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Post by guitarstan on Dec 16, 2005 12:23:25 GMT -7
I am researching to add a new amp to my arsenal. The Prescription ES appears to be a clear winner especially in the tone department however I have one major concern. The majority of gigs I play at are small clubs and I am concerned that the RXES may be a bit of overkill on the volume side. Can anyone offer a word of encouragement on how well the amp performs at, how shall I say... at less than optimum levels? I am sure the clean side will be just great, I am more concerned about the driven and overdriven tones at lower volumes. I do like to occasionally play hard driving blues SRV style. I also do classic 60's rock, R&B, country and blues. I have no need for shredding rectifier style, too fast for this old slow moving fingers guy.
Any comments would be appreciated.
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Post by Bill on Dec 16, 2005 15:48:57 GMT -7
It's all in the speaker...seriously! :-) I won't gig my RxES with the volume less than 1:00, prefer 3:00. Then consider stepping on the overdose gooses it up pretty good. So in the smaller venues I'll use a single Weber alnico blue, a fairly quiet speaker. Moderate clubs I'll use a 2x12 with alnico Webers. Outdoors or jams where I need more volume I'll use a 1x12 cab with a Vintage 30 or louder yet, a Tonker...wow, that speaker on a cranked RxES is LOUD!
I used to use an Airbrake but stopped doing that. Sometimes I'll throw a Keeley comp in the chain to help tame it down. It's doable, but remember, an RxES is a 45 watt amp and is capable of massive volume.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Dec 16, 2005 17:06:14 GMT -7
What Madison said....Ditto!
I DO use the AIRBREAK w/ mine though because I just leave the volume @ 3:00 on the dot.....
NOTE: the MAGIC sounds of a Prescription RX starts around 1:00 and above...and IMHO is perfect at 3:00!!! there is an airy quality...a presence but with power about it.... I love, the amp just comes ALIVE around that volume!!!
BUT... I also have a 1 X12 Z cab with a G12H30 (70th ANNIV.) that is a 30 WATT speaker...and I thought I couldn't use it with the RX Head (45 watt) but WOW...IT handled it and it seemed to me to kinda attenuate the RX ...I cranked that amp through that cab ....really loud but Not as loud as my 2X12's, don't think I had to turn it up quite as much to get to the sweet spot either... and a different speaker would definently make a difference (just be careful as it could blow out certain speakers/ celestion blues).
I LOVE the AIRBREAK but I play pretty loud and don't over attenuate with it....usually 1 or 2 at the most....
The RX can be a LOUD amp! I ran it through 2 2x12's just to see what it could do (thd open back and z-best) and what do you know.....It was REALLY REALLY LOUD.......but did sound very sweet...
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Post by guitarstan on Dec 19, 2005 9:36:07 GMT -7
Thanks to both Madison and jgleaton for your well written and compassionate responses. There is a high probability that I will buy my next amp site unseen and unheard so I am pulling double duty on my research effort. This is a rather subjective discourse but the only medium we have to exchange experiences with one another. I would like your opinions for a second choice amp head that would provide for a diversity of fabulous tone while at the same time be a little more tailored for the smaller venue. I believe I may be able to tame the RXES but as a backup plan "B" if you will, what would be the next best choice? Kudos to both of you who took the time to respond to this plea for tone!
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Dec 19, 2005 12:29:59 GMT -7
I was going to mention the Maz 38 in my earlier thread but you asked about the RX and I didn't want to steer you away from that amp (I use BOTH)..... IMHO I would highly recommend buying a brand spankin new Maz 38 HEAD w/ reverb (mine is the head w/small tank reverb, but just a touch and it sounds great!!)... NEW cause you know what your getting "Sight Unseen".... the Maz 38 Has a USABLE Master Volume!!! ( I personally crank the Master Volume wide open and use the volume knob as basically a NON-Mastervolume amp....BUT if I had to I Have used and could still use the Master volume for good effect in a smaller / quieter setting!!) FWIW.... I recommend the Maz 38 over the Maz 18 (had a 2x12 combo / loved it but traded it in on another RX head!!) cause the Maz 18 is great in smaller to even larger venues....if your gonna be able to mike it for the larger ones....sometimes I may not be able to mike a cab for whatever reason and with a LOUD drummer and/ or a LOUD second guitar you might lose a little of what makes the Maz 18 magic...but the Maz 18 is awesome..... and it might be the right amp for you though, one to look into/ think about ? ..............but If I had to have just ONE amp to cover it all....and small to large venue with a little more ooomph just in case .... I'd go with a Maz 38 every time...It and the RX with an airbreak is my main amp setup..... ;D ......just my 2 cents worth....But I think you'd be happy with which ever Z amp you decide to get....your doing it the right way with the research..... really also depends on what type of music you play and what sound your looking for........... some guy's love just the Carmen Ghia or the Z-28 cranked and thats all they use? ........Maz 38 might be my 1st choice based on your description!!
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Post by janinedoubly on Jan 2, 2006 19:47:39 GMT -7
Here are my thoughts on the RX ES in a low volume application. I play at church mostly and an occasional small gig. So...my volume is usually very low, lower than I would like it to be. You would think a Maz 18 or Ghia would be better suited. I used a Maz 18 head for a while and had great results. Until, I tried the RX ES...Now to qualify this, I originally used the Maz 18 for my overdrive, until I heard the RX ES running CLEAN with an overdrive pedal. There is something magical about the RX ES and pedals, and this is coming from a die-hard amp distortion guy. The best low volume overdrive tone I have ever had is the RX ES with pedals. Plus, the clean sound is still REALLY good if I need it. Of course, the RX ES sounds best when opened up, but I have never heard a better low volume overdrive rig than my current set up. For some reason, the ultra linear, wide bandwidth tone of the RX ES works in a low volume environment. There is tons of low end, and lots of detail, that smaller amps that you can get to overdrive naturally (i.e. no pedals) lack. Its weird, I know, but it works. So, IMO, don't worry about the 45 watts, even with the volume on "1" with a pedal (Zendrive, Cornish SS-2, OCD, RC or AC Booster) you'll have great tone AND an amp with extra headroom if you need it for an outdoor gig.
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Post by anacephalic on Jan 4, 2006 13:49:21 GMT -7
man i'm jealous of some of you guys...that or my definition of small venue is way different. Even with an airbrake set on 2, and sometimes 3, it is almost impossible to get my z over about 9 or 10 o'clock without getting yelled at in most of the places i play. and thats with the guitar rolled off to leave room for soloing.
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Post by steelstringbender on Jan 5, 2006 10:05:56 GMT -7
Here are my thoughts on the RX ES in a low volume application. I play at church mostly and an occasional small gig. So...my volume is usually very low, lower than I would like it to be. You would think a Maz 18 or Ghia would be better suited. I used a Maz 18 head for a while and had great results. Until, I tried the RX ES...Now to qualify this, I originally used the Maz 18 for my overdrive, until I heard the RX ES running CLEAN with an overdrive pedal. There is something magical about the RX ES and pedals, and this is coming from a die-hard amp distortion guy. The best low volume overdrive tone I have ever had is the RX ES with pedals. Plus, the clean sound is still REALLY good if I need it. Of course, the RX ES sounds best when opened up, but I have never heard a better low volume overdrive rig than my current set up. For some reason, the ultra linear, wide bandwidth tone of the RX ES works in a low volume environment. There is tons of low end, and lots of detail, that smaller amps that you can get to overdrive naturally (i.e. no pedals) lack. Its weird, I know, but it works. So, IMO, don't worry about the 45 watts, even with the volume on "1" with a pedal (Zendrive, Cornish SS-2, OCD, RC or AC Booster) you'll have great tone AND an amp with extra headroom if you need it for an outdoor gig. I just wanted to chime in and say that I agree 100% with everything that janinedoubly said here. This is how I've been running my RXES, and it's working quite well.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Jan 5, 2006 11:52:17 GMT -7
I wonder....it seems to me that ALL the ef-86 front end amps seem to have a real usable volume and sound very good even at lower levels (RX ES, DELTA 88, ROUTE 66,.. etc)....I guess thats the ef-86 front end??? ....and if that IS the case, then I can't WAIT to hear the STINGRAY!!!
BTW...I played my MAZ 38 (usual setting, master turned down around 12:00) and my RX (usual setting, airbreak on 3) at practice last night and it was perfect....not too loud at all, very balanced....could hear everything goin on....NOT TO LOUD AT ALL!! .....and I think I could play ANY size gig with just my MAZ 38 (miking where it needs to be louder)!!
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