Which one to buy? Vintage Traynor YBA-3, modern YBA200 or save for SVT

[Rat Blitz]

I've decided I would like an all tube amp. Ideally I would like an SVT but it's a bit much to spend at this time.
For about $500 I have found:

1) Early Traynor YBA-3 (late 60s or early 70s). Heavy beast. Not much tone control.
Probably 80 to 120 watts but supposedly much louder sounding than that. (re-tubed recently)

2) Modern Traynor YBA200. More tone controls. Much lighter (but I don't plan on moving it much anyway). 200 Watts
Supposedly not that loud (also recently re-tubed)

I'm torn what to do. I tried the vintage YBA-3 but the problem was the seller only had only a tiny 50 watt guitar speaker to try it on. I was really quite unimpressed by the lack of volume and guts.
I'm trying to make arrangements to go back with a 4X10 bass cabinet to give it another try.

Should I go with vintage Traynor, Modern Traynor or save my pennies for an SVT. Problem with that is it's probably double the price and will take months to get there (and I'm not feeling that patient).
I've heard Peavey Tube amp is also good option but I don't see that many in these parts (lots more old Traynors in Canada).
Looking for opinions from those who have hopefully tried both.

[mattq]

all other critiques aside, i will vouch for the yba200 being loud. i've never had a problem being loud enough. tone-wise, there is a sense of beefiness with the svt that is unique to the svt, but they're fairly similar. one caveat though, the yba200 doesn't like small cabs. i would say 2x12 or 4x10 at least. if you try it with a 2x10 or 1x12 you might be disappointed. good luck man

[Rat Blitz]

I'm hoping to run the amp with both a 15 inch Ampeg and a 4X10 Yorkville Cabinet. I hope it has enough power to run both. Once again I was very unimpressed by how the YBA-3 sounded with a single 50 watt 12 inch guitar speaker.
I'm currently using Yorkville XS-400 Bass Head and primarily a Hartke Model 3500 (both of which have tube-preamp) and am happy enough but am looking for something a bit warmer. I'm playing mostly vintage rock (Who, Neil Young, Clash).

[jastacey]

Here's my 2 cents worth .... I have a Traynor YBA-3 and I currently run it through a Berg NV425 cabinet ....For the last few gigs I haven't had the amp past 11 o'clock, on the volume setting ...the thing you must remember that these are 100-120 watt amps and if you want to get any sort of volume you'll need an efficient cabinet .... as to the tone of the Traynor YBA-3 it is somewhat of a one trick pony, but with a good cabinet loaded with some 10's it has the vintage vibe ... IMHO , also it sounds best with the JJ EL34L's ... on the the 200 watt amps, I don't have really any play time with the Traynor YBA-200, so I can't comment on the sound, but from what I've read, here on the TB you have to do some tube rolling to get it to sound nice, but I do have the Peavey VB-2 and it really sounds nice and warm with the Berg NV 425 .... now on to the big 300 watt tube amps, I don't have the SVT, but I do have a Bassman 300 and with the large tube amps, volume is never an issue, and tone is what you can get out of them, me I like all three of the amps and I use them for different needs/bands ... it all boils down to money and what your long term plans on amps, do you like to collect and use amps or do you want an amp that that can covers lots of different tones and can afford just one, if that's the case, your choice for $500.00 is going to be the YBA-200 or the VB-2 .... here's a view of the YBA-3 at a recent gig

[cripula]

I'd grab the Traynor, THEN start saving for an SVT.

[derridiandrift]

Vintage Traynor if you're ok with an old school sound. Loud, aggressive sounding, relatively easy to fix/have repaired.

[Alex1984]

Went for a YBA-200, and still lusting for an SVT. Not because the YBA-200 sounds bad, but because it sounds SO good.

They have pretty different flavours, and the YBA-200 is a fantastic amp in its own right if the volume is enough for you.