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Post by stoneeyes on Jun 28, 2005 19:14:16 GMT -7
Hey guys, I'm new to the board and just wanted to draw on your knowledge. I've been wanting an ac30 for years but have been terrified of spending that kind of cash on something with such a bad track record of reliability,(refering to the newer modals by the way). I recently stumbled on the Z web site and have been really interested in the mazerati, I love the simplicity of the layout. The sounds that I'm going for are that gritty jangly R.E.M. Counting Crows kind of sound. Just wondering if I'm looking the right direction here: there's no dealer near me so just wanded some educated advice before I made a roadtrip to the nearest dealer. Any insight on this amp would be helpful to me. Thanks
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Post by Laroosco!! on Jun 28, 2005 19:28:21 GMT -7
I haven't spent a lot of time with aan AC30 but the Mazerati is definitely the Dr's closest amp to an AC30.
They do sound different tho.
I personally prefer the Mazerati, but I'm a little biased because the Mazerati is one of my all time favorites.
The clean of the Mazerati is so0 f*$%ing beatiful I wet myself everytime I think about it.
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Post by gaetadog on Jun 30, 2005 12:52:08 GMT -7
I own both the AC30 and the Mazerati. The vox is more focused sounding, the Z is more open sounding. The vox has more "hoo-ha", but the Mazerati's one volume and one tone is amazingly liberating! No problems dialing in just the right tone. If your looking for a no nonsense hand built, all tube, tone machine, I'd go with the Z. The price is right (Z cost less than my factory built, pc board, re-issue ac30).
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Post by UnclePat on Jul 1, 2005 4:28:37 GMT -7
For live gigging, no question.....Mazerati. Even running LOUD (volume @ 3PM or better) you can still get some snappy clean sounds, and that single tone knob is just perfectly voiced "where you need to be", eliminating the guesswork involved with a normal dial-in on one of those "too many f*ckin' knobs" amps.
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Post by myles on Jul 1, 2005 12:38:42 GMT -7
Listening to Brad Paisley play a Mazerati next to some of his original AC-30s and sometimes running the Mazerati through a cab that once was an AC-30 but is just the cab part now .... well, they are both pretty spectacular. That single tone control can really shape things for the same character on each amp. There were bigger differences between a bunch of AC-30s at a shoot out a few weeks ago at Vox Fest at History For Hire than the differences between a lot of AC-30s and a Mazerati using the same cab or speakers.
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Post by cozyshack on Jun 2, 2006 21:30:55 GMT -7
Stoneeyes, I own both a Maz/Z-best cab and an AC30CC (with the Wharfdales). I have done the AC30 vs clone subject for years and here are my conclusions............
-If you gotta have a Vox AC30, then get it by all means. AC30's have always had the rep of being cantankerous but the rewards are there. Classic wonderful amp. Probably the greatest design/amp of all time, along with various Bassman's, Deluxes, the occasional Marshall, etc. And let's face it..........the AC30 is a gorgeous beast.......if you want the amp to look like an AC30, then get an AC30.
-Lots of builders have cloned or used the AC30 as a starting point.........Matchless, Badcat, Tophat, etc. But nearly everyone has made an 'improvement.' The only maker that seems to have exactly cloned an original JMI AC30 is Valvetech/Hayseed. But even that company has gotten some grief over use of the Heyboer transformers. Anyway, while lots of companies have the AC30 flavor, they are not an exact clone soundwise...........but then no old AC30 sounds exactly like another!!!!! Believe me.......there are some real old dogs out there, as well as some that sound like the heavens above. There is some much variability in these old amps............well, you get the picture. Anyway, having said that, the new AC30CC is about as close to the old JMI's as you're gonna get.........many owners say they are even closer than the handwired editions, which tend to be darker (not a bad thing.) I guess what I am trying to say is that the AC30 sound is kinda nebulous and has many facets and no single amp may have them all..........not even old Voxes. But the AC30CC has a lot of the sound and is an incredible bang for the buck.
-The AC30CC is not a paragon of handcrafted perfection........in fact some aspects of the build are downright shoddy.........I guess the keep the street price of the 2x12 version (with Wharfdales) at a grand. Lots of marketing here. But again, AC30's are quite complex amps with a well deserved rep as being cantakerous. NOthing new here............just be nice to your Vox and it will be nice to you............and get a road case, by all means!
-The Mazerati and Z amps in general, on the other hand, are quite simply some of the finest, if not finest, built amps in existence. I used to own a Carmen Ghia combo..........don't ask why I sold it. These amps are massively overbuilt and incredibly simple. While I never gig without a backup, Z amps may be the most reliable for a working musician I have ever run across. Simply no contest in build quality between a Mazerati, or any Z, and a Vox.
-The Mazerati is very VERY similar to the normal channel of an AC30. No vibrato or separate channels. Seems to be rather limited, but the simplicity actually works to the musician's advantage, IMO. Tremendous variety of sounds just by playing with the tone knob and altering pick attack. Very touch sensitive and responsive.
-I personally am liking my Maz better than my AC30. And much more portable. I am gigging tomorrow night and will be taking my Maz and Z-best and leaving the AC30 at home. My backup will be an old Fender blonde Bandmaster (which sounds great through the Z-best! Yes, I know the impedence is not correct, but Fender heads are quite tough and can take it....so far!)
-In short, play em both and make your decision. I personally like the Maz better now, and may sell my AC30 (and get another Z). Through the Z-Best, this thing is bigger than all get out and really does the job.............I no longer need a Marshall to be the 'Big Dog'!!!
And by the way, this amp can 'jangle' as well! Add a good compressor (google: janglebox) and you are there. A rickenbacker won't hurt either. BTW, the Byrds did not use Voxes.....they used Fenders. And they were as jangly as anyone. And wore out the compressors as well!
Hope this helps!
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 3, 2006 14:06:08 GMT -7
When I saw the Byrds in '68 or so, I'm pretty sure they were using Super Reverbs for guitars and a Dual Showman for bass.
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