Amp- to mod or not

[Todd]

I have a Traynor Blue 50w which I bought about five years ago for $675. I love the tone of this amp. It is smoother sounding than its Fender counterpart (new deluxe reverb), has a decent spring reverb and distortion channels, has EL-34 tubes, and sounds a bit like a British blues amp. I was recently looking at a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special but the price is out of sight. I love the sound of the Traynor so much I thought that maybe I could get it modded to clean up the tone to sound more like a nice hand wired amp, and to save a lot of bucks too. Any suggestions where I might get this amp modded? Or is this not a great Idea?

P.S. The best amp I have ever plugged into was a 1978 Deluxe Reverb that was rewired w/ new speaker.

 

[marvar]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

I have a Traynor Blue 50w which I bought about five years ago for $675. I love the tone of this amp. It is smoother sounding than its Fender counterpart (new deluxe reverb), has a decent spring reverb and distortion channels, has EL-34 tubes, and sounds a bit like a British blues amp. I was recently looking at a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special but the price is out of sight. I love the sound of the Traynor so much I thought that maybe I could get it modded to clean up the tone to sound more like a nice hand wired amp, and to save a lot of bucks too. Any suggestions where I might get this amp modded? Or is this not a great Idea?

P.S. The best amp I have ever plugged into was a 1978 Deluxe Reverb that was rewired w/ new speaker.

If you love it like you say you do, then leave it alone- you can always change tubes, speakers to get closer to what you are looking for.
As far as the handwired thing, just as many people will tell you that you can't tell the difference between HW and PCB.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

I've played those amps and they sound good. You need some tesla tubes in there but that's it. If you can't get the sound you want from that amp and good tubes then you need a whole different amp! I don't like Mesas too much. If you think the Traynor blue is a blues amp then the Lonestar isn't going to take you into rectifier territory or anything.

I like the Traynor because it's tight and sounds kinda like a Marshall. The Lonestar kinda sounds mushy at high gain. The only thing I liked about that amp is the clean channel. Still you can improve the clean tones in your Traynor with some JJs.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

I wouldn't. But that's just me.

There's gazillions of different amps available- add to that the number of different types of tubes- both in the pre and post sections... Then speakers...

If you like the Traynor, try some different tubes. You don't want it as gritty? Try a different pre tube in V-1- if that's what you were talking about "cleaning up."

As Marvar said- the difference between PTP wiring and PCB is *mostly* imaginary. If you've got a good amp, and YOU like the sound of it- project that confidence.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Yeah, tubes and speakers will do a lot for an amp's tone.

As for any internal modding, there's a good chance that any major internal revamp would be pretty expensive and difficult to do. If you really want to mod the amp it is possible to take it to a good tech and see if there's any cheap componentry that could easily be swapped out on the pcb. But start with tubes and speaker choice and see where that lands you.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Mix in a 12AT7 in your pre tubes, try in every position to see where you like it best. Snatch up a real deal Mullard or Amperex, as the 12AT7 are cheap and have MUCH more depth than any new AT7 I have played. That should do the trick.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

This is the way I look at amp mods...

If you have an amp, say for example a Deluxe Reverb that you love 99% but it is say for example not quite loud enough, a hair bright and farts out at higher volumes...clipping the bright cap and swapping the stock speaker for something better (louder/clearer) would be good mods to the amp...you're keeping it a Deluxe Reverb but kind of fine tuning it to your taste.

Now, for this example let's say you have the same Deluxe Reverb but it's no where near oud enough for what you want, plus you'd like a distortion channel for high gain solos, want more mids, less top and a much bigger punchier bass then I'd say at that point you'd be better off looking into a different amp because you're more or less trying to make the Deluxe Reverb be something it's not...

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

I've played those amps and they sound good. You need some tesla tubes in there but that's it. JJs.

Upgrading tubes sounds like the first and maybe best approach. Others have said that I should change the pre-amp tubes( i.e. V-1). Are these tesla for preamp? Is Tesla a brand of tube? What are JJs? I don't know anything about all this, but could change tubes ok, me thinks!

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Mix in a 12AT7 in your pre tubes, try in every position to see where you like it best. Snatch up a real deal Mullard or Amperex, as the 12AT7 are cheap and have MUCH more depth than any new AT7 I have played. That should do the trick.

Where might be a good place to find tubes online cheap? I know of a good shop here locally that could do all this for me, but for more bucks.

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

OK, here's a little more about the amp. At low volume it sounds cheap. If you went into a store and asked to hear this particular Traynor, the saleperson would turn it on, set the master volume to 12oclock and the channel vol to about 3. You would then hear a really cheap sound with thin mids and treble with the mids scooped. The potential of this amp isn't realized until you max the master and turn the channel volume to 4 or 5. I like the treble and bass at 9 oclock and mid at 12 or 1 oclock at this volume. Its thin sounding at low vol. but thickens up real good at louder volume. It needs a lot of tube driving to get a good sound. It also seems to have a lot of overhead compared to some other amps in its class. All withstanding, I usually practice at the cheap sound low volume - Maybe this is my problem

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

MassLite?

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Where might be a good place to find tubes online cheap? I know of a good shop here locally that could do all this for me, but for more bucks.

To sort of quote myself, I found some places online, but am confused about some things. If anyone can help explain the following it would be helpful.

First, my Traynor has three Sovtek 12AX7A dual-triod preamp tubes.

Here is what I found in my search for pre-amp tubes based upon some of the above posts:

Mullard 12AT7WA/CV4024 $29.95
JJ/Tesla ECC81/12AT7 $9.95 or gold pin 19.95
These have different testings (whatever that means)
* Standard test
* Balanced triodes
* High gain
* Matched and balanced triodes

What do these testings mean? (each has added pricing)
There is a good bit of difference in price between the JJs and the Mullard...like one is better that the other, maybe?
What is the difference between the 12AX7 and 12AT7? Will the AT7 sound cleaner than the AX7?

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Dude, just get a few different 12AX7 pre amp tubes like Chinese, JJ, EH, Tung Sol, etc.
The AT7 is quite a bit less gain, although it can have a nice impact on the tone. Only use 1 AT7 at the most though if you go that route. Most "new" amps I find work better with current production tubes. Those current Sovtek's you have in there are basic generic pre amp tubes. Any of the current pre amp tubes will most likely sound better. Try www.dougstubes.com or www.kcanostubes.com for good selections of pre amp tubes.

Oh, and don't mod the amp. It still may not "do it" for you, then it'll sell for way less on the used market.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

+1 on Buckeyedog's advice. Personally, I'd try an NOS 5751 instead of a 12AT7. Gain's about the same but other characteristics like current output are closer to a 12AX7.

http://thetubestore.com/ has good descriptions and some reviews of tubes which may be helpful. I generally buy from Doug's Tubes myself - he does a good job of listening to what you're trying to do with a specific amp before recommending particular tubes.

The Mini-Mass is designed to let you run your amp in its sweet spot without getting an unpleasant visit from the police. Sounds like just what you need!

Hope this helps,

Chip

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

I wouldn't mod it - I'd sell it and get a Deluxe Reverb like the one you felt was the best amp you've ever plugged into! Because I agree: a great DR (or Princeton Reverb) is the best amp I've ever plugged into too! They're all I use - at least until Bruce gets around to issuing my Mission Lew Collins Model. (Which will be a lot like my Mission Modded DR's and VR's!)

 

[Baltar]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

i'd say, if you like it - don't mod it. don't sell it. i sold to many amps which i'd love to
had back again somewhen. saving money is just a matter of time. i learned waiting for
money costs less pain than missing things you liked.
love one woman, but play lotsa amps

cheers, b

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

+1 on Buckeyedog's advice. Personally, I'd try an NOS 5751 instead of a 12AT7. Gain's about the same but other characteristics like current output are closer to a 12AX7.

http://thetubestore.com/ has good descriptions and some reviews of tubes which may be helpful. I generally buy from Doug's Tubes myself - he does a good job of listening to what you're trying to do with a specific amp before recommending particular tubes.
Chip

Thanx for the tip. thetubestore does have some very helpful information for someone like me who knows little about them.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Just a note of caution on the Tung Sol 12AX7. Get them from a reputable vendor. I've had four brand new of these go bad within minutes. Several other folks have had the same issue. When you get good one's, they sound great though.

 

[Todd]

Re: Amp- to mod or not

Just a note of caution on the Tung Sol 12AX7. Get them from a reputable vendor. I've had four brand new of these go bad within minutes. Several other folks have had the same issue. When you get good one's, they sound great though.

I actually bought a Tung sol yesterday to try, but havn't put it in yet. Thanks, I will look out for this one.