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Post by 1juicy1 on May 9, 2011 18:43:37 GMT -7
I just purchased a Rx Jr. 1x12 combo w/ greenback to compare to my trusty Maz 18 NR and here is my issue. It is so bassy, flubby and fuzzy with amp distortion with my tele's volume brought up to 3/4. At first I thought it was just the breakup of greenback so I ran it throught the higher power Doc's 2x10's in my Maz combo and still the same. I swapped out all tubes with my good NOS tubes except the EF86 since I don't have a spare and still same results. Could it be a problem with a bad EF86 causing this? It is so bassy, flubby when pushed it's almost unusable. There is plenty of high end and sparkle and no volume issues. If I turn the RX bass all the way off or my guitar volume down to barely on, it won't flubb out, but that sounds too tinny obviously. I'm not sure if this amp will be a keeper yet, but I hate to spend $50 on a new EF86 if thats not the problem. Any suggestions? I can tell the amp has potential especially because of the gain/distortion it has. But can't handle the flub! I bought the Rx Jr because I read it was supposed to be tighter and more percusssive/Marshally than the Maz, that's why I'm thinking something has to be wrong. Thanks guys in advance for your help!!
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Post by bluzman on May 9, 2011 19:50:33 GMT -7
It sounds like you have some issue with that amp for sure. Is it a used amp? Could be the ef86. I find the RxJr to have ample bass and punch but it has never been "flubby" by any standard. Mine has a full and tight bottom end. I also had to spend more time with knowing and learning the tone stack with that amp than with any other Z-Amp I have owned. I have found that I keep the bass setting on the amp around 9:00 with a C-Gold and Tele. I would clean the input, outputs and footswitch with no-ox, and clean the tube sockets with no-ox for starters, exercise all pots, exercise the overdose switch, max the Master on the back and turn the gain/volume on the front up slowly to taste and try the OD in both positions. If that doesn't help, go for a nos EF86. Good Luck!
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Post by "Z" Steve on May 9, 2011 19:57:14 GMT -7
Maybe try using your speaker in the Maz just to rule out the Greenback being the culprit. It is possible it could be the EF86. Did the combo come shipped with the tubes in place? Sometimes shippers will pull em and wrap them separately. That does suck cos I know you've been waiting a while for this but it is fixable
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 9, 2011 20:34:25 GMT -7
Thanks guys. The amp is barely used and absolutely mint. I have tried different speakers and cabs with same results. I guess the best way to describe is just an overage of bass with higher distortion. So much that its just flubby. All of the other frequencies are just fine, great in fact. I'm talking in the distortion range(higher preamp volume) and with singles or HB's. The EF86 in it is a NOS Tesla(not JJ). The bass/distortion is flubby at any setting after 9:00 on the bass dial. I tried my holygrail 5751 in Pos #1 too. It's not as bad with the low input. I guess it's just not a tight distortion like I can get out of the Maz when I OD the preamp on the Maz. The RxJr definitely has way, way more gain than my Maz Nr (Overdose is over the top from there)
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 10, 2011 5:41:19 GMT -7
Try another set of known good EL84's, preferably in the middle to slightly over-middle current draw range such as the GT #5 or #6.
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 10, 2011 7:25:20 GMT -7
Thanks but that was the first thing I did with the power tubes, preamp, and PI.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 10, 2011 8:19:31 GMT -7
Thanks but that was the first thing I did with the power tubes, preamp, and PI. What I was meant was are you *sure* the "new" power tubes you used are good, and fall within the appropriate current draw range for the cathode resistor that Dr. Z uses in his cathode bias amps? I'm just asking because it wouldn't be the first time "good" tubes caused the same symptoms. I always get a "second opinion" from another "good" set of tubes before further troubleshooting.
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 10, 2011 13:40:50 GMT -7
Yeah, I pulled 'em directly from my Maz and I have about 3 sets that I know are good. Thanks. The only tube I don't have "good" spares is the EF86 and the rectifier. I don't think the rectifier is the issue.
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 10, 2011 13:44:13 GMT -7
Hey Bluzman, your comment is interesting to me about not turning the Bass past 9:00 with your tele. That is my issue I guess. I play a tele and LP and I find there is a fine line with the bass control at 9:00 where there is too much flubby bass or not enough. Maybe there is nothing wrong and I have to find that sweet spot on the bass control as you stated. Does your RxJr flub out if you get above the 9:00 mark? Thanks!!
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 10, 2011 21:26:53 GMT -7
One more important piece of info. It only does the super bassy flubby thing as I bring up the preamp volume past noon. It sounds fine with high MV setting with low preamp setting. Say if I set the preamp at 2-3:00 and then bring up the master, that's when the bassy flubbiness comes in to play. However that is the gain/distortion level I was hoping to achieve by purchasing a RxJr. Does this make sense?
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Post by 1juicy1 on May 17, 2011 18:32:35 GMT -7
I think I have it figured out and I'm embarrassed to say I it was just a tone stack adjustment problem. I'm just getting around to updating my post. What I'm learning about all of the different Z models is that the tone controls are all so entirely different! What I figured out with the Rx is that it is a very bass heavy amp. I read an Rx post about a member's favorite setting included the bass completely off. Well, that's exactly what I did and problem solved. I only had the overage of bass flubbing the speakers out when running humbuckers. With singles I could run the bass control a little higher, but still not past 8-9:00. I keep the treble at about 9:30 and Mids at 11:00 and it sounds great with HB's. Gain at about 3-4:00. Master to suit. Hit the overdose and I have Marshall gain out the wazoo!! It's just completely different than how I run my Maz or the Galaxie I owned. I think the Rx definitely has an incredible crunchy overdriven tone. But the Maz has that glossy magical hairy cleaner tone. I can get into the Rx gain territory with a cleean boost cooking the Maz's preamp. It's a tough call!! Like everyone has said, they are close in tone, yet so different! The Rx Jr definitely is a Marshall killer. Thanks for all of my Z brothers support!!
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Post by bluzman on May 17, 2011 21:23:16 GMT -7
Good Job... Like I said the tone stack on this one took me a little longer to figure out myself.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 18, 2011 4:28:04 GMT -7
Good Job... Like I said the tone stack on this one took me a little longer to figure out myself. Me too. The RxES/Jr is one different beast. You can't be afraid to do things you'd never even consider doing on some other amps like dime the mids or run the bass or treble near zero. A lot of us run Overdose "on" all the time with single coils. Curt showed me how to get a great ZZ Top sound with the mids maxed. "Just got paid today..." ;D
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