009, 11:45 AM

You can not go wrong with the quality of Traynors, they have many years of very good reputation behind them. In my opinion, they are the best "buy for the buck" amps.
I have a YCS-50 (15W or 50W) and a YCV-50. I just love the tone and the versatility of both these amps, mainly the YCS. The clean channel as lots of headroom and the overdrive channel can give me much more than I need.
If you already like the tone of the 20 or the 40W, I can assure you that you will not be disapointed with the built quality of these.

**millman** · 11-18-2009, 06:36 PM

Thanks for your responses. I have only been able to find one Traynor in San Diego, that being the YCV40WR. The only other thing in the same price range that I can find is the carvin Nomad and Bel Air. Everybody knows about the Fenders.

**randyc** · 11-19-2009, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by millman

Thanks for your responses. I have only been able to find one Traynor in San Diego, that being the YCV40WR. The only other thing in the same price range that I can find is the carvin Nomad and Bel Air. Everybody knows about the Fenders.

Lots of guys here own those two Carvin amplifiers and have frequently attested to their fine performance. Carvin has been around way longer than Traynor, tons of experience - since the 1940's (I think). So why wouldn't they be at the top of your list, since you live where Carvin lives ?

You might also consider replacing your instrument, when you outgrow it, with one of their very fine guitars. I have no affiliation with the company but have been enjoying my Carvin guitar for thirty years.

cheers

**millman** · 11-19-2009, 10:08 AM

Randyc, you make a good point. I was'nt even thinking about Carvin's longevity in the business.

**Funkwire** · 11-19-2009, 11:28 AM

Traynor has been around for some time as well!

I have tried a Traynor YCV40 and a Carvin Bel Air. They are both fine amps. I don't think you can go wrong with either. Keep in mind the Traynor uses 6L6 tubes for the power section, and the Carvin uses EL84 tubes.

I have been looking into a YCV20 because I have used a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe since 2001 and find that the 40 watts it is rated at is a little bit more than I need. The Traynor YCV20 has half the power and is considerably smaller and lighter.

A friend of mine has a Bel Air that I've considered buying, but with 50 watts and 2 12" speakers, it's bigger and heavier than what I have now, so...but it sure sounds good!

**millman** · 11-19-2009, 12:40 PM

Funkwire, Seeing that I am fairly new to all this, what is the difference in sound between the 6l6's and the el84's?

**dh82c** · 11-19-2009, 01:38 PM

Traynor started making amps in the mid 60s..
Carvin have been around since the 40s but didnt start making their own gear until the late 70s.
I am biased towards Traynor because a) I have one and it sounds fiiiiiine 2)I am Canadian d) I lived through the 80s.. I have hairband flashbacks and twitch when I see spandex

Seriously tho. How long the company has been around is meaningless. If that is the case people should avoid boutique builders like Valvetrain and Swart who have only been on the scene 5 years or so. Traynor screwed the pooch in the late 70s. Before that their parts and build quality was excellent. Carvin, I dont know firsthand.. sorry. I would have to open one up to judge.

**randyc** · 11-19-2009, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by dh82c

Seriously tho. How long the company has been around is meaningless. If that is the case people should avoid boutique builders like Valvetrain and Swart who have only been on the scene 5 years or so. Traynor screwed the pooch in the late 70s. Before that their parts and build quality was excellent. Carvin, I dont know firsthand.. sorry. I would have to open one up to judge.

Ahhh, you're starting to make my points for me

although I'm sure that you did so unintentionally. It's my recollection that Carvin has been making amplifiers since the 1940's and guitars for almost that long. A quick check of their website would resolve this. EDITED to add from the Carvin website: "Carvin has been making custom electric and acoustic guitars & basses, as well as guitar and bass amplifiers, pro audio gear, mixers, speakers and other accessories for over 60 years."

I think that people SHOULD avoid boutique manufacturers and the reason that I say this is BECAUSE they haven't been around for very long. Frankly, all other things being equal, the longevity of a successful company is the most important aspect of the selection process, IMO.

History teaches us that new manufacturers WON'T stick around very long once the founder loses interest (or dies)*. And then there may be zero support for the VERY EXPENSIVE boutique amplifier you've just purchased. (Even if a "lifetime" warranty, LOL, was issued.)

Cheers !

*studies conducted by the Small Business Administration regarding the high failure rate of small businesses.

**randyc** · 11-19-2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by millman

Funkwire, Seeing that I am fairly new to all this, what is the difference in sound between the 6l6's and the el84's?

They both sound fine (I have both tubes in several different amplifiers), however the EL84 is substantially cheaper than a 6L6 - sometimes nearly half the price !

**lpdeluxe** · 11-19-2009, 03:10 PM

Slightly off topic, but many here are probably aware that Ted Weber, speaker and amp kit guru, died a couple of months ago. His son has taken over and the gear is in production (I have a 15" speaker and cab on order). One hopes Weber Speakers will survive.

The earliest guitar amp I could find on the Carvin Museum site The Carvin Museum was 1954.

I had a 1983 X100 "oak" combo, and it was NOT a jazz amp! It had a decent clean channel, without a lot of personality, and an outrageous drive channel. I later installed a Torres Tone Kit in it, which (typically Torres) added a tube gain stage and that transformed the sound. It gained sass and presence, but I don't think I ever again used the clean channel.

**Teletypist** · 11-19-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by randyc

They both sound fine (I have both tubes in several different amplifiers), however the EL84 is substantially cheaper than a 6L6 - sometimes nearly half the price !

Although true, that is slightly misleading. A 50W amp typically uses four EL84s, or two 6L6s, so total cost is about the same.

A lot of experienced users believe that there is a difference in "tone" between the tubes. I personally think this has more to do with differences in circuit design.

**randyc** · 11-19-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Teletypist

Although true, that is slightly misleading. A 50W amp typically uses four EL84s, or two 6L6s, so total cost is about the same.

A lot of experienced users believe that there is a difference in "tone" between the tubes. I personally think this has more to do with differences in circuit design.

Regarding the first part of your statement, I don't think that any intelligent designer would use four tubes when two would do. You refer to the difference in POWER level while the question was related to TONE, IIRC. However, I take your point which, I think, is that the EL 84 falls somewhere between 6V6 and 6L6 tubes in power handling capability.

We are in agreement about the last portion of your post. People who claim to be able to "hear" the difference in comparably specified tubes are probably not highly attuned to reality.

PS: my apologies, teletypist, I see that Carvin did exactly what an intelligent designer would NOT do: 4 EL 84 tubes

I can't apologize for them but they have some justification for the unwieldy design in that they were attempting to offer enough bells/whistles to be all things to all people.

**dh82c** · 11-19-2009, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

Slightly off topic, but many here are probably aware that Ted Weber, speaker and amp kit guru, died a couple of months ago. His son has taken over and the gear is in production (I have a 15" speaker and cab on order). One hopes Weber Speakers will survive.

TA has been doing much of the day to day stuff for quite a while. He seems to be eager and into it like his dad (but that is not guarantee). I think they will do fine. Aside from stopping the recone service for non-weber speakers I havent seen any glitches or delays.

4 X EL84s.. wonder if they are going for the AC30 thing.

**Funkwire** · 11-20-2009, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by millman

Funkwire, Seeing that I am fairly new to all this, what is the difference in sound between the 6l6's and the el84's?

Originally Posted by teletypist

A lot of experienced users believe that there is a difference in "tone" between the tubes. I personally think this has more to do with differences in circuit design.

Being more of a guitar junkie than an amp junkie (I've used only two amps in the last 25 years), I will defer to teletypist's opinion. But to give a VERY oversimplified distinction---

6L6 = Fender

EL84 = Marshall / Vox

**lpdeluxe** · 11-20-2009, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

But to give a VERY oversimplified distinction---

6L6 = Fender

EL84 = Marshall / Vox

So, naturally, my Fender Blues Jr has EL84s. (As does a relic in my possession, a '60s Dynaco stereo integrated hi-fi amplifier.)

**randyc** · 11-20-2009, 12:36 PM

EL84 => Epiphone amplifiers also

**lpdeluxe** · 11-20-2009, 01:47 PM

That may be your shortest post, to date.

Randy, would you be interested in that Dynaco amp I mentioned? I was just looking at it: it's complete, haven't plugged it in for a few years. It has a few interesting features: "tape head" inputs, for example, and the notorious Hafler "third channel" speaker jack. Let me know and I'll ship it out to you.

**randyc** · 11-20-2009, 02:04 PM

LPD:

Your Dynaco would be comfortable among my other relics but I wouldn't put a real high priority on it

If it happened, naturally I'd compensate you for the shipping costs.

cheers,
Randy

**lpdeluxe** · 11-20-2009, 02:20 PM

When I get a chance, I'll send it on. I thought you'd give it an appreciative home, which I can't offer it.

**dh82c** · 11-20-2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

So, naturally, my Fender Blues Jr has EL84s. (As does a relic in my possession, a '60s Dynaco stereo integrated hi-fi amplifier.)

Take with as many grains of salt as your BP will allow:
Fender switched to EL84s ( apart from a few rare exceptions in the 60s/70s) because they could not get (depending on who you ask) cheap 6v6s or reliable 6v6s.

**ES350** · 11-21-2009, 04:50 PM

...since the late 40's, Fender has used 6V6/6L6 for the vast majority of their amps; exceptions include an short-lived BF Tremolux model and the Blues/Pro Jr series.

**gary mitchell** · 11-22-2009, 09:25 PM

Ive had 3or4 amps with EL84 tubes a PV Delta Blues and a Vox 30 ,Carvin Belair. My Marshall used EL34s. Iam not a big fan of EL84s although I like my PV Delta. I like the bigger tubes like the 6L6s and 5881s, EL 34s my fav being the 6L6s. It seems to me I got more cleaner headroom with the 6L6s then the EL84s but Iam not a tube expert. As for me a British amp although very fine amps never clean up enought for me, neither does the EL84s at higher volumes. My fav marshall I own was an old Blues Breaker combo but for blues and rock only.

**Chito** · 11-23-2009, 06:26 AM

Just to add to the confusion hahaha, the Traynor YCV40 runs 2 6l6 tubes while the YCV50 has 2 EL34's. And just to simplify things like someone said earlier, the YCV40 behaves and sounds close to a Fender as opposed to the YCV50 which is closer to the Marshall sound.