Post by groovergeorge on Jul 23, 2007 6:24:59 GMT -7
When my Z-28 arrived early to mid June this year from Curt's I was very excited and apprehensive to say the least. I had once again shelled out on yet another amp, my 3rd "Z" now. Not really getting the one I had planned to get in the first place, a KT45. Since selling my late 60's Vibrolux , I had been yearning for Fender tones and although I had two beautiful chimey amps, a Ghia and Maz Invasion, I was still looking for something with that classic American tone.
I did some research and lots of guys including Curt were preaching the virtues of a single greenback with the Z-28 so when it arrived I used the same speaker setup that I was using with my Ghia and plugged my Strat in. Although sounding nice, it just didn't seem to excite me in the same way as the Ghia with the greenie. I swapped out guitars. In came the 55' parts tele. Tone was getting closer to what I was hearing in my head but I only play a tele about 30% of the time. Next I plugged in my mates 81' Les Paul heritage burst. WOW , With the controls set at vol-2 and 3 for treble and the bass, this thing is the meanest little mother you have ever heard in your life. Still in a dilemma as a Paul is only an occasional treat for me being a guy that mainly plays strats and the occasional tele I was determined to get myself that early brown face Vibrolux sound without that shrill top end that the silverface models were known for.
Being a Knopfler lover,especially the early stuff I decided to try a Weber 12a125s which is very similar to the alnico Jensen speakers that were used in those early brownfaces. ;D Instant success. I have finally found a speaker that has brightened up an amp that to my ears was a little bit too dark for a strat with a greenback. I'm really wrapped at this.
Settings with the Z-28 for classic Sultans of swing, rhythm and lead are as follows, V-1,B-2-3,T-2-3. I just roll back the volume on my strat for the chording and wind it out for the solos. Absolutely perfect. Theres even a little S.R.V in this thing.
The Weber alnico really is a nice match for those strat players wanting something different than a classic British crunchy 70's rock tone, not that there's anything wrong with that either. I will post some clips when I get the chance. I'm really loving how good the Z-28 is, especially when I thought I was getting something that was limited and a bit of a one trick pony. Changing the speaker and matching it with the right guitar-speaker combination has really opened up my eyes to an amp that could be one of the Docs most versatile rigs if a small club rig is what you require. As long as your willing to lug them ,the combination of a good Strat and Les Paul with both a greenback and Weber cabinet would have you totally covered .
I did some research and lots of guys including Curt were preaching the virtues of a single greenback with the Z-28 so when it arrived I used the same speaker setup that I was using with my Ghia and plugged my Strat in. Although sounding nice, it just didn't seem to excite me in the same way as the Ghia with the greenie. I swapped out guitars. In came the 55' parts tele. Tone was getting closer to what I was hearing in my head but I only play a tele about 30% of the time. Next I plugged in my mates 81' Les Paul heritage burst. WOW , With the controls set at vol-2 and 3 for treble and the bass, this thing is the meanest little mother you have ever heard in your life. Still in a dilemma as a Paul is only an occasional treat for me being a guy that mainly plays strats and the occasional tele I was determined to get myself that early brown face Vibrolux sound without that shrill top end that the silverface models were known for.
Being a Knopfler lover,especially the early stuff I decided to try a Weber 12a125s which is very similar to the alnico Jensen speakers that were used in those early brownfaces. ;D Instant success. I have finally found a speaker that has brightened up an amp that to my ears was a little bit too dark for a strat with a greenback. I'm really wrapped at this.
Settings with the Z-28 for classic Sultans of swing, rhythm and lead are as follows, V-1,B-2-3,T-2-3. I just roll back the volume on my strat for the chording and wind it out for the solos. Absolutely perfect. Theres even a little S.R.V in this thing.
The Weber alnico really is a nice match for those strat players wanting something different than a classic British crunchy 70's rock tone, not that there's anything wrong with that either. I will post some clips when I get the chance. I'm really loving how good the Z-28 is, especially when I thought I was getting something that was limited and a bit of a one trick pony. Changing the speaker and matching it with the right guitar-speaker combination has really opened up my eyes to an amp that could be one of the Docs most versatile rigs if a small club rig is what you require. As long as your willing to lug them ,the combination of a good Strat and Les Paul with both a greenback and Weber cabinet would have you totally covered .