I recently replaced the preamp tubes with Tungsols and the tone is a bit improved. But still have the Electroharmonix EL34s. When I turn up the volume I get something that sounds like tube rattle. Is there a better tube to replace the EL34s for this amp? If so, what tonal difference will I hear. Also what about speaker replacement. Is the Celestion 12" vintage 30 a good speaker... or can I do better?
Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
- Thread starter Todd
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guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
First, check the preamp tubes with a pencil eraser...lightly tap them one at a time with the volume up. Odds are one of them is bad, even though they're brand new.
First, check the preamp tubes with a pencil eraser...lightly tap them one at a time with the volume up. Odds are one of them is bad, even though they're brand new.
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
They came with the amp about five years ago, but have been played very little, just practice in the basement occasionally. I would say they'd still be almost like new.
They came with the amp about five years ago, but have been played very little, just practice in the basement occasionally. I would say they'd still be almost like new.
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
I get no adverse tone when I tap the tubes. I used the term 'tube rattle', but the sound I'm hearing is more like a faint, but noticeable, flutter that sounds like it's coming from inside the amp somewhere only at medium to loud volume and most prominent when sharply striking a chord (its not an overdrive sound like distortion). This flutter has been here since I bought the amp, even with the older sovtek tubes. Another thought is that it's just characteristic of these particular drive tubes. One other thought is that it might be a reverberation off the metal screen back into the speaker, or just the speaker itself. However, I didn't hear this flutter when I played another identical amp (new) in the store the other day. I wonder if anyone else who owns one of these amps has experienced this same phenomenon.
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Mononoaware
Active member
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
I can't speak to the flutter, unfortunately, but I would recommend a different speaker. My YCV 50 benefited greatly from a change to a Classic Lead 80 clone from Warehouse Guitar Speakers, and it also sounds good through a greenback-style Eminence I have. The speaker change was much more effective than a preamp tube swap in finding the sound I wanted.
I should also note that I do like the V30 a lot in most situations, but didn't feel like it worked well with the YCV50's gain channel.
I can't speak to the flutter, unfortunately, but I would recommend a different speaker. My YCV 50 benefited greatly from a change to a Classic Lead 80 clone from Warehouse Guitar Speakers, and it also sounds good through a greenback-style Eminence I have. The speaker change was much more effective than a preamp tube swap in finding the sound I wanted.
I should also note that I do like the V30 a lot in most situations, but didn't feel like it worked well with the YCV50's gain channel.
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Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
I'll check out these speakers and maybe poke around for some other too. What type of music are you playing thru these new speakers (not V30)? Can you describe the difference in tone (i.e. v30 vintage smooth vs. hard attack bright etc.)?... Also I don't care for the YVC50's gain channel either, at least compared to some others, and was hoping to resolve that issue someday.
I'll check out these speakers and maybe poke around for some other too. What type of music are you playing thru these new speakers (not V30)? Can you describe the difference in tone (i.e. v30 vintage smooth vs. hard attack bright etc.)?... Also I don't care for the YVC50's gain channel either, at least compared to some others, and was hoping to resolve that issue someday.
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guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
If your preamp tubes are ok, the next two steps would be to check the speaker(s) by gently pushing in on the coil and letting it come back out...if there's a raspy sound on either, then the coil could be burned out.
If neither one of them has any noise, the power filter caps are the next bet. Old, bad caps sometimes make low pitched fluttery sound called "wolf tones".
If your preamp tubes are ok, the next two steps would be to check the speaker(s) by gently pushing in on the coil and letting it come back out...if there's a raspy sound on either, then the coil could be burned out.
If neither one of them has any noise, the power filter caps are the next bet. Old, bad caps sometimes make low pitched fluttery sound called "wolf tones".
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
There is no raspy sound in the coil. This amp hasn't been played much so I would't think its the caps, unless they were bad at the factory. One other thing I thought of is that the drive tubes are supposed to be a matched pair. Maybe these were mismatched at the factory.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
Its pretty hit and miss trying to diagnose a problem using words (eg flutter etc) but it seems to me like tube rattle. IF you have access to another pair of working el34's just slip them in and see if it helps. If it does, then the problem is solved. If you decide to buy a new pair of tubes then it is a cheap upgrade to electro harmonix 6CA7 tubes which are really a "big bottle" military spec. version of the EL34. They aso give a lot more bass and balls to el 34 type amps.
Its pretty hit and miss trying to diagnose a problem using words (eg flutter etc) but it seems to me like tube rattle. IF you have access to another pair of working el34's just slip them in and see if it helps. If it does, then the problem is solved. If you decide to buy a new pair of tubes then it is a cheap upgrade to electro harmonix 6CA7 tubes which are really a "big bottle" military spec. version of the EL34. They aso give a lot more bass and balls to el 34 type amps.
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
My thought all along is tube rattle, or tube that is going bad. I'll look into other types of tubes as an alternative to EL34. After reading reviews on speakers, I am convinced that I will be replacing the speaker first, and if that doesn't fix the problem then replace the EL34s.
My thought all along is tube rattle, or tube that is going bad. I'll look into other types of tubes as an alternative to EL34. After reading reviews on speakers, I am convinced that I will be replacing the speaker first, and if that doesn't fix the problem then replace the EL34s.
Re: Traynor YCV50 Blue Tubes- Speaker replacement
I have the same amp, and I believe the sound you are hearing is just the power tube retainers. In this amp they are on springs, so once the volume is turned up the vibrations from the speaker cause them to flutter a little, sounds like a light jingling sound. A lot of combo amps make similar sounds, depending on where the power tubes are mounted and what they're held in by. If you don't like the sound you could try putting in different retainers, possibly rubber provided they can withstand the high temperature.
The Traynor's a great amp by the way, only thing I have changed has been the tubes, and would also recommend a change of speaker since I'm not a huge fan of the Vintage 30. Hope this helped.
I have the same amp, and I believe the sound you are hearing is just the power tube retainers. In this amp they are on springs, so once the volume is turned up the vibrations from the speaker cause them to flutter a little, sounds like a light jingling sound. A lot of combo amps make similar sounds, depending on where the power tubes are mounted and what they're held in by. If you don't like the sound you could try putting in different retainers, possibly rubber provided they can withstand the high temperature.
The Traynor's a great amp by the way, only thing I have changed has been the tubes, and would also recommend a change of speaker since I'm not a huge fan of the Vintage 30. Hope this helped.
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