>sorry, can't help you too much on this one ... maybe someone on the list can help better than I can
The position of the reverb driver tube in the MK3 does seem unusual once you start altering the gain structure. Of course, when you do such a thing, the optimisation of the original layout for the original design is lost, and you need to make further adjustments to the layout to optimise it for the new circuitry.
One obvious change, is to use the tremolo tube position for the power amp front end. This keeps all of the power amp circuitry at one end of the chassis. You could easily use this postion or the former (stock) splitter tube postion for the reverb driver. Generally, one tries to keep the input circuitry in the quiet end of the chassis, have reverb/effects in the middle, and the power amp at the other end beside the power supply.
Over-all this will seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but the results are fabulous. The quietness of the original design can be retained for a much higher gain preamp and re-assignment of tube functions allows a more stable layout.
Heavy decoupling is not required if proper attention is paid to grounding. The original grounding seems haphazard, but accommodates the low gain of the stock amp. It screams--hums?-- for change when more gain is added.
Have fun Kevin O'Connor
I live in Montreal but my work takes me around Canada and the U.S. so I pop in to well over a hundred different music stores a year from New York to Vancouver to San Diego to Miami (Minnesota too!)
I don't perform preamp mods, at least not intentionally. I have given my first Custom Special a cap job and a modest mod to handle 6550s. All with the guidance of Kevin O'Connor of London Power who is part of our group.
>Where did you get them ? If you meant the amps, the first was from another band member and the year was 1970 I think. The second was located at pawn shop by my brother. The amps are around in Canada and the U.S. if you look for them.
If you meant mods, Kevin O'Connor can help you best. Dan Torres has some suggestions as well but he seems to push the limits a little too much for my liking.
I am mostly happy that the motor is still turning over and not sputtering too much. I don't want to turn my YBA-3 into a VOX, a Fender or a Marshall. And I certainly don't want to change my amp so that it offers all four sounds at once. Meat and potatos for me. If I want sushi, I'll order it.
Kevin O'Connor has some great books out. I've bought them all and am waiting for the video.
Terry
Well, I finally got my YBA-1A back from being serviced. it seems that it wasn't totally stock - I was worried that the two big Hammond caps on the top weren't secured that well, but it turns out they'd long been bypassed. Apparently a couple more caps will need replacing in two or three years, but the person who serviced it is looking out for some military spec capacitors for me. I don't think he really wanted to give me the amp back though - he was raving about the tone, punch, and volume of it! I haven't tested it out as I don't think the old lady in the flat below mine would appreciate it, but I'll have to unleash it soon.
I'm going to try and book a practice room (I also want to try out a cab someone is using) maybe over the weekend, and let rip with the yba-1a, maybe try it out with bass and guitar.
Aaron
--Hi. I've got a Custom Reverb that I'm trying to date. How can I find out? I see that the schematic that you have on your site for this '72 model is dated Jan 13, 1967. Is that when the YSR-1's were designed?? The only other number that I can find on the amp (so far) is in the center rear of the chasis, LR 21877, right below a Csa logo. Can you tell me where I can get more info/specs? for this amp.
Thanks much.
Dave Register Buffalo, NY USA
I recently discovered the Traynor site and would like to subscribe to your email list.
Also, I am looking for a Guitar Mate or Signature combo. I rented a ca. '73 Guitar Mate years ago and have always been sorry I didn't buy it. Since then, I've had a difficult time finding one.
Thanks, B.W. Thomas
I have a few schematics not listed on your page.I also have a colour ad for Traynor gear from the early 70's.Peter is quite a character.He felt kind of awkward about the whole Pete Traynor day at Songbird and his wife had to talk him into showing up to the party.I think he was quite overwhelmed to see so many of his old friends again.It was a night to remember.Thanks for starting the page.
Tim Dudley Electronic Repairs@Songbird Music
Welcome aboard to the new guys. I have never been able to access the newspaper article about Pete Traynor on the web page. If anybody has it, could they please send me a copy.
Tim, please tell us about the Peter Traynor appreciation thing you were involved in? Can you tell us anything about the history of Traynor (the man & the co.)?
Thanks,
Rob Dobson
OK, I'll bite...does our new list member, "someone named Pete", have a last name that starts with T? Or was it coincidence the announcement was accompanied by the article on Pete Traynor Day?
Thanks,
Mike
Aaron Turner
Can anybody tell what speaker impedance the output transformer on the Bassmaster YBA-1 is wired for?
I think its either four or eight ohms but I'm not sure.
Also can anybody tell what speaker cabinet configuration originally came with this amp.( 2X12, 1X15...).
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best Regards, Dave Tomlinson
The nominal impedance on the schematics is 8 ohms. They are usually connected to either 4 or 8 ohm loads - but I have seen them survive 2 ohm loads (I wouldn't advise trying that though). There is a user's manual for the Bassmaster at the schematic archive, which I have quoted below - it doesn't actually dictate any particular impedance:
The Bassmaster (YM-1) may be used with a variety of speakers Here are the recommended combinations;
l. YBA- 1 with single fifteen inch speakers (YS-15). The design is used primarily for bass but may be used for guitar.
2. YBA-1 with single eighteen (YB-18A). This combination is excellent for bass guitar where a superb Bass sound is required.
3. YBA-1 with twin twelve (YT-12). A very biting sharp sound can be obtained from this speaker cabinet, It should be used with guitar only as bass will destroy the speakers. These speakers have so much treble sensitivity that a hissing sound may be heard when the treble controls are set at their extreme position.
4. YBA-1 with twin fifteen (YT-15). A very good deep bass sound can be achieved using this setup. It can be used for either bass or guitar. It has found limited use for the latter.
5. YBA-1 with four tens (YF-10). Less bass, but more punch is the result of using four tens, which is also suitable for either bass or guitar.
6. When using the YBA-1 with an extension speaker, the extension speaker should be the same as the main speaker cabinet. Mismatching cabinets may cause an inbalance in power distribution.
Hi. I'm a proud owner of a YSR-1 Custom Reverb. Had it since '76! I'm trying to find people who consider themselves knowlegable on the specs and manufacturing info for these amps. Hope I've come to the right place!
Dave R.
There is an interesting article in the current (#9 Spring 1998) issue of Vacuum Tube Valley on the history of the Ampeg SVT. It appears the amps were first sold in late 1969, about two years after our Traynor Custom Specials. As far as I know Traynor made the first production high powered bass amplifier (approx. 150 watts) as well as the first 8X10 speaker cabinet. Of course the Super Custom Special is closer in power output to the SVT (about 250? compared to the SVT's 280).
Does anyone know when the Super Custom special was introduced?
One of these days (I have a lot of projects I never seem to get around to) I will build Kevin O'Connor's 435 watt behemoth described in his book 'Principles of Power' (Power Press Publishing, 1996). It uses Hammonds largest output transformer the 1650W (28 pounds!) and 6 fan cooled 6550s. A 5881 is used as the driver - transformer coupled to the output tubes. I have never seen a transformer coupled guitar amp, but the technique has become fashionable in high end audio (see recent 'Sound Practices' and VTV magazines, as well as the 'Joelist' mailing list). This mostly postdates Kevin O'Connor's design though.
I have a hard time carrying my Custom Special about - this project may have to wait till I have a staff of roadies (not very likely).
Eric
Just when I thought that 160 watts of Custom Special power (and six tube amp's maintenence) was enough, Kevin goes and jerks my chain.
I'll wager that it is the most glorious thing in the world, but I have enough trouble trying to juggle being a drummer _AND_ a fledgling bass player as well...
KO
Living in the outskirts of the world (northern Sweden, latitude=Fairbanks) I have been unable to get my hands on that number of GP. Could someone give me a hint to what the basic Idea of the "ultimate bluesmachine" is?
/Curious Olle
I may be wrong, but as I remember the article was actually about a conversion of a silverface (ie. cheap non-classic) Fender Bassman head, not a Traynor Bassmaster. The circuits (and components) are similar except for 6L6s instead of the Traynor 6CA7 sp presumably similar mods could be made.
Songbird Ottawa, at:
http://www.achilles.net/~songbird/guitar/amplifie.htm
has a couple of interesting Traynors for sale (I haven't seen the amps in question - just saw it on the web). The Canadian dollar is at .68 cents right now, so the price of the amps in US dollars is $154 and $202 respectively. These are both dual 6CA7 amps.
>Traynor 50 watt head w/rev., trem. late '60's? YGM-3 fair 227.00 - -
>Traynor 50 watt tube combo (1/12), w rev., trem. late '60's YGM-3 very good 296.00 >- -I'm interested in finding more information out about this amp. I couldn't download the .gif file from the webpage. I anyone has any information about this amp. I would appreciate it. I have been told that this is a 1967 amp. It has two 6V6GT power tubes and two 12AX7 preamp tubes. I have built a small cabinet to house the head and I'm using a separate dean markley cabinet with a 12" speaker. I've replaced the two prong power cord with a three prong grounded cable. The amp sounds great. I have no idea what amp (probably some fender) that it is similar to. Also, if there are mod kits, I'd be interested in what's available. The amp is one of the best pieces of gear I have, not to mention the deal I got on it. A friend gave the head to me because he was tired of it cracking and popping when he used his bass with it. He kept the cabinet and 15" speaker. The glass was loose on one of the power tubes so I bought a pair of matched Mesa Boogie power tubes and two mojotone preamp tubes, installed them and turned it on. I've never had a problem! I plan on using this live (miked) starting this weekend. I'm not sure who all this email is going to but thanks in advance to any and all who can help me. I'm from Huntsville, Alabama, USA and these amps are rather rare around here. No one knows anything about them.
Mike Wileshi
Does anyone have a voltage chart for the YBA-1 Bassmaster head; the one with 7027A's? I checked the schematic posted on-line and it doesn't show voltages. Any info would be appreciated.
Dave R.
I have a bunch of Bassmaster YBA-1 schematics. The later 6CA& circuits have a few (almost impossible to read) voltages indicated, the earlier 7027A diagrams have none. A 7027A is very similar to a 6L6GC except for the higher ratings of the 7027A - which the YBA-1 does not need (unlike the higher voltage Bassmaster Mark 2 YBA-1A). The Bassmaster circuit is very similar to the earlier Fender Bassman amps using two 6L6GC or 5881 output tubes, and voltage charts for them are available.
I tried to find a Bassman schematic with voltages on the net but failed. Here is a nifty tweed bassman though:
http://ftp.cised.unina.it/pub/electronics/cookbook/audio/guitar/bassman.gif
As I remember (I can't turn up my copy at present) there are Bassman voltage charts in:
THE TUBE AMP BOOK: 4.1TH EDITION by Aspen Pittman
I am not very confident about Pittman's advice though.
Which Bassman is similar will depend on the details of your amp:
(1) The very early Bassmaster used a centre tap transformer, a 5AR4 tube rectifier, and a choke. I have never seen one, but I do have a note from Traynor showing how to convert early Bassmasters to solid state rectifier (don't do this!) and 6CA7 output . This is probably similar to the tweed amp mentioned above. I have never seen a full schematic of this model.
(2) The next version used a centre tap transformer, a solid state full wave rectifier (uses 6 diodes in 2 series strings), and a choke. I have a Traynor Signature (very similar to a Bassmaster) with this power supply and 7027A output.
(3) The next version is similar but with the omission of the choke.
(4) The final version used a bridge rectifier (implemented with discrete diodes) and therefore no longer needed the centre tapped transformer. This change took place after the switch to the 6CA7/EL34 output tubes.At 07:08 PM 6/29/98 -0400, you wrote: >Thanks for the info.
>I think the one I'm buying has the solid state rectifier and choke. The power tubes must be the originals, as they are old RCAs. I'm curious to hear how they perform.
>I was thinking about doing the conversion to the 5F6A bassman circuit, which doesn't seem that involved. One thing that confuses me about the YBA-1 circuit, though. Am I reading the schematic right, that the volume pots are supposed to be 4M? Sounds bizarre to me.
>Dave Rutherford
It does seem a suprising value - but the schematic does read 4 MA - which must mean 4 megohms audio taper. Later models used a pair of 500K linear pots as volume controls. The Fender Bassman 5F6 circuit uses 1 megohm volume pots. Some of the later Fender Bassmans use a different topology than the early Bassmans or Traynor Bassmaster - each channel has its own tone controls placed before the volume controls.
>SNIP >>>>I was thinking about doing the conversion to the 5F6A bassman circuit, >>which doesn't seem that involved. One thing that confuses me about the YBA-1 circuit, though. Am I reading the schematic right, that the volume pots are supposed to be 4M? Sounds bizarre to me.
>>Dave Rutherford
>It does seem a suprising value - but the schematic does read 4 MA - which must mean 4 megohms audio taper. Later models used a pair of 500K linear pots as volume controls. The Fender Bassman 5F6 circuit uses 1 megohm volume pots. Some of the later Fender Bassmans use a different topology than the early Bassmans or Traynor Bassmaster - each channel has its own tone controls placed before the volume controls.
>Eric
My BassMaster is an older model and it does have the 4 meg volume pots. The great thing about this is that it allows you to blend the the bright and normal channels by turning up the volume control on each channel. You don't have to run a jumper between the inputs like you do on a Bassman or a JTM 45.
Dave Tomlinson
Hello,
My name is Ed Butler. I recently discovered your web site after searching the web for information on my old Traynor amp. (A guy named Jay Rogers posted your URL at "Vintage Guitar Bulletin Board - Amps").
I got my Traynor Bass-Master Amp used for under $200 at a local music store in Durham, NC (I now live in St. Paul, MN.) It had been traded in there, so I haven't had any contact with the original owner. I have no information about the amp except for the music store guy's vague statement that it was probably from the early '70s. I've taken a pretty close look at the amp (short of taking it apart, which I don't feel comfortable doing yet) and I do not see any kind of model number on it. Beneath the stand-by switch and the green "pilot light" on the right side it says "Traynor Bass-Master Amp". I cannot find any "YBA1" designation (or any other model number) anywhere. On the right side of the back panel there is a logo which consists of a big "C" with an "sa" inside it. Below that it says "LR 21877". Also, in the middle of the back panel it says, "Mfg. by Yorkville Sound Ltd., Toronto, Canada." Other observations: Beneath the front control panel is a silver-gray cloth grill. The corners are protected by rounded metal corner reinforcers. Front panel has four inputs, 2 volumes, bass, treble, low and high range expanders, stand-by switch, and a green pilot light. On the top there is one black plastic handle w/ chrome hardware, and four large, round headed, slotted screws/bolts. It seems that removing these four bolts would be the intended method for accessing the amp for servicing. From the rear I see two power tubes (EL-34B Groove Tubes -- obviously replacements), two large transformers with a smaller one in between, three small gray metal cylinders, and two larger metal cylinders (I don't know enough to tell what kind of components they are...)
I'm sorry to go on-and-on like this, but I'm not sure what information might help to distinguish this model from other models. From the information I've given, is it possible to tell what model / year this amp is? I was thinking it would be cool to be able to download the proper schematic from your site so I could show it to whoever I decide to take it to for service. (It has a scratchy pot on the high end expander that sometimes creates static even when you are not adjusting the knob. I'd like to fix that problem so I could use this thing in the studio -- its tone is beautiful at low volumes when that static is not happening.) I appreciate any information / advice you can give me.