Roland GR 88
Commercial User
Yes, but the 4ohm switch at the back reveals its dirty little secret.....
And @GrapeBass ......
Pass the word down the hall that we're still waiting for a 12" Neo bass cab or two.
Thx...
Last edited:
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New Traynor YBA 100!!
- Thread starter qwench
- Start date
Yes, but the 4ohm switch at the back reveals its dirty little secret.....
And @GrapeBass ......
Pass the word down the hall that we're still waiting for a 12" Neo bass cab or two.
Thx...
Just played on it at NAMM.
Well, it’s definitely 100 watts. Not super loud and I was able to get it to break up with modest settings. Had nice tone, but volume might be lacking for some. I use a Mesa D800 and I wasn’t able to get that punch factor that I’m used to. If you don’t need much volume then I think it’s a good opportunity to get an all tube setup for not a lot of weight or money. YMMV!
Well, it’s definitely 100 watts. Not super loud and I was able to get it to break up with modest settings. Had nice tone, but volume might be lacking for some. I use a Mesa D800 and I wasn’t able to get that punch factor that I’m used to. If you don’t need much volume then I think it’s a good opportunity to get an all tube setup for not a lot of weight or money. YMMV!
Thanks for that mini review it is very helpful. I'm curious what cab you were playing through?
How can you tell at NAMM, given the ambient sound levels?
I trust you used your own cabinet (that you use with the Mesa) to give the Traynor a fair shake with this comparison, right?
(Not that anyone would, or should, expect a 100 watt tube amp to compare volume-wise with an 800 watt SS amp.)
I must say that I rented one of those and it did nothing for me with my YBA-3. Frankly the TC 15 NEO I rented later was at least as good with it on its own...but admittedly it still sounds better with a 2x15 EVM loaded.
I'm hoping that you are on to something here. 100 watts tube at that price new, Traynor, and under 25 lbs is still a must try for me.
Loudness is pretty subjective. A lot of people say the V4B isn't that loud at 100 watts too. Others say it is super loud. If it's the same as a V4B that will be plenty for a lot of people.
I was in Yorkville’s private demo booth for their loudspeaker systems that basically had zero ambient noise coming through. This was not on the show floor. Yes, volume is 100% subjective, but having played on bass rigs at the show ON the floor where I was able to make them punch, for whatever reason this did not have what I was suspecting. Bass was a passive Fender Jazz.
You guys are acting like I’m trashing this thing. I’m not. How in the heck would I use my own cab at the Traynor/Yorkville booth? You get what you get when demoing stuff there.
I gave it about a 15 min play and turned all the knobs every which way and I just didn’t find the wow factor today. Perhaps something was not set up right or the cab truly does suck. The room I was in was quiet and I could turn it to max without anyone complaining because no one was in there. I’ll give it another shot tomorrow and see if I missed something.
Yes, I am actually comparing it to my Mesa D800 because I don’t usually run it at its full power and with a smaller cab. At low volumes it still has punch. I would expect the Traynor to at least have that factor without going into overdrive.
And that ends my discussion on this amp. You all are on your own. I'll go back to their booth and form my own conclusion, but I'm not posting anything here since I can't make a "reasonable comparison." I have absolutely no way in the next 24 hours to compare this to ANYTHING in a real live setting since there is nothing else there to try it against. Within the 21 years that I've been playing I used a vintage Ampeg V4B rig live for a period of time and I remember what 100w of tube is capable of doing. I have also owned and gigged SS amps ranging from 100w - 800w. If I went in with my expectations set too high, then today I was slightly disappointed. If the amp really doesn't have balls I'll go ahead and let someone else with more time and patience write a detailed review to confirm or deny that since I'm only one guy with limited resources. I would in no way take my quick review as the end all answer, because that's just dumb. I actually hope I'm completely wrong and this was simply user error with an unfamiliar amp. I really wanted this to be an amp I was interested in buying, but so far it isn't. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
gregbackstrom
These aren't stock curves--things move around!
Thanks for taking the time to post, and I’m not at all “bothered” by your observations. The Traynor looks sexy like my Ashdown “Little Stubby,” and it’s actually 4 lbs lighter and less expensive! I find the Ashdown to be quite loud for its rating. I’m hoping that the Traynor is louder. I’m not sure when I might get to try one though!
It is what it is. All I am saying is it's unreasonable to find the 100w tube amp lacking because it doesn't have the wallop of your 800w SS.
You could take the grill chef from the best little bar'n'grill in the county and ask him to do a three course roast meal. You wouldn't say he was a lousy grill chef if the roast dinner came up less than Michelin Star standard.
gregbackstrom
These aren't stock curves--things move around!
Hmm ... To me, “Punch” and “Wallop” aren’t the same thing. An amp can be punchy at modest volume levels, but it’s gotta be loud to wallop. And given all the blah about tube watts being louder that SS watts, I thought his comments were useful. But hey, you’re the grill chef here.
Nice the "Not super loud and I was able to get it to break up with modest settings. Had nice tone" is exactly what I would want from it. Thank you for taking the time to post the first impressions mini review!
I, for one, would really like to hear more from you about this amp. Please post more if you demo it again. Don't let the skeptics rattle your cage
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Roland GR 88
Commercial User
