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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Apr 9, 2006 7:57:19 GMT -7
Probably like many others here, I've been through a lot of different overdrive and distortion pedals trying to find what works best with my Mazerati.
Because of the way EL84's emphasize the mids, combined with the sweet midrange voicing Doc gives his amps, a lot of the more popular pedals tend to get TOO midrangey (Tubescreamer family, some of the Barber pedals for example). While some added midrange can be good for cutting through the mix, I find that sometimes it masks that distinctive Z tone.
So anyhow I thought it might be cool to start a thread where people could post a list of pedals they've found to be good (or bad) matches for their Z's.
If you're in the "no pedals are best" camp, that's cool, but for the stuff we play I need everything from high headroom crystal clean to semi-dirty to high gain OD, so I gotta use pedals.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 9, 2006 8:04:32 GMT -7
Before I traded away my Mazerati, I was getting great distortion tones from the Xotic BB Preamp in the Mazerati. I don't see a lot of dissatisfaction with any of the Xotic pedals - a few sell them but many folks love them. I know I'm keeping the two I have here...
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robt
Full Member
Posts: 138
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Post by robt on Apr 9, 2006 8:36:36 GMT -7
I have a Maz Jr 112 with reverb. It likes my Hotcake but surpisingly the Keeley DS-1 Ultra can give a wonderful clean boost with no mid hump when switched to the "ultra" setting. Since getting the DS-1 I've retired the Hotcake. I've also owned and used a Keeley BD2, Nobels, TC Juarnig Gristle King, the list gets depressingly long. Interested in what others have to say....
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Post by foxx on Apr 10, 2006 6:48:25 GMT -7
I haven't had too many OD's on my board yet, but I agree that some give a mid-hump that I just don't like. Of those, the TopHat Wonderboy was real bad for my Mazerati, it wasn't true-bypass either. I had a Morley Diamond Distortion, it was pretty dull, and wasn't true bypass. Currently I am using a Budda Phatman with some GT 12ax7M's. It is much better than anything else that I have tried with the Rati. I use it mostly to add gain at lower volumes at home, but it works as a clean boost, and a high gain pedal well enough. The best is rati volume on 9:00 and the gain on the Budda on 10:00, volume at unity. This setting allows me to be on the verge of rock, but just touch the guitar's volume and it cleans up well. This setup also allows for feel and dynamics, and no Midrange hump. My highs are better and my lows are intact with the Phatman. I got it as a gift, so I'm using it. I have also tried the Fulldrive II, and didn't like it at all.
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a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
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Post by a42 on Apr 10, 2006 22:11:51 GMT -7
My Maz Jr 1x12 and my Barber LTD go really well together. Also have a Barber Direct Drive but it's not as good a fit.
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Post by stratdev on Apr 11, 2006 13:47:34 GMT -7
Before I traded away my Mazerati, I was getting great distortion tones from the Xotic BB Preamp in the Mazerati. I don't see a lot of dissatisfaction with any of the Xotic pedals - a few sell them but many folks love them. I know I'm keeping the two I have here... My pedal collection has shrunken dramatically since moving to Z amps. I'm the poster boy for Xotic...currently using the R/C, A/C boosters, and the BB Preamp. So far, I can massage just about any overdriven sound I need in the band with this little triumverate... they cover an enormous amount of OD turf.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Apr 12, 2006 4:47:20 GMT -7
My Maz Jr 1x12 and my Barber LTD go really well together. Also have a Barber Direct Drive but it's not as good a fit. Is that the silver LTD or the black one? I have the black one but it's guilty of that unpleasant mid-hump. The silver one is supposed to be voiced a bit differently.
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Post by Lefty on Apr 12, 2006 5:57:07 GMT -7
There is no "bad" pedal with Z amps, they may not give you what you're looking for. I kinda like my TS 808 with my Z amps, I don't use it much but it's not bad. It's all in the ears.
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Post by Curt on Apr 12, 2006 7:46:56 GMT -7
I love the RC booster and Keeley Modded BD-2 with the Z amps.
The Z/28 (6V6) seems to like the Keeley TS-9 also, But I hate it (TS-9) with the EL-84 amps.
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a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
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Post by a42 on Apr 12, 2006 9:02:27 GMT -7
My Maz Jr 1x12 and my Barber LTD go really well together. Also have a Barber Direct Drive but it's not as good a fit. Is that the silver LTD or the black one? I have the black one but it's guilty of that unpleasant mid-hump. The silver one is supposed to be voiced a bit differently. The black one, but I don't really notice the mid hump. What sort of guitar are you playing through it? I keep the tone knob on it rolled back pretty far, too.
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Post by myles on Apr 16, 2006 15:16:46 GMT -7
You really cannot lump all the EL84 amps into one category ... they all have very different front ends.
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Post by sonofgroceries on Apr 17, 2006 15:39:06 GMT -7
Can somebody explain to me the difference between an AC Boost and an RC Boost? Question from an idiot here.
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wilzgt
Full Member
I plumb for Z-Tone !
Posts: 151
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Post by wilzgt on Apr 26, 2006 11:10:04 GMT -7
I have a Mazerati head with a Dr. Z 1x12 cab, so I just had to share my findings with you!
I use both a Maxon OD808 and a HAO Rust Booster. Both of these pedals are true bypass and I recommend pedals with true bypass with Dr. Z (or any other PTP amp).
The Maxon can simply clean boost the signal or add a little hair on the notes. I've been digging it at half settings lately which gets my into AC/DC and early Def Leppard territory with my SG.
My Rust Booster simulates a Marshall Plexi on 10. There's no other way for me to rock out and do EVH, Ozzy, Dokken, Iron Maiden without it because the amp itself is too clean.
If I use both, my leads sustain and in a nice musical way.
The Mazerati is a great amp and by using an overdrive and distortion pedal with it is a good thing too. The amp is very clean sounding in general and with the pedals can cover the variety of music I love playing. Too me, when I use pedals and play Gibsons with it, it reminds me of a Marshall sound which I really like.
Good luck!
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Post by ruger9 on Apr 26, 2006 16:19:13 GMT -7
Is that the silver LTD or the black one? I have the black one but it's guilty of that unpleasant mid-hump. The silver one is supposed to be voiced a bit differently. If you are interested in doing a REAL easy mod to your black LTD, I can tell you how to install a mid trim pot inside, then you'll have adjustability over the mids. Actually, they are David Barber's directions, I just followed them...but it works great, and definitely drops the mids of the LTD a little. LTDs should come with this mod stock.
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Post by steveinnashville on May 11, 2006 2:40:40 GMT -7
The Crowther Hotcake is a great pedal with the Carmen Ghia. It is purpoted to "work well with EL84 amps" (or at least better with EL84/EL34 than 6V6/6L6 amps). Either way, it can go completely neutral, add in presence and gain. Is a great booster/od/buffer. I had sold mine to get the Bluesberry version, which has just arrived.
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karlo
Junior Member
eleven. exactly. one louder.
Posts: 60
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Post by karlo on May 11, 2006 5:34:15 GMT -7
I haven't been able to spend too much time with it yet, but I picked up a Barber Small Fry recently to go with my Maz Jr. It sounds killer. I'm able to nicely straddle the line between a medium crunch and a smooth light distortion. Very nice pedal.
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Post by prowler on May 11, 2006 5:48:22 GMT -7
Can somebody explain to me the difference between an AC Boost and an RC Boost? Question from an idiot here. I believe the names of the Xotic pedals mean the following - RC - Really Clean AC - Almost Clean BB - Blues Breaker I could be wrong but thats what I seem to remember hearing.
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Post by guitarman1 on May 12, 2006 6:47:06 GMT -7
For neutral overdrives that work well with my Maz Sr. I like the Barber Silver LTD and Timmy. The Barber is a bit more aggressive and stiff, while the Timmy is a bit more spongy and can get a little Vox/Matchless chime with the treble control. They are both great pedals. Neither one has that midrange hump.
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Post by digdoug on Jun 14, 2006 12:18:26 GMT -7
I use a Reverend Drivetrain 2 with my Mazerati. If you can find one, its a good pedal, like a TS, but less hump, more fidelity like a Klon, plus bass and treble controls in addition to drive and volume. Really versitile. AFAIK the first generation ones weren't quite as good.
I have to say, this Mazerati seems like it is going to love just about any pedal I throw at it, but I'm not sure I would go with a treble-booster type pedal, this amp is plenty brite as is. DW
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