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Post by mojoslide on Jul 6, 2009 10:02:59 GMT -7
I currently have an awesome Maz Jr NR, but sometimes it is a little underpowered at my bigger gigs. It gets a bit lost in the mix and sometimes sounds a bit thin or too sharp because the only way to punch through is to up the cut control - this isn't exactly the tone I'm looking for. I like to keep the cut down pretty low for that thicker tone and the Maz sounds great this way to me. I'm curious what the 38 NR might give me in terms of solving this problem? I'm sure the extra wattage would help, but does the 38 alter the tone of Junior at all? Does it sound "bigger" too? That would be even better since I play in a power trio setup. Just curious what the differences are and if it might help me get the tone I need at better volumes.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 6, 2009 13:58:08 GMT -7
Opinions vary. I bought my Maz 38 NR for exactly this reason - to get the same tone at higher volumes. For the most part I think it does pretty much that. But Phil will tell you they are completely different, so it's clear to me I'm listening for something different than Phil is. Not a bad thing, just different. Everyone hears something different, so it's kind of subjective. But to me, the two amps share more than just a name - they have the same front end and tone stack, and the amp's architecture is identical except the 38 has more power tubes (requiring a different output tranny and more beef in the power supply). So I hear a bit bigger bottom end on mine, even though I think they sound pretty much the same. YMMV!
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Post by m1911 on Jul 7, 2009 4:07:56 GMT -7
My kid only runs Juniors and Seniors and has for the past decade. To me, when Z switched over the "38 Invasion" to a "Senior" he described it as "It provides "more, more, more..." More Thickness, more Harmonic Content, and more Sustain"
I notice the huge, tight low-end it puts out.... It hits you in the chest more like a medicine-ball over smaller wattage amplifiers.
To me, if the Junior or Senior is your favorite amplifier and base tone, then you simply have to have the opposite to round thisgs out for different gigs.
Mark
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jul 7, 2009 8:54:02 GMT -7
Everyone does hear differently and it also depends on your guitars, speaker cabs, room, etc. I've got a two identical MAZ NR heads (including the preamp tubes and Muallard rectos ) made the same month: an 18NR and a 38NR. The thing you gotta remember is that comparing a MAZ 18 reverb to a MAZ 38 reverb is different than comparing a MAZ38 NR and an 18NR. The 38NR features split load biasing like the Mazerati which the 38 reverb model does not and that "stacks the deck" a little. My MAZ 18 NR is a gainy little sucker; I run the master full up and the volume from 9:00 to noon. This gives a great hair-to crunchy sound with the guitar on 10 and a fantastic clean sound with the guitar on 6-7. I set the controls identically. The MAZ 38 NR is a much more "sophisticated" sounding amp. It's about 3dB louder and has a lot more bass and impact. The picking transient is not quite as pronounced. The overdrive is smoother; not quite as "in your face". It sounds bigger. It still cleans up like the JR but the taper on the guitar's volume pot seems different- it doesn't react exactly the same as the Jr. The Jr. is much more rewarding to play with my Grosh Retro Classic (or any Strat). I LOVE my SR NR, no doubt- but the gain structure on the SR is just different. MY SR NR with a reverb pedal or Z-Verb through a 2X12 will match any Twin Reverb. The Jr with a reverb pedal/Z-Verb is more like an incredible old Fender Deluxe Reverb or Vibrolux taken to another level- it's spankier and "quicker". That's how I see the two. If you wanted that cool Deluxe Reverb/18 watt Marshall/ Vox AC15 sound you'd take the JR NR. If you need a great Twin Reverb/ Vox AC30 sound it's the SR. As far as a gig situation there's a lot that goes in to "punching through". It's not always volume or highs that do the trick. It's as much art as science. My #1 trick for cutting through is to reduce the gain and/or compression you're using.
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Post by mojoslide on Jul 7, 2009 11:58:56 GMT -7
Good info. I'll have to check out a SR at some point to see how it feels and sounds. I definitely do prefer the Deluxe Reverb/18 Watt Marshall/Vox AC15 type tone. I just want more of it. Maybe I need two JRs side by side? Or maybe I'll combine a Z28 and the JR for some gigs to get something even more happening? But I still have to check out the Maz 38 NR.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 7, 2009 12:56:31 GMT -7
No doubt about it, a play test is the final word, since you will hear it differently from Phil or I.
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