Kind of feel like I scored, Traynor *Update

[KaiserSoze]

Wasn't intending to make a purchase and certainly don't NEED anything, but how many times have I said that?
Anyway, perusing my local Craigslist I found a Traynor YCV40 that is immaculate.  My "F- it, I deserve it" justification impulse kicked in and I went and saw it.  Older guy, doesn't use it, etc.  Footswitch was still in the wrapper and has a cover also.  300 bones. 
Its in my basement now and  I plan to gig with it.  Have to see how it cuts in the band mix to be sure.  It is a very bright and punchy amp and takes pedals beautifully.  Love that its Canadian-made also.
After spending a few hours with it I'm pretty pleased.  Cleans are super nice, very Fender and Vox sounding.  The lead channel is okay but I got better sounds from the clean channel and an OCD pedal.  This amp and a couple pedals can cover a lot of ground.
I may be a Traynor fan at this point. This is probably one of those "cult following" brands isn't it?

     

 

[mayfly]

Traynor has always made good stuff.  The older gear is very well made, although a little 'clean' sounding for most people.  Congratulations on a nice amp!  ccasion14:

 

[KaiserSoze]

Yeah.  I'm dialing it in.  It's extremely bright, even without the bright switch, so I'll find the sweet spots.  The "early Stones rhythm sound" is spot on.  Singing leads won't happen but its got good crunchiness.  It's stock so theres always room for different tubes or speaker.  We'll see.  Super loud btw.  Holy cow.

Anyway, after an evening with the band, I'm finding I may want to do some mods.  Although this amp sounds pretty good on its own, albeit very bright, in a mix it pretty much disappears and whats left sounds harsh.  Had a heck of a time dialing in a good sound with a bass and another guitar going.  Considering a speaker swap, because, well, thats what we do.  I'm wondering if this is worth putting a couple hundred more dollars into

 

[KaiserSoze]

So in case anyone is wondering "Hey, is an Eminence Cannabis Rex a great improvement in a Traynor YCV40 and does it take 4 minutes 12 seconds to install?"
The answer is YES!!
What a nice speaker for this amp. Smoothed out everything but is fat and detailed. I can now use the whole range of the EQ on the amp.  It's a surprising improvement over the stock speaker. Has a very nice sweetness to it. Really pleased and recommend it.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

I'm not surprised. Speakers are to amps what pickups are to guitars. They're a major part of your tone.

 

[mayfly]

I'm not surprised. Speakers are to amps what pickups are to guitars. They're a major part of your tone.

+1000 on that one.  Speakers make all the difference.

 

[Cagey]

Yeah they do. I recently got an active Atomic CLR for my AxeFx II and it's absolutely magical. There oughta be a law: You must buy a CLR with any purchase of a modelling preamp. I was running the the Axe out of a pair of Carvin's LS1202s and thought I was in heaven, but no. It was just purgatory. Now I'm in heaven.

They don't give the little rascals away, but save up your pennies and get one. You won't be sorry, guaranteed. They're small, light, sonically perfect and can produce incredible sound pressure levels (120dB continuous, 130dB peak) without breaking up. They romp, is what I'm saying. You won't miss your 4x12 bottom at all.

 

[KaiserSoze]

Yeah they do. I recently got an active Atomic CLR for my AxeFx II and it's absolutely magical. There oughta be a law: You must buy a CLR with any purchase of a modelling preamp. I was running the the Axe out of a pair of Carvin's LS1202s and thought I was in heaven, but no. It was just purgatory. Now I'm in heaven.

They don't give the little rascals away, but save up your pennies and get one. You won't be sorry, guaranteed. They're small, light, sonically perfect and can produce incredible sound pressure levels (120dB continuous, 130dB peak) without breaking up. They romp, is what I'm saying. You won't miss your 4x12 bottom at all.

Sounds like a killer rig.  My problem is that the better the rig, the more obvious my ham-handed  playing is.  :doh:

 

[Cagey]

My problem is that the better the rig, the more obvious my ham-handed  playing is.  :doh:

Hehe! Yeah, I'm well aware of that situation. There's no place to hide at high sound pressure levels. Of course, you can always go the "metal" route and add enough distortion and compression that nobody knows what you're doing anyway, but that doesn't always fit. McCartney's "Blackbird" or anything along those lines is not going to benefit from 3 Tube Screamers in series running through a Big Muff PI into a JCM900 on 11.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Yeah they do. I recently got an active Atomic CLR for my AxeFx II and it's absolutely magical. There oughta be a law: You must buy a CLR with any purchase of a modelling preamp. I was running the the Axe out of a pair of Carvin's LS1202s and thought I was in heaven, but no. It was just purgatory. Now I'm in heaven.

Just got the UK equivalent and I'd agree. It's incredible. It's a very strange sensation hearing the sound of a 4x12 come out of a "little" thing like that. Mine's passive (my Kemper has a power amp in it), but even so, the price was a bit steep. Worth it, though - especially as my Kemper was "free".  ccasion14:

McCartney's "Blackbird" or anything along those lines is not going to benefit from 3 Tube Screamers in series running through a Big Muff PI into a JCM900 on 11.

But I hear on the forums, if you back off the guitar volume control, it cleans up real nice?

 

[Cagey]

I came very close to buying into the Matrix solution, but the shipping and service issues were just unacceptable. They really need to get some local representation with a bit of stock in a warehouse so they handle product. I'm sure they'd sell a lot more of that stuff, as it's really nice.