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Post by teleking36 on Jun 17, 2005 23:44:22 GMT -7
I currently have a Mesa Boogie Maverick 4x10 that I'm selling (on ebay right now) in order to get a Prescription ES. I haven't had much experience with Z's stuff, but I'm confident I would love his amps. I did enough research to come to the conclusion that the Prescription ES looks like the best fit for me.
I just had a few questions that maybe someone could help me out with:
- What's the best cab configuration? I'm used to 10s but open to trying maybe a Z-best or other 12" configuration.
- Is there anyone in the New England area (preferrably MA) that owns one? I only have one dealer that is relatively close to me and they don't seem to carry the Prescription ES. I'd really love to sit down and try one out, although I'll probably end up getting one anyway.
- If I can't find a Prescription to try out right away, what the next closest Z amp to the Prescription?
Hope someone can help me out. I'm dying to get my hands on a Z!!! ;D
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Post by kaseri on Jun 18, 2005 17:28:32 GMT -7
teleking36...
I live in Ma & there is another forum member that lives in Ma. I have three Z amps. A Carmen Ghia, Mini-Z & a 6545. I'm not sure how they compare to the Prescription ES though. The other forum member ordered a Maz Sr (might be a Jr, I don't remember) from Boston Guitar Works. I assume thats the dealer you are asking about.
I recommend you try Midtown Music in GA. I bought my 6545 from them & they were by far the best dealer that I have ever done business with. They let you have a 48hr approval period on any amp you buy from them. Since many people don't have a dealer that stocks EVERY Z amp the good Dr. makes, Midtown Music understands this and the approval period policy is truly an amazing exercise in customer service. Look them up & ask for David or Ted.
Let me know if I can be of any other assistance.
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Post by teleking36 on Jun 18, 2005 23:35:47 GMT -7
thanks for the help. i guess i could try out the maz sr. and the mazerati because they both use 4-el84's for the power section, but i'll probably take your advice and check out midtown music. 48 hours is plenty of time for me to try it out. i live about 30 minutes from boston guitar works, so i think i'm just gonna go down there this week and see what i can get my hands on to try out. who knows, i may be changing my mind by the end of the day! i guess you can't really go wrong with any of the Dr.'s amps.
Where abouts do you live in MA?
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Post by kaseri on Jun 19, 2005 5:24:09 GMT -7
I can tell you that Boston Guitar only has Mini-Z amps & a Z-Best 2x12 cab so if you are going there to test play some Z's you won't have much luck.
I live right in the city of Boston, what about you?
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Post by teleking36 on Jun 19, 2005 21:29:33 GMT -7
i'm actually on the south shore. i live in the plymouth area. so i guess i'm gonna take your advice and maybe order something from midtown. maybe then i could take it into boston guitar works and plug it into a Z best cab and see what i like. thanks for the help!
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Post by kaseri on Jun 20, 2005 4:01:18 GMT -7
Good call. Midtown will be your best bet. Tell the guy you speak to @ Midtown (David or Ted) that the guy who just bought the black 6545 sent you. Seriously though, wait till you experience how great the guys @ Midtown are. By the way... they are closed on Sundays & Mondays.
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Post by teleking36 on Jun 23, 2005 14:27:05 GMT -7
I'm also now considering a Mazerati because of the similar tube configurations. Had any experience with those?
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Post by myles on Jun 24, 2005 12:48:57 GMT -7
I'm also now considering a Mazerati because of the similar tube configurations. Had any experience with those? These are two very different amps. Just because a tube config is close it does not mean the amps will be close at all. A Fender Twin and Mesa Lonestar have close tube configs to a Rivera Quiana. All very different amps. The Mazerati and RxES are quite different.
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Post by myles on Jun 24, 2005 12:51:26 GMT -7
thanks for the help. i guess i could try out the maz sr. and the mazerati because they both use 4-el84's for the power section, but i'll probably take your advice and check out midtown music. 48 hours is plenty of time for me to try it out. i live about 30 minutes from boston guitar works, so i think i'm just gonna go down there this week and see what i can get my hands on to try out. who knows, i may be changing my mind by the end of the day! i guess you can't really go wrong with any of the Dr.'s amps. Where abouts do you live in MA? Having "four EL84's" means nothing when comparing amps. The front end design and other factors are what make thing similar or totally different. Compare a Mesa Blue Angel to a Vox AC/30TB. Or even a Vox AC30/4 (with the EF86) to an AC-30/6. Same output section .... very different amps.
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Post by teleking36 on Jun 25, 2005 19:23:44 GMT -7
i see. well i know that the RX ES has slightly more power, and i don't need a crazy amount, so i guess i should try out the Mazerati and RX ES head to head and see what i like. I like both designs and from what i've heard, the Mazerati seems to be the more popular model.
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Post by arniez on Jun 26, 2005 8:21:14 GMT -7
Junior's Music in Clinton, CT has an Rx ES in stock. He also has a Z Best cab as well as some other Z amps. It can't be too far from you he has a lot of customers from MA. Junior is a great guy to deal with, feel free to mention my name, he will treat you well! ArnieZ
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Post by kaseri on Jun 26, 2005 8:38:15 GMT -7
arniez..
Any idea what other models of Z amps Juniors has in stock? I may take the 2hr trip down there if he has something else that I'm interested in. I want to check out a Tele Juniors has & if there are some other interesting Z amps in stock that would make the long trip more bearable.
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Post by arniez on Jun 26, 2005 15:33:04 GMT -7
I think he has a Z28 and a Rte 66 as well maybe a maz something check his website juniorsmusic.com ArnieZ
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Post by myles on Jul 6, 2005 12:03:01 GMT -7
There has been a bit of question and comment on the Mazerati compared to the RxES. These amps are pretty darn different. Don't worry about the power output, they are so close it is not really a factor at all (to my way of thinking). Some of you may not be aware of the review that Guitar Player did on the Mazerati (and the Z-28). This review is worth a read. It can be seen at www.drzamps.com/gp032004.pdfI recently received an email from the moderator of this forum. The email covered this issue. The email was later followed up by a phone conversation. In any case, I hope Kaseri does not mind me copying and pasting this email as it may give some other people a bit of info (from my own point of view of course) ... see below .... ----- Original Message ----- To: <techsupport@groovetubes.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 5:03 AM Subject: Dr. Z amps > Myles, > > I currently own two Z amps. A 6545 and a Mini-Z. I am looking for > another Z to add to my tone arsenal. Here is where I am at a loss. > Since the 6545 covers SO much tonal ground is there any other Z amp > that would be different enough from the 6545 to warrant the cost of > buying it? YES! You have a BIG hole in your tone arsenal! Whether it be for live work or recording there is a "hole". The 6545 is a class A/B amp and covers a lot of ground. But ... it does not have that cathode bias Class A vibe going for it as a "Vox AC-30" type of amp has. The Mini-Z is a wonderful amp but is a very high gain amp. You need something to cover those EL-84 cathode biased bases. There are a few options here. The most apparent option for most folks would be a MAZ Jr at 18 watts. This may be the Doc's most popular amp. BUT ... this would not be my personal choice. If were in your situation I would choose a Mazerati. That amp covers the AC-30 bases but when cranked it also gets a great early Marshall sort of vibe. The amp likes pedals (look at some of Brad Paisley's pedals as a point of reference), has great headroom, and is a wonderfully articulate and touch sensitive amp. Many folks put the Ghia and Mazerati in the same family. I personally do not. The Ghia may have been the inspiration for the Carmen Ghia but to me it is much the same as a Mesa Boogie Mark series being inspired by a Fender Princeton. The Mazerati is a much different amp. The MAZ Sr is another great option and a very versatile amp. It has many features but of the two amps I personally prefer the Mazerati for many things if I had to pick one over the other. The Prescription ES is another great amp to consider. Using a Mazerati with an RxES is an amazing pair as is the RxES and MAZ 38. To me though, for a single amp to fill your "hole" the Mazerati would be my first pick. That is strictly on a personal note so keep that in mind. If I had to pick one amp of all the "quad" EL84 amps of the good Doctor's amps it would probably be the Mazerati for me. >I used to own a Ghia & even though I did like the sound of > the Ghia when playing "clean" I just couldn't get the tone out of it > that I wanted when it was pushed. So the Ghia would not be an option. If you had one of these and are happier with other amps that is fine. I think that the current two amps you have are winners to say the least and if we could get rid of that "hole" you'd be ready for most anything. By the way ..... if you are anywhere close to Los Angeles and want to drop by, I'd be happy to work with you on some tube selection. That is one cool thing about the Mazerati too .... V1 is the entire tone and gain stage and a handful of 12AX7's and 5751's (and maybe even a 12AY7) can make these amps do a lot of different things in about ten seconds with no tools or adjustments. > I play lots of different styles. Mostly rock but I dabble in blues as > well. Which Z amp do you feel is different enough from the 6545 but > will also allow me to reach the tones I'll need for the styles I play? The 6545 is a great rock amp but if you look at how many Z amps are on the Nashville stages and in the studios, and how many are now in rock bands, you will see a lot of Mazerati's, MAZ, and RxES amps. Anyplace you see a Vox AC-30 that is being cranked a Mazerati will drop right in, play like a dream from a touch sensitivity point of view, be much more reliable, more articulate, and generally just more fun. The 6545 has those highish gain things going for it on the "65" side. On the "45" side you can toss amps like Fender Twins that people lug around for the need for clean. The 6545 does those things exceptionally well. Crank the "45" side and you get something of a Vox AC-50 sort of tone and that is cool too. The Mini-Z is a very high gain amp. Let's address that "hole in the middle"! > By the way I'm a moderator on the Z forum. My forum name is Kaseri. It is very nice to meet you. If you ever want to call rather than write I can be reached at: M-F 8am-12pm 1-800-459-5687 The rest of the time (including weekends and evenings) at home .... really .... it's fine to call there: 1-818-999-2986. Regards, Myles ..................... As a side note .... the RxES has that EF86 in V2 (a pentode) .... so sort of like the Z-28, Route 66, KT-45 and Delta 88 .... play with it's very effective tone controls. You can get more gain and drop the volume if you want a bit more "hair" on the RxES at lower levels. Also ..... USE THOSE TWO INPUTS on the RxES. On most amps these make some difference. On this amp it almost as if it gives you two amps in one box. With high output active pickups as EMGs or strong humbuckers try that low input. You will find you do not squash or compress nearly as easily (and don't get that flubby onset) as you will in many other amps at a much lower level on the other amps.
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Post by kaseri on Jul 6, 2005 14:10:21 GMT -7
Myles..
Thanks for the info you provided me today via email & our telephone conversation. I'm still trying to figure out which amp will work best for me but the info you gave me helps a great deal.
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Post by myles on Jul 7, 2005 12:16:47 GMT -7
Myles.. Thanks for the info you provided me today via email & our telephone conversation. I'm still trying to figure out which amp will work best for me but the info you gave me helps a great deal. You are more than welcome. Feel free to write or call anytime. No limit to the amount of correspondance ... the end goal is to get things right! You may also feel free to call on evenings and weekends at my home number. If I did not give it to you just drop me an email and I will be happy to do that also.
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Post by ross on Jul 10, 2005 23:44:02 GMT -7
Wow, thanks Myles for sharing that great discussion with Kaeri. I've been trying to research which amp would be able to come closest to copping the Carman Ghia mojo while having the diversity to stretch into other realms for a broader range of guitars and styles(PRS C22 Soapbar, JimmyPage Les Paul and Dane59DC). The RxES was to be my 1st choice to audition for the part, but now, if I read it right, the Mazerati is deserving of a try. Since I'm always either playing mic'd in small settings or in a studio I don't need volume.
Your thoughts will be appreciated. Cheers, Ross
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Post by myles on Jul 19, 2005 10:05:08 GMT -7
Wow, thanks Myles for sharing that great discussion with Kaeri. I've been trying to research which amp would be able to come closest to copping the Carman Ghia mojo while having the diversity to stretch into other realms for a broader range of guitars and styles(PRS C22 Soapbar, JimmyPage Les Paul and Dane59DC). The RxES was to be my 1st choice to audition for the part, but now, if I read it right, the Mazerati is deserving of a try. Since I'm always either playing mic'd in small settings or in a studio I don't need volume. Your thoughts will be appreciated. Cheers, Ross Ross Both amps are equally as "loud" for the most part. They are very different amps but their tonal base can have a nice overlap in some areas which is cool. Maybe that is why some folks love one of each of them. I know one player that I have seen use a Mazerati, MAZ 38, and RxES on the same stage. Each of the two amps has their own great set of points. If you are anywhere close to Los Angeles you are more than welcome to compare them at my place and just generally "mess around" with amps.
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Post by groovedr on Nov 10, 2005 8:27:16 GMT -7
Hey guys, new member here still taking it all in. I just ordered a RxES today and cant wait to bite down on it. I was going to buy a Mazerati but the salesman @ the store talked me into the ES. Says the mazerati is not as flexable as the ES, and says the ES has more clean headroom. I love Paislys tone and I have enjoyed my Maz Sr 1-12 so I feel like it would be hard to screw up with any Z amp, but I hope I didnt make the wrong choice. I play a variety of styles but mostly enjoy hot country like D Gatton, Pailey and J Hiland. Any last min. help would be appreciated. Maybe I could change my order. Thanks in advance, Groove Dr
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Post by myles on Nov 11, 2005 10:44:58 GMT -7
Tone is a lot in your hands and the Mazerati was Brad's focal point amp for a long time. Now the focal point amp is the RxES. Funny though ... Brad always has great tone and always sounds like Brad! They are both great amps and I would venture to guess that you will be very happy and did not make a wrong decision.
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Post by billyguitar on Nov 11, 2005 11:23:36 GMT -7
A Mazerati is a wonderful amp unless you want to tweak the bass and treble much. Then you're stuck. The one tone knob is great but doesn't give me the contol I need. The Mazerati is great for rootsy blues and especially Tele-poppin' but if you've got to lay back and play a pretty ballad it ain't happenin'. I think the RX ES has much more variety in tones available, unless you want Reverb. If you want reverb get a Maz 18 or maz 38. I'm partial because I have a Maz 38. Great all-around amp. Crank the preamp volume all the way, turn down the master and hit it with some kind of boost and you can do Fresh Cream in your living room or plug into the low gain input, turn up the mids and do Moonlight in Vermont. It's all there.
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Post by groovedr on Nov 12, 2005 10:30:38 GMT -7
Thanks guys, as I said I have a Maz38 1-12 and you are right Myles it is a great all around amp. I do have to go from hot and strong to smooth and sweet so I'm really looking forward to getting my RX ES. True a lot of tone is in the hands but I don't care whose hands they are if you don't have the right gear under you, your licks are all that will come out. I prefer to have that foundation tone for the inspiration to my hands and Z amps give it to me. Thanks again.
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Post by rnichols on Nov 30, 2005 7:59:32 GMT -7
if you haven't bought your z yet check out Juniors Music in Clinton, CT he's right off 95 great boutique amp shop, with tons of gear, lots of z amps I just bought his pres es, last night
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