Under 24hrs on the Traynor now (of course, that’s when the bidding hots up). Stupid me, the pic clearly shows the cab section closed-back. It’s had more screws than a John Leslie home video. There’s something I don’t know, though:

The Traynor EL34 heads follow the Bassman practice (as copied by Marshall) of input 1 being more guitary and input 2 being for the bass. Not sure if the Bassmate combo does the same, but I’m looking up the schems now.

Typing as I read it, “Input 1 has higher gain”, hmmm. The external speaker out is designed for Traynor’s 1×15″ or 2×15″ cabs. Obviously, any 8ohm cab will work fine plugged into this socket. Hang on, reading from this (a scan of Traynor’s own manual):
http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/~dace/vb/traynor_bassmate_yba2_all.pdf
it says “25W pre-clipping, 40W full clipping” which is total rubbish. Two EL84s are working hard to make 15W, they’d go nuclear punting 25W. I’d heard that Pete Traynor did exaggerate output in his blurb. Anyhoo, the output impedance is 8ohms, presumably non-switchable. The speaker is an 8ohm 1×15″ @75W, and the minimum impedance tolerated is 4ohms. ie, another 8ohm cab can be plugged into the ext jack (parallel, so 4ohm total) and the OPT can handle the mismatch.

I still haven’t even got to the schem yet, but this bit’s important. The dimensions are 20.5″ x 26″ x 11″, and the weight is 45lbs. AFAIK, this is well within the max for shipping by parcel2go.com, who charge a measly £9 for UK shipping.

Finally, the schem. I’ve got a cricked neck from looking at it sideways on a lappy TFT, but it looks like a standard input #1 = guitar, input #2 = bass setup, a la Bassman/Marshall.

Remember that ‘non-working’ WEM bass amp? The seller’s in Dundee 🙁 . Still, I might ask about using a courier. The seller quotes ouchy £30 (that’ll be Royal Maul) for posting.

Unfortunately, the last 30W WEM I saw passed £250 very quickly. I prefer the 15Ws, but maybe some see the 30W as pub-gigable. Smart move by the seller; lots of “like an AC30” refs for the saps to overbid on. Could do anything, in other words.

BTW, I know just how nerdy I can appear, promulgating Mullard valves but hey:

Some people think a Fender is worth $$$$ because it’s “pre-CBS” or swamp ash or nitrocellulose coated or alnico or has cloth-covered wiring or a single-ply pickguard or a bone nut or truss rod adjustment at the heel instead of the headstock or vice versa or the fingerboard’s maple or Brazilian rosewood and it’s slab or one-piece or 3-way or 5-way switch or V-shaped neck or C-shaped neck.

I think I’ve made my point 🙂 Mullard valves are just very good, and sound better than Sovteks, Svets, JJs et al. That’s all I’ll say, wizened old prune that I am.

BTW, and I can feel a cork wafting under my nostrils here…

Take a good look at the pics on that 30W Dom. All four EL84s are Mullards (the later, 70s, small shield logo) and one of the ECC83s (the other two are shielded) is a Brimar. Quality glassware. The Mullard EL84 is the best there is and, as I’ve mentioned before, my Mull-equipped Dom whips Andy’s Sov-ed up one to death. End of cork-sniffing post 🙂

Delays – this hijacker really naffs up forum-posting. OK, I’m pretty sure that the YBA2 has a closed back. I am absolutely dead certain that the WEM has an open back. Charlie Watkins knows/knew about Thiele-Small parameters as much as anyone. Despite my reservations, it works plenty well for bass and guitar. I think the YBA2 for sub £150 is worth thinking about and a definite snap for sub £100.

Of course, you ****ing g*itarists know all about pinching valve bass amps for your six-stringers. If you didn’t, they’d be reasonably priced and I’d be swimming in Bassmans, Superbasses and the like. Even lesser-knowns, like Bill Wyman’s Vox V65 (he switched to Ampeg later) and the Fender Musicmaster Bass amp have been priced out by you lot 😉

On the subject of WEM, I have seen a later Dom Bass for sale as not working. Looking at the pic, it’s pretty bloody obvious why it isn’t and an easy fix. If it’s in the NW, it’s mine. If it’s darn Sarf, it’s yours. Gary may just be interested in a 30W Dom on the fleeb: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=7320945962&rd=1
Personally, I like the 15W for home use but I know most bass players prefer the extra ponies under the bonnet. On all Doms, channel 1 (with the treble boost) suits guitar and channel 2 suits bass.

On a philosophical note, I used to do a Gary and have monster cabs but I’ve got out of that game. I use a 2×10″ (maybe I’ll buy/make another cab – a 1×12″ or 1×15″ at most). I think he’ll use either the WEM or Traynor for bass a lot. That’s the problem with monster stacks, you don’t want to drag the things out and you can barely switch them on in the house. So whaddaya do? You try out ideas through some nasty Microbass or other crappy SS combo.

I used to write for a mag called “Making Music” and I remember an interview Tom Robinson did. He was dead against those solid-aluminium and birch flight cases. Your best guitar gets cooped up in them because you can’t be bothered to drag it out, so all those neat ideas you suddenly get are tried out on the lumpy plank lying around in the porch (like a Hondo II f’r’instance 😉 ). Same principle with mega-amps. Even my Marshall 100W and 2×10″ can’t just be yanked out of the cupboard for an idea. That’s why I got the Dom.

Sorry 4 delay. Severe spyware/hijacker probs. Afraid I can’t personally tell you the score as I haven’t played one. If you have a look at that website link I posted earlier, you’ll get some other ops (all positive). I read good things from owners on plexi palace, too. It will have a 15″ speaker, the Bassmate combo never had anything other.

Guitarists seem to prefer the 6V6 version, and your guy’s inclination would lean to it as well. Trouble is, I’ve found out that the 6V job was made in ’67 for three years at most before they went EL84. The chances of a 6V6 YBA2 having crossed the pond must be remote.

I expect it to sell around £150, anything less is very good, and could easily fetch more. If it does, I have to question whether it might be better to hold out for a WEM Dom Bass MkI. The latter is more available and easier to get closer to the £100 mark. The Traynor has the advantage that the cabinet side is clearly designed for the 15″, whereas the WEM just about squeezes in there. Also, Traynors are reknowned for being robust. Not saying the WEMs aren’t, but they do seem more prone to 12AX7 microphonics (they’re mounted on a board). A bass gives a valve combo a harder time so this may be important.

Those that commented said the 6V6 YBA2 was Fender-Marshall, whereas the EL84 job is Vox-Marshall. If my WEM is anything to go by, I’d say yes; slightly Vox (maybe to 4) to much more Marshall-like above that. Undoubtedly a handy amp for the right money, but it may not be exactly what your man’s after. Pity you can’t try it.

Slight confusion. My Andy has a Dom Bass MkI and I have a (guitar) Dom MkIII. Also, I was born in Kent but I live in the North West. No chance I can run it past my dodgy playing. Sorry 🙁

Here you go, Lee:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=7321482582&rd=1
It’s the EL84, rather than 6V6, version but otherwise ticks all boxes. You do know Camden, don’t you 😉

Slightly off-topic, but putting VERY specifics in Fleeb is a good idea. I search wider stuff and can often end up bidding for a ‘bargain’ I don’t really need. I’ve got a horrible feeling I could’ve had a nice Stingray by now, if I hadn’t bought a heap of semi-useful gunk.

Cor, blimey, luv a duck, guv. Consulting my Cockney:English – English:Cockney dictionary, I think you’re saying you found a nice Jap’s Eye (Tokai).

Anyhoo, the more I think of it, Lee, the more I think your Gary should put a Fleeb “email me when a _____ comes up” search on the Traynor YBA2. I’ve overcome my laziness, here’s the URL for the info:
http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/~dace/vb/models.html#bassmateyba-2

The only trouble is, this Canuck combo doesn’t feature very often this side of the pond. When it does, it’s the EL84 version. The early 6V6 job presses all the buttons. 15″ spkr, very Vibro-like (a ton of web-info on mods) and the original speaker can be junked for a Jensen. Likely to be ca £180 and, as you know, the EL84 version can’t just have the toobs swapped out for 6V6s. Patience, grasshopper.

Lee, presumably this was prior to the London congestion charge 🙂 ? If it was a Dom, then it was at least the 2xEL84, that Charlie never measured but calculated from the maths was 14W. Mo Foster wrote a book “14 Watts” about the WEM story. If you haven’t already, go here:
http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/steverussell/gallery/gallery3/selm.html
for Steve Russell and Tim Fletcher’s excellent sites on Selmer, WEM, Bird, Dallas etc etc. It manages to combine kagoul-like attention to model detail with lively text and fabulous pics. For the curious and committed alike.

Later, the Dom was fitted with 4xEL84s and quoted at 30W. I saw one on FleebUK rocket past £255 for no reason I can think of. It’s at its best as a circa 15W combo for recording or light rehearsal. I’d imagine the single 84 Clubman might be pushed a bit hard once the full drum kit turns up.

Strangely, the overall dimensions of the 12″ Dom III and the 15″ Bass MkI are exactly the same. I could convert mine simply by putting in the the G15 and a new baffle board. I can’t say for sure that the 15″ makes such a difference because (as I mentioned) the valve brands are so different in out two amps. The Sovs are glassy, the Mulls growl and are more 3D. I would say that the 15″ is a better “both instruments plugged in” amp, especially with 5-strings and actives. Incidentally, I have just today found out I ‘won’ a pair of Mullard EL84s, good tester readings, working in an amp and with excellent getter flashing for £10.50 the pair 😀 That doesn’t happen with EL34s.

The Fender is a totally different amp, though. I’d like one, but they fetch a bomb. I was after the Musicmaster Bass amp (12″ Jensen) but they go for £170-£220 and my WEM was (after much patience) £87. Nowadays, only a year later, the WEM is rarely under £150 so both are worth checking out if possible. Another good poss is the Traynor YBA2 combo (search for ‘velvet black traynor’ – another great site). Early ones had the 6V6, later ones the EL84. Again, rarely going for less than £150 on Fleeb now – all these informative websites act against the bargain-hunter.

The Crown only rings tiny bells and may be a better snap-up. BTW, the WEM has the pre-tubes mounted on the board. I wouldn’t call it a PCB, more of a wafer with grooves for solder to run in. It sounds good (a well-designed PCB is preferable to bad spaghetti, IMO) but can result in microphonics as the combo vibes hit the pre-tubes. Another reason why I avoid Sovs et al on this amp; they whistle and ‘boing’ after only limited use.

I never noticed the Bird back panel. I think they only lasted for a few years in the mid-60s. Tim’s site will tell you more.

Oh yeah, forgot the Bird Golden Eagle 4/25. My chum Tim Fletcher has a site on Selmer, WEM, Bird, you name it British amps. I think the 4/25 refers to the number of EL34s and the expected wattage. A 15″ speaker was fitted because, with a whole 25W to blow the village hall roof off, the bassman could plug into one channel while the guitarist hogged the rev and trem.

Here’s a decent one on the Fleeb:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=23787&item=7307546518&rd=1

Erm, there’s also this Mesa-Boogie – http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43374&item=7308690686&rd=1. Deep pockets, ouchy shipping, ghastly import taxes 😯

Lee, it’s not strictly a guitar amp, but the WEM Dominator Bass MkI is identical to the Dom III but for speaker choice. Weirdly, my guitarist has the Bass MkI (15″ Celestion-Rola G15M) and I have the Dom III (various 12″, Charlie Watkins used the G12M, Goodmans and Audiom. Mine has the unnamed Italian – possibly Altoparlante – 12″ with a horseshoe magnet). There’s also the Power Musette MkII which usually had a twin-cone but sometimes didn’t.

I’d highly recommend any of these amps for guitar or bass use. I like the 12″ combo, although the low B on the 5-string challenges it a bit and the ‘treble boost’ is no use to me. Guitarist plugs in that channel and I go in the normal. It’s 3xECC83 on the pre and 2xEL84 on the power. SS rectumfryer. Hate to sound like a corksniffer, but mine has Mullards and his has Sovteks. The improvement with the Mulls is dramatic and (unlike EL34s) they can still be bought for semi-sensible money.

HC reviews compare it to an AC15 but this is rot, IMO. It’s not even close to class A – much more like “mini-Marshall”. If your walls are very thin, the Clubman and Westminster are single EL84 (about 7W) but only the Dom Bass MkI (14W) has the 15″.