That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

[Kam]

Anyone played one? What's good about it? What's bad about it? Besides being made by Canadians, of course.

40 watts is right at the bottom edge of where I would want to be in terms of power. How's the clean headroom on it? Enough for live use?

Any other 'pinions (apart from STFU Kam)?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

The Iron Horse looks great!

I've not played one yet, and I don't know much about Traynors in general. My bass player has a '67 Traynor Bass Master, 50W, NMV, and it's AMAZING!

I have no idea how Traynor's legacy has been since then, but it looks like they make quality gear.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Sounds great in this vid:

 

[Kam]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Yeah, I watched that video earlier. It does sound great. To be fair, that guy's a pretty good player.

If I'm honest, I only started paying attention to it because of the price. It's cheaper than a lot of lower powered amps that are made in the far east, but it seems to be well built from quality components in a first world country. Which I approve of.

I also like the simplicity of it. I really want my next amp to be no-frills and straight to the point. I don't think you can get any more 'to the point' than the pure mode on that thing.

It would definitely have to be an online purchase for me, though. I like what I've heard in demos and videos but I'm really curious to hear about the amount of headroom on offer.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

I only use low wattage, single channel amps these days. I totally prefer them. BUT -- I'm using the lack of headroom as a feature, not a flaw ...

 

[Kam]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of how you use those smaller amps to get your sound. It totally works for you and it sounds great.

I like to have a nice bit of headroom so that I can get decent, at least mostly clean cleans at gigging volume. Oh, and I hate using the volume knob for cleaning up.

I'm just a different kinda player, I guess.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

You may need more than 40W, then.

 

[Kam]

That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Brump.

 

[Kam]

That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

You guys are so racist against Canadians...

 

[BrianS.]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

I'm going to post this since you aren't getting much action here...even though it's not really the info you're looking for...

I just traded my Classic 30 for a ycv-40 and man I'm loving it. Took it to a jam session over the weekend and it performed beautifully. I'm a Traynor fan now. Build quality seems very good. Great clean tone. I haven't got to crank the overdrive channel yet, but at basement levels it sounds great.

I was seriously considering the Iron Horse before I bought the ycv. I can get them through the shop I work at, but we don't typically stock them (we sell mainly acoustic folk instruments). I found the ycv used, and was able to trade straight across for the Classic 30, so I jumped on it. Really wanted a 40 watt head, though, which is why I was looking at the Iron Horse.

From my experience with the ycv regarding tone and build quality as well as dealing with the sales rep and ordering from Traynor for our shop, I would say purchasing an Iron Horse online would be a pretty safe bet...from the right retailer. Not sure if this is appropriate here, but you can pm me if you end up needing help in that regard.

Good luck with your decision!

BrianS.

 

[Kam]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Hey, thanks for your input, man. I appreciate it. Even though it's quite different from the amp I'm thinking of, Traynor are practically unheard of over here, so general information about their quality, reliability, build, etc, etc as a company is valuable to me.

Cheers. :beerchug:

 

[Hoss]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

I'm going to post this since you aren't getting much action here...even though it's not really the info you're looking for...

I just traded my Classic 30 for a ycv-40 and man I'm loving it. Took it to a jam session over the weekend and it performed beautifully. I'm a Traynor fan now. Build quality seems very good. Great clean tone. I haven't got to crank the overdrive channel yet, but at basement levels it sounds great.

I was seriously considering the Iron Horse before I bought the ycv. I can get them through the shop I work at, but we don't typically stock them (we sell mainly acoustic folk instruments). I found the ycv used, and was able to trade straight across for the Classic 30, so I jumped on it. Really wanted a 40 watt head, though, which is why I was looking at the Iron Horse.

From my experience with the ycv regarding tone and build quality as well as dealing with the sales rep and ordering from Traynor for our shop, I would say purchasing an Iron Horse online would be a pretty safe bet...from the right retailer. Not sure if this is appropriate here, but you can pm me if you end up needing help in that regard.

Good luck with your decision!

BrianS.

I'll second this...i've had my YCV40WR for...4 years now (it was used when i bought it) and i've played it pretty hard every weekend. NO issues whatsoever...NONE! I put all new JJ tubes in it after i bought and that's it!

That Iron Horse looks pretty sweet!

 

[Kam]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

I'll second this...i've had my YCV40WR for...4 years now (it was used when i bought it) and i've played it pretty hard every weekend. NO issues whatsoever...NONE! I put all new JJ tubes in it after i bought and that's it!

That Iron Horse looks pretty sweet!

Cool. Thanks for chipping in, man. Good to see you around again, ya mick bastard! :beerchug:

Kam...

Living in a country that is not the USA... and thus not living on a ranch or having a basement... where the hell to you turn a 40w plug amp up beyond 1?

I use modelling gear because i am simply unable to play loudly at home due to neighbours, etc.

Well, I know that the commonly held opinion that tube amps need to be cranked to sound their best is undeniably true...but I've never found that to mean that they can't sound good at reasonable volumes. Maybe not godly, manna from heaven, dripping with mojo toanz but certainly good enough to sound great for practice, at least. My 50 watt AOR sounds better than most smaller solid state amps I've tried even with its volume at or below one. It feels a lot better, too.

Anyway, I won't be buying an amp any time soon; I can't afford to and it's not a decision I want to rush. I'm just in the very early stages of thinking, dreaming and scheming. I'm looking at a tonne of different amps of all different shapes, sizes, sounds, tube compliments and ages; from this thing, to a 50 watt Hughes and Kettner, to an older Fender bassman or Showman, to a 100 watt Hayden. Also some 50 and 60 watt heads from lesser known European manufacturers like Palmer and LaBoga.

Besides, the Iron Horse can be switched to a lower power setting. I'm sure it could still get seriously loud but it would help a little for lower volume tone. I'm also interested in something that I could use to play live, hence the part about 40 watts being the minimum I'd be interested in.

Sorry for the ramblinf post, I just started thinking out loud there.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

By the name, I thought it was going to be a full on harbinger of true kvlt doom. I'm disappointed.

 

[Hoss]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Cool. Thanks for chipping in, man. Good to see you around again, ya mick bastard! :beerchug:



Well, I know that the commonly held opinion that tube amps need to be cranked to sound their best is undeniably true...but I've never found that to mean that they can't sound good at reasonable volumes. Maybe not godly, manna from heaven, dripping with mojo toanz but certainly good enough to sound great for practice, at least. My 50 watt AOR sounds better than most smaller solid state amps I've tried even with its volume at or below one. It feels a lot better, too.

Anyway, I won't be buying an amp any time soon; I can't afford to and it's not a decision I want to rush. I'm just in the very early stages of thinking, dreaming and scheming. I'm looking at a tonne of different amps of all different shapes, sizes, sounds, tube compliments and ages; from this thing, to a 50 watt Hughes and Kettner, to an older Fender bassman or Showman, to a 100 watt Hayden. Also some 50 and 60 watt heads from lesser known European manufacturers like Palmer and LaBoga.

Besides, the Iron Horse can be switched to a lower power setting. I'm sure it could still get seriously loud but it would help a little for lower volume tone. I'm also interested in something that I could use to play live, hence the part about 40 watts being the minimum I'd be interested in.

Sorry for the ramblinf post, I just started thinking out loud there.

I can't imagine 40 watts no being loud enough either!?

And, while mine doesn't have a switch to lower the wattage, it does have a factory installed Master Volume Mod in the place of the Presence knob.

I've been wanting a second amp with either EL34 or EL84 tubes...i may look for one of these to try out!?

Oh...and btw...from one Mick to another...it's good to be back in the mix!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

I also like my YCV40 . . . it's a great little amp. Well made, reliable, and sounds decent. At 40 watts it's loud enough for gigging for the type of music that I play (blues/rock/funk). Traynor has a pretty good reputation for reliability and customer service. When I last emailed them, one of their techs emailed me back with instructions on what components to swap to convert my amp from 6l6s to el34s.

I haven't tried out the Iron Horse yet, but their little Dark Horse amp sounded pretty nice to me FWIW.

 

[Kam]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

By the name, I thought it was going to be a full on harbinger of true kvlt doom. I'm disappointed.

It's not the amp, it's how you play it.

I can't imagine 40 watts no being loud enough either!?

And, while mine doesn't have a switch to lower the wattage, it does have a factory installed Master Volume Mod in the place of the Presence knob.

I've been wanting a second amp with either EL34 or EL84 tubes...i may look for one of these to try out!?

Oh...and btw...from one Mick to another...it's good to be back in the mix!

Yeah, I'm sure 40 watts is loud enough to be heard. It's whether it's a loud enough 40 watts to have enough headroom for reasonable clean tones at gigging volume. Most places around here have a PA and mic the amps as far as I know, so it should be fine. It's just kind of a risk if I end up ordering one, given that I can't try it first.

I also like my YCV40 . . . it's a great little amp. Well made, reliable, and sounds decent. At 40 watts it's loud enough for gigging for the type of music that I play (blues/rock/funk). Traynor has a pretty good reputation for reliability and customer service. When I last emailed them, one of their techs emailed me back with instructions on what components to swap to convert my amp from 6l6s to el34s.

I haven't tried out the Iron Horse yet, but their little Dark Horse amp sounded pretty nice to me FWIW.

Cool. Good to know, man. Thanks. :beerchug:

 

[Hoss]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

It's not the amp, it's how you play it.



Yeah, I'm sure 40 watts is loud enough to be heard. It's whether it's a loud enough 40 watts to have enough headroom for reasonable clean tones at gigging volume. Most places around here have a PA and mic the amps as far as I know, so it should be fine. It's just kind of a risk if I end up ordering one, given that I can't try it first.



Cool. Good to know, man. Thanks. :beerchug:

i see...well...without knowing how loud your band plays, that would be a tough call?

however, i did specifically buy mine for that very reason!

i'm a big help aren't i?! hahaha!

 

[Jay 77]

Re: That There Traynor Iron Horse Thing.

Yeah, I'm sure 40 watts is loud enough to be heard. It's whether it's a loud enough 40 watts to have enough headroom for reasonable clean tones at gigging volume. Most places around here have a PA and mic the amps as far as I know, so it should be fine. It's just kind of a risk if I end up ordering one, given that I can't try it first.

Don't know if this helps or not but I recently played a show at a decent-sized bar with my Orange TH30 into an Orange 112 cab, no mic to the PA. Gain channel halfway, and clean channel at about 9:30 on the dial. By that measure, 40w should give you loads of clean headroom for 90% of gigging scenarios. For the other 10%, run it through the PA.


*edit - Almost forgot.... STFU Kam.