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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 5, 2013 6:28:51 GMT -7
I had wanted a Dr Z for a long time based on the tone I heard from the usual suspects here and on YouTube. When a Maz 38 2x10 became available I jumped on it immediately. I passed on an 18 because I wanted a lot of loud clean headroom. Unfortunately I'm disappointed. There was so much talk about how loud these amps are but I find myself unable to get through a rehearsal without pinning the master and the volume. I thought maybe the 2x10's weren't cutting it so I played through a 2x12 and a 4x12 cabinet and while the tone got thicker it didn't really get any louder. I play with a loud drummer and another guitarist who generally uses a Matchless C-30. The Matchless is a similar setup but it is SO MUCH louder than the MAZ even when I have it pinned. I plug into the backline Fender Deville and have no problem keeping up. I've retubed the entire chassis thinking that there might be a problem. Is it possible that somethings wrong or am I expecting too much from this amp? I would think it would be on par with the C-30 but it's not even close. Any ideas??
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2013 11:20:15 GMT -7
A maz 38 should be able to keep up with a Fender Twin.
If the amp is used you probably need to retube. If that is not the problem then there might be a problem with the amp.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Jan 5, 2013 11:55:05 GMT -7
I'm guessing you need 4 matched EL 84's. Also try cleaning all jacks with Deoxit including speaker outs and effects loop. Please let us know how it works out. Good luck.
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Post by darthfederer on Jan 5, 2013 13:03:09 GMT -7
That is almost hard to believe unless you are playing a stadium or something. My Maz 8 is shockingly loud for an 8 watt amp. Report back if the suggested fixes worked for you. We all know how loud a Z watt is.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 5, 2013 14:12:09 GMT -7
I re-tubed it when I got it and didn't notice a volume change. I got a set of new matched 84's and swapped out everything else as well. I'm not using the effects loop but I'll try cleaning everything out.
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Post by Matt on Jan 5, 2013 14:12:43 GMT -7
My Maz 38 NR will rip my head off if I pinned the master. I use a Z-Best cab and I never need to lower my break lite past two clicks and that's with my master at noon and my volume at 9 o'clock.
There must be another reason for that volume issue. I agree with some of the people above. Get new power tubes. If that doesn't fix it then take it to tech that can give it a check up and diagnose the problem. That thing should give you all the volume you could want.
Good luck!
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Jan 5, 2013 15:19:17 GMT -7
I re-tubed it when I got it and didn't notice a volume change. I got a set of new matched 84's and swapped out everything else as well. I'm not using the effects loop but I'll try cleaning everything out. Use the end of the jack to work the Deoxit into the input. Work the plug in and out and circular so you clean it well. When I had my 38 2x10 combo it kept up with a 100 watt Marshall 4x12 and 400 watt bass amp with 1x15 and 4x10's no problem Good luck again.
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Post by maz38sc on Jan 5, 2013 20:21:28 GMT -7
Good God, the Maz Sr. should surely hold its own and then some w/any of the amps you mentioned. Maybe give the Doc a call and get his (or his techs) initial thoughts?
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Post by Sean on Jan 5, 2013 20:23:23 GMT -7
Ditto to all above! That should be one LOUD amp.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 23, 2013 14:34:44 GMT -7
Unfortunately I'm feeling kind of stuck on this. I gigged out Saturday and went with the old faithful Fender Diville because I knew it would cut through with the cleans I needed. I guess I'll send it off to the local shop and see what they think. I've replaced all of the tubes and cleaned the contacts as requested but no luck.
I'll keep you posted.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 9:49:05 GMT -7
Might be time to invest in a KT-45.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 25, 2013 8:20:34 GMT -7
I don't think so. I don't have another Maz to play against live but I'm convinced something is wrong. I can sit directly on a stool facing the amp with the master pinned and the Volume at 12 O'Clock and the level is acceptable. Loud, but doable. It seems like it should be louder. I can't get the Deville past noon without pain.
I've also noticed that the high end is really lacking. The Vox like chime I had hoped for just isn't there. The high end is thin and requires fine tuning with the cut to not be painful. It sounds much better at low volumes than loud. Lastly I hate the way it breaks up. There is a high fizzy quality to the distortion that sounds nothing like the demos that sold me on this amp. If I pin the volume and the master i get distortion but it isn't all that pleasing or alive. My OCD and Tube Screamer sound better than the over driven amp. That shouldn't be.
I have to figure out if I want to ship it back to the doc or have a local guy look at it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 5:51:21 GMT -7
I don't think so. I don't have another Maz to play against live but I'm convinced something is wrong. I can sit directly on a stool facing the amp with the master pinned and the Volume at 12 O'Clock and the level is acceptable. Loud, but doable. It seems like it should be louder. I can't get the Deville past noon without pain. I've also noticed that the high end is really lacking. The Vox like chime I had hoped for just isn't there. The high end is thin and requires fine tuning with the cut to not be painful. It sounds much better at low volumes than loud. Lastly I hate the way it breaks up. There is a high fizzy quality to the distortion that sounds nothing like the demos that sold me on this amp. If I pin the volume and the master i get distortion but it isn't all that pleasing or alive. My OCD and Tube Screamer sound better than the over driven amp. That shouldn't be. I have to figure out if I want to ship it back to the doc or have a local guy look at it. My Maz 38 was loud.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jan 27, 2013 6:03:02 GMT -7
I don't think so. I don't have another Maz to play against live but I'm convinced something is wrong. I can sit directly on a stool facing the amp with the master pinned and the Volume at 12 O'Clock and the level is acceptable. Loud, but doable. It seems like it should be louder. I can't get the Deville past noon without pain. I've also noticed that the high end is really lacking. The Vox like chime I had hoped for just isn't there. The high end is thin and requires fine tuning with the cut to not be painful. It sounds much better at low volumes than loud. Lastly I hate the way it breaks up. There is a high fizzy quality to the distortion that sounds nothing like the demos that sold me on this amp. If I pin the volume and the master i get distortion but it isn't all that pleasing or alive. My OCD and Tube Screamer sound better than the over driven amp. That shouldn't be. I have to figure out if I want to ship it back to the doc or have a local guy look at it. If you have time I'd,recommend sending it back to Doc - no one knows those amps like Doc and Company!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 9:02:36 GMT -7
If you have time I'd,recommend sending it back to Doc - no one knows those amps like Doc and Company! ^^^ Like I recommend removing the chassis from the head for shipment. It's a bit cheaper shipping that way. You can even remove the tubes, and wrap them individually so they don't get damaged.
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Post by mickey on Jan 28, 2013 2:14:34 GMT -7
Something's definitely wrong here, my Maz Sr w/rev is a LOUD amp, and there is more high end available than I'll ever need. Are your EL84's definitely OK?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2013 9:39:28 GMT -7
I wouldn't be surprised if an output tube went bad and took out a screen grid resistor.
That's one reason if you have an el84 amp to replace those output tubes on a schedule of some kind. I know it's difficult sometimes with the unpredictability of todays el84s, but if you have a reliable tube dealer it makes things a bit easier on ya'.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 28, 2013 15:28:47 GMT -7
I have a ton of 84s lying around but bought new ones anyway because I didn't know how old they were. The new EH's sound the same as the old JJs.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 28, 2013 18:02:06 GMT -7
I wouldn't be surprised if an output tube went bad and took out a screen grid resistor. That's one reason if you have an el84 amp to replace those output tubes on a schedule of some kind. I know it's difficult sometimes with the unpredictability of todays el84s, but if you have a reliable tube dealer it makes things a bit easier on ya'. How can I check? Would something be visibly burned on the board??
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2013 20:53:04 GMT -7
I wouldn't be surprised if an output tube went bad and took out a screen grid resistor. That's one reason if you have an el84 amp to replace those output tubes on a schedule of some kind. I know it's difficult sometimes with the unpredictability of todays el84s, but if you have a reliable tube dealer it makes things a bit easier on ya'. How can I check? Would something be visibly burned on the board??It would be the large 470 ohm (I believe) 3 Watt flame proof resistor on one of the el84 tube sockets. It will be visibly scorched. You also will not get a proper reading off of it with a meter. Someone please correct me if i am wrong. it's been awhile since I messed around with a Maz 38. I don't remember which pins it will bridge either, but you can't miss them. they will be the largest metal film resistor on the tube socket.
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Post by bubbaheat on Jan 29, 2013 7:01:24 GMT -7
Thank you. I was going to pull the chassis and look for anything obvious anyway, at least I know what I am looking for.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 15:36:14 GMT -7
Thank you. I was going to pull the chassis and look for anything obvious anyway, at least I know what I am looking for. You're welcome. Be safe. Beware high voltage in filter caps.
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M
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Post by M on Jan 30, 2013 18:30:32 GMT -7
You should try swapping out the phase inverter as well....My maz was acting funny (volume cut, high end a little wonky, bass a little flubby), and a new PI tube fixed it right up.
As for the effects loop jack, I finally gave up on cleaning it and actually soldered the switch. No problems since.
My maz has held it's own quite nicely with 100 watt Marshalls and Mesas through a big cab.
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Post by bubbaheat on Feb 2, 2013 13:41:27 GMT -7
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Post by bubbaheat on Feb 4, 2013 12:19:23 GMT -7
Actually my new Phase inverter blowed up. I've never seen a tube crack before. I put the old one back in. Same results.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2013 14:06:45 GMT -7
Call the Doc. Pack up the chassis and ship 'er out.
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Post by BW on Feb 7, 2013 8:08:59 GMT -7
A Blues DeVille is a SIXTY watt amp. That said, you guys must be blastin'.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Feb 7, 2013 16:26:33 GMT -7
What type of rectifier is in there? If you bought it used maybe the previous owner put a 5Y3 in there. Make sure it's a 5AR4 - you will get much more head room out of it - less sag. Maybe you replaced it when you did the complete retube - just covering all tube possibilties.
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Post by bubbaheat on Feb 8, 2013 10:01:58 GMT -7
New Recifier, It's a 5Ar4. I used all the tubes the Doc Specs here on the page. BW - We are a loud band but everything I've heard about this amp says it should keep up. Especially when I'm pushing 4x 12s.
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