Traynor Love Stories and pics

[Siamezedream]

I am like so many stories you hear of. I was a Canadian teenage kid starting out playing music with the old and affordable "at the time" (25 years ago) Traynor products from the 60's and 70's. Watching Much Music and dreaming of some day owning one of those Marshall or Mesa amps that I saw being played on the music videos I watched. I went through many different amps over the years Peavey,Fender,Randall,Vox, and even got my hands on a Marshall JCM900 and 4x12 that I dreamed of one day owning many moons ago.

Fast forward to the present, when Traynor started making tube amps again in the late 90's early 2000's, it sparked an interest. I wasn't ready at that time to invest in anything more than what I was using at the time, but it definitely kept me wondering if they would sound as good as I remembered their early amps. Through time and a couple of series being released later, and realizing that the Traynor products were actually still being made in Canada, and not as I initially assumed in China, it sparked an even bigger interest. I started researching through internet threads and YouTube demo videos of Traynor amps. I came across the Ironhorse and thought it would match well with my selection of pedals as it has great clean headroom. I matched it with the YBX212 slanted 2x12 cab, for not only the coolness factor, but for the fact the speakers which are in it are rated higher, which just meant cleaner cleans at higher volumes with less breakup. The Ironhorse is very basic with controls, but paired with the YBX212 it gives me everything I was in need of and more.
With my pedal desire, it drove me to a stereo setup. I was initially thinking that I loved the Ironhorse and YBX212 setup so much, that I should just get another setup like it. I thought about it, but had also been reading and watching videos about the YCS series. I thought about the YCS50 head and 4x12, but I've owned 4x12's before and know how fun they are to pack into a car and carry up or down a flight of stairs. 2x12 combos seemed to work best for me. So the YCS90 was the one that I was most interested in. I tried it out and loved it instantly. It, like has been described in many threads is a cross between Fender cleans, with the dirt of a Marshall hi gain. But with a little extra mid/bottom that only a Traynor can produce. Put the two of these amps mixed together, and I get a huge wall of tone, that only a tube amp can give. But not just any kind of tube amp, a Traynor tube amp!
I also have a Traynor YT1500 2x15 cab from the mid 70's that I have in my Jam space. I use this as a backup cab for guitar, sometimes run the Ironhorse through it, which sounds amazing. If the cabs were not so big and bulky, and I had roadies to move my stuff to gigs, I would probably use this cab for guitar.
I also have an early 80's Traynor 2150 2x15 cab which is used with my SWR SM400 head for the bass rig in my jam spot. Again amazing tone from this cab.
So I started out with Traynor as a teen, not thinking at the time that I would find myself once again 20+ years later playing through the products that I started out on. Thank you Traynor for sticking it out throughout the last 50+ years and in Canada, and now getting the recognition that you deserve for creating rugged, long lasting well built amps.


So let's share your Traynor Love story and show off some of your pictures!

 

[Torren61]

I started a thread about my CL score of a 1968 Traynor Bass-Master YBA-1 head for $100. It needs some work but I've played it a bit after installing the three prong cord and removing the death cap and swapping tubes for new JJ KT77 power and JJ ECC83S preamp tubes. It sounds REALLY good and REALLY loud and I haven't cranked it more than a couple of times. It loves humbuckers.

After hours of researching, I'm beginning my mod of this head. That's another thread and I won't hijack yours with that.

Guys, old Traynors are going to be the thing over the next few years. If you see them, snag them before they get too expensive.