Show us your vintage CANADIAN MADE amplifiers...

[co-intelpro]

I don't know about everyone else, but I feel as though us Canadians don't pay enough attention/homage to the rich history of guitar amplifier manufacturing we have in this fine country.

I'm asking all the vintage Canadian amplifier owners/lovers to show us your amps. Show your patriotism by showing your vintage CANADIAN MADE amplifier! Keep the history alive.

I know this is close to another thread here, but the hope is this one will include more brands, because there are more than just Traynors out there...That said, please show us your Traynors, Garnets, Verlages, Worts, Pepcos, Johnsons, etc. etc...Tell us what you know about them too, if you can.

[torndownunit]

Here's my GC Amplifiers GC15. He's a builder from the Waterloo area. They carry his amps at Woodshed Music in Guelph. I don't have a larger photo uploaded anywhere, so I am just linking to the one on his site

http://www.gcamplifiers.com/media/thumbs/SN012a.JPG

[PaulS]

An early 70's Garnet Session Man... the Canadian Twin. :D

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/sarg_2006/gar1.jpg

[shoretyus]

An early 70's Garnet Session Man... the Canadian Twin. :D

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/sarg_2006/gar1.jpg

Better turn that sucker on and blow the dust bunnies off the grill cloth :smilie_flagge17:

[co-intelpro]

Here is my prized YBA-1. It is in pristine condition, and sounds gorgeous! A real rare amp these days, with its serial number in the 500's. It has a script logo, tube rectifier, 7027A power tubes. It sounds amazing.


http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/126391266.jpg

[james on bass]

Not mine, but something my Uncle found 2 years ago when he was cleaning out his deceased Uncle's attic. Remembered that he was a bass player in the 60s & 70s. Had the amp re-tubed last year, but I didn't get a chance to play it at Christmas when I was up there. Played it a couple years ago after he had just found it, and it sounded okay. I'm sure it's got some awesome vintage mojo happening now that it's been freshened up.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/jamesonbass/Basses/RivieraAmp.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/jamesonbass/Basses/RivieraRig.jpg

[I_cant_play]

An early 70's Garnet Session Man... the Canadian Twin. :D

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/sarg_2006/gar1.jpg

So I've kind of been wondering. How does this amp compare to let's say a Traynor Mark III? I'm asking because the traynors seem to have a reputation for being a bit hard and bland sounding amps. Is this the same kind of idea or are they quite different from one another.

[PaulS]

At the moment this one is fitted with a pair of EL34's and has a nice marshall kind of bite to it. Far from bland this has a lot of nice tones going on. It has the nicest tremolo I've played on an amp. The only thing that might go good here would be a speaker upgrade but the ones in it do the job nicely, older Marsland I believe.

[aC2rs]

My first guitar amp a 1976 Sonax 730G. An entry level amp made by Yorkville Sound.

http://picturebin.net/guitarforum/sonax730gfront.jpg

and the back

http://picturebin.net/guitarforum/sonax730gback.jpg

After 32 years it has never been serviced and still works well - though not used very often.

[zontar]

Here's my first amp--it was made by Garnet for the music school I went to.
The name plate is missing now, and the two speakers are shot. It had tremolo on in it as well. It was a decent first amp though. It was louder than it looks--and it's light & easy to move.

I also have a bass amp-same deal. It's a better amp--but quite bulky.

(The guitar is also from the music school--it was made by the Matsumoko factory in the mis 70's)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/cflstampman/lpcandamp.png

[Mr Yerp]

Love Canadian amps...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/mryerp/Bassmatehead.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/mryerp/GuitarmateReverb.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/mryerp/Mustang1.jpg

[fraser]

these have been seen on the forum before but here they are-

pine "paul" model 201
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/fraserkaro/pic003-2.jpg

regal model 300
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/fraserkaro/pic004-1.jpg

pepco riviera er30
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/fraserkaro/pic002-1.jpg

[davetcan]

You may not recognize it but this is a '67 traynor YSR-1 tweaked a bit by Wild Bill and cosmetics by me.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/d.thorburn/busenplexi3.jpg

[bcmatt]

You may not recognize it but this is a '67 traynor YSR-1 tweaked a bit by Wild Bill and cosmetics by me.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/d.thorburn/busenplexi3.jpg

Hey Dave, Where did you get those plexi faceplates done?

[davetcan]

Hey Dave, Where did you get those plexi faceplates done?

Vintone Circuits

http://www.vintone.com/

Great guy who does great work. I laid it out myself and sent him the drawing.

[Yerffej]

You may not recognize it but this is a '67 traynor YSR-1 tweaked a bit by Wild Bill and cosmetics by me.


I never understood why the grille clothes weren't mounted flush on some of these old traynors. My yba-3 has the same thing, ie. the grille cloth sticks out at the top near the controls, but mounts flush at the bottom. and it was designed that way!

I have currently the yba-3 with a big b cab (still on the bench, but I have high hopes.) its ones of the ones with 7027a's, and I'm redoing the power supply section and tidying some stuff up before I put kt-88's in it.
-funny story about this one though. I think it belonged to Doni Underhill (bass player of "Trooper" ). I was taking it apart and I found some of those little machine made labels inside the chassis and on the transformers. I got it used from a local guy.

also have a spare yc610 that I am selling.

the yba-4 is my main guitar amp, and I love it quite a bit. Might put it in a head box and go with a different cab this summer.

I have a ygm-3 that I want to redo after an ac15 a bit more.

I had a yba-2b, but I sold it recently. pretty nice, but it wasnt practical to have so many.

I also have a little pine type 5 watt amp, cant really comment as to where it came from. It has "made in canada" silk screened on it one volume, one tone, 3 identical inputs.

The yc610, ygm-3, and 5 watt one are for sale, you can message or email me if you're interested. I should get some pics up too, these threads are no good without them.

[Mooh]

Dave...That amp is a real inspiration! I have an amp or two which would look great with that treatment and allow me to install a larger speaker(s) too. Thanks for the ideas!

Peace, Mooh.

[bolero]

I always thought the grills stick out on the heads to protect the knobs/pots/switch....if you roll the head over onto it's face, you can see it. I could be wrong though

[co-intelpro]

Here's one I used to own...I still have the oversized 2x12 bass clef cab, but the head has been replaced with a Rebel Deluxe head (w/ Tremolo and Stinger Fuzz).

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/126415376.jpg

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/126179103.jpg

[co-intelpro]

Here's another Traynor. It's a '74 YRM-1 Traynor Reverb Master head and matching 4x10 cab. It's badgeless...but it don't need no stinking badges (actually I wouldn't mind replacing them, anybody got extras?).

The head sounds great, but the speakers in the cab suck. I'll need to change them out right quick. Any suggestions?

BTW, that's my Fender "California Series" Telecaster, w/ 70's Seth Lover in the neck.

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/126179098.jpg

[co-intelpro]

...and another Garnet...a 70's Garnet Herzog preamp.

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/301169735.jpg

[Robboman]

...and another Garnet...a 70's Garnet Herzog preamp.

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL878/4316335/9088636/301169735.jpg

Schweeet!! Now there is one rare and very cool item. :bow:

[PaulS]

There sweet alright.... had one for a while in the 70's but when I downsized my gear at that time I let it go, along with a few other things I now wish I'd kept...:frown:

[Spikezone]

Wow, I was excited to see this thread posted-thought somebody out there might have a Garnet Pro like my old beloved, and much missed one, and I would get a glimpse of what I was so sadly pining for...WAHWAHWAH!
-Mikey

[traynor_garnet]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3118/traynorgrouporiginalpl4.jpg

Here's a pic of some of the rarest Traynor stuff around. Alas, I now have none of it :eek::mad: :(

The picture includes (from bottom right):

1.) A Traynor Rotomaster Spinning Leslie
2.) A VERY early Bassmate. This was tube rectified and RARE.
3.) A YT-12 Cab.
4.) A very early tube rectified Bassmaster. Predates the "YBA-1" model designation.
5.) Another tube rectified Bassmaster head.

So why on earth would a sane person sell this stuff? Aside from the fact that the student lifestyle makes it hard to hand on to stuff sometimes everything in this pic has some drawbacks.

The Rotomaster was a great Leslie but it weights a ton and was so big it wouldn't fit in the car (it's very deep.).

The tube rectified bassmate was awesome but there was actually too much sag when cranked. Actually made it hard to play, but it did sound good a lower volumes.

The bassmasters sounded amazing but were so freakin loud you simply can't open them up unless you are playing BIG venues; no way you could open one up in a bar or basement. I may look into another one of these just to use as a clean amp.

So what do I have now? I have a very early YGM-1 Guitarmate (one of the first 50 made) and a cube shaped YBA-2 Bassmate (6V6s, no tube rectifier). I'll post a pic once I take one.

[co-intelpro]

Traynor Garnet...I think I remember when you sold those Traynors. I think I spoke to you about the YT-12. I almost bought one of those Leslie-roto thingys too from a local store here, but alas it was too impractical.

And I too have a guitar mate reverb...and we need to figure out how to get 'em sounding the best they can...:smile:

[stu42]

Here are some Peters amps I've owned. I still own the Black Custom Dual Channel (Gryphon and Halo pre-amps) and Green Single Channel (Polaris). The others are: JP-50 (blue), JP-10 (black), 3CP1 (paisley). They are all great amps in their own regard and I wish I could afford to keep them all.

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/messages/viewimage/12221383510-1201588781-33474/parm/7172564/page/1/15

[CocoTone]

Not mine, but something my Uncle found 2 years ago when he was cleaning out his deceased Uncle's attic. Remembered that he was a bass player in the 60s & 70s. Had the amp re-tubed last year, but I didn't get a chance to play it at Christmas when I was up there. Played it a couple years ago after he had just found it, and it sounded okay. I'm sure it's got some awesome vintage mojo happening now that it's been freshened up.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/jamesonbass/Basses/RivieraAmp.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/jamesonbass/Basses/RivieraRig.jpg


Pretty sure they were made in Japan, no??

CT.

[Ripper]

Pretty sure they were made in Japan, no??

CT.

Nope, those Riveras were made in montreal if memory serves me correct. Those amps should say made in canada on the front of it somewhere

[CocoTone]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/CocoTone/liverig2.jpg

The Bassmate is gone, but the Guitarmate will always be in the fold.

CT.

[james on bass]

Pretty sure they were made in Japan, no??

CT.

No. Made in Canada is printed just under the instrument inputs. Riviera was made by Pepco - either Toronto or Montreal. The interesting bass that was also found with the amp was made in Japan though.

[fraser]

yup another +1 for pepco=montreal-
not easy to see in this pic, but its there on the right side of mine- pepco ltd, montreal
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/fraserkaro/pic002-1.jpg

[popstudioguitar]

Here is my Paul amp. 2x12" - reverb - tremolo. Still recapping this one. It's in mint condition....I love it !
Paul combo - pepco (http://www.pepcotubeamp.co.cc/Pepco-Gallery/album/slides/paul01.html)

[jcayer]

Here's mine: http://www.jcayer.com/bricolages/renoamp.htm

Pepco, Pine electronics company. Made in Montreal somewhere in the 60's I think .

[Blues Jr]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c287/Mariodf/Traynor018.jpg

'73 YGM-3. Sweet tone.lofu

[devnulljp]

Hot on the heals of that YGM-3, here's mine. A '72, with a greenback.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3031787126_7a04a7d5f8_o.jpg

[Hamstrung]

Here's my Keil amp.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8252/keilfrontux2.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4317/keilbacknt0.jpg