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Post by Abandoned on Jun 24, 2012 18:36:04 GMT -7
So I have a 2006 Dr. Z Maz 1x12 and I recently played a 2012 model... Same exact model. And I felt like the newer one sounded so much more alive and vibrant and bouncy. And mine sounded more dull by comparison. I know the graphics and jewel light and power cable connection have been updated... but were there any circuit changes to update it or make it better? FYI: All my tubes are BRAND NEW, except the rectifier tube. And yes the combos had the same speaker.
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Post by fevzay on Jun 24, 2012 20:37:24 GMT -7
I can't speak for the Doc, but I did see a post he made on TGP a while back. He doesn't mention what they are, but that the newer MAZ 38's are different from the MAZ Senior's and the earlier MAZ's (studio lead, etc.). You may post it in the Ask the Experts area. _____________________________________ "MAZ 38's are in their third version. Version 1: 1990 to appox 1999 Original MAZ's were named ( i.e. Invasion, Studio Deluxe, Studio Lead , and so on ) they had Vertical input jacks, negative feedback, and a Presence control, a bit on the cleaner side. Version 2 : 2000 to 2010 Horizontal input jacks, hotter PI with no NFB, a CUT control, and now all called MAZ Seniors. A bit dirtier. Version 3 : 2011 to Present UL/ETL certified, back to Vert. input jacks, EQ boost and Effects Loop standard, detachable IEC power cords, many tweaks to the tone of the amp, and new Reverb tubs. DR.Z " www.thegearpage.net/board//showthread.php?t=1066868
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Post by Eddie on Jun 24, 2012 22:10:42 GMT -7
I assume the latest Dr. Z models are the best ones out there. The company is still small and still making amps by hand. Tonal improvements have been made here and there, according to the man himself. It's not like with old Fenders that compare poorly to new, mass-produced Fenders. Know what I mean?
I think you can send your amp to the Doc and have the shop bring it up to current specs. The main thing is probably the transformers. Wouldn't be cheap, though.
I'm not suggesting the older Z's _need_ updating. Mine is a 2006 and I love it, but the service is offered if you want it.
Best, Eddie
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Post by Eddie on Jun 24, 2012 22:13:11 GMT -7
edit: not sure if the trannys are any different on the senior model old vrs. new. They are new on the Jr. models though....
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Post by BW on Jun 24, 2012 22:29:56 GMT -7
Love 'em ALL. Ol' faithful needs a million mile checkup, but she's still sangin' to me.
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Post by fevzay on Jun 25, 2012 5:26:40 GMT -7
Cool pic's, Buddy!
My 38 is a 2005 or 2006, but it sounds great! The MAZ 38 NR has only been in my stable for a few months, but I new right away that it's exactly what I needed compared to my MAZ 18 NR. Wish I would've started with a 38!
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Post by markT on Jun 25, 2012 19:03:21 GMT -7
WOw Buddy...That's a good close up of Ol' faithful. I never noticed or knew, but that looks like a front loaded speaker.
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Post by bobbyray on Dec 19, 2012 19:06:56 GMT -7
This is very interesting to me. Part of what has me going after a 1 x 15 cabinet is that I played Frankie Starrs amp through a 1 x 15 and thought that I liked it much more than my MAZ 38 through different speakers. Now I'm thinking that it was his newer amp vs my older amp.
Alive, vibrant and bouncy are the words I would've used to describe the feel. Do I need to have my MAZ 38 updated?
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Post by Dan F"i"fe on Dec 19, 2012 19:18:19 GMT -7
Cool shots I don't recall seeing this amp before... Buddy did you put in the Texas air conditioner or was that an upgrade?
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Post by doctorice on Dec 19, 2012 19:37:22 GMT -7
There was a power supply change made to the MAZ 18 some years ago. When I sent mine (a 2001 model, iirc) in to have the EQ bypass installed the guys also did the power supply update.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Dec 19, 2012 21:53:34 GMT -7
Cool shots I don't recall seeing this amp before... Buddy did you put in the Texas air conditioner or was that an upgrade? My Maz 38 Bluesman has the same "Texas air-conditioner" that is in Buddy's pic. It is Maz 38 #6.
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Post by Dan F"i"fe on Dec 20, 2012 7:25:37 GMT -7
Hey Mike, That's a great looking amp! I love the 3 10's
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2012 9:02:20 GMT -7
I think the old vs. new conversation is just a matter of personal preference. I am certain that a convincing argument could be made either way. Like a friend of ours likes to say, "If 2 beautiful girls are walking down the street, one is a brunette and one is a red head, which one do you choose?" The only right answer is, "Which do YOU prefer?" or as I like to say, "Both" Why be stingy? ;D
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Post by maz38sc on Dec 23, 2012 7:24:26 GMT -7
I purchased a 2010 Maz Sr. w/Reverb and I know when I changed out the tubes, it made a WORLD of difference. It made the retubed MAZ come alive and more vibrant and bouncy just as you describe. I didn't really know it needed it, I just by default purchased all new tubes for it and WOW...huge difference.
...What does the EQ bypass mod do? I know mine doesn't have that.
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Post by doctorice on Dec 23, 2012 9:24:35 GMT -7
...What does the EQ bypass mod do? I know mine doesn't have that. The mod allows you to completely bypass the tone (TMB) controls. On the MAZ these are basically attenuators, so taking them out of the circuit allows even more gain to come through. You can still adjust tone using the Cut knob. It is footswitchable. Price for the mod was $150 last time I looked at Dr Z's website.
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Post by simpleton on Dec 23, 2012 9:37:46 GMT -7
WOW That MAZ Bluesman looks so darn pretty ! and Heavy .... Built for comfort not for speed i guess.
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Post by BW on Dec 23, 2012 19:41:00 GMT -7
What's the diff 'tween the 'Bluesman' and the Super Z? If I remember right, maybe the 'Bluesman' was a harp amp? Seems like doc had one for ol' Fadda o' Brit Blues to blow thru once at Wilbert's...
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Dec 23, 2012 19:43:19 GMT -7
What's the diff 'tween the 'Bluesman' and the Super Z? If I remember right, maybe the 'Bluesman' was a harp amp? Seems like doc had one for ol' Fadda o' Brit Blues to blow thru once at Wilbert's... When I asked Doc he said the difference was the speakers. Everything else was pretty much the same. He was aiming for different tones with each speaker. Your amp has Celestions, mine had Weber Alnico. You're more than welcome to try it if you get back to this part of the country.
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Post by maz38sc on Dec 23, 2012 21:41:12 GMT -7
...What does the EQ bypass mod do? I know mine doesn't have that. The mod allows you to completely bypass the tone (TMB) controls. On the MAZ these are basically attenuators, so taking them out of the circuit allows even more gain to come through. You can still adjust tone using the Cut knob. It is footswitchable. Price for the mod was $150 last time I looked at Dr Z's website. Ahhh, i see. Thanks much! That sounds like something worth doing thanks!
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Post by Maddog on Dec 24, 2012 5:39:58 GMT -7
When I bought my 38 (Dec 2011), Doc told me he had made tone circuit changes that made the amp more suitable to playing at low volume gigs. Not that it won't still roar (it will!!!) but it stays really full at low volumes (moreso than the Jr IMHO). Doc told me he wished all the folks that previously bailed on the 38 because it was too loud for smaller venues could play his newer iteration. I've played many old ones and of course my newer one a lot. I dig 'em all. What a great flagship the Maz family has been for Doc!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 10:39:20 GMT -7
When I bought my 38 (Dec 2011), Doc told me he had made tone circuit changes that made the amp more suitable to playing at low volume gigs. Not that it won't still roar (it will!!!) but it stays really full at low volumes (more so than the Jr IMHO). Doc told me he wished all the folks that previously bailed on the 38 because it was too loud for smaller venues could play his newer iteration. I've played many old ones and of course my newer one a lot. I dig 'em all. What a great flagship the Maz family has been for Doc!!!! I custom ordered my Maz 38 in Jan. 2004. It was cleaner than I was used to. Once I learned BW's settings and started pegging the volume I really grew to love the Maz, especially @ louder volumes. It sounded great at low volumes with a distortion pedal in front of it. The only reason I bailed on it was because I really originally wanted a Route 66. I was able to finagle a trade with bratstrat for his Route. The Route was even cleaner than the Maz. Still, I grew to love the Route with it's cleans. Awesome amp. I miss both of them, but really learned a lot about tone with those amps. It was the plexi sound I was really after. I still wish I had my Maz 38 and my Route 66. Maybe someday I can add them back to the heard.
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Post by doctorice on Dec 24, 2012 11:07:59 GMT -7
The mod allows you to completely bypass the tone (TMB) controls. On the MAZ these are basically attenuators, so taking them out of the circuit allows even more gain to come through. You can still adjust tone using the Cut knob. It is footswitchable. Price for the mod was $150 last time I looked at Dr Z's website. Ahhh, i see. Thanks much! That sounds like something worth doing thanks! You're welcome. Since all the bypass is now standard on all MAZ models, maybe you can audition it at a dealer.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 8:45:57 GMT -7
Does anyone know if the newer Maz38 is cleaner? I had a Maz combo in 2009 and after it got warmed up I'd lose clean headroom. I like it to be very clean and use pedals for dirt. I do play fairly loud so the volume never deterred me. But I would be very interested in trying another Maz if the current version was cleaner.
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Post by bobbyray on Jan 2, 2013 9:54:21 GMT -7
Does anyone know if the newer Maz38 is cleaner? I had a Maz combo in 2009 and after it got warmed up I'd lose clean headroom. I like it to be very clean and use pedals for dirt. I do play fairly loud so the volume never deterred me. But I would be very interested in trying another Maz if the current version was cleaner. Honestly I feel like the EZG-50 is a better platform for keeping the amp really clean and using pedals. I found the MAZ always has just the slightest bit of hair on it, peach fuzz even, and that's where it shines.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 18:21:44 GMT -7
Seems I read in this thread that the Doc considers the Nwer Maz 38 to be the cleanest. I didn't go back and reread the whole thread, but check it out.
Check that - He says it stays fuller at lower volumes. So clean is not the operative word. "Fuller" is good too.
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Post by mrdownchild on Feb 18, 2013 20:37:25 GMT -7
I bought the MAZ and have decided it'll be the first and last Z amp I'll ever buy. It suits me and my style. I heard Buddy playing with John Mayall many years ago in Wheeling, WV. As soon as I heard him, I thought to myself, " Well, there it is...that's what good tone should sound like." So, I go out and get me a MAZ. I still feel like the amp opened up and singing is a tough act to follow.
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