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Post by Telemanic on Nov 12, 2007 11:35:28 GMT -7
Usually with most new amps i get there is the initial impression's & euphoria, and gushing about the amp, ... then a period of what I'll call reality checks. Thats where i start identifying those little niggles and wish lists, which ultimately leads to me determine that " well, ... it's pretty close, " and down the road i go. BUT ..... with this amp i tried to reserve a little judgment and just wait and see a little longer than usual. Well i can say now that i do believe this is the amp ive been waiting 46 years for! Ok, so ive been playing for 30 ish, anyway you get the idea! WOW, it just seems to sound better every time i come back to it. I continue to learn how to use it with my Tele, which ive settled on as the best sounding with it, and my Strat a close second.
My initial take on it was that i might tone it down a tiny bit with some pre tube swaps, but the more i play it the more i dig it box stock! Just a little off the guitar volume & tone knobs and it is right there!!! Then it is just amazing when you roll on the full volume, ... it just comes alive in this PHAT SUSTAINING BLOOM, with all the aggression of a pissed wolverine, and then back to this sweet clean beautiful tone! I roll back the tone on the Tele a little more and it's doing this incredible Robben Ford-y tone. I hate to say it but i havent even plugged in an OD yet! It's that good on it's own. many many players could use just guitar into amp all night. Also It is the most Airbrake friendly amp ive paired it to! The GT is very likely the loudest amp i own, and the brake will be essential for various clubs and enviroments with it. Here at home i found that the amp is so loud that late evenings i need to put the brake way down at bedroom settings. To my great pleasure, the GT sounded fantastic!! Again i roll off the guitar volume just a little, .... not to lower the volume per say but to clean up some of the Excess compression and gain that you get when squashing the signal so at bedroom settings. At that point it gives me this way cool studio/practice level tone that is super touch sensitive, but still punchy and articulate! I run my guitar thru a Room-mate reverb pedal and it is stunning!!! I think that the amp is so simple and pure of circuit that the Airbrake sounds even more transparent than ever!
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Post by wilhelm on Nov 12, 2007 15:45:05 GMT -7
Hi Telemanic. I´m interested in the GT and would like to know at what volume settings do you play the amp with the Airbrake (at home or in the practice room)? If you roll of the volume knob on the guitar you can get a cleaner sound. Does the volume of the amp change by cleaning up or not? Running the guitar volume on 10 is that way louder than on 7 or maybe 5 or less?
Thanks, Willi.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 12, 2007 16:08:58 GMT -7
I'm finding that if I put the GT volume at about 10:30 o'clock or thereabouts, with my Strat, it's just about perfect for a nice gritty clean with the guitar on about 5, or balls to the wall overdrive with the guitar full up. I could absolutely gig with just a guitar, cord and this amp. Not many of my amps can make that distinction.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Nov 12, 2007 17:30:57 GMT -7
I hate to say I told ya so but..... It's the Real Deal. Phil
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Post by Telemanic on Nov 12, 2007 17:38:18 GMT -7
Yep Wilhelm, i'm finding the GT suprisingly versatile within it's range. I have the volume at about only 9:00 to 9:30 and it's devastating. Beyond that as has been previously reported, it just get more saturation and compression and not a lot louder. It comes on fast right out of the gate, so for me volume placement at 9 something helps me to clean it up without having to roll off too much guitar volume.
I find that with the Airbrake at bedroom settings, just rolling off the guitar to say 7 - 8 cleans it up for nice classic rock type rythym sounds or blues or ?? and lower for pretty stuff. Regardless of the Brake or not, i could only describe the volume change of the amp when using the guitar knob, as VERY usable. I know thats a little vague, but it's a pretty subjective thing to comment on. All i can say is that i would consider rolling up from 7 or even 5, to 10 on the guitar produces the perfect kick up in the mix for a solo. It IS quite dramatic tho partly because the amp starts to breath fire, and fills out into this fat but super articulate harmonic gain, as well as LOUDER. I think what your looking for is to know if rolling back the guitar to clean up for certain things, reduces the amp volume too much? ..... Again really subjective, .... it depends on what your vision of clean is, and how LOUD you need that clean! I guess i would sum up by saying that if you need really clean, really loud, it may not be "THE" amp for ya. If youre thinking in the vein of Hendrix type clean rythyms, ya know, .... a little edge to them, ... I think you'd be very pleased with the volume balance. Hope that helps ?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 12, 2007 18:42:28 GMT -7
I hate to say I told ya so but..... Yeah, yeah... You was right all along!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 12, 2007 22:54:56 GMT -7
Just playing my GT tonight and decided to A/B it with my Stingray. You know, putting them both on at the same time is pretty darn nice...
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Post by Telemanic on Nov 13, 2007 6:39:41 GMT -7
Oh Thanx man! Like i need to jones for another now! ;D
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 13, 2007 7:58:49 GMT -7
Oh Thanx man! Like i need to jones for another now! ;D Of course you do!
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Post by wilhelm on Nov 13, 2007 13:27:44 GMT -7
Telemanic, Pdw and Benttop - thanks for your explanations. I think it´s the right amp for me. I don´t want a loud clean sound. I want a hairy clean, a crunch and a lead sound. And it feels good to know that you all are happy with your GT. I think it´s the amp that I´ve been looking for about 30 years. Hopefully to get my GT in the midth of december. I´ll keep ya posted. Not to forget I´m happy with my MazJrNR head too but I need some pedals (AC + BB) to get the desired sounds. If that´s possible just with guitar, cord and amp that would be fine. Willi
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Post by prsnstrat on Nov 14, 2007 8:47:46 GMT -7
I'm finding that if I put the GT volume at about 10:30 o'clock or thereabouts, with my Strat, it's just about perfect for a nice gritty clean with the guitar on about 5, or balls to the wall overdrive with the guitar full up. I could absolutely gig with just a guitar, cord and this amp. Not many of my amps can make that distinction. This sounds great however I've found that with any Z amp I've owned that is >=30 watts, I can't turn the volume up past 8 or 9 o'clock, unless it's a bit outdoor gig. I think that is the only thing holding me up from getting one of these!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 14, 2007 9:21:34 GMT -7
Yep. That's why I have five attenuators in this house. So far I haven't run the GT without the Airbrake - in fact I haven't run the GT with the Airbrake above bedroom level yet. I plan to try the GT on my THD 4x12 without the Airbrake. That's going to have to wait till I need the back wall removed, because that's likely going to be the result.
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Post by Curt on Nov 14, 2007 9:49:19 GMT -7
Not to forget I´m happy with my MazJrNR head too but I need some pedals (AC + BB) to get the desired sounds. If that´s possible just with guitar, cord and amp that would be fine. Willi This is the exact design criteria for the GT; a louder Jr NR that needs no pedals for grind.
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Post by prsnstrat on Nov 14, 2007 10:22:11 GMT -7
Great tidbit of info tele! This has got me thinking that the RxES Jr might be better suited for my next Z amp....
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Post by mcgriff420 on Nov 14, 2007 19:54:18 GMT -7
Well, considering how much Stu at fatsound likes the MazNR this seems pretty plausable. I was in the same boat as far as using a couple pedals with the Maz. It would be nice to get back to riding the volume on the guitar and stopping the tap-dance. Not to forget I´m happy with my MazJrNR head too but I need some pedals (AC + BB) to get the desired sounds. If that´s possible just with guitar, cord and amp that would be fine. Willi This is the exact design criteria for the GT; a louder Jr NR that needs no pedals for grind.
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Post by Curt on Nov 14, 2007 20:11:52 GMT -7
Well, considering how much Stu at fatsound likes the MazNR this seems pretty plausable. I was in the same boat as far as using a couple pedals with the Maz. It would be nice to get back to riding the volume on the guitar and stopping the tap-dance. This is the exact design criteria for the GT; a louder Jr NR that needs no pedals for grind. From the horses mouth..........................
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Post by Don on Nov 16, 2007 11:00:12 GMT -7
Just tried my GT with the Stingray, then added the SRZ, then the Mazerati, then the Rx, then the Ghias. All at once! I got a ticket.
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Post by joekondziella on Dec 14, 2007 5:57:10 GMT -7
Just tried my GT with the Stingray, then added the SRZ, then the Mazerati, then the Rx, then the Ghias. All at once! I got a ticket. That's Sick...... I like it !
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Dec 14, 2007 6:45:13 GMT -7
Just tried my GT with the Stingray, then added the SRZ, then the Mazerati, then the Rx, then the Ghias. All at once! I got a ticket. For what, 50 over the "cool" limit?
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Post by Don on Dec 14, 2007 16:52:38 GMT -7
Just tried my GT with the Stingray, then added the SRZ, then the Mazerati, then the Rx, then the Ghias. All at once! I got a ticket. For what, 50 over the "cool" limit? Noise ordinance! Who knew it was 3 in the morning? Couldn't stop playing these amps!
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