Traynor YCV40

You get three tones (clean, crunch and overdrive). The really great feature about this amp is the fact that although it has 2 channels, there is a boost on the lead channel that really sends it into overdrive(basically a 3rd channel). Also the reverb is great for playing clean stuff.
Knobs are all found on the top of the amp(rear mount), which I find makes it a lot easier to adjust levels when playing..you don't have to hunch over on your knees to get the right levels. Also the knobs are "chicken beak" style, which I find easy, and durable.

This amp is very versatile. For most fo my gigs I play everything from classic rock, blues, and even pop. I would say it sounds best for SRV, and Hendrix style guitar playing(blues and classic rock). The clean channel is absolutely great for blues, very rich & smooth. The lead channel is great for classic rock stuff, and the extra boost option on the lead channel is great for squeezing out that little more overdrive. With a Boss DS-1 or similar pedal, you can achieve even more of a heavy sound(keep in mind though it's not a Marshall stack or 5150 combo).
This is a 40 watt tube amp, so it's pretty loud for a combo. I play smaller to medium venues with a full band, and I've never had a problem with it not being loud enough. I find since it is a tube amp, it really shines at higher volumes.

The thing is built like a rock, very, very solid! I've hauled this to gig after gig, without any problems what so ever.

Never had any problems with the amp(this is my second Traynor I've owned).

For the price, I don't really think you can get a better bang for your buck. I've owned many amps throughout my years of playing, and I can honestly say I'm very pleased with this product. Great for gigs, and gives you lots of tube juice for a 40 watt combo!
I would highly recommend this amp to any player..especially if your into playing blues.

Don't know when it was made. I bought it used for $420. Features are kinda standard 2 channel amp features. The presence control is absolutely necessary. I was surprised to find it doesn't have a footswitchable FX loop, which would have been nice for an amp sold for over $700 new. DUH! I use this amp for everything now, but I must admit the speaker hiss is quite pronounced when it's on, even with the volume turned all the way down. Surely they could have done a better job with that, but hey it's still a low priced all tube amp so I can live with it.

I'm using everything on this amp: Pedals, no pedals, Les Paul, Tele, Strat, hybrid, etc. I give it high marks for accepting all of those inputs so well. That's what is so important to me: That I can have a one size fits all amp that still has character.

As far as sound quality: You've read it all below. Change the worthless speaker to make it into a good amp! I ended up with an Eminence Swamp Thang and figured I could get away it, since the amp is SO bright. (Does it really need a bright switch anyway? It's too bright already) I would have preferred a Greenback or Texas Heat, but this one works.

CHANGE THE PREAMP TUBES at the very least, so you can get a decent sound out of it. The stock Sovteks are very brash sounding. I will change the power tubes eventually, but I can live with them for now.

The clean channel is why I bought it. I want it to cut through anything yet not be shrill. GREAT eq on the clean side! The dirty channel(s) are worthless in my opinion, though I can get a couple of decent tones out of the crunch channel. That has more to do with the power tubes. I love 6l6's for clean stuff because they can stay so clean at high volumes, but I don't like the way they amplify preamp distortion in a tube amp.

It's a slightly less-right Twin sound for sure, but the reverb would have been better off left on the floor. The most terrible reverb in an all tube amp I have ever heard. Dial it above 7 and you experience a huge loss in volume. Junk circuit.

So I like it for the clean stuff and it's EQ flexibility, which is why I bought it.

I'm very confident in this product. Built very well and needs little care. The schematics from the website are by far the best I've seen from amp makers, including revisions. So clear and full of all the little tweaks done on the production line. I'm confident I will only have to call customer support if one of the transformers die. The rest of the parts are generally available.

However, see my note below about changing the tubes!

No idea.

One last thing: Design is still a little weird. Case in point: The preamp tubes are behind a shiled held up by 4 or 5 screws that are WAYYYyyyyy too over-torqued. It took me 30 minutes to remove the power tubes first, then the shield with it's super tight screws, then finally get to the preamp tubes. Lesson is: Don't plan on being able to swap out tubes in the middle of a gig. The power tubes will have to be removed to get to the shield, and they will be hot. Then you'll need a solid #2 Philips screwdriver. It would be best to "break" those screws open long before you actually need to. ;)

mine is a 2002 model 2 channel but its realy a 3 channel amp with the boost switch,it as a great effects loop ,bright sw on the clean channel,reverb is weak compared to my fender princeton reverb,thats why i give it a 9 and not a ten cause i realy like a good spring reverb,other then that the amp will do it all and with class, from super fender blackface clean to fender reverb overdrive to marshall super lead crunch to jcm 800 lead and realy agresive metal if you use a booster if front of the drive channel i use a tonebone classic distortion on overdrive setting and it sounds great a la modded plexi.

try one out youll see what i mean its not a plug and play amp it takes a bit of time and tweaking to get it to what you want just like anny good bootique amp its not bootique but it sounds freaking better then allot of bootique amp i owned and that lotsa,em,the clean channel sounds amazing like a cross between princeton reverb and vibrolux kinda thing, the dirty channel is kinda vintage sounding on its own but with a good booster in front of it and a bit of eq tweaking and a eq in the loop i get the best distortion or crunch i have ever got from anny amp from peavey to bogner and everything in between ,and the best part is its made right here in canada but i dont see it ever breaking down and it shows that canadian engenering is far superior than many in every way LOL.. ok im getting ahead of myself sorry,in sumary this amp sounds freaking great the complexity and harmonics of the tone is to die for.

the best waranty in the buisness, i dont think it will ever break down built like the persone who actualy made it cared..

i emailed them about the reverb thing and they emailed me back the same day best customer service ever..

at half the price of a marshall a quarter of the price of a soldano or bogner you get 10 times better tone then marshall 2 time better tone then a soldano and just a bit better tone then bogner xtc , that reminds me the distortion channel with my boost and tweaks sound incredebly close to my bogner xtc red channel with ts 808 in front of it to tighted it up a bit,,the amp is very dynamic to pic attack and nuances from you fingers, very punchy and the mid complexity is out of this world , its the best channel switcher combo i have ever had the pleasure to play it does fender vox and marshall all with the flick of the switch.....

and at this price range i dont know how they can do it, its an incredeble amp the rewards you with the best all tube tone ever created...

very loud 40 watt, 2 channel,2 EQ,reverb, boost for even more distortion, presence, bright switch, external cabinet input.All the great features that every amp must have.

The quest of the sound....I had a Marshall JCM900 head and 1960 cab, after i bought a pricy Koch multitone 2x12 3500$, it was not my kind of amp,a fender blues deville, too loud and the overdrive was just overdrive. I also had a fender superchamp xd 15 watt, low cost and a lot of features but not good to play with a band and finally i gave a chance to the traynor YCV40. WOW! I have a clean with a lot of bass, less brighter than a fender, very responsive like a boutique amp, you will forget fender clean after this. Because what you have with that clean, it's a blend of vox and marshall distortion, again , very responsive, a la hendrix and when you need that extra boost in that song or the entire song, you have it. It's simple to get a good sound too. I set the gain around 6 and it bring me back with a vintage marshall or a hotrodded with the boost. A nice clean and a nice distortion in one amp. Combined with my cabinet of 4 celestion greenback, it's the paradise. That's what i need !

Auto-bias. No need for a tech if you know a little on tubes.What can i say more. Very solid construction. Made in Canada in toronto.

I wish the canadians are as good as the french canadians ;)

For the price of around 800$, it's hard to find another amp with a nice clean and a nice distortion. I am plenty happy with the traynor. That's a hidden secret for the quest of the tone.

I have owned this amp for about 5 years now, and bought it used from someone who had it a few years before that, so it's been put through the paces. I love the size of this amp! It is just the right size cabinet to give a big enough sound without being a huge pain to haul around. I play mainly modern Alternative Rock and Blues Rock and I strive for a tone as close as I can get to John Mayer on his Continuum album. I also love the versatility the amp has. My favorite overdrive is when I have my clean channel cranked up to about 7 and let her scream. The overdrive is also very good and I tend to leave it on the OD channel without the boost most of the time. Generally, for the size of venues I play, which are usually small to mid-size, I leave my drive at about 4 and my volume anywhere from 2 to 5. It is MORE than loud enough for any venue I've played. I generally just love to rock out on rhythm and throw in an occasional screaming lead line.

I actually took the suggestion from reviewers here and put in a Celestion Greenback, and WOW. My amp went from great to even better! I like how the tone became more edgy but without any harshness. I like my sound anywhere from super clean, to a nice blues-rock crunch or even with a little twang. I always play through a strat so the sound is bright and driving. I generally use my beefy neck pickup and switch to the bridge for bright soloing. I rarely turn my overdrive past 5 because I don't really care for that much drive. It gets so driven that it nearly gets a Marshall-esque hard rock tone, but that's not really my bag. I think the amp is more in the Fender league to compare to a popular vendor. As others have said, think Fender Deluxe with better overdrive built in and more character. There is also a boost channel, which actually really rocks, but I rarely use it because it gets really crunchy. I also can't forget the spring reverb which I like to turn up and I love!! I prefer using this amp withouth any effects, but all I need is a tube tremolo and I'm set!

This amp is a trooper. I was stupid several years ago and left it in my cold basement during the winter. One day during practice it suddenly started billowing white clowds of smoke!! I had it serviced and $100 and a tube replacement later, I had an ever better sounding amp than when I cooked it. The repair tech said that if I would have played it 5 minutes longer, it would have been on fire. Other than that incident, which was my fault, of course, this amp has been lugged around all over the place without a hitch. I've bashed it all over the place and it still looks and sounds great. I also like the the tubes are very protected and won't get jolted around.

Never dealt with them and don't really see a reason that I'll have to.

I've been playing guitar for fun for about eight years now. I'm actually a college graduate in recording, so I am very picky about tone and getting good sounds, not as a guitar expert, but just as someone with good ears. The Traynor really fits the bill for me. I like having an amp that is really attractive and different from what everyone else has. As I said, I don't really use effects even though I crave a tube tremolo and I am considering adding a tap tempo delay. Other than that, I love sticking to the spring reverb. This amp is a great choice if you want to perhaps stray away from the Fender world. I don't know if they've changed over time, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the tone and versatility that this amp has to offer.

Just an update to my previous review from about 2 years ago. I just replaced the speaker with a Celestion Vintage 30 (actually I ordered it from Avatar speakers, I got the broken in Celestion V30, which they have rebranded as the Hellatone 60). Wow, what a difference!! The improvement in both the clean and dirty channel is so huge, I wish I would have done this change earlier. That weird nasally sound from the 70/80 speaker is gone. The clean channel now sounds huge, clear and spanky, and the dirty channel sounds gritty (in a good way) and more articulate. If you don't have an extension cab with good speakers, I strongly recemond the Vintage 30 for this amp! Changing the speaker makes a much bigger difference than changing tubes.

No problems in the 2+ years I've had this amp.

good set of features. the reverb is pretty pathetic and can't be activated with a switch, so i'll give it an 8. other than that, the separate EQ for the two channels is excellent.

i'll go in depth here. i've had this amp for almost three years now, so i know it very well. here's the rundown:

clean channel -- very bassy, in a good way. the mids and highs can be a little bit 'spike to the ear'ish, so you'll probably find yourself rolling back the EQ on that and sticking with a bass on 10, mid and treble on 5 kind of setting, and ignore the bright switch altogether. the bright switch adds buzz and hiss anyway. the clean channel at first gives the impression of being shockingly loud, because with the volume on anywhere between 1 and 4 you can really fill a small room with sound. however, when you crank it to 10, it doesn't get a hell of a lot louder. it just breaks up a lot. so i'll say that the clean channel is quite loud, and it breaks up fairly easily. it sounds really nasty when you set it to 10 -- nasty in a good way (think Sister Ray). the clean channel also sounds great with a distortion pedal, because of that bass response.

distortion channel -- much, much less bass than the clean channel. less treble too. it's more of a low mid to high mid sound. sounds pretty mediocre at medium levels of gain. if you want to play a slightly saturated rhythm part, i would recommend a more classic tube amp. as someone below said, the sound you get for that is a little cold. however, if you turn the gain to 10 and hit the boost switch, you get a fantastic lead sound. with the gain on 10, turning up the volume knob really smooths out the tone if you like a brian may kind of tone (i don't).

reverb -- don't bother, it's junk.

re: changing the tubes -- i put in set of 6l6s from the 40s (actually, the ancient predecessor of the modern 6l6) just because i thought "well, if you're going to hear a difference in tone with any tube change, it'd be this one." guess what? sounds exactly the same. don't bother! save your money for alcohol or something.

re: changing the speaker -- never tried it. might be good.

mine has been slowly picking up problems, now including a buzzing input jack and some other little things. i've generally treated it pretty well. something tells me it'll end up in a dumpster someday...

it's a good amp. you can definitely get great sounds from it, and it's more than loud enough for live performance. but the reverb is bad, and a number of the settings yield cold or ear piercing tones. still, i recommend it, with the caveat that you can probably get a 60s or 70s tube traynor for $200 that'll sound like a marshall set on fire. this'll run you three times that new.

Features are well outlined elsewhere. The channel switching is a great feature with two independent Eq's and volume controls. Just hit the (included) footswitch. This is a great players budget boutique amp made by the legendary Traynor brand, in North America.
It is the most versatile amp I've owned and I've owned quite a few, if you need a sweet singing overdrive and fender cleans.

I play rock, country and 80's new wave with this. Just straight in or with a delay sometimes. I use Teles and a G&L Legacy.
I see this amp has attracted a few tweekers. Great. I just play through it. Although I did upgrade the celestion to a better one, i later traded it back out as it was TOO efficient and could not be played quietly at home for the home studio.
I am happy with it stock. Back off the levels to not exceed 5 on treble and it sounds pretty smooth even with a telecaster. Very quiet. Russinan tubes? Same as my marshall replacement tubes.

Tough as nails. Not too heavy. I use a cover ( the one for the fender deluxe fits.) I carry extra output tubes and they are a breeze to change out. No need to rebias and I appreciate that. Solid plywood cab with a hidden speaker grill made out of steel. Looks good too.Traynor stuff is legendary in this regard. Yup it is manufactured using modern production techniques. But it also isn't $20000.00
I'll buy that,,,,,and i did.

I can't say they're the best on the planet as I haven't used everyone on the planet, however they are the best I have ever used. They respond to emails usually in one day and are very helpful when trying to find matching cabinets, and about any other technical question. Also they speak in plain language ( used to dealing with guitar players not engineers.) Mike rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Been playing long enough. I wanted a cross between my marshall jcm 800 2205, and fender super reverb. It comes very close. I still have the super for the studio, but this one is easier to haul around and I don't worry about caps failing or scratchy pots. I use the super in the studio but live, nothing touches this as an excellent compromise. I mean, it sounds good and it's handy. Kinda like me except I'm not handy. Well sometimes I don't sound too good either but you get it.Editor's pick award and under ( substantially under) 1 k . Try one. You'll find yourself in good hands. The best players amp I've ever used.!!!!!!!

2004 Traynor YCV40, 12" Celestion 70/80 speaker, Sovtek tubes, external speaker jack and effects loop, standby switch, 3 channel/2 button footswitch, solid plywood cab.

The good? I have a Les Paul and an American Strat so the whole guitar sound spectrum is more or less covered. Its a relatively quiet amp even with settings on high gain. Despite its stock arsenal of the cheapest of cheap pre-amp tubes (Sovtek 12AX7WA x 3)they deliver considerable distortion in the lead channel: (think Randy Rhodes even) The Sovtek 5881 WXT power tubes are considered harsh by many but I rather liked their gritty break-up. BTW, JJ6L6GC as well as most others will make the amp MUCH louder. In most cases, that is a good thing but the nice theing about these Sovtek cheapy 5881 tubes is that they overdrive and crunch at a little over half the volume of higher quality tubes. Bad if you gig, good if you play at home and don't want to go deaf but still want to enjoy some overdriven tube tone. (My Blues Jr. is as loud as the Traynor when both amps are running their stock tubes, and my Blues Jr. is only 15 watts!)So, its basically an extremely well built(solid plywood)Canadian made amp that is attractive in its black tolex skin with useful, although none-too-shiny chrome corner protectors. Fit and finish was excellent. Finally, it has AUTO BIASING, which means you can damn near shove in any tube that will fit in the socket(double check this though!) as long as they can handle the wattage and its supposed to balance them out; a seemingly attractive feature made to draw in those intimidated by the whole tube thing. Finally, the Accutronics reverb tank is the best I've ever heard as its 0-10 dial can make a smooth and consistent transition from no reverb at all to a rather ridiculous amount... and that is only on 9! Put another way, just enough to make it into any Pakistani rock band. So far I bet you think I just love this amp, well, now comes "the ugly".
The Ugly: Maybe not really ugly, if you like a solid state sound. Yes, as I said before, it will deliver some tube tone characteristics, their musical quality dependant on the tubes you run. Musically / harmonically the stock Sovteks are the pits, but they break up with a Les Paul at just under 4 on the volume. The most disturbing thing about the YCV40 is that so many of the "pros" listed above have a bad side to them as well. Any reverb setting above seven sees a drastic loss in volume. Many amps drop volume with increases in reverb but the Traynor does this a lot more than average. Speaker? Usually seeing CELESTION as stock is a great offering. I thought so too until I hit a Pete Townsend open-E chord at half volume. Until that moment I was sure I'd hear a big explosive chord. But rather than a chorus of six strings all shouting out, the speaker just farted out one big flubby fat note. Power chords are a horrorshow when you drive that speaker. Take it with a grain of salt if this is the only place you're hearing this complaint but I doubt it because swapping it out for a Celestion Vintage 30 put an end to that nonsense.
Auto-biasing? Perhaps, but I've never put in anyhting but matched duets in there. Ironically, the Traynor seems extremely sensitive as which tube in the pair can go where which basically means that 50% of the time I swapped out tubes to try another pair there was a lot of low moans and groans, static as if I was turning a dirty volume pot. Swithcing them always solved this.
The Traynor as a tube amp? If you're buying this amp because you specifically want a tube amp DO NOT make it this one. I did, and in retrospect, I wish I tried out the Fender equivalent, most noteably the Blues Deluxe. I always try to give credit where credit is due, and at low volume the Traynor's quiet no-hum running would make it a near unbeatable studio recording amp, its clean notes are glassy clean. But think, glassy.. this is all you wil get with the Traynor. It just feels cold and unedearing - and "cold" is THE LAST THING a tube amp should be described as. Try before you buy. I can see that the Traynor may appeal to some, many even, but not someone whose ears perk up when an amp is described as warm and creamy. Personally, I like those things rather than what the Traynor delivers in comparison to non-hybrid true tube amps. In my opinion it delivers a transparent rather than colorful tone, thin rather than fat sustain and is far too midrangey to my ear: rather shrill despite seemingly effective EQ adjustability.
To sum it all up: where's the bass? The Traynor comes across like a 4x8" rather than a 1X12" with a regrettable lack of bottom end despite a hardy solid plywood cabinet that is well sized for bass response. That's what makes this complaint so notable, it truly didn't have to be that way.
The primary thing you want in an amp is the sound it can make and its an easy thing to lose sight of when so many other things fog up the way. Solid Plywood? Boutique fit and finish? Totally tube with the reliability of solid state? Naturally it goes to reason that the tone will also be outstanding but not to me. It seemed to hit every mark but what good is it if it can withstand falling off a truck or take an RPG beer bottle and bounce it thoughtless from its steel reinforced grill: it sounds cold, shrill and SS (yeah, thats solid state but I'll coin the term right now SANITIZED STATE).
Reliable? Rather complex and touchy if you ask me. IF you want a tube amp get one with adjustable bias. If you're smart and have a healthy respect for high voltage, it is a VERY simple and fast procedure. The wooshing, graoning and static I heard when installing power tubes was troubling because it made me realize how clueless I'd be if it just stopped working. Keep it simple and look for the sound you want : try it first!

Gig without a backup? Sure, the beer bottles will be taken in stride by its tough construction if it fails mid-song and its big enough that a six foot man can hide behind it if I crunch myself into a small ball..

I've had to call Yorkville (maker of Traynor Amps) for a few issues and they were very nice indeed. Very personable, no hold times - just about the best I've ever witnessed anywhere for anything. In fact, there's a pang of guilt in me for the frank honesty I've shared in this review, BUT, great customer service and rock solid construction a great amp don't make, so I stand by it.

Stolen or lost? I wouldn't repeat the purchase. I must say though that Traynor should be commended for the attempt and their attention to detail and quality. The YCV40 is a stretching attempt to combine modern reliability while appeasing those that need true tube tone. But somehow, a balance was lost for both. From the things I liked about both the company AND the amp itself I can say this: if they were to put their crosshairs on competing with Fender in an ALL tube amp and leave their modern touches to other models, that Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Deville and Blues Deluxe may be wishing they had a YCV40 to hide behind. I hated the YCV40 but I'll always keep an ear out for what they'll be offering next.

Just got this 3 weeks ago, and now that i have had some time to play with it. 3 Channels, use it at home for now but will be taking it out with me once i get the extension cabinet. Reverb, nice feature is independant eq for each of the 2 channels.

I am using an american tele HH, with seymour duncan custom custom and jazz in the neck. I like all types of music but find myself gravitating towards rock. The amp is relativly quiet, and the eq has a decent range, though it does seem to lack some bottom end. Very bright yet not twangy. I recently added a Krank Distortius Maximus Pedal as there was not enuf gain for me. Though when im not looking for that type of sound the natural breakup up the amp in the clean channel is quite nice. Im thinking of adding the extension cabinet, changing the speakers to the vintage 30's and changing the tubes to JJ's. The amp on its own is a great sound for the money and seeing the price on it, doesnt hurt to make some changes to it. BTW for those looking for some high gain, try the Krank pedal, sounds incredible through the clean channel on this Traynor.

Seems relativly solid, The only thing is i do notice a little ring in the reverb when cranked, i have heard a couple other people mention this, dont know if it is a flaw in design or just the type of reverb it uses.
It is too new to evaluate longevity but i have heard good things, and when i received the amp i can understand why. I intend to use this without a backup.

I have not had to use, and the warrenty is 2yrs

I have been playing for over 10 years now, have only had one other amp that i really enjoyed which was a Mark III simul class 75, have also used a line 6 1x12, marshall, fender vibrochamp, and assorted other amps. I think for the money the best value out there, as i think it is a great clean sound that handles pedals well, and im sure other effect. I dont care for the boost channel as it is lacking imo. If your on a budget and looking for a good, not decent amp, i would reccomend this one.

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.

I bought this amp secondhand a few months back. It is about 5 years old and was owned by a bedroom only player who only used it occasionally...so it was like new. Previously I owned an Ampeg J12-T which I was very dissappointed with and I bought this as a replacement.
There are about a million reviews here listing the features, and yes Traynor could have done a few more simple things to improve the design...but compared to anything else out there for the money this amp is SWEEEET!! I use it with a '52 Tele RI, a Patrick Eggle New York Broadway and a Washburn Falcon and this amp only ever sounds great. Clean channel is sweet, not raspy and the dirty channel is perfect. Stomp on the boost ant it gets nasty....I never use overdrive pedals anymore. Whether you play softly at home or crank it up for gigs, it just sounds good.

I love to play Jazz, and that's why I previously bought an Ampeg...apparently Jazz players love them...but the clean sound from the Traynor sounds much better, more subtle with better tone. I also play in a covers band that does everything from funk to hard rock, and I never feel the need to play through anything else. I don't have a lot to spend on gear as I am full time music student, but even if I spent 3 times as much, I would doubt that I would get a better amp. I guarantee this thing sounds better than any equivalent Fender (a few if my friends have Fenders...Blues Juniors, hot rod Devilles and twin reverbs).The other good thing is that this amp is very quiet no ugly hisses or hums...nice.

Have giged with it on several occasions without any problems....and always without backup.....who takes a backup amp?
Shortly after I got it, it needed a tube replaced...but it is 5 years old so that would be expected, and luckily it wasn't during a gig. I put a set of JJ's from Eurotubes in and it sounds great....not a problem since.
I'll have it serviced regularly and don't expect to have any problems.

Never needed so can't really comment....I did ring to speak with the Australian distributor once and he was very friendly and helpful in answering my question.

I've been playing for 10 years and studying music full time for 2 of those...I've listened to lots of amps including some of the legendary brands and honestly believe that there isn't anything as good as this amp for the money. I would also say that some of big name amps that cost 3 times as much as a new Traynor don't sound any better. The only gripe I have with this amp is that around the control recess, on the top of the amp the tolex covering is not applied very well. There is a very tight curve at each end and the tolex appears to have been cut to go around the bend and is showing some of the timber through the cuts...not a real big deal...and a very small thing considering that this thing is like having a budget, boutique amp.

I don't know what year this amp was made in but bought in June 2004 for 500 used because some guy bought it the upgraded the tubes and speaker himself and played one gig but decided to return it but had to sell it to the store second hand because he tampered with it himself and he wasn't licened to do that.
Its Got two channels clean and overdrive both sound awesome except if you have brightness on the clean and turned up high it makes a very wierd sounding feed back but if you just keep the brightness off on the high levels it won't happen.

I use dual humbuckers on my barracuda les paul copy.
I play alot of older rock like Rush, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Thrown in with some Van Halen Stevie Vai Joe Satriani Yalming Malmsteen and Iron Maiden.
Since I live in The middle of nowhere I play basically all day so ill take the amp out side and put it around four since im 40 feet away from it when hooked up to my Dunlop Crybaby But this thing is plently loud @ 40 watts tubed. The distortion isn't very crazy but i don't really like it that way but if i want it to ill just hook it up to my Dan Electro overdrive.

very reliable Can't say much more since i live in nowhere ive only play in a few parties with it

never had to talk

Ive been playing since i was 8 and im 15 now so thats 7 years and am entirely self taught but use guitar pro on my computer. I also Own a 25 year old Yamaha jx50 75 watt version and this blows it alaw but i bought that for 75 bucks. this amp is unbelivable and I highly recommend it to anyone Thats starting to take guitar seriously or a step up from a practice amp

Amp was made in 2004. Before the speaker and tube changes, the amp didn't sound great when turned up, but was still better sounding and more versatile than a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.. and it is very ruggedly constructed. The gain channels are both really nice and really useable, you don't need an overdrive pedal to sound good with this amp.

Once I replaced the tubes (SED 6L6s, EH 12AX7's) and speaker (Eminence Private Jack), my dream amp was born. It sounds exactly the way I want it to sound.

I am using it with either a Gibson SG or a Standard Telecaster or a Godin LG Signature. The amp makes the tele sound just like the Stones and then with the right pedal in front of it, I can get a great sound that has been described as the "meatiest tele ever".. but still British-like sound.

The secret was to put in Flying SED 6L6's and change out the speaker to a Private Jack by Eminence (Red Coat series).

Even though I had to buy the new tubes and new speaker, it was worth it, as total cost came to just under $800.. amazing! I can get Vox AC30 tones out of it, and it is very convincing on stage.

I've been gigging with this amp for just under 3 years now, and it is very very consistent. I take an extra pair of 6L6s with me just in case.

Traynor is one of the best in the business.

I've been playing for 12 years or so. I am tempted to buy a Traynor Blue to compliment the YCV40 .. they are like opposite twins.. but both really awesome sounding. I use a Marshall Shredmaster and a Boss CS-3 for overdrive and compression and boost. That's all that I need to get all of the tones from Jazz to Blues to Rock to Roll to crazy effects through a few other pedals I have.

Amp is well made, distortion and cleans are brillant.. made in 2005 and sounds fine with stock tubes and speaker in its own right. I like the size and the well made cabinet, it's a North American product unlike most small to mid sized combos made by other companies. I believe this to be the best sounding tube amp made for the price for the cleans and gritty channels. It records good as well. Has some hiss on the dirty channels due to no gain control, but a person can dial up grit on the clean channel as well, just not as much. Bought it off an ebay dealer for $475

Sounds great for the price cleans and dirty channels are tops!!

Dont know yet, since I had it a short time

N/A

Best for the price, records well, rugged and if you can find anything close to this price or near for an all tube amp (Traynor has a solid state retefier)then you just bought some junk...it has a real wood cabinet...wish it had 2 plug ins and maybe some casters

This amp is really no frills in the best sense of the word. Just enough to get you good tone + reverb and an effects loop. It is versatile enough in its 3 gain channels for most styles except heavy heavy sounds. I would have liked a headphone jack. The Reverb to me is strange, it goes from nice subtle echo to massive cavelike depths from 8-9. Not very subtle and the volume lowers during this change.

This is the best amp I have ever played, simple as that. I use a Gibson Les Paul and it matches suprisingly well. I had originally thought a Fender would be the only guitar for such a Fender sounding amp, but the amp give my Gibson a new bite I've never heard. I like the Clean channel especially really loud and the first dirty channel is very subtle and nice. The treble and presence is really cutting ( a good thing) compared to most other amps. Really versatile tone when combined with your guitar knobs. Unlike other reviewers, my amp is noisy. Don't know if this is due to old tubes, but there is an audible hiss. The most amazing thing to me was how the tone stayed good even as I turned down the volume to whisper. Loud is still best though.

Only had a for a couple of days but it seems very well built.

Wrote them an email and they responded immediately.

Get this amp first before you try for an expensive Fender, Vox, or Matchless. This really is a player's amp. The cleans are beautiful and the dirty is just right. This really is the best deal I found and I kind of want to keep it a secret for myself. If I could play it loud in my apartment everyday I would.