jd0009
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by jd0009 on May 21, 2007 13:37:22 GMT -7
I still have a dilemma that's going on in my head.
I cannot afford to get more than one Z amp. Don't know if I need the Sr or the Jr. Tried both side by side. both 1x12 combos. Had volume on 3 on both, master on 9. Setup Tones and cut the same. The only difference I could hear was the Sr had a little more bottom at those settings. I am leaning toward the Sr but don't have enough experience of how they would sound out gigging. We play small/medium/large clubs. Some outside gigs. We play blues, classic rock and country rock. Does anyone have any experience playing out to compare these two amps? As you know trying one in the store is much different then playing out with a group. Need some feedback, please.....
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 21, 2007 15:23:30 GMT -7
I've posted a few times on this subject. I tried out both the MAZ Jr NR and Sr NR about a year ago. Choosing between them was nearly impossible. I ended up getting both, so here's my take. They're both incredible, world class amps. The Jr of course has much less headroom, but has great overdrive and is more "raw". If you need to play clean (i.e. country), use the low input, keep the master on 10 and get a loud speaker cabinet like a z-best or Z 4X10 if a loud band is a problem. If it's still not loud enough, mike it. The Sr. is a hard to beat amp though; I still think mine sounds as good through my Z-best as any blackface Twin I've ever heard. It does have more headroom, but even when it distorts it is a more "civilized" smoother overdrive than the Jr. If you play Strats either one is unbelievable. You just have to choose the more aggressive, rawer Jr or the smoother, more sophisticated Sr.
Hope this helped,
PDW
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jd0009
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by jd0009 on May 21, 2007 20:52:35 GMT -7
I play both an American Stat and a PRS McCarty with humbuckers. I also have a PRS McCarty with P90's. I have a feeling each guitar will react differently with each amp. Wow what a dilemma.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 22, 2007 5:41:45 GMT -7
I'm kind of torn on the issue of the MAZ's with P-90's and 'buckers. This is only my opinion, but I think that back in the day the original Prescription was designed to be more of a humbucker amp and the old MAZ 38 (which evolved into the Senior) was more of a single coil amp. Now, I've played my 'bucker and P-90 instruments through my MAZ's with great results. However, there's just something "magical" when I play 'buckers through the original Rx (or Route 66!). (P-90's are incredible with my Ghia!). I know there will probably be tons of guys who could post here and say that anything they play through the MAZ's sound great, and they're right; it's nearly impossible to make a MAZ sound "bad". I just think that they were optimized for single coils. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it. PDW
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Post by propellr on May 22, 2007 6:57:29 GMT -7
I've posted a few times on this subject. I tried out both the MAZ Jr NR and Sr NR about a year ago. Choosing between them was nearly impossible. I ended up getting both, so here's my take. They're both incredible, world class amps. The Jr of course has much less headroom, but has great overdrive and is more "raw". If you need to play clean (i.e. country), use the low input, keep the master on 10 and get a loud speaker cabinet like a z-best or Z 4X10 if a loud band is a problem. If it's still not loud enough, mike it. The Sr. is a hard to beat amp though; I still think mine sounds as good through my Z-best as any blackface Twin I've ever heard. It does have more headroom, but even when it distorts it is a more "civilized" smoother overdrive than the Jr. If you play Strats either one is unbelievable. You just have to choose the more aggressive, rawer Jr or the smoother, more sophisticated Sr. Hope this helped, PDW You nailed it!
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redgl
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by redgl on May 22, 2007 7:40:09 GMT -7
A couple years ago I too was wondering whether to get the Sr or the Jr. I actually emailed Dr. Z and he said something to the effect of "get the Sr, you won't look back". I did what he said and I never have. I really liked the Jr. I tested at Maken Music but in my opinion there's something about the extra wattage that seems to allow for more tonal possibilities. The additional headroom seems to allow the amp to bloom as you push it harder. Although the Jr. is a loud amp I think you'll find it necessary to push it in certain live situations at which point it might seem a bit harsh. I use a Weber Mini-Mass with my Sr. so I can experience the entire range the Sr has to offer.
So yes, I agree smoother.
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Post by LittleBlindShakey on May 22, 2007 18:29:03 GMT -7
I agree with pdw.
Jr on left Sr on the right (I hope the photo comes out)
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/littleblindshakey/TwoZs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 23, 2007 3:51:44 GMT -7
Nice rig Littleblindshakey! A dual MAZ rig is an awesome thing! I have two philosophies on this: 1) split with a stereo chorus or delay, both amps set similarly 2) split with an Access Electronics BS-2 buffer, Jr set for breakup, Sr set for clarity
#1 sounds "bigger", but #2 sounds very SRV-ish!
PDW
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Post by paulgiz2 on May 28, 2007 13:50:22 GMT -7
Back in the '80s when basketball teams were getting smaller and faster, somebody asked Hubey Brown of the Knicks why he was sticking with big forwards. He said "Fast guys get tired, big guys don't get smaller".
A big amp can be made to sound smaller, but a small amp never sounds bigger.
Personally I'd always rather have a little too much amp than a little too little.
P.
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Post by lizard on May 29, 2007 13:36:37 GMT -7
I also spent a lot of time pondering the Maz Sr. vs. Jr. dilemna. My decision was to go with the 38 Sr. and a Z-Brake and I've never looked back. I've never owned an amp as satisfying or reliable in my 30 years of playing.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 30, 2007 13:27:27 GMT -7
Paulgiz2, With all due respect, you can make a small amp sound bigger (and vice versa). Small amps like the Mini Z sound much "bigger" when recorded, and bigger amps at high volumes distort the microphone so much that you lose a lot of tone. Hubey brown does rule though!
PDW
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jd0009
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by jd0009 on May 30, 2007 14:05:11 GMT -7
Not concerned anymore...bought the SR. Thanks for all the comments. Did a vote count and the SR won!
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Post by paulgiz2 on May 30, 2007 15:37:42 GMT -7
Paulgiz2, With all due respect, you can make a small amp sound bigger (and vice versa). Small amps like the Mini Z sound much "bigger" when recorded, and bigger amps at high volumes distort the microphone so much that you lose a lot of tone. Hubey brown does rule though! PDW Of course. My favorite recording amps (back when people wanted to hear me and paid good) were the Princeton Reverb and Brown Deluxe. I have gigged with small amps as well (mic'd and monitored of course), but club work often means amp must fill the room, or at least the stage. For me an overly compressed, overly distorted amp with narrow coverage is my idea of hell. The MAZ Sr. is a far cry from the 2 Twin Reverbs or 1 Twin + 1 Dual Showman rigs I used to use, but it gives firm bass, and just a touch of grit at a wide range of volumes--and that's where I want to be. P.
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Post by propellr on Jun 1, 2007 10:03:19 GMT -7
Back in the '80s when basketball teams were getting smaller and faster, somebody asked Hubey Brown of the Knicks why he was sticking with big forwards. He said "Fast guys get tired, big guys don't get smaller". A big amp can be made to sound smaller, but a small amp never sounds bigger. Personally I'd always rather have a little too much amp than a little too little. P. +1 imaginary karma, there, paulgiz2! Love that quote! Great reference.
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Post by nkjanssen on Jun 1, 2007 14:28:15 GMT -7
I use a Sr. with an Airbrake. The Airbrake is just for rehearsals and smaller rooms. In bigger rooms, it comes off. It's the perfect combination. I almost hate to admit that I've never actually tried a Jr., but I can't imagine it could be better than this.
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Post by saltydog3317 on Jun 8, 2007 13:34:39 GMT -7
+1 for the Sr. I agree, it really is at its best when I am playing strats through it.
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