Traynor YCV50BLUE review

[reverbbb]

I just bought a new Traynor YCV50BLUE the other day. Last night I had a chance to play all of my various guitars through the amp and get familiar with it. I don't want to make this a long review so I will try to be brief. You can ask questions afterwards.

Specs:
2X EL34 (50 watts)
1x12 Celestion V30 (8 ohm)
Dual Channel (Clean and Overdrive)
Discrete EQ for each channel
Reverb Tank
Master Volume
Bright Switch on Clean Channel
Boost Switch on Overdrive Channel
Volume and Gain on Overdrive Channel
Standby Switch
Effects Loop jacks in rear
Top mounted controls
PCB mounted tubes
Pre-amp tubes locked away behind safety panels
Footswitch for channel selection and Boost
Second speaker output jack (well hidden inside the amp)


Pros:
Small footprint
Nice looking
Sounds awesome as a Marshall wannabe
Sounds awesome as a Fender Clean wannabe
Very nice long tapers in all the pots (they actually give you definable ranges)
EQ section has a lot of range in Treble, Mid & Bass
Huge bass spectrum output
2 year ANYTHING warranty (transferable)
10 year cabinet warranty (transferable)
Standby switch is in nice location (front panel)
Two color status jewel lamp (amber=standby, red=on)
Low Signal to Noise ratio compared to Marshalls & Fender
Channel selection & Boost status lights on panel & foot switch
Unique voicing - I heard new tones from all my guitars

Cons (IMO):
Single speaker is not my favorite combo
V30 is too clear and articulate (although the V30 has the correct power rating and market value)
Somewhat heavy for a single speaker combo (55 lbs including shipping carton)
Boost is not adjustable - huge jump in volume
Black pointer knobs are not the easist to read against a black faceplate
Standby switch is not of high quality, but functional
Favors a mid range spectrum (probably from the V30)
Difficult to find a nice Marshall "scooped" sound
V30 (and all other Celestions) do not handle high powered bass response over loading - causes an odd harmonic anomoly
Second speaker jack location in undesirable location
Volume settings are a little confusing for accurate (balanced) channel switching in real time
No Reverb On/Off selector (front panel or footswitch)
I am not sure about how cutting through this amp will be in a live gig
Volumes are nearly pegged before reaching any significant SPL (negative aspect is offset by the wide sweep of the pot)

My overall impressions:

I like this amp a lot. As I mentioned before, I am not sure how well this will cut through the mix in a live band. For the price, this amp is a winner. For the price, PCB construction does not bother me. This thing feels rock solid - no rattles and feels really tight. I have owned various Marshalls and I favor those tones. However, the Marshall sound can be a little overdriven for some applications - hence, the Clean channel is always availble. This amp delivers, yet is in a small portable configuration. The single V30 speaker would not be my recommendation for a 50W amp. But with two speakers, you will end up with a heavier and bigger cabinet.

[dmock66]

Reverbbb -

I've heard a lot of good things about the 50Blue. I have the 40WR and like it a lot - it's just too much power for my current situation. I agree with your assessment as many of the characteristics of the 50Blue are also present in the 40WR. The primary differences are that the 50Blue has the Master Volume where the 40WR has a Presence knob in that spot and no MV. The 40WR is 6L6 tubes where the 50Blue is EL34s. Last being the 10 additional watts in the 50Blue.

To address the "cutting in a live band" - I've not had any problem getting through the mix with the 40WR in the few opportunities I've had to open it up and play it.

I agree with the V30 - I like those speakers, but it's maybe not the right match for a 1x12 combo. As mine has broken in some it's sounded better and better, IMO.

As for the "Boost" - I thought the same thing when I played it in my basement - that it would have no value to me at all - but in the mix of a band it was nearly perfect in terms of giving you just enough extra for a lead without suddenly being overly loud. It was a surprise to me - but a pleasant surprise.

Good review! I agree that the Traynors are nice amps. They've done a good job of putting two very usable channels into one box.

Just my thoughts and experience as a Traynor owner.

Questions - do you feel the MV allows you to control the level well with good tone or would you say that cutting the overall volume at the Master also has a negative impact on your tone? Given the other amps you have, do you feel this will get "stage time"?

[reverbbb]

The MV starts draining the low ends as you lower the volume. At some point, you clearly hear a big difference in tone - more thin and buzzy. But this is a natural phenominon anytime you push the speaker with less power. The speaker is unable to deflect as deeply and push more low frequencies with the cones.

This amp is very loud in our small church assmebly (275 people). By the time that you begin to achieve good tone from pushing the speaker, then it becomes extremely loud for that setting. Using it at church was an after thought when I bought it. I don't think that setting will work. However, I do go to my friends to jam or to open mic nights at blues clubs. I feel that this amp is going to get some use in those venues.

You are the second person said that the Boost was ignored at first but found it just right for really cutting through. I know that I can get comfortable with it eventually. I have already found that by kicking on the Boost and instantly dropping the guitar volume, I can get very nice control. It requires a little acrobatics, but nothing major.

[dmock66]

Our sanctuary is a 500 seater - but I have the same situation in terms of it being too much for that setting. I don't "open mic" or loose jam with buddies so I really don't have much opportunity to open mine up - but the few times I have it's sounded really good.

Give the boost a chance without adjusting the volume - I think you'll find it's a useful tool. I read a few HC reviews stating that it's useful but until I had a chance to actually test mine against a band I felt the same about the boost as you.

Good luck with the 50Blue! I know I'm happy with my 40WR - just wish I could actually use it more!

[kewlpack]

Just turn it to "11"... hand out earplugs. :angel They'll adapt!!!!! :shredder

[reverbbb]

I saw a YCV20W for sale on eBay for $300. Then, I noticed that it is located at a Guitar Center about 35 miles from me. The amp did not sell on eBay - which is surprising because that is a good price. I CERTAINLY don't need another amp, but this price is calling to me. I'm sure that it was not sold because of the seller being GC (almost reason for boycotting those auctions).

BTW, I got a new response from a fellow at Yorkville in the US. He said that the mod may be as simple as changing R19 (470K) value to twice or three time higher. But I am going to hold off for a little while based on your input. Also, I don't want to rush into voiding the warranty.

[dmock66]

I've thought about the 20WR too - and at $300 that is a STEAL!!! If you can go there - that may be the ticket!!! I mean, that's a 20 watt amp with two distinct channels for $300! The ONLY downside to that, IMO, is the shared EQ. Other than that, it's an incredible value!!!

Give the boost a chance... really.

Kewl - I'm with you - but the rest of the 400+ attending on Sunday's don't see it that way - especially the other 8 people in the group (band and singers). Fun haters... ;)

[Ravindave_3600]

is
give the boost a chance...

[Jaybo]

Just turn it to "11"... hand out earplugs. :angel They'll adapt!!!!! :shredder

:ROFL

[Brian]

I just bought a new Traynor YCV50BLUE...
Specs:
2X EL34 (50 watts)
1x12 Celestion V30 (8 ohm)
Dual Channel (Clean and Overdrive)
...
Footswitch for channel selection and Boost
...
Cons (IMO):
Single speaker is not my favorite combo
V30 is too clear and articulate (although the V30 has the correct power rating and market value)
Somewhat heavy for a single speaker combo (55 lbs including shipping carton)
Boost is not adjustable - huge jump in volume...
My overall impressions: I like this amp a lot...I have already found that by kicking on the Boost and instantly dropping the guitar volume, I can get very nice control. It requires a little acrobatics, but nothing major... Congratulations! sounds like a nice amp. I don't know the Traynor but it sounds like it's a similar design to a Rivera.

I've only owned 7 amps* since 1967, and still own 3 of them. Fender and especially Sunn (http://www.dangpow.com/~sunn/catalogs/1968/1000s.jpg) amps made a huge impression on me, but you guys all know way more about amps than I. Not ever having owned a Marshall, Vox tube amp, or even a Celestion, and not using an OD pedal since 1970, I'm clueless. :poke:

However, I like single 12" combo amps, with strident high power speakers. The Rivera weighs nearly as much as a Twin, the little Boogie MKIIB weighs more. Tonewise, the 2nd service WL is also the Youth Pastor... the youth band young guns play a Gibson Les Paul Custom, Epi Explorer into Marshall half stacks and have multi fx. He likes my sound though, telling me my Zion/Rivera OD sound (~96db) is like Phil Collins' guitarist (Daryl Stuermer); not too shabby :roll: .

I'm too busy playing and singing to think about much else so I like to set and forget my amps' controls. Since I don't use OD pedals, I do not like it when an amp's boost requires me to drop my guitar volume to have a usable volume. My Sunn did, and my Rivera does that today, but because of the Rivera's channel switching with 2 masters (that the Sunn did not have), I set up the "American" channel for clean and the "British" channel with full OD, and like the Boogie each channel can be independently set for any desired volume. Then I switch channels when I want to change from clean <---> OD.

The bad thing is the Rivera frustrates my ability to also have a clean "British" sound and a OD "American" sound without some serious knob tweaking, and I just won't do that live. Where the Rivera's design is a big benefit though is in the pit for a stage musical where I may need full OD at a volume level that I can play uni lines with the horns without drowning them out, solo at an appropriate higher volume, and have a super-clean warm jazz tone... all in the same song.

If your amp has channel switching with independent OD on each channel you may be able to do the same thing. I hope it gives you many years of satisfying service.


*65 Magnatone M10, 67 blackface Fender Bandmaster, 67 Vox Berkely II (solid state), 71 Sunn Solos (solid state, 125 watts, 2-JBLs, LOUD!), 84 Mesa Boogie MKIIB (loaded - 100 watt, EV12L, LOUDER!), 2000 Rivera Sedona (60 watt, JBL, EV tweeter), 2000 Evans AE-200 (solid state, tiny, lightweight, 200 watts, 2-8" Eminence - 1 Alpha & 1 Beta, clean, LOUD)