Traynor YBA200 right (or not) for me?

[Thorsoundcore]

Ah yes, the time has finally come after over a dozen years of playing bass.. Finally looking into bass tube amps, and guess what?! It's not lookin' pretty.

Since the standard 300w of necessary tube power is more than a bit out of my price range unfortunately, my options are narrowed down quite a bit. Unless a decent tube amp (i.e. Mesa bass 400+) pops up used at a miraculous price at GC used, the YBA200 and it's variation are just about my best/only options.

To cut right to the chase, let's hypothetically combine a YBA200 with my Genz Benz Neo 2x12. Now, what I am up against:

-Guitarist #1: 20 watt Peavey tube head + low end Ibanez 4x12. I believe this amp actually has a built in overdrive, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't push his amp for drive.

-Guitarist #2: Dude will literally use anything.. Uses a low end MG series marshall half stack (no more than 100w SS head/cab small enough to look like a 4x10) for gigs, but doesn't use it for practice. Typically uses our drummer's 50w solid state combo for practice, unless I push my Vox AC15 on him. So yeah, uses mostly solid state.

-Drummer: 1 volume. Loud. (and possibly my biggest obstacle)

Currently rocking an Aggie TH500, and it has definitely not had any issues keeping up once I upgraded to the Genz cab. So one can only hope that 200w of tube power won't let me down. However, I started seeing complaints of people that weren't able to keep up using a YBA against two guitars in a rock band setting the more I did research on the head. This head seems to walk a fine line between working really well for some and under powered for others depending on the situation...

I couldn't find much else in this grey area of bass tube amps there seems to be, everything is either very low wattage/priced or high wattage/priced. So, I guess I might be open to suggestions if there are some rare examples I might have missed (though I'm guessing there's no winning when it comes to the price tag). The only other option I could come up with on my own is maybe a Bass 400+.

So what do you guys think? I see a few early models for sale used at some great prices. Sound like a good move to possibly make? Or should I try waiting out for a Bass 400+? (if it's even possible for those heads to pop up around <$700 used that is)

 

[Nashrakh]

I've never had problems with my YBA 200 and a single 1x15 against a loud drummer and two guitars, two keys. Typical wall of sound scenario. Though I was pushing it and more speaker would have helped immensely, 2x12 should do fine IME. If you go with Traynor, look out for the Mk 2 models and later, the first ones had problems with bias.

That said, getting others to play less loudly is always a good idea - don't play their games by bringing the nuclear option to every rehearsal. But yes, the drummer may be your biggest problem. YMMV but I'm too old to put up with other's inability to keep their volume in check (and I'm only in my early 30s).

Sorry if I'm just rambling here. People here rave about the old Peavey heads, you might get those for cheap - they have more power (400w IIRC)

 

[Jaco who?]

So what do you guys think? I see a few early models for sale used at some great prices. Sound like a good move to possibly make? Or should I try waiting out for a Bass 400+? (if it's even possible for those heads to pop up around <$700 used that is)

You might search around here for other threads about the auto bias circuit on the early YBA 200. It might explain the great prices.

 

[groove pump]

I've never really endeavored big-time into the realm of tube heads, but I sure love some of the sounds they make. One thing that's always occurred to me with a classic Ampeg SVT is that the head is sitting on top of an 8x10 cab. That's a lotta air shakers, right?

If you're worried about making "enough" sound with something like that 200 watt Traynor, you might need to think about having a substantial amount of speakers when you need to be loud. I have a decent pair of 2x10 cabs for my "big rig", but if I found myself in a gig with a crew that needed me to make a big sound all by myself (no PA help), I'd consider a third cab.

Then again, if your 2x12 isn't enough for your practice settings, your band needs to switch to decaf...

 

[Thorsoundcore]

I've never had problems with my YBA 200 and a single 1x15 against a loud drummer and two guitars, two keys. Typical wall of sound scenario. Though I was pushing it and more speaker would have helped immensely, 2x12 should do fine IME. If you go with Traynor, look out for the Mk 2 models and later, the first ones had problems with bias.

That said, getting others to play less loudly is always a good idea - don't play their games by bringing the nuclear option to every rehearsal. But yes, the drummer may be your biggest problem. YMMV but I'm too old to put up with other's inability to keep their volume in check (and I'm only in my early 30s).

Sorry if I'm just rambling here. People here rave about the old Peavey heads, you might get those for cheap - they have more power (400w IIRC)

I hear that, and we all agree + have tried to talk this over with our drummer. Most of the band including myself are pretty close to your age. However our drummer is only 21, wet behind the ears and has an inability to listen (his own drumming possibly making him deaf?). Luckily, we're only supposed to play a few more gigs before we part ways with him..

I had actually tried checking out what I could find from Peavey, and was met with few results. I'll keep at it however, as I know some of their older/uncommon tube amps definitely come closer to what are optimal specs for myself.

 

[Thorsoundcore]

You might search around here for other threads about the auto bias circuit on the early YBA 200. It might explain the great prices.

Actually have read plenty on that. I didn't wanna go off into another tangent about that whole deal with my OP being more than long enough. The only reason that still made me consider is hearing that people have had their early versions updated to YBA200-2 specs. The grey area with that for me however is how to go about that/what it will cost and if it's worth the hassle.

 

[Muziekschuur]

I would buy a ampeg Pf20. A little tubehead wich had a DI out over the power transformer. Giving you the Desired tube sound over the D.I. Put that on top of your current AMP and you can do anything. The ampeg has an auto bias. So maintaining it would be cheap.

 

[BlacknWhite]

I have the newer Version of the YBA200... the yba200-2 and I think the only difference is it doesn't have the faulty self bias circuit and uses KT88 power tubes. Same wattage obviously, 200 watts. I've played some pretty big shows with it and usually use a single 410 or a single 115 and have never had an issue. Have always had more than enough power. I play in a hard rock band and with a loud drummer and 2 guitarists with tube amps. You can find the Yba200-2 used for pretty cheap. They are only like $1200 canadian (I think that's around $900 USD) brand new.