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Post by bender72 on Feb 9, 2007 15:20:19 GMT -7
I'm wondering about the amount of clean headroom the Jr. has. I'm used to playing my 2x12 DeVille around 4-5 on the clean channel. The reason I'm asking is because I'ld like to get a Mazerati or Maz-38 and was wondering if the Jr. can hang with the big boys, as far as clean headroom.
Will the Jr. be loud enough, let me rephrase that, will the Jr. be relatively clean around that volume or is it really breaking up by then? I don't mind a touch of dirt on the clean, but am worried that it may be breaking up too much by then. I really don't have a music store around that carries the Z line so I can't try one out to find out myself. I'm assuming that a 1x12 would be breaking up sooner than a 2X10 or 2x12 configuration.
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Post by (8^D) on Feb 9, 2007 16:28:47 GMT -7
The Jr. is more aggressive out of the gate - has more gain....i.e. seems to have a lil' grit all the time. And, it gives up the goods much quicker than the Sr. If you're after headroom, look at the SR.
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Post by 95strat on Feb 10, 2007 17:05:13 GMT -7
The Maz is loud...don't let the 18 watts fool you. And there is a bit of clean headroom in there. You really have to play one to know though. I would think a 2x12 with reverb would give you what you need, but you can only judge for yourself.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Feb 10, 2007 18:38:41 GMT -7
A 2X12 Jr. plugged into the low input, set with the master full up and the gain control just below the breakup point gets pretty loud with a little hair on it. It still won't do near what the Sr. will do though. It depends on your style and how much breakup you want. The Sting/StangRay is pretty much the best sounding clean amp I've ever heard, but the MAZ Sr.'s cleans (and even the RxES) are pretty darn good too. Any of Z's 4XEL84 amps are LOUD.
PDW
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 10, 2007 19:49:50 GMT -7
A 2X12 Jr. plugged into the low input, set with the master full up and the gain control just below the breakup point gets pretty loud with a little hair on it. It still won't do near what the Sr. will do though. It depends on your style and how much breakup you want. The Sting/StangRay is pretty much the best sounding clean amp I've ever heard, but the MAZ Sr.'s cleans (and even the RxES) are pretty darn good too. Any of Z's 4XEL84 amps are LOUD. PDW Ditto, The trick on the Maz JR for more clean headroom is the LOW input, master dimed ( or master rolled back to volume level taste), Regular volume set right up to get some hair on it, mines Usually around 1:00- 2:00 or so... And I put a NOS rectifier tube in it that made it noticeably louder, really woke it up... It can really get loud and with a Z-best it would hang with ALOT of amps... and of course if you could always mic em, you wouldn't have to worry about it, but we don't mic em alot of times... Can it hang with the Big boy's, IMHO yes, but I'd use 2x12's... a JR 2x12 combo with two g12-h30's I played sounded great... or possibly the nicest set-up would be a JR head with the Z-best. also a head and a 4x10 cab would be SWEET.... Is it as loud as these other amps... no it's not quite, just seems louder than what it really is and cuts through the mix. I DO like my JR in a 2x10 combo but if I had to compete with a loud band/ other guitarist/ needed the most clean headroom out of it, 2x12's or maybe that 4x10 would be a little better... I'm really wanting to try a Z 4x10 with both the JR and my SR. I set the Sr up the same way as the JR, I also use it with the Low input, master dimed as much as possible... it's just a little bigger sounding than the JR and gets a little fatter, with more clean headroom... but problem is I can't hardly ever crank the SR, even with a 1x12 cab... but I CAN crank the Maz JR and they all really want to be cranked... don't they? ;D really depends on what you need, what clean volume levels you need... Maz JR might work fine for ya, but if your used to a LOUD 2x12 deville... a Maz Sr would be an ALL around good choice. Maz Sr head+ Z-best flat out rocks... my 2 cents... hope it helps.
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 10, 2007 19:49:59 GMT -7
Will an 18 watt amp be as loud clean as a 60 watt 2x12 amp on 5? Not likely. That's like comparing a Deluxe Reverb with an extension cab to a Twin Reverb. Maybe an Prescription ES will get you there with a Z Best 2x12 and in the low input. The cleanest Z is a KT45. As PDW mentioned a Maz Sr will be fairly close but once again a head and a Z Best 2x12. You're looking for a lot of clean power. This past summer I used a backline Fender 2x12 Deville and I will say, with no hesitation, that you will like any Z much better.
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buster
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by buster on Feb 10, 2007 22:11:49 GMT -7
I would also like to add that if you are competing with 40 or 50 watt amps then you may prefer the bigger sound of the Sr. but as PDW mentioned it depends on how clean you like your clean. I run my Sr 2x12 combo's pre volume at around 1 oclock and the master on 10 for loud gigs and to me that's still, for all intents and purposes as clean as I need or want to be. With the master down to around 12 oclock the amp is only slightly less loud but also less full sounding and sustainy. The other consideration might be weight. You could go with a Sr 1x12 or 2x10 combo to bring the weight hastle and portability factor down and it would still work for most clubs. Then if you needed to for the larger gigs you could take along a 1x12 extension. I did this with an old Boogie 60 watt markI 1x12 combo for years. Buster
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Post by bender72 on Feb 11, 2007 11:43:35 GMT -7
Thanks guys, I'm playing in a band where the other guitar player is playing a Twin Reverb with a 4x12 fender ext. cab. and I'm playing my DeVille 2x12 around 4 or 5, I never use the overdrive channels of the amp because I've got pedals for that. I have used a friend of mines' Mesa Boogie F-30 but that seems to be breaking up just a little also, and that's a 30-watter, so I'm thinking that a Jr. will be breaking up even more. So I think it's gonna be at least a 38, Mazerati or maybe even a prescription.
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Post by (8^D) on Feb 11, 2007 13:47:38 GMT -7
SR is probably the most versatile of the bunch (38, Mazerati, Prescription). The Prescription is a great, loud, amp though...lots of cool tones and can be quite aggressive if wanted. I've toured with the HRD 212/410 and a Mesa DC3 (precursor to the F-30) and the Jr will break up at the volume levels your wanting.
You might also investigate, as mentioned above, the KT-45...extremely clean amp - like an older Hiwatt. Been told it also takes pedals quite well. Several backing musicians in the arena touring set use them...
Might also consider getting a head and experimenting with cabs as your needs change (112, 212, etc).
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Post by Seńor Verde on Feb 11, 2007 14:50:12 GMT -7
Put a 12AT7 in the phase inverter position for more clean headroom. I use a Phillips NOS. I just started using an attenuator with my Maz 18 and have been using it clean. The Maz Jr. can be loud and clean.
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Post by bender72 on Feb 12, 2007 8:16:03 GMT -7
SR is probably the most versatile of the bunch (38, Mazerati, Prescription). The Prescription is a great, loud, amp though...lots of cool tones and can be quite aggressive if wanted. I've toured with the HRD 212/410 and a Mesa DC3 (precursor to the F-30) and the Jr will break up at the volume levels your wanting. You might also investigate, as mentioned above, the KT-45...extremely clean amp - like an older Hiwatt. Been told it also takes pedals quite well. Several backing musicians in the arena touring set use them... Might also consider getting a head and experimenting with cabs as your needs change (112, 212, etc). Is the KT-45 voiced similar to the 38, Mazerati, or Prescription? I'm liking the EL-84 Voxish type of sound that these amps produce.
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Post by (8^D) on Feb 12, 2007 9:38:51 GMT -7
SR is probably the most versatile of the bunch (38, Mazerati, Prescription). The Prescription is a great, loud, amp though...lots of cool tones and can be quite aggressive if wanted. I've toured with the HRD 212/410 and a Mesa DC3 (precursor to the F-30) and the Jr will break up at the volume levels your wanting. You might also investigate, as mentioned above, the KT-45...extremely clean amp - like an older Hiwatt. Been told it also takes pedals quite well. Several backing musicians in the arena touring set use them... Might also consider getting a head and experimenting with cabs as your needs change (112, 212, etc). Is the KT-45 voiced similar to the 38, Mazerati, or Prescription? I'm liking the EL-84 Voxish type of sound that these amps produce. No, KT has a completely different feel/sound/vibe. Cool amp though... Following is just my take from use of the Z's mentioned. YMMV: Jr - Aggressive cleans with a natural mid-range hump and less low end than the Sr. Least headroom of the bunch...gives up the goods pretty easy. Sr - Flat/balanced tone. Very versatile. Compresses nicely naturally. Smooth character, useable headroom. Swiss Army Knife of the Z line. Mazerati - in between the Jr/Sr? Very similar, but different at the same time. A little less flexible tonally (2 knobs) than the Sr, but sounds amazing. Started as a healthy Carmen Ghia but with it's own vibe...similar to the Jr's evolution from the Sr. Prescription - Punchier, less compressed tone/character than the Maz series, more upper mid character/bite than the Sr. Much more aggressive 'potential' than the Maz series. Those are just a bunch of words until you spend some time with the amps...really need to find a retailer and try to plug in "your" guitar and play with the knobs for a while. Each of these amps have so many different cool tones inside - and the character changes with subtle tweaks on the knobs...Volume/Master and Tone controls interplay so well - killer designs. Much more 'colorful' than the mass produced products most of us grew up/cut out teeth with.
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Post by Curt on Feb 12, 2007 10:44:29 GMT -7
All I know is I have owned every Z amp mentioned in this thread so far and I am now gigging my MAZ Jr NR in a 1x12 config. and am as happy as I have ever been with my tone, headroom and amp provided dirt.
If a Jr NR is not loud and clean enough for your band your going to be deaf very soon !
Later, Curt
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