Traynor Amplifiers
Encyclopedia
Traynor is a brand of bass amplifiers
and guitar amplifier
s, the first brand formed by Yorkville Sound
. The Traynor brand, named for founder Peter Traynor, began in 1963 with the Dynabass bass amplifier, a rental product. Traynor first became popular in Canada by providing less expensive versions of the circuits used in Marshall
and Fender
amplifiers of the time. The revived brand now produces a wide range of electric, acoustic, and bass guitar amps.
) repairman who had been customizing amplifiers as a way to save costs for the business. Through experimentation and experience, Traynor developed a bass guitar amplifier
that he called the Traynor Dynabass. By the end of 1963, Traynor was selling the Dynabass amps along with matching 15-inch speaker cabinets, as well as Traynor portable columnar public address
(PA) speakers based on a reference book of 1930s RCA
commercial loudspeaker designs. Soon a business partnership to sell these amps had formed between Pete Traynor and Jack Long, the man who owned the music store that he worked at.
In 1964, the Dynabass became the "Bass Master", model "YBA-1", and its associated 15-inch speaker cabinet became the "YS-15". The column loudspeakers were designated "YSC-1" and two additional models were created: the "YSC-2" with fewer, larger drivers to obtain more low-frequency bass extension and the "YSC-3" which was a cut-down version of the YSC-1 for customers who needed a smaller loudspeaker.
Starting in 1965 with the Traynor Hi-Tone, a 2x12 test guitar amp (of which only two were ever made) Pete Traynor began experimenting with guitar amp designs. The YGA-1 (a 45 watt amp head) and the YGM-1 (a 1x12 20 watt tube combo were the first products of this research. Full production of these amps began in 1966, and the release of new models continued until the 70s.
In 1970, Traynor introduced the new Traynor logo (in the shape of a parallelogram) that was less prone to having the initial 'T' and final 'r' break off to become "rayno". In 1976, Peter Traynor left the Yorkville Sound, suffering from a bad back. The Traynor brand would be slowly phased out over the next 17 years until its reintroduction in 2000.
Bass instrument amplification
Bass instrument amplification, used for the bass guitar, double bass and similar instruments, is distinct from other types of amplification systems due to the particular challenges associated with low-frequency sound reproduction. This distinction affects the design of the loudspeakers, the speaker...
and guitar amplifier
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
s, the first brand formed by Yorkville Sound
Yorkville Sound
Yorkville Sound is a manufacturer of musical instruments, audio amplifiers , loudspeakers and related professional sound reinforcement equipment...
. The Traynor brand, named for founder Peter Traynor, began in 1963 with the Dynabass bass amplifier, a rental product. Traynor first became popular in Canada by providing less expensive versions of the circuits used in Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
and Fender
Fender Amplifiers
Fender Amplifiers have a long history. Leo Fender began building guitar amps before he started manufacturing guitars. The first of these amps were the K&F models, which were produced between 1945 and 1946...
amplifiers of the time. The revived brand now produces a wide range of electric, acoustic, and bass guitar amps.
History
In 1963 Traynor amps were designed by Peter Traynor, a music shop (Long & McQuadeLong & McQuade
Long & McQuade is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in Canada, and has 53 locations located in every province except for Quebec and the territories. The company also owns Yorkville Sound and carries their products in every one of its locations...
) repairman who had been customizing amplifiers as a way to save costs for the business. Through experimentation and experience, Traynor developed a bass guitar amplifier
Bass instrument amplification
Bass instrument amplification, used for the bass guitar, double bass and similar instruments, is distinct from other types of amplification systems due to the particular challenges associated with low-frequency sound reproduction. This distinction affects the design of the loudspeakers, the speaker...
that he called the Traynor Dynabass. By the end of 1963, Traynor was selling the Dynabass amps along with matching 15-inch speaker cabinets, as well as Traynor portable columnar public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
(PA) speakers based on a reference book of 1930s RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
commercial loudspeaker designs. Soon a business partnership to sell these amps had formed between Pete Traynor and Jack Long, the man who owned the music store that he worked at.
In 1964, the Dynabass became the "Bass Master", model "YBA-1", and its associated 15-inch speaker cabinet became the "YS-15". The column loudspeakers were designated "YSC-1" and two additional models were created: the "YSC-2" with fewer, larger drivers to obtain more low-frequency bass extension and the "YSC-3" which was a cut-down version of the YSC-1 for customers who needed a smaller loudspeaker.
Starting in 1965 with the Traynor Hi-Tone, a 2x12 test guitar amp (of which only two were ever made) Pete Traynor began experimenting with guitar amp designs. The YGA-1 (a 45 watt amp head) and the YGM-1 (a 1x12 20 watt tube combo were the first products of this research. Full production of these amps began in 1966, and the release of new models continued until the 70s.
In 1970, Traynor introduced the new Traynor logo (in the shape of a parallelogram) that was less prone to having the initial 'T' and final 'r' break off to become "rayno". In 1976, Peter Traynor left the Yorkville Sound, suffering from a bad back. The Traynor brand would be slowly phased out over the next 17 years until its reintroduction in 2000.
Traynor products
In 2000, Yorkville Sound reintroduced the Traynor brand in with the YCV40 (Custom Valve) model. The brand has a wide product range including DynaGain solid state guitar amplifiers, International amplifiers, Bass Master bass amplifiers, Keyboard amplifiers and an acoustic guitar amplifier line.Traynor International Guitar Amps
This line of solid state amplifiers are inexpensive foreign manufactured solid state amps, though the TVM10 is the sole battery-operated amplifier offered by Traynor.- TSM10 – 10-watt, 5-inch
- TGM15 – 15-watt, 8-inch
- TGM20 – 20-watt, 7-inch
- TRM30 – 30-watt, 10-inch
- TRM40 – 40-watt, 2x8-inch (2 x 20 watts x 8 inch)
- TVM10 – 15-watt, 6-inch, battery-powered amplifier
Traynor Solid State Guitar Amplifiers
This line of solid state amplifiers with tube emulation provides analog-based amplification with special circuitry to emulate the compression and dynamics of vacuum tubes. They are equipped with Celestion speakers (except the discontinued DG-65R/D models).- DG10 – 10 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, 8" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Speaker - DG15 – 15 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, 10" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Speaker - DG15R – 15 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, 10" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Speaker - DG30D – 30 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, 12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Speaker - DG60R – 65 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, 12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
70/80 Speaker - DG-65R/D – 65 Watt, Auxiliary Line Input, EminenceEminence-Anatomy:In anatomy, eminence implies a protuberance, and may refer to a variety of structures:*Collateral eminence, alongside the hippocampus in the brain*Cruciform eminence, in the occipital bone of the skull...
Redcoat Governor 12-inch speaker (discontinued)
Traynor Tube Guitar Amplifiers
- YGM-3 Reissue – Reissue of 1970s YGM-3, with tremolo and hand-wired circuitry. 20 watt class 'A' amp. 2 x EL84EL84The EL84 is a vacuum tube of the power pentode type. It has a 9 pin Noval base and is found mainly in the final output stages of amplification circuits, most commonly now in guitar amplifiers, but originally in radios and many other devices of the pre-transistor era.It was developed to eliminate...
s, 4 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s, 12 inch JensonJensonJenson may refer to:* A typeface. Adobe Jenson is Adobe's version of it; Ludlow's version is called Eusebius.* Jenson , people with the surname or given name* Jenson violet, antifungal agent...
speaker. - Custom Valve 20 – 15 watt class 'A' amp. 2 x EL84EL84The EL84 is a vacuum tube of the power pentode type. It has a 9 pin Noval base and is found mainly in the final output stages of amplification circuits, most commonly now in guitar amplifiers, but originally in radios and many other devices of the pre-transistor era.It was developed to eliminate...
s, 3 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s, 12 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker. - Custom Valve 20WR – Same as Custom Valve 20 but with red tolexTolexTolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
, cream grill cloth, and CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Greenback Speaker. - Custom Valve 40 – 40 watt class AB amp. 2 x 5881s, 3 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s, and CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
70/80 Speaker - Custom Valve 40WR – Same as Custom Valve 40 but with red tolex, cream grill cloth, CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Vintage 30 speaker. - Custom Valve 40T – Same as Custom Valve 40 but with 2 x 10 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speakers. - Custom Valve 50BLUE – Same as Custom Valve 40 but with Master Volume instead of PresencePresence (amplification)In an amplifier, a presence control controls "presence". A presence control boosts the upper mid-range frequencies. Thus by increasing the presence with the presence control, the sounds of voices and such instruments seem more "present"....
control, EL34EL34The EL34 is a thermionic valve or vacuum tube of the power pentode type. It has an international octal base and is found mainly in the final output stages of audio amplification circuits and was designed to be suitable as a series regulator by virtue of its high permissible voltage between heater...
tubes, blue tolexTolexTolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
, black grill cloth, and a CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
Vintage 30 speaker. - Custom Special 50 – 50 watt class AB/15 watt class 'A' amp. 2 x 5881s, 3 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s Channel Independent Tone Control, 12 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker. - Custom Valve 80 – 80 watt class AB amp. 4 x 5881s, 3 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s, 2 x 12 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
70/80 speakers - Custom Valve 80Q – Same as Custom Valve 80, but with 4 x 10 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speakers. - Custom Special 90 – 90 watt class AB/20 watt class 'A' amp. 4 x 5881s, 3 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s, Channel Independent Tone Control, 2 x 12 inch CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker.
Traynor Guitar Heads
- Custom Special 100H – Selectable 100-watt/30-watt output
- Custom Special 50H – Selectable 50-watt/15-watt output
Traynor Bass Amplifiers
- YBA 200-2 – A 200 watt bass head utilizing a quad of KT88KT88The KT88 is a beam tetrode/kinkless tetrode vacuum tube for audio amplification.- Features :The KT88 fits a standard eight-pin octal socket and has similar pinout and applications as the 6L6 and EL34. Specifically designed for audio amplification, the KT88 has similar ratings to the American 6550...
's, 2 x 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
s and a 12AU712AU712AU7 is a miniature nine-pin medium-gain dual triode vacuum tube. It belongs to a large family of dual triode vacuum tubes which share the same pinout . 12AU7 is also known in Europe under its Mullard-Philips tube designation ECC82...
. - DynaBass 400H – A 400 watt hybrid bass head with a solid state power amplifier, and selectable solid state or tube preamp with a 12AX712AX712AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
tube. - DynaBass 800H – An 800 watt version of the DynaBass 400H.
Traynor Guitar Extension Cabinets
- YCX12 – 40-watt, 1x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker. - YCX12WR – 40-watt, 1x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker in Wine Red leatherette covering. - YCX12BLUE – 40-watt, 1x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speaker in Blue Nubtex covering. - YCX212 – 160-watt, 2x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speakers. - YCS412 – 260-watt / Angled, 4x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speakers, with versatile 4 or 16 ohm operation, or 2x8ohm stereo operation. - YCS412V – 240-watt / 4x12-inch Angled, 4x12" CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
G12T-75 speakers, with versatile 4 or 16 ohm operation, or 2x8ohm stereo operation.