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Description

Unleash your guitar's full potential with the Traynor Dark Horse DH15H, a dynamic and versatile amplifier head designed for the discerning musician. This 15-watt powerhouse offers a seamless blend of classic tones and modern adaptability, making it a perfect choice for both stage and studio settings. Equipped with dual power modes, you can effortlessly switch between 15 watts of pentode power for those high-energy performances and 2 watts of triode mode for a more intimate studio environment.

The DH15H is built with a robust all-tube design that ensures rich, warm tones and reliable performance. Its intuitive controls allow you to craft your sound with precision, featuring separate Gain, Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, and Master knobs. The integrated effects loop provides flexibility for adding external processors without compromising your tone.

For musicians who value versatility, the Traynor Dark Horse DH15H includes a unique "Pure" and "Drive" switch, allowing you to toggle between pristine clean sounds and a gritty overdrive, perfect for genres ranging from blues to classic rock. Its rugged construction and compact size make it an ideal companion for gigging musicians who need reliable gear that travels well.

Key Features:

  • 15-watt all-tube amplifier head
  • Dual power modes: 15-watt pentode and 2-watt triode
  • Intuitive control panel with Gain, Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, and Master knobs
  • Integrated effects loop for external processors
  • Unique "Pure" and "Drive" switch for clean or overdriven tones
  • Compact and robust design for easy transportation
Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H + DHX12 1x12 cab demo

Video thumbnail for Traynor DarkHorse DH15H + DHX12 1x12 cab demo by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H + DHX12 1x12 cab demo

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Video thumbnail for Traynor DarkHorse DH15H Amp + NEW DHX212 Extension Cabinet by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H Amp + NEW DHX212 Extension Cabinet

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Video thumbnail for Traynor DarkHorse DH15H amp + DHX12 camp DEMO - 15 watt setting by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H amp + DHX12 camp DEMO - 15 watt setting

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Video thumbnail for Traynor DarkHorse DH15H amp + DHX12 camp DEMO - 2 watt setting by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H amp + DHX12 camp DEMO - 2 watt setting

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Video thumbnail for Traynor DarkHorse DH15H demo by Brad B

Traynor DarkHorse DH15H demo

Brad B

Brad B

Reviews

Critic Reviews

Traynor: DarkHorse 15H guitar amp, DarkHorse X12 speaker cabinet | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

Traynor's Dark Horse DH15H is a compact tube amp that offers versatility without overwhelming complexity. Its two power modes and three tone settings provide a range of usable sounds, making it suitable for various recording situations. While the amp excels at delivering classic tube warmth in its 12-watt mode, the 1-watt setting leaves something to be desired, being less convincing and surprisingly loud for low-volume use. Build quality is commendable, and it pairs well with the matching cabinet. Despite some tonal discrepancies in the "Brit" and "USA" settings, the DH15H impresses with its straightforward design and portability. However, it's not a high-gain beast, which may disappoint some players seeking more aggressive tones. Overall, the Dark Horse is a solid choice for those needing a compact amp for studio work, though it may not replace higher-end vintage options for everyone.

Traynor’s Darkhorse DH15H | Vintage Guitar® magazine

vintageguitar.com

Traynor's Dark Horse DH15H delivers impressive tonal versatility in a compact design, showcasing an old-school aesthetic that appeals to vintage enthusiasts. It excels in producing clean, punchy tones with a satisfying overdrive character, especially when pushed. The intuitive control layout and easy access to tubes are definite pluses. However, the amp's loudness may be a drawback for some, and while the low-power setting is useful for practice, it sacrifices some punchiness. Ultimately, the DH15H bridges the gap between U.S. and British tones, making it a worthy contender for players seeking a lightweight yet powerful amp.

positive

4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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trilby

Small and Simple... but Great

The Traynor Dark Horse seems to follow the philosophy of "do one thing, and do it well". It's a lunchbox head that embraces it's simplicity: no effects loop, no direct output, no foot-switches, not even a "Middle" in it's tone stack. Despite that, it's not without its features: "Brit"/"USA" modes for the tone stack, a "Pure" mode for bypassing the tone stack completely, and switchable 15W and 2W modes.

If the Dark Horse has any fault, it's that's its aesthetic can mislead you into thinking the amp is a saturated crunch machine. In reality, it has an impressive amount of clean headroom; with low output single coils and the Gain dimed in the 15W mode, the Dark Horse barely gets into breakup territory while pumping out plenty of volume. Make no mistake, the Dark Horse can get dirty - especially dropped to the 2W mode, which is still plenty loud - but it's headroom and usefulness as a clean pedal -platform may not be what some expect at first sight.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Patrick Pentland uses Traynor Dark Horse DH15H

Patrick Pentland

Guitarist

Sloan

...
Verified via Traynoramps

Playing live with Sloan means having a rig that is versatile. I need to be able to access different sounds in various playing conditions, from small clubs to festival stages, and it has to work every time. Trayner’s Dark Horse amps are perfect. The lower output means I can get that full rock sound without tearing heads off, and still have room for cleaner tones when needed. And putting them through 4 4X12 cabs means they drive just that much harder.

There are numerous videos of Sloan in concert where Patrick's two Dark Horses' are visible.

See how Donna Grantis uses Traynor Dark Horse DH15H

Donna Grantis

Guitarist

3RDEYEGIRL

...
Verified via Traynoramps

"This amp is awesome! It looks rad, it's lightweight, and I love the variety of tones it offers. I take it with me to rehearsals, recording sessions and gigs - even on tours overseas as a carry-on to achieve consistently great tone." Donna Grantis

Direct quote taken from Traynor's artist page.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Traynor Dark Horse DH15H, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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