|
Post by aj1169 on Dec 20, 2007 23:39:24 GMT -7
I think I just found my new favorite Strat amp tonight, and it's the GT. I had been playing this amp with my Tele which is my main guitar and loving the tones I was getting, but tonight I decided to plug in the Strat just to see what happened. I was floored. I got everything from a pristine shimmery AC30-like clean tone with the guitar volume down, then rolled it up to about 5 and had a really nice pushed AC30 crunch, then up from there the best lead tone I've heard in a while. Kind of Marshally, but more of its own thing. Needless to say, I'll be playing the Strat more now, especially with the GT.
|
|
|
Post by wilhelm on Dec 21, 2007 6:29:08 GMT -7
Yeah you are right. The GT is a nice combination with all kind of Strats. Very simple you can make all shades of tones with the volume knob, from clean to lead tones and no need for a pedal. I hoped that it works like that before having the amp and now I am satisfied. Take your slideguitar and it will put a smile on your face. What a nice amp. This amp in a smaller wattage area would be the king. No chance to play without the airbrake.
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Dec 21, 2007 9:58:05 GMT -7
GT is one those amps that sounds great with just about any guitar that played through,at least IMO.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Dec 21, 2007 10:15:55 GMT -7
I've yet to try a few of my guitars because the ones I've tried have worked so well I just can't seem to wean myself from another fix of that stuff. I'll be off a few days after Christmas and I'm going to try a few things I haven't tried yet. But you are right about the Strat - the GT loves mine.
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Dec 21, 2007 12:37:12 GMT -7
Ditto here. I haven't tried my GT through a Gold yet, but I'll bet that makes it sound like the Vox from you-know-where. It loves my Strats but it also loves my Hamer Special K with P-90's. The lower output pickup you use though, the cleaner it can get when you roll back the guitar's volume- something like Fralin Real '54s give you a *real* nice clean, but it still has great gain for leads when the volume maxed. Unreal.
Phil
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Dec 21, 2007 13:53:19 GMT -7
+1 on a Strat being KING with the GT.
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Dec 21, 2007 16:19:39 GMT -7
Q: Anyone want to guess what Stu Carter's favorite guitar is?
A: Strat
It kinda shows, doesn't it?
|
|
|
Post by Mr. 339 on Mar 10, 2008 21:15:14 GMT -7
I was shocked when I finally plugged in a strat and played this amp. Up until then I had been pounding the thing with humbuckers and p-90's and the distortion is/was/will be great. Instant sustain etc.... At one point I said "hmmmm, I wonder what the strat will sound like?" At the time I was using a 4x12 slant cab and the sound was spectacular. There was so much bottom end and sweet top end. Amazing.
The amp was definitely cleaner with the fender single coils.
Larry
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Mar 20, 2008 5:48:07 GMT -7
I've been thinking of getting a GT, especially after hearing all of the raves about it here and on the gearpage forum. I have a question for you Strat & Tele players. How much gain is available with low to medium output single coils with the GT? Using a MAZ Jr. NR as reference, is there as much gain as having the MAZ's volume dimed and master set to about 10:00?
Also, how is the low end with the GT. Is there more there than with a MAZ Jr.?
|
|
|
Post by wilhelm on Mar 20, 2008 6:30:52 GMT -7
Hi Guitarman, I own both amps (MazJrNr head and Mazerati GT). They are very different amps. I played my MazJr for 1 1/2 years with a Mojo cab (1-12 TT alnico). I play mostly blues and rock. Since getting the GT things have changed. The MazJr is my "Fender" for clean sound. To your questions: You can get as much gain as you want with the volume knob of the amp. Comparing to the settings you mentioned on the MazJrNr I would describe that a nice crunch. This crunch you can get on the GT at 10 o´clock (amp´s volume) and rolling back the volume knob on the guitar between 6 and 8 o´clock, maybe lower depending on the pickups you use. Turning on the guitar will give you a tone with more sustain and a bit louder. That´s nice for solos. Yeah there is more low end with the GT. Compared to the MazJr the GT has way more gain, more bottom or low end. The highs are smoother on the GT. I play Strats and Teles and I know what you mean. Before having the GT I played rocking riffs and solos with a AC and BB from Xotic. I don´t use these pedals now. The sound from the GT is more natural than playing a MazJr with pedals. As you know it´s all personal taste. Both amps are good in their own way but I like the GT more as it fits my needs better. Guitar, cable and amp - that´s it. No pedals - just playing with the guitar´s volume knob for clean, crunch and solos. And not to forget the sound is always transparent. If you want to know anything more send me a PM. Willi
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 20, 2008 9:08:55 GMT -7
+1. The Mazerati GT has a ton more gain than the Maz Jr. If you dime the volume on the GT you have way more gain than you can practically use with a strat. So you can dial in just what you need, as the volume doesn't really increase between 9 o'clock and dimed. You just get more and more gain.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Mar 20, 2008 13:22:47 GMT -7
Hi Guitarman, I own both amps (MazJrNr head and Mazerati GT). They are very different amps. I played my MazJr for 1 1/2 years with a Mojo cab (1-12 TT alnico). I play mostly blues and rock. Since getting the GT things have changed. The MazJr is my "Fender" for clean sound. To your questions: You can get as much gain as you want with the volume knob of the amp. Comparing to the settings you mentioned on the MazJrNr I would describe that a nice crunch. This crunch you can get on the GT at 10 o´clock (amp´s volume) and rolling back the volume knob on the guitar between 6 and 8 o´clock, maybe lower depending on the pickups you use. Turning on the guitar will give you a tone with more sustain and a bit louder. That´s nice for solos. Yeah there is more low end with the GT. Compared to the MazJr the GT has way more gain, more bottom or low end. The highs are smoother on the GT. I play Strats and Teles and I know what you mean. Before having the GT I played rocking riffs and solos with a AC and BB from Xotic. I don´t use these pedals now. The sound from the GT is more natural than playing a MazJr with pedals. As you know it´s all personal taste. Both amps are good in their own way but I like the GT more as it fits my needs better. Guitar, cable and amp - that´s it. No pedals - just playing with the guitar´s volume knob for clean, crunch and solos. And not to forget the sound is always transparent. If you want to know anything more send me a PM. Willi Thanks! Now I'm gettin' GT G.A.S. It sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. With the GT's volume set on 10 as you described, how loud is that sucker? I totally agree with you on the pedals. I've used a Timmy, Barber Silver LTD, Menatone Red Snapper & Blue Collar with the MAZ and am never really happy with the sound. I've never heard a pedal that doesn't mess with my tone in a bad way. I think I need to try out a GT soon if I can find one in stock at a dealer who offers a trial period.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Mar 20, 2008 13:26:33 GMT -7
+1. The Mazerati GT has a ton more gain than the Maz Jr. If you dime the volume on the GT you have way more gain than you can practically use with a strat. So you can dial in just what you need, as the volume doesn't really increase between 9 o'clock and dimed. You just get more and more gain. How loud is it at 9 o'clock? Window rattling? Use the MAZ Jr. as a reference, please. BTW...with all of the great sound clips you've posted hear and on the gearpage, I'm sure you have helped sell a BUNCH of Dr. Z amps. I think Mike owe's you a freeby. I mean SERIOUSLY, he owe's you an amp, or at minimum, one at dealer cost!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 20, 2008 17:05:09 GMT -7
Thanks. Compared to the Maz Jr... Hmm..... Well I would say it's like going from a Princeton to a Twin Reverb. It's that big of a difference. Of course your speakers will make a huge difference, and I'm not certain I've ever tried the GT on my Tone Tubby before, so the speaker sensitivity could be part of that, but leave us just say that this is a very loud amp. You really need the Airbrake if you plan to play it in a band context. Even here at home, when I record it, I use the Airbrake to keep the family happy and the neighbors at bay.
|
|
|
Post by asattwanger on Mar 21, 2008 14:31:00 GMT -7
That is what I disliked about the Mesa Maverick. Not compairing amps, but you had to play it at such volumes to get it to respond like a vintage amp. Which is only at practices. No place would we need that level comming from two guitars.
I'm also interested in the GT from the sounds of the reviews as I really like the guitar cord amp thing, but if it's smokin loud from start to finnish I might not have a use for it. I make my Z-28 do that volume control into lead tone thing with a FB-2. It's not perfectly transparent, but it's still extremely pleasing tone. That is one of the extremly nice features of the three nob tone/gain design.
Sorry wrong place to talk Z-28's
DAVE
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2008 16:08:57 GMT -7
Well with the Airbrake it's perfect.
|
|
|
Post by wilhelm on Mar 22, 2008 3:35:34 GMT -7
Guitarman, to the MazJr. Playing thru the Hi-input, master full, volume at 3 o´clock that´s very loud. I´ve never played so loud on stage - just tried it for example at home. The GT at 10 o´clock is louder. No chance without airbrake. I played both thru the same speaker (TT alnico). I like both amps and both sound fine with the airbrake. For me the airbrake is a more usefull tool than any pedal I had. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Mar 25, 2008 7:24:03 GMT -7
Wow! This sounds like one L-O-U-D amp. Man oh man!
|
|
|
Post by wilhelm on Mar 25, 2008 8:00:46 GMT -7
Loud, maybe. GT at 10 o´clock, airbrake on click 4, these settings give you a nice sound and it´s right in the practice room. My friends don´t like it too loud so maybe you can imagine what I talk about. The MazJr can get louder without airbrake. At home I play with the airbrake in bedroom level wide open, at 3 o´clock. If nobody´s at home sometimes I set to click 4 on the airbrake. For me the airbrake is an nice tool on both amps. I´m thinking of getting a Mini as my home GT as for now I don´t like pedals though I have some.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Mar 25, 2008 10:48:46 GMT -7
Loud, maybe. GT at 10 o´clock, airbrake on click 4, these settings give you a nice sound and it´s right in the practice room. My friends don´t like it too loud so maybe you can imagine what I talk about. The MazJr can get louder without airbrake. At home I play with the airbrake in bedroom level wide open, at 3 o´clock. If nobody´s at home sometimes I set to click 4 on the airbrake. For me the airbrake is an nice tool on both amps. I´m thinking of getting a Mini as my home GT as for now I don´t like pedals though I have some. SOunds like a GT & an Airbrake are in my near future. I feel the same as you about pedals. They just kill your sound. Theres nothing like the sound of a guitar plugged straight into an amp. So, the Airbrakes, at reasonable settings, doesn't mess with your tone?
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 25, 2008 11:57:57 GMT -7
So, the Airbrakes, at reasonable settings, doesn't mess with your tone? Opinions vary. I'm in the "not really much at all" camp. If you crank the attenuation to Bedroom, then dial down the rheostat to the volume of a mosquito, that's what it will sound like. Most of us who use Airbrakes don't really do that. I use mine live to allow me to get the power tubes nice and saturated and leave them there, while adjusting final stage volume with the Airbrake. In that scenario, you can't really tell there's an attenuator in the circuit, "not really much at all."
|
|
|
Post by wilhelm on Mar 25, 2008 14:16:33 GMT -7
Steve is right, way down in bedroom level doesn´t do it. That´s way I´m planning to get a Mini for home use. In the bedroom level wide open, about 3 o´clock and further the sound is getting more and more natural. The GT is a stage amp. Otherwise I like the sound in the bedroom level from 12 - 3 o´clock for heavy riffs, guitar volume maxed. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by hogridr on Mar 26, 2008 16:38:55 GMT -7
All this talk about the Strat made me pull out mine. I have been playing the GT mostly with humbuckers. As I was playing I started experimenting with some coil splitting guitars. I found that this is a great way to adjust the breakup on the GT. I find just the right volume and set it just past clean with a little fuzz with it in single coil mode. I switch to the bucker and get a good crunch with very little volume change. Let's me toggle between clean and crunch. With my PRS 513 I can get 3 levels by flipping the pickup toggle and go from clean to crunch to nasty. Have I mentioned lately I love this amp. I am really starting to rethink my pedal board.
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 27, 2008 6:55:24 GMT -7
I am really starting to rethink my pedal board. The GT made me rethink my pedalboard too. It goes like this now: Guitar - cord - GT.
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Mar 27, 2008 7:40:27 GMT -7
I am really starting to rethink my pedal board. The GT made me rethink my pedalboard too. It goes like this now: Guitar - cord - GT. I second guitar >cord > GT. No OD pedals necessary,occasional boost is all I need.
|
|
|
Post by hogridr on Mar 27, 2008 8:59:40 GMT -7
The GT made me rethink my pedalboard too. It goes like this now: Guitar - cord - GT. I second guitar >cord > GT. No OD pedals necessary,occasional boost is all I need. What boost are you using? I honestly have several that would probably work, I have just not taken time to experiment. I have been seriously working on some new material with tried and true settings. I need something that will give me more of what I have. Same level of distortion, just louder. With my coil taps it would allow me to set and forget, changing distortion with taps, then with the right boost I can punch out for solos.
|
|