Amp shootout with classic Canadian amps

As well as producing amps, Garnet has produced some pretty legendary effects, & not the stompbox kind either.
The "Stinger" is an all valve (pentode) fuzz unit that by all accounts offers the clarity of the very best fuzz pedals while producing totally unique sounding fuzz.
Probably more well known is the "Herzog" overdrive. Randy Bachman (BTO) was a well known user of this all valve overdrive unit that features a circuit that is basically a single ended amplifier (one 12AX7, one 6V6) along the lines of a 5F1 Champ amp.
There were at least a couple of variations of the Herzog & while some could utilise a speaker (small amp), more common was a 10 watt resistor across the output transformer secondary, paralleled with a pot (effect output level control). A footswitch activated relay switches the effect in & out. I imagine this unit could hit the front end of an amp very hard.
I've long thought of building up one of these to experiment with,,, I may get 'round to it one day. Cheers
 
Traynor amps are built like brick :poo:houses, pretty well bulletproof. Another thing about at least some Traynor designs, they actually run the pentode type output tubes (EL34's) as pentodes.
This is not common in guitar amps, where most types that we commonly know of run the output pentodes as "tetrodes".
If you look at the schematic diagram for most pentode equipped guitar amps, you'll see that the (grid 3) suppressor grid is tied to the cathode (tetrode connected), essentially wasting this feature of the pentode valve.
I'm not sure if "all" Traynor's do this, but at least some of the Traynor designs apply a negative voltage (derived from the negative bias supply) to the suppressor grid, which is how pentodes are meant to be used.
Applying a negative voltage to the suppressor grid greatly reduces "secondary emission" & thus runs the tubes more efficiently.
Any amp that is using "fixed biased tetrode connected pentodes" can have this done as a very simple modification, though it will make the power amp respond a little differently. Cheers
 
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Peter Traynor the Legendary Sound Man..

Pete Traynor with his wife, Susan, in 2010.
 
ivan H said:
Traynor amps are built like brick :poo:houses, pretty well bulletproof. Another thing about at least some Traynor designs, they actually run the pentode type output tubes (EL34's) as pentodes.
This is not common in guitar amps, where most types that we commonly know of run the output pentodes as "tetrodes".
If you look at the schematic diagram for most pentodes equipped guitar amps, you'll see that the (grid 3) suppressor grid is tied to the cathode (tetrode connected), essentially wasting this feature of the pentode valve.
I'm not sure if "all" Traynor's do this, but at least some of the Traynor designs apply a negative voltage (derived from the negative bias supply) to the suppressor grid, which is how pentodes are meant to be used.
Applying a negative voltage to the suppressor grid greatly reduces "secondary emission" & thus runs the tubes more efficiently.
Any amp that is using "fixed biased tetrode connected pentodes" can have this done as a very simple modification, though it will make the power amp respond a little differently. Cheers
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I’ve owned several Traynor amps. I currently have a YCV20WR which I believe is one of their best. I’ve played almost their complete range at one time or another. I can confirm they are built extremely well. The mass produced amps I think compare in build quality would be Mesa.
 
Peter Traynor was a Canadian guitarist, Bassist, Businessman and designer of Traynor sound amplification equipment for the music Industry.

Traynor played in three bands with Robbie Robertson. Robbie and the Robots, Thumper and the Trombones , and the suedes. He later played with Ronnie Hawkins. Traynor worked as a repair Technician at Long& Mcwade first store in Toronto in the 1960s, and began designing specialized sound amplifiers and other related equipment for store customers. His hand wired Bass amplifier , which he called DynaBass was in demand. So Traynor teamed with his employer Jack long to create a company called Yorkville Sound, to manufacture and market the products he designed under the Traynor Brand. Another of his designs was the BassMaster tube amp. The Traynor line of equipment has been sold Worldwide and is manufactured in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately this talented Gentleman passed on in 2016, related to undiagnosed Diabetes. His name lives on, he was called The Legendary Sound Man , that Man Peter Traynor.
 
I had a high school buddy who had a Traynor 2x8 combo. I honestly dont remember the model but it was a nice little amp he'd bring over at my garage when we'd have band practice and jam with us. First time Id heard of a Traynor but i later found they were pretty cool amps
 
Kerry Brown said:
I’ve owned several Traynor amps. I currently have a YCV20WR which I believe is one of their best. I’ve played almost their complete range at one time or another. I can confirm they are built extremely well. The mass produced amps I think compare in build quality would be Mesa.
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I think IMHO that Traynor is designed and built quite a bit better than Mesa Boogie.
I think Mesa Boogie is an overall poorly designed amp. It is not made to last, has greatly increased cost of maintenance, and is difficult and unnecessarily time consuming to maintain.
Based on years of maintaining Mesa Boogies, I would prefer a Traynor any day. I would not buy or recommend a Mesa Boogie.

The reputation of Boogie is primarily advertising hype....not reality.

I worked on a Mesa Triple Crown yesterday...brand new, and already failing. No Thanks.
 
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Amp Mad Scientist said:
I think IMHO that Traynor is designed and built quite a bit better than Mesa Boogie.
I think Mesa Boogie is an overall poorly designed amp. It is not made to last, has greatly increased cost of maintenance, and is difficult and unnecessarily time consuming to maintain.
Based on years of maintaining Mesa Boogies, I would prefer a Traynor any day. I would not buy or recommend a Mesa Boogie.

The reputation of Boogie is primarily advertising hype....not reality.

I worked on a Mesa Triple Crown yesterday...brand new, and already failing. No Thanks.
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The only Mesa I’ve owned was a Transatlantic TA-30. It was built like a tank. I can’t speak to the electronics other than to say two years of packing it around it never hiccuped once. It stood up way better than various Fender and other amps I’ve owned.
 
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