Traynor YBA200

The feature that I find the most useful as far as tone adjustment is the range control. makes the three band EQ pretty versatile to dial in the tone you want. The scoop knob is kind of useless as someone else mentioned, as well as resonance, I stay away from those knobs. You can switch between 4 and 8 ohms so that your power is most efficient regardless of what cab you use.

I should note that the amp that I purchased used has been re-tubed with electro harmonix KT88's a very common replacement for this amplifier, the older version of this amp (first series as opposed to yba-2 models or one that you'd buy new) supposedly had a biasing problem, but with these tubes it shouldn't cause any issues. With that said, the amp has been a reliable workhorse for me, I've played it probably around 100 hours so far and pushed it hard on a regular basis with no issues.

Also, it has very strong handles to carry it around, and it is not too heavy.

The tone that you can get from this amp is very good. Obviously if you are considering buying a tube head, you know that at high volumes there will be a little bit of overdrive on your bass. If you want a lot of boosted lows that remain clean, this will not be the amp for you. I have found that the tone quality at low volumes is very rich and pleasing to the ears.

I play in an instrumental band with 2 guitar players and a drummer. We play pretty loud, but not any kind of ridiculous levels, and I have no issues keeping up in smaller venues without any PA support. I use it with an ampeg 8x10 in combination with a fender P-bass and an SX jazz bass, running through a tech 21 sansamp DI pedal. I'm very happy with the way it sounds and notably the frequency response in that sweet spot that works together with the bass drum to really deliver a punch.

In comparison with a solid state head, I have found that this 200W through tubes is comparable to the volume of a peavey tour 450 watt solid sate head that I used previously, maybe a little less clean bass though. This one sounds considerably better in a live mix in my experience.

I have had the head for a little bit over three months, and it is my only amp for practice and for shows. I have not yet had any problems with it, I let it warm up, cool down, and I don't leave it outside in the cold overnight if at all possible. I rated it an 8 because I haven't had it for a very long time, but so far so good!

I haven't dealt with traynor. I think mine is about 5 years old so it doesn't have a warranty.

Overall, this is a very high quality bass amplifier. If you are new to tube amps (this was my first one) this is a good place to start. I am completely satisfied with it and I hope to keep it for a long time. If I had to make one complaint, it would be that the knobs move very easily, so you have to make sure your settings haven't changed if you move it anywhere. Not an issue at all though.

MY AMP WAS MADE IN 2007 I THINK.
I'VE READ GOOD AND BAD REVIEWS ON THIS AMP.
I THINK THE AMP IS GOOD IN SOME WAYS AND NOT SO GOOD IN OTHERS.
I'VE HAD MINE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND THINK I CAN GIVE A HONEST REVIEW.
1. FEATURES; I DON'T NEED A LOT OF FEATURES JUST VOL. BASS, MID, TREB AND MAYBE A MASTER AND POST VOL.
(THAT'S ABOUT ALL A SVT HAS. AND THATS THE AMP THAT ALL THE OTHER AMPS MADE ARE TRYING TO COPY)
2. PRICE; LETS FACE IT IF YOU'RE NOT PLAYING A LOT YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY THE PRICE OF A SVT. I GAVE A LITTLE OVER $600.00 FOR MY TRAYNOR NOW YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT FOR AN ALL TUBE AMP.
3. WEIGHT; 45 LBS COMPARED TO 85-90 LBS SVT.
LOOK NOTHING OUT THERE IS GOING TO DO WHAT AN SVT DOES BUT A SVT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT. IF THAT TONE AND POWER IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR YOU BETTER GET AN SVT. BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BACK OFF THAT A LITTLE THEN THE TRAYNOR MIGHT WORK FOR YOU.

NOW THIS IS A PERSONAL THING. WHAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME MAY NOT SOUND GOOD TO YOU. THE TRAYNOR SOUNDS GOOD TO ME I'VE PLAYED MINE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW IT'S STRENGTHS AND IT'S WEAKNESSES.
I USE A WORE-OUT (PLAYED HARD AND A LOT FOR OVER 30 YEARS) 1976 MUSICMAN STINGRAY 4-STRING ACTIVE BASS. I USE A HARTKE KICKBACK 12" SPEAKER CAB WITH A 1-15 PEAVEY BW CAB.
I'VE FOUND THAT IN SOME BARS WHERE I PLAY THIS RIG SOUNDS REALY CLOSE TO AN SVT BUT IN OTHER BARS IT SOUNDS LIKE ****.
THEN I USE MY PEAVEY COMBO 300 OR MY HARKE 120 WATT 12" KICKBACK.
SOME TIMES THEY SOUND BETTER AND SOME TIMES NOT.
I DO HAVE A SVT BUT I'M 58 YRS OLD AND A 85 LB HEAD AND A 810 CAB IS A LOT TO PACK AROUND. SO IF THE BAR IS SMALL I USE MY OTHER AMPS. IF THE JOB IS BIG AND THE MONEY IS THERE I USE THE SVT.
THE THING IS NOT ALL AMPS AND AMP/SPEAKER COMBINATIONS SOUND GOOD TOGETHER, I'VE FOUND THE COMBINATION THAT WORKS FOR ME.

SEEMS TO BE CONSTRUCTED REALY WELL

GOOD

I'VE BEEN PLAYING FO OVER 40 YEARS.
ROAD AND LOCAL. SEMI PRO. BAR MUSIC COUNTRY, ROCK, AND BLUES
NOW I PLAY WITH SOME OLD RETIRED ROAD DOGS LIKE MY SELF.
I BOUGHT THIS AMP BECAUSE I WANTED AN ALL TUBE AMP. I WANTED A LIGHT WEIGHT AN INEXPENSIVE SVT CLONE. I DIDN'T GET THAT BUT I DID GET A GOOD AMP. IT'S JUST NOT AN SVT. IF YOU WANT A SVT BUY ONE DON'T BUY THIS THINKING IT WILL SOUND AND PUNCH LIKE A SVT BECAUSE IT WON'T. BUT IT DOES PUNCH AND IT DOES SOUND GOOD, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.

9 very good amp. i just bought it about a month ago. i play an 1976 musicman stringray and use a peavey black widow 15" cab and a peavey 4-10 scorpion cab. (its the cabs i used with my peavey combo 300 that i retired.) not long ago i bought a ampeg b2r 450 watts rated did not like it at all very weak. i wanted a svt but couldn't afford it and couldn't carry it. so i looked at a pignose b100 but decided it was to small then i ran across the traynor yba200. this thing rocks. plenty of power, tone and i can lift it. it is simple to use and sounds very good it cuts through the mix with no problem. ive benn playing bass for 39 years. i play in a club band we play everything from pearl jam to george jones and everything between. ive read good and bad reviews on this amp but my opinion is for $635.00 it's the best amp on the planet hell if it cost twice that it would still be the best. i know some of you guys are going to say nothing beats an svt. well i've owned a svt a v4b a fender bassman countless peaveys but for my money traynor has them beat. 200 tube watts, 42 lbs at $635.00 go for it. if it were stolen i would def. get another. plenty of power, plenty of tone, plenty of looks i love it. my friend just bought an ampeg b4r 1000 watts my traynor blows it off the stage.

1976 musicman stringray
this fits my playing style realy good
it's very quite at all the settings i use (classic rock and country tones)
i usaly play with a preaty clean tone and it works realy good for me.

i've heard that traynors are very strong and dependable

2 years even if you break it

i've played bass for 39 years
i've played with some realy popluar local groups and road bands
i play now with some other old road pickers and we just have a large time. it's a fine amp buy one you will be glad you did.

The scoop and resonance controls do not do anything to aid tone.
The DI out is quite good.
The tuner mute etc is also very handy

I use a Musicman Stingray therefore my opinion is based on using this bass, well straight out of the box this amp is Not Good.

It will distort very quickly and the headroom is pathetic.

To achieve better tone and much needed headroom you will have to dip back in to your wallet and buy some preamp valves of lesser gain values, by doing this you will get more clean tone, therefore better volume.

Still it pays to dump the output valves for better quality ones to aquire something close to reasonable.

why oh why with a brand new amp is this necessary I have no idea.

If you like a bit of treble in your sound, then forget it, wind up the treble and you get some sought of hi fi clicky sound happening.

The amp is made quite well, I have dropped the thing and it did not hurt it except for a bit of damage to the covering.

If and when as in my case an output tube goes without any warning signs while gigging, do not think you can just plug some spares in, this amp has sacrificial resistors which blow and therefore needs professional help to be replaced. I now have a spare amp at all times, I wish I did need to do this.

Recently it has started to blow the odd fuse in the power-in socket.

I can only give my opinion to potential Australian customers.

I am not in a capitol city and therefore it is hard to get any warranty repairs done without spending quite a substancial amount on freight. Traynor warranty in Australia, I imagine it would depend soley on the store you purchase from.

I have sent and recieved email from Traynor, I have sent and not recieved email from Traynor. make of it what you will.

I have been playing for many years but have gigged with this amp for the last two, As soon as the dollars are available I will be getting myself a better amp. I love the sound of tubes but the market is limited and costly.

If it was stolen, they would almost be doing me a favour :-]

My main objection to this amp is the extra money needed to be spent on this amp from new to just get a reasonable tone and a tone that has no distinction.