fixed
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Posts: 133
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Post by fixed on Jan 14, 2008 14:14:50 GMT -7
I've been using my Z-28 and 1-12 cab as my main amp for a month now and I've gotten several compliments from people about the sound. It's a great amp that I'll probably keep forever but I have one observation about it: It sounds like perfection with a strat, but to my ears, not as good with a P90 or a humbucking guitar. My main guitars are a nice CS strat, LP P90 Goldtop, and a new ES339, but I've found that this amp just seems "made for" a strat. Friday night I played a gig with the strat and was extremely pleased with my sound, but Saturday I played the goldtop with P90s and just wasn't as satisfied. The sound was overall muddier, more compressed, had less bite/attack, etc.
Any tips for playing "thicker" sounding guitars through a Z-28?
Another observation is that all of my guitars sound great through my Mini Z, and that my non-strat guitars sound better through my Mazerati.
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Post by bluzman on Jan 14, 2008 14:38:40 GMT -7
If it's a Gibson, I think you need to sell that P90 Gold Top LP to me. Then you can get another strat!!!
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Post by UnclePat on Jan 14, 2008 14:44:01 GMT -7
What is your Strat setting vs. the Les Paul setting? It's sort of unrealistic to think one knob setting will cover both and put you where you want to be. I typically have to back off with the bass a little when plugging in this Les Paul, but I don't have to mess with the treble much at all, if any. Usually all three knobs are at or around 3PM, but this guitar and my humbucker Lester usually need somewhere around 1PM to stay crisp and articulate.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Jan 14, 2008 15:07:04 GMT -7
What is your Strat setting vs. the Les Paul setting? It's sort of unrealistic to think one knob setting will cover both and put you where you want to be. I typically have to back off with the bass a little when plugging in this Les Paul, but I don't have to mess with the treble much at all, if any. Usually all three knobs are at or around 3PM, but this guitar and my humbucker Lester usually need somewhere around 1PM to stay crisp and articulate. Gotta agree with you on this - between my Super Sport, Tele and Les Paul there is some minor tweaking when blastin' the '28 ;D Lately, I've been running everything straight up with a couple of adjustments on the Treble control cheers Joel p.s. very nice LP
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Post by UnclePat on Jan 14, 2008 15:15:42 GMT -7
-thanks...just got that one about six weeks ago. Still got some tweakin' in the control cavity to do, but otherwise I'm having a lot of fun with it. "Class 5 quilt top" whatever that is. Why don't they just say "take out a loan" or something more accurate....HA
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Post by fishman on Jan 14, 2008 19:12:14 GMT -7
I found the same situation when I first got my 28. Seemed a Strat was perfect and a LP was not as perfect. I changed the rectifier to a NOS mullard, changed the speaker to a RedFang. Now the Strat is still Killer but the LP now is clearer, more bite, more of everything. I will add that the strat settings are not universal, there are adjustments that have to be made for humbuckers... However, if I had to make a call I would say this is a Stratocaster amp, even my Tele does not sound as good thru it as my Strat. Now, on my 38, everything sounds good...no matter what...but for a "strat" amp the 28 is as good as it gets IMHO
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Post by blondeisbetter on Jan 15, 2008 22:14:35 GMT -7
Hey my Paul and SG sounded dark on this amp until I turned the treble to3 oclock then all is well. I agree on the strat..My 62 RI is awesome with this amp it sounds like a strat on steroids.
Good luck
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fixed
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by fixed on Jan 16, 2008 18:25:46 GMT -7
I also have a Z-best but rarely use it (too big for bar gigs), and when I just tried playing the Z-28 through it the strat sounds kinda thin, but my 339 sounds sweet in that setup. So I guess it's more of a guitar-to-speaker mismatch than anything.
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Post by prsplayer on Jan 22, 2008 4:34:46 GMT -7
The secret to the Z28 is turning the knobs! Alot of people find settings that sound great with one guitar and then expect to get the same results with a totally different instrument. the beauty of the Z amps is that they let a strat sound like a strat, and a Paul sound like a Paul. the bottom line is -- come up with killer settings for both, and TURN THE KNOBS!!!
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Post by JD on Jan 22, 2008 10:19:52 GMT -7
Not sure what speaker you have in your 1x12? I have a Greenback that I agree sounds great with my Lentz SSL, but when I play my P90 equipped LP Special I prefer the 2x10 cabinet and tweaking my knobs a bit. The 2x10 handles the P90s much better yet still sounds great with the Lentz.
JD
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fixed
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by fixed on Jan 29, 2008 15:57:41 GMT -7
My 1x12 is a V30, though I'm looking for a good 2x10 cab too.
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Post by fishman on Feb 1, 2008 19:58:25 GMT -7
IMHO the 28 is a Strat amp, sounds great with other guitars, but insane good with stratocasters. On a flip if you set it up right using a LP you can get early marshall BB/plexi tones ... I had a 68 50watt plexi and while its not quite that it is quite something!... I guess I could say its pretty much two totally different amps depending on the guitar you are using at the time.. I will also say I did not like my American Standard Tele thru this amp as well as I like my Strat.
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