Traynor amps

[blue]

so, i had a little play on one of these yesterday.  the shop had 20w, 40w and 80 watt versions of seemingly the same amp.  i tried the 20 watter, although i might be more interested in the 40.  didn't get too much volume going and was only a brief tryout, but my impression was that the clean channel sounds really good, sparkly and chimey in that sweet fender way.  trebly without being spikey.  i had only the briefest tryout of the drive channel and it didn't sound great, but i didn't even touch a knob while i was on it and the gain was at about 2, so i'd need another go to form an opinion on that.  i used a Levinson Blade strat, which sounded lovely, and a Maverick F1, which sounded flat and lifeless, but the strings were tarnished and rusty!

anyone know anything about these amps?  i tend to buy with my own ears and eyes rather than follow online herds, but this forum isn't really like that!  i didn't get the chance to let the amp loose, and i'm just wondering would it be worthwhile to go back and try it with my own guitar.  i know i like the clean channel, but has anyone heard one of these amps used in anger?

oh, here's a picture of the 40 watter

[hunter]

I only heard about the Traynor Blue - I think it's EL34 50W design.

From what I heard it's a pretty amazing sounding amp, on the clean but especially the drive side. Always wanted to try one but noone is listing that brand over here.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Canadian company - nice amps - good reputation
Think they are part of Yorkville who make PA stuff

Look at reviews on Harmony Central

[blue]

yeah, i checked the HC reviews, they're generally positive but to be honest i would tend to take them with a pinch of salt.  it's just because it's a brand i haven't really heard about or seen before, i wondered had anyone any experience of them.  he's knocked a whole lot off the price to get rid of them, which is why i'm tempted, but also why i'm wary.  i don't have anything that really does those sparkly cleans, and it should be a bargain, although i can't really afford it! :)

i think i'll call again with my guitar and get a better feel for it.

[gwEm]

aren't traynor pretty well known from 'back in the day' to make some good gear? is it the same designers?

[CUBE]

 The YCV series is pretty cool and good bang for the buck.. they are built well ..they seem to be right aroung the same prices as the fender hot rod series.. made in canada by yorkville .. not the same designer as they had in the 70's

[dave_mc]

nice amps, but expensive this side of the pond. It's worth bearing in mind that in canada and the USA the 50 watt "blue" version is considered the poor-man's marshall- while here marshall is actually cheaper!

Also worth pointing out that the 20, 40, 50 and 80 are not different wattage versions of the same amp. I've tried the 40 and the 20, the 40 is fendery as you suggested (but with a much nicer drive channel than e.g. the hot rod deluxe), while the 20 is a lot more british- kinda voxy, i think. And the 50 blue, as hunter suggested, is supposedly marshally, though i haven't tried it.

[38thBeatle]

They were indeed highly regarded back in the day.

[blue]

expensive you say?  so how does £400 sound for the 40 watt?

i don't know, i really don't need one!  but i can't help remembering that lovely clean tone... :)

[dave_mc]

well, in the US, i think there's an ebay dealer selling the 50 watter for around the $600 mark. so that's still a bit cheaper than here...

I'm guessing you're talking about 2mac music in banbridge? When i tried them there i got quoted £400 for the 20 watter, so that does sound a bit cheaper than i thought they were over here.

thing is, if you only need the clean tone you could probably get a single channel amp with a really nice clean, get some of the uk builders like martin or similar to knock you up some kind of blackface fender copy. Though it might end up quite a bit more than £400.

Up to you, really, it's quite a while since I tried one. :)

[viking]

;

[blue]

yes Dave, it is in 2Mac, he has 3, and an Orange half stack which kinda dominates the room!

i like your idea of getting a fender type amp made, might be the way to go.  i think i'll try this one out with my own guitar anyway, possibly tomorrow, as i'll be passing that way heading up to and back from Jordanstown.

i must be mad to even consider it though!  just got a Marshall Vintage Modern, which set right actually has a fabulous "furry" clean tone.  doesn't do that sparkly chime though.  damn!  this guitar thing is an illness! :)

[dave_mc]

haha, you're not wrong there... :lol: