Traynor or Ampeg or ... ?

sydseizure · #1 11-15-2010, 08:26 PM

Help! I could use some advice. I have the enviable opportunity of updating my bass rig after 20 years of playing with the same gear (Ampeg cab w/ 1 15 and 1 10 and QSC power amp with Peavey Max preamp). I like the way my gear sounds but it's way too heavy so I'm downsizing. Plus, it's tough getting everything into my sportscar (I need to drive to gigs with the top down so everything fits!)

I need enough power to play blues / roadhouse rock in bars and small clubs. I'm looking for something that I can add additional cabinets to if necessary or run through the house sound. And of course it must sound great and be light enough for an aging (female) rocker to carry.

I like the Traynor DB400. Anyone have any comments to make about the Traynor, or any other ideas besides Traynor?

I really appreciate anything you can add to this ...
-sydseizure

Jim Campbell · #2 11-15-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sydseizure

Help! I could use some advice. I have the enviable opportunity of updating my bass rig after 20 years of playing with the same gear (Ampeg cab w/ 1 15 and 1 10 and QSC power amp with Peavey Max preamp). I like the way my gear sounds but it's way too heavy so I'm downsizing. Plus, it's tough getting everything into my sportscar (I need to drive to gigs with the top down so everything fits!)

I need enough power to play blues / roadhouse rock in bars and small clubs. I'm looking for something that I can add additional cabinets to if necessary or run through the house sound. And of course it must sound great and be light enough for an aging (female) rocker to carry.

I like the Traynor DB400. Anyone have any comments to make about the Traynor, or any other ideas besides Traynor?

I really appreciate anything you can add to this ...
-sydseizure

budget,tube/ss/,pa support/not,.....there are a million options.....i'd go cab/head as combos get heavy .....better a second trip than a dropped amp.....what about a gk rb amp ,and a luggage rack/rain cover for your cab.....

Phil Mastro · #3 11-15-2010, 09:00 PM

Traynor used to be Yorkville Amps. Or rather Yorkville used to make Traynor amps, and then decided to keep the Yorkville name for audio equipment, and use Traynor for guitar and bass amps.

Having said that, I have an older Yorkville Amp, it's much smaller, a Bassmaster 100, personally, I like the tone, super clean and all, and I haven't had any problems with durability, playing small bars and outdoor gigs. I like it. I would get burried in the drums a bit, but it's a 100W, not a 400W, so you shouldn't have that problem. Made in Canada, I like to think that's worth something...

Gizmot · #4 11-15-2010, 09:10 PM

Traynor gear has generally always been rock solid. I owned a couple of Traynors back in the 1970s and was pleased with their sound and reliability. I don't know how their solid-state amps are, but their tube amps were sensational.

**Ronny49** · #5 11-15-2010, 09:20 PM

I will say that I have dealt with Yorkville and Traynor. I must add here that Traynor has one of the BEST warranties in the business! 2 year accidental warranty!! That means if your amp falls off the back of your truck while pacing along at 75 highway speeds and it doesn't work once you plug it in... Traynor will either fix it (if it can be fixed) or replace it with NO charge to you!! HOW can you beat THAT?? The DB800H is a pant-leg-flapping-amp... it will move the Earth under your spectators!! LOTS O' POWER!!

Yes, I have a lot of exclamation points in my response, but Traynor deserves it and here I go again... !!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex1984 · #6 11-15-2010, 11:06 PM

The DB400 used to be the Yorkville XS400H, solid head, good tube drive tone and fairly reliable.

Slightly lacking in punch compared to my old SWR, but still a good head overall and tough to beat in its range.

MIJ-VI · #7 11-16-2010, 12:13 AM

Is this the amp you have in mind?

DynaBass 400 (85 lbs. according to its manual)

Lighter weight Traynor options in the near-same power range would include:

the DynaBass 300H (13 lbs., 350 Watts RMS @ 4 Ω, 700 Watts Burst Power - 2 cycle)

+ one or two matching TC115NEO cabs (39.2 lbs. ea.)

Ampeg also makes neo combos too--and they're currently offering cash rebates on select products.

One approach here would be to download and study the manuals for all prospect amps to help narrow the selection.

JPSBassist · #8 11-16-2010, 12:21 AM

Aguilar displayed some really nice cabs at Bass Player Live last month that sounded incredible and were ultra lightweight.
SL series I think. Married to their Amps... I really like the sound that Aguilar has come up with.
I personally have a Epifoni UL112. Very light weight and sounds great. And not as expensive as the Aguilar stuff.

BroKenSticKs · #9 11-16-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronny49

I will say that I have dealt with Yorkville and Traynor. I must add here that Traynor has one of the BEST warranties in the business! 2 year accidental warranty!! That means if your amp falls off the back of your truck while pacing along at 75 highway speeds and it doesn't work once you plug it in... Traynor will either fix it (if it can be fixed) or replace it with NO charge to you!! HOW can you beat THAT?? The DB800H is a pant-leg-flapping-amp... it will move the Earth under your spectators!! LOTS O' POWER!!

Yes, I have a lot of exclamation points in my response, but Traynor deserves it and here I go again... !!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing is....the amp would probably still work after that.

I have a DB800 and yes it is serious business.

username1 · #10 11-16-2010, 07:09 AM

I prefer the idea of using a small high powered micro head that will fit in your gig bag with a light weight neo speaker cab. You can haul all of your equipment yourself in one trip and it will be alot easier than hauling a combo amp, unless its one of the new gk lightweight combos that i think is also worth looking at.

Alex1984 · #11 11-16-2010, 02:50 PM

WalkAbout would be great if it's within your budget.

sydseizure · #12 11-16-2010, 05:38 PM

LOL like the luggage rack idea!

Thank you all for your replies - I've got some good ideas to kick around. I played through a GK MB212 combo (neodymium speakers with 500 watt head) at stage volume and it seemed to be making a "panting" sound (i.e. too much for it to handle). Has anyone else had that experience? Are the GK combos made for gigging or more for practice at home?

The Ampeg BA600 115 has all the specs I'm looking for but I haven't read many good reviews about it. Has anyone any experience with this combo amp?

Think I'll start looking into separate head and speakers...

Thanks again!