TRAYNOR YBA-1
Years ago, after watching
their prices steadily climb
upward, I promised myself
I would stop writing about
vintage Traynor tube
amps. It seems that I can’t
help myself, however,
and it also seems that the
value of these wonderful
Canadian-built amplifiers
has leveled out somewhat
in recent times. Either
way, it looks like the jig is
up on Traynor. Once the
biggest “sleeper” amps in
the vintage market, known
mostly to Canadians and
those Americans that live
near the northern border,
everyone seems to know
about these amps now.
They are still magnificent
alternatives to other, much
more expensive, vintage
tube amps, however,
and at the time of this
writing they are still quite
affordable. A fine example
is the Traynor YBA-1, a
dual EL34-based head
originally intended for
bass (much like the closely
related 5F6A circuit Fender
Bassman), but which
makes a fine guitar amp.
Being inspired by the
Bassman, it is already very
close to both that amp
and the Marshall JTM45
electronically, making it
a terrific and affordable
platform for modders
looking to get convincing
vintage tones cheap. Just
a few simple component
changes, well within the
capabilities of any decent
tech, will take the YBA-1
straight into Plexi land.
Even with no changes
at all, it still sounds
incredible, is terrifically
loud, and ultra reliable.
One should be able
to acquire a Traynor
YBA-1 head in fantastic
condition for under 600
dollars.
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