bluez
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by bluez on Nov 20, 2009 15:03:38 GMT -7
I was in my local music shop picking up a cable and asked if the shipment of Jaz amps had arrived. "Yes it has, wanna try one?" So he sets me up with the 1 X 12 combo in a sound room and says just grab any guitar you need. Didn't have to tell me twice!
I picked up a Suhr Strat and sat down with the Jaz. For those who don't want to read any further, it's great! For those of you who'd like a little more info, read on. :-)
I currently have a Maz JR with Verb head that I am very pleased with. (I play through a 1 X 12 or 2 X 12 Avatar.) Frankly, it's the best amp I've ever owned in the 35 years that I've been playing. I've been wanting to go with a 2 amp setup for a bunch of reasons. The Jaz, to me, will be a nice compliment to the Maz.
I started with full power mode, tone knobs at noon, a little verb, master up at noon and vol at maybe 9 o'clock. Nice big cleans! Very nice, very balanced across all the pickup options on the Suhr.
Then I tried half power mode. That's going to be very useful in smaller clubs and the practice room. It works great. In half power mode I turned the master back to about 9 oclock and put the volume to abut 3 oclock and there was a very pleasing slightly overdriven tone. I tried the tremolo briefly and it is indeed very nice. At this point, I just jammed for another few minutes trying some different volume and master combinations and realized that there really was no need to continue the audition, this amp is great and I will definitely have to figure out how to put the money together. The last thing I said to the fellow at the store was; "do you have financing?" He said YES! :-)
It felt familiar because of my experience with the Maz but it also has some nice features that will make it very useful in my setup. Great amp!
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Nov 21, 2009 11:24:55 GMT -7
Thanks for the review. Great report! I just asked my local "Z" Dealer to get a Jaz Combo so I can have a listen. But Honestly, I am in love with my Maz Jr and it's not going anywhere. How much heavier did the Jaz Combo feel compared to the Maz jr? Did you try a 'lift' test?
|
|
bluez
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by bluez on Nov 22, 2009 10:31:33 GMT -7
I have a Max JR Head. I didn't think to try the lift test on the Jaz. It's a really nice amp. Very familiar if you have a Maz. The nice big clean tones were very impressive. I played a gig Friday night on a fair size stage with my Maz jr. I was running the Master at about 2 oclock and the vol at about 1 oclock and I was having a little trouble with clean headroom. It's not a big deal I can work it out in the practice room but with the Jaz, no issue. However, I thought my overdriven tones were stellar. Sound guy and some of my musician buddies also sent some compliments my way. It would be near impossible to part with the Maz although, I think the Jaz may be the only amp that I would sell the Maz for.
|
|
|
Post by substitute on Nov 30, 2009 8:08:03 GMT -7
I tried lifting a 2x10 Jaz combo by the top handle, and it was HEAVY to me. I wouldn't want to lug it around like that, or try to delicately place it in/out of my car's trunk. I'm used to my 1x12 Maz Jr though.
|
|
|
Post by JasonM on Nov 30, 2009 11:48:37 GMT -7
I've never lifted a 2x10 Jaz combo but it cant be light, I think the trade off is well worth it though. Heavy but amazing tone! I went with a head and a 2x10 cab so the weight issue is a little less on my back.
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Nov 30, 2009 15:49:45 GMT -7
I am in a quandary. I picked up a Maz Jr a few weeks ago. Love it in most ways, yet is just seems to be bright and a bit razor sharp. I come from the Blackface Fender loving camp. But my shop only had an EZG head/Cab or the Maz Jr. I honestly liked the tone and overall performance, size, weight, price point of the Maz Jr combo the best, so bought it.
I just am not hearing the magic, sweet tone I crave from the EZG50 even though most Dr Z users say it's the "Z" to have for blackface tone.
I am getting wonderful sound, yet I continue to struggle wish I had just a bit more headroom and also a sweeter, more luscious blackface, three Dimensional sound. I am playing a limited edition, very custom USA G&L Legacy Strat, Ash/Maple. It's bright, but I've heard it through my former Princeton and know how rich, glassy, textured and sweet it can sound.
So I am wondering ....should I return the Maz Jr and get the Jaz 20/40 combo? I LOVE a Good Tremolo, so that is nicely appealing, as is the 20/40W option.
Has anyone A-B'd the Jazz 20/40 to a Maz Jr?
I may post this question in the Maz Jr area as well since all the guys who own Maz Jr's might be able to help.
I just don't want to start messing with Tubes and speaker swapping since I only have a short window of time when I can make the upgrade and not lose any of my investment at my local shop.
Thanks!
Keep in mind, I do a solo gig, use a looper for rhythm sounds. So I focus mostly on deep, rich, full, highly textured clean tone. I use pedals for OD. (Timmy and Barber Direct Drive)
|
|
|
Post by hendrixbeano on Dec 1, 2009 22:43:34 GMT -7
I am in a quandary. I picked up a Maz Jr a few weeks ago. Love it in most ways, yet is just seems to be bright and a bit razor sharp. I come from the Blackface Fender loving camp. But my shop only had an EZG head/Cab or the Maz Jr. I honestly liked the tone and overall performance, size, weight, price point of the Maz Jr combo the best, so bought it. I just am not hearing the magic, sweet tone I crave from the EZG50 even though most Dr Z users say it's the "Z" to have for blackface tone. I am getting wonderful sound, yet I continue to struggle wish I had just a bit more headroom and also a sweeter, more luscious blackface, three Dimensional sound. I am playing a limited edition, very custom USA G&L Legacy Strat, Ash/Maple. It's bright, but I've heard it through my former Princeton and know how rich, glassy, textured and sweet it can sound. So I am wondering ....should I return the Maz Jr and get the Jaz 20/40 combo? I LOVE a Good Tremolo, so that is nicely appealing, as is the 20/40W option. Has anyone A-B'd the Jazz 20/40 to a Maz Jr? I may post this question in the Maz Jr area as well since all the guys who own Maz Jr's might be able to help. I just don't want to start messing with Tubes and speaker swapping since I only have a short window of time when I can make the upgrade and not lose any of my investment at my local shop. Thanks! Keep in mind, I do a solo gig, use a looper for rhythm sounds. So I focus mostly on deep, rich, full, highly textured clean tone. I use pedals for OD. (Timmy and Barber Direct Drive) Give the EZG another listen. When i first received it I wasnt all that impressed. So I plugged back in to my other amps for a few weeks. Even tried to trade it for a Two Rock Custom reverb. Then one day i said screw it lets try it again. This Time i really listened. I played with the mids, treble and bass untill i Found THE TONE. Its been about 6 months and I am continually impressed with the tones Im getting. Im a young cat(21) so i cant really compare it to two many vintage fenders but I will say it blows my friends 67 or 68 silverface pro reverb out the water.
|
|
|
Post by guitarhak on Dec 5, 2009 10:31:46 GMT -7
I am in a quandary. I picked up a Maz Jr a few weeks ago. Love it in most ways, yet is just seems to be bright and a bit razor sharp. I come from the Blackface Fender loving camp. But my shop only had an EZG head/Cab or the Maz Jr. I honestly liked the tone and overall performance, size, weight, price point of the Maz Jr combo the best, so bought it. I just am not hearing the magic, sweet tone I crave from the EZG50 even though most Dr Z users say it's the "Z" to have for blackface tone. I am getting wonderful sound, yet I continue to struggle wish I had just a bit more headroom and also a sweeter, more luscious blackface, three Dimensional sound. I am playing a limited edition, very custom USA G&L Legacy Strat, Ash/Maple. It's bright, but I've heard it through my former Princeton and know how rich, glassy, textured and sweet it can sound. So I am wondering ....should I return the Maz Jr and get the Jaz 20/40 combo? I LOVE a Good Tremolo, so that is nicely appealing, as is the 20/40W option. Has anyone A-B'd the Jazz 20/40 to a Maz Jr? I may post this question in the Maz Jr area as well since all the guys who own Maz Jr's might be able to help. I just don't want to start messing with Tubes and speaker swapping since I only have a short window of time when I can make the upgrade and not lose any of my investment at my local shop. Thanks! Keep in mind, I do a solo gig, use a looper for rhythm sounds. So I focus mostly on deep, rich, full, highly textured clean tone. I use pedals for OD. (Timmy and Barber Direct Drive) I owned a Maz Junior and didn't get on with it at all. For the hype, it did nothing for me. As you know, I recently bought the Jaz 20/40 and I couldn't be happier. I know its a bit heavier than the Maz Jr, but once I played through it, I didn't care what it weighed. It sounds that good. I honestly may sell all my other amps and play only through the the Jaz.
|
|
bluez
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by bluez on Dec 22, 2009 11:59:42 GMT -7
One of the things that comes up over and over about the Maz is the EQ. You will see posts that it's too bright or too bassy. The EQ is VERY interactive and it also seems very much related to the Master volume. I change my settings a fair bit these days but lately all my settings start with the Master maxed out, bass around 9 o'clock, mids around 11 and treble around 10. Cut is also between 9 and 11 depending on the guitar. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't write off the Maz until you've really experiemented with the EQ and turn up the master! :-)
|
|
|
Post by Pete aka shouldb on Dec 24, 2009 2:59:54 GMT -7
One of the things that comes up over and over about the Maz is the EQ. You will see posts that it's too bright or too bassy. The EQ is VERY interactive and it also seems very much related to the Master volume. I change my settings a fair bit these days but lately all my settings start with the Master maxed out, bass around 9 o'clock, mids around 11 and treble around 10. Cut is also between 9 and 11 depending on the guitar. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't write off the Maz until you've really experiemented with the EQ and turn up the master! :-) I play a Maz18 Jnr and I'm hearing everyone say that the Master is best up full. Okay, but where do you set the Volume?? Even using a Brake Lite, setting Master up full will take the windows out!
|
|