Heart of a Worshipper International Expounded Upon

I purchased both the YCV40T and the YCV40WR, to compare them, and to see if one of them would be a good amp for my playing styles and uses.  Street prices for these amps are between $600.00-$675.00, with the YCV40WR and T generally being at the higher end.

I buy and test a lot of equipment personally, because I'm always trying to find a great guitar tone, and I just like to experience the various brands that are out there. This can be an expensive hobby no doubt, but I usually find that most companies have very generous return policies, and if I keep the product past the return period, then I just sell it locally or on Ebay, and generally I'm not out much cash at all. Sometimes I even come out ahead with Ebay sales! If it costs me $100.00 in total additional expense, to figure out which amp I really like, then it's well worth it to me to purchase and try out many models, and then return the ones I don't click with.

The YCV40's came in well protected packaging and arrived in perfect condition. The amps are not super heavy for what they are. The YCV40WR is about 50 Lbs, and the YCV40T is a bit less at 48 Lbs. There are much heavier amps out there of the combo variety (such as Mesa Boogie amps,) but there are also much lighter, cheaper feeling amps on the market. The YCV40's feel like a weighty, solid-built custom amp. The WR model, with it's red leatherette finish, and oatmeal colored grill cloth, especially looks like a boutique amp, which I believe is what Traynor was shooting for in it's development.

These are good looking amps. They are constructed very well, with a thick grill cloth, that covers a very sturdy metal grill to protect the speaker(s). This is a nice touch, and not found on many amps out there in the same price range. Construction was clean and tight on both amps with no problems anywhere. The corners have nice chrome metal protectors on each corner, and there are rubber feet on the bottom.

The amps have a profile that is interesting, in that they have a sort of curve, and come out toward you. Again, it looks different than the average combo, and also looks custom. The construction quality of these amps was very impressive, and they come with a Two Year Transferable Even If You Break It Warranty. Sweet.

Right up front I must say that one nice feature is that this series comes with a footswitch free. I wish every company would do this. Recently, I was able to test Carvin, and Peavey combo amps that directly compete with the YCV line. None of them came with a footswitch, so there was an additional $30.00-$35.00 charge just for the privilege. That just doesn't seem right! The included footswitch is basic, but well built, and has a switch for channel switching, and a switch for boost (gain). Each switch also has an led which is an appreciated feature on dark stages.

All three YCV40 models are the same as far as controls and inputs go. The controls are in a recessed, top mounted panel (vintage style.) This is a nice way to do it, because it keeps the controls away from the front of the amp and thus less vulnerable. There are independent tone controls for each channel, which to me is a necessary feature. Most of the time, to get the tone I like on any amp, I will have the distortion channel e.q.'d differently than the clean channel. Some of Fender's most popular amps don't have tone controls for each channel, and that is the main reason I don't use their smaller tube combo amps.

So on the YCV40's, you have a volume, bass, middle, treble control for each channel. You also have a gain control on the distortion channel (1), and a boost switch. Channel 2 is the clean channel, and along with the tone and volume controls on channel 2, there is a brightness switch. The only other controls are a global Presence control, and a global Reverb control.

On the rear of the YCV40 series, there is a sparse group of important jacks. There is an effects loop (send/return), and the send also can be used as a line out. Next to the effects loop, is an input jack for the footswitch. Other than that, the only other jack is an external speaker jack, which is actually not on the back panel, but underneath it. There are actually two jacks under there. The stock speaker is plugged into one of them.

In my opinion, Traynor is missing a few things here that would push this amp way out beyond the competition. An amp of this size and wattage, really should have a cabinet voiced XLR out for larger stage use, so that if it can't be mic'd, it can still be run through the house sound system with no adapters or direct boxes needed. Two other features I wished for, were a headphone jack for home practice, and a speaker defeat switch. An adjustable ohm rating switch for cabinet use such as is featured on Carvin's amps would also be nice.

The YCV line has an auto-matching tube circuit that maintains bias balance as the tubes age which Traynor says ensures hum free performance throughout the tube life. This is a great feature, and you can also change tubes without having to have the amp re-biased by a technician. This feature alone would save the amp owner quite a bit of money over the life of the amp, which could be many years. It also saves A LOT of down time.

So feature wise, this amp is very nice in the controls and tubes area, and a bit lacking in the jacks department. It seems to me, that if Behringer and Carvin can figure out ways to include just about any input/output one could desire even on their small combo amps, then so could other manufacturers. These are minor gripes, but if I could only afford one combo amp, then they may become major ones, and cause me to choose another brand for versatility, but I doubt it.

This line of amps is feature laden for a vintage type tube amp, and my minor gripes about jacks are probably not issues for most players. The global presence control is a great feature not found on many other amps. I love the presence control, and every time I play through an amp that doesn't have one, I wish that it did. The only other thing control-wise that I would add would be a master volume control, which would help with lower volume, good tone bedroom practice.

It may seem like because I have a few gripes here, that I don't like theYCV40 line much. Don't jump to that opinion too quickly! Because any lack I find, is quickly forgotten as soon as the amp warms up, and the first notes are played!  

Anyone who loves tube amps, usually loves them for specific reasons. For me, it is the warmth. I hate the fact that tube amps generally weigh more than solid state amps and there is maintenance involved; but after side-by-side testing and comparing tube vs. solid state amps, I am convinced that there is enough of a difference in warmth and tone to warrant owning a tube amp as my main amp, and a solid state amp as my backup. 

The Traynor YCV40T and WR that I tested both had that warm vintage tube tone that tube amp lovers crave. They are loud enough that it seems like there must be more than 40 watts, but to hang with a big loud rocking band, on a big stage, in a big hall etc.; the amp will probably need to be mic'd and run through the PA. For anything else though, I think there is plenty of volume.

There is also quite a bit of gain, and with the boost engaged, mids backed off all the way, and the gain control all the way up, the stock amp can even move into the metal range (without quite nailing it.) There are some very sweet slightly distorted blues and distorted rock tones in this amp, and one of the best clean channel tones available. I was particularly blown away by the clean channel on the YCV40T with the two 10" Celestion speakers. WOW! I mean it was reeeaaaally good! Excellent even. The WR's clean channel was also excellent, but the two speakers on the T model probably helped it a bit.

The distortion tone is a bit crisp and edgy with the stock tubes, but not intrusively so. Play the notes light and it's almost clean. Play a little harder, and it crunches right up. That's another feature of tube amps that I love. Solid state amps emulate that nuance, but never seem to get exactly there. I didn't get the chance, but I have read that these amps, although they sound fantastic with the stock speakers, open up even more with a 2x12" or a 4x12" cabinet attached. No complaints in the tone department. I mean there is great tone here, and if an owner wanted a bit different type of distortion or crispness, a tube swap could be done to achieve the desired results.  You want that tube crunch, responsiveness, and warmth. It's all found in the YCV40 series.

A concern for many in the amp sound department is how well an amp takes effect pedals and units. The YCV40 is designed to be and actually is a very quiet tube amp as far as noise goes (buzzing, etc.) It also takes effects very, very well. As a matter of fact, on the models I purchased and tested, the pedals didn't seem to add noise at all. I had a Tech21 Trademark 60 combo amp for years that I loved for recording, but the thing reacted very noisily if you tried to use effects through the effects loops. It didn't even like them through the front input jack. The YCV's didn't have any such issues, and were a joy to use with all kinds of effects.

The only performance issue I had was with the YCV40T. Right out of the box, the amp had a loud rattle if the amp was turned up past 4 on the volume knob (which is already very loud.) It seemed to be a chassis rattle which really got loud when bass notes were played. I think a few screws weren't quite tight enough somewhere. I sent the amp back to where I purchased it from after testing it, but the YCV40WR did not have that same rattle, so I imagine that my particular model T just needed some tightening up. If you are testing one at a store though, make sure you turn it up loud enough to make sure it doesn't have any such issues.