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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jan 27, 2011 12:45:55 GMT -7
Now apart from the Wattage difference, are these the hottest, loudest, heaviest of the Doc's amps? I was really trying to figure out the difference between MazGT and SRZ65, but the Rt66 seems to sit right in the middle, so I added it to the mix.
I've been asked by a friend about high watt DrZ amps, and he likes hard heavy OD amps - I have zip experience with them
I'll post in other relevant threads too
Cheers
Pete ;D
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Post by Rich (fbb90) on Jan 27, 2011 15:06:22 GMT -7
Although I've never played a 66, I'm not sure I'd put them in the "high gain" category w/ the SRZ and GT (which I have).
I think you could put the Monza in w/ them. GT, SRZ, and Monza would be the three "high gainers" of the Z lineup in my opinion.
I'd put the Route 66 in w/ the Delta 88, KT-45, and the Remedy. They can get some crunch, but their not really "high gain."
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jan 27, 2011 15:35:02 GMT -7
Thanks Rich. Can you give me a comparison between the MazGT and the SRZ?
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jan 27, 2011 16:43:35 GMT -7
Thanks Rich. Can you give me a comparison between the MazGT and the SRZ? Pete, You should probably have only posted this question once, maybe in the "ask the experts section". Posting it in multiple areas leads to confusion. Anyway, I've got all three. Here's my take. No Dr. Z amp impresses me as "heavy" like the ENGL, Diezel, or Mesa Rectifier. The Mazerati GT is probably the highest gain and might be the loudest of the three. As you turn on the volume control the gain starts and it gets gainier from there, but it's all power amp distortion and never gets that "nu metal" OD like the ENGLS and Diezels are capable of. It cleans up well with the guitar's volume control. It kind of sounds like a Marshall crossed with a Trainwreck with Dr. Z's tight bottom and smooth highs. It's louder than crap, especially for a 45 watt amp...that's partially because it's an extremely short circuit path and there's minimal preamp losses. Its kind of a "high bandwidth" amp; it covers a lot of frequencies. It cuts through in a band situation (NOT from the volume) like nobody's business. It's like a guitarists saxophone. The SRZ is Doc's take on a JCM800. Its got that distinctive midrange that stands out. Its got "Doctor Z" touches like an ultralinear power tranny, the tone controls seem to work better than some unmodded 2203's, and the master works extremely well. Mine cleans up decently well with the guitar's volume control, but not as well as the Mazerati GT...nowhere near "clean". That's due to the SRZ's use of a cascaded preamp- although not nearly as many stages as the Mesa or other preamp gain amps. It's really loud but sounds *surprisingly* good with the master turned down and the gain up a little bit (more preamp gain and less power amp gain). Its not fizzy or grainy. It's got a real good low end; maybe about the same as the great low end of the Mazerati GT. It might be a hair quieter than the GT full-out but it's more versatile volume wise due to the master volume. The Route 66 is by far the quietest, least gainy amp of the three. Some people think its a JTM-45 type amp but I've never thought that. To me it's Dr. Z's most "Dr. Z" sounding amp, with the Ghia a close second. It's got a really distinctive midrange, and a tight low end but not as much low end thrust as the other two amps. The highs on my early model are really dark and smoky but later ones >year 2000 are a little brighter. It's got the widest "volume sweet spot"... by that I mean it sounds full and feels great with great sustain at every volume level. To get it to really crunch up you've got to crank it but it gets a great complex clean tone down low. It's the only amp of this group that you can get a stinging top end and smooth bottom or a crunchy bottom with a smooth top from only one amp thanks to the unique tone controls. Mine is loud but you can be in the same room with it even cranked (it's like 32W). They all take pedals well but the Route 66 is the hands down winner due to the SRZ's cascaded gain stage and the GT's overall high gain level.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jan 27, 2011 16:52:26 GMT -7
Oh, and my baby the Delta 88...
My Delta sounds like a HUGE early Route 66. It's not what a lot of people who haven't played one assume it is. It's not "harsh" or cutting like some ripping Marshalls, and it's not a clean headroom machine. It's got a "iron fist in a velvet glove" attack like the old Rt. 66, a FAT ultralinear tranny smooth midrange, and lows that were unequaled until the EZG-50 came out. When you bias the Delta at 24-34mA or so, it gets some crossover distortion that makes it Marshally sounding but rounder. When you up the bias to 50mA or so, it puts out 112W or so, gets more clean headroom and the crossover distortion is minimized, making it even rounder on the attack and smoother sounding. It sounds great at EVERY volume level, but when you turn in way up it'll bring your house down. It measures out to be extremely loud but the perceived loudness is less than the SRZ or Mazerati GT to me because of the midrange frequencies those amps accentuate. The Delta is more like the "can stand to be in the room with it" Route 66.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jan 27, 2011 17:04:02 GMT -7
WOW Phil, thank you so much! What comprehensive answers ;D I'll pass these on to my friend and discuss with him some more.
Sorry about multiple posts - I didn't really know where to ask this sort of question, and I'll delete the other two.
Really grateful for your time and effort here ;D
Pete
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jan 27, 2011 17:08:37 GMT -7
No problem Pete! You're quite welcome. I should add that my Delta at any bias setting doesn't come anywhere near the saturation of the GT or SRZ. It's got a lot of gain to be sure, but it's a coarser, more "power tubey" sound. The SRZ has a lot of preamp and power amp OD in its DNA; the GT is all power tube but it doesn't feel or sound like it. It's just glorious "where is that heavenly, totally controllable, "read my thoughts" gain coming from?". The Delta sounds more like an old non master volume Marshall but smoother, with more string-to-string balance, smooth highs, and lows from the Laurentian Abyss
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Post by Rich (fbb90) on Jan 27, 2011 19:35:44 GMT -7
Very well said, Phil!
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jan 28, 2011 9:26:51 GMT -7
.... and lows from the Laurentian Abyss LOVE IT! ;D
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Post by matty6strings on Jan 29, 2011 14:20:59 GMT -7
Oh, and my baby the Delta 88... It's got an iron fist in a velvet glove attack This resonates with me, I can now imagine the actual sound now that I have an SRZ and Remedy. Great post!!! Thanks a lot. Matty
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