The Custom Valve 50BLUE is based off of the already extremely popular Custom Valve 40, which was a past Guitar Player™ Editor's Pick Award Winner.
Real tube overdrive is provided by three premium 12AX7A dual triode preamp tubes while the 50 watts of real tube power is provided by two EL34 power tubes. The internal gadgetry in this channel switching amp provides great flexibility, but makes it very easy to get a great tone. The combination of the tube power and the Celestion™ Vintage 30 speaker can only be described as magical.
But unlike our vintage looking Traynor Custom Valve series which feature black vinyl covering and 5881 tubes, we have added a Blue Nubtex covering, black grille, black logo as well as black plastic corners along with the EL34 power tubes to complete a whole new look and feel that is destined to become a classic. This combined with the Celestion™ Vintage 30 speaker help gives the Custom Valve 50BLUE a rich "boutique" look, sound and feel. The three basic tones (clean, crunch and overdrive) are easily defined. Great tone at low levels can be easily achieved, thanks in part to the addition of a Master volume control not found on the 20 and 40 watt Traynor amps in the Custom Valve series. The voicing of the lead channel has been tweaked to provide a more ominous or darker "British" tone, a natural evolution for an amp powered by EL34 power tubes as this complements the tubes natural tonal characteristics. We challenge you to compare us to the competition. You'll love the tone and instantly recognize the value.
Although signal-to-noise is not normally a specification that is discussed where guitar amplifiers are concerned, the ultra-quiet Custom Valve 50BLUE makes it an issue. Experienced professional users will appreciate the auto-matching tube circuit that maintains bias balance as tubes age ensuring hum free performance. The DC filaments on the preamp tubes all but eliminate hum. Listen carefully. Although the Custom Valve 50BLUE has a tremendous amount of gain it remains virtually hum free.
The rear mounted control panel is easy to access, yet recessed for protection. And the warranty? Yorkville's standard two year (even if you break it!) transferable warranty.* The one that made Traynor famous in the sixties.
* Warranty valid in Canada & United States only.
Features
* 100% Designed & Manufactured in North America
* All-tube design with two EL34 and three 12AX7A Premium tubes
* A Single 12 inch Celestion Vintage30 speaker for great classic sound and performance
* Using all plywood for the construction of the cabinet guarantees the durability and rigidity that made Traynor famous
* Separate tone controls on each of the two channels (lead and clean) for flexibility
* Classic Long-Style Accutronics® Reverb, with dual springs, for authentic vintage sound
* External speaker jack for the ultimate in versatility
* Traynor TFS-2B latching dual-footswitch, with 10-foot cable included
* A special DC powered filament supply on preamp tubes ensures reduced hum
* Auto-balancing bias supply means no need for matched pairs of output tubes or bias adjustments, allowing extremely easy emergency tube replacement
* Fully regulated power supply ensures ultra low noise with tube rectifier emulation
* Heavy gauge perforated grille with black cover
* Custom design "Chicken Beak" knobs
All Tube Guitar Combos Series Characteristics
* Solid all-plywood cabinet construction for outstanding reliability and tone.
* Quality component selection.
* Heavy gauge perforated all metal grille with cloth cover to protect speakers (YCV series only).
* All-metal box chassis to protect electronics components and tubes.
* All tube audio signal path
* Fully regulated power supply with tube rectifier emulation.
* Dual color power / standby status light.
TRAYNOR YCV50BLUE Specs
Specifications
Type Tube Guitar Amplifier
Cabinet Impedance (Ohms) 8
Power @ min. impedance (Watts) 50
Minimum Impedance (Ohms) 4
Speaker Configuration - LF (Size / Power) 12 inch / 40 Watts
Inputs 2
Channel 1 - inputs 1/4 inch phone
Channel 1 - controls Gain, Volume, Treble, Bass, Middle
Channel 1 - switches Boost
Channel 2 - inputs Shares ch 1 input
Channel 2 - controls Volume, Treble, Bass, Middle
Channel 2 - switches Channel Select, Brightness
Channel Switching Yes
Master Volume Control Yes
Line Out (type / configuration) 1/4 inch TRS / Rear (Effects Send)
Effects Volume Yes
Effects Loop / Location Yes / Rear
Effects Footswitch / Function Yes / Channel Select, Boost
Internal Reverb / Effects Spring Reverb
LED Indicators Channel Select, Boost, Power, Standby
External speaker output / location 1/4 inch / Rear
Other Features Standby Switch – Activates standby mode to keep the tubes warm while the amp is not in use.
Auto Tube-matching Circuit
Preamp Tube - 3x 12AX7WA Dual Triodes (Russia)
Power Amp Tube - 2x EL34 Early Mullard Style
DC filaments on preamp tubes eliminate hum
Fully regulated power supply with tube rectifier emulation
Perforated Steel Grille
Dimensions (DWH, inches) 9.5 x 23 x 18
Dimensions (DWH, cm) 24 x 58 x 46
Weight (lbs / kg) 50.3 / 22.8
* Specifications subject to change without notice
I bought this amp to have a small, lightweight tube amp that I could carry around to small gigs but that was also loud and sounded good. I also have a Traynor YCV40WR and like it a lot too. This YCV50 has more balls though in the OD channel. The master volume, regular volume, and gain knobs let you dial in almost any sound you want on the OD channel. I don't even need any pedals with this amp, the OD is THAT good IMHO. I'd compare it's tonal range to a Fender Prosonic (I used to have one of those too) but it has way more clean headroom than the Prosonic did, plus it's lighter. At the end of the day it all boils down to what you're looking for, what you play, etc. I'm older now and don't want to lug around lots of big equipment anymore. I like this amp. The clean channel lets me play real sweet clean jazz or country like the best Fender amps and the OD channel let's me get all the growl or crunch I need without pedals. The OD channel has been compared to a Marshall. I guess that's a fair comparison. I used to own a Marshall too but the Marshall was more of a one trick pony (loud OD) where this amp does that plus other things (like clean) very nicely too. The reverb is sweet sounding. I give it two thumbs up. I rated the reliability 8 because after all it IS a tube amp and they do require retubing from time to time, but mine still has the factory tubes and sounds fine. I like that it has separate controls for both channels. That way you can set your clean controls for what you like and leave them and then set your OD controls the way you like and leave them and switch back and forth without having to readjust the EQ like on a Fender Blues Deville. I bought it from MusiciansBuy too with no problemos and got a free cover. Comes with footswitch too and a pretty good warranty, just in case. I think Yorkville Traynor amps may just be one of the best kept secrets out there. I'd buy another if I lost this one.
This is a fantastic, simple tube amp with plenty of headroom and a gain boost that delivers pick attack very reminescent of Ain't talkin' about love by Van Halen. I actually returned the Traynor 40 for this, being that the 50 has Electro-Harmonix power tubes, a master volume (crucial for house playing!) and a Celestion classic 30, all for around $30 more. I also retubed with JJ's from Eurotubes to ring the last bit of gain out of the preamp stage, and BAM, it sounds similar to a JCM 800 even at low practice volumes -- but better pick attack (and a much smaller package to tote around). One caveat: it delivers less than steller low end due to the open back, so consider getting the closed-back extension cab, or do what I do, and mic the amp and send signal to good floor monitors through a recorder or mixing board. I mic straight into a TASCAM DP-01, then to a power amp, and out to two floor monitors. Micing low to the amp picks up a good bass-rich tone and beefs it up through the monitors.
Unboxing this amp was a real suprise... it's smaller and lighter than I had thought (this is a good thing). I'm not a big fan of blue amps, but this is not a bad looking piece. I was a bit shocked that the knob quality seemed so poor - they are much to easy to turn and feel weightless... this does not fit with the buld quality of the rest of the amp. The amp warms up quick and is ready to go. Sound quality is just what I was looking for!!! cleans are very Fenderish, overdirve channel is like my old mod'ed JMP Marshall head! The master and channel volumes are so great - this amp acutaly has a NON touchy volume!!! I have yet to find an amp that can be played at very low volumes and be turned up smoothly (no more of this off to ear shattering with a nudge of the master). I'm very very impressed - great tones - great boost great overdrive channel great cleans!
-Jeff -Inland Empire - California, 08/09/06
Other views of TRAYNOR YCV50BLUE (Click to enlarge):
3900 Fiscal Ct, Suite 200
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Florida 33404
USA
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Traynor YCV50 Blue Guitar Amp
Rear
WHIRLWIND LINE/INST LE18 ELITE 
Fender Tuner PT100 Pedal 
