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Post by slidewinder on May 8, 2006 5:35:13 GMT -7
Well, after a bit of a wait my maz head arrived about a week ago(thanks again Brent). I'd been borrowing a friend's 38 combo for gigs, for the last few months, but he was getting pretty tired of it, and I was getting embarrased to ask. I tried it for a few days and needless to say, if anything it sounds even better with the 2x12 cab I had made for it. The head seems tuned a little differently than the combo.
This past weekend was the real test though. I went to a yearly all night studio jam with some great players, about 16 in total, who brought numerous other amps, including old marshalls, various fenders, a roccaforte, div. by 13, and even a used dumble ods combo, that I know the owner paid over 15,000 for. That's not a type o. There were lots of pedal to try as well. I've heard so much about dumbles over the years, and after hearing it, to be honest I couldn't figure out why it came with such a high price tag. It was a great amp, no doubt about it, but no better than some of the others. I can only assume it's the prestige of saying you own one because it didn't floor me by any means, and the overdrive wasn't as nice as the Div. by 13. Four other guys played the maz 38 through the evening, one being an exceptional player, who brought sounds out of it I didn't know it had. Two of those who played it are ready to put an order in for heads this week. I think the div. by 13 head had the best natural overdrive, but again nothing that can't be accomplished through the maz with the right pedal. The best sounding amp there on it's own was probably a 67 plexi that had just the right amount of everything. Either way, this head is amazing and well worth the wait. I've had a lot of old amps over the years, including plexis and various fenders, and walked out of there knowing I'd made the right choice. This amp seems to have the best qualities of pretty much all of them. Thanks again, guys.
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Post by billyguitar on May 8, 2006 6:58:32 GMT -7
That's what we like to hear!
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Post by guitarman1 on May 8, 2006 8:32:52 GMT -7
Great report. Have some karma!
How was the clean sound on the Div. by 13?
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Post by Curt on May 8, 2006 11:23:07 GMT -7
The MAZ Sr is an amazing amp..fo sho ;^)
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Post by slidewinder on May 8, 2006 21:36:07 GMT -7
The clean sound was ok. I didn't think it was anything to write home about, but both channels had a nice kind of spongy sound that I did like. I wasn't able to get that from the 38, although someone said I should put a 5U4 into the rectifier socket, which would supposedly do it. I'm not sure if that would do any damage or not, so I wouldn't want to try it without being sure.
Other than that I honestly preffered the clean sound and versatility of the maz 38. They were all good amps, and most of the owners were happy with their own tone. Only 2 or 3 were as responsive as the maz though. You could dial different kinds of tones in pretty easily, where the others like the dumble, and especially the fenders and marshalls had their sound and that was it. It was a pretty good sound mind you, but you'd better be happy with it cause that's all you're gonna get. You need a pile of pedals with those amps, to get different tones, and even then it's a crapshoot. My favorite pedal with the maz was an old reverend drivetrain, and a zendrive pedal. I've got the drivetrain, and I'm going to order the zendrive.
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Post by guitarman1 on May 9, 2006 7:00:59 GMT -7
I'm always trying out new amps, but I never find one that is the "total package" like the Maz Sr. I recently bought (and returned) a Bad Cat Custom Shop 30 watt Cub II for $2300.00. I liked it it the store, but after getting it home and A/B'ing it with my Maz, I took it back. It did some things the Maz didn't do, but the Maz just did so much more than the Cub II. The Cub's low end just farted out at higher volume levels and it ran so hot that I could have literally cooked an egg on the chassis.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, but Z amps are the $hit!
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Post by billyguitar on May 9, 2006 7:50:36 GMT -7
Slidewinder: Drivetrain yes! So far my favorite o/d with the gain all the way down. 5U4: I tried it and it is a slower tube. I love spongey sag and it didn't do it. A 5V4 seemd to cut the power a little but didn't change the overall feel.
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Post by anacephalic on May 9, 2006 8:51:04 GMT -7
The versatility of the Zs is amazing. I've been debating getting rid of my Rx for something smaller, or with a master like the 38, and i've been A-Bing it with other amps to see what's really out there. That got me fiddling with the controls more. Normally i just plug into an amp and start playing without much looking at how its set. With the Z there are so many tones lurking in there and all of them are good. From what little i've personnally seen of the maz it's more versitile than the Rx ever could be...amazing creations them zs
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2006 9:30:40 GMT -7
Oh man I can't wait for my Maz38. The GAS has taken control of my brain, oops I think I sprung a leak somewhere.........
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Post by guitarman1 on May 9, 2006 9:54:43 GMT -7
Oh man I can't wait for my Maz38. The GAS has taken control of my brain, oops I think I sprung a leak somewhere......... Yeah...I'm gassing now for that RXES head I ordered last week. I've been reading & re-reading every RXES post on this forum. It should be on my front porch tonight when I get home. Must have amp n...o...w!
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Post by slidewinder on May 9, 2006 10:11:43 GMT -7
Billyguitar: I'm talking about the older blackbox drivetrain. I keep my gain at about 9:00, and set the volume to match the Maz's volume, so when it's kicked on it just gets that stringy SRV kind of sound. It's almost as if that pedal was made for this amp. You should hear the drivetrain and my fulltone Deja Vibe together. Thanks for the info on the tube. I've got an old T.C Electronic pedal called a sustain and parametric equalizer, lying around from the 80's. They don't make them anymore, but I was playing with it last night and it gave that sag without really coloring the tone at all, so that's another pedal I guess I'll add.
Guitarman1: I played a Bad Cat combo about a year ago, and didn't care for it. Like you say, it had a few good points, but overall it didn't do anything for me. I don't know what formula Dr.Z used to come up with the overall tone of his amps, but it's one that works and I can't see making it better. I can also honestly say that it's removed my GAS for other amps. Over the past few months I was thinking maybe I should have gotten this amp or that one, but after last weekend that's completely gone. I'll probably check out some more pedals here and there, cause GAS never completely goes away, but I can't see spending 1000 or more, trying to improve on this amp. It would just be a waste of time and money.
On a side note: one worry I had about a class A head with no fan was heat build up. I guess I didn't have to worry about it though. The head was on for over 6 hours without a rest. I checked it regularly, but after all that time the chasis was just lightly warm to the touch.
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Post by billyguitar on May 9, 2006 10:40:08 GMT -7
The black Drivetrain is the one I have also. I once a/b'd it against a new style green one. They both had the same tone but the green could boost more and distort more, neither feature I need. The Route 66 by visual sound uses the same circuit, allegedly, but only has a tone control so not as flexible that way.
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Post by Curt on May 9, 2006 11:14:17 GMT -7
Oh man I can't wait for my Maz38. The GAS has taken control of my brain, oops I think I sprung a leak somewhere......... Arun, I can't wait for you !! I really want to hear how the Sr stacks up for you, for me it just works. As my moods change, so can the Senior, that's what will keep it around. I'll get in the periods where I want a Les Paul and some drive, then a Tele and a Clean amp, the the Strat and those Texas blues slighly driven tones, the same music, just different seasonings !!! The Sr is the one for me....well that and this lil 'ol Sewell, it's a KILLER too ;D Later, Curt
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2006 11:54:40 GMT -7
Thanks Curt. I know you know what I am going through right now. I got the 212 combo even though I know it will be a heavy sucker. At least it will give me an excuse to stay in shape! Peace, Arun
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Post by propellr on May 9, 2006 12:32:08 GMT -7
Yeah, if that "shape" is flat on your broken back! Nah, just kidding, man! More power to you, or at least, more air flow! Those twelves really push it!
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 9, 2006 22:27:57 GMT -7
The versatility of the Zs is amazing. I've been debating getting rid of my Rx for something smaller, or with a master like the 38, and i've been A-Bing it with other amps to see what's really out there. That got me fiddling with the controls more. Normally i just plug into an amp and start playing without much looking at how its set. With the Z there are so many tones lurking in there and all of them are good. From what little i've personnally seen of the maz it's more versitile than the Rx ever could be...amazing creations them zs I'd TRY to hold onto that Original RX... WONDERFUL amp. To me that amp gets that MAZ 38 SR NR Hairy/ chime type of sound, but bigger, and bolder... less compressed.... louder! I'd try to keep it and pair a Maz SR with it... If I ever got rid of mine, I think I would probably end up regretting it... just a thought.... Jason
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boomer
Junior Member
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Post by boomer on May 10, 2006 8:22:10 GMT -7
I own alot of amps but my Maz 38 212 is it for me. I can take it to any gig or recording session and know I'm going to get a great tone. Still jonesing for a Mantaray though.
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Post by anacephalic on May 11, 2006 9:42:03 GMT -7
I came to that very conclusion Jason. The more i fiddled with it the more cool stuff it did. I also ended up turing the vol up a bunch and depending even more on finger and guitar volume control. Besides sounding good that amp can teach a person how to play better if they are willing to let it. I think the amp likes me because every time the thought of parting with it crosses my mind it does something to convince me that would be a very bad idea.
On another post you said you were going to try some 12AX-7 Ms in your RX. did you ever do it? I've been thinking about experimenting with some NOS GE 5751s and the mullard RIs. WHat speakers do you have in yours. Mine has the Celestian 30s in it and some posts i've read about these are not the most positive though taste is tastes and it ain't one size fits all.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 11, 2006 22:43:45 GMT -7
On another post you said you were going to try some 12AX-7 Ms in your RX. did you ever do it? I've been thinking about experimenting with some NOS GE 5751s and the mullard RIs. WHat speakers do you have in yours. Mine has the Celestian 30s in it and some posts i've read about these are not the most positive though taste is tastes and it ain't one size fits all. You know I did get those GT 12AX7M's and they are still new in the box as are the set of new power tubes and the new to me, nos rectifier I picked up for it... I never did change the tubes out of that amp... it just still sounds so good i never messed with them... so I still don't know how they sound but tomorrow I'll pop em in there and see what they do for it... and I'll let ya know... I have an original RX head, I stole, I mean I bought it from Laroosco who is also on this forum... ( Thanks again, Laroosco ;D) I use it with either a Z-best 2x12 w/ a weber alnico 50 watt silver bell and Celestion G12-H30, or a THD 2x12 loaded with 2 x 50 watt weber blue/ silver ceramics... OR the best sounding speaker cab I've heard with this amp or the RX ES... my Z 2x12 open back w/ 50 watt alnico blue/silver speakers I got from Madison on this forum.. ( Thanks again to YOU Madison, sorry you had to sell it, but shes got a good home...) I personally don't like the Vintage 30 with any of my Z's I've had... THE ONLY place I like that speaker is paired with the G12-H30 in the Z-best cab... and THAT DOES SOUND VERY, VERY GOOD with ANY DR Z amp or any other amp for that matter !! I liked my stock Z-best with that speaker configuration but I just prefer the alnico weber silver I replaced the V-30 with in it better... but some guy's LOVE that Vintage 30 speaker, it does have it's sound...I feel it's just too bright for me... so YMMV... I'll let ya know about the GT 12AX7M's in the RX..... Jason
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Post by anacephalic on May 12, 2006 7:31:39 GMT -7
thanks for the help Jason. I may go try to find some speakers to try jsut to see what's out there. I have the same issue trying to tame the brightness at times
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Odin
Full Member
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Post by Odin on May 12, 2006 11:09:42 GMT -7
I'm always trying out new amps, but I never find one that is the "total package" like the Maz Sr. I recently bought (and returned) a Bad Cat Custom Shop 30 watt Cub II for $2300.00. I liked it it the store, but after getting it home and A/B'ing it with my Maz, I took it back. It did some things the Maz didn't do, but the Maz just did so much more than the Cub II. The Cub's low end just farted out at higher volume levels and it ran so hot that I could have literally cooked an egg on the chassis. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but Z amps are the $hit! My experience has been the same as yours: Comparing other amps with Maz 38 = returning other amps. Matchless/Bad Cat = flabby arse end and icepick highs.
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Post by slidewinder on May 12, 2006 13:22:55 GMT -7
It's funny cause the speakers I settled on aren't anything like the ones mentioned. I didn't really care for the G12H and V30 mix, and tried a few different ones in my cab before deciding.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 13, 2006 14:19:20 GMT -7
On another post you said you were going to try some 12AX-7 Ms in your RX. did you ever do it? I've been thinking about experimenting with some NOS GE 5751s and the mullard RIs. I tried out the GT12AX7M 's in the Original RX today and they sounded very, very nice... warmed it up and the harmonics were a little sweeter... wonderful sounding amp... couldn't stop playing it... don't need reverb really...I had EH 12AX7's in it and they sounded great, just different from the GT's.... they seemed a little sharper and punchy... VERY GOOD pre amp tubes... THEN I PUT THOSE same GT12AX7M's in my Victoria Bassman...WOW WOW WOW!!! MAN can those GT/ Mullard Tubes WAKE UP a TWEED AMP!!! I'd used them along time in my Tweed twin.. but never got around to trying it in my Bassman cause I hardly play it.... may need to keep it and use it for practice or something... WOW... didn't seem to care that it didn't have reverb either... just kept playin it.... round, fuzzy, hairy, biscuit-eating tone.... pass the syrup. I love DR Z, but I love the tweed's too, I've just gotten used to the BASS in the DR Z's and when I hear that tweed low end it just isn't the same.... but I still love em... boy can they get some tweed sounding hair on em... ;D Jason
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Post by billyguitar on May 13, 2006 22:44:27 GMT -7
I've got a couple of '57 Bassmans and they are indeed beautiful sounding amps. They aren't Zs but Zs aren't Bassmans. Both are great!!!!!!!!!
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Post by anacephalic on May 15, 2006 8:03:24 GMT -7
thanks Jason, time to place a tube order i believe.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 15, 2006 9:47:49 GMT -7
thanks Jason, time to place a tube order i believe. I'd order the GT12AX7M's from GT/ Myles... to make sure you get some good ones... I got some from the first batch when they first came out and I hear they have had some quality/ bad ones in some of the runs since that first one... When I order some more I'm gonna get em from GT and make a note for Myles! Jason
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Post by Curt on May 15, 2006 18:53:47 GMT -7
no doubt when your ears are used to a Z...other amps lack bottom.
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Post by guitarman1 on May 17, 2006 6:18:36 GMT -7
no doubt when your ears are used to a Z...other amps lack bottom. Yeah. One of the things I LOVE about Z amps is how tight & controlled the low end is. Many other booteek amps I've tried fall short in this area. I had a Carr Slant V6 that had some of the sweetest mids & top end, but the bottom just turned to mush from medium & up volume. Those Carrs cost way more than most Zs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2006 16:30:43 GMT -7
My Maz38Sr NR 212 combo shipped from Dr. Z today! I can't wait. Probably see it end of next week or the week after that. Home stretch here I come.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 19, 2006 16:56:26 GMT -7
My Maz38Sr NR 212 combo shipped from Dr. Z today! I can't wait. Probably see it end of next week or the week after that. Home stretch here I come. COOL Arun!! can't wait for the OFFICIAL MAZ GIG report!
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