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Post by superxguy on Jan 6, 2013 9:13:57 GMT -7
Pulled the trigger on a JAZ Head a few weeks back and received it the other day. I had been looking for a clean black face type amp with reverb but didn't want to deal with the issues of using and maintaining vintage gear. This amp and the EZG-50 looked like they would fit the bill. I liked the features on the JAZ better due to the half power switch and the tremolo and when one popped up on the bay at great price, I grabbed it. I couldn't wait to fire it up but after about an hour of noodling with it, I wasn't getting the clean tones that I had expected out of it. It then dawned on me to max out the master volume and then bring up the volume control to taste. Wow! Great clean tones and loud even on half power. I had problems with the reverb though. It seemed noisy as it was cranked up and it went from no reverb to a lot of reverb with just a little tick of the knob. Very hard to find a sweet spot. The next day when I fired it up, I could only get a tiny bit of reverb out of it even with with the knob cranked up. I swapped the V3 and V4 tubes and re-plugged the plugs going into the chassis and the reverb came back. I played several hours without issue. Next day when I fired it up, reverb almost non-existent again. This time I pulled the tank and opened it up and re-plugged the connections inside. I also checked all of the solder connections inside and on the RCA plugs. I pinched the RCA plugs a little bit so they would hold better and put everything back together. Reverb is back but now it has a smoother taper as you turn up the knob. It's not as deep as it was but it sounds pretty good. My EQ settings ended up with Bass at 9:00 Treble at 11:00 and Mid at 11:00. This is a great sounding amp with one of the best Tremolo circuits I've ever heard. Bummer about the reverb problems out of the gate though. I've thinking about replacing the RCA cables and the tank in hopes that the reverb problems will go away. It's my first Dr. Z amp and I would like it to be a good one.
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Post by doctorice on Jan 6, 2013 12:39:54 GMT -7
Congrats on the amp and welcome to the JAZ section. We've had a couple new people here lately, which is great.
Sounds like you're doing the right things to deal with the 'verb. You might check over in the MAZ 18 section as there have been several threads about reverb. MAZ and JAZ have similar front ends.
If you want additional advice, email repairs@drzamps.com. The shop guys are very responsive.
Feel free to go to full power with Master up high. Start with Volume all the way down and then just bring it on up and see if you like it.
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Post by JasonM on Jan 7, 2013 9:54:44 GMT -7
Another congrats on getting a great sounding amp and welcome to the forum. What color is it? I hope you get the reverb issues fixed/corrected, did the cables or tubes get loosened up from shipping?
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Post by superxguy on Jan 8, 2013 6:05:17 GMT -7
I ended up pulling out the reverb can and opening it up. I re-plugged the plugs inside and checked the solder joints. I also pinched the RCA plugs a little bit so they would hold tighter when I reassembled everything. Voila! Everything is working fine now. Luscious deep reverb with a long decay to it. It's almost hard to dial in a light reverb with it but it's there and the Tremolo is stellar. Still experimenting with varying settings of the volume and master volume controls. I'm getting some great clean to light crunch tones. I tried maxing out the master volume and then bringing up the volume while on the high power setting and wow! For a 40 watt amp, this amp will push some air through a 212 cabinet. One thing I noticed is that this amp forces you to play better but then it rewards you for doing so with great tone. It's very sensitive to your technique. I've owned a lot of amps over the years and this one is up there with the best of them. This one is a black head and it looks like it is #15.
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Post by doctorice on Jan 8, 2013 11:53:17 GMT -7
One thing I noticed is that this amp forces you to play better but then it rewards you for doing so with great tone. It's very sensitive to your technique. Many of us had the same experience ;D
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Post by JasonM on Jan 9, 2013 8:39:11 GMT -7
Good to hear you got the reverb issues fixed and are enjoying your new amp.
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Post by neville01 on Jan 11, 2013 6:38:13 GMT -7
I received my Jaz last week and have had to send it back due to the reverb issue you experienced here and indeed some pretty bad cabinet rattle at high volumes. Truth be told the amp just wasn't loud enough for my needs and I felt the amps sweet spot lay around the half way mark which didn't cut it for my band. A Fender Vibroverb is a lot louder. Having said that in the right live situation it would have been perfect, has some of the best Fullerton tones I've ever heard and tremolo to die for. I'm back to using my Marshall live but would still like to get a Z for my studio and teaching room here at home. Either a Carmen Ghia or a Mini Z.
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Post by twangstang on Jan 13, 2013 11:37:31 GMT -7
Something doesn't sound right. My Jaz is easily as loud as a Vibroverb.
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Post by zpilot on Jan 13, 2013 15:27:00 GMT -7
I never had any problem with my JAZ being loud enough. I don't play any louder than the drummer but I've played it with some hard hitters. I noticed that the original 1x12 configuration was not as loud as the 2x10 that I have now. If I need to be any louder than the drummer I think it's time to use a mic.
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Post by aaronblues on Jan 13, 2013 19:38:47 GMT -7
i didn't find the 1/12 version very loud for it's wattage, especially compared to other Z's.
I did find the reverb (and trem!) amazing, glad to hear that you got it sorted out.
enjoy! cheers
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Post by neville01 on Jan 14, 2013 6:10:23 GMT -7
Live we mic but I like to be at least as loud as the drummer on stage rather than having to trust a front of house guy to give me a decent monitor mix (if there even are monitors) I also don't like to be nearly maxed out on the vol. I hate that 'back up against the wall feeling'. I've ordered a Carmen Ghia to fulfil my Z curiosity at more respectable volumes at home and for recording and keep the big heads and 4X12's for the stage. Or if there is a real nice venue with a front of house guy I know and good monitors I could bring the smaller amp. I gigged with a Cornford Harlequin once through a good PA and monitors and it was great.
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Post by superxguy on Jan 16, 2013 6:07:47 GMT -7
I'm running my head through an Avatar 2X12 cabinet loaded with Celestions and it pushes plenty of air. It's not going to compete with the big Marshall heads and Recto's with their 4X12 cabinets but then that's not why I bought this amp. It will certainly fit into any venue that a 40 watt Fender circuit would fit into and do so with exceptional tone.
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Post by nicholas on Jan 16, 2013 16:41:07 GMT -7
Congrats on the amp and getting the verb working. I hardly ever turn the verb up past 9:00 but find I have real nice control over it in that little window. I've had sooo many amps, and quite a few different Z's. The JAZ is easily my favorite. Enjoy it! And if it ever starts to not sound loud enough just change your power tubes. I actually run TungSol's in mine because they dont sound as loud as the JJ's to me and get me in the sweet spot sooner.
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Post by superxguy on Jan 19, 2013 8:05:23 GMT -7
Played my first gig last night with the JAZ. Used the 20 watt setting with the master dimed and the volume set around 8:00 to 9:00 O'clock. Used an OCD for solo's and a Hamer USA Special with it's hot P90's and the rig just rocked. We played everything from Jazz, blues, to Led Zep and the JAZ sat perfect in the mix. I had several players compliment me about my sound after the gig and ask about the JAZ. NO Problem at all with volume and never used the 40 watt setting. I cranked up the volume to around 11:00 and backed off the master with the Special on the bridge pickup and got an excellent Communication Breakdown sound with just the natural breakup on the amp. This one is a keeper...
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Post by nicholas on Jan 22, 2013 13:52:41 GMT -7
Nice
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