greentext Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 I was lucky enough to get my hands on this little beauty from Facebook sales about 3 years ago for £50! For both! Having been a massive Jesus Lizard and Shellac fan (Bob Weston is the boss) for many many years, I couldn't believe my luck! Both dated 1980, the original 120watt speaker was blown when I bought it but I still have it get reconed, I enquired at the time and it was stupidly expensive, so ive shelved that project for another time. I used it a number of times in the studio and practice but I don't really feel comfortable taking it out live given how much of a rare beast it is. I've seen a fair few Traynor TS-50B's but ive never seen another TS-120B, has anyone else had any experience with one? From my understanding, and that of Essex Amp Repairs, its the same preamp as the TS-50B but has more power and an EQ. The lads at Essex Amp Repairs absolutely loved it and asked if I could leave it with them! 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 What a beauty! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 Loads of them over here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentext Posted February 12, 2023 Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 Just now, BassmanPaul said: Loads of them over here! Thats great news they are still about! Traynor is original from Canada right? From memory built to revival the Ampeg's when Canada was no longer importing them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 Built in the town of Pickering a couple of miles further East along Kingston Road from where I live. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentext Posted February 12, 2023 Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 Very cool, thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 58 minutes ago, greentext said: From memory built to revival the Ampeg's when Canada was no longer importing them? They were actually Canada's Fender. They were fairly popular as a less expensive alternative to Fender back in the 60s-70s, especially in the states that bordered Ontario and Quebec. I bet thousands made the trip across the bridge that connects Windsor, Ontario with Detroit. Back in the day crossing the border entailed not much more than a wave at the agents, and no one paid much attention to what was in your car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 My local musical instrument shop in the 70s was a Traynor dealer. Since they mostly sold "home organs" along with a few Grant and Kimbara badged copy guitars and basses, I never saw the brand as anything to get excited about back then as I lumped them in with all the other low budget crap they were selling. Besides back then in the UK everyone wanted a Marshall or an Acoustic 360. However my band at the time would hire one of their 6-channel (valve?) mixer amps for a few days whenever we were recording which worked well enough I suppose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentext Posted February 13, 2023 Author Share Posted February 13, 2023 1 hour ago, BigRedX said: I never saw the brand as anything to get excited about back then as I lumped them in with all the other low budget crap they were selling. They were a bit of an underdog amp and still are. But I think they have acquired a bit of a cult following as being used by the bassists from Shellac and The Jesus Lizard who have very abrasive punchy bass tones that are easily identifiable as a Traynor solid state amp. Steve Albini of Electric Audio in Chicago (also plays in Shellac, Big Black, total noise rock wizard) uses them a lot as a staple of his bass sounds he achieves in the studio. I'm not saying they are a good amp, but the reason I got it, was for my love for those albums and wanting to create that sound, which it does perfectly, but thats the only thing it does for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 Their tube amps were popular as a chassis for modifications and customization. I've done a few myself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MungoBass Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 Great rig! This takes me back to 1977 when I bought a used Traynor 1 x 15 to replace a home-made 1 x 18 which had a white bed sheet cut up for the speaker cloth! I seem to think my Traynor had a silver cloth front....but can’t be sure. However, the sound was fantastic! Fond memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 I never took to Yorkvliles solid state offerings. That said to each his/her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentext Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 31 minutes ago, MungoBass said: This takes me back to 1977 when I bought a used Traynor 1 x 15 to replace a home-made 1 x 18 which had a white bed sheet cut up for the speaker cloth! I seem to think my Traynor had a silver cloth front....but can’t be sure. However, the sound was fantastic! ahaha great to hear about the homemade cab! yh i love this era of solid state Traynor amps, such a great sound for the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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