Review: 4 gigs into Therapy
Dec 22, 2014 6:47:28 GMT -7
heynewguy (Ol’ Bill), detuned, and 6 more like this
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 22, 2014 6:47:28 GMT -7
Hi Z brothers and sisters,
I'd like to give some thoughts about my Therapy and 1x12 Convertible w/Creamback after owning it for two weeks, and using it in 4 gigs with the jazz band:
Now, you may get the feeling that I'm biased, since the first thing I will tell you is that it's the finest amplifier I've ever used in performance or practice, at home, etc., and in 48 years I've owned literally dozens of amplifiers. I'm going to be selling a few soon.
The settings: Master at 11:30. Bass at 9:, Midrange at 11:30, Treble at 1:30, and Volume at 11:30. I played most of the night with the neck pickup on about 8 and the bridge between 8 and 10. A great pallet of tones were at my fingertips. Saturday we were in a pretty big auditorium (~1500) with a large stage and I had no problem at all. I was setup between the piano, bass, and drums and I could hear everything. People in the audience remarked about the 'Presence' that I had in the mix. It was easy to dial in the sound I wanted, and the amp performed flawlessly.
Regarding the speaker, I'm really happy with my decision to get a Therapy and the 1x12 convertible Creamback cab. I have a lot of other speaker choices here in my studio, but I haven't found one yet that matches the Dr. Z open back convertible cab. I am thinking about buying a matching 2x10 convertible, but that's going to be after I get the Thiele cab I ordered for my EVM12L. That may be an interesting combination, those two. The thing is, this amp sounds HUGE. I can turn down and it still lets you know it's in the mix. It gives you such authority...
I can't find a bad tone in the whole amplifier, and every time I change the settings it responds with a wonderful new set of responses to my guitar. The tone controls give me terrific variety in the voice of the amp, while keeping a certain identity tone intact. Dr. Z really did a fine job on this section of the amp. It has a remarkable tone structure, very rich in harmonics and the amp really connects to me. It closes the loop between equipment and player in a way that I can best describe as the direct opposite of what I felt the first time I played a digital multi-effect box back in the 90's. I'll never forget the disconnected feeling that I got from that thing (and most all digital boxes, not meaning to step on any toes here. No offense; it's just a Dave thing!). There's a slight latency, or delay, call it what you like. And that latency disconnects me from the instrument. On the other hand, the Therapy hooks me up with an immediate, harmonically rich and alive response that opens up the doors of my creativity...I get inspired by it when I plug in. The amp connects me to my instrument in a unique way, a way that is hard to describe but when you strum those first notes you know you're in for a treat. The guitar becomes alive and responds like it never did before. In the jazz band I need a big variety of tone, everything from mellow comping to biting counter rhythm strumming...from soft sweetness to a searing in-your-face lead tone. Again the Therapy delivers with truckloads of tone.
Reading this post prior to posting, I have to laugh. It sounds kind of like a love letter...but I really, really dig this amp. It completes the instrument and closes the loop in a way no other amp I've used can. Thanks for reading my thoughts about Therapy, Dr. Z style. Get one.
I'd like to give some thoughts about my Therapy and 1x12 Convertible w/Creamback after owning it for two weeks, and using it in 4 gigs with the jazz band:
Now, you may get the feeling that I'm biased, since the first thing I will tell you is that it's the finest amplifier I've ever used in performance or practice, at home, etc., and in 48 years I've owned literally dozens of amplifiers. I'm going to be selling a few soon.
The settings: Master at 11:30. Bass at 9:, Midrange at 11:30, Treble at 1:30, and Volume at 11:30. I played most of the night with the neck pickup on about 8 and the bridge between 8 and 10. A great pallet of tones were at my fingertips. Saturday we were in a pretty big auditorium (~1500) with a large stage and I had no problem at all. I was setup between the piano, bass, and drums and I could hear everything. People in the audience remarked about the 'Presence' that I had in the mix. It was easy to dial in the sound I wanted, and the amp performed flawlessly.
Regarding the speaker, I'm really happy with my decision to get a Therapy and the 1x12 convertible Creamback cab. I have a lot of other speaker choices here in my studio, but I haven't found one yet that matches the Dr. Z open back convertible cab. I am thinking about buying a matching 2x10 convertible, but that's going to be after I get the Thiele cab I ordered for my EVM12L. That may be an interesting combination, those two. The thing is, this amp sounds HUGE. I can turn down and it still lets you know it's in the mix. It gives you such authority...
I can't find a bad tone in the whole amplifier, and every time I change the settings it responds with a wonderful new set of responses to my guitar. The tone controls give me terrific variety in the voice of the amp, while keeping a certain identity tone intact. Dr. Z really did a fine job on this section of the amp. It has a remarkable tone structure, very rich in harmonics and the amp really connects to me. It closes the loop between equipment and player in a way that I can best describe as the direct opposite of what I felt the first time I played a digital multi-effect box back in the 90's. I'll never forget the disconnected feeling that I got from that thing (and most all digital boxes, not meaning to step on any toes here. No offense; it's just a Dave thing!). There's a slight latency, or delay, call it what you like. And that latency disconnects me from the instrument. On the other hand, the Therapy hooks me up with an immediate, harmonically rich and alive response that opens up the doors of my creativity...I get inspired by it when I plug in. The amp connects me to my instrument in a unique way, a way that is hard to describe but when you strum those first notes you know you're in for a treat. The guitar becomes alive and responds like it never did before. In the jazz band I need a big variety of tone, everything from mellow comping to biting counter rhythm strumming...from soft sweetness to a searing in-your-face lead tone. Again the Therapy delivers with truckloads of tone.
Reading this post prior to posting, I have to laugh. It sounds kind of like a love letter...but I really, really dig this amp. It completes the instrument and closes the loop in a way no other amp I've used can. Thanks for reading my thoughts about Therapy, Dr. Z style. Get one.