I am guessing there were Marsland speakers in the cab, I found the ones I have hear were not all that great. Being PTP and the amp probably has not been serviced I doubt the seller will drop the price enough to make me go out and look.
Heading down the Canada made amp rabbit hole...
- Thread starter Wooly Fox
- Start date
Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
The YRM-1 is rated at 50 watts. Great amp with a lot of versatility.How about a nice YRM-1?
45 Watts of conservative EL-34 joy. This one is from September of 1973.
Bob
Dan German
Doctor of Teleocity
Yeah, when I needed replacement grille cloth for my PRII, I searched North America for the right stuff. Found a speaker cab maker who had a leftover of the correct cloth at a good price. They were 15 minutes from my house in Winnipeg. It’s the Winnipeg Vortex at work. (And no, I didn’t know REVV was in Ile De Chene.)Garnet made a lot of Stencil Amps for department stores and other company's. They are fine in their own right, but a genuine GARNET is something special.
You can't go wrong with an old Garnet or Traynor. They are as good as any major name vintage amp. I'm not a big fan of the modern Traynor's... but that's just my opinion.
About a year ago after hearing so much about REVV amps and how great they were I googled the company to see where they are from. I was surprised to see it was Canadian, even more surprised to see Ile De Chene Manitoba (bedroom community of Winnipeg).. with the company just 30 minutes from my house. Then... during the year I learned that many of the techs I often work with ALL work at REVV.
That's when I had to admit... yes, I do live under a rock
Wooly Fox
Tele-Meister
Found newly serviced Garnet Lil' Rock 30W head which I think will fit the bill if I swap my amps around (50W as wet, 30w as dry). Very little on YouTube on these amps so will likely make a video of it if the seller accepts my offer.
There is another Lil Rock closer to me but it's $1,000 in a tatty cab and likely never been serviced!
There is another Lil Rock closer to me but it's $1,000 in a tatty cab and likely never been serviced!
Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
Depends on how much power/volume you need.
Garnet - Niche/collector amps now, Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar uses a pair of Garnet pre amps currently I think and I'm pretty sure he used a large Garnet head or combo previously. Gar Gillies (Garnet), was not a 'boutique' builder, his policy was to make it as cost effective as possible, so he used whatever he could get cheapest for components. He also had no respect for 'purists' and liked customers who modded their amps more than those who didn't. The bigger Garnet's, while still usable for gigging if they are maintained are now more collector amps. They are also a lot rarer than Traynors.
Traynor - Rock solid, high quality amps. A half century old Traynor amp might need a check up (filter caps possibly), and internal cleaning to be touring quality but that would be it. My current 25w combo is from 1977, 100% original except for some later stage 12AX7's and still works like a charm. Vintage Traynor amp power ratings are "at idle" (gain/volume at 0). My '25 watt' combo has a "full clipping" output of around 40 watts, for example.
YBA-1 - 45w bass head - probably in the 80 - 90 watt range dimed.
YBA-1 Mark II - 90w bass head (double the output of the YBA-1). This one tops my current wish list for a tube bass head, best bang for your buck for power/size ratio in vintage Traynors.
YBA-2 - 15w bass combo.
YBA-3 - 130w bass head, in the 180 - 200w range dimed but they are a big head. Stellar for guitar or bass at any volume, including the pre master volume ones. What Chuck Berry had for stage amps for a large capacity 1969 outdoor concert in Toronto. Phil Lynott's touring bass amp.
YBA-3A - 250w bass head. YBA -3 on steroids. Used for guitar by Skunk Baxter of the Doobie Brothers.
YBA-4 - 45w bass combo. A YBA-1 in a combo cabinet.
YRM-1 - 45w, somewhat derived from the YBA-1. My favorite mid range Traynor guitar head and one I have 'seller's regret' on.
YRM-1 SC - a 410 combo version, more Fenderish than Marshall sounding and another big, heavy amp.
YGL-3 - 80w at idle, head or 212 combo version. These are the best bang for your buck guitar option, if you need something this powerful and can handle the weight. The most underpriced Vintage Traynor tube amp currently, because of their weight.
Then you have the smaller combos...
YGM-1 - 20w with no reverb
YGM-2 - 25w with no reverb.
YGM-3 - 25w with reverb.
YGM-4 25w with reverb in a 4x8 combo.
There's a few more models but they are rarer than hen's teeth, low production numbers.
You will find internet power ratings for vintage Traynors to be all over the place, I am quoting the factory specs.
For most Traynor models, for employment amps I'd take the later 'waterfall' front control style over the flat faces. These have the most evolved/current internals and factory power wiring, grounded power cords, etc. For YBA-1's or YBA-3's disregard that and for YBA-3's the older the better, as they had a larger power transformer in the earliest years.
Pre 1970 Traynors cannot generally be reliably dated to a specific year either, including by using internals ink stamp dates. They didn't use date code serial numbers until 1970. They also didn't buy things like pots, etc. in small quantities, from day one. I saw a Traynor amp listed online recently as a 1964, based on pot ink stamp dates but the amp model didn't exist until 1968, for example.
YGM-3, YRM-1 SC and a current generation YCS-50
YBA-3 sitting on a Traynor 412 and a Traynor/Cerwin Vega folded horn 18" to the right
YRM-1 with twelve 12"s and eight 8's hooked up to it
Garnet - Niche/collector amps now, Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar uses a pair of Garnet pre amps currently I think and I'm pretty sure he used a large Garnet head or combo previously. Gar Gillies (Garnet), was not a 'boutique' builder, his policy was to make it as cost effective as possible, so he used whatever he could get cheapest for components. He also had no respect for 'purists' and liked customers who modded their amps more than those who didn't. The bigger Garnet's, while still usable for gigging if they are maintained are now more collector amps. They are also a lot rarer than Traynors.
Traynor - Rock solid, high quality amps. A half century old Traynor amp might need a check up (filter caps possibly), and internal cleaning to be touring quality but that would be it. My current 25w combo is from 1977, 100% original except for some later stage 12AX7's and still works like a charm. Vintage Traynor amp power ratings are "at idle" (gain/volume at 0). My '25 watt' combo has a "full clipping" output of around 40 watts, for example.
YBA-1 - 45w bass head - probably in the 80 - 90 watt range dimed.
YBA-1 Mark II - 90w bass head (double the output of the YBA-1). This one tops my current wish list for a tube bass head, best bang for your buck for power/size ratio in vintage Traynors.
YBA-2 - 15w bass combo.
YBA-3 - 130w bass head, in the 180 - 200w range dimed but they are a big head. Stellar for guitar or bass at any volume, including the pre master volume ones. What Chuck Berry had for stage amps for a large capacity 1969 outdoor concert in Toronto. Phil Lynott's touring bass amp.
YBA-3A - 250w bass head. YBA -3 on steroids. Used for guitar by Skunk Baxter of the Doobie Brothers.
YBA-4 - 45w bass combo. A YBA-1 in a combo cabinet.
YRM-1 - 45w, somewhat derived from the YBA-1. My favorite mid range Traynor guitar head and one I have 'seller's regret' on.
YRM-1 SC - a 410 combo version, more Fenderish than Marshall sounding and another big, heavy amp.
YGL-3 - 80w at idle, head or 212 combo version. These are the best bang for your buck guitar option, if you need something this powerful and can handle the weight. The most underpriced Vintage Traynor tube amp currently, because of their weight.
Then you have the smaller combos...
YGM-1 - 20w with no reverb
YGM-2 - 25w with no reverb.
YGM-3 - 25w with reverb.
YGM-4 25w with reverb in a 4x8 combo.
There's a few more models but they are rarer than hen's teeth, low production numbers.
You will find internet power ratings for vintage Traynors to be all over the place, I am quoting the factory specs.
For most Traynor models, for employment amps I'd take the later 'waterfall' front control style over the flat faces. These have the most evolved/current internals and factory power wiring, grounded power cords, etc. For YBA-1's or YBA-3's disregard that and for YBA-3's the older the better, as they had a larger power transformer in the earliest years.
Pre 1970 Traynors cannot generally be reliably dated to a specific year either, including by using internals ink stamp dates. They didn't use date code serial numbers until 1970. They also didn't buy things like pots, etc. in small quantities, from day one. I saw a Traynor amp listed online recently as a 1964, based on pot ink stamp dates but the amp model didn't exist until 1968, for example.
YGM-3, YRM-1 SC and a current generation YCS-50
YBA-3 sitting on a Traynor 412 and a Traynor/Cerwin Vega folded horn 18" to the right
YRM-1 with twelve 12"s and eight 8's hooked up to it
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Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
The Lil' Rock is a winner for Garnets. Definitely a gig/studio worthy head
Bob Womack
Friend of Leo's
You know, that's the way I used to post it until I started being corrected. Let's just say I am willing to be corrected.
Bob
Dan German
Doctor of Teleocity
Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
Seems they may have been correct. I had the head before the combo and from what I remember the YRM-1 head architecture was rated at 50w but Mike Holman puts the 410 combo version at 45w in his Traynor history. He didn't include the power rating for the head, I blame himYou know, that's the way I used to post it until I started being corrected. Let's just say I am willing to be corrected.
Bob
Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
Yeah, but a one man operation instead of Henry Ford's business model.
Respect for both though
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The YRM1 is based in the BF reverb AB763 world….input gain stage>tone
stack>second gain stage>effects insertion>third gain stage?
The YBA1 has an input stage followed by the second gain stage followed by third gain stage followed by a cathode follower driving the tone stack. This is the class preamp format in the 5F6A Bassman and 5F8A Twin Fenders…..that Jim Marshall copied.
Gunny
Tele-Holic
The Herzog is essentially a 5 Watt Fender Champ (original BF or SF versions) modified to work as a pre-amp. Don't waste your money on one.
I've owned the YBA-1 three times since '66 and I've done maintenance and repairs on several of them too. Around here (Toronto area) the prices last year ran from $700 to $1,000.
I've owned the YBA-1 three times since '66 and I've done maintenance and repairs on several of them too. Around here (Toronto area) the prices last year ran from $700 to $1,000.
Ben Bishop
Tele-Meister
Gar Gillies started as a radio repairman and did the alignment on a couple of old AM radios for me. He liked the Fender Twin, disliked my Boogie Studio 22 but when I brought him a Sunn head for repair he said "now, that's an amp". Some of his amps had his own fuzz built in; look for the name Tone Fountain on that section. They come from the days when a musician would start a tour with one tube amp. 'Nuff said.
I bought a new Traynor YCV20 back in 2003. I sold it last year because at 72, I was downsizing. Never had a problem with it.
Way, way back in the day I had a Traynor head that was big, heavy, loud, and beautiful. I didn't know much about amps, but I knew it sounded good... it had a fan built into one side (there was actually a hole in the cabinet the fan sat in...) and it was old. And I don't even remember where it wound up going)
I've had my Garnet Jammer since um... 1978 or so. Yes it's a pretty solid combo w 2 6l6's. Recommended if you can bump into one, and should be in your price range. Point to point wiring. One channel, won't break up till it's crazy loud, like a Fender Twin.
I found a 70s Traynor YSM-1 head a few years ago. Solid and heavy. Point to point wiring. 2 EL34's (6CA5). No overdrive, Marshall / Fender style two channels with reverb. Should fit your budget if you find one. Won't break up till it's crazy loud, like a Marshall Plexi. Also recommended, esp if you want a head, not a combo.
I live in Revv-land, and I did grab a Revv Generator 7-40. That's what I practise with now. Three channels. Big preamp distortion if you want it. 4 6v6's. Likely out of the price range even used.
In summary, you're likeliest to find an old Traynor, or a newer one. I like the ycv-20 / ycv-40 feature set.
The old Traynors and Garnets are very robust and maintainable, much like the old Fenders. Parts are standard issue of the day. It is good to know an amp tech you're comfortable with.
Good luck!
I found a 70s Traynor YSM-1 head a few years ago. Solid and heavy. Point to point wiring. 2 EL34's (6CA5). No overdrive, Marshall / Fender style two channels with reverb. Should fit your budget if you find one. Won't break up till it's crazy loud, like a Marshall Plexi. Also recommended, esp if you want a head, not a combo.
I live in Revv-land, and I did grab a Revv Generator 7-40. That's what I practise with now. Three channels. Big preamp distortion if you want it. 4 6v6's. Likely out of the price range even used.
In summary, you're likeliest to find an old Traynor, or a newer one. I like the ycv-20 / ycv-40 feature set.
The old Traynors and Garnets are very robust and maintainable, much like the old Fenders. Parts are standard issue of the day. It is good to know an amp tech you're comfortable with.
Good luck!
JRapp
Tele-Afflicted
I've had a bunch of Traynors; YGMs, YSRs, YBAs, YRMs. I would sell them off here and there since it always seemed I could get another. I have a '74 YRM1 arriving tomorrow. Great amps, loud, stout, versatile, reliable. 300 bucks...they're still out there.
Wooly Fox
Tele-Meister
Went ahead and bought the Garnet Lil' Rock amp, being posted from Montreal so hope it arrives in one piece!
NAD thread incoming!
NAD thread incoming!
Bass Butcher
Tele-Meister
The Herzog's seem to be working pretty good as pre amps for Gordie Johnson for touring atm
I've never found his guitar sound to be anything but stellar.
