Traynor YBA-1 Mark II Bassmaster

Amp made in 1972. I like all amps to be simple. It's two channels with four inputs and an extra speaker jack (16 and 8 ohms). This is set-up just like a Fender Tweed Bassman. As a matter of fact, IT'S JUST LIKE A TWEED BASSMAN, only the mid control is disguised as a "low range expander" and the presence control as a "high range expander". Not exactly, but close in circuit. It was fitted with two EL34's and a solid state rectifier too, so it is part Marshall.......gosh what a bargain! If you plug straight into it, it's a great touch sensitive amp. If you use it with pedals, it's just loud enough to stay clean, so in my opinion, it is very flexible. Give it a 4 because it's not a
bells and whistles amp.

Sounds great with any guitar. Buddy Guy with a Strat or Angus Young with a Gibson. The upper set of inputs are padded so you can get a little more headroom if you think it distorts too much. This amp sounds very "classic".....a clean Fender crossed with a 50 watt Marshall plexi. Not as complex or "detailed" as a Bassman 5F6A or Plexi 1987, but awesome for 300.00!

Easy to fix. A great learning platform too because you just remove the top portion of the amp (the part with the handle on it) and not only can you access everything, but a schematic is glued to the inside of the panel you just removed......

This is a cult amp, so check out some of the links on "schematicheaven.com". Lot's of people can service them, especially since this model is classic "Western Electric" in circuitry......you didn't think Leo or Jim designed this circuit, did you? Do yourself a favor and don't mod it, unless you know exactly what you are going to get!

Nowadays, "holy grail" amps are so high priced that the real players are turning to the boutique amps because even those are cheaper. The
Traynor YBA1 Bassmaster is quite literally a Fender Tweed Bassman circuit with the solid state rectifier and output tube complements of a Marshall 50 watt Plexi. The tone capacitors are exactly the same MAKE as in a vintage Marshall and the selection of values for them are almost exact as the Fender. Now that I helped put the word out, do me a favor and save some of them for me! I want another one.

2 channels (1 for bass & 1 for guitar), treble, bass, and a "tone expander" section with low & high knobs. According to Dan Torres, these are actually midrange & presence controls. 2x el34 power tubes, 3 or 4 12ax7s, solid state rectifier. 2 inputs for each channel, upper inputs are slightly attenuated. Hand wired, very high quality work, simple easy-to-modify circuit.

I will describe what it sounded like before Dan Torres ruined this amp: Just like a plexi 50 watt Marshall. One can be bought for under $200, and as long as it works fine, it is a total bargain, the perfect poor man's Marshall. I use it for bass at gigs with a 64 Gibson Thunderbird IV, and if you bridge the channels it will do the Entwistle Live At Leeds sound perfectly without earsplitting volume. Not a bass sound for everyone - if your favorite bass sound is they guy who does the music for Seinfeld, this amp is not for you. If you play punk or loud rock (or like Entwistle's bass sounds), it's unbeatable. Great as a guitar amp too - again, sounds just like a 50 watt Marshall plexi.

Traynor is out of business, but you may be able to get info from their current company Yorkville Sound. These amps have a tendency to short out in weird ways as they get old (several I tried had the same problem), and my local tech couldn't figure out the problem in mine, so.......
I sent this amp to Dan Torres for repairs & he convinced me to let him do his Marshall mod ($65). Big mistake - so much treble that the anp squeals unless you leave the treble & presence all the way down. DO NOT GET THIS MOD FOR THIS AMP!!! Before it broke down, it sounded JUST LIKE A MARSHALL 50 WATT PLEXI. Now it is almost unuseable. I have since had Hoffman Amps recommended for Traynor repairs. Stay away from Torres.

Traynor is out of business. Use Hoffman Amps in Florida for repairs.

This rating is only if the amp is stock & works perfectly, in which case it is a steal. It's a risky proposition for repairs, but if you're willing, it could be well worth it.