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Post by drew on Apr 3, 2006 11:18:27 GMT -7
Hi All. First, Thank you all for helping with me my first Z amp decision process. I'm happy to be a member of the forum and Z club. And happy with the 66 and z-cab. Nice tone, clean and round like I've never heard before.
I received my Rt 66 and open back 2x12 (greenbacks) Z-Cab on Friday. I'm not had much crank time, mostly bedroom level playing. I'm impressed by the amps low end clarity even when the volume is dimed. And nice tone at any settings. Loud is an understatement. It's always a musical tone. I'm a stat guy but this amp loves my 79 LP Custom! WOW!!!
I played a gig Sunday in a med sized church. The music is gospel/soul so clean and round is the perfect tone for this setting. The tone controls were at 12:00 and volume at 10:00 - 1:00. The band kicks on fast songs and the 66 had plenty of head room. No real hint of breakup/overdrive at this volume.
I don't know when I'll use this amp at volume settings of my liking, 3 to dimed. I can add an air brake. My pedals are both old, a TS 808 and ProCo Rat. Both sound wonderful with this amp. (The TS level control sends the volume into another stratosphere!) However ever I'd prefer to hear the amp distort rather than pedals.
Are 66'ers using overdrive/dist/fuzz pedals or pushing the pre-amp with boost for overdriven sounds? Or is an Airbrake something to consider? I'm not a metal or Satrian type dist tone guy. Early ZZ Top and Duane Allman, yup!
Can anyone recommend tone settings or pedal combinations?
The 66 does not have the same characteristics of the Ghia I demo'd. And I didn't expect it to. It is probably too early for this next though but... I'm thinking about a Ghia 2x10 combo trade for the New Route 66 head. Am I Nuts??? Mind you I would be very happy with this amp regardless and the deal was one I couldn't pass up. Just thinking about options...
Thanks, Drew
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Post by James on Apr 3, 2006 12:00:17 GMT -7
congrats on an awesome purchase Drew...........+1 for taking the plunge!
As far as gain and all that.............you will get all kinds of ideas and opinions here following mine, I am sure............because this forum is just a wonderful and helpful society of great players-people.
I find that the Air Brake is made for this amp.........on 3, you still have the integrity of the tone intact without things getting unbalanced. With the treble at 3 and volume at 2 or so to "dime"..its in the beano zone...and its tolerable to the ears.............still one loud Mutha though.....
As far as gain pedals..................we all have different ideas of what "gain " is........I prefer a clean boost with this amp.........like the RC.............between that and the airbrake, I am getting all the rocking Bad Company, Cream tones I need........and they sound how I want them to sound which is "Cranked amp"..........for my preferences, I have not found an OD that makes this amp sound better than using just the amp itself. I am sure many others will disagree.....I guess, I just started realizing that the amp itself gets to that zone, pretty much on its own with a little clean boost.........and airbrake if volume is an issue.
Good luck!
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Post by LeftyLang on Apr 3, 2006 21:17:51 GMT -7
Drew...try moving to tone controls to full(they add gain)..then add volume. Also try the Fulltone Fatboost, or a Fulltone OCD. ...On 2nd thought..just give up on the 66 and send it to me
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Post by drew on Apr 3, 2006 21:42:44 GMT -7
Good tips guys. Thank You.
With the treble and bass maxed the LP sings at lower volumes and screams with the volume past 12:00. Not so for my strat. Sounds like an airbrake and boost is needed.
LeftyLang, I'd like to help a brother out but, I wouldn't want your wife to get jealous. My first wife didn't take it too kindly when I agreed with her that I loved 'that guitar' more than her.
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Post by taswegian on Apr 4, 2006 1:23:13 GMT -7
I played a gig Sunday in a med sized church. The music is gospel/soul so clean and round is the perfect tone for this setting. The tone controls were at 12:00 and volume at 10:00 - 1:00. The band kicks on fast songs and the 66 had plenty of head room. No real hint of breakup/overdrive at this volume. Thanks, Drew Hi Drew, first thing first...Happy Birthday Now, with the tone controls on 12oclock and volume on 1 oclock my Route 66 will be breaking up quite substantially. My amp may be biased hotter than yours but also, the Route 66 is so touch sensitive that at that setting I can strum clean or dig in hard with the right hand for dirt. This amps response to touch is a thing of beauty. Oh, I also play with humbuckers. For cover gigs I just play clean and use pedals for versatility and volume control. For my gigs I turn the amp up to around 1 oclock on all dials and use the airbrake as needed. I don't like to use it on more than two and I'd rather not use it at all. It's not so much a tone thing as it is a "feel" thing. I don't get the same "clean with rolled back volume" response with the airbreak on as compared to "straight in" but sometimes its a necessary evil...The airbreak however is a great unit and very transparent. I have recently tried playing with the level and tone controls on 12 oclock and getting away without the airbreak. Looking forward to some festival gigs and getting those tone controls and volume back up around 3! Gee, must be a pretty big church to be playing the 66 at that volume! I think Jimi Page would LOVE this amp! Good Luck which ever way you go...I'm sure a ghia would be cool too. Keep both of 'em!
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Post by drew on Apr 4, 2006 23:12:42 GMT -7
Tas... It's good to hear that the 66 is that touch sensitive. I checked out your recordings... Dude! Keep up the excellent work!!! I agree with all of the comments posted, it's the '****'! And **** Sells. ;D Listening to the tunes makes me proud to say, "yup I've got a 66". Have you played the Ghia? If yes how does it compare to the 66?
The church is not that big, but the band (2 keys, drummer, bass, guitar, a couple of horns at times and 8 vocalist) is LOUD on the fast tunes. The Pastor frequently goads me to turn it up! I like that man. And the parishioners are dancing in the isles.
Loved your tunes...
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Post by taswegian on Apr 5, 2006 0:43:49 GMT -7
Hey Drew, thanks for the kind words! I haven't had the pleasure of playing a ghia but I would love to. Living down here it's pretty much play what you buy, so I'm just gonna have to get me one... one day! I will NEVER sell the Rt 66. Happy Routing! (Nice aussie lingo for ya)
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Post by drew on Apr 5, 2006 8:37:15 GMT -7
Duh! I think I've committed my first forum sin. Tas - I was attempting to be funny and commenting on one of your tunes and got edited out. The system replaced the "sh**" word with 'nuts'! My Bad
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Post by taswegian on Apr 5, 2006 21:05:04 GMT -7
Nah, I've read "nuts" enough times on this forum to understand exactly what you were talking about There was a funny thread a while back about all the "replacement" words in the forum. **** Sells is an older one (off Piscean War). That was the JCM 800 and Gibson Tennessean. I loved that combination but I'll take my new rig anytime. ;D Hanging to get this new CD out!
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Post by groovergeorge on Apr 8, 2006 4:59:13 GMT -7
Hi Drew,happy birthday man. Just decided to chime in and say congrats on your new purchase. Although I don't own and haven't played a 66' by all accounts of what I've heard on recordings they seem to be an excellent amp. Tas' will vouch for that! I have always loved that old school Marshall JTM 45 bluesbreaker/tweed bassman tone and the 66' is right on in that department and then some more. The Kt 66's and GZ34 go a long way in replicating those sort of tones with the EF86 lifting the tone qualities up a notch giving it, as well as his other amps that use this valve, like the Z28,Prescription ES and KT45 that extremely touch sensative feel. If you are thinking of purchasing a Ghia for your church band, I'd seriously have a rethink unless you're playing in a 3 piece outfit. The Ghia is one of the best recording amps ever made period.For blues in small, smokey bars with 100 or so patrons it's a cool thing ,but with 2 keyboardist, a horn section and any other hang-a-ron-erer(aussie term) you could be getting drowned out in the mix. For versatility and a bit of headroom the MAZ sr is the best amp on the planet. Get one of those and you'rE on the "Highway to heaven ;D." I got one and it can play unmiked to 200 if you crank it no problem. I love the Ghia,it puts a smile on my face everytime I play it at home or at a jam but unless you mike it and go through the P.A/club at a pub which usually sucks because of dodgey P.A's it just doesn't get the headroom. I've got a Z'28 on the way in 6 weeks that I can't wait to play with,little more headroom and an RED FANG alnico 12 that I'm matching it with,suppose to be a very versatile rig as well. I'll let you know how that goes.
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by taswegian on Apr 8, 2006 9:47:24 GMT -7
damn Groover, I'm gonna have to visit my sister in Ballina just to come check out your Z's...Man, I'd love to check out a ghia, Z28 and Maz 38. I could bring my mini as carry on luggage. ;D. I completely forgot to apply for the bluesfest. My bandmates will not be impressed. Oh well. Back to regular schedule... I've been playing a really small club every Sat night in a cover band (Gotta generate some income) This place is about 25 yards long and about 25 feet wide. It is packed with about 50 to 60 people and generally has about 30-50, sometimes less. I can tell you that with some good pedals I am able to play the Route 66 clean, all knobs around 10 oclock and with the ZBest, still generate great tones. I just use a clean boost (Fulltone) for mild overdrive and Germanium boost (Hellbilly) for fuzz and stronger overdrive. I use both for leads or the Fulldrive 2 on comp cut setting for leads. I am week to week, amazed at how good this rig can sound at these reasonably low volumes. Amazing clarity. I could play this rig anywhere I would think. Love to play two in stereo on a big stage. One just breaking up and one cranked! Yeahhyyya
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Post by drew on Apr 8, 2006 10:14:43 GMT -7
Thanks GrooverGeorge. Good advise and appreciated. I'm going to stay with the 66 to be sure I'll have the volume and am taking the airbrake route. The 66 tones on Taz's recordings are 'the nuts' Now that I've had the amp for over a week and played it in a few different situations, it's a keeper. The thick rich tones are incredible . I've not has the opportunity to really crank it up live yet, need that airbrake, but I've not doubt that I'll be a happy camper. I'm going to start selling off my other gear and purchase a Ghia or Maz Jr. Uh oh, the gassing has started. rambling... I purchased a VOX Valvetronics Tonelab a little over a year ago and have never liked it for live situations low volume OK but when played at gig volumes it was too sterile, for me anyway. Just for kicks, I plugged it into the 66 using the global line level setting, as opposed to the global amp setting. I'm not believing what I'm hearing. Fender tones so rich, vox chime and the UK60s Plexi is righteous. The 66 loves this pedal board processor. I've never cared for digital processed tone live. Others make it work but I've not been able to as I've been a stomp box user for delay, pitch shifting, OD, dist, trem etc. I'm going to crank up the volume today and if it passes the 'feel good' test I'll gig with it on Sunday.
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Post by guitarbrent on Apr 8, 2006 10:56:01 GMT -7
I'd throw the Vox Tonesucker out of the equation and just plug straight into the Rt 66. That's where it's at. Heaven awaits, as you already know. The right guitar, cord, Rt 66, speaker cable, and Z Best. KISS (Keep it simple stupid).
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Post by drew on Apr 8, 2006 15:41:49 GMT -7
OK, after playing with the tonelab for 3 hours and setting up a handful of channel presets I thought I was done. I went back to a straight signal. I've just wasted 3 hours that I could have been cranking the 66. G-Brent makes a good point - KISS. I'll still want that airbrake and the pedals are a necessity for doing covers and spacing out, IMHO.
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Post by groovergeorge on Apr 8, 2006 17:38:14 GMT -7
Let us know when you are up Tas and if I am around you are more than welcome to come and say hi and put the amps through there paces.
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by taswegian on Apr 8, 2006 21:50:06 GMT -7
Thanks mate, that would be awesome! After a week of 32C, we have just been hit with a massive cold blast and it's been struggling to reach double figures for four days! Snow on the mountain. Massive swells mind you but the water is actually warmer than the air! So I think Ballina might be a good option around mid year!
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Post by Telemanic on Apr 12, 2006 8:48:38 GMT -7
Hey Drewtunes, its a revelation of sorts isnt it , when you realize that plugging straight in to the 66 is just The sound! i find it so damn addictive. I've been doing something a little different lately by leaving the volume down low and using my OCD (Which i LOVE!), and or airbrake. and using guitar volume alone to move in and out of rythym/leads. It sounds good, but i was playin around and went back to DIMING the 66 vol. , bass about 11:00, and bring the treble up to where its got just the right snarly break-up. In my home studio thats about 1:30, and its absolutely THE best old marshall tone i've ever heard ( rw neck tele on bridge- OCD off ). The most amazing cop of the old blackmore sound. Doin some old purple covers, i'm in heaven!! OH yeah airbrake on 2. I here ya tho, about covers, hard to do sometimes with out a few extra pedals mucking up the purity. I think you'll have many good hours of experimentation wit yo 66!! Rock on!
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Post by taswegian on Apr 12, 2006 9:00:33 GMT -7
Probably my favorite tones are those big ol' Marshall with the guitar volume rolled back, ala Blackmore or a great example is Jimi Page "Since I've Been Loving You"
The first thing I did when I got my 66 was dime all controls to about 3 OClock, roll back my guitar volume and start playing that song....vioula...I knew I'd made the right choice in amps. I agree Telemanic, it's the best Old Marshall tone I've heard.
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Post by drew on Apr 13, 2006 21:40:34 GMT -7
You guys are dead on for the cool tones out of a 66. What I'm learning and loving about the 66 are the tone and volume controls all work together. Not a bad tone anywhere. I should be receiving an airbrake in about a week. That should open up more cool tones. What I've been digging lately is; treble 3:00, base noon and volume around 10:00 or as much as can be tolerated. Then set the strat on the in-between neck and middle p/u, strat tone control dimed. What a great tone. This was also one of my favorite Marshall settings. When playing on a single p/u I usually back off the tone control.
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Post by taswegian on Apr 13, 2006 22:18:42 GMT -7
The airbreak is great although I prefer not to use it. It does take a little "chime" away, but it's more of a feel thing for me. The "rolled back" positions are all different and don't sound/feel as good to me if that makes sense? The nice thing about it is it's very transparent and it retains all the bottom end even with heavy attenuation. I've played gigs with the airbreak on 3, I think I've even cranked it on 4 once, but I prefer to play subtler volumes on the amp and attenuate less now. I try not to go over the 2 mark. Drewtunes, that fav setting of yours with Airbreak on 2 will sound great! Should be manageable volume wise. I still think sometimes people think I'm/we're louder than we are because they are not used to hearing an amp so "clearly" in the mix and they figure it must just be "loud". I keep telling people, "hey, it's only 32 watts!" But yes...the airbreak is very handy, especially when a room is empty. You get alot of emptier rooms when you play in an original band weeknights
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