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Post by daynwarren on Mar 21, 2006 11:02:22 GMT -7
Anybody ever played or own a Star Nova? It is the 5 watt amp by Mark Sampson (of Matchless and Bad Cat fame). How does it compare to the Mini?
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Post by OG Mini Z on Apr 28, 2006 0:59:47 GMT -7
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Post by daynwarren on Apr 28, 2006 9:31:17 GMT -7
I have answered my own question by purchasing a brand new Star Nova! It is an incredible little amp and I am loving it so far. It is definately a different sound than the Mini Z and far more diverse. The Mini Z tone is great at 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock on the volume knob, especially with humbuckers. Obviously not much clean headroom if any. Same with the Star Nova but a little more gain is available if desired. I find the 10" speaker to respond a little better than the 8" in the Mini.
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Post by taswegian on Apr 28, 2006 10:14:48 GMT -7
Hey Daynwarren, glad you like the Nova. I'm sure the 6v6's sound quite different to the el84's of the mini Z. Sound like it might be a little more versatile too. But nothing is gonna take the place of the mini Z for me. I use it for solo and duo gigs and just love the chimey el84 overdrive. I especially love playing Queen tunes ;D Very Brian May. For what I do and like, it is just perfect. An invaluable tool. A one trick pony but a great little miniature pony. ;D Have fun with the Nova.
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Post by tonesleuth on Apr 29, 2006 14:54:09 GMT -7
Very interesting. Where did you get the star nova for $750 shipped?
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Post by daynwarren on May 2, 2006 14:06:49 GMT -7
I also bought an Enhancer Mini for my small amps to help with volume and tone: www.soundenhancer.com/A great tool for the Mini Z!
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Post by billyguitar on May 2, 2006 15:52:43 GMT -7
I've seen those enhancers at the big vintage guitar shows in Texas. They actually work quite well. They claim the amps don't get hot because of the air moving around from the speaker. Good for at home but way too big to gig with unless you don't mind hauling something bigger than your amp!
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Post by pedalcr8z on May 4, 2006 7:22:28 GMT -7
This thread has crossed over the line of respect for this website. You might as well go ahead and add order forms for the Star Nova!
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Post by Lefty on May 10, 2006 6:34:08 GMT -7
This thread has crossed over the line of respect for this website. You might as well go ahead and add order forms for the Star Nova! No I don't think so. I think we'd be stupid to think that there aren't other amps out there, and that the world only revolves around Z amps. There are many amps out there that could compete with the Mini. I'm most certain that many Mini owners are not going to sell off their Mini in favor of the Nova. I'm included, one knob...what more do you need? But on a side note: let's not turn this into the Sampson board.
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Post by daynwarren on May 11, 2006 8:42:30 GMT -7
In talking about other amps I wasn't meaning to disrespect this board...I was merely following suit to other people's posts all over this board about other amps that can compare positively or negatively to a Z.
I wouldn't have sold my Mini Z except for the fact that I am not made of money and am limited to what I can afford for music gear.
I agree the Mini can be all you need...the one knob theory is REALLY fun when playing. Just crank 'er up and have some fun. With that said, I think a lot of Mini Z owners might like a Star Nova as they are quite different in features and tone.
The funds from my Mini Z are now reaching out for a used 6545!
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Post by prowler on May 25, 2006 18:47:43 GMT -7
I have always been a big fan of small combo amps. I love my Mini for what it can do. I have been very interested in the Nova as well & I actually got a chance to hear one yesterday. Not a bad sounding amp by any means. The Mini & the Nova are different & owning one of each is not out of the realm of reason. Both sound great & both have different uses. As we guitarists always say.... Buy both!
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Post by prowler on May 31, 2006 7:02:37 GMT -7
Update... I got my Nova this morning & have been playing it for a few hours & comparing it to my Mini. They are both great little amps but they are very different from one another. The only logical solution is to own both!
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Jun 1, 2006 22:17:44 GMT -7
Well, DUH! Two amps are always better than one! ;D
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Post by prowler on Jun 2, 2006 3:17:51 GMT -7
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Post by myles on Jun 8, 2006 10:20:51 GMT -7
These are very different amps. The Mini-Z is very gain right from the start and the Star has a wider range in many respects. They are both great amps but they are really too different to compare.
The Star is a amazing amp, Loni Specter (www.ampshow.com) has one that I play a lot.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jun 24, 2006 19:04:55 GMT -7
daynwarren,
You mentioned getting a Ghia, have you got one yet?
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Post by daynwarren on Jun 27, 2006 11:45:23 GMT -7
Paul G., I haven't gotten a Ghia yet...still doing some amp shuffling. I am also still interested in the 6545 head. What I would REALLY want would be a head or combo in the same concept as the 6545 but with different amps combined. Maybe a Ghia/MiniZ or Ghia/Maz Jr. or a I love the channel switching idea giving you 2 amps in one head or combo!
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 27, 2006 12:16:23 GMT -7
The answer is any two amps and an a/b switch.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jun 27, 2006 17:47:53 GMT -7
The answer is any two amps and an a/b switch. Exactly... I a/b between Maz Sr and Ghia... Oh and sorry for putting the advert for a 'non-parker' product on the Parker Classifieds forum.
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