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Post by brad737 on May 1, 2008 8:38:37 GMT -7
Hi guys, I just received my SRZ-65 yesterday. I bought Limited Edition #22. Here she is: I finally got to plug in and run it through its paces this morning. At first, I plugged into my Avatar 212. It's loaded with a G12H30 and a Vintage 30...basically a non-ported, poor-man's Z-Best. I found it to sound VERY bright through this cabinet. After dialing the Treble all the way off, and playing with the Presence, I still couldn't find the right tone. I decided to run it through a Marshall 412 loaded with Greenbacks. It became a TOTALLY different amplifier. Through the four Greenies, it sounds warm and lush. It REALLY lives up to the hype. It sounds like the best 50-watt Marshall you've ever heard. The one thing I noticed was the clarity of each individual string. Marshalls can get muddy at high gain settings. The SRZ doesn't. It's really not a Van Halen sort of tone. Think of 1980's Ratt or Dokken, but with more articulation and clarity. Also, I noticed that there isn't a lot of hiss, which is common with high-gain amps. I think the only thing I'm going to do is change V1 to an old Mullard, just to shape the tone a bit. Through the right speakers, this amp is a undeniable home run. Very well done, Doc. Final grade: A
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Post by Fiestared69 on May 1, 2008 9:06:17 GMT -7
I Loved that amp ,I just didn't have agood application for her. She is well Traveled though, From Texas to Missouri to Virgina and a couple of other places I think!
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Post by dock66 on May 1, 2008 9:33:55 GMT -7
Sweet,the infamous SRZ LE#22 Lots of history on that amp.
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Post by brad737 on May 1, 2008 11:36:46 GMT -7
Well guys, I can tell you this. She's staying in Cincinnati. I may not keep the KT-45, simply because it's so close in tone to my Route 66. (I'll need more time to decide.) But the SRZ has found a home.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 1, 2008 11:57:53 GMT -7
The KT-45 likes an Aibrake if you ask me...
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Post by brad737 on May 1, 2008 14:06:53 GMT -7
Oh yeah, I run pretty much everything except my 5150 through attenuators nowadays. I like to get those transformers cookin'! ;D
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Post by dock66 on May 1, 2008 14:10:42 GMT -7
SRZ is a great amp with the right speakers it is one killer amp,Oh yeah.
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Post by brad737 on May 1, 2008 14:51:57 GMT -7
Well, I can attest that Greenbacks and Weber 1225's are definitely the right speakers for this amp.
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Post by groovergeorge on May 2, 2008 3:54:35 GMT -7
Well guys, I can tell you this. She's staying in Cincinnati. I may not keep the KT-45, simply because it's so close in tone to my Route 66. (I'll need more time to decide.) But the SRZ has found a home. Quote: "I may not keep the KT-45" There may be a few of here that just might hold you that to that statement Brad. ;D
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Post by brad737 on May 2, 2008 6:59:14 GMT -7
In my defense, I did post that before I'd played the Strat through the KT.
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Post by skydog958 on May 2, 2008 11:55:47 GMT -7
Definitely love mine through my closed-back Avatar 2x12 with Weber Ceramic Silver Bells. Thick, juicy Marshall tone. And to add, Brad, strat+KT-45=AMAZING. Just ask Curt.
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Post by brad737 on May 2, 2008 12:11:16 GMT -7
I've been thinking about trying the Weber alnicos with my Route 66. I've heard nothing but good things about all of Ted's speakers. It's kind of funny about the KT. I really liked it with my Les Paul, but it sounded really, really similar to my Route 66. But it really came into it's own with the Strat. My daughter's taking her nap right now, so I can't try it with a Tele. I have a feeling that'll sound gooooood too. Definitely love mine through my closed-back Avatar 2x12 with Weber Ceramic Silver Bells. Thick, juicy Marshall tone. And to add, Brad, strat+KT-45=AMAZING. Just ask Curt.
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Post by groovergeorge on May 3, 2008 23:36:57 GMT -7
I think Curt stated once that it was the best strat "neck pickup" amp in the world!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 4, 2008 2:24:44 GMT -7
Well that can't be right, because that's my Maz Jr.
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Post by brad737 on May 4, 2008 6:22:29 GMT -7
I can definitely see that. I like her. I think Curt stated once that it was the best strat "neck pickup" amp in the world!
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Post by myles on May 19, 2008 10:20:44 GMT -7
I think Curt stated once that it was the best strat "neck pickup" amp in the world! Go to one of Carl Verheyen's shows and listen to Rumor Mill, Slang Justice or Place for me .... You will find that supports your statement 110%. Then again ... he does a lot of pickup switching so you may just end up thinking it is the best strat rock amp around. If you have the DVD Rumor Mill listen to the bring up the song Slang Justice and listen at the 5:00 mark ... it is the definitive strat rock lead tone of all time.
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Post by brad737 on May 26, 2008 19:03:44 GMT -7
Quick update for everyone. Since I've fallen so hard for the SRZ, I decided to upgrade the tubes just a bit. I replaced the rectifier with a NOS Mullard from 1966. And I replaced the V1 preamp tube with an NOS Mullard as well. Marshall wishes they could build an amp like this...
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Post by groovergeorge on May 27, 2008 7:38:52 GMT -7
I think Curt stated once that it was the best strat "neck pickup" amp in the world! Go to one of Carl Verheyen's shows and listen to Rumor Mill, Slang Justice or Place for me .... You will find that supports your statement 110%. Then again ... he does a lot of pickup switching so you may just end up thinking it is the best strat rock amp around. If you have the DVD Rumor Mill listen to the bring up the song Slang Justice and listen at the 5:00 mark ... it is the definitive strat rock lead tone of all time. When you are refering to definitive strat tone are you talking about the SRZ or KT45 Myles? I found this on youtube of Carl wailing away on strat into what appears to be a SRZ. The guy sure has great tone and chops............great stuff.
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Post by myles on May 27, 2008 8:13:19 GMT -7
Go to one of Carl Verheyen's shows and listen to Rumor Mill, Slang Justice or Place for me .... You will find that supports your statement 110%. Then again ... he does a lot of pickup switching so you may just end up thinking it is the best strat rock amp around. If you have the DVD Rumor Mill listen to the bring up the song Slang Justice and listen at the 5:00 mark ... it is the definitive strat rock lead tone of all time. When you are refering to definitive strat tone are you talking about the SRZ or KT45 Myles? I found this on youtube of Carl wailing away on strat into what appears to be a SRZ. The guy sure has great tone and chops............great stuff. I was talking about his SRZ-65. Thanks for the link to the video ... I will have to listen to it later as I do not have sound on this PC here at GT ... YUP .... a "sound" company where there is not audio on most of the PCs here
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Post by groovergeorge on May 27, 2008 19:08:52 GMT -7
When you are refering to definitive strat tone are you talking about the SRZ or KT45 Myles? I found this on youtube of Carl wailing away on strat into what appears to be a SRZ. The guy sure has great tone and chops............great stuff. I was talking about his SRZ-65. Thanks for the link to the video ... I will have to listen to it later as I do not have sound on this PC here at GT ... YUP .... a "sound" company where there is not audio on most of the PCs here No problem Myles, thanks for the word up on Carl and the SRZ. It's what sent me on a youtube search to find him playing one as his DVD's are a little harder to get out here. I guess i might have to try and order one through Amazon or something. Have a good day at work mate.
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Post by myles on May 28, 2008 12:30:18 GMT -7
No problem Myles, thanks for the word up on Carl and the SRZ. It's what sent me on a youtube search to find him playing one as his DVD's are a little harder to get out here. I guess i might have to try and order one through Amazon or something. Have a good day at work mate. You can get his stuff on Amazon and some other places but also directly from him here: www.carlverheyen.com/store.htm
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Post by Gregg White (aka stratbrat) on May 30, 2008 8:26:16 GMT -7
Brad, glad to hear she's making you happy! It was really hard selling her. But now I've got a Ray back (with blues) and an RXES (which really sounded great last night!). So everyone's happy!
If you ever get an itch to sell her, PLEASE ask me first! I'd definitely throw that on top of some Greenbacks!
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Post by brad737 on May 30, 2008 19:39:42 GMT -7
Sorry, Gregg. You're not getting the SRZ back! Brad, glad to hear she's making you happy! It was really hard selling her. But now I've got a Ray back (with blues) and an RXES (which really sounded great last night!). So everyone's happy! If you ever get an itch to sell her, PLEASE ask me first! I'd definitely throw that on top of some Greenbacks!
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Post by bubs42 on May 30, 2008 19:54:52 GMT -7
I'll nail down an Dr. Z amp soon I hope. Sounds like you got a winner!
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