Getting a new Traynor YBA200 amp/cab tomorrow

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:48 pm

Hey,

So barring a disaster, I will be getting a new traynor yba200 tube amp tomorrow with the matching cabinet (2x10, 1x15, tweeter). I was playing it "gingerly" in store today using my 72 and I love it. Can't wait to blast it in rehearsal tomorrow. Tube may not be for everyone but I have never played a solid state that brings a bass to life like a tube amp does.

Playing with the EQ I was able to dial "my tone" so I was happy. For those with the same head it is bass at 5 (didn't need to boost it with this cab), mid 7, high 5, range at 10 (that is the trick to boost the upper mids on this amp). I don't use the high boost, or the scoop, and I keep resonance at zero. I also find the tweeter to be noisy so I dial it off.

Anyway... I will push it tomorrow to really get some overdrive going (I like dirt). Anyone know of good tubes that might break up at a lower level than the sovteks? I don't plan to replace the tubes any time soon, but I would like a spare set as this amp will be my #1.

Anyway... I would be interested in hearing experiences of forumites with the same head (bob scott).

john

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:47 pm

valves rule!

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:41 pm

About a year ago I was looking to downsize my rig from a 400 watt tube head and 810 cab. I really thought the Traynor would be perfect and fit the bill.

I liked the YBA-200 head but couldn't get the sound out of the YBX-1510 matching cabinet that I was looking for. Needless to say I was quite disappointed with this amp/cab combination.

For what it's worth, I used a MusicMan StingRay5 to test this amp/cab combination. Not my 4001.

After checking around, I discovered others that had the same experience.

Hope you have better luck.

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:59 pm

John, if tried this combo out you should not be disappointed. As Jon stated above I also have heard of others that dislike the combo. I on the other hand have really enjoyed mine, and have not had any problems. I did replace the two 12AX7 preamp tubes for some NOS Telefunken 12AT7's for less gain. I have been debating on what 6550 powertubes to replace the Sovtek's with. I heard the Tungsol won the 6550 shootout, and I have heard good things about Electro Harmonix, and Svetlana. I have been buying tubes from this guy lately. I think he has pretty good prices, and I have not any any problems with his tubes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Svetlana-6550-C-6550C-Tubes-NEW-MATCHED-QUAD_W0QQitemZ7559144555QQcategoryZ14947QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Needless to say, I have my settings like this.
Gain 5, treble 5, mid 4, range 4, bass 3, scoop 5, resonance 5, and master cranked at 9!
Bright on, active on, post EQ.

Hope you enjoy it, I'm sure you will have to tweak your setting once you get it home.

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:36 pm

Jon... I have heard mixed reviews on the cabs also, but it sounds great to my ears. My only complaint is that it would also be nice to split the 2x10 and 1x15 up for smaller gigs.

Just different strokes for different folks I guess. Just curious, but what sound do you go for (style of music)?

I admit to not trying the head out with any other cabs but I'm getting a good deal for both together... so for the price I can't go too far wrong. A 2000$ cab might sound a little better but I think most of the tone is in the head.

More importantly I got "my sound" out of it so I am happy. Blew a modern ampeg v4b-h through an ampeg 4x10 out of the water. (I still want a vintage 70's v4b down the road though...)

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:46 pm

For fun I will be sure to try out your settings bob! Thanks

Jared... valves do sound much better to my ears, but I admit that having things glow in my amp is kinda cool too.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:52 pm

Yeah I like the "glow" but not the weight of the trannys!

Try the EH 6550- better yet the KT88's or the re-made Tungsol 6550's.

Or GEC's if you are wealthy...

teb · Post by **teb** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 11:56 pm

...and get hold of a Ric 12-string, crank the horn up, hit the bright switch and stand back. It will absolutely blow you away! I'm pretty happy with the sound out of my Traynor combo. It seems to have nice solid tone with my Ric bass and good whine with my Pedulla if I crank the mids. I'd trade the cab for my old Sunn with the backward-facing Cerwin Vega 18, which is without a doubt the best concert speaker I've ever used, but only if it came with some sort of large pack animal to lug it around. Maybe it comes from growing up back when all we had were bass, treble and volume knobs, but I'm still not always sure what kind of sound the Traynor is going to put out when I mess with the knobs. It really does take some experimentation to get a handle on the all different tones available. If I ever get one of those fancy sound-modifying stomp-boxes, I'll be busy for years trying to figure it out.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:46 am

I have a question that is a bit off topic, yet relevant. I use two 2x10 Ashdown cabs and an Ashdown 500 watt head, and it sounds good. The problem I have is that in some venues I find it hard to get just the sound that I can in others.

Would a Bass Pod Live help to tweak the sound and also maybe give me a bit of my old Hiwatt valve power that I was used to a few moons ago? I don’t use any compression at all & I understand that a little of this will tighten and make the sound a bit more consistent?

I know a lot of us hanker for that certain valve thing, yet the size and weight can make it prohibitive.

Thanks, Bob

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:23 am

Different rooms have different sounds (sound reflection/adsorption, etc). You just have to fiddle with the settings. With a bass pod, the more control the better (though I am a simpler is better kinda guy)

Compression boosts softer notes and cuts louder notes to make every not play at a more consistent volume. Won't really help with the soudn of a room though.

Valve is cool yes... and the weight of 70's svt's is not cool, but my traynor head is 40 lbs. I'm a small guy and it is a feather to me. The cab is a little more difficult, but I can manage on my own pretty well.

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:46 am

Nothing beats the sound of a Ric through tubes ... love em, always will !!!

Wieght not important, only tone !!!

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:57 am

Yeah, I love the sound of a Ric through a tube amp. I finally quit putzing around and got an SVT Classic with a 410 and a 115 cabinet. Someone at a gig mentioned how the Ric sounded somewhat like Glover's rig, so I was happy. It's heavy, but I'm okay as long as I have bandmates.

On a lighter note, I did pick up an Aguilar AG500 head head to go with the Aguilar GS112 cabinets I had on hand. It's not Ampeg warm, but it does very well for a pure solid state head. It's very dynamic and natural-sounding.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:02 am

What's this "Downsizing" thing you guys speak of?

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:25 am

Does NASA know that's missing yet, Steve?

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:51 am

Or this?