Traynor YCS100

re-writing from my earlier review by tbc. I've had the amp and cab for about a month now and put it thru it's paces. I can tell you today I found how to get a great sound from the 2 drive channels. this is set up like a marshall. crank all of EQ to 10 and then taylor down from their depending on the style you play. all at 10 sounds great and that's what most pro's do. I have the gains around 8 and I get great van halen, with reverb, on channel 1 and great zep and Guns on channel 2.

I did this with the 100w on almost full power, crushing to the ears,and it really made a difference. try it and let me know what you think as traynor people are kind our own breed.

you can't fine tune this amp with treble on This and bass That...

trying out tons of OD pedals and I think the BOSS OD-3 is the best OD . keeps your tone and does not make it thin at all. try this pedal out. returning the zakk OD as with this set up all I get is feedback and don't need the EQ pedal I bought either (return).

the EVH flanger sounds great now.

still working on the clean channel.

2007 YCS 100 Head. Triple lead channel w/ db boost on footswitch. all tubes pre and power. Has all bells and whistles for the modern guitarist.

I bought it at Lond Mcquade in Stratford, ON. The sales guy set up the YCS, a MESA triple recto, marshall JCM 800 and a big fender amp of some sort. I really think this amp on one the channels matched and exceeded the 'signature' tones of the other three amps.

I use it in a thrash metal band and it cuts the mix perfectly. We only have one guitarist so it is very important to sound very full and not interfere with the bass player's frequencies. I just wish the drummer would get new cymbals cause his cracked ones are ruining the high end.

I love the sound of this amp. Any of the other reviewers who have said otherwise either have much better ears than I do, or have not set up the master section of the amp properly. For channel 1 (Triple recto airspace), take the resonance down to 2 or so, dial in a healthy 9 on the presence and make sure it is LOUD! I usually set my preamp gain to 12 o clock with my Ibanez RG (EMG's baby!)and 1 o clock with my non emg equipped electrics.

I use the second channel for leads because I use NO pedals, effects, racks etc, and like a lil reverb and the higher gain setting I'll dial up. This is the "Marshall Channel", and I feel it sounds quite refined next to the JCM 800.

Though I'm in a metal band, my favorite guy to cop licks from is SRV, and I feel closer to his tone with my Strat through channel 3 than I ever thought I could. Being strictly Marshall before this, I thought it was impossible to get any sort of chunky clean sound with , you know, being Stevie Ray.

The amp has never broken down, but the footswitch is in the shop right now. Ive played a dozen gigs and twice weekly rehearsals over the last 6 months or so with it.

2 year unlimited, so....

I think I explained all of this in the rest of the review. I love this amp and my band can't believe the sound I'm getting now. Did I mention I paid less than half of a MESA, Framus or Soldano?

***This is a follow up to a previous review... ***

Hey..this is an update to my review.
Since my original review i've done one thing.
Changed out the EL34's to Sovtek 6L6's
Holy Crap!! The 6L6's make this thing sound even better!

Bullet proof!

Never used it

See previous post

3 channel, 100 / 30 watt modes, gain boost modern bright and scoop switches. Master presence and "resonance" control as well as a solo boost control that can be controlled from the pedal. The back side has lots of goodies including a tuner out that allows you to hit a button and mute the amp while tuning it. Spring reverb on all channels. I haven't used the headphone out but I tried the direct out and wasn't really a fan -- it sounds quite fake like most direct outs do. Very handy pre out / amp in jacks for all of your effects that you don't want to put in front of the amp as well as an FX loop with individual controls for each channel. Matching cab comes with Celestian V30's... I'll get to those later.

I play modern hard rock, 80's rock and power metal with a few guitars: an SG with JB bridge and Jazz 2n neck, korean tele, stock cort strat style guitar with H-S-S pick up configuration. My favorite channel is the yellow channel (classic gain).

The clean channel sounds nice with a little chorus and the modern and bright switches help you get what you're after... there's even a gain boost that gets you up in the AC/DC distortion range. The 100 watt gives you good head room that'll break up if you slap it a bit.

The yellow channel picks up where the boosted clean channel leaves off but with a much smoother gain. Its marshally dare I say but with the added benifit of the "modern" switch that adds some nice muscle and balls without un-marshalling the midrange too much. Cranking the gain with the boost on mushes things up with and makes it rather sloppy without a boost pedal, but I get a very good Zakk Wylde No More Tears sound with my tube screamer. One push of the boost button and I'm back down to a VH type sound. The tele sounds nice and smooth on this channel.

The last channel is tough to dial in nicely. I blame it on the V30's. By design, this channel is more vague and hairy sounding much like a boogie. I've gotten close to the all the right reasons Nickelback tone but the mids just didn't come in right. I find this channel hardly useable without a OD pedal in front of it, unless you're going for a Korn type of thing.

In general, especially on the Red and Orange channels, I find the tone gets very displeasing with the mid range and treble and presence control for that matter going up past 12 o'clock. I'll get to the point thats like 85% of "SWEET!" and need a bit more teeth and I'll dial in more midrange treble or presense and suddenly instead of a teeth smooth sweet gain tone it becomes harsh and peircing. Its like I'm trying coax that edgy, attentive, sexy grin out of the amp but when it starts to smile the teeth are rotten and crooked. Like I mensioned earlier, I blame it on the V30s and I'm probably going to replace the speakers with G12T's and see how that works. I should also mension that I've changed out the stock power tubes with JJ KT77's and the pre amp tubes to a high gain version which expanded the bottom end nicely, smoothened out some of those ugly highs and mids and made it sound a little quicker.

Its getting a 7 until further notice.

The first head that I got has a malfunctioning reverb so I brought it back the next day and they gave me a new one with a fully working one. There was a problem with an over heating tube which isn't really anything to do with the actual amp so I replaced them and it was fixed and also there wasn't a weird problem with the sound cutting down to a really thin sound that turned out to be my chorus pedal. Other than that no complaints.

This is where this amp gets the most points in my opinion. First of all, the 2 year unlimited warranty is awesome. Second, while diagnosing the problem that turned out to be my chorus pedal, the online customer support guy who emailed me back from my "in the field" tech support submission in about 2 days was extremely helpful. Most companies give you a claim number and tell you to ship it off to there factory for repairs for 6 weeks. He first suggested I might have tripped a breaker with another bad tube and walked me through taking them out and one by one putting them back in from middle to outside to see if one would trip the breaker again. The written tone (if there is such a thing) of the rep was very friendly and respectful compared to the usually tone that says "I hate my job. I can't stand stupid guitar players." so props to Traynor.

I don't think I ever mensioned the price. Killer! I'm suddenly satisfied with this amp after all my little complaints. For 700 some dollars, this head is amazing! The cab that came with it is about average price for a cab so if you're looking into getting a versatille, powerful EL34 tube amp thats El34 but a little nicer on the ears I would recommend looking for one of those Marshall cabs with the G12T's in it. If you like the harsh, british, rock and roll tone then go for the combo but don't plan on using the red channel.

I spent about 6 months researching and flipping between a DSL100 and a Dual Rec but found that this one had a lot of both in one and was almost half the price. If it were stolen I think I would look around at maybe a Peavey or Randall but it would be hard to find a deal like this and would likely go back with it.

featues listed below, a lot of them. I am going to be truthfull below so hold tone people...I know a lot about guitars and bang for the buck ,

Just got it today and it has great tones in it. the depth of the gain knobs is great. I thought I had it up high and it was only around 5 or 6 (not numbered). it really digs in. good slash guns n roses.

channel 3 is clean and has low gain on that knob.
channel 2 is crunch and sounds great.tweak the gain and EQ and get it going. very bassy and not thin unless you dial it down. very marshall with EL34's.
channel 1 is high gain and with the boost switch is does all that is expected for neo-metal.

i have the evh phase and what was good in my line 6 spider II , was too much when it hit the tubes as they really fixed the sound and signal of the phase.

so many options . I have the matching cab too. now i need more effects to work the effects loop, LOL.. and they have a foot switch option to turn on and off efx and reverb (buy after market as it's compatible).

4 button foot switch comes with it.

even has a second type of loop that goes straight after the pre-amp.

I only tried my SG re-issue . my 61 fender re-issue is next adn then my ibanez with hot mega=drive pickup and then my kramer. last 2 handpainted with EVH stripes (b/w & y/b). next is the r/w frankenstien...

I'll write again as I get more time.

delivered very well on a skid...

called them a few times before buying and very nice.

my first tube amp and been playing for 25 years, rock and roll , evh . ( i know all the tricks). very good to keep for years and has the 30/100 watt switch which works very well and keeps it low ( basically why I bought this and not a 50 watt amp head).

you'll like it, I bought it blind and it has it all. you want fender cleans and clapton's solo carreer, you need a 15 watt fender champion anyway for those tones - no marshall in that era. and those people play those stupid blues runs , I like to crank it and hear noise with tone, always did and alway will...

you want rock and roll with tone with a ton of options and a great warranty/price. this is the future . I have a line 6 and it's ok but this is solid and looks great.


let me know what you think of the review.

As me and several other guitar shop hangouts remarked when these heads first came through the door, "it has a LOT of knobs!". LOL.

The features of this amp are just about unequaled in my opinion. I used to own an H&K Triamp MkI and loved the versatility of that amp. This amp has even more versatility and options. Most have been listed in these reviews, but highlights for me include: three seperate channels, adjustable solo boost, separate reverb and effects level adjustments for each channel, tuner mute, etc. I won't compare this amp to the Triamp in terms of boutique sound quality and build, but it sure has more features.

I haven't spent as much time with this amp as I want to yet. But I've spent enough to know that it's awesome. I also own the Traynor Custom Blue 50 1X12 combo and matching sealed back 1X12 extension cab. That combo stack does the Fender Blackface thing to perfection on the clean channel, and it does a very good Marshall JCM800 on the dirt channel. But the boosted, over-the-top boost sound just doesn't cut it for me. So I've always used a pedal to overdrive the dirt channel and get the lead tones. On the YCS100 head, the drive channels pick up where the Custom Blue 50 left off and go to the moon. I have the head pumping into a 4X12 Celestion Vintage 30-loaded cab and the Mesa Triple Rectifier tones coming out of this head are amazing. It sounds just like what the "kids" are playing these days (I'm 39 and more into the 80's metal thing). I dailed in some tones from Lacuna Coil and other more current bands and this head nailed them.

I haven't yet been able to dial in a Fender or Marshall type tone that I like as much as the ones on the Custom Blue 50. But I've been so enamored with the high gain tones coming out of this head, that I really haven't tried.

Haven't had it long enough to know. Have gigs starting in a few weeks and will find out then. I've been gigging my Custom Blue 50 rig for almost a year now with no issues whatsoever.

Haven't dealt with them.

I've been playing for almost 23 years now. At least 20 of those years have been in pro, gigging bands. I've owned just about everything in the way of guitars and amps. From rackmount rigs to Fender, Marshall, and Hughes & Kettner amps -- to Strats (Fender and G&L), Teles (Fender and G&L), Gibson Les Pauls, PRS Customs, Ibanez and ESP guitars.

I'm into bang-for-buck all the way these days. Products that deliver near the sound, quality and playability of boutique items for a fraction of the cost. For my money nothing beats ESP LTD guitars and Traynor tube amps. And that's exactly what I am using and gigging right now.

This is a follow up to a previous review...

At first you may think something is not right when adjustibg the volume. I found that with the master at 7 there diod not seem to be much volume. I called Yorkville. Turns out it is the TAPER of the Master volume pot that makes the usable range for the dial.

Not much volume diff between 100 Watts and 30 watts....I have wondered if this is working correctly....I use the 100 wat setting anf leave it there.

Bullet proof......

great

Great amp very manegable 100 watts. Good sonding amp...You can wring out a lot of volume from this amp but you MUST turn the dials up

Traynor YCS100 & YCS 412 This amp has 3 separate channels solo boost and built in reverb. 30 watt class A and 100 watt A/B. XLR Direct out(nice!).3 independant channels. It comes with a rugged 4 button foot switch but mine was missing! I called the place where i purchased it from & they have one in route to me at the time of this review.
I play in a 1/2 cover-1/2 original band & the other guitar player has a Triple recto & over sized Mesa cab...This amp sounds just as good..maybe better w/ channel 1! WOW!!! It is a VERY loud amp..As loud as his Triple. Solo boost is KILLER!

Clean to massive distortion...AWESOME!!
You need the YCS 412...WOW!!! brutal..V 30's!!!
So far i have played it with an SG, LP studio lite, & GMW RR PDV...all dbl humbuckers..It takes a little tweaking but the sound is all there!
This amp is what i've been looking for at LESS than 1/2 the cost of a MESA triple recto. This sounds better to me than the Triple recto!
Is it noisy??
All amps are noisy if it's turned up enough!

Sure i could depend on it..but i wouldn't do anything w/o a backup!
I haven't had the amp long enough to have the need for a repair..but it has the standard Traynor 2 year warranty.

See above

I have been playinfg for 24 years..YIKES! I have had a few different amps..Marshall, Crate, POD XT LIVE, Behringer LX 1200 &
the Traynor YVC80Q which was nice but not this nice & i'd defin get this again if anything happened to it!
This Head & cab is the S!!T.
I read one review that it lacked balls??? Holy crap! no way!
When i started playing..the other guitar player in our band was smiling from ear to ear...very complimentary to a Triple rect.
Get the whole thing...Head & matching cab..you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED in the sound! And this thing LOOKS great!
The only real bitch i have is the Master Vol knob is a tad on the sensitive side...it doesn't take much to go from loud to VERY LOUD!
This price i paid was for the HEAD & matching CABINET...Including SHIPPING from the East Coast to the WEST coast!

2006 Traynor YCS100. This amp has 3 separate channels solo boost and built in reverb. 30 watt class A and 100 watt A/B. XLR Direct out. This is the 1st tube amp that I actually like all 3 channels. It comes with a rugged 4 button foot switch. I play in a cover band and we are wicked loud thanks to my deaf bass player, he plays out of an 8x10 cab with a 1000 watts that just kills me every night. Now that I have this Traynor in the 100 watt mode he puts tail in between his legs and keeps running.

I use several different guitars. Custom Strat w/EMGs H/S/S, A G&L ASAT Tele with Seymours, a Godin LG. When switching from guitars there is some tweaking that has to be done. The clean channel is warm and has a lot of head room. The 2nd channel is like a VOX in the 30 watt mode and more like a Marshall in the 100 watt mode. The 3rd channel is like a Mesa Rec but with far less noise. Playing in a cover band variety is key, we go from funk to country to rock to blues and from punk to metal and I'm lovin what I'm getting out of this amp. I Love the solo switch it makes life so easy.

i've been gigging with this amp for 2 months 4 nights a week and had no problems at all.

Called the factory back in August before the amp was available and talked to someone in support for 20 min about the amp. Then he called me in October to give me a heads up to let me know that the amps were shipping. That blew my mind that he actually called me back.

I been playing for over 30 years and playing out for over 20 years I have owned Fenders Marshalls Line 6 Mesa Boogies and H&K. I was last using a Boogie Triple Rec that I just sold because I love this amp so much. Try to find an all tube 3 channel head with reverb and solo boost for this kind of money.
I been playing for a long time and I have never ever written a review but I think this amp is so great that I have to let people know how great it is. If you get the chance you have got to check this amp out.

In terms of features, this is hard to beat: 3 channel,s all tube, modern, scoop, brigh switches, solo level, big footswitch, long tank reverb. This is loaded.

In term of sound variety, you get from Twin sparkling clean to Mesa Boogie punishment. With AC30 tones in between and Marshall. True, none of these sounds is 100% accurate but this is warm, nice and very usable. Sound better at med to high volumes, like most 100 W heads. I have a Godin SDxt and Les Paul, both loaded with high output pickups since I play mostly hard rock. This suites my music style perfectly. Channel 1 on mesa setting, channel on Marshall stting and channel one on sparkle! I'm set. It is very very quiet. DC filament heaters are a great help. This is why Ii did not get a mesa: too noisy at high gain...

So far so good but I've had it only a few weeks so no opinion really

Not needed yet.

I have been playing for 20 years. I have own Vax, Line?, Behringer, Peavy, Marshall. I like this guy more than anything else I've own for tone itself. I wanted a Mesa Booie rectifier but could get used to the noise at high gain setting. With a Good gab, this guy sounds just as nice, for half the price