9pin
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Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 1:49:14 GMT -7
OK, I know this is a difficult question, but I figure you guys are best equipped to help me answer. I just looked and it doesn't appear that the local Dr. Z dealer here in AZ has a RT-66 in stock.
I am looking for an amp that is a little bit bigger than my current Fender Deluxe Reverb RI. I know the RT-66 is primarliy known for it's OD characteristics, but I will probably not push it that hard on a regular basis. At band practice I geerally run my DRRI at about 2 1/2 to 3. I aso want the clean sound to be round. I genrally play strats, teles, and the occaisonal EB/MM Axis. I am in an original band that is all over the map stylistically, and also a cover band that is doing Country/Blues/Rock songs.
Also, what speakers have you found sound best with the RT-66?
Thanks for your help. 9-Pin
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Post by taswegian on Apr 21, 2007 4:22:07 GMT -7
The 66 has a big warm round fat clean tone. With singles coils it'll do the funk thing, a hollow body 335 type will get you into Jazz, humbuckers sound round, fat and smokey! I like the Z best but a 1-12 will help with volume if that is a concern. I recon the Celest Gold would sound great but haven't tried it yet. I have a custom made Celestian heritage speaker that it basically a tamed Vintage 30 called a V35. Sounds like a greenback with tighter bottom end and it's pretty cool as it's an inefficient speaker and helps in smaller venues. The Rt 66 is very versatile, a great base for a pedal set up. It's definitely more than a one trick pony. But it's also quite a unique tone so whether it's your thing or not is hard to say. I however LOVE it.
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Post by John on Apr 21, 2007 5:54:06 GMT -7
Trying to describe tone is difficult. You say you want something "..a little bigger" than your DRRI. What does that mean? Louder? fatter more midrange-ish tone? More low end whomp?
So I offer this up:
The 66 is a VERY different amp than the DRRI. The DRRI is known for it's nice clean sparkle with just a bit of bite. Kinda hard to overdrive with just a guitar. You gotta turn it all the way up.
The Route 66 is like an OLD Marshall (60's). Big midrange honk when pushed. And you can never hide behind a Route 66. You can REALLY hear the differences in the tone of different guitars. And what goes with that, you can REALLY hear what your fingers are doing. The slightest mistake will not be covered up by loads of overdrive. (Like a Boogie and many others) Of course, this allows for a great feel and great ability for expression. So it's kind of a double edge sword.
I'd ask the local dealer when they're expecting one in.
Also, speaker selection is quite subjective. Personally, I love a Greenback with a closed back cabinet, but I'm going for that old school Marshall tone. Your needs may vary.
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Post by Curt on Apr 21, 2007 6:18:17 GMT -7
Bigger badder DRRI? Why a Z/28 young man....that'd be my suggestion to you. If your running a DRRI @ 2:00 you'll be no where close to the 66's magic IMO. Grab yourself a Z/28 with a Greenback and go forth and slay 'em all.
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Post by groovergeorge on Apr 21, 2007 6:31:10 GMT -7
OK, I know this is a difficult question, but I figure you guys are best equipped to help me answer. I just looked and it doesn't appear that the local Dr. Z dealer here in AZ has a RT-66 in stock. I am looking for an amp that is a little bit bigger than my current Fender Deluxe Reverb RI. I know the RT-66 is primarliy known for it's OD characteristics, but I will probably not push it that hard on a regular basis. At band practice I geerally run my DRRI at about 2 1/2 to 3. I aso want the clean sound to be round. I genrally play strats, teles, and the occaisonal EB/MM Axis. I am in an original band that is all over the map stylistically, and also a cover band that is doing Country/Blues/Rock songs. Also, what speakers have you found sound best with the RT-66? Thanks for your help. Although my comments aren't based on personal experience I can say with confidence after being a member of the forum for a year and a half now and reading and participating in threads on the ghia,Z28 and R66' that the way most R66' users have gone is the path of the Z' Best cab. If on the other hand a single 12 is what you are after, a Eminence tonker could work as well. Good luck, the R66' didn't win all those awards for nothing. It's clearly one of the best amps that has been made in the last decade and is not just great as an old blues rig. 9-Pin
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 21, 2007 8:02:50 GMT -7
That Route 66 is a huge sounding 32 watt amp. As mentioned above it does have a big honking midrange. It would sound like a much louder amp than the DRRI. I hooked mine up to a small closed back cab with a 30 year old EV12 in it. Cabs like that help suppress those mids a bit and the EV adds a nice touch of sparkle. I suggest you try a Maz 38 sr, based on what you mentioned in the first post. The Maz series are Dr Zs most versatile amp.
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9pin
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 9:41:26 GMT -7
The 66 has a big warm round fat clean tone. With singles coils it'll do the funk thing, a hollow body 335 type will get you into Jazz, humbuckers sound round, fat and smokey! I like the Z best but a 1-12 will help with volume if that is a concern. I recon the Celest Gold would sound great but haven't tried it yet. I have a custom made Celestian heritage speaker that it basically a tamed Vintage 30 called a V35. Sounds like a greenback with tighter bottom end and it's pretty cool as it's an inefficient speaker and helps in smaller venues. The Rt 66 is very versatile, a great base for a pedal set up. It's definitely more than a one trick pony. But it's also quite a unique tone so whether it's your thing or not is hard to say. I however LOVE it. Thanks or the response. It is nice to know that the RT-66 is more versatile than is often described.
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9pin
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 9:45:48 GMT -7
Trying to describe tone is difficult. You say you want something "..a little bigger" than your DRRI. What does that mean? Louder? fatter more midrange-ish tone? More low end whomp? So I offer this up: The 66 is a VERY different amp than the DRRI. The DRRI is known for it's nice clean sparkle with just a bit of bite. Kinda hard to overdrive with just a guitar. You gotta turn it all the way up. The Route 66 is like an OLD Marshall (60's). Big midrange honk when pushed. And you can never hide behind a Route 66. You can REALLY hear the differences in the tone of different guitars. And what goes with that, you can REALLY hear what your fingers are doing. The slightest mistake will not be covered up by loads of overdrive. (Like a Boogie and many others) Of course, this allows for a great feel and great ability for expression. So it's kind of a double edge sword. I'd ask the local dealer when they're expecting one in. Also, speaker selection is quite subjective. Personally, I love a Greenback with a closed back cabinet, but I'm going for that old school Marshall tone. Your needs may vary. Well as to your qustions What is "Bigger" - Yes, the ability for more volume, a tighter low end, a rounder top, a little less chime, something a little warmer. The way guitars soud different through it would be one of my main selling points. What is the points of having a few different guitars if they all sound the same, and IMO the DRI isn't the most forgiving amp either. Since I am currently the only guitar player in either of my groups, something that is more touch responsive would robably work well. Thanks.
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9pin
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 9:50:19 GMT -7
Bigger badder DRRI? Why a Z/28 young man....that'd be my suggestion to you. If your running a DRRI @ 2:00 you'll be no where close to the 66's magic IMO. Grab yourself a Z/28 with a Greenback and go forth and slay 'em all. Well, at practice, I can only get it to 2 1/2 or 3, but when we gig, the DRRI is normally up in the 5-6 range. I just wish the we had the equipment to practice that loud in rehearsal too. I think I am looking for a tone that is a little different than the Deluxe sound, is a Z-28 really THAT much different?
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9pin
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 9:54:08 GMT -7
That Route 66 is a huge sounding 32 watt amp. As mentioned above it does have a big honking midrange. It would sound like a much louder amp than the DRRI. I hooked mine up to a small closed back cab with a 30 year old EV12 in it. Cabs like that help suppress those mids a bit and the EV adds a nice touch of sparkle. I suggest you try a Maz 38 sr, based on what you mentioned in the first post. The Maz series are Dr Zs most versatile amp. Thanks, I will take a little closer look at the Maz 38. Maybe it will fill the bill. I think the local dealer has one of those, I will have to check again. Does it take pedals well too? I don't use that many but it is always a concern. Thanks.
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Post by taswegian on Apr 21, 2007 20:03:10 GMT -7
Well as to your qustions What is "Bigger" - Yes, the ability for more volume, a tighter low end, a rounder top, a little less chime, something a little warmer. Based on this, I would go 66 for sure. The 66 will have more volume, tighter bottom end, a much rounder top, a little less chime, and be significantly warmer. But if you want something similar to what you have only on steroids, Curt is right, go the Z28 which would probably give you all those things also, just not as warm and big as the 66, but a lovely sparkly top end. Based on what you've said, I'd try to find a 66 to try out. But then I'm always pluggin' the 66 so I may not be the most reliable source. ;D
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 21, 2007 21:19:34 GMT -7
I always feel like the Maz 38 sr is the home base of Z sound. The other amps are more specialized towards one direction or other. A Stang Ray is more Voxey, a Route 66 is more Marshally etc.. The Maz can go from Fenderish to Marshallish but with it's own voice. It's also smoother and more refined sounding than the Route 66. The best bet is to try all that you can. I'd also suggest heads and separate cabs. then in the future you can just get different heads. The Maz amp would be the best fit for the variety of material you mentioned in your first post. It also has a great sounding master volume. All of the Z amps seem to take pedals well.
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9pin
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by 9pin on Apr 21, 2007 22:38:28 GMT -7
I always feel like the Maz 38 sr is the home base of Z sound. The other amps are more specialized towards one direction or other. A Stang Ray is more Voxey, a Route 66 is more Marshally etc.. The Maz can go from Fenderish to Marshallish but with it's own voice. It's also smoother and more refined sounding than the Route 66. The best bet is to try all that you can. I'd also suggest heads and separate cabs. then in the future you can just get different heads. The Maz amp would be the best fit for the variety of material you mentioned in your first post. It also has a great sounding master volume. All of the Z amps seem to take pedals well. Thanks! Someone in one of the other posts mentioned the MAZ Sr. and honestly it wasn't one I had spent much time looking at. The tube compliment made me think that maybe it was more Vox-like in it's character. It sounds much more versitile than that though, so I will have to check it out.
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Post by LeftyLang on Apr 22, 2007 10:09:45 GMT -7
If you want an amp that is the opposite of the DR RI...then the Route 66 is for you.
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Post by kcraig on Apr 22, 2007 11:42:56 GMT -7
I've found that I can crank my 66 to the max and with just the guitar volume and how hard I play it cleans ups or gets down rght nasty crunchy without pedals or effects.I play all types of music from Haggard to Hendrix.The 66 can handle it all!! If you have a board full of effects it will handle them as well. I think it 's an amp that you can use to create your own sound.The way you want it.I know it ended my search for that "sound" that i could never quite find.Well, maybe the search never really ends does it?
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Post by LeftyLang on Apr 22, 2007 16:24:09 GMT -7
I've found that I can crank my 66 to the max and with just the guitar volume and how hard I play it cleans ups or gets down rght nasty crunchy without pedals or effects.I play all types of music from Haggard to Hendrix.The 66 can handle it all!! If you have a board full of effects it will handle them as well. I think it 's an amp that you can use to create your own sound.The way you want it.I know it ended my search for that "sound" that i could never quite find.Well, maybe the search never really ends does it? +1 My search should end with the 66 as well, but ..........
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