Traynor YCV20-WR 112 Combo

This is the deluxe version, with the three pin d.i. out and headphone jack. I can't imagine using the headphone jack though, but people seem to like them.
This is the nicest looking amp i have ever had the pleasure to own and the wine red is really deep. The finish is excellent and the tolex is beautifully applied. Steel corners!(listen Jim....)

The 15 watts is plenty loud for small clubs. It has a direct line out so find a nice tone and plug it into the p.a. if you need to. It has channel switching too.

I use two teles with it. I like the bright switch on the clean channel even with the telecaster. It makes the tone a little more "airy" if that is a word. I like the reverb but use it sparingly and leave it set at about 1.5

The clean channel is the nicest I've ever heard and very responsive to attack. For example I knew I had to adjust the pickup height on the american standard tele but forgot about it till I played this. (it was too high)It stuck out like a sore thumb. Once I took it down the tone was beautiful!

The distortion is pretty powerful and can make the guitar sound like a cello on steroids. It reminds me of a marshall JCM 800 I used to own.However i can get the sound without going deaf now. Maybe a little muddy full out, but with an amp this responsive I can't imagine not getting the sound I need by backing it off and digging in harder.

The greenback sounded great out of the box but got richer after about two weeks. hey, perhaps the most famous speaker in guitar history....it is a keeper for a reason.
Excels at blues in the neck position with the treble on the guitar rolled off a bit.
I am a guitar player not an amp tech. I have never changed a tube in my life. I read where one of the Fender guys said that tube access would be difficult to get at on future models due to electrical regulations. I dont really think that someone bright enough to design an amp that sounds like this would make tube access difficult to get some jollies. However I might be wrong, and at any rate, i let the techs handle that stuff.
I do wish it had vibrato though and the pedal cord is too short.

I tried the blues junior and it had a nice sound slightly overdriven. Only one though and the knobs were marked to be read from behind the amp. Why would that be? Also thge reviews were not great on it so I spent a little more to get this baby and I'm glad i did. I bought it to play in clubs and it is very good for that.

Sounds nice through my marshall 4-12 cab too. There is a slight delay when changing from the od channel to the clean, but not vica versa. I don't use the od much so who cares.

Really well built as all their products. I got a cover to protect resale value. Now instead of worrying about tubes /speakers, I'll just continue to look for the sounds i want. By the way I cannot find a bad sound on any setting leading me to conclude that it is nicely voiced.

It is a modern great sounding amp that puts out a beautiful sound at a manageable sound level. The tubes type has a reputation for being touch responsive and it is better than its big brother in this regard.
I don't worry about cranking it as I just find a nice tone and rely on the PA for volume. Sound guys love me and always ask what the hell I'm using.

It is lovely and light, like my girlfriend used to be.

I talked to these guys before I bought it and they were very helpful. They are the best I've dealt with in 25 years. I also own the 40 watt version ands it is a beauty. However this is lighter and I'd say more touch responsive. I like the reverb sound better too. 5 years ago i bought a product of theirs used in a pawnshop. i had a question about it and they responded by email the next day. Years later I bought two of their products because those little things indicate a lot about how a company really operates.

I own the 40 watt version. I also own a couple of nice acoustic guitars. But hey, who really cares?
30 years playing. As i get older I turn it down more to find the sound I'm looking for. Used to be you had to crank everything. I've got the hearing loss to prove that is not an effective strategy.

This version of the amp doesn't have the extra speaker out, xlr out and headphone jack. Pity, otherwise it's well featured. The fx loop is very good. The reverb is good quality, but not to my taste past 1. Good for Belle and Sebastian or Dick Dale though!

This amp is very well built. I took it apart to change the tubes and the speaker, and it was well made. Sure, it's not 'easy' to do, but why would it be? At least i have confidence gigging it. You have to unscrew the amp from the chassis to change the tubes, it's not too hard. To change the speaker you need to lever the grill out the front of the amp, it's held in by clips - but it will slide out.
Hope this helps someone.

The Celestion Greenback speaker is not to my taste, but again, good quality. The tubes suck. The channel switch is quality, but c'mon, 10 feet of lead? That's not enough for anyone. Sort it out Traynor, it's not hard! There's an easy 10 available here - just stick a bit extra on the price, people are going to spend it anyway!

I use a strat, and I like classic chimey cleans and middley overdrive. Think REM, Radiohead, The Smiths etc. I was after this amp because I wanted to capture the classic Vox sound.

When I first played this amp I could hear the potential, but really, it's only worth a 6 with the crap tubes and Greenback speaker. The bass and mids were farty and uncontrolled, and the highs indistinct.

Changing the tubes sorted most of the mushy mids and some of the flappy bass. However, the highs remain muddy. I did like this sound, it's very warm. I suspect that a lot of people looking for an overdriven Marshall Bluesbreaker sound will be very happy with this amp as is. However, I think the bass is too woolly, and there is not enough clean headroom, at all. It is hard to keep this amp clean at the lowest volumes.

However, I just bought a Celestion Alnico blue speaker, and it is the business! :D Go out and buy one, stick it in this amp, and wow, it shines! There is now acres of bass, but it's tight and controllable. The mids are smoother, but the high end makes the difference, it really chimes. The headroom increases a lot. Initially, this thing had less headroom than my old Laney LC15Rs, but now it is a lot louder. This amp scores a 10 for sound set up like this, it's amazing. This kind of amp was designed for this kind of speaker. God knows why they put a Green in, it's just not the right speaker for the amp IMO.

Built like a tank, but arrived with one preamp tube not working. It had come across the Atlantic Ocean though. Very reliable so far.

No warranty outside US and Canada. Why not? Emails have been replied to, but not very helpfully.

I imported this amp from the US - such is the exchange rate that it came to #360 incl postage. I have spent #70 on tubes, and #90 on a new speaker.

DO NOT buy this amp if you are not prepared to spend a bit of money sorting it out. If you are, it's well worth it. I could have bought a Vox AC15 with the money I spent on this, but I'm glad I didn't. It has features the AC15 doesn't and although I haven't tried one, I can't imagine the Vox sounding better.

Brand new model with the redish tolex and greenback speaker.This amp has plenty of features as already listed by others.

This is the problem area with this amp.I sounded OK in the store with a guitar with Humbucker pups.I was very disapointed with the sound when I got the amp home.P-90s and other single coils sound bad with this amp.The reverb is over powering past 1 and the distortion sounds very cheap.I think this could be due to the greenback speaker.I have retubed with JJs and it still sounds like a fried diode type buzz and not a tube preamp distortion.The store I got this junk from has a no return policy so I am stuck with the amp.It looks good but below par in the sound category.I have tried to keep an open mind but several other players have listened to the amp and they agree that this amp is junk.

Does not matter because the sound is bad.

NA

I guess I must have gotten a bad product or other people on this forum are tone deaf.This amp is just plain awful sounding.

One of the big sells for this amp is that it offers full size amp features in a small amp package. So suffice to say it rates a 10 here. The only dissapointment I had here what that the handle is not leather, but black plastic. If you are going to try for an imitation boutique look, well, then go for the imitation leather handle as well. Planning to replace it. I mean even my Pro Jr had a leather handle. It's a classy looking amp, and the lack of of a leather handle detracts from it's overall look which is why I give it a 9.

I got this amp yesterday and this review is based on first impressions. I have to say that I was somewhat dissapointed. I played a stat+ through it. The clean channel seemed to break up too early and starts to distort when a moderate amount of gain/volume is used. The dirty channel lacks definition and seems muddy. the reverb does not have the lush sound that others have reported and has a tinny hollow sound. I have been playing for 35+ years. This is not the Princeton Reverb I bought in 66', I can tell you that. I have ordered a set of replacement Eurotubes in the hopes that will make a big difference. Based on what others have said about the YCV20, a retube seems to be mandatory. I'm hoping that I will find a big difference and update this review.

Well, it was not doa, but I suspect it is a pretty reliable product.

Any company that gives you a 2 year "even if you break it" has to be commended. Sounds too good to be true, but it is.

I am rating this amp as it comes from the factory, before I retube it so I have to give it just a fair grade. It doesn't matter what it looks like, but it's the tone tone tone that counts.

Traynor YCV20WR. After returning a defective model (reverb problem), I was sent the latest model by the factory outside Toronto with some really great new features. It now has 1/4" heaphone out, D.I. out (3 pin), ext. speaker out and a speaker defeat button. This in addition, to the fx loop and footswtich channel, which were standard before.

The amp has been very reliable so far. (1 month)

I was having a problem with the reverb on the YCV20WR I had before, so I phoned their customer support. I ended up talking with the guy who designed the amp. They were extremely appologetic and sent me a new one straight away. Fantastic customer service.

This amp has two channels, reverb , a bright switch, and a overdrive boost. I bought my new in 2004. The wine red cover and oatmeal grille really give it a boutque look.

I use seth lover semore duncan pick-ups on a cheapo Ibanez af-75. People tell me the sound is killer when I play live. The clean sound is something like a clean Jimmy page sound and the dirty sound is like Neil Young with his Black Les Paul. If you want to hear this guitar go to www.robertgriswold.com. The coolest thing is when you dig in and play harder it breaks up very nicely. When you lay off it purrs with clean tones.

So far pretty reliable.

Pretty good web site.

I played with amp on a live DVD with three guitars, a bass player and a drummer. It cut through with a obe exception. The other players had to back off for my solos BUT THAT WHAT THEY SHOULD DO ANY WAY. You will not win a loud ness contest with this amp. You will win a clean and dirty tube sound contest. I use this in my studio and I can get goods sounds at so low volumes my vocal condenser mic barley pics up a silght ambiant sound.

Two channel amp with gain boost and bright switch for lead channel. 3 X 12ax7 preamp tubes and 2 X el84 power amp tubes, Celestion greenback speaker. Effects loop. Manufactured September 2003.

Great sounds from this amp once you find replacement tubes. I play this mostly at home with an ecclectic variety of guitars including a Gibson CS-336, Epiphone WildKat, Dearmond M-68 and M-70. But the amp has been gigged with Fender Strats and Teles. The YCV-20WR is a surprisingly versatile amp. I play jazzy blues and popular stuff, and my son's bands have used this to play more aggressive rock, punk, and ska. Great clean channel and really sweet drive on the lead channel. While not an exact description, I think this amp does a great job of covering the ground between Fender and Marshall amps. The drive on the lead channel is nice and smooth but can get crazy above 7. Clean channel is very mellow and will start to break up nicely at volume settings above 6. I did have a bit of trouble with noise, but that has been squared away (more on this below).

Well, here's where I had some problems. I did buy this amp used and, considering the price, I got a good deal. First and foremost the stock Sovtek tubes are absolute crap. I had read about the great sound that the Traynor's had and the warnings about the lousy tubes. With the original tubes the clear channel was good, but a bit bright, the gain channel was terrible and noisy. Also, the reverb boinged like a first generation video game. I didn't panic and I experimented I a bit to come up with a very workable setting. I use two NOS RCA 12ax7 in the preamps, a GE jan 5751 for the phase inverter and a couple of Curis Mathes (hey, they were cheap!!) el84s for the amplifiers. The difference is amazing. The gain is much more useable and RF interference has gone away. The sound has warmed up tremendously and the reverb is much sweeter. One of these days, I will spring for a set of JJ's from Eurotubes. If you buy one of these, you must budget for a retube. As the reviewer below states, the 5751 sounded very good in the preamp positions, but I wanted a bit more oomph for my son's harder rock applications. I have only had the amp for a few months and it has hardly gotten a thorough workout, but Traynors have a solid reputation and they do stand behind their products. It seems like it will be reliable.

I actually contacted Traynor twice - once by phone and once by e-mail, and they replied almost immediately. They seem incredibly helpful, friendly and committed to service. I am delighted to deal with such a responsive manufacturer. That two year trrnasferrable "Even if you break it" warranty is for real. These guys are fantastic.

Been playing off and on since the Beatles released "A Hard Day's Night." In addition to the electric guitars listed above, I own a Martin 12-string and an old Epiphone Granada. I have a small Marshall solid state amd an a wonderful Fender Vibro Champ with a Weber Alnico speaker. I love the great clean channel and the ability to switch to a very fine drive channel. This one attractive amp with its oxblood-colored tolex and wheat straw grill cloth. (It is probably the only 112 amp my wife would let me keep in the living room). This Traynor packs a lot of tone (and volume, if you need it) into a compact package. The channel switching is a cool feature and one of the reasons I chose this over the Fender Blues Junior.
I really hate those horrible stock tubes and the placement of the tubes is, as others have mentioned, absolutely idiotic. The good news is they are securely mounted. The bad news is that you need Werner von Braun and a crack team of NASA engineers to swap tubes. A real p-i.t.a when you have to experiment to find a useable tube combination. I really wanted a Fender Deluxe Reverb, but I thouht it was too big and too expensive for my amateur use.
If it this was lost or stolen I would miss it, but I might just take the insurance money and get a Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb instead. But maybe not. That said, it is important to realize that I am actually comparing this Traynor to two of the finest combo amps ever made.

Made in Canada, Class A tube 15 watts, 12 Celestion G12M Greenback speaker. The amp is very quiet for a tube amp, no hisses, pops or buzzes. 3-band EQ, Effects loop, Accutronics spring reverb. Bright switch, Boost on the overdrive channel. Nice red covering and tweed grill, very retro. Footswitch. A lot of features for the money.

I needed a portable killer sound and tried many others. This amp I bought to run my archtops through. I use these guitars to play 30's and 40's chord melody jazz ballads. The clean sound must be glassy, warm and round ... and it is. With the stock SOVTEK tubes the clean channel sounded very good, but with the pre-amp tubes replaced with GE JAN 5751 12ax7's ... unreal. Seriously. Re-tubed this easily compares to Fender Deluxe reverb but the EQ is better. The gain channel is a bit raw for my tastes but i don't care because that's not why i bought it. Others mentioned that they replaced the speaker. I don't know why, the Celestion greenback is wonderful. I have not replaced the power tubes but I may do so.

Well ... I've only had it a little while but a lot is in your favor. (1) It is Canadian made, not from Indonesia, china or someplace offshore. (2) It is built like a tank, tough as nails. (3) it has a superb warranty and the company (Yorkville/Traynor) is legendary for tough gear.

I've owned other Traynor products and never had any trouble with them

If you want a portable, gig-worthy tube amp for very few $$ with professional crystal tone ... this is it.I tried all the smaller fender line (I own a re-issue pro-reverb which I love), VOX AC30, Line 6, etc. etc. Nope, this is the one. 25 years of axe slinging. Love the finger style jazz ballads but can't resist cranking up the Strat to wail on the blues too. This amp is a keeper. I would replace and re-tube if lost or stolen.

eVERONE HAS PRETTY MUCH DESCRIBED THIS TO A T...

i USE p90 les paul and a 72 tele thinline - so single coils and humbuckers. -Both sound great but really only like the clean channel as the "dirty" one is a bit much, i used to own marshalls back in the mid 80's and it has the rasp of the mashalls but not really the presence- but i like CLEAN CLEAN tone anyways so maybe just me - i play strictly blues, being a texas boy and all, but CLEAN. I replaced the celestion w/ a tone tubby alnico and and it made a HUGE difference - much fuller, i tryed a weber before the tubby and it was still better than the celestion but thought i'd try the tubby(12-150-T also great speaker). I also replaced the CRAP tubes with NOS RCA 12ax7 and EL84 's a must and it really pumped up this little amp - i can get the glassy tone of a fender twin but at a useably volume and a almost VOX like tone it i want. It is loud enough for a small club ( actually easily), other wise mike it- distortion on clean channel can start to rise towards the top of the scale. Reverb is good, not crap like the little fender blues pile-o-crap.
over all i really like it - easy to carry and with a few easy mods a giant killer

Seems rock solid guys -but only 8 month old- who need a back up?

also respond to my emails very quickley and friendly(asked about speaker loads etc...)

been playing 25 yrs, had everthing from marshall JCM800's to twins, blues jr etc.. this sounds as good as any amp i've owed, may noty be as loud but easy to carry!

2004 model YCV20 WR. 15 cathode-biased class A watts from 2 EL84s, 3 12AX7s. 2 channel 1x12 with a Celestion Greenback speaker, wine red tolex and wheat colored grill. 3-band shared EQ, independent gain and volume for both channels, boost on drive channel, presence button on clean. Efx loop. For a tiny 15-watt tube combo.

Nice sound, not as clean as a fender tweed but still a nice clean sound.The overdrive kicks ass!Reminds me of my marshall jcm800.Certanally one of the best sounding amps for the buck.

This is were the problem comes in. After 2 day's of playing this baby the cab started rattling.Then i started getting a terrible hum when i overdrove her.put new tubes in.This did not correct the problem.Returned it and purchased a gibson ga15r goldtone which blows this amp away as far as sound and quality,yes i did have to pay an extra $300 for the goldtone but was well worth the extra cash.

Traynor has a great warenty,but if i spend my money on something and it's a lemon i get my money refunded and look elsewere.

Clean sound was o.k nothing to get excited about.but the overdrive was awsome on this amp. If you love natural distortion this is a great sounding amp.Returned it and purchased a gibson ga15r goldtone which blows this amp away as far as sound and quality.Doubt that all traynors are this bad just got a bad taist in my mouth,it worked out for the best i am much happier with my goldtone.