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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 29, 2014 16:20:36 GMT -7
I've got a Maz 8 and I would like to hear from anyone who has heard it alongside a Maz 18 or 38. What are the differences in tone? Are the bigger ones just louder? I want to get another Z...I like the Maz 8 a lot, but it seems to run out of clean headroom pretty fast. So, I'm thinking about a Carmen Ghia or a Monza...or maybe just a Maz 18. Thoughts anyone? Thanks!
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Post by Stephen on Oct 29, 2014 20:08:42 GMT -7
I haven't played my Maz 38 out much, but I have played my Maz 18 NR out a lot. The Maz 8 responds exactly like the Maz 18 in a gig setting. In fact, I've played a quiet club gig three times this month and my Maz 8 responds just like my Maz 18 does in a larger venue. I even had to use the Brake Lite on the Maz 8 with my Les Paul! Our other guitar player brought his Maz 18 last week and had to play it so quiet that it really couldn't bloom like my Maz 8. He commented on the tone I was getting, especially with a Stratocaster.
Don't give up on the Maz 8 just yet!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 29, 2014 20:43:07 GMT -7
I've got a Maz 8 and I would like to hear from anyone who has heard it alongside a Maz 18 or 38. What are the differences in tone? Are the bigger ones just louder? I want to get another Z...I like the Maz 8 a lot, but it seems to run out of clean headroom pretty fast. So, I'm thinking about a Carmen Ghia or a Monza...or maybe just a Maz 18. Thoughts anyone? Thanks! Definitely wouldn't go with the Monza if you're looking for clean headroom. You might want to look into the RX's for an amp that has clean headroom as well as ability to get some dirt.
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Post by jb on Nov 12, 2014 17:40:24 GMT -7
Give the Ghia a try. You may like its simplicity and tone. You have a bunch of knobs on your Maz, you may discover that you really don't need them all:)
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Post by zed on Nov 12, 2014 18:00:58 GMT -7
The Maz Jr. will definitely have more headroom, if that's what your after.
The Junior seems to have more bottom end thump than the Maz 8 on similar settings.
I like the simplicity of the Ghia, I did find similarities with the Junior.
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Post by doctorice on Nov 12, 2014 18:29:42 GMT -7
I've got both an 8 (studio cab with 12" Blue) and 18 ('verb model in a 2x10 combo). While the tone stacks are similar, the single-end (one EL84) in the 8 vs 2 EL84 in the 18 makes for a subtly different feel and tone. The 18 can, to my ears, have too much bass: I usually keep it dialed pretty low. In contrast, on the 8 I've got bass up around 1 or 2 o'clock.
If you're after a louder clean tone as your base, the 18 will get you there. But then if you want to dial in an OD, the 18 is going to be really loud. Mine needs to be attenuated to save my hearing! That's why the 8 is such a cool amp: You can get the OD sound at more reasonable volume. That said, like Stephen Leake noted, sometime the 8 needs to be attenuated. It's capable of being quite loud at home and can handle some gigging situations.
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Post by digs57 on Nov 15, 2014 17:21:12 GMT -7
man I would think more of what your liking out of your maz 8... 18 ups the ante some.
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jim elshaw
New Member
Drummer by trade. Wannabe guitar hero.
Posts: 11
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Post by jim elshaw on Nov 16, 2014 8:52:56 GMT -7
I'm trying to decide between the 18 nr or the 8. It will be used almost exclusively at home for practicing alone and the occasional jam session at home with bass and drummer. My concern with the 18 is that it will be way too loud even when attenuated when dialing in some dirty tones at home. My concern with the 8 is does it have enough headroom when a clean tone is desired while playing with a drummer and bass at home? Right now I'm leaning towards the 18 with a brake light, but still wonder if its gonna drive my wife nuts when dialing it in for some dirt. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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jim elshaw
New Member
Drummer by trade. Wannabe guitar hero.
Posts: 11
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Post by jim elshaw on Nov 16, 2014 8:55:10 GMT -7
I should note that I play a strat and play a wide range of styles, from clean to classic rock.
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Post by doctorice on Nov 16, 2014 9:07:27 GMT -7
Hi, jime, welcome to the forum.
My $0.02: Get the 18 with Brake Lite. For the situation you describe, you likely will never have to worry about not having clean headroom. The 18 NR is basically the same price as the MAZ 8, or if you want built-in 'verb, then you're looking at a few hundred more. (Assuming you're looking at new. If you check the used market you'll probably find more 18s for sale than 8s, largely because the 18 has been around a lot longer.) While I like to run either MAZ with Master up past noon, it still sounds really good with Master below noon. That plus a BL will let you get amp overdrive at reasonable volume. For example, you can kick on the eq bypass, which provides max front-end gain, dial up Volume, put the BL on 4, set Master to taste and have a lot of fun. It is a fantastic amp with a Strat.
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jim elshaw
New Member
Drummer by trade. Wannabe guitar hero.
Posts: 11
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Post by jim elshaw on Nov 16, 2014 9:16:53 GMT -7
Thank you. That's pretty much what the guys at Humbucker said too. When I heard Dave Baker playing some sweet crunch on the 8 demo, my first thought was "how loud does the 18 have to be to get tones similar to this...?". Seems the more I question, the more i realize all roads lead back to the 18. About to pull the trigger soon and i can't wait! Here's to not being deaf and divorced in a year!
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Post by doctorice on Nov 16, 2014 9:19:28 GMT -7
^^^
MAZ 18 Jr was my first Z. Darn things are addictive, so you've been warned.
Humbucker is a first-rate dealer too.
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Post by digs57 on Nov 16, 2014 9:43:03 GMT -7
I can hear the crunch of those potatoe chips right now....go 18...can cover the vast...whatever.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 29, 2014 10:59:54 GMT -7
After playing a bunch of Z's last weekend, I've got a Therapy on layaway right now at Humbucker. The only question is whether to go with the 1x12/Creamback or the 2x10 Z cab...I do have a home built 1x12 that I made to Mesa's specs back in the late 90's...it's just an inch and a half short of being as wide as the Therapy head. It'll look kind of lame but the cab sounds great. It's a semi open back and I've got a V30, G12H30, Greenback, EVM12L, Celestion Blue, and a couple of other speakers that I can try through it. So I might go with a 2x10 unless someone lets me know that it would be a bad idea...I play mostly blues, jazz, and classic rock. Thanks guys!
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Post by doctorice on Nov 29, 2014 12:00:01 GMT -7
^^^
I like the 2x10 setup. It suits the styles you play, and it will complement your 1x12 in a dual-cab rig.
My MAZ 18 and JAZ are both 2x10 combos with Doc's speakers. Lots of punch and plenty of low end. I haven't connected the Therapy yet, though.
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Post by Christopher on Nov 29, 2014 18:43:46 GMT -7
That should sound great and larger rhan the blue solo from my eexperience. I use an extra z 1/12 12h30 with my blue in my home studio and it sounds huge. A pair of tens and a twelve should purr.
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Post by JasonM on Nov 29, 2014 22:16:58 GMT -7
Currently using my 2x10 with Z 10s and my Therapy and it sounds great. With the speaker options you already have I agree with others and would go with the 2x10. It sounds great on its own and would be even bigger paired with a 12" of yours in another cab.
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Post by chaasy89 on Dec 2, 2014 11:35:43 GMT -7
To everyone who's commenting on how great strats are with this amp ... thank you for possibly pushing me over the edge to pull the trigger on one. Now accepting donations
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Post by Easyrom on Dec 2, 2014 13:24:22 GMT -7
To everyone who's commenting on how great strats are with this amp ... thank you for possibly pushing me over the edge to pull the trigger on one. Now accepting donations I've sold all my guitars, but my Stratocaster because of those guys! I'll let you know if I have any regrets... ;-)
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Post by chaasy89 on Dec 3, 2014 10:59:56 GMT -7
To everyone who's commenting on how great strats are with this amp ... thank you for possibly pushing me over the edge to pull the trigger on one. Now accepting donations I've sold all my guitars, but my Stratocaster because of those guys! I'll let you know if I have any regrets... ;-) I'm so torn. I have a 2x10 z cab that, when paired with the 12" Blue combo absolutely sings. I'm not currently playing with anyone and likely wont ever gig in the near future so my "logical" mind says sell the cab and put $$ towards a new axe. Let's be serious; I'm likely not going to need more Z power for what I do in my apartment to warrant pairing a higher wattage head with the cab (Debatable, I know). So my conundrum is "to sell cab or not to sell cab".. Sure does stack nicely in the corner it's in though. Nothing like a bad case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome right around Christmas time... Cheers all
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Post by BritInvasion on Dec 3, 2014 14:55:01 GMT -7
My take is I'd sell the cab. If I understand , you are not using it. You can find Strats cheap enough , and can always get another cab if circumstances change. My 2 cents.
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