|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 20, 2009 17:32:50 GMT -7
Oh my. Once again Dr. Z has upended my entire world. Two words to describe it: Violin tone. With my Les Paul, it's got that violin sustaining singing quality we've all been trying to get. I now know why Phil has been playing his Les Paul - this things swallows a Les Paul and spits violin tone back at you like it's no big deal. It's a REAL big deal to me. With the Strat, you can get that same "klank" that Jimi gets on the intro to Little Wing - you know the one, right at the beginning on the low E; "chunk-sliiiide-KLANK" - I was all teeth when I heard that. Much more to do here with it, and can't really play it without the Brake Lite till I'm home alone, but my heart is beating way fast, the blood vessels in my forehead are standing up, and there's this pucker going on elsewhere that I don't want to talk about. This amp to a Les Paul is as the Stingray is to a Tele - Dr. Z is going to sell a LOT of these.
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 20, 2009 20:23:23 GMT -7
Hate to say I told you so...... ;D
|
|
|
Post by Reinhold on Mar 20, 2009 20:56:10 GMT -7
So if I understand you correctly, just to clarify something, this is the best amp in world history? Stop the madness.
Dr Z wins with amps as Tom Kristensen and Audi win at LeMans.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 20, 2009 22:43:06 GMT -7
So if I understand you correctly, just to clarify something, this is the best amp in world history? Stop the madness. Dr Z wins with amps as Tom Kristensen and Audi win at LeMans. Well now you're putting words in my mouth. But I will say this - I have been wanting this exact tone for many (MANY!) years. I won't be able to use it everywhere I play, but this amp is most definitely part of my play rig, from now on. I just have to decide how I want to do things so that I get everything I want. I thought I would like it. I didn't realize how much...
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 20, 2009 22:43:36 GMT -7
Hate to say I told you so...... ;D Between you and Curt I KNEW I would like it some. But holy moley!
|
|
|
Post by taswegian on Mar 21, 2009 4:47:35 GMT -7
#@%@^*!!!$@&*$!!!! That is the last thing I need to hear right now Steve. Dang it! I'm just gonna HAVE to get one. Wondering if I can get a loan based on "need to have" for the Police band. After all, Andy used two plexis. ;D Did a gig with my 66/1x12 rig last night and had it maxin' out. Kept thinking "I could use the Z-Best right around now, or 40 watts of Remedy"
|
|
|
Post by groovergeorge on Mar 21, 2009 5:07:51 GMT -7
Well don't keep us in suspense any longer Steve.
Lets hear some tunes in the sound section from you with a Strat and L.P.
I'm sure it won't be too long before you post some.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 7:13:47 GMT -7
Still learning the amp, so I'll prolly wait till later this week before I record.
|
|
|
Post by slipperyfingers on Mar 21, 2009 8:12:24 GMT -7
Not a bad first impression...I just checked my UPS tracking info, and mine will be here Wednesday...Luckily my wife is off Wednesday, and will be able to greet the UPS guy.
I've got a 2x10 open back cab loaded with Scumbacks, and an oversized 2x12 closed back cab loaded wih Emi Governors...I'm thinking either one should sound great...now the waiting begins......
-SF
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 8:18:03 GMT -7
I'm going to hook up the G12-65 today. Its lower efficiency will be appreciated, and I don't think I need all the bottom the Z-Best provides with this amp. I'm betting the G12-65 is going to be just about right. I'm getting some cool ideas about my 2x12 open back though - dual head ideas again...
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 8:20:28 GMT -7
Hate to say I told you so...... ;D Hey Phil, I just noticed your avatar - got a full size version of that image?
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 21, 2009 10:02:00 GMT -7
Hate to say I told you so...... ;D Hey Phil, I just noticed your avatar - got a full size version of that image?
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 11:35:00 GMT -7
Hey Phil, I just noticed your avatar - got a full size version of that image? d'OH!
|
|
|
Post by "Z" Steve on Mar 21, 2009 11:41:50 GMT -7
Hey Phil, I just noticed your avatar - got a full size version of that image? Out of curiosity are those volume settings at half power or attenuated at all? Wondering minds want to know. "a" Steve
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 21, 2009 12:08:06 GMT -7
TWINS!!!
|
|
|
Post by gopre29 on Mar 21, 2009 12:11:01 GMT -7
WOW
thats too cool Phil
WOW
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 12:39:03 GMT -7
Way too cool! How do you get the Remedy's volume down there - I can't seem to get mine off the peg!
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 21, 2009 12:53:33 GMT -7
Out of curiosity are those volume settings at half power or attenuated at all? Wondering minds want to know. "a" Steve I almost always run it at half power, and the settings on the "twins" picture above are the ones I've been using with *every* guitar, from Strats to my Lollar humbucker equipped Set Neck to my P-90 Hamer.
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 21, 2009 12:56:07 GMT -7
Way too cool! How do you get the Remedy's volume down there - I can't seem to get mine off the peg! I'm way more of a "Dickey Betts" player when it comes to my Set Neck. This setting gives me a great rhythm tone on "4-"7" on the guitar and a decent breakup at "10". Killer!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 13:13:30 GMT -7
OK another half hour session with the Les Paul - I wanted to play the Strat too but I just couldn't pry the Les Paul out of my hands. Guitar > Remedy > Brake Lite > Z-Best and that's all it needs. I had the bass off (Z-Best gives plenty of that), mids dimed and treble about 9 o'clock, both volumes dimed, and despite copious quantities of saturation, the articulation is phenomenal. With the Brake Lite on three clicks, and the output on half power, I can play it in the house and despite sounding like a wall of amps it's real tolerable, volume wise. It's the tone though - holy moley. Well, the tone with the articulation - has to be played to appreciate it, but you'll see when I get around to doing a clip. I've never been able to play notes so close together and have them each stand out like this. Not that I want to do that all the time, but those of us who imitate instead of innovate have to do that sometimes when we draw a blank... To be clear - this is not the end all amp - it's the end all ROCK amp. If you grew up in the '60's and '70's with all the great guitarists of the day, you will instantly recognize those tones in this amp. You wouldn't play Clapton's Crossroads tone on a nice country ballad, would you? No. But homey don't play that stuff anyway, and I can get away with murder in my classic rock band, so in this type of venue it WILL be used, and abused, and loved. Hmm... maybe we can pull some Bad Company out of the hopper now. ;D ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Mar 21, 2009 13:57:49 GMT -7
You're killin' me man...I got about a week to go...THEN.... it's LP/Remedy/Zbest/quad TOONAGE CITY!!! Be prepared for the onslaught ;D ;D ;D Just remember to go "drop D" for "feel like makin' love"....
|
|
|
Post by hogridr on Mar 21, 2009 14:11:46 GMT -7
Your killing me... Fat Sound is gonna block my number, I am going to be calling weekly to see where my Remedy is. Still 2-4 weeks away... aaagggghhhh
|
|
|
Post by kc on Mar 21, 2009 17:11:55 GMT -7
Steve,
Thanks for your comments on the Remedy, you've made these observations that have got my attention:
1) violin sustaining singing tone 2) tone with the articulation - has to be played to appreciate it 3) the end all rock amp
Please comment on the "cleans" you are getting (I understand that clean is a relative term). Thx.
kc
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 18:11:16 GMT -7
Steve, Thanks for your comments on the Remedy, you've made these observations that have got my attention: 1) violin sustaining singing tone 2) tone with the articulation - has to be played to appreciate it 3) the end all rock amp Please comment on the "cleans" you are getting (I understand that clean is a relative term). Thx. kc More playing coming this evening - I'll let you know....
|
|
|
Post by mdrs on Mar 21, 2009 19:16:22 GMT -7
Steve, First, congrats on your new Remedy. Play it in health and happiness..........and ToneBliss!! All I can say is; I played this; Side by side against this; Straight thru this; And, I'd call it a draw!! I love my Remedy!!! Truely an outstanding amp. Tone that ranks. It's a Plexi you can play out.........of course, once you've played it, you'll guard it WITH YOUR LIFE!! All kidding aside, this is a top quality classic rock machine. And, by the way, it reminds me of the best of the old 50 watt Plexis, in that it also has very nice chimey cleans.
|
|
|
Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Mar 21, 2009 19:41:12 GMT -7
MDRS.............
You're starting to piss me me off man...... ;D ;D ;D
I got wunna those old 70's JMP's(+ basket weave quad) lying around here somewhere.
Cannot WAIT to do the A/B thing w/the Remedy......
|
|
|
Post by mdrs on Mar 21, 2009 20:46:59 GMT -7
Sorry man, I can't help myself!! LOL Now, just to keep us on terra firma here, I just played a Block Logo JTM 45 thru that cab, and I can't say that the Remedy was quite up to that comparison. Of course, that's really not playing fair, is it??? As of now, I've played the Remedy thru a Marshall 4x12 from 1974 loaded with the original creambacks, a Marshall 1960 Vintage, a Marshall 1960 cab loaded with #2 G12M's and #2 G12H's (both Heritage series), a Cornford 2x12 loaded with G12M's, and a Fuchs ported 2x12 loaded with EV's, and I can't really say yet which I liked better!! The bass response on the Remedy can "overwhelm" any of these speaker cabs. You have to dial in the amp just right to eliminate the muddyness when playing a neck Classic '57 pu on a LP. Then you must watch out that the bridge pu isn't too brite. With the Remedy set at half power, the "overpowering" of the speaker cabs when playing on the neck pu of my LP was less of an issue. A lot of this may well just be dialing in the Remedy. And, although the Remedy has only 5 knobs, there are really a huge number of ways you can dial in a tone, due to the two channels, each with it's own volume knob. So, the Remedy is a great amp. You're gonna love it. I'm still monkeying around with diffrent cabs and settings. As I learn more, I'll try to post more. I'm anxious to hear more from Steve about his impressions as he gets to know his Remedy. Yo, Steve? ?? ;D
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 21, 2009 21:08:06 GMT -7
Unfortunately, a little thing called LIFE keeps interfering with my FUN! Prolly get back to the amp tomorrow though... gotta get these TAXES done before April 15......
|
|
|
Post by mdrs on Mar 21, 2009 22:16:09 GMT -7
Unfortunately, a little thing called LIFE keeps interfering with my FUN! Prolly get back to the amp tomorrow though... gotta get these TAXES done before April 15...... Don't you hate that? Responsibilities are a pain!! We'll wait on you................... ;D
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 22, 2009 5:44:20 GMT -7
The cleans are great. They're definitely in the Marshall camp, not the Fender camp (duh). Even if I've changed my *long* time SRV/Knopfler/Jimi Strat style due to the Grosh Set Neck/Remedy, there's one thing that hasn't changed: I still like clean-ish tones. When I say SRV/Jimi the stuff I always played is stuff like Riviera Paradise, Lenny, Castles Made Of Sand, Little Wing, Sultans of Swing, etc. I guess I grew up playing metal in bands in the 80's and '90s and even though I still like to ROCK I've appreciated cleaner sounds for a while now.
So now that I've got the Set Neck/Remedy, I've been going over my Allman Brothers collection. I guess the best way of describing by preference is that I'm love Dickey Betts' tone, even though Duane's rips. The Remedy can do all those great Dickey tones from the Fillmore album like "Stormy Monday", his solo on "Statesboro", etc. - they're all in there. "Jessica"? No problem.
I don't really think of the Remedy when I think of "Wind Cries Mary"; I haven't tried that with a Strat but that probably because my Route 66 *kills* on that tone. I'll have to try that.
The Remedy had such great cleans because it does everything you'd want in a clean amp- it's very warm, great, great sustain, great articulation, string-to-string balance, etc. It's scary how much sustain it has even on the 20W setting even at my control settings (about 1/2 on the controls) and the guitar's volume on "4".
Like Steve said, if you want to do SRV or other Fender sounds- EZG-50. If you want a Voxy sound- Stangray. Any Marshall tones from the '60s and '70s...Remedy. It'll do more because the frequency response is so smooth but it kills on those tones.
|
|