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Post by groberts on Jul 19, 2010 11:13:05 GMT -7
I've been enjoying the toneful, tuneful magic of a Maz Jr 1x12 Combo for the past eight months. But I keep wanting more clean headroom from the Maz jr which is not truly the design of the amp.
I've played the Jaz 20/40 and also the EZG50 and I am fairly confident I prefer the EZG.
Has anyone gone from a Maz Jr to an EZG for more clean headroom and a closer Fender Blackface tone? If so, did it do the trick for you? I might have to let go my Maz in order to get into an EZG, so I want to be sure.
Did you go for the 1x12 or 2x10 EZG? (Combo or Head/Cab)
Thanks for your suggestions.
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ztonematt
Full Member
Bottom end tighter than your girlfriends...
Posts: 222
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Post by ztonematt on Jul 19, 2010 22:31:44 GMT -7
Well, I pretty much did just that so I can chime in here. My friend was the first to get a Z. He got a GHIA which we both loved but I wanted a little more clean headroom, so I bought a MAZ 18 NR head. I ended up snagging a mint 2x12" Z cab WITH CELESTION BLUES for $400!!??!! Yes...the guy didn't wanna ship it over the net so I met him in person and that's what he took for it. (I foolishly traded that cab.) I decided that I wanted to go back to the Fenderish type tone and fell in love with the EZG-50. Bought one from a forum member with a matching 4x10" Z cab. The volume was WAY to much for my apartment and I was gassing for something else at the time so I FOOLISHLY sold that rig too....
Then I decide that I want EL84 tone again so I go BACK to the MAZ 18 NR. I bought a LOPO 1x12" cab and threw a Celestion Gold in it. Of course that worked for a while and then there I go again missing my 6L6 Z tone......SOLD the MAZ and JUST BOUGHT another EZG50 head. :-) I'm using the Lopo with 1x12" Gold for now but I'm having a 2x10" being built for me right now which will contain the Celestion Gold 10's. I still like my 12" but there's something magical about the EZG50 with 10's. I figure the 2x10 won't be as overpowering as my old Z 4x10" but will still give me plenty of volume when needed.
GET AN EZG-50! If clean headroom and a more Blackface tone is what you seek, this is the ticket. I have played many vintage Fender amp's and just can't vibe with them even if they are the "Fender tone" that I know and love from my favorite artists and old records. This amp has gotten me the closest to that tone I desire and I WILL be keeping this one. Let us know how your situation pans out!
On a quick side note, I jammed with another guitar player and a drummer one day and my friend was playing a Tele through a MAZ 18 NR w/ my old Z 2x12" w/ Blues. I had my EZG50 and 4x10" cab. He had the MAZ dimed and I probably wasn't up half way and was still clean and clearly drowning him out. My cab was faced at the drummer and he would grimace in pain every time I slammed a chord. Loud, clean, powerful. EZG-50!!!!
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Post by groberts on Jul 20, 2010 9:13:16 GMT -7
Thanks ZToneMatt! Leaning towards the EZG50 head instead of a combo so I can experiment with cabs. My local Z Dealer has the 2x10 Z Convertible cab. Very nice.
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Post by tdarian on Jul 20, 2010 10:00:42 GMT -7
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ztonematt
Full Member
Bottom end tighter than your girlfriends...
Posts: 222
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Post by ztonematt on Jul 20, 2010 13:25:23 GMT -7
Thanks ZToneMatt! Leaning towards the EZG50 head instead of a combo so I can experiment with cabs. My local Z Dealer has the 2x10 Z Convertible cab. Very nice. I used to swear by combos when I was younger but wouldn't even think of buying one today. Only heads. Hell, only Z heads. :-) It helps the weight distribution. My back ain't all that great and i'm 27! Also, there is less chance for cab rattle and it doesn't vibrate the tubes as much. Then with the added benefit of switching out cabs....You can have so much tonal flexibility. Good luck!
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Post by mtlrecords on Jul 20, 2010 19:17:12 GMT -7
I think the primary issue people have with the EZG-50 is not related to how good it sounds. It sounds great, whether clean or dirty. The issue in my opinion, is:
does it sound like he or she WANTS IT to sound and with all the comparisons to blackface Fender amps, does it DO EXACTLY THAT? Yes and no.
The EZG-50 is rich, thick and bass heavy. Too much for some, perfect for others. At more reasonable volumes (think at home alone or at a quieter band practice/small venue) the EZG-50 is so, so clean. Lovely, 3-D and quick to picking attack/dynamics. Those quick transients can be rough with certain guitars (Jazzmaster) and certain styles of music. Other amps might not translate them the same way...again the player is more at fault OR overjoyed, depending.
Another factor: I think that one player's idea of clean is much cleaner than another player's definition of clean. I like a bit of hair in my clean sound sometimes, but the EZG-50 doesn't do that in the same way or same volume as, say, a MAZ Jr. which is a bit more compressed sounding and with a different midrange character. The Stangray (or other similar quad el-84 amp) will provide yet another, different clean tone, with more "bell" like qualities, excellent string to string clarity and deep "piano" like lows.
I know this is kind of a tangent, but reading the thread sparked the thought. So yes, get a combo if you like hurting your back. Actually, the head is going to be heavy too- 40lbs. So the answer is...
Sorry. Tone = weight. Usually. Carr amps do something sneaky to make their 1x12 combos 35lbs and still sound killer. Pact with the Devil maybe?
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Post by groberts on Jul 22, 2010 15:56:09 GMT -7
I think the primary issue people have with the EZG-50 is not related to how good it sounds. It sounds great, whether clean or dirty. The issue in my opinion, is: does it sound like he or she WANTS IT to sound and with all the comparisons to blackface Fender amps, does it DO EXACTLY THAT? Yes and no. The EZG-50 is rich, thick and bass heavy. Too much for some, perfect for others. At more reasonable volumes (think at home alone or at a quieter band practice/small venue) the EZG-50 is so, so clean. Lovely, 3-D and quick to picking attack/dynamics. Those quick transients can be rough with certain guitars (Jazzmaster) and certain styles of music. Other amps might not translate them the same way...again the player is more at fault OR overjoyed, depending. Another factor: I think that one player's idea of clean is much cleaner than another player's definition of clean. I like a bit of hair in my clean sound sometimes, but the EZG-50 doesn't do that in the same way or same volume as, say, a MAZ Jr. which is a bit more compressed sounding and with a different midrange character. The Stangray (or other similar quad el-84 amp) will provide yet another, different clean tone, with more "bell" like qualities, excellent string to string clarity and deep "piano" like lows. I know this is kind of a tangent, but reading the thread sparked the thought. So yes, get a combo if you like hurting your back. Actually, the head is going to be heavy too- 40lbs. So the answer is... Sorry. Tone = weight. Usually. Carr amps do something sneaky to make their 1x12 combos 35lbs and still sound killer. Pact with the Devil maybe? Thanks for the great post! 1. I too have learned that 'clean' is a term open to much interpretation. When I say clean, I do mean 'uber clean'. Fender Twin clean. No hair. If I want hair, I can set up the amp a little different of dial in my Timmy pedal to do that mild-hair-on-clean tone. 2. Head and combo distributes the weight. Ultimately I'll be schlepping more weight, but not all on my back at once. But this means separate trips. sigh. The price of tone perhaps. 3. Blackface tone is also so subjective. To me, it means touch sensitive with sweet almost glassy harmonic richness and three dimensionality with (your words) ...Piano like lows. I played a couple nice blackface Fenders just a week ago, in length! So I have a good idea of what I want. I believe the EZG delivers that harmonic sweetness. I am a little concerned about the so called heavy bass aspect and I noticed that in my local shop. But the 2x10 convertible cab had the back. I think that might make it a little bassier. Is that right? Nonetheless, with my single coil Fender guitars, I think it's a rich sound that will work great for me. More to come. Welcome any and all input.
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ztonematt
Full Member
Bottom end tighter than your girlfriends...
Posts: 222
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Post by ztonematt on Jul 24, 2010 0:41:19 GMT -7
Definitely try it in an open back scenario. I think it will roll off some of that bass. Also, with the EZG I tend to think of the bass in reverse. I'm not turning up the bass but rather dialing it down to taste. I know it might sound crazy but if you have been enjoying the company of a MAZ 18 lately, then you know that the Z tonestacks are very interactive and are usually not set like you would EQ a Fender or Marshall. The bass on the EZG is also very rich and while being so, very tight at the same time. Don't be afraid to set it low or even off. This is a very clean amp when paired with the right speakers. I'm playing through a Gold 1x12" and it hurts my ears. My old Z 4x10 was pure pain! :-) I'm really passionate about this amp and having owned several Z's and vintage Fenders...I don't think you can go wrong with the EZG 50. Hope you snag one!
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Post by mtlrecords on Jul 24, 2010 7:14:06 GMT -7
Open back cabs maybe make the EZG a little less bass heavy, sure.
But really, the EZG is an amp where rolling off some lows (instead of leaving the bass knob at noon, like I do on many amps) doesn't hurt the tone. I think people maybe overreact when they have to turn a tone stack control down rather than up, but that is all psychological. I mean, I always boost the presence on my Marshall- does that make it a "dull" amp that I should worry about? Hell no. The amp is just a tool and the knobs are there to make the amp work with your particular guitars/pedals/etc.
EZG = excellent amp. I am enjoying the cleanest of clean sounds through it and sneaking in a Keeley compressor to balance some of the spiky transients that sound great with certain guitars, and less great with others. For example, my Jazzmaster benefits so, so much from having the tone control (on it) rolled back a bit and the Keeley comp on with the EZG. My SG- doesn't need anything...perfect sounding!
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Post by countrybilly83 (Ty) on Jul 25, 2010 13:07:22 GMT -7
I have a Maz and I was checking out an EZG-50 at my dealer wanting some very Fender tones and thought it was bass heavy as well also playing through a closed back cab... I am used to that as my Flatstone amp needs some bass rolled off too, it has 45 watts and the 6L6's.. It feels different when you play it. It gives a little more and can get slight hair.. I like clean but not that much clean as you get from the EZG, wow it is very much a Twin on 2 or 3 type amp... If only it had less power... hint hint Doc It sounded great bit to heavy and powerful for me but a great amp... I am a convert to heads and cabs, more trips to the truck but way lighter load to carry..
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kfkm
Full Member
Revelator 61
Posts: 162
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Post by kfkm on Aug 12, 2010 22:43:18 GMT -7
Just ordered a 4x10 blonde cab from Humbucker music. Thanks for all of the info but I went with the Z cab.
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Post by indianroad on Aug 16, 2010 7:35:15 GMT -7
I was watching an Andy Timmons video and he rolls the bass down to almost zero on his Mesa Lone Star's second (dirty) channel. It works for him.
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Post by groberts on Aug 17, 2010 11:12:43 GMT -7
Wound up going with a Redplate Blackverb. Not intended to be DR Z Blasphemy. Loved the EZG, but I was able to get a 50W Combo that weighs 48 lbs, is not bass heavy and offers me quite a few more features and options that I find useful opposed to the EZG. For instance, the 50W Redplate Blackverb is handwired point-to-point and sounds amazing. Its features offer: 1. Buffered tube-driven effects loop (patterned after the Dumbulator circuit). 2. A 17W switch on back of amp 3. Bias test point and Pot on back of the amp (Pair of 6L6 SED Winged C Power Tubes) 4. A "thin" switch that optimizes tone for humbucker guitars 5. Smooth switch. Great for adding a little midrange and smoothness for solo's 6. Mini toggle switch for Twin, Dumble or Super tones 7. Pull bright switch 8. Reverb knob can be switched all the way off defeating the Reverb circuit from the amp yeilding more gain and tone 9. Presence knob can be switched off defeating all negative feedback from amp resulting in more gain and fullness at low volumes. 10. The 1x12 Combo is 48 lbs 11. Mercury Magnetics Transformer (Good stuff!) 12. Impedance selector knob on back of amp for 2, 4, 8 or 16 ohm loads 13. Accutronics medium reverb tank. Gorgeous sounding Reverb! 14. Dumble Overdrive Stage with Gain, Drive and Volume 15. Three button Footswitch: Midboost, Overdrive or Boost. Any variation of modes can be stacked and sound great! 16. Harmonic sustain and rich tone to die for. Blackface tone heaven!
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Post by mtlrecords on Aug 17, 2010 12:43:53 GMT -7
That looks pretty awesome! Definitely has more bells and whistles than the EZG-50, but if it was me, I probably wouldn't touch them that often. Congrats though and looks like you found the right tool for the job.
Remember people: these are just tools. Functional, artsy, ear-shattering tools, but tools none the less. That said, I am still buying a MAZ Jr. before I consider any other amp companies, but Red Plate just caught my eye. Cheers!
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Post by Darkside on Aug 29, 2010 12:03:24 GMT -7
Did a similar thing, but I traded in a KT45 for the EZG. The EZG is just as capable as the KT in the clean headroom dept but is more controllable for lower volume levels. The KT is a bit like the Fender amps where the volume pot goes from off to loud in a hairs movement! The EZG is easily the best amp I have ever played, and certainly the best I've ever owned. The bass level I set up by just rolling it on from zero untill it just starts to fill in. Sounds awesome with my Z 4x10.
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Post by Chris NM on Dec 23, 2010 13:43:22 GMT -7
I sold my EZG-50 w/ Z 4x10 a little over a year ago & have not been happy since. I miss her:( The bass heavy was an issue and as open minded as I think I am, it felt weird to have to dial in the bass from from zero. Looking back, it seemed like a small price to pay.
On the exact flip side, I have a lightly used Maz 18 jr head with 2X12 Celest Blue that is due for delivery today!! So that will keep me busy for a while. I hope to honor my new years res to stop selling things.
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Post by mtlrecords on Dec 23, 2010 21:58:27 GMT -7
I am using my EZG-50 a whole lot lately. For super clean at reasonable volumes, not many amps come close. I didn't realize how much "hair" was on some of my clean tones with other amps until I did some serious listening during recording sessions with the EZG. I appreciate the harmonic overtones and power tube "push" I get with AC-30 type amps and Marshall amps. Sometimes though, you just need pure clean.
Also, I still haven't bought a MAZ 18 yet, but I hope to get one in 2011 (after a JAZ 20/40 but before a Red Plate).
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