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Post by zpilot on Jun 14, 2011 21:45:23 GMT -7
This is my first post. I am new to the site. Bought a MAZ Sr Rev in '05. Never really bonded with it. Bought a MAZ Jr NR in '10. Fantastic amp. Traded the Sr to buy the JAZ just the other day. Possibly the best amp I've ever owned and I've been playing since '66. First gig will be a 50s/60s show this weekend. It will replace a REAL '65 Twin Rev. I'm anxious to see how it sits in the mix and start experimenting with tubes and speakers. Any help or comments from those who have actually played one out would be appreciated.
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Post by doctorice on Jun 15, 2011 5:25:40 GMT -7
I don't think my JAZ will go out to a gig until August. Looking forward to reading your impressions and tips.
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akbach
Full Member
Believe in the Music
Posts: 184
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Post by akbach on Jun 15, 2011 14:03:43 GMT -7
I've taken mine on the road for the past year. It's a great amp. It's great to have because I play a lot of stages w/ no monitors, and when I need to turn it up, there's a ton of room to do so. I rarely play it at 40 watts, too.
I've told doctorice this before; you might need to be careful breaking in the high's. I don't know what speaker you have in there, but it can get quite piercing with the treble knob even at 10 or 11 o'clock. The first tour I took it on, I had the treble knob all the way down and I swear it sounded just like a well-preserved original blackface, but better. You turn the treble knob up a bit, it brings out that shimmering beauty that makes a Z the best amp on the market.
Congrats on the purchase. I love my MAZ 18, too. You MUST play them stereo and turn them up LOUD. I just about have an out-of-body experience every time I do.
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Post by zpilot on Jun 15, 2011 21:59:41 GMT -7
I did the Dr approved shelving mod to V1 on the Sr and it helped a lot but still wasn't quite where I wanted it. The Jr is fine stock. The difference must be that the tone gets warmer when you turn it up and I hardly ever got a chance to really open up the Sr. I have a Cannibis Rex with a Weber Beam Blocker in the Jr also and that helps. I have a well broken in G12H30 that will probably go in the JAZ. If you haven't guessed I have a long history of Blackface and Tweed amps. The JAZ sounds and feels like a really great Deluxe Reverb but with something extra. And what the heck, it looks so cool.
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Post by zpilot on Jul 8, 2011 21:06:44 GMT -7
Well I played the first show with the JAZ and it was all I hoped for. I had used the low power setting at rehearsal. I switched it to high power for the gig. No change at all in the EQ settings. It was perfect. If I could only have one amp this would be it. I play a Nocaster RI, custom built Strat, and a Gibson Johnny A and it likes them all. The only pedals I have played through it are a Barber Tone Press, Paisley Drive and Analogman Dual Delay. They all sounded great but 90% of the time I had them all off. EQ settings were: Treble 11:00, Mid 3:00, Bass 9:00 with a little tweaking to suit each guitar. I know they are out of production but find one if you can. I'd buy another if I could afford it. I play a show where a vintage tone is VERY important. This amp also has that cathode biased feel. I don't miss having a tube rectifier. I can't help but think the Dr. will build these again someday. I have another show next week-end and may have more to post after that.
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Post by doctorice on Jul 9, 2011 9:23:38 GMT -7
Thanks for that report. I'm pretty sure the JAZ will be my amp of choice for an upcoming (August) outdoor gig that features a lot of 50s and 60s material.
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Post by doctorice on Sept 5, 2011 14:16:40 GMT -7
Had two outdoor gigs in the last month with the JAZ, both heavily oriented to 60s rock and soul music. This amp and a Tele were just perfect. My settings were pretty similar to zpilot's, but I kept it at half power. I stood about 8 feet in front of the amp and had plenty of stage volume. Some use of pedals for a few solos, but mostly just the amp and the guitar volume and tone controls. Here's the amp ready to rock.
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Post by zpilot on Dec 31, 2011 14:10:08 GMT -7
See my reply to "New Amp Day"
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