New Traynor YBA 100!!

[murphy]

Here's a recording of a Rickenbacker 4003 to a YBA-100 through a Traynor TC210 2x10:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've had no volume issues with mine in a band context.

Wow! That was so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing

Is that also your painting?

 

[Koshchei]

Wow! That was so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing

Is that also your painting?

Thanks! I can't take credit for the artwork, as I haven't had time to paint for years. Credit goes to Irina Vysheslavska - Wikipedia.

It's of Андріївський узвіз (Andriyiv'skyi Uzviz), the descent from Old Kyiv to the commercial district. There are buildings there that are over a thousand years old. It's very much a landmark destination if you ever visit.

 

[Koshchei]

I love the light weight of Toroidal ...But notice certain of my favorite amps do not use that type of power supply.
Does this contribute anything to the sound?
Why is the SVT 300 tube head not using this?

I'd defer to @agedhorse on this, but my guess would be marketing; musicians are a traditional bunch that loathe change -- tubes are a continuing example of this -- and a big, heavy transformer is marketing shorthand for "manufacturer does not cut corners". A toroidal transformer doesn't really fit into this schema, despite being a superior design in almost every respect.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Clarity and Authority of low end is the ultimate rush we feel as bass players...and are always chasing.

I trust my class D to be accurate in the lows (I think I'm right about that), and I like that very much.

So if an output section of an amp like YBA-100 or 300 (which certainly would have been called Hi-Fi back when those types of circuits were developed) seems to have an extra measure of clarity and definition in the lows, it is (according to my understanding) caused by a small amount of distortion, a small amount of a well-behaved type of distortion.

Each source of noticeable distortion is potentially a "signature", essential flavoring, and each one can be obscured by other distortions. For example, string choice offers fine distinctions that I want to hear clearly. My #1 bass is a Ric, and I want to hear it very clearly! So, for me, the goal has always been to find and choose my essential flavorings and highlight them by removing other chaos.

Ironically, maybe, my bass that is helped the most by this little edge - if I want it - is a P with La Bella DTF. To me these strings often need a little help. When brand new they have an edge but it doesn't last long, tragically. This little bit of power tube distortion might "save" La Bella DTFs, to my ears. Well, it's extremely delicious at this moment, which is why I posted.

 

[Koshchei]

I trust my class D to be accurate in the lows (I think I'm right about that), and I like that very much.

So if an output section of an amp like YBA-100 or 300 (which certainly would have been called Hi-Fi back when those types of circuits were developed) seems to have an extra measure of clarity and definition in the lows, it is (according to my understanding) caused by a small amount of distortion, a small amount of a well-behaved type of distortion.

Each source of noticeable distortion is potentially a "signature", essential flavoring, and each one can be obscured by other distortions. For example, string choice offers fine distinctions that I want to hear clearly. My #1 bass is a Ric, and I want to hear it very clearly! So, for me, the goal has always been to find and choose my essential flavorings and highlight them by removing other chaos.

Ironically, maybe, my bass that is helped the most by this little edge - if I want it - is a P with La Bella DTF. To me these strings often need a little help. When brand new they have an edge but it doesn't last long, tragically. This little bit of power tube distortion might "save" La Bella DTFs, to my ears. Well, it's extremely delicious at this moment, which is why I posted.

A Ric and the YBA-100 go together insanely well. On a 4003, the tone is rich, full, and growly, like a piano. On a 4005XC, it's hard not to cop a Jonas Hellborg tone, circa Michael Schrieve's Two Doors.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

A Ric and the YBA-100 go together insanely well. On a 4003, the tone is rich, full, and growly, like a piano. On a 4005XC, it's hard not to cop a Jonas Hellborg tone, circa Michael Schrieve's Two Doors.

Dogal Hellborg rounds are my favorites (in the category of "beautiful rounds") but I don't know anything about Jonas Hellborg, so thanks for the reference. I'll check it out.

 

[Leo was right]

I love the light weight of Toroidal ...But notice certain of my favorite amps do not use that type of power supply.
Does this contribute anything to the sound?
Why is the SVT 300 tube head not using this?

The weight never been a main concern at Ampeg...

 

[primusfan1989]

22 lbs!

100 watt tube amp that weighs 22lbs....something is not adding up

 

[Jim C]

100 watt tube amp that weighs 22lbs....something is not adding up

It's on their spec sheet:
YBA100 – Traynor Amps

 

[LetItGrowTone]

As an example of what I was saying previously, don't do THIS:

 

[primusfan1989]

It's on their spec sheet:
YBA100 – Traynor Amps

Yes I see, I just wouldn't trust a 22lb 100watt tube amp to be very reliable for a multitude of reasons but that's me. That being said I scoff at most things with a PCB

 

[Jim C]

Traynor has had incredible reliability with their bass amps. Have you had any bad luck with them personally?
The YBA200 did have some issues but other than that, they are rock solid.
I have a SB500 now that is awesome.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

In my notes I wrote "I'm done with 6L6s for bass".

I truly didn't meant this to sound so negative. After all, I have a Mesa Bass 400+ that's full of 6L6GCs and sounds great! And I think the beautiful track posted by @Koshchei was made with 6L6s (could be wrong).

I only meant to praise EL-34s. That's all.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

So last night I hooked up my bias meter that has four probes. When adjusting both bias pots so the Amber light just comes on, the tube pairs would read 22mV on my meter. When adjusting the pots so the Amber light just shuts off, the meter read around 17-18mV. So you are correct, this amp seems to be engineered to run these tubes on the cold side?

I read the same.
But instead of "seems to be engineered to run these tubes on the cold side", I would think (just my thoughts) that they engineered the interface with the user to err on the safe and conservative side.

In my opinion, bias it yourself if you're qualified, or employ your trusted tech.

 

[Koshchei]

I truly didn't meant this to sound so negative. After all, I have a Mesa Bass 400+ that's full of 6L6GCs and sounds great! And I think the beautiful track posted by @Koshchei was made with 6L6s (could be wrong).

I only meant to praise EL-34s. That's all.

Confirming it was 6L6s - I don't have any EL34s, after downsizing my guitar rig to an EL84-based Mesa Mark V:25

 

[Koshchei]

100 watt tube amp that weighs 22lbs....something is not adding up

The weight and wattage certainly do. I've got a rev 1 version of this amp, and use it for 3-5 hours every day, with absolutely no issues.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

...and I praised EL-34s for their beauty (it seems to me), not because I want to sound like a cranked Marshall guitar amp.

 

[Koshchei]

...and I praised EL-34s for their beauty (it seems to me), not because I want to sound like a cranked Marshall guitar amp.

Not to be too nitpicky, but with a Bax/James tonestack, you might sound more Orangey, if you were inclined to go down that particular road.

 

[Koshchei]

Dogal Hellborg rounds are my favorites (in the category of "beautiful rounds") but I don't know anything about Jonas Hellborg, so thanks for the reference. I'll check it out.

Absolutely! They're expensive, but a game changer as far as bass goes. I'm hoping that the tail on my 4005 is far enough back to let me use a set on it. The G string silk is a bit dicey on a 4003 already, so fingers crossed.

Jonas is a mad genius. He's done a ton of completely strange and amazing stuff in bass amplification, pickup design, string design, etc. He's also one of the most interesting virtuoso bassists out there. A completely out-of-the-box thinker. His work with Shawn Lane is mind-shatteringly good.

 

[murphy]

Absolutely! They're expensive, but a game changer as far as bass goes. I'm hoping that the tail on my 4005 is far enough back to let me use a set on it. The G string silk is a bit dicey on a 4003 already, so fingers crossed.

Jonas is a mad genius. He's done a ton of completely strange and amazing stuff in bass amplification, pickup design, string design, etc. He's also one of the most interesting virtuoso bassists out there. A completely out-of-the-box thinker. His work with Shawn Lane is mind-shatteringly good.

Wow...You make me have to go listen to some of Jonas Hellborgs' music

Nice to hear his double neck Wal....I loved Mick Karn R.I.P.