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Post by charlienc on Oct 10, 2005 11:09:14 GMT -7
Just wanted to say that i've been using the AirBrake for the last week now and i don't know why i ever waited so long to get one. It's fantastic to be able get some real power tube overdrive out of my Maz 18 Jr NR. The coolest part is, is that i no longer have to run a slight overdrive out one pedal and then a solo overdrive out of another. I can just play the amp naturally and use one pedal to boost for solos and that's it. And on top of that, i can use the my BD-2 as a clean boost with the gain all the way down and the level up somewhat and it sounds much more natural than using dirt from the pedal. Anyway, i'm more than pleased with the results of my purchase and just wanted to give the Dr. props on another fine product.
charlie
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 10, 2005 12:00:20 GMT -7
Charlie, this is awesome news as I'm expecting m Z-Break to come in this week. Thanks for the info!
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Post by johnnyl on Oct 10, 2005 12:10:38 GMT -7
I feel like a dumbass for going the cheap route and buying Weber MASS.... I lose alot of treble response when I use it... gotta save up for the Z-break!
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Post by charlienc on Oct 10, 2005 15:48:46 GMT -7
guys, it seriously just made half of my pedal board obsolete. but that's a good thing. i plan on selling my whole setup and going straight into the z except for a booster and a wah. it's that good, trust me. also, i had a friends band stop by the house when i was in Rocky Mount visiting my parents and the guitar player, drummer, and the bass player were all fighting at taking turns playing through my Z with the Airbrake. to put it mildly, they nearly **** themselves. i've read some posts about some darkening of the tone at high attenuation volumes, but in reality, i play a strat with alnico 5 magnet pickups and the chiminess is still there even in the bedroom settings. don't get me wrong, there is some change in the tone, but it's not like i have to change my e.q. settings or anything.
i was about to buy a hotplate because my local shop had one that i could try, but i thought to myself, "i'll always be wishing i had just bit the bullet and gotten the Z, i trust the name and the product and everything." so i took a chance and ordered one, sight unseen, and am very glad i went with the Airbrake over the hotplate. the whole experience just reaffirmed my faith in the Z line of products. anyway, that's just how i feel. i hope you have a similar experience Paul G.
god, this post is getting long. one more thing though, about my pedals. the amount of natural overdrive i'm getting from my Z now is good, I almost hate to put anything in front of it. before the Airbrake, I had to use a couple of different overdrives to simulate a REAL overdriven amp and now i don't have to. it's great. oh well, that's about it.
later fellas, charlie
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Post by charlienc on Oct 10, 2005 15:51:39 GMT -7
D***IT MOTHER F**KER!!!
Why does the F**KING sensor always substitute the word "nuts" for everything?
That's pretty "nutsy"
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 10, 2005 16:24:56 GMT -7
D***IT MOTHER F**KER!!! Why does the F**KING sensor always substitute the word "nuts" for everything? That's pretty "nutsy" It's ******* nutty, but we're a Rated G type of group! ;-) Glad you love the Z-Break. You certainly have made me feel rest assured about placing one on order. Hopefully it will be in this week!
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a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
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Post by a42 on Oct 11, 2005 15:11:37 GMT -7
I feel like a dumbass for going the cheap route and buying Weber MASS.... I lose alot of treble response when I use it... gotta save up for the Z-break! Feel like a dumbass... but don't feel lonely. I did the exact same thing -- and feel the same. The Mini-Mass seems to sap the treble and mid response right out of my Jr.
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Post by johnnyl on Oct 11, 2005 15:25:46 GMT -7
misery loves company... thanks a42. Well Xmas isn't to far away. Now I just gotta convince Santa (the Wife).
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 12, 2005 18:42:15 GMT -7
Just picked up my Z-Break and got it all hooked up. I concur with Charlie, how does anyone get along with out one! Unbelievable. I love the bedroom setting, but I think my favorite setting is on #2.
The Bedroom setting is just ear candy... set it, clamp it down then do a SRV roll over on the volume. Loads of fun, loads of distortion!
:-)
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Post by charlienc on Oct 12, 2005 20:35:26 GMT -7
seriously Paul, glad you like it. i'm just trying to figure out what to do with all of my pedals. looks like ebay's gonna get some business.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 13, 2005 5:50:27 GMT -7
The Sr. with a Z-Brake has more pure sweet distortion then probably any pedal I own as well. It almost becomse a Hi-Gain, like an old JTM45 or Plexi! But I also like to play clean, so I'll probably use level #2 to reduce the over all volume of the amp and still use my Sparkle Drive. The Sparkle Drive seems to really compliment the MAZ Sr. It doesn't color the tone at all. I'd still like to get a Zen Drive if the reviews pan out.
I can't believe what a difference it makes. It really adds even more versatillity to an already versatile amp.
If anyone is looking for one, Boston Guitar Works has 4 in stock. Give Heath a call.
pg
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Post by big ( Al Z. ) on Oct 13, 2005 14:57:59 GMT -7
I go no where without my Airbrake. I use it with my Sr. , DRRI and a Groove Tube Solo Single. Last year I was in a 50s band had had to play at some rediculously low levels and got a fairly good tone using the solo single with the airbrake. Besides the Sr. - it's the best purchase I've ever made.
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Post by raja on Oct 14, 2005 10:39:06 GMT -7
To anyone who has a Weber Mass attenuator, what settings are you using? I don't seem to be having the same problems with my unit. I'm running thru a Maz 38 Sr. 2x12's with a Super Strat Deluxe. I wanted to get an Airbrake and asked the local Dr. Z supplier to put me on their list but after 3 months I got tired of waiting.
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Post by charlienc on Oct 14, 2005 14:45:14 GMT -7
there are all kinds of places on the net that you can find an airbrake. most have a money back trial period and offer some sort of free shipping incentive. and you don't have to pay state sales tax (for now anyway)
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 14, 2005 18:44:58 GMT -7
Raja,
Like I said, Boston Guitar Works has some in stock. Give Heath a call. Heath will hook you up. He'll ships stuff. He shipped me my SR. Showed up in perfect condition.
pg
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 17, 2005 17:01:03 GMT -7
Had my first band practice with the z-brake. Sounded awesome! What a huge difference it made. The Z sat really well in the mix. When I needed to push the pre-vol on the SR, it sounded great. I think it really improved the sound of everything. I highly recommend and suggest one.
pg
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Post by Laroosco!! on Oct 17, 2005 20:38:55 GMT -7
Feel like a dumbass... but don't feel lonely. I did the exact same thing -- and feel the same. The Mini-Mass seems to sap the treble and mid response right out of my Jr. My Mini Mass sounded good with my Route 66 but it fell off my amp and broke. After a while playing the amp without it I realized how much the MASS was messing with all the 66 had to offer. I on't have the 66 anymore but want to buy another higher wattage amp and I'm really wanting an airbrake. I wwish I knew someone local to me who had one.
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Post by imyurhuckleberry on Oct 18, 2005 18:23:20 GMT -7
Ditto...I can't believe how great this air brake is. I used to use a PB-100, and there is NO comparison.
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Post by charlienc on Oct 18, 2005 21:34:32 GMT -7
Ditto Ditto Ditto
I got to really crank mine today (now that there's a good rectifier in my Maz but that's a different thread) and WOW!!! I've played with three other guitarist since I bought mine about 2 weeks ago and everyone of them has come off with the, "So who'd you say makes that? Man, I'm gonna have to get one of those!"
Incidentally, when I bought mine, Cory over at AGB said the hardest problem he has is keeping them in stock. I can believe it. I mean if the average word of mouth response is anything close to how people react when they hear my rig, then it's no wonder these things are so backordered.
Airbrakes ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
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Post by terryg on Oct 19, 2005 10:19:01 GMT -7
I don't leave home without it, no way! Can't drive an amp without a good "break," right?
I can't say I have a favorite setting, as it's changing all the time. I like having favorite amp settings, which are usually too loud for practical purposes, and an Airbrake to keep things practical. It's like we have our cake and get to eat it too.
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Post by charlienc on Oct 24, 2005 20:01:23 GMT -7
my whole pedalboard is now on Ebay thanks to it. oh well, good rittance.
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Post by solsurfr on Oct 26, 2005 15:46:58 GMT -7
I'm about to unload my hotplate to get a Z-brake for my soon-to-here Maz 38. I'm pretty stoked about going Z now for my main rig. I do ponder the question though, Why not incorporate a lower power setting like some of the other boutique amp companies so that using a Zbrake or hotplate isn't such a necessity? Will something like this affect the amps overall tonal quality? I'm just throwing the question out there due to curiousity and nothing more. Excuse my newbieness
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