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Post by jtguitar on Apr 23, 2009 8:03:52 GMT -7
I have found my tone! The years of searching has brought me to Z. I recently received a Maz Jr and matching 1x12 cab. Using a very special "secret" pedal, I have reached sonic perfection!
Now the dilema; It seems I need a tad more clean headroom for my clean passages playing live, but I don't want to lose anything. Will I be able to perserve the exact same tone going to a Maz-Sr, while adding clean headroom?
Thanks dudes!
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Post by JesusLovesGreatTone on Apr 23, 2009 8:16:20 GMT -7
you might have already tried this, but....what about rolling back your guitar's volume knob?
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 23, 2009 8:29:50 GMT -7
you might have already tried this, but....what about rolling back your guitar's volume knob? I have, and it cleans up, but also pulls down the volume. I guess I like big loud cleans, but I don't want to lose that Maz sound.
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Post by JesusLovesGreatTone on Apr 23, 2009 9:10:55 GMT -7
I hear you. Well I've never had a jr, but I did love my sr. I ran it super clean, but with the master pretty much dimed (I had a brake lite). I would kick in my fulldrive to get the overdrive and because my power tubes were already singing, there wasn't a big volume difference, it just got really thick...I loved it. That being said...I did end up switching to the Mazerati because the cleans are even better. But if you love the maz sound (like I did) , you'd miss it (like I do).
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Post by Mostrummer on Apr 23, 2009 9:30:33 GMT -7
My understanding of it is that there's more of a sonic difference going between reverb and non-reverb models than there is going from an 18 to a 38. The 38 is really loud and clean when you need it. I know some folks on here have both and can give you a more authoritative account. I only have a 38...
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Post by Russell B on Apr 23, 2009 10:34:34 GMT -7
The 38 is a lot cleaner and to me it doesn't have as much bass. I think this is due to the headroom. The Jr. starts to overdrive the bass a lot quicker than the 38, so it sounds like it has more bass. I believe you will be happy if you move from the Jr to the Senior because they are "cut from the same cloth".
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 23, 2009 11:01:49 GMT -7
I have both here - they sound almost identical to my worn out ears, but of course the Sr is a bit louder. I got the Senior for the same reasons you cite, but mainly for when we play outdoors. Indoor gigs are not sufficiently loud to require the Senior, and I've been using the Junior there.
My Junior does have a bit of 3D swirl that I don't detect on the Senior, but I've always thought it was related to the interaction with the Alnico Tone Tubby I have in the Jr's combo cab.
YMMV
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 23, 2009 16:45:49 GMT -7
I love that answer... get both! LOL I'm mulling that possiblity over... I love reverb, so I'd go from the Jr. w/reverb to the Sr. w/ reverb.
Still freaking out... I love that Jr tone and don't want to lose that.
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Post by Russell B on Apr 23, 2009 18:16:32 GMT -7
LOL. Get the Jr. for overdrive and the Senior for you clean. An air brake and an A/B switch and you will be good to go!
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 23, 2009 19:16:35 GMT -7
There you go... ;-)
Seriously, if there is the overlap of tones, I set my amps at the edge, and then use pedals to drive them over the top. If the Sr. has the same tone, I can probably dial to the edge using the master and get the same tones.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 24, 2009 7:12:01 GMT -7
It's pretty doggone close to my ears. It's down to the differences between how they are tubed up. I'm pretty sure you could tailor them to be virtually indistinguishable.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Apr 24, 2009 9:21:27 GMT -7
There's almost nothing I hate more than contradicting benntop, but... I've got both the MAZ JR NR and SR NR, and both were made at almost the same time. They're tubed *identically*, including Mullard 5AR4's. I tried them both out at Willcutts, and after buying the JR I went back a week or two later and bought the SR. I just couldn't get that sound out of my head. The first thing I have to say is that the reverb models and NR's are very different to my ears. The MAZ JR NR has more gain and slightly more volume than the reverbed model. The 38 NR has split load biasing and has more bass than the reverb model, along with more gain and more harmonics. As far as the JR NR vs the SR NR, I think they are very different amps. The gain structure to me is different; I'm sure that's related to the MAZ's four output tubes, different transformer, and split load biasing. The JR is my go-to amp for Strats; it's "leaner" sounding, breaks up earlier, and when it does break up it's "grainier". The 38NR has the ability to sound like a fat Twin Reverb with a good reverb unit and the right cab (like a Z-Best or 2X12 Z open back). It's got an authority to the low end that sounds like SRV; the JR does a great SRV like sound and has a fat, tight low end but the SR just slams. The 38's bass seems like it has a deeper reach, so to speak. The SR's overdrive is smoother and throatier; the JR's is a little nastier and "bratty", as Jayson Chance once said. It's like the JR's overdrive is centered in a higher midrange frequency than the SR's. The Jr also cleans up slightly differently when you roll the guitar's volume back. I play with my volume kit-equipped Grosh RC into my JR with the volume on "4" for quieter clean stuff, "7" for hairy cleans, and "10" for moderate breakup. The Sr is definitely different. The same guitar volume levels do not produce the same sounds, even if you change the SR's volume control settings to compensate for relative volume differences with the JR. The bottom line for me is that if my JR broke and I had a gig and I wanted to get that great Jr "most fun amp I've ever played with a Strat" sound and I took my SR, it just wouldn't be the same. It's too thick and sophisticated sounding. More importantly it just doesn't feel the same. Likewise, if I had a country gig or other gig where I needed that SR sophistication and clean headroom, and all I had was the JR, I could do it (especially) if I could mike the Jr, but it's still not quite the same thing. I recently attended a gig with my friend Jon Stankorb's band (Pink Floyd tribute band) at a 400-seat venue where he used his MAZ 38 2x12 combo with about 6 pedals to get that "David Gilmour" sound, including running his lap steel through it. He was running both the master and volume knobs at 12:00. I don't think the JR would have sounded the same in those circumstances. Get both
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 24, 2009 9:57:02 GMT -7
Thanks guys for all the help... I'm now actually thinking about a Sr. and a Z-best, to replace the Jr. and 1x12. I love the sound of the G12h30 in the 1x12 though... HHmmm
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 24, 2009 12:49:12 GMT -7
That's one of the problems of trying to base your decisions on other's observations, because we all hear things a little differently based on what we're interested in, our setups, our location, our instruments, and our playing. It all becomes part of the perception, so every perception will be colored by that stuff. And yours will too. I don't mind at all when Phil has a different opinion from mine - in fact, I'd be more surprised if he didn't.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Apr 24, 2009 13:02:48 GMT -7
That's one of the problems of trying to base your decisions on other's observations, because we all hear things a little differently based on what we're interested in, our setups, our location, our instruments, and our playing. It all becomes part of the perception, so every perception will be colored by that stuff. And yours will too. I don't mind at all when Phil has a different opinion from mine - in fact, I'd be more surprised if he didn't. Tru dat Steve
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 24, 2009 15:34:03 GMT -7
Alright... Decision time... I am going to go with the change to the Sr. from the Jr. I get most my OD sounds from pedals and need the clean headroom. Then I'm going to buy a Route-66 for the tri-fecta of Z tone! Thanks for all your opinions!
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Post by vanillasr08 on Apr 27, 2009 10:12:18 GMT -7
If you use pedals for your overdriven tones then you should be good to go. Just set the Sr. where you want it to be (or where you would set your Jr) and then see what you can do from there with the OD pedals.
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Post by Teleman on May 17, 2009 7:28:14 GMT -7
I made the move to a SR. for the same reasons you have described. Worked out just super!!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 18, 2009 8:09:46 GMT -7
Alright... Decision time... I am going to go with the change to the Sr. from the Jr. I get most my OD sounds from pedals and need the clean headroom. Then I'm going to buy a Route-66 for the tri-fecta of Z tone! Thanks for all your opinions! Be sure to let us know your perceptions when you get done. I'm curious if you'll feel it's similar or different, or whatever. Just another data point of info here for future readers.
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Post by vanillasr08 on May 18, 2009 10:31:10 GMT -7
The two amps are pretty well similar. The 18 has a little more gain on tap and the 38 has more clean headroom. I'm not a fan of rolling my guitar volume back either, it just doesnt have the same sound to my ears. But you should be able to get about the same tone.
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dmtsm
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by dmtsm on May 18, 2009 19:06:16 GMT -7
If you max out the Jr. you get a great tone, If you max out the Sr you get a great tone (only at a louder volume) I used the Jr. to gig with for a couple years with a Strat, Tele and Les Paul and I always needed a bit more headroom for clean tones and considered getting a second Jr. I then got a Sr. and used it for a year. I also started using a Rat with a Fat Boost to get my lead tones.
Both amps sound great. Using the brake with the Sr. allows you to get the same tone at the same volume as the Jr.
I found that neither amp cleaned up to my satisfaction when I set it up for my lead tone.
So to get both my lead tone and a killer clean tone I went with a two amp setup. A Maz Sr NR for dirty rhythm and lead tones and a Maz Sr Reverb for clean tones. This covers it all.
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Post by diceman on Jun 18, 2009 20:15:35 GMT -7
This thread was very helpful - thanks guys!
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Post by chickfrench on Jun 19, 2009 4:11:16 GMT -7
I found that neither amp cleaned up to my satisfaction when I set it up for my lead tone. So to get both my lead tone and a killer clean tone I went with a two amp setup. A Maz Sr NR for dirty rhythm and lead tones and a Maz Sr Reverb for clean tones. This covers it all. Dang, I don't think I can afford the play guitar if I gotta have two amps for two tones.
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Post by Abandoned on Jun 5, 2011 13:27:23 GMT -7
Man, this is a lot of good info. And I didn't even know all this when I decided on a Sr. vs a Jr. All the demos I've seen of the Jr., I've always thought that it sounded a little bit brash... And that's why I was always undecided. And I was nervous about getting a Sr. cuz I thought it would be just merely more of the Jr. I knew I was wanting more of what Phil described the Sr. as... more clean headroom, more sophisticated and less grainy/brash. I'm so glad I landed on what I did. This thread helped me learn and confirm a lot of things. Thanks for everyone's help.
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Post by zorange (Zach) on Jun 20, 2011 15:01:43 GMT -7
Abandoned, have you gotten the MAZ Sr yet? Wondering what your thoughts are of it? I'm contemplating the same thing now!
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Post by mickey on Jun 21, 2011 0:18:59 GMT -7
I use a Maz Sr with an Airbrake, and it works very well. The reason I bought the Sr over the Jr was for the very reason you have stated, I wanted the option of more headroom. Also the Sr has, I feel, a bit more solidity about its sound than the Jr; the extra two EL84's will make a difference. Having said that, I set the amp so that it's just breaking up, so volume 3 o' clock, master around 10 or 11, and then use the Airbreak to set the overall level. usually I end up on the second click, sometimes first, sometimes third. Try it if you have the opportunity, it's a really flexible setup.
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Post by zorange (Zach) on Jun 22, 2011 10:13:51 GMT -7
Thanks for the findings, mickey!
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