YBA-200 vs SVT-CL, how does it compare?

[Alex1984]

Hi,

I know, I know, I do hate to start another vs. thread, and I'm not quite sure if it's even fair to compare these 2 amps, but I couldn't find anything on it right now.

Being from Canada, I'm fortunate to have very easy access to Long and McQuade and Traynor/Yorkville products. I've been wanting to go all-tube, and I tried the Traynor in-store a few months back and wasn't too impressed. The salesperson gave me his opinion that the SVT, to him, is the only all-tube amp, that has the warmth while still having a brightness to it.

Fast forward to last weekend, after a couple weeks of discussion, my guitarists managed to re-ignite my GAS for all-tube stuff, so I went in again. I rented a YBA-200 for a month, and when trying it on my own rig, it sounded phenomenal! I am having a bit of problems getting it to jive with my EBMM Sterling5 HH though, but I think I'll overcome it eventually.

Anyhow, after a week with this new amp, I'm digging the all-tube tone quite a bit, but our guitarists are still chanting "SVT" in my ears. I think the YBA paired with my EBS MultiComp and MultiDrive gives a great overdriven tone and has a good warm tone for my band's music. And slapping on it is still pretty darn crisp.

So, in your experiences, how do the 2 stand up against each other? Is the tonal difference between the SVT and the Traynor enough to justify the huge increase in price and weight? Just to provide some frame of reference, it would be about 650 for the Traynor (newly retubed with GT tubes) and 1150 for an SVT.

Thanks!

[Stanley Design]

Buy two Traynors for the price of an SVT.

SVT's aren't the "be-all-end-all", they became the standard because they were loud and reliable, that's about it. If you like the sound of the Traynor, rock it. I use Traynor/Yorkville myself and wouldn't trade it for an Ampeg. It's all personal preference. Use what you like.

With that said..... SVT's are twice the weight, twice the price, not significantly louder and doesn't come with a 2 year unlimited "even if you break it" warranty. Plus you're supporting a Canadian company that manufactures everything in house.

[Corey Y]

I used to own a YBA-200, in fairness it was the first generation and they have come out with revisions, but I was not happy with it. I was able to squeeze out some usable tones for gigging, but the more scrutiny I put on the amp the less I liked about the tones. To the point that when it came time to record with the band I was in at the time, I didn't use it. Everything seemed to come out very flat and boxy to my ears. It never quite got the punch and power I'm used to from tube amps (my 120 sound city beat the pants off it in that regard and for volume), the distortion was grainy and not very pleasant sounding and it never seemed to clean up completely either or was very underpowered and thin sounding when I did manage to get it clean. Mine also blew up just as I was selling it, but in fairness to Traynor, they have excellent customer service and a fantastic warranty. I've never had a better experience getting a piece of gear factory serviced. The newer versions of that amp might sound considerably better and, of course, there's not accounting for taste. I'm not really an SVT guy, so I'm not comparing the two, just sharing my experience with the YBA-200.

If you're able to try before you buy I'd do it, because what I think is the worst amp in the world (which, let me be clear, is not my opinion of the Traynor), might be the best to your ear.

[johnk_10]

IMO, i think that the YBA's tone is easily as good as a CL's (just a bit different). the CL just has a bit more power/headroom, so if the YBA has enough power for you, i'd stick with one of those, but if you find yourself pushing to the max, just to keep up, a CL would probably do the job better for you.

[recreate.me]

I havent played the YBA 200 heads, but i do own a YBA 3 Custom special back from the 70s, which i think the YBA 200's are modeled to sound like. Both are all tube and Traynor so i would like to chime in haha

The SVTs are very good heads, but very pricey. I think the traynors are around 700, i bought mine used at 500. That gives the traynors an edge.

You can get a great sound out of it, at least with my fenders and YBA3 i am in love with the sound. I would keep the Traynor.

As soon as i bought my YBA3 i lost all GAS for heads, it was magically gone lol I found exactly what i wanted in a bass head. If you like the sound keep it, the SVT wont be THAT much better.

[Alex1984]

Congrats on finding your cure for GAS!

Gonna go to L&M tonight to see if I can negotiate anything with them, think I might give the SVT a try for a week too.

Any other YBA-200 owners out there? I'd really like to get y'all's opinions too! The one I'm trying is the original, a little worried about the auto-bias circuit that I've heard about though, anyone got any experience with that?

[Krügmeister]

The Peavey VB-2 has GOT to be on that list if you can find one!

[Stuart O)))]

YES, I have experience with the original YBA200! It went bad before the third year I had it. Afterwards, It was factory converted to a YBA200-2 and I really missed it while it was away. That was six months ago and it is rocking strong again!

I really like my YBA-200, I paid around $700 or $800 for it new with the YXB1510 cabinet. It is my first all tube amp and now I am totally spoiled. I gotta admit that I have never owned an SVT, always out of my price range. I play bars and smaller clubs and I have never came short of power with the YBA-200. In fact I wish that I could turn up louder that the soundguys want me to because it really starts to sing (overdrive) when the Gain and Master are both turned up past 1oClock. So I don't know firsthand how it stacks up against other currently available quartet and sextet-output tube amps, but I really like mine.

Side note: If you happen across one, try out an Orange Terror Bass amp. Converge used one live in chicago and it was very loud and aggressive and is just...tiny!

[maevinj]

I've got the yba200-2. It's good stuff. ONe thing you didn't mention is what kind of cab you're playing through? I will say this thing sounds awesome with bigger/more cabs. I've run it through a 1x15 before and it just didn't do it justice. I would definitely be cautious of the original yba200. I've read all kinds of bad stories on TB about them. I'm surprised that you can't get a new yba200 for cheap being you're in Canada?

[Stanley Design]

They are STILL cheaper on musiciansfriend to you guys than they are to us Canadians. Friggin' how she goes.......

I've actually been looking to trade my XS800H for one.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

Buy two Traynors for the price of an SVT.

SVT's aren't the "be-all-end-all", they became the standard because they were loud and reliable, that's about it.

wrong. they became the standard because they have a tone that a buttload of bassists respond to and love. being loud and reliable is just a bonus. lots of amp makers have amps that are loud and reliable, yet the svt continues to be the #1 most used amp by pros 40 years later because of its TONE. if people didn't like its tone, nobody would use it. i know i certainly wouldn't.

having said that, ain't nothing wrong with the yba-200, either. it's a matter of what the player responds to. if you respond to the tone of the yba-200, have fun. but there's no need to slag the svt in the process. if you don't like it, great. but to say that the only reason we svt owners like it is only because it's loud and reliable is a load of horsecrap.

[Alex1984]

They are going on sale at L&M right now for $700 new.

[bassbmx]

Originally Posted by Corey Y

I used to own a YBA-200, in fairness it was the first generation and they have come out with revisions, but I was not happy with it.

Exact same experience here. I used an MXR EQ before it to boost the weak mids but eventually just got sick of it. It's not a terrible amp but definitely doesn't stack up to a real SVT.

I now have a late 1980s SVT-2 non pro and it's the sh*t. Massive tone and volume to burn.

As much as I REALLY love the other Traynor/Bassmaster amps, if you're looking for all tube, go with a real SVT.

[BobOnBass]

Can't really throw in anything substantial since the Traynors are very rare in Europe so I hav never played one. Tried to find one ones because of some raves on the net. I have played SVT's on several occasions and some sounded great but others not very. Pretty sure some TBers over here know which one to get and if the new SVT-CL is one of them. Over here Ampeg are really all you see when it's tube, made me go for something else just to be different. Oh well....

Just wanted to say though that it seems obvious your guitarists push you towards Ampeg. What do they know? I mean, think guitars and you say Marshall, think bass and 9 out of 10 say Ampeg. Doesn't make it the right amp for everyone yet.

Please let us know how the comparison turned out!

Cheers, Bob.

[Alex1984]

Are the Red-and-Blue logo SVTs any good?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Are the Red-and-Blue logo SVTs any good?

of course! they are all good. there was a down period for the cabs between 2000-2005 where they used osb chipboard and real muddy speakers, but all the heads are fantastic, provided they're kept in good working order. and if they're not in good working order, throwing a little money at them always fixes them.

[EricF]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Are the Red-and-Blue logo SVTs any good?

Yup.

[Alex1984]

Update: I've taken heed of the warning between YBA-200 and YBA-200-2, and found a YBA-200-2 with JJ's for $575 and 90's SVT with fresh GTs is still going for $1150.

At the old price points, I was settled on getting an SVT, but the reduced price does seem to favour the YBA quite a bit.

I've tried an SVT and agree with all the praises on it, it is indeed phenomenal and has a lot of headroom, and I feel I will eventually own one down the road. It is again a toss-up between being practical and having the absolute best. Of course, I'd still love to hear all your inputs as they are very educational!

On a side-note, since I am by no means a tube expert, how do GT's and JJ's compare?

[johnk_10]

i prefer JJ's over GT's. GT's can be just about anything, since they basically just test and relabel tubes with their logo.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by Krügmeister

The Peavey VB-2 has GOT to be on that list if you can find one!

+1

I love mine. 3/4ths of an SVT at less than 1/2 the price.