Traynor YCV40

This amp was probably made in 2001-2002. I can't complain at all with it's quality! Versatility is endless...Great for anything from blues to metal. Came with a footswitch (most amps around here, have to buy separately). The OD channel sounds awesome, and so does the reverb! I've brought this amp everywhere, from rehersal to a gig! Still sounds awesome! Gotta love those tubes!

I'm using this amp with a cort 7 string electric! Sounds heavy as hell! Lot of weight! Also, just and old BC Rich warlock, can get either a heavy sound, or a nice clean acoustic sound!

It's all good! Never let me down at all!

Warranty was great, but this amp's so reliable that i never had to deal with them!

I would strongly recommend this amp! I went to the music store looking for a Marshall stack for approx 1500$, but the guy at the shop convinced me after trying it out, to buy this amp! He had said that I would get the marshall sound for half the price!....SOLD!
And also it's made in Canada!!!

Great amp. Features already listed. This is my third one!!!!40 tube watts of very giggable amp here folks.

I use a G&L bluesboy and a rickenbacker 330 with it. I love the channel switching so that you can go from one set channel to the other as well as to a boosted overdrive " on the fly."
What that means boys and girls is that you no longer need a footpedal for a tube distorted sound. This featuure makes it my best" players" That and the fact it is portable.
I've used premium celestions live and CTS alnicos and on and on and never ever has anyone noticed. Well, maybe that indicates I suck too eh? This 70/80 works well with this amp.I like to play, not tweak. I checked the tubes, they're sovtex, sound just fine. Not the clean sparkle of a super reverb blackface, but then again it isn't a super reverb, it is 1/4 the price and a lot more portable. ( The fender is in the closet for studio gigs.)
I have found it best to use little eq. I have nothing over 5 except the reverb. Otherwise this amp can sound harsh. ( That took me three of these to learn) My advice, go easy and play it hard.

Solid. The preamps tubes are hard to get at. Since they last about 5 years guess I'll deal with it later.
Customer service is the best on the planet. Polite and competent Canadian boys who rock.
This is my third one because I kept looking for a more magical clean sound. I found it in the blackface and another boutique amp. However neither channel switch and you need pedals. I don't like worrying about how long the battery will last in anything I do. Best to go straight and eat your wheaties.Live is tough enough without dead cords, pedals that sound different from at home etc. I keep buying it because it has a solid sound and is great live. Yeah someone figured out it is not point to point wiring. Well, best warranty anywhere so I guess they're confident. So am I. I'll keep it now that I've learned to dial back the eg. Figured this out by a/b it with the super reverb. Like a good lead, more is less.....

Excellent!!!!!!Listening Fender?????Marshall, forget it. I had a 40 watter, one tone overheating piece of refuse.

too long. Hvae other stuff but this is my " go to amp" for gigs. Great size, guitar in one this in the ohter. Line out if you need to be louder, go with the board, no mic needed. Reverb is a little understated though, have to really crank it.

2 channel clean/overdrive. Reverb. Extension Speaker Out(very handy). No Master Volume (which they have wisely added to newer YCV models I now see).

Straight out of the box it sounds good enough. The clean channel chimes through nicely with the help of the "Bright" button. The overdrive channel breaks up nicely, giving a warm, grainy, marshallesque distortion. The tone is also nice and transparent, allowing your guitar's personality to really come through.

***IMPORTANT***
You will never hear the great sounds this amp is capable of if you don't:
a) replace the speaker in the combo
or
b)add an additional 1x12 or 2x12 extension cabinet to your rig.(recommended)

I found an old junker 20$ extension cabinet, bought two Eminence 12" speakers (Governor and Private Jack - great speakers) and the difference after this addition is night and day. Don't get me wrong, I love this amp in it's original form for lower volume/bedroom playing. However, to me the stock Celestion 12" just doesn't stand up to performance needs at higher volumes. Flip on the boost feature and you'll hear what I'm talking about. Not only do new quality speakers improve the clean channel and light distortion, it also allows you to push this thing hard enough to get some heavier distortion. Downright amazing. It's a 10 with the new speakers, but they're not included, so...

Had it for a 1 & 1/2 years. Other than one shot powertube there's never been any hassle at all. This should be no surprise considering the name on the amp.

I've sent a few emails asking about recommended tube replacements, etc. They've always been quick to answer and given exactly the info I've been looking for. Also, seeing as how Yorkville/Traynor and Long & McQuade pretty much go hand in hand here in Canada, I wouldn't expect to ever run into problems with replacement parts or servicing.

Great out of the box, amazing with the addition of a speaker or two. For pretty much nay genre of rock, be it soft or hard, there is no better, more versatile tube amp in this price range. I knew the first day I played through it I'd be keeping it around for a long time

This is a follow up review just to let people who are looking at getting this amp, but worried about spending extra money on a new speaker and tubes, know that you probably don't need to... For me (and I play loud blues/rock and clean country)the only thing it needed was a 12au7 in v2 (the middle preamp tube postion) this gave more clean headroom, eliminated the noise on the clean channel, lowered the gain on the overdrive channel (but only a bit, and I never run it maxxed) and made the boost usable rather than too loud.

Just recently I got a Weber "load dump" attenuator (they're cheap check it out)because I'm getting tired of ringing ears. Now my OD sound is just what I want 'cause I can actually use output tube distortion to get those beautiful harmonics going. I was happy before, now I'm even happier.

Still not the holy grail, but getting closer (almost a nine really)I'll try some Yellowjackets soon and let you know.

Has everything you really need.

It's a budget boutique amp, for real. Just give it some time and effort and forget about any other junk amps you have owned. You can coax about any useful sound you need out of the amp. Forget that you aren't getting the nth degree of tone, change something if you have to, and just rock on.

It blew a tube and took out a grid resistor soon after I got it. It could have been the other way around as the grid resistor was 22 ohms instead of 220 ohms.

Fixed it myself and installed a set of NOS Tung-Sol 5881 and JJ preamp tubes. Rocks better than new. Had the amp since early 2003.

The cabinet can take a real beating. Great amp for taking out and gigging. If you want to save a high dollar boutique amp, get this as your backup. Transformers are Canadian Hammonds and look fairly hefty.

Tech rep correctly guessed the grid resistor was the culprit. Went to the Rat Shack and bought some resistors and had the amp up again in 2 hours.

It's a budget boutique amp that you just buy and forget about while searching for the amp you want for the rest of your life. When you find it, this is your backup and rough duty amp. If you don't, I seriously doubt you have missed a lot anyway, so play on bro! PCB amps are a little harder to repair and lack the last degree of ruggedness. That's how the cost stays low, however. That said, I never heard of one with a serious failure yet. I'd take it over a Fender or Marshall any day. It's a reality amp. I bought mine used in excellent condition as it was a store demo unit. I quit buying new gear a long time ago.

this amp was 2003 production model


@ 40 watts this amp is mostly too powerful for a small to med sized room but i still really like it.

is very comparable to new fender production amps.
nicer overdrive.

I am still experimenting with most of the features but i would like to replace the prescence with a master volume knob so i could crank up the clean channel.

Has anyone ever done this? I would like to hear if it's possible.

IT also has wine coloured tolex and gold mesh over the speaker...looks very nice

Birch ply cabinet is what you want for the road.

the original footswitch burned out but i got a new one for free and no probs since

i use a variety of guitars with this amp

fender fat strat with a tapped seymore duncan in the bridge position

stock SG special faded series

'02 Les Paul Standard

parts Tele with symore duncan 1/4 pounder in the bridge position and cheap-o neck p/u

YCV40 really brings out the character of each guitar very nicely. I like the way my tele sounds through it especially

our band plays a wide variety of covers from Brittny Spears to Metallica. we gig every weekend ieverywhere from very small rooms to halls.

I have been reading many of these reviews for several months in an attempt to get some hints on how taylor my sound the way I imagine it in my head. Many people suggest retubing and replacing the stock speaker. I Spent all my money on the amp so my review will be based on the factory specs (stock speaker, Sovetek tubes). I also own the 80 watt 4/10 version of the same amp (YCV80). The reason i got the smaller version was because the 4/10 was too heavy to take to reheasal. The fist week i owned YCV40 i gigged with it in a town called Halibuton ON at the Northwood Inn (in case any of you know it you know the size of the room) which is a medium small room with high ceilings. In this place the amp sounede soooo good i couldn't believe it. Two weeks later we played in a room not much bigger than my living room and it sounded not great.

This led me to an important conclusion which i am sure many of you already are aware of - a tube amps tone is invariably affectd by the volume you operate it at.

I run the overdriven channel distortion at about 2-3 and turn the volume up between 5 and 7---- amazing, it sounds great. Anywhere out side of that its iffy.

tha is not an inherent flaw in the amplifier... it is the nature of tubes and speakers.

this amp at 5 will rip your head right off so for 50% of our gigs it's way too loud. the other 45% it's very nice. The other 5% (very big rooms the 80 watter is best.

I have tried every box you can imagine... tube screamer... Diamond Drive(a very nice Canadian made distort pedal incidently)... boss.. DOD...Danelectro..many types of pedals. All of them detract from the tone of the amp.

As for killer tone at manageabel volumes.. someone has suggested an attenutaor, which is a device that goes between the amplifier and the speaker and soaks up wattage, thoeretically allowing you to dial in your tone at most any volume. I priced the Marshall Power Brake..it costs more than a 15 watt version of this amplifier (YCV20). I personally think if you play small to medium sized clubs that is your best bet.. 15 watts cranked with a 12" extension. That's the way to go baby. OF course i prefer a warmer overdrive sound.


I have had this amp sounding a million different ways from sublime to total shite.It is quite good for anything except very heavy music like korn say or disturbed. It sounds best pushing the midrange. IT moves air well... cranked you feel it as much as hear it, i really like that. Zep - AC/DC - Who... that's what this amp was made for.

All you have to do is turn it way up.

excepting the footswitch issue, no probs so far......

Yorkville is an industry leader with their warranty. One of the best

I'v been playing a long time. it wa only until about 5 years ago since i graduated college that i have been able to really afford a nice amp. I still can't afford a very vintage Fender or custom boutiqe amp.. but for half the price of those i boutght two brand new traynors. I don't worry about taking them to gigs. They perform extremely well when applied correctly. Really great warranty. Made in Canada as well! Don't be afraid to buy Canadian. I could have bought a Hot Rodded Deville, but this one sounded better. I will probably buy the 15 watt version sometime in the near future. Super high end and ultravintage (amps that are impossibe or difficult to replace) are things i would have a hard time taking out of my home to gig where they could possibly be damaged or stolen. The Traynors i don't worry as much. They perfom as good (especially to your audience's ears as they are not as attuned to sublties in tone and are usually drunk anyway) as something twice the price.

This is a folow up to my previous review of a few weeks ago. This amp was made in 2002. This amps still has 'it'. I have added a few things....I replaced all the 12AX7s with 7025s, a more hi-fi version of the 12AX7/ECC83 family. I also switched from the 5881s to 6L6s for power.
This amp has now become a 'hard rock' machine....It is very much 'in yer face' kind of sound. Hard and loud enough to compete against Marshall, Fender, Boogie, and the 'boutique' kids.

I have used a friend's US Strat, A Godin Detour, A Godin Exit-22, and roland G-303...The Detour has 2-humbuckers (like an SG, but heavier sound), The Exit-22S has 2 single coils, and h-bucker at the bridge position. The Roland G-303 has a sound all its own. The Detour sounded thick and creamy in Channel 1, especially with the 'boost' on. The Exit-22 was superb in the clean channel, especially with the single coils. The g-303, works well on all channels, and funny enough the Boss Heavy metal pedal works wonders for this guitar. Is this a secret from Roland/Boss?

This amp is still working, both live and in the studio. No breakdowns yet.

You know what I feel about Yorkville/Traynor/Long&McQuade. Very good people.

Been playing for a few years. I am now thinking of buying the 2-10" speaker version of the same amp, and a couple of extension cabinets. The only advice I can give people who don't like this amp or the Traynor line is to 'really sit down, use good guitars, get their chops together, and work with this amp'. Good guitarists are not bad work-men that constantly blame their 'tools'. This amp rocks.

The amp is quite new about 2003/2004. At first the novelty of the amp lulled me into a false sense of satisfaction. However after listening to other bands /equipment I see how bad this thing really is. Even the clean channel sounds dull and lifeless. Distortion sounds like you just plugged a $10 cheapy effect box in. Very bad. Yes sounds loud but poor qualityntone generally

I'm using USA strat with Texas specials. Sounded sublime through my old Peavy 50 tweed. This Traynor 40 has no character. Distortion either too aggressive or too meek with very little variety

Reliability is a no go word at the moment. 6 months after getting this amp it has noe decided that it won't work. That is , on switching on it takes 15 minutes before it lets a note through and then it buffers and hollers like a choking gofer. After about 30 mins it seems ready to work. Th amp has been used very few times - only gigged it once!

No local dealer where I live - anyway the warranty expired

Been playing for 30 years - an old hand. Would never go for Traynor again. By the way what's the point of having a presence dial - it does NOTHING.I'll be going for Fender Hot Rod Tweed Reissue next.

Sorry but that's my experience.

This amp was made in 2002. I bought it used from the local music store that is the retail arm of Yorkville (&Traynor) This is a very versatile amp for so many styles that the it's amazing that it cost so little. It it a 2-channel amp (clean, and distortion, with a third stage switch for overdrive). there is a an effects loop (very handy), but no headphone jack (I don't need that).
This amp has all the features required as a small studio amp and for playing small club gigs. It is rated at 40 watts, but it sounds quite a bit louder. It kicks my Fender Deluxe reverb's ass, so I sold that for big bucks.

I have three main guitars..Godin Acousticaster (elctro-acoustic), Godin Detour solid-body with dual humbuckers and a vintage Roland G-303 guitar made by Ibanez for the Roland GR-Series synth of the 80s. The 303 has two humbuckers, but very unique tones that is neither Fender nor Gibson.
I think Pat Metheny uses one of those.
The amp is perfect for these guitars, especially for Studio work. The clean channel is nice and bright, while the distortion/overdrive channel is perfect for 'shredding' on lead parts, especially at lower volumes. Sometimes, to tame the distortion, I might use some Boss effx.pedals or the Lee Jackson (Metaltronix GP-1000 tube guitar pre.)to dial in some alternative tones.

I can depend on this amp. I have used it on gigs with no back-ups. I wish I could say that about my Marshall and Fenders.(I sold the Fender and the Marshall). The amp has not broken down yet. I am a careful owner and user. I don't thrash my gear. I have a stockpile of all tube types, for replacments. Did I say I run a recording studio? The motto is, always be 'prepared'

I have been dealing with Yorkville, Traynor, and Long & Mcquade (retail division) for over 25 years. The staff is top notch. Most importantly, their kits are built to last.The warranty is unbeatable. Having met one of the CEOs of the organisaton several times, all I can say I am very impressed with how focussed the company is about customer service and support. Most other corporation should take 'business' lessons from these guys, about being nice to your customers, replying e-mails, having a real 'human person' answer phone calls, and honoring your warranties unconditionally.

I have been playing guitars and bass for many years, and in many styles. I left the road to run a studio. I have owned a lot of guitars, basses and amps over the past 30 years, and I finally settled on the 79 Music-Man Sting-Ray Bass, Godin Acousticaster, Godin Detour, and Roland (Ibanez) G-303. I have owned and played thro' Marshall, Fender, Sound City, Simms-Watts, Jim Kelly, Music-Man, and Mesa amps. I still believe that for the price and 'features' the Traynor YCV-40 'smokes' all of them, at least to my ears. All the expensive 'boutique amp' manufacturers should take note, and learn from Traynor.....a production model that really 'rocks'.
Of course, there is always a wish-list, but I am having too much fun with this amp right now to care.
By the way, if you are discovering Canadian audio products for the first time, check out the 'new' Yorkville line of combo bass rigs for 'studio' and 'live'...If you are a studio owner, don't miss out BRYSTON POWER AMPS to power your studio monitors...that's another Canuck powerhouse company that gives you up to 20 years warranty on their products. I own 3 Bryston 4B power amps.

This is a 2 channel 40 watt amp, with ch. select switch (foot pedal included!), each with its own eq. and volume ch.1 has gain and a boost switch, ch.2 has a bright switch. Reverb is global as is the presence, standby switch and power lamp. 11 knobs to tweak your tone and volume favors, nicely placed on the top of the cabinet. On the back you will find the on off switch, effects loop ex. speaker jack, jack for foot pedal. 1-12 inch Celestion speaker. 2-6L6 and 3 12AX7's run this puppy, which is about the most common tube setup you find these days in amps this size. Built in Canada +1.

I wanted a smooth clean jazz tone with my Archtop, some twang for my Tele for country and also be able to grind some rocks with it when I feel in the mood using my SG or LP. I think this amps fits the bill, I did not try this amp with a Strat or the LP, but used my Tele, since I feel if it sounds good, with the LP will sound great. I was impressed with the over all quality of the several tones I could get. Not quite as Fendery as my Twin Reverb but way better than I expected. Once I got used to the amp's tone adjustments it was a breeze to find what I wanted. Very cool, warm and fuzzy yet not way over the top.

This is where I get fussy, so hold on to your hotdog. Several things I didn't like: Most important one first.

#1. The PC mounted tube sockets, that's a biggie with me, they work fine from the start but the chance of BREAKING THE PC BOARD when changing tubes will increase the chances of a faliure in the future, it also increases the heat transferred to the PC board and 6L6's run to hot for this to be a good thing. BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING AND REPLACING THE TUBES!!! Point is they should always mount the tubes on the metal chassis. This is one place not to cut corners.

#2. 1/4 watt resistors were used instead of 1/2 watt in several locations (come on there aren't Solid State amps), okay, I know just about everyone is doing these days it saves a few bucks but these are not expensive parts, and are part of the reason so many old Fenders are still in service today, they were over built with good parts through them. I'm sure the 1/4 watt grid resistors will hold up fine until a tube blows, and it will someday, then I would consider a 1/2 watt flame proof as a replacement.

#3. I don't like power chords that un-plug from the amp. I've seen it happen too many times, somebody forgets their power chord, bummer. Attach that puppy to the amp, I think the earlier YCV40 had them permanently attached on the underside of the cahssis and they should be.

All that said there some good points to ponder.

A+. The Cathode bias or what ever they are calling it is a good idea and may help tube life.

A+. A standby switch, so many companies are leaving off new amps, and I don't know why?

A+. Plywood cabinet, the best way to build a road worthy amp.

Other reports say they are good. I have no experience with them.

I've been searching for a new amp for about a year, I looked at several other amps and nothing has really caught my eye. I may purchase this amp because I like the tone and the size is right for my use. I have always liked Traynor amps but never owned one, most my 40 years of playing I've used Fender amps, but I am dissatisfied with all the new Fenders I've seen, cheap and poorly built, not the way I remember Fender. I'm putting this amp in the top 3 as a replacement for my '66 Deluxe Reverb.