kmac
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Posts: 154
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Post by kmac on Oct 24, 2008 20:02:28 GMT -7
I am preparing to make a change from combo to head. I love the clean tone of the Maz Jr combo, but I also love the "gain by volume pot" of the Mazerati GT.......... So my questions to the knowledgable are this: 1)Can I still get that same fat, dimensional clean sound (like the Maz), with the Mazerati GT? 2)Is there plenty of clean headroom with the GT? 3)Can I take advantage of the GT's tone/gain features at a small club volume level. I know I'm asking a bunch.....I appreciate any and all help...Thanks
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 24, 2008 21:00:25 GMT -7
I have both amps. They are very different, and yet there are some similarities.
1) The ONLY way to get to clean on the GT is to lower the level of the guitar signal going in. When you first start to hear sound, there is already hair on it if the guitar is wide open. The GT is a HIGH GAIN amp.
2) There is no clean headroom at all unless you turn the guitar down. Then the clean is dynamic, with similar characteristics of other Z amps.
3) The GT is LOUD. The only way to play it at a low volume is to Airbrake it. Even with the Airbrake set to Bedroom level the amp is still pretty doggone loud.
Hope that helps.
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kmac
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Posts: 154
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Post by kmac on Oct 25, 2008 5:04:21 GMT -7
Thanks Steve. I am concluding that I cannot play clean(at a live band volume) and roll my volume up for gain (solos etc) ie clean rythmn parts...roll up for leads. I love the tone of the Maz. However, I cant get much of a clean sound when playing with a drummer, and not enough gain (for me) when I solo..hmmmmm....never ending search?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 25, 2008 9:21:27 GMT -7
Thanks Steve. I am concluding that I cannot play clean(at a live band volume) and roll my volume up for gain (solos etc) ie clean rythmn parts...roll up for leads. I love the tone of the Maz. However, I cant get much of a clean sound when playing with a drummer, and not enough gain (for me) when I solo..hmmmmm....never ending search? Actually if you're used to using your volume control on your guitar the GT is not bad at all - it does clean up really well with lowered guitar volume, while not really losing very much volume. I think I could gig the GT all by itself in my oldies band. Hmmm... I did one clip where I played the GT with it's volume set to noon (ton of gain), and varied the guitar's volume up and down to demonstrate this. See what you think: www.gear.strayca.com/audio/MazeratiGT/GT_WildThenMild.mp3
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Post by zdogma on Oct 25, 2008 10:57:35 GMT -7
I have both amps. They are very different, and yet there are some similarities. 1) The ONLY way to get to clean on the GT is to lower the level of the guitar signal going in. When you first start to hear sound, there is already hair on it if the guitar is wide open. The GT is a HIGH GAIN amp. 2) There is no clean headroom at all unless you turn the guitar down. Then the clean is dynamic, with similar characteristics of other Z amps. 3) The GT is LOUD. The only way to play it at a low volume is to Airbrake it. Even with the Airbrake set to Bedroom level the amp is still pretty doggone loud. Hope that helps. I have both amps as well and pretty much agree with Steve. I prefer the clean sounds with the Maz 18, its just easier to control. And just to reinforce, it is REALLY LOUD. I mean it.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 25, 2008 12:37:20 GMT -7
Control seems to be a great way to describe it. Even if you turn down to get to the cleans, the GT is just "this close" to out of control.
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Post by zdogma on Oct 25, 2008 17:00:05 GMT -7
Control seems to be a great way to describe it. Even if you turn down to get to the cleans, the GT is just "this close" to out of control. I remember an interview with Ken Fisher a few years back where he described his style of an amp (Trainwreck) as "a fighter jet" Always just on the edge of control, and that was what made them different (and great) There's a bit of Ken Fisher's influence in this amp, I think.
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kmac
Full Member
Posts: 154
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Post by kmac on Oct 26, 2008 15:42:53 GMT -7
Thanks again Steve, Cool stuff! Good demonstration Sound to me like the amp never gets "really" clean, seems like it's got a bite even with the guitar voume down.
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Post by vanillasr08 on Mar 6, 2009 12:16:24 GMT -7
Maybe you should consider a Ghia. You can get really sweet, rich clean tones and you can get some dirt on it as well. Best of both worlds in my opinion.
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