Traynor

Traynor

24

Also known as: Traynor Amps, Traynor Amplifiers

Unclaimed

Traynor is a Canadian amplifier brand founded by Peter Traynor in 1963, launching with the Dynabass bass amplifier as a rental product under Yorkville Sound in Toronto. The lineup expanded quickly: the YBA-1 Bass Master head arrived in 1964 and became one of the most celebrated vintage Canadian amplifiers, while guitar models including the YGA-1 and YGM-1 followed in 1966. Throughout the late 1...

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Traynor is a Canadian amplifier brand founded by Peter Traynor in 1963, launching with the Dynabass bass amplifier as a rental product under Yorkville Sound in Toronto. The lineup expanded quickly: the YBA-1 Bass Master head arrived in 1964 and became one of the most celebrated vintage Canadian amplifiers, while guitar models including the YGA-1 and YGM-1 followed in 1966. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Traynor built a reputation for delivering high-output tube designs at prices well below comparable British and American alternatives, earning widespread adoption among working musicians across Canada and the United States.

After Peter Traynor left the company in 1976, the brand was gradually wound down before Yorkville Sound relaunched it in 2000 with the YCV40 (Custom Valve), a 40-watt all-tube combo that earned Guitar Player magazine's Editor's Pick Award in 2001. The Custom Valve series grew to include models at various wattages and configurations, such as the YCV50B and YCV20. On the bass side, the YBA-1 Bass Master was reissued as a tribute to the original, and the lineup was extended with modern high-powered heads like the YBA300, a 300-watt all-tube bass amplifier. Traynor's current range also spans solid-state guitar amplifiers (DynaGain series), acoustic amplifiers, and keyboard amplifiers.

Traynor holds a particularly strong place in Canadian music history. Geddy Lee's first amplifier was a Traynor, which he and Alex Lifeson shared for early gigs in Toronto before Rush rose to prominence. The brand's vintage amps are actively collected and traded, with a dedicated archive community preserving schematics and historical documentation.

Traynor has 125 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Combo Guitar Amplifiers, Guitar Amplifier Heads, and Bass Combo Amplifiers. Their gear is featured by 38 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Metal, and Pop. Notable users include Donna Grantis, Tim Hecker, and Steve Terryberry. Traynor's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.

Artists Who Use Traynor

Donna Grantis uses 4 Traynor products

Donna Grantis

Guitarist · 3RDEYEGIRL

Tim Hecker uses 2 Traynor products

Tim Hecker

Music Producer

Steve Terryberry uses 2 Traynor products

Steve Terryberry

Singer, Guitarist

Patrick Pentland uses 2 Traynor products

Patrick Pentland

Guitarist · Sloan

Taylor York uses 1 Traynor product

Taylor York

Guitarist · Paramore

Dylan Carlson uses 1 Traynor product

Dylan Carlson

Guitarist · Earth

Brian Cook uses 1 Traynor product

Brian Cook

Bassist, Keyboardist · SUMAC

Christopher Vanderkooy uses 1 Traynor product

Christopher Vanderkooy

Guitarist · Peach Pit

Alan Sparhawk uses 1 Traynor product

Alan Sparhawk

Singer, Guitarist · Low

Luke Gruntz uses 1 Traynor product

Luke Gruntz

Singer, Guitarist · cleopatrick

Jesse Hughes uses 1 Traynor product

Jesse Hughes

Singer, Guitarist · The Desert Sessions

Bob Wenston uses 1 Traynor product

Bob Wenston

Bassist, Music Producer · Shellac

Johannes Persson uses 1 Traynor product

Johannes Persson

Singer, Guitarist · Cult of Luna

drug bug uses 1 Traynor product

drug bug

Singer, Guitarist · WillyRodriguezWasTaken

Tarek Jafar uses 1 Traynor product

Tarek Jafar

Singer, Guitarist · The Blue Stones

Scott Evans uses 1 Traynor product

Scott Evans

Guitarist · Kowloon Walled City

TotorRo uses 1 Traynor product

TotorRo

Guitarist, Bassist

Glenn Fricker uses 1 Traynor product

Glenn Fricker

Music Producer

Christopher Reimer uses 1 Traynor product

Christopher Reimer

Guitarist · Women

Bruce Thomas uses 1 Traynor product

Bruce Thomas

Bassist, Music Producer · Elvis Costello & The Attractions

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