Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

[Surgeon]

Hey, I did a search and only two old topics came out... I thought these would've been more discussed but hey, let's try one more time.

I did have a chance to try a YCV40 rw (el34, vintage 30) which I really enjoyed. However, I didn't have that much time to spend with it, would've liked to mess around a little more but couldn't.

Anyone here has played more with the ycv40s? They sound real good from what I've heard and the cleans aren't half-bad... I'm sometimes wondering if my JCM 800 1x12 combo is giving me what I want... plus, these are a real bargain on the used market...

Anyone care to share what they liked/disliked about these things?

thanks

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

i like the traynor combos a lot.... they are real workhorses.... i've tried many of them out in the shop and they have some neat sounds! I'd love to buy one just to spend some time with it and really get to know them.... i like both the higher gain blue ones and the more vintage wine covered ones...

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

If you tried the Wine Red, it's not EL34 but 6L6... only the YCV50 have EL34s. I own a YCV50 and I can't tell you how much I like it... I LOVE it! But if you're a gigging musician, I can't tell you much. I only play it at rehearsal volume. I never played it live. Some will certainly chime in to give you their toughts.

In my opinion, you'll be hard pressed to find a better overall amp for the price and probably for a lot more. The gain channel of the YCV40 is voxish (to the point where someone I know actually sold his Vox to keep his YCV40WR). The YCV50 is more Marshall-ish, although I suppose if you really want a Marshall tone, you'd be better off with a DSL401 (which is C$600 more). The YCV40 series (WR or not) have more sprakling cleans, probably closer to Fender (but no cigar as they say). The reverb is excellent but not Fender reverb.

The cleans of the YCV50 are warmer and deeper, which I like a lot. They have that jazz depth while still being very clear. The bright switch works great with warmer humbuckers.

The reason I bought the YCV50 over the YCV40, aside from the fact the 50 rocks a lot more (with my MXR Distoriton + in front of the lead channel, I get get almost perfect Maiden tones), is that the 50 has a master volume, which allows me to record silently. It also makes it a lot more controllable in a home setting.

I can't see how someone can't love these amps, although one complain I heard about the 40 is that they are a tad bright at stage volume.

If you ever want clips of the YCV50, feel free to ask, I'll record some samples of both channels (if my kids give me a 5 minute break )

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

thank you both for the input. Sly, you're right... that was an error on my part about the tubes...

The cleans were real nice on the WR... I wish I could've tried a blue one with the el34s... the gain channel was quite nice too, seemed to have a lot of gain in that thing. I'm really curious to see how they compare to my JCM800....

If you don't mind recording a couple of clips, they'd be most welcome, thanks a lot for the offer

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I'll try to make a clip with various settings for you this week. The YCV50 really have more gain.

 

[SizzleSale.com]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I personally never played one. However, the reviews I've read kinda discourage me from buying one.

But everyone has their own idea of 'tone'.

 

[LoFiBrian]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I have a YCV80...

Rugged as all hell...a Tank

Twin'ish cleans with the bright switch on, more bassman voiced off...and JCM800'ish Drive channel...with a smart boost that make ur tubes "Scream" sorta...kind of a clever 3rd channel if used right...

The reverb tanks are acccutronics and sound amazing....

only negatives...my 80 weighs 70lbs and is loud as hell....also these amps are kinda bright and lack lowend...easily remedy with a eminence swamp thang set im pondering...

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I'll try to make a clip with various settings for you this week. The YCV50 really have more gain.

I'd really love to hear some clips of your Traynor at mid-gain ala Schenker.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I'm a big fan of my YCV40 WR . . . it is a very bright clean amp. At gigging volumes it sounds much fuller than at bedroom volumes, so if you just want an amp to play at home, I can't really recommend it. It will sound thin and crappy until you get the volume up past two. It takes pedals very well, and if anyone's interested, you can convert the wine red one to run on EL-34s or the Blue one to run on 6L6s by simply swapping a resistor on the circuit board.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I've played the YCV40 (black), the YCV40WR, and the YCV50BLUE.

Looks aside, the WR is basically the standard 40 with a Vintage 30 speaker, which is definitely a worthy upgrade. Both have Sovtek 5881's for power tubes, and I suspect a tube change would go a long way in enhancing the tone. Cleans on these amps are outstanding, gain sounds a bit farty past a certain point, but it is much more usable than the gain channel on a Hot Rod Deluxe, for instance. If you want Marshall crunch, get the BLUE instead. Tone controls cover a lot of ground. They have plenty of headroom for a small/medium venue or a rehearsal.

The BLUE is basically the WR with EL34's. I like the cleans on the BLUE, but the gain channel is crunch heaven. Marshall fans will really dig this amp, and honestly it does the Marshall tone a lot better than any "real" Marshall in its price range.

All of the Traynor combos are very versatile (all have external speaker jacks, effects loops, and footswitches included), and are built to take a serious beating. IMO they're the best 1x12 combos under $1,000, no question.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

Thanks again for all the input guys...

Sounds like I experienced the same things as you guys did...

I'd really like to hear them at gigging volumes too.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Who can share some feedback on the Traynor YCV amps?

I'd just like to add that getting the external speaker for these amps is pretty much a must . . . it opens up the sound quite a bit, tames the highs, and adds some more bass.