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Post by doctorice on May 22, 2015 15:54:34 GMT -7
Arrived a few minutes ago. Will be plugging in after dinner. (Dinner with wife who indulges the madness )
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Post by shakey1000 on May 22, 2015 16:00:16 GMT -7
Wow! Gorgeous!! Have fun!!
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Post by doctorice on May 22, 2015 16:17:27 GMT -7
Paired up with its predecessor. The JAZ is only slight larger, but it's a whole lot heavier! Side benefit: I probably don't need a separate Studio Slips cover. The one that fits the JAZ will be only a little large on the Z-Lux.
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Post by shakey1000 on May 22, 2015 16:57:26 GMT -7
Ahh, now I get the Art Deco font on the Zlux control panel. Nice touch alluding to its predecessor.
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Post by lowbudget on May 22, 2015 17:00:45 GMT -7
Excellent Mike, I'm excited for you!
Yeah, I think the Z-Lux turned out a little bigger in the end than originally thought. Still beautiful though!
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Post by Maddog on May 22, 2015 17:08:27 GMT -7
Two generations of COOL there. Congrats, Mike!!!
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Post by brayks on May 22, 2015 17:17:38 GMT -7
Where's the "Jellie" Button. Can't wait to hear you comparison report Mike.
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Post by carrjimi on May 22, 2015 17:22:27 GMT -7
Keep us posted!
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Post by BritInvasion on May 22, 2015 17:54:44 GMT -7
Cool , Mike. Congrats!
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Post by Maddog on May 23, 2015 5:08:50 GMT -7
Meanwhile, back to naming amps.....this (007) amp is gonna have to be named something like "Bond, or Aston, or Martin, or Walther, or Dr No, or Gold Finger, or............"
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Post by brayks on May 23, 2015 5:39:01 GMT -7
Meanwhile, back to naming amps.....this (007) amp is gonna have to be named something like "Bond, or Aston, or Martin, or Walther, or Dr No, or Gold Finger, or............" Snatch. Sorry that was bad (and obscure)...
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Post by doctorice on May 23, 2015 6:19:11 GMT -7
^^^ I suspect we were thinking of the Bond girl with initials PG, Steve. She was my first thought as I read Lee's list
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Post by markT on May 23, 2015 8:02:41 GMT -7
Congrats Mike! Looks like you have another winner!!
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Post by GuitarZ on May 23, 2015 8:15:09 GMT -7
Very Cool! Rock it Out!
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Post by doctorice on May 23, 2015 9:09:02 GMT -7
Just up from a "getting to know you" session with the Z-Lux. I had to keep the volume down, so most of what follows is from low volume testing.
First, this amp sounds wonderful, confirming that you don't have to be Dave Baker to get it to sound great. The amp is very alive, even at low volume. I attribute that to the cabinet, with the speaker possibly being a factor as well. Before I got lost in just playing my guitar, I came up with these observations:
1. With V(volume) and Master on, sound will come out even if all the tone knobs are at minimum. (If you have the tone knobs all the way down on the Therapy, you get no output sound, in contrast.)
2. Setting all the tone knobs to noon, it sounds like the mids are slightly scooped. They become more prominent when the eq bypass is engaged. I don't think it's purely a volume effect since it's the highs and lows that our ears attenuate at low volume.
3. The eq bypass is, as Doc designed, less aggressive than the bypass on the MAZ. I think it will be very effective for solo boosts, although there will be some tone change per 2.
4. Plenty of bottom end thump; well controlled.
5. Like the JAZ, you can max all the tone controls and the amp still sounds great.
6. Since I brought up the JAZ, I did plug into that amp also. Now, my JAZ is a 2x10, so these observations aren't "apples to apples" with the same speaker, but I thought the JAZ was brighter, i.e., a bit more mid-scooped and its reverb came on more strongly than the Z-Lux's. The Z-Lux also seemed to have a little better/more defined string-to-string separation. Z-Lux may have a bit more OD/crunch at high settings of V as well. Again, could be the speakers; could also be that the JAZ's power tubes, which certainly have had more use, are just showing their age.
7. It might be possible to run this amp without a Brake Lite if you're willing to go with pedals. With V down at 9 to 10 o'clock and Master below noon, it's pretty quiet, especially if you back down the guitar volume.
Alll the above using my LP in the 20-watt mode. Did not even get to the tremolo. Did not try any pedals. A lot more comparison testing and listening to do, but it's going to be hard to get to because the amp seduces you into just playing your axe. That's what really counts.
Added: It should be extremely gig friendly.
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Post by nmz on May 23, 2015 17:23:02 GMT -7
Congrats and great review!
I might be wrong but I thought the boost was not a true EQ bypass.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on May 23, 2015 18:30:04 GMT -7
Lucky number 007!! Enjoy that amp cuz I jealous until I get back from vacation! No Zs here!!
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Post by doctorice on May 23, 2015 19:53:54 GMT -7
Congrats and great review! I might be wrong but I thought the boost was not a true EQ bypass. As I recall, Dr. Z said it was only a partial bypass. I think he meant that to tame the volume jump he left some portion of the eq circuit engaged when you hit the bypass. I did move all the tone knobs around when I had the bypass kicked on, and I didn't detect any change in tone. Of course, my hearing isn't what it used to be Fwiw, some time back one of the guys on Z Talk added a pot to a footswitch, which let him keep some signal flowing through the eq section. That served to reduce the jump in volume.
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Post by doctorice on May 25, 2015 8:58:33 GMT -7
I'm away and missing the Z-Lux already. I would have brought it with me but my wife had a long list of bulky items that needed transport, and I couldn't squeeze it in. Domestic tranquility, you know I'll seek consolation with the MAZ 8, which lives here (vacation getaway).
Has anyone else received one yet, besides Shannon, fasteddie and me?
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Post by jammergreg on May 25, 2015 22:06:07 GMT -7
I'm thinking ''Stacklett'' like Joe Walsh. I got the 1x12 combo coming, maybe add the 1x12 matching cab.
This is the new King of Grab 'n Go...for me anyhoo! C'mon Willcuts. End of July mine will get here.
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Post by Ridgeback on May 26, 2015 6:10:40 GMT -7
From what I have read, I'd probably prefer the Lux to the JAZ but there is something about the black oval front with the white piping and knobs on the JAZ combo that really appeals to me. A beautiful pair.
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Post by dock66 on May 26, 2015 6:51:14 GMT -7
I got mine from last week's batch as well.
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Post by nicholas on May 28, 2015 17:39:54 GMT -7
Hey Mike. Nice amp. The Zlux looks real sharp. I love the ZW cloth. Got that on my green Therapy and picked up some bulk ZW cloth from a forum member. Been meaning to swap out the grill cloth on my JAZ combo with the ZW.
But back on point. You know I'm a big JAZ fan. Are the differences between the Zlux and JAZ minor, or major? Pretty much the same amp? Or worth having both? I think I could fill the rest of my days with the JAZ and nothing else. But... Well...you know...
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Post by doctorice on May 29, 2015 6:12:16 GMT -7
Hey Mike. Nice amp. The Zlux looks real sharp. I love the ZW cloth. Got that on my green Therapy and picked up some bulk ZW cloth from a forum member. Been meaning to swap out the grill cloth on my JAZ combo with the ZW. But back on point. You know I'm a big JAZ fan. Are the differences between the Zlux and JAZ minor, or major? Pretty much the same amp? Or worth having both? I think I could fill the rest of my days with the JAZ and nothing else. But... Well...you know...
Nick, I've been away since the day after I got the Z-Lux. I'll be back home next week. That's when the real comparison listening will begin. Stay tuned, my friend.
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