Does a Traynor Monoblock II get dirty?

zachoff · #1 12-30-2010, 08:55 PM

Looking at some old threads about the Traynor Monoblock II & reading a lot about how clean it is. My question is can it get dirty? Comparing maybe to a Peavey or Kustom of the same era? There's one on c/l for $200. Good deal or should I offer less?

username1 · #2 12-31-2010, 04:25 AM

The one i used to own back in the 70's had a master volume and gain and you could set it to distort.

JimmyM · #3 12-31-2010, 11:19 AM

isn't the tronographic rusty box a monoblock pre in an effects box? that thing gets dirty as all getout.

OhThePeacock · #4 12-31-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username1

The one i used to own back in the 70's had a master volume and gain and you could set it to distort.

This, and it sounds great.

steve_rolfeca · #5 12-31-2010, 02:41 PM

I used one for a number of years- the first generation, with the rotary tone controls. It sounded better than the later ones with the graphic EQ, IMO.

They were built like a brick outhouse- I still see the odd one around in working condition. The power ratings were pretty optimistic, though. I bench tested mine when I was in college in 1980, and it was only about 135w RMS into 8 ohms, IIRC.

I thought it had a pretty typical late 70's transistor sound- very clean, a lot of headroom (for the period), but not my cup of tea overdriven. Definitely nothing "tubey" about it. YMMV, of course...