|
Post by Russell B on Dec 21, 2009 11:49:26 GMT -7
All,
I traded my MAZ 38 to stratbrat for his Galaxie. I will get it some time next week. It has been a long time since I had a fender style amp. I've been listening to clips and Videos, but I still don't know what to expect.
I'm trying to gauge the overdrive on the amp. So, when I switch channels, how much gain is coming? If I had a clean bassman with a Tubescreamer, how much gain would the TS have to be turned up in order to match the gain on the overdrive channel of the Galaxie?
I know this is a hard question.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Joey Beverages on Dec 21, 2009 15:58:56 GMT -7
I'm not tellin' ... you'll have to wait ... and it will be worth the wait ;D
cheers always, eh
Joel
|
|
|
Post by drew on Dec 22, 2009 11:39:13 GMT -7
I'm with Joel and will make ya wait for the pleasant surprise. ;-)
First, congrats on a great amp. Gregg is a great guy that takes care of his amps. I enjoyed doing business with him.
I've owned a maz 38 and Galaxie. Very different amps with happening tones. I liked to use an airbrake or brakelite on 1 click with the 2x10s as it allowed me to turn up the amp a bit more and added more sweet output tube compression.
Ch 2 has plenty of gain but I can't answer your question because I've not used a tube screamer for years, since the Exotic BB came along. It's a great amp that has a tone of tones in just a few controls. Experiment with the controls as they are all interactive and can yield many different colorations and drive characteristics. When gigging the Galaxie with a band as the night progressed I tended to leave the amp on Ch2 and work the guitar volume control for cleaner tones and bring in the BB or Box of Rock to push the Gal into endless sustain.
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Dec 22, 2009 20:53:15 GMT -7
Thanks Drew. Gregg is a great guy.
|
|
|
Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Dec 23, 2009 14:14:56 GMT -7
Tube Screamer w/the Galaxie? Do yourself a favor, and sell it for a profit. Channel 2 will make a vintage TS duck, & run for cover.
The only FX I have need for w/this amp is a Flying Dragon(clean boost), and an H2O for delay/modulation.
Trust me....I'm an "Ambassador". ;D
|
|
|
Post by JD on Dec 23, 2009 15:13:09 GMT -7
I think one way to approach the Galaxie Ch 1 and Ch 2 is thinking tone shift as opposed to Clean vs. OD or volume levels. In fact when I play mine I often set Ch 1 to about 1:30/2 o'clock and use the volume on the guitar to clean it up. I often keep my Ch 2 Volume around 10 o'clock and think of this as more of a tone shift (i.e. like a tubescreamer) for thicker mids and Ch 2 really lets the bridge pickup do it's thing without sounding harsh. With Ch 1 turned up at this to the 1:30/2 level the discrepancy in volume between the 2 channels isn't significant (also usually have a Brakelite going for smaller indoor gigs at the setting of 1 or 2).
My opinion (which may not count for anything) is that guys have been unhappy trying to set Ch 1 low for clean stuff and then when they hit Ch 2 it is much louder (even lower settings on Ch2). So open up Ch 1 and let it roar - it may provide all the tone you need for your leads as well.
As far as Fender amps - unless you own a Bassman reissue or something much older - it doesn't sound like the Fender amps being produced today. At the same time it nails the focus of the 62 Blonde Bassman that I once owned - but is still open and dynamic enough for a variety of styles.
Enjoy - it is a great amp! Spend time getting to know it and making small tweaks with the knobs.
|
|
|
Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Dec 23, 2009 15:17:19 GMT -7
I think one way to approach the Galaxie Ch 1 and Ch 2 is thinking tone shift as opposed to Clean vs. OD or volume levels. In fact when I play mine I often set Ch 1 to about 1:30/2 o'clock and use the volume on the guitar to clean it up. I often keep my Ch 2 Volume around 10 o'clock and think of this as more of a tone shift (i.e. like a tubescreamer) for thicker mids and Ch 2 really lets the bridge pickup do it's thing without sounding harsh. With Ch 1 turned up at this to the 1:30/2 level the discrepancy in volume between the 2 channels isn't significant (also usually have a Brakelite going for smaller indoor gigs at the setting of 1 or 2). My opinion (which may not count for anything) is that guys have been unhappy trying to set Ch 1 low for clean stuff and then when they hit Ch 2 it is much louder (even lower settings on Ch2). So open up Ch 1 and let it roar - it may provide all the tone you need for your leads as well. As far as Fender amps - unless you own a Bassman reissue or something much older - it doesn't sound like the Fender amps being produced today. At the same time it nails the focus of the 62 Blonde Bassman that I once owned - but is still open and dynamic enough for a variety of styles. Enjoy - it is a great amp! Spend time getting to know it and making small tweaks with the knobs. + 10 Bazillion................EXACTLY how I set/use mine. That's why I refuse to give up me "Presence" control. THAT, and the fact that Zeppelin had an album with that name...
|
|
|
Post by blackice on Dec 23, 2009 16:30:17 GMT -7
JD that was well said. I only use a keeley compressor & T-Rex Tremster. I'm not losing my present know.
|
|
|
Post by Joey Beverages on Dec 24, 2009 6:05:43 GMT -7
Tube Screamer w/the Galaxie? Do yourself a favor, and sell it for a profit. Channel 2 will make a vintage TS duck, & run for cover. The only FX I have need for w/this amp is a Flying Dragon(clean boost), and an H 2O for delay/modulation. Trust me....I'm an " Ambassador". ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Dec 24, 2009 9:45:01 GMT -7
Oh no, I wouldn't use a TS screamer with it. Heck, I don't even own one. I was just trying to understand the gain level on channel 2 since it is fixed. I was using the TS as a comparison since I do know how gain a TS has.
|
|
|
Post by mootsie on Dec 24, 2009 21:56:47 GMT -7
i have a carmen ghia but i also am pining for a Galaxie....pine...pine...pine...
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Dec 25, 2009 11:08:58 GMT -7
I have never owned a TS. Many double plus good, what JD said.
Ch 2 should come with a Surgeon General's warning about turning it up to noon or beyond when small children or pregnant women are in the house. Gain kicks in for sure, but oh my, the tone is thick.
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Dec 29, 2009 22:47:56 GMT -7
Ok all, I'm getting it on Thursday. I'll run the wife and kids out of the house on new year's eve. Can't wait.
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Dec 31, 2009 21:13:43 GMT -7
Ok, I got it and ran my wife out of the living room. I don't know what to think of it yet. It is sooooo different from the MAZ Jr's that I've been using since 2003. I was not expecting the bottom end to be what it is. More to come.
|
|
|
Post by blackice on Jan 1, 2010 8:55:09 GMT -7
A real touch sensitive amp to play. A lot of sounds in that box. Enjoy it Russell Cheers, Richard
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Jan 7, 2010 19:46:37 GMT -7
Ok, I am really starting to understand how the tone controls on this thing work. I've never had any thing where the tone controls act like they do on this amp. I have it next to my number one MAZ JR to compare. Different animals all together. I just can't get over the tone controls and how they affect the volume and gain of the amp.
|
|
|
Post by blackice on Jan 8, 2010 3:11:38 GMT -7
It Breathes, It talks, It walks, It don't lie.
|
|
|
Post by indianroad on Jan 17, 2010 4:41:27 GMT -7
I think one way to approach the Galaxie Ch 1 and Ch 2 is thinking tone shift as opposed to Clean vs. OD or volume levels.
Great approach, sprinted to the rig after reading your post. Oh yeah, yeah!
Three weeks and this amp is still kick-in my ...!
|
|
|
Post by 6stringriffs on Jan 20, 2010 20:46:34 GMT -7
With the Galaxie, I've discovered that the Bass & Treble controls act like a gain knob. You can actually dial down distortion by reducing both tone controls.
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Jan 22, 2010 16:39:31 GMT -7
With the Galaxie, I've discovered that the Bass & Treble controls act like a gain knob. You can actually dial down distortion by reducing both tone controls. No doubt about it. The controls make a huge difference in sound and overdrive of this amp.
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Jan 22, 2010 19:50:09 GMT -7
On mine (#22 from the first batch) the tone controls seem to be tone up to about noon, after that it is all gain.
|
|
|
Post by blackice on Jan 23, 2010 0:02:21 GMT -7
Jan I have #30 that how I see it.
|
|
|
Post by Pete aka shouldb on Feb 2, 2010 13:35:17 GMT -7
With the Galaxie, I've discovered that the Bass & Treble controls act like a gain knob. You can actually dial down distortion by reducing both tone controls. No doubt about it. The controls make a huge difference in sound and overdrive of this amp. Hey Russell, Got any more detailed feedback for us Maz18 users? I would LOVE to hear the comparison! Thinking on maybe trading up to a Galaxie, but not sure what I'd lose if I did - I like to idea of the 2 channels, but again not sure if it's really Clean/OD or just Some/More if you see what I mean? Would really appreciate your observations Cheers Pete
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Feb 6, 2010 12:25:42 GMT -7
Well, I have learned that the Galaxie is just not for me. I've used the Maz 18 for so long, I don't think anything but el 84 based amps will do it for me. A friend of mine is borrowing the amp and he loves it. The Maz and the Galaxie are NOTHING alike. You'll lose the chime of the Maz, but will gain a HUGE bottom end. You will gain a whole lot of volume with the Galaxie.
I think the Galaxie is a great amp, but I'm too much in love with Maz Jr.
|
|
|
Post by mtlrecords on Feb 6, 2010 20:47:01 GMT -7
The Galaxie isn't appropriate for everyone or every situation. Since it sounds best to me at higher volumes, this is an obvious issue for many people. However, once you are up in that realm, you can see why this amp is so great. I understand missing the chime of EL84 type amps though too, I love my Zinky Blue Velvet.
I have been known to say it before, but I still think it rings true as much now as ever before- use them both with an A/B switch for different songs. That is if you are playing live with them. And you may need an Air Brake or Brake Lite for the Galaxie.
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Feb 6, 2010 21:46:38 GMT -7
It is true, not every amp is for every person. Let me offer one more way to think about the Galaxie.
Never mind channel 2. I have never been into channel switching amps anyway. Just put the foot switch aside and put channel 2 out of mind.
I really like the depth and richness, the musicality of every spot on the dials for channel 1. Had there been no channel 2 I would still think the Galaxie was at home in my house.
|
|