Traynor YBA-4 Bassmaster

Made in 1973 and bought new by me the same year. I used it in rehersal and coffee houses until my bands got too loud and then I got too married so it sat for about 15 years. When my kids started playing music I dug it out and listened to it very carefully. With the stock Mullard EL34s (Phillips labled) and its light Marsland 15, it was better for guitar than bass, so I decided to make a couple of changes. I put in JJ KT88s and an ElectroVoice EVX 155, some pop out wheels and three extra strap handles, because that EV weighs 25 lbs BY ITSELF! This was long before Neo. So, yes, it is quite versatile, because stock it sounds like the bastard child of a Marshall JTM50 and a Fender Showman. This way, it sounds like an Ampeg B15N, with the ability to go much louder. The Ampegs have that sweet spot, and if you ask them for too much, they get flubby. This little fellow happily rattles windows.

It's as good as anything I've ever heard. With a P-bass it gives "the sound". It can slap and pop with the Jazz bass, suprisingly, because the EV specs say the 155 fades at 2K. I have a fretless G&L that puts out a great mwah, and I also have a Sting Ray that is the solid reggae king. Keep turning it up and it keeps getting louder and louder. The distortion stays solid and musical, like a roar.

It has never broken once.

This is my R2D2. It has sand in it from beach parties and it stinks of cigarettes and spilled beers from the good old days. One of my son's friends borrowed it in an emergency. He played a dropped tuned guitar through it and it sounded suprisingly legit. Who knew? My big rig is a real SVT with two 8X10s. This is just as good.

1979 Model. All-Tube 50 Watt RMS ( Traynor Watts ! )
Good enough for My Needs.....Straight Ahead Rock'n'Roll.
Two Channels: Bright & Normal
I Use the Amp for Practice / Rehearsal...has TONS of POWER ! Would be Easily Giggable in a Small to Medium Sized Venue.

I am using a 2005 Jay Turser Beatle Bass ( Twin Humbuckers ), and a 1977 Fender Musicmaster Bass ( Single Coil ) through this Amplifier.
Rock Styles.
It can be Noisy but that was found to be a Grounding Problem in the Basement Practice Room.
Distortion only Present if Amp Improperly EQ'D.

Vintage Traynors were probably the Toughest Amps ever Built ! This Amp just Needed Re-Tubing and the Stock Marsland 15 Inch Speaker ( which was Blown ), was Replaced by a 300 Watt 15 Inch Altec Lansing.

Built in 1979, Re-Tubed by those before Me, and Speaker was Replaced by Me Recently.

I have been Playing 36 Years.

I Love that " Balls-Out " Traynor Power & Tube-Tone !

I Hate the 85 Pound-Plus Weight !

1975 YBA-4, with some modifications to the circuits....I'm not too sure what was done, but as a GUITAR amp, this thing has tone that rivals my '85 JCM 800 1959!!
I play heavy blued-based original tunes, I use this amp w/my JCM 800 a/b'd for lead parts, and fullness in sections requiring POWER.

I play a Gibson L/P 490r/498, and I get a full range of tones from rich tube heaviness to very nice harmonic squeals. W/ the mods, I only get great tone by bridging low 1 into high 2 and cranking it.

This thing is a tank. No problems yet...

N/A

This thing is a gem. I will not part wti this amp ever (even if it's 80-some pounds kill me...)

Has all the same features as listed above, two channels, four inputs, three-band eq, presence. It also has a stand-by switch on the front, power is on the rear, along with ground control. I usually use the amp for practise at home, although I have used it in my band (rock group) but due to a loud-ish drummer, it had some issues getting over the buzz. Oh, it also features a weight of close to 80 lbs and just a little handle on the top to lift it by. My band-mates have nicknamed it "the arm stretcher" and most are afraid to latch onto it.

I'm presently using an epiphone les paul bass with two emg-selects. These pick-ups aren't great to begin with, but I can still manage to squeak a great sound out of this amp. It does tend to be a little noisy while dealing with any amount of tone but the tube sounds is vintage and worth the little buzz. Personally, I find this amp isn't great for slap-bass, but really, my guitar is greatly suited for it anyway, so hard it's hard to say.

My dad bought this amp in the seventies. He stopped using it in the eighties and it sat in our basment until about a year ago. It still has the original speaker in it and the tubes, despite great age, have yet to fail me. The only thing that is wrong with the amp are the knobs, which tend to cause some static when adjusting. This can usually be fixed by turning them from top to bottom a few times. Guess twenty years in a dusty basement has taken it's toll.

I've never dealt with the company, they no longer exist. If something goes wrong, I'll probably just find a good (old) repair guy to fix it for me.

This is the amp I began playing on over a year and half ago. Since then, I've bought a Peavey Mark IV head, an 18 inch Black Widow cabinet, and a Yorkville 410. This set-up has helped my volume issues, but the tube-tone in the Bassmaster is hard to match. If it was lost or stolen, I'd probably go to the emergency room in our hospital and find out which patient has pulled major ligaments in his back and then ask him politely for my amp back. Buying a new one would probably be next to impossible, but if I had lost it, Dad'd kill me. It has more sentimental value than monetary value. Despite the massive weight and lack of volume, you could never get me to part with this amp.

This amp has 2 channels and 4 inputs, so i plug my mic and my guitar and it still sounds good! This is my main amp that i use for practice alone, jams and gigs! It has enough power and they say it's 50 watts but I think that it's really 70 because full blast, it ripps your head off! The only thing i dislike about the amp is the fact that I have to get it fixed every year which is a 60$ca bill but for the sound, it worths it! When i first got it, it worked but suddenly it just screwed up so after getting it fixed well it worked for 6 months and i'm presently getting it fixed!

I'm a metalhead so I want a good sound for palm mute but also for solos and i really like it! I play alot of trash/speed/death/heavy on it and since my drummer plays loud, the volume can be up and still sounds good! I play a Yamaha ERG 121 guitar, a Zoom 606 and a Rocktron Distortion and it perfectly fits for me!

I can really depend on it, i absolutly love the amp! Even tought i never played a "real" gig, i would surely use it without backup! As i said earlier, it has broken down before but i get it fix every summer and it works like new!

I got it repair at a Local Shop and the guy did a good job! Since i bought it used, it didnt come with anything and before looking on the internet, it didnt even knew it was a Traynor, so that kind of sucked but I really love it!

I've been playing for 4 rough years and this is my favorite amp! I've always wanted to have my own sound and that's why i use old pedals and even on one song, a bass as a guitar and this amp gets me the sound I want. People have Marshalls, Peaveys or Laneys, well i'll always be proud to say it's a Traynor!!!

According To Yorkville Product Archives , These were built between 1973-1979. For small venues, the Amp is quite adequate. Two-Channels, only tried one. Pretty clean sound. Has Presence, EQ,. This Amp belongs to a local Music Society, basically a small converted warehouse bay. This is listed by Yorkville Sound as a 45 Watt RMS Tube Combo 1x15" Speaker. Original speaker was blown & replaced.

This Amp basically used by the Music Society as a Keyboard Amp. I wanted to hear what my Hofner Vintage 1963 Reissue 500/1 Violin Bass sounded like through it. It sounded very punchy and smooth. There was, however, some feedback present. It is a relatively noisy Amp, but then I am used to quiet solid-state. I didn't try the "dirty" channel.

Built very sturdy. Probably broke down in the past due to neglect and abuse. I really don't know the history of it because I don't own it.

I don't know about the old Traynor's, but Yorkville/Long & McQuade are very good to deal with on their current Yorkville Amps. The Society got the Amp fixed up & replaced the 15 inch speaker themselves. Warranty.......that was a long time ago !

Playing Bass since 1968, Acoustic Guitar since the early 70's. I own a Hofner 1963 Vintage Reissue 500/1 Violin Bass, a Hagstrom 1969 Vintage H II B N Bass, a 2001 Peavey Milestone IV Bass,a HOB 1977 Acoustic Guitar, a Yorkville BassMaster 200T 200Watt Bass Combo, a Yorkville BC115 1x15" 300Watt Bass Extension Cabinet, a Fender BXR25 25 Watt RMS Bass Practice Amp, and a Rolls Mini-Mix 51 System & Phono Pre-Amp ( for In-Headphones Rehearsal & Practicing ). I love the classic tube-tone, especially when used with the Hofner.

This is one of Traynor's originial workhorses. 50 watt two channel amps with eq and presence control. I found this amp in a school basement and had it repaired by a good friend of mine. Looks like new and sounds great.

I have used an Epiphone bass and a Fender Lonestar with this amp. Distortion requires massive volume so I usually place pedals in front of the amp. The enclosed combo has a 15 inch speaker and does a great job in small venues

Bulletproof

Company no longer exists, but most good repairment can help.

I have been playing for 30 years and would never part with this amp. I installed casters on the cabinet to make it a bit easier to move around. This amp is loud, it puts my Bandit to shame. Spartan features but terrific tube sound.