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Post by bubs42 on Feb 10, 2009 19:17:58 GMT -7
Well got my SRZ back today finally. Plugged it in and played it and after starting everything out at 12 O'clock and going from there I'm still dialing. Really Load, complex tones. You move a dail and somthing else wil pop out at you.
Only Gripe... If I turn the gain past 12 o'clock the gain is Brittle and harsh. The issue with the amp ended up being a bad preamp tube. It was replaced ( I don't know what position) with a Ruby 12ax7. Cost me a some bucks to get it up and going. But I think I want to start swapping tubes. I can hear the amp and I know it's got what I'm looking for, I just got to bring it out some how.
I was suprise on how much I had to change My OD pedals around to fit the SRZ. I had them set pretty transparent to my Mesa but every one of them did somthing different to the SRZ..
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 10, 2009 19:46:00 GMT -7
Just remember, "Everything matters." Your preamp tubes can alter the tone. Your power amp tubes can really alter the tone. Your speakers can alter the tone by the widest possible margin. Sometimes getting an amp where you want it can be a real science project. But as you've noted, the SRZ has the goods, so it's worth a bit of experimentation to find the golden sweet spot. You are probably aware that Carl Verheyen uses this amp now. I know in one of his SRZ's he is using KT-77's instead of EL-34's. I've never tried them, but every time I hear of another person doing those tubes, they always say they'll never go back. Might be worth a looksee anyway. And speakers - holy moley they change everything! What are you using now?
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Post by brad737 on Feb 10, 2009 19:50:42 GMT -7
If the SRZ sounds harsh and brittle, try running an old Mullard in V1. That worked great in the SRZ I owned. If you don't have any old Mullards, try the Groove Tubes 12AX7M. It's their "reissue" of an old Mullard. It's kind of a darker sounding tube, so it should warm up your SRZ nicely.
Like Steve says, everything does matter. Since you're a Mesa guy, I have to ask if you're playing the SRZ through Vintage 30 speakers. They have a fairly harsh upper mid spike. If you're playing through V30s, you might try Greenbacks or the G12H30.
Good luck, Brad
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 10, 2009 20:05:54 GMT -7
WHAT ! YOU GUYS HAVE TO TYPE LOUDER!!! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.. Sorry fo yelling. WOW ! You get here up just a little and hit that front with a Tubescreamer and your at Stadium Level Rockin... Holy Cow though it sounded awsome, she just had to be kicked a little. I think a little swapping is in order. I like to get my Preamp gain just a litltle dirtier and then just hit it lightly with a TS or BD for leads. This amp just fights me to stay clean. I love the articulation of the notes and Chords are Huge! So i'll have to find that happy medium. I can definetly see how this tracks well its an awsome amp. As for the Tube recomendation, I'll try that. The speakers I'm playing throught a 2x12 Horizontal Recto Cab with one V30 and one G12H30. I do have an English Greenback in the Closet i'll swap the V30 out tomarrow and see what happens. Can't imagine it lasting 2min tops though. This thing would probly eat it for lunch! Well a light snack. I'll have to cut it out for tonight. Little Loud!
I call B.S. on anyone that says that this amp can't do clean also. This thing has a ton of headroom.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 10, 2009 20:06:55 GMT -7
Think I should switch it out to a Solid State Recto?
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Post by troutstrat on Feb 10, 2009 20:35:17 GMT -7
Solid State if you want it LOUDER!!! I use JJ ECC83S in V1; ECC803S's Balanced/Matched in V2 and V3; GZ34 JJ; and JJ EL34L's Biased at 34ma each, Voltage hovered around 415-420. I could not be happier with the SRZ. Scumback M75-8HP or any G12M's or G12-30H's IMHO sound great. I think the speakers need to be ones that have a bit of midrange swamp to them for the SRZ becuase the SRZ is so clear sounding, alittle swampness breaks the highs, yet helps with the lows and string to power ratio of feel. One more beer and I may ramble some more.
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Post by brad737 on Feb 10, 2009 23:13:39 GMT -7
As for rectos, I highly recommend the NOS Mullard, although any NOS GZ34/5AR4 will be a MAJOR improvement. To be frank, I wouldn't use a SS recto.
As for speakers, you'd be okay with the Greenback/ G12H30 as long as you don't CRANK it. That combination will give you a 50 watt cabinet. The SRZ is rated at 60 watts, so if you're maxed out, you'll possibly blow a speaker. I'm using this speaker combo in one of my Z-Bests with my Route 66, and in an Avatar 212 that I use with my Trainwrecks. I think it slays the G12H/ V30 setup.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 11, 2009 14:58:16 GMT -7
As for rectos, I highly recommend the NOS Mullard, although any NOS GZ34/5AR4 will be a MAJOR improvement. To be frank, I wouldn't use a SS recto. As for speakers, you'd be okay with the Greenback/ G12H30 as long as you don't CRANK it. That combination will give you a 50 watt cabinet. The SRZ is rated at 60 watts, so if you're maxed out, you'll possibly blow a speaker. I'm using this speaker combo in one of my Z-Bests with my Route 66, and in an Avatar 212 that I use with my Trainwrecks. I think it slays the G12H/ V30 setup. Well I definetly don't want to make it louder... IMHO, I honestly think it does a better Plexi that a JCM 800... if you open up the volume to like 10:30 and the drive to straight up Noon, It make you guitar sound like a Violin and the defenition is superb. LOUD THOUGH... I had bought an AirBrake to lease it but I got to tell you. I don't like what I does to this amp. It'll be up on the FS soon. I have been able to tweek it enough to take advantage of the preamp section, by closing my eyes and moving the knobs. Trying to dail in by ear and not by sight. That help big time. Right now the Bass is at 12:30 Mid at 8:30 and the Highs at 9:00. Volume is loud at 9:00 but that's where it just opens up and the Gain at between 12 and 3 or at 5 depending on my mood. My Tubescreamer is getting close to what I had with my Boogie I just like it to add a little touch of OD and maybe some highs. With the Z it actually adds some Midrange warmth and mellows the highs. I'm warming up to it. Just takes some tweaking... Maybe a speaker and tube swap and I'll be there. It just feels tight right now. I don't mind an amp being a little loose. Thanks for the tips..
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 15, 2009 10:00:23 GMT -7
Here I was talking myself out of getting the 6545 because of the lack of the Presence knob because I use Mutliple guitars. Hum's, Singles, P90s, but after not being able to dail out the sharpness of the OD, I just simple turned the Presense to 0 and amp is smooth as butter. Purchasing tubes now to do a full Swap and get a NOS Rectofier and I think all will be good. Might have talked myself into getting a 6545 though.
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Post by brad737 on Feb 15, 2009 11:52:16 GMT -7
I wouldn't run an attenuator with the SRZ either. The Master Volume works well on this amp, so I never felt like it needed one.
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Post by troutstrat on Feb 17, 2009 18:16:57 GMT -7
I use my Air Brake occasionally with the SRZ, and it allows me to turn the volume up to noon with the drive usually around 11 O'Clock. Being able to push the volume up on the amp really adds to the bottom. I do agree, that it comes at a cost to clarity, but it's there when you want it and can't play in an arena. Same thing with the KT45.
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