bartc
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by bartc on Jun 10, 2011 21:48:47 GMT -7
I am very sad to hear that the JAZ 20/40 has been retired, and I have an educated opinion on why it was not a success. Marketing an item that is not readily available to touch, smell and taste is very difficult. Very subtle cues impact a buyer's perception. So, here is my theory: 1. The name JAZ is associated with Jazz to those that do not know the Dr. Z naming nomenclature. This is like selling a white car (men don't buy them). 2. Coupled with the font on the front of the amp and the hash marks on the dial positions this amp creates an image of the 30's, and 40's Americana. 3. The change in the amp face with the oval cut out also contributes to the same image. The reverb and the vibrato add to the cost, and limit the demand. It just visually appeals to a smaller market of buyers. 4. 20/40 does not help define the amp. This is great technical info., but it adds nothing to the appeal. Hell I would have simply named this amp: 396. I know this is one of the Dr.'s best amps ever developed, and I hope it comes back.
Frankie Starr's videos are so great, and I love every minute of them. To market an amp like this you have to show what the buyer thinks it does not do first and fast, followed by what it does best, and then what others don't do. I would have showed it blistering the paint off the wall, bright Stevie Ray, and then CCR with that vibrato and reverb killing.
Dr. Z please don't give up on this amp! I own 5 different Dr. Z amps, and 20 others. This amp design is a real winner, but just not the right approach for the times we live in to stimulate the demand. There is nothing about this amp sonically that is not brilliant. You clearly deliver the best amp for the money!
If you need an idea as to where to focus, I suggest figure out how to cut weight and retain tone. Flying and transporting gear is so expensive due to airline fees, and also the age of amp buyers that lighter with master tone is the way to go. Most professional musicians that are going to play and endorse Dr. Z would appreciate a lightweight amp that sings.
I know hundreds of musicians that are playing professionally, and most play amps at 30 watts or less with a single speaker. They all want them to be under 25 lbs., so in a case they are under 50 lbs. Other wise a rented Fender Deluxe backline is the best option.
I would love to hear the forum members thoughts. This is simply my opinion. That is why we write this stuff, right?
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Post by mtlrecords on Jun 11, 2011 12:32:27 GMT -7
I agree with many of your sentiments here. I own several Z amps and the JAZ 20/40 was next on my list. After playing 7 or 8 amps at my Z dealer (including other manufacturers such as 65 amps, Tungsten and Swart) I decided that the JAZ was the most flexible and best sounding amp of the bunch.
I finally felt that Dr. Z was recognizing the need for a master volume amp that still had lots of clean, Fenderish headroom- but gain on tap too! Plus, the addition of reverb (which I love!) and tremolo allowed it to compete with some other manufacturer's offerings.
I hope that rather than bringing back the JAZ 20/40, he innovates and improves upon it, mainly in the areas of appearance, name and weight. I too would love to have a lighter weight Z amp. I would really love to see the Dr. Z "Super Trem-Verb 40" that had a full redesign on the style and came in closer to 40lbs in a 1x12 combo. Maybe it could also include a footswitchable boost (a la the Rx ES) so one could get even more gain, which Z does so well.
Cheers!
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Post by BW on Jun 13, 2011 13:14:55 GMT -7
I bought a white car.
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Post by Curt on Jun 13, 2011 14:24:54 GMT -7
And I drive a white truck.
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Post by nicholas on Jun 13, 2011 16:19:48 GMT -7
Whatever killed it....... it sure wasnt the tone....
I like the oval hole, in the combo at least. I like the overall look just fine myself. And the reverb and trem are what sold me on it. But the name could be misleading to some.
Everyone will have a suggestion for the name. Mine would be:
Z- R/T
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bartc
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by bartc on Jun 15, 2011 20:20:50 GMT -7
Thanks for reading my post, and realize the white vehicle post is a statistic not an criticism. A well educated car dealer/salesman can peg a buyer's choice with a few questions. I am not a car salesman, but am facinated by the science.
I LOVE the JAZ 20/40 by the way, and I am very dissapointed it did not become the next Z sales leader.
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Post by sutoman on Sept 14, 2011 8:02:08 GMT -7
I'm kind of blown away at all of the white cars and especially SUV's on the road these days. I don't get it. Apparently the O.J. chase did not deter future auto buyers.
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Post by buckeyebob on Sept 22, 2011 14:23:07 GMT -7
I had a JAZ in my crosshairs until they went out of production. I really liked the idea of a maz preamp & remedy power section. I agree the name probably hurt sales, maybe the oval too. Maybe a new name like JAG or XKE or XKZ would be the ticket, in keeping with the whole car theme thing. Just my armchair marketing analysis.
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Post by doctorice on Sept 22, 2011 14:26:19 GMT -7
It's interesting that at least so far there don't seem to be JAZs showing up used on BST here or eBay.
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Post by jimmysmith on Sept 22, 2011 17:21:20 GMT -7
i was always curious as to what the voicing would have been without adding reverb and tremelo to the jaz 20 40, i know that was part of the design, but it wouldnt have sounded like the remedy would it?
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Post by doctorice on Sept 23, 2011 5:40:50 GMT -7
i was always curious as to what the voicing would have been without adding reverb and tremelo to the jaz 20 40, i know that was part of the design, but it wouldnt have sounded like the remedy would it? Not at all, imo. JAZ is solidly in the blackface zone, and Remedy is in plexi land.
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Post by teardrop123 on Oct 17, 2011 16:18:01 GMT -7
the first time I played my Telecaster thru the Jaz 20/40 with Reverb and Trem I liked it. As you know I'm saving to buy a new amp and the JAZ 20/40 would be first on my list. You don't find many new amps today with reverb and trem. For me that's the selling point yea it has a Master Volume but if I get the schematic I can take care of that. I would not drop this amp at all there is still us older players that like that type of amp. Maybe there going for the younger market and they feel maybe more younger players will buy DR Z. For me its hard to find and amp that I like and the Jaz 20/40 would be a keeper and my only amp
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Oct 19, 2011 8:26:28 GMT -7
I agree totally! You nailed it. I really thought about getting a jaz to gig with . My old Super is just too much amp for real gigging demands and i hope the amp will come back. El Macambo screams with this amp. And tremelo sounds that pedals cannot come close. Great Thread
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Post by argytar on Oct 24, 2011 16:59:10 GMT -7
I was carrying the amp the other day and some eager guy sitting at a cafe like 15 feet away was screaming 'Is it a bassman? tell me is it a bassman??' I have the blonde combo. I said 'No it's a Dr Z' He said wow.
Everytime I bust my back to bring this amp to a gig I thank myself for doing so. In the end of the night I say 'it was so worth it!'
I don't care if the name isn t fitting ,it s my first Z and I love the way it looks and sounds! (I m getting wheels for it though cos I m done carrying it like 400 metres from my parked car to the bar ,together with my guitar and pedalboard!!
Some guys think it s a JAZ(Z) amp until they hear my Cabronita go riiiiiiiing! Perfect reverb perfect trem great bass response ,I have to say that when I play it live I always have the feeling that I 'm spoiling myself with great tone and response!
Ok ,I had to say these things to stress that if you get to hear and play the amp the name is the least you re worried about. (I liked the name ,it reminded me of MAZ...)
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Post by bassnomo on Nov 24, 2011 7:42:17 GMT -7
Name, hole shape, color, specs, even weight are unimportant to me, and fade into the shadow of this amp's TONE. It has it, as all Z amps do,and i am actively looking for one...I am resigned to using a dolly to move my amps for any distance, just the price of admission for the sound i must have. BW, i drive white too, and have since Chevy came out with that beautiful Solar White in the early 90's.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2011 12:58:01 GMT -7
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Post by bassnomo on Nov 25, 2011 20:26:34 GMT -7
Thanks ty, i drooled over those a little, took a cold shower, reminded myself that i had plenty of Z's to play until that super deal came along...
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