• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Traynor BB115 Combo

#3
I have it. The tone is quite dark with a low punch, what you might call a vintage tone, some might say Motown, Ampeg B15. It’s considerably louder and bigger sounding than the Traynor Small Block combos including the SB115, so the BB115 is more than just the speaker size and wattage.

To get the neutral tone of the Traynor SB heads with the Traynor 115 cabinets I need to boost the BB115 High-mid and Treble eq to 3 o’clock.
 
#4
The more I use it the more I cut Bass, it’s down to zero and still packs a broad low punch, a bit much for me. I now have an Empress bass para eq to further tame this one. HPF set above 60Hz, low shelf eq down a bit. Boosting middle frequencies helps too. No lack of brightness, just the overwhelming low end. I guess it’s a scooped tone compared to the Small Block combos and separate amplifiers.
 
#5
butterfingers1 said:
The more I use it the more I cut Bass, it’s down to zero and still packs a broad low punch, a bit much for me. I now have an Empress bass para eq to further tame this one. HPF set above 60Hz, low shelf eq down a bit. Boosting middle frequencies helps too. No lack of brightness, just the overwhelming low end. I guess it’s a scooped tone compared to the Small Block combos and separate amplifiers.
Click to expand...
I agree with your tone findings. What I found is that there is a significant difference just using an external pre into the amp, bypassing the built-in pre.
 
  • Like
Reactions: butterfingers1
#6
bebass said:
I agree with your tone findings. What I found is that there is a significant difference just using an external pre into the amp, bypassing the built-in pre.
Click to expand...
Good idea, thanks, I should try that next, into the EFX Return in the back. However I read somewhere the speaker itself is voiced low.

Anyway for now it’s fine with Bass off, Low-Mid down to 11 o’clock, High-mid up to 2 or 3. This BB115 belongs on an outdoor stage instead of my basement, a premium combo for sure.
 
#7
butterfingers1 said:
Good idea, thanks, I should try that next, into the EFX Return in the back. However I read somewhere the speaker itself is voiced low.

Anyway for now it’s fine with Bass off, Low-Mid down to 11 o’clock, High-mid up to 2 or 3. This BB115 belongs on an outdoor stage instead of my basement, a premium combo for sure.
Click to expand...
I think you will be pleasantly surprised as I think the pre is the main reason for the “ultra-low” response. I don’t recall the tuning of the box/speaker. Also I was able to get significantly “louder” clean due to the more equalized response. Although, as you pointed out, that more “vintage” response of the built-in pre may be exactly what some like. Also, when I tested, one pre I was using did have an adjustable HPF with tone controls and one did not have an adjustable HPF and was a simple tube pre no tone controls.
 
  • Like
Reactions: butterfingers1
#8
bebass said:
I think you will be pleasantly surprised as I think the pre is the main reason for the “ultra-low” response. I don’t recall the tuning of the box/speaker. Also I was able to get significantly “louder” clean due to the more equalized response. Although, as you pointed out, that more “vintage” response of the built-in pre may be exactly what some like. Also, when I tested, one pre I was using did have an adjustable HPF with tone controls and one did not have an adjustable HPF and was a simple tube pre no tone controls.
Click to expand...
So I just tried the effects return with a couple preamps (Origin Effects DCX and Bassrigs, and the MBD3). The tone is neutral like you said, so it does look like the low voicing is mainly the internal preamp. However, as I suspected, it also sounds a little tin-can-ish, as other effects returns I’ve tried over the years. I prefer the normal front input.

There’s nothing wrong with the eq at noon, it’s its own thing which is probably much appreciated in certain contexts, and it’s easier to ease off the Bass eq than add body when it’s needed. An outstanding combo overall.
 
#9
butterfingers1 said:
So I just tried the effects return with a couple preamps (Origin Effects DCX and Bassrigs, and the MBD3). The tone is neutral like you said, so it does look like the low voicing is mainly the internal preamp. However, as I suspected, it also sounds a little tin-can-ish, as other effects returns I’ve tried over the years. I prefer the normal front input.

There’s nothing wrong with the eq at noon, it’s its own thing which is probably much appreciated in certain contexts, and it’s easier to ease off the Bass eq than add body when it’s needed. An outstanding combo overall.
Click to expand...
Everyone likes what they like. A quality grab and go combo is a good thing. And yeah, I don't think it worth the effort to use a separate pre, just wanted to note the reason for the desire the turn the bass control all the way down. That was my preferred setting as well.

I have always mostly used separates, but kinda want to get another combo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: butterfingers1

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back