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Post by billy8945 on Feb 5, 2013 6:14:04 GMT -7
Hi Guys. Is the Monza now tame enough for my needs? I play blues using a Deluxe Strat, an old Yamaha Super Axe(335), Tele with P90s. Les Paul for slide. I mainly use my Ghia with either 1X12 or 2X10 Z cabs or both. I also have a Maz 18Jr NR combo which I am thinking of replacing with a head as I prefer the closed back speakers I already have. I was wondering if the Monza head was an option as I prefer the amp to drive rather than use pedals? My other concern is, is there enough headroom at gigs for a near clean tone? My band plays mainly small to medium venues and we do not mic the backline or drums. I do get comments from the guys when I push the ghia to 2 o'lock or more if I need more guts. I'm sure it is the dynamics of the amp and not decibels I hear but they are not convinced. Your thoughts please on this or any other options.
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Post by limenine on Feb 5, 2013 7:27:08 GMT -7
Check out jimfog's videos Monza vid thread. He does a nice job of showcasing the Monza in a band setting.
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Post by limenine on Feb 5, 2013 7:31:50 GMT -7
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Post by billy8945 on Feb 5, 2013 9:18:30 GMT -7
Thanks. I have checked those vids out and like what I hear. I'm not sure this is the latest model with the master vol. though. I'm assuming not as there is a discription of his using a brakelite on 2 clicks. The other thing for me is, no matter how little he is using of the fender amp, along with the Monza, would it not colour the tone. It obviously works for him and that's great. I have a brakelite but I find I can hear the difference even though it may only be with the movement of air from the speaker so would rather not use it.This is why I was thinking the M/V model may suit my needs better. I suppose my main concern is, if there was any clean setting to be had at gigging levels. Am I on the right track? or is my thinking a load of %*&$*@........
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Post by limenine on Feb 5, 2013 11:24:35 GMT -7
Might be a good idea to PM or email jimfog - if I remember correctly, he sold the non- master Monza, bought a Ghia, then sold the Ghia and bought a MV Monza... (and unfortuneately money issues forced the sale of the monza soon after)
But he'd be able to fill you in on both versions of the Monza and compare them to a Ghia for you.
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Post by billy8945 on Feb 5, 2013 12:30:42 GMT -7
Thanks for your interest and the good idea about the PM. It's a shame I am so far from the supplier here in the UK and unable to try it.
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Post by club327 (aka Ben) on Feb 5, 2013 18:15:40 GMT -7
Hey i bought jim fogs monza and at first thought i would say there is plenty of gig level clean. it is not crystal clean like the clean channel of my peavey, but i have only played it with the band once so far and i have never played a gia or maz so im not sure what sound you are after. I would say it can do a nice loud rock and roll clean, just some shimmer or pulse like a trem was just bearly on, if that means anything. Crap not sure how much help i am. Sorry. There is plenty of guys on here jim fog or eddie can help.
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Post by billy8945 on Feb 6, 2013 2:10:15 GMT -7
Thanks Ben. It's all relevant thanks. Everything I see or read says this is a loud amp. Thats OK as Dr Z amps are loud or perceived loud. Partly I believe because of the quality and definition produced which cuts through the mix. For me it is about being able to control a nice mellow driven tone without the audience having blood pour from there ears. I started with a Maz38 head which sounded great but was too much without a brakelite, which I am not overly enthusiastic about. I bought the Ghia head which has became my choice at this time. This amp plays right for me with the vol set at around 1 or 2 o'clock. But at smaller venues this can be a little over the top. Sold the Maz38 for a Maz8 combo which I returned as I swear there was a fault when played in triode mode. Probably only a noisy tube but it put me off. I asked for a Maz 18 combo to replace it but now wish I had the head instead. My position now is to replace the Maz 18 combo, which is now on eBay, for the head or try something different like the Monza head. Why do I make life so complicated you ask. The answer is, because I can.
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Post by limenine on Feb 6, 2013 7:44:59 GMT -7
Hmm - don't give up on attenuators completely just yet. There is a phenomenon discussed at length on this thread: Benttop's attenuator test thread that, in a nutshell, says our brains perceive a reduction in volume as 'bad' in terms of tone. Just because it is primarily a perception (because there are certainly other factors relating to how hard the speaker is working,room acoustics; etc) doesn't make it any less real - after all, our reality is our own perception of the world around us - but there is a way to keep our brains happy . Start out with max attenuation. Get the knobs all twiddled to taste, then decrease attenuation to suit the situation. Works like a charm. Now, all that being said, many found that the Monza in particular doesn't play well with attenuators. I'll leave the wherefores and whys to people smarter than me, but it seems that that may be a reason it was updated with a MV.
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Post by billy8945 on Feb 6, 2013 8:57:52 GMT -7
Thanks for the info. I am still useing a brakelite attenuator in my Maz 18 combo, screwed inside the cabinet. maybe I should take more care with it's set up, as you have directed.(thanks). I didn't like it used on the Ghia at all, but that was a stand alone type that I bought used so perhaps it was not working correctly??? (now moved on). I have not tried the one I have now with the Ghia. Perhaps I should.
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Post by limenine on Feb 6, 2013 9:01:02 GMT -7
Might as well give it a whirl - nothing to lose by trying
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 7, 2013 19:12:35 GMT -7
Thanks Ben. It's all relevant thanks. Everything I see or read says this is a loud amp. Thats OK as Dr Z amps are loud or perceived loud. Partly I believe because of the quality and definition produced which cuts through the mix. For me it is about being able to control a nice mellow driven tone without the audience having blood pour from there ears. I started with a Maz38 head which sounded great but was too much without a brakelite, which I am not overly enthusiastic about. I bought the Ghia head which has became my choice at this time. This amp plays right for me with the vol set at around 1 or 2 o'clock. But at smaller venues this can be a little over the top. Sold the Maz38 for a Maz8 combo which I returned as I swear there was a fault when played in triode mode. Probably only a noisy tube but it put me off. I asked for a Maz 18 combo to replace it but now wish I had the head instead. My position now is to replace the Maz 18 combo, which is now on eBay, for the head or try something different like the Monza head. Why do I make life so complicated you ask. The answer is, because I can. Keep the Ghia, keep the MAZ 18 and get yourself a Monza head. You got a coupla cabs already, right? And a buncha good playing guitars? Get yourself a head-bone/cab-bone switcher .... and have yourself some fun Really, depending on the p.a. system and how your mic things or however loud you like to play, you gonna have some fun .... I aint gonna try to answer clean-headroom/volume vs drummer/need for brakelite ..... other than to say, Z Amps are made to be played ..... and can be played in many a setting or situation cheers always, Joel p.s. lookin' forward to your future updates
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