I love my early YBA3 with the right cab. The best pairing (so far to my ear) has been with a 2x15 loaded with EV speakers. Mine needs a service, has a noisy fan with a broken screen, but still delivers when called upon. If it wasn't so heavy (65 lbs+) or require such a large cab to sound amazing it would see more use. In any event, an underrated amp. Enjoy!
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NAD: Traynor YBA-3 Custom Special
- Thread starter Patrice B
- Start date
Yes, slowly discovering this amazing gem. Tie to tie with the V4 but looks to have more headroom before breakup.
Just wondering however about a little more hum when cranking the bass expander (mid). Maybe it’s time to re-visit the grounding on the pots or even, a couple of substitutions with new parts.
My YBA-1 doesn’t exhibit any more hum if I crank the low range expander but it’s obviously less powerful
My YBA-1 doesn’t exhibit any more hum if I crank the low range expander but it’s obviously less powerful
Quite puzzled by the controls?
Usually, it’s well known that Traynor used a passive tone stack. On my YBA-1, low-range expander is mid and high range, presence.
Not sure about this one. The bass and treble expanders looks to be some kind of active James controls but I link the schematic for some experts to confirm.
Usually, it’s well known that Traynor used a passive tone stack. On my YBA-1, low-range expander is mid and high range, presence.
Not sure about this one. The bass and treble expanders looks to be some kind of active James controls but I link the schematic for some experts to confirm.
As to the hum, could be a coupling cap passing DC, did you change out the middle tube 12AX7, to see if it made any difference?,
That schematic is the first version, there's another version after they went to 6CA7's ( EL34 ), but there should be a schematic on the top of the metal amp cover, and that is the one to go by, several of mine did, and they had some revisions, done in pencil
Have you played the amp yet ,in a band setting?
That schematic is the first version, there's another version after they went to 6CA7's ( EL34 ), but there should be a schematic on the top of the metal amp cover, and that is the one to go by, several of mine did, and they had some revisions, done in pencil
Have you played the amp yet ,in a band setting?
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Ah, much clear now, thanks. So here is my mid control then…
12AX7’s swapped (V2 and PI) but I must admit that the « hum » is more obvious when Bass Expander is past 6, so maybe just nothing unusual. I could replace all caps around this circuit for good measure (two .01´s a .02 and a .1). I would keep the originals in case there is no change.
Unfortunately, no schematic stapled or glued to the cab, neither the metal plate (probably long gone). Same goes for the back wood piece, gone…
It’s just an amp for my own playing in the basement so no band and no gig, just for fun!
Reviving this thread.. I found this at an estate sale today for $800 that I don't have but if it's still there Sunday the owner said everything will be very reduced in price. I may have to pick it up.
I paid exactly 800 CAD for mine and it's well worth that price IMHO. If you can grab it for lower, good anyway but... grab it, you need it 
I know it's only (supposedly) 100 watts but Kevin O'Connor from London Power benched a lot of them at 150-160 watts. Mine, with a refurbed Sunn 2x15 is "massive" and frightening!
I know it's only (supposedly) 100 watts but Kevin O'Connor from London Power benched a lot of them at 150-160 watts. Mine, with a refurbed Sunn 2x15 is "massive" and frightening!
That YBA-3, is the third version, of the line, it has a master volume, a pop top, and the fan is mounted internally, if you get it have it looked at, it may be fine, or it may have some bad power filter caps, it's a luck of the draw, as it sits, $800 for amp & speaker cabinet is a good deal, if the speakers aren't blown/damaged, as to power ratings, they were rated for 120 watts @ 8 ohms, but most tested out at 140+, @8 ohms, they were, a little less at 4 ohms, and they can run all day at 4 ohms, and another note, they are a pretty clean sounding amp, they really don't break-up until well past noon, on the volume controls, the master volume units, do make a good dirty sound, if that's what you want, I believe the grill cloths have been changed out, they usually had the dirty grey sparkle cloth, also if you get it, spin the fan by had a few turns, sometimes, if they sit awhile, the oil, in the bearings is thick and full of stuff, and sometimes, the fan won't turn, and another thing to check, the tubes, from the factory, are Phillips 6C7A, as are the preamp tubes
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Any idea on what year they made the change? Both the YBA-3 I bought new in early '75, and the YSR-1 I bought used in the early '80s had the silver cloth.
Sooo, I had no intentions on buying it...
I now own it. She gave me a clearance price today because it was an estate sale and she wanted it gone. And there was no way that I could let it pass at the price she gave me. So I tested it and it sounded great and the fan works. Clean clear I can get it to distort although I really don't want a distorted sound. And then I plugged it into my Ampeg 610 cabinet... It sounded even better.
Because of its size and weight I will rarely use it out but wow.
I now own it. She gave me a clearance price today because it was an estate sale and she wanted it gone. And there was no way that I could let it pass at the price she gave me. So I tested it and it sounded great and the fan works. Clean clear I can get it to distort although I really don't want a distorted sound. And then I plugged it into my Ampeg 610 cabinet... It sounded even better.
Because of its size and weight I will rarely use it out but wow.
Chhht! One of the best kept secret in old tube bass amp! Congrats…
Congrats ... what you'll find, is the YBA-3, sounds good, on most modern cabs
Gotta agree on that, right after I took the picture I hooked it up to my Ampeg 6x10 and it sounded great!
Popped the top and it's all original so I'm thinking it needs to be recapped and get a tube change.
Serial # denotes it's a 1971.
Don’t assume the caps or tubes are bad. If the amp is working well they are probably fine.
I picked up a YBA-1 over a decade ago. It was all original, including the two prong power cable. Given that I live 5 minutes from L&M Head Office/repair centre, I decided that it would be best to have them give it a once over.
They installed the three prong power cord and tested the amp on the bench. Other than a cleaning (it had been sitting in a warehouse for 35 years!) it tested perfect. Cheap insurance I say. Just some first hand experience to pass along.
Fishheadjoe
