F-50 v.s. zinky blue velvet v.s. traynor blue 50....

Another option would be a Zinky Blue Velvet but in the newer 50 watt version. More headroom, bigger sound. Yes, you may have seen that I'm selling one but I am giving you good advice here. I have a Zinky MOFO head which is the only reason I'm selling the BV50! Zinky amps are great!

 

Sure is loud enough for gigging, and has enough headroom for jazz. It's versatile, and used will be as affordable as anything decent.

As to the "bad OD". To some extent that is a matter of taste. Rivera has a few other combos which are in that neighborhood; Jake, Fandango, Quiana, Suprema, Chubster '40 or '55, R30, M60, old Knucklehead 55. All of them more or less answer the description you gave, and used they are all about the same price. The main difference between them is the flavor of the drive channel, so you might find one you like better than the ones you've come across so far. I have several different amps, and one of my favorite OD channels of all is on the Jake.

 

The Zinky is pure gold. I have the 25W BV and it has plenty of headroom but I don't gig.

 

The mesa F50 is plenty loud for any gigs. It is just as loud as 100 watt amplifiers. In fact, it has similar bottom to a 100 watt amplifier when cranked.

The non-contour (vintage) distortion is very smooth. It is a great lead sound. If you back off on the distortion, it cleans up real nice.

The contour (modern) distortion sounds like a MB rectifier, though much warmer.

The cleans are exceptional, definitely enough head room. They are very warm, 3d. It will be loud enough. Unless you are gigging in very large rooms, the cleans won't break up. I installed a texas heat in mine, and the cleans are wonderful! Overall, it gave the amp a nice bluesy sound.

j

 

I have the 25W Blue Velvet and have owned a Traynor YCV40. The Blue Velvet kills it in every department, and I did like the Traynor. I don't gig but I do jam with a few bands quite a bit. Lots of clean headroom to get over a pretty loud drummer so I'm sure the Zinky would be fine for small clubs. The dirty channel is amazing, I'm always getting compliments on tone from the other band members (my playing sucks but that's another story). If the Zinky sounds good with me playing it then it must be really good.

edit: and no I'm not selling it.

 

Another vote for the Zinky. I've had my 25 watt BV for just a couple weeks but love it. I initially got it for a bedroom amp, but actually gigged with it last night. That being said, I'm now planning to get the 50 watter for a little more low end and punch in a band setting.

 

Let me know if you should ever decide to sell the 25 watter.

 

I have a 1 x 12 ext cab loaded with an Eminence Gov'nor that does the trick very nicely.

 

I have a 50 watt combo on ebay right now. Price starts at only $799. Just a few months old. Lists for $1,560! A lucky bidder could save hundreds on a fantastic amp. I just prefer my Zinky MOFO head and cab is the only reason I'm selling. Just do a search on ebay for zinky (or, I could post a link but I'm not sure if that's appropriate on this board). Good luck.

 

I had an F-50 and Traynor YCV50. Hands down the F-50 is a better amp on all fronts. Can't speak for the Zinky. I didn't like the "Blue", thought it sounded very thin and one dimensional. Cleans were less than stellar. The F-50 is very versitle and has a grainy to modern OD. The Blue has a more open and Marshally OD. Didn't like the build quality of the Traynor. Owned both the YCV40WR and the YCV50. Not my thing. The cleans on these amps are not warm All IMO of course.

I've heard the Zinky clips and they sound great. I ended up with a VHT Pittbull 45 as my 1x12 combo of choice. Maybe check that one out as well.

Good Luck.
YMMV

 

Definately want to hang on to it for a bedroom amp... just may get the 50 watter as well.

 

This could work:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=121458

jon

 

You will not get 50 watts with the Traynor unless you add the extension cab. It is 50 watts at minimum impedance, which is 4ohms. The combo speaker is 8 ohms. Don't you hate when the rating is stated in terms other than what the amp itslef is set for? Almost like false advertising. So the combo by itself is not pushing enough power for clean headroom at gig levels. Add the cab and it is good enough, but I recommend you stay away from the Traynor. The tubes cook as you play a gig, and the sound compresses more and more.

 

The Traynor really doesn't need a new speaker, unless you don't like Vintage 30's. The Traynor does however benefit nicely with new tubes. I replaced the stock Sovtek power and preamptubes in mine with a pair of Winged C's EL34's, and the reissue GT Mullards 12ax7's. Really warmed things up. Gain is now much more fluid, think hot-rodded Marshall, with enough on tap to get my Strat easily into crunch. Cleans aren't Fender, but I think they would be well suited to jazz, more so after the tube change. Ample headroom. Reverb ain't bad either. I also pair it with a Mesa 1x12 3/4 cabinet with a V30, and the pairing sounds huge, it seems to really like running at 4 ohms. It's my portable Marshall.

I've owned a Mesa F50. Well built, very large sounding for it's size, plenty of gain on tap, will fatten up any single coil guitar, and has loads of clean headroom. Fenderish cleans. I really wanted to like this amp, but just couldn't bond with it. I guess I liked my Fenders better for their cleans, and couldn't get comfortable with the more modern gain. I wound up letting it go.


Tom