Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 07, 2025, 06:14:38 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted  (Read 2730 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline plumcrazyfx

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 164
Hoffman Amps Forum image
1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« on: September 12, 2020, 08:40:44 am »
Been doing some work on a 1976 YBA-4 (combo version of the YBA-1).  I recapped it, replaced the dropping resistors and diodes in the power supply, added additional screen resistors to drop voltages slightly more (since this uses the shared 1K 10w on the board, I added an additional 1K 5W to each tube), disconnected the grounding switch and installed adjustable bias for the power tubes.  It seems to work, makes sound, etc. but using a Bias Rite-type unit to adjust the bias to normal levels - it squeals.  Replaced the tubes (both power and preamp) and it still does it.  It is sitting about 460v on the plates and as long as the bias reads under 20ma per tube it seems stable - the second it goes above that I it goes into a high pitched oscillation.


Any ideas where to start?  My first step after replacing all of the tubes was to replace the 1.5K grid resistors on the board with 5.6K ala Marshall.  Any ideas where to go next with this?

Offline shooter

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 11015
  • Karma Loves haters
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2020, 09:56:07 am »
I'd put a 1 ohm resistor power tube cathode to ground, use that in place of the bias probe.


Quote
installed adjustable bias for the power tubes.


WITHOUT power tubes in, what "adjustable range" do you get at the grid pins of the power tube sockets?
Went Class C for efficiency

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2020, 10:01:55 am »
Was the amp squealing ***BEFORE*** you worked on it?

Did you possibly swap the grid wires or the OT primary plate leads?
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

Offline plumcrazyfx

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 164
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2020, 10:39:07 am »
Didn't squeal before.  I didn't touch the output primaries.  Would taking out the ground phase switch impact something?

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2020, 01:01:10 pm »
Didn't squeal before.
Then it's logical to assume that you messed it up when you worked on it. Could be something you did purposely or could be collateral damage. Examine your work closely.
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

Offline plumcrazyfx

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 164
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2020, 09:24:01 am »
I checked all of my work and it seemed fine.  A previous tech had been in there and I noticed the primaries were reversed from every pic of other YBA-1/4 amps from around that time.  Once I reversed them the squealing stopped and very stable at 445v 34ma on the EL34s.  I don't think it was squealing before because it was biased really cold.

Offline Latole

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2522
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: 1976 Traynor YBA-4/YBA-1 Squealing When Bias Adjusted
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2020, 02:54:14 pm »

I  at 445v 34ma on the EL34s.  I don't think it was squealing before because it was biased really cold.


60.5 % Power dissipation, this very good. 

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program