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Traynor YBA200 NIGHTMARE... advice needed (dial-up beware)

#61
Just a comment on the resistor issue if I may. Many amps whether auto bias, adjustable bias or unadjustable bias include a low value low wattage flame proof resistor in the cathode circuit of each output tube. This resistor is designed to blow when either the bias fails or the tube itself fails and it runs away (goes supernova). This is to protect other more expensive components like the output transformer. It should not, by good design, be mounted on a PCB. I am not saying that this is the resistor that blew but it could be. Personally I prefer a fuse BUT a fuse could be user replaced with a larger value negating the protection offered. I have seen fuses wrapped in cigarette foil many times and another actually replaced with a nail.

We have been using parallel fixed bias for over fifty years and they do fail, however with multi hundred watt amps the higher voltages and currents make them fail spectacularly!

Paul
 
#62
So I too have a problem with my YBA 200. It sounds like a damn guitar amp, all distorted. I call Traynor today and the service was Terrible!!! I explained my problem to the guy on the phone and all he had to tell me was to re seat all the tubes, pretty sound advice. That wasn't what raised my eyebrow, the thing that ticked me off was when I asked him about the Bias upgrade for this amp. He said " I do not know what you are talking about " and it seemed like he really wanted to get off the phone. Sensing this I quickly asked for a local dealers phone#, and that was that. I have to say that my first dealings with this company was not a very good one, not impressed at all. I will fix my amp and sell it.
 
#64
seamonkey said:
I see their warranty doesn't cover "consumables"

From their manual:
"Warranty does not cover consumables such as vacuum tubes, bulbs or batteries beyond 90 days of original purchase"

I wonder if the damage to consumables caused by their design circuitry is covered?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing they could easily say that a failing tube is what causes the resistor to blow, not vice versa.

:confused:
 
#67
twinfallsbass said:
So I too have a problem with my YBA 200. It sounds like a damn guitar amp, all distorted. I call Traynor today and the service was Terrible!!! I explained my problem to the guy on the phone and all he had to tell me was to re seat all the tubes, pretty sound advice. That wasn't what raised my eyebrow, the thing that ticked me off was when I asked him about the Bias upgrade for this amp. He said " I do not know what you are talking about " and it seemed like he really wanted to get off the phone. Sensing this I quickly asked for a local dealers phone#, and that was that. I have to say that my first dealings with this company was not a very good one, not impressed at all. I will fix my amp and sell it.
Click to expand...

Alot of the operator type folks you talk to first on the phone do not know about all the issues with the various amps. Ask to be transfered to a repair technician. You may even want to try asking for "Guy" or "Ben Clarke" by name. Hope it all get's worked out for you.

For what it's worth, if you are getting any sound out of your amp, even a distorted sound, it's a good bet that it's not the bias resistor.
 
#68
Eilif said:
Alot of the operator type folks you talk to first on the phone do not know about all the issues with the various amps. Ask to be transfered to a repair technician. You may even want to try asking for "Guy" or "Ben Clarke" by name. Hope it all get's worked out for you.

For what it's worth, if you are getting any sound out of your amp, even a distorted sound, it's a good bet that it's not the bias resistor.
Click to expand...


Yeah, if the bias resistor is fried, you probably won't hear any sound at all... and if you did, my bet is that one tube would be glowing quite brightly, and would be within minutes or seconds of dying, and you wouldn't hear anything for very long.
 
#69
Eilif said:
A Ask to be transfered to a repair technician. You may even want to try asking for "Guy" or "Ben Clarke" by name.
Click to expand...

If you're calling YSL in Pickering ON (Canada), then ask for Guy.

If you're contacting YSL Int'l in Niagara Falls Upstate NY, ask for Ben!

:)
 
#70
DLEE said:
Bassbmx...I'm just trying to make a point.Too often an obivious glitch is overlooked until the worst case scenario.In my email I stayed away from any harsh or derogatory remarks.I just asked them to step and do the right thing for what were once very happy users. I actually was digging what this thing could do and I'd like to be able to return there again.If anyone took offense to my comment,I apoligise
,But this to me anyways seems like an obvious recall situation.I just hope this is resolved in the very near future.
Click to expand...

No worries :) Things often come across wrong on the net aye. I can totally see where you're coming from too.

I'd be pretty effed off if I had all that mess to deal with. Guess I've just been lucky to have no problems.

Joe
 
#72
Guy just emailed me PDF files explaining the mod to my amp tech. He said to have it done local if I could to save myself some shipping costs.Either way I'm getting WAY too far into this amp as opposed to the cost of a new one.Another life lesson I guess.According to what I understand each tube will have an adjustment as opposed to a gang type where all bias together.He had it back together yesterday after repairing the first meltdown and he said the tubes are still running way too hot.His words were,It's a time bomb,I wouldn't take it to a gig without a backup.Hopefully the mod will bring this thing around. I want say that Guy has been very helpful during all this,with email responses damn near immediatly.But I still say all these things should be recalled or replaced.
 
#74
DLEE said:
Guy just emailed me PDF files explaining the mod to my amp tech. He said to have it done local if I could to save myself some shipping costs.Either way I'm getting WAY too far into this amp as opposed to the cost of a new one.Another life lesson I guess.According to what I understand each tube will have an adjustment as opposed to a gang type where all bias together.He had it back together yesterday after repairing the first meltdown and he said the tubes are still running way too hot.His words were,It's a time bomb,I wouldn't take it to a gig without a backup.Hopefully the mod will bring this thing around. I want say that Guy has been very helpful during all this,with email responses damn near immediatly.But I still say all these things should be recalled or replaced.
Click to expand...

He e-mailed you schematics that explain the mod? That would have nice if he sent those to me to begin with. Maybe I wouldn't have had to go through all this crap. :scowl:
 
#76
Just got off the phone with my tech and I should have my amp back tomorrow. He called Guy at Traynor with few questions about some things he saw differently and he said Guy was more than willing to walk him thru the proper process.My head should now be up to the new specs. I was incorrect in an earlier post when I said you would bias individually,it is indeed a gang set up.This is why I just play'em,I'll let the experts understand them.As of a run thru today he says it is running way cooler than before and the millivolt level of the tubes is now within the correct range.After all the crap I've been thru at least it's good to know there is someone like Guy who has been there and not given me the corporate blow off.I for one appreciate all he's done.
 
#77
Ok, I'm resurecting this thread. It took me a while to get the amp shipped to them, but I just called Traynor and they say they are shipping the amp back to me today.

When it arrives I'll post a review/report of the amp (a burned out YBA200 that I sent to them to get the YBA200-2 Adjustable Bias mod). I shipped it with a new set of matched KT88's from Eurotubes, so it should be playable right out of the box. (fingers crossed on this one.)

DLEE and Slowburnaz',
any updates on how your respective YBA-200 issues came out?
 
#78
Eilif said:
DLEE and Slowburnaz',
any updates on how your respective YBA-200 issues came out?
Click to expand...

Well,

I got my amp amp back and had to wait a while to coordinate a time to try it out at my old band shed. Plugged it in and it seemed fine. However, when I turned up the volume to normal playing levels, I noticed a very audible 'glitching' after every note. Example: I'd play a low E, and it would sound fine while the note rang out. As soon as I muted it... horrible scratching and glitching.

Not sure if that's a good description, but that's about the best I can do. Maybe it sounds a bit like when the battery in an active bass is dying, but really only after muting a note. That nasty crackling... only this was a passive bass. The speaker cab is fine, etc.

Never heard anything like it.


So now I get to contemplate going through the nightmare of sending it back to Traynor AGAIN, or just eating the cost of taking it to my local tech.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::scowl:
 
#79
Life is too short for this nonsense.

Thanks for documenting the lesson. I'll never buy
a Traynor amp.

I wouldn't spend another penny on this amp.

Do yourself a favor. Make a video of you telling the whole story, and how screwed you still are after all this time and money.
End the video with you crushing the amp in your yard.
Post the video to YouTube, and save your bucks for a new
SS amp made by someone else.
 
#80
slowburnaz said:
So now I get to contemplate going through the nightmare of sending it back to Traynor AGAIN, or just eating the cost of taking it to my local tech.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::scowl:
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about that. It sounds like the impact that your amp recieved may have turned it into a permenant Lemon. I wonder what the chances are that Traynor would exchange it for a new amp or a refurb?

I'm still hoping for the best, though this experience and the experiences of others on this thread has really impressed upon me the benefits of waranties and really "running the numbers" when purchasing a used amp.

For those considering purchaing a used YBA-200 figures for mine:
$476 shipped for used YBA-200 from Ebay
$175 full retube kit from Eurotubes ( I don't recall the shipping fee)
$25 shipping to Traynor when it blew
$149 repair charge for upgrade to 200-2 specs, biasing, and shipping (really not a bad deal for the work done)
$825 Total

That's right, I could have a new YBA 200-2, and new set of preamp tubes (and a two year unconditional warranty) for almost exactly the what I've spent so far. I guess that when it comes to tube amps, it only pays to buy used when you are purchasing a high end amp, or getting a really spectacular deal.
 

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