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Post by Shannon on May 23, 2015 17:33:20 GMT -7
After passing the living room test with FLYING colors, I'll be putting the new Z-Lux through the full on, see what you got, live gauntlet tonight. Small place that's usually where I use a KT braked pretty hard or a Ghia slightly braked. I'm not even taking a brake or a pedal. After what she did in the living room, I don't think I'll be needing either. Great tone at all volumes and THAT BOOST . Taking Ol Pank (63 Strat, original pups) and my Grosh Electrajet with G4 humbuckers tonight and I'll do at least a set with each. I've got a full weekend from the moment I get up tomorrow so I might not be able to post the review till Monday night, but I'm taking notes tonight. Jason's coming so I'll get him to give his take as well. He's a little better at the description thing. I haven't been this excited about a gig in a long time and I've never been this excited about an amp. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Doc built a masterpiece. A drop the mic and walk off the stage kind of thing here.
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Post by BritInvasion on May 23, 2015 17:43:27 GMT -7
Cool Shannon , look forward to your report!
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Post by digs57 on May 23, 2015 18:04:04 GMT -7
might be time to move some things around...knowatimsain... ...
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on May 23, 2015 18:23:37 GMT -7
I haven't been this excited about a gig in a long time and I've never been this excited about an amp. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Doc built a masterpiece. A drop the mic and walk off the stage kind of thing here. Don't you mean "another" masterpiece Shannon?? !!!
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Post by pcns on May 23, 2015 18:49:25 GMT -7
Jealous!
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Post by Don on May 23, 2015 19:49:18 GMT -7
I'm anxiously awaiting this report.
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Post by Shannon on May 24, 2015 0:55:23 GMT -7
Just got home. I'm going to try to not sound like a guy that just had sex for the first time and was asked how it was. There is no way I can wait till Monday to report back. Kind of like having sex for the first time, I have to tell somebody.
I kept it on 20 all night and relied on the Volume and Master to keep it at a reasonable level. It will get loud on 20w but the MV is fantastic. No tone loss.
Let me start by saying this is a Strat's best friend. There is no way to turn the knobs that make a Strat sound bad. I can only imagine that it will do the same with a Tele but that's pure speculation. I had to dig a little more with the Grosh buckers. Turned the volume up and the MV down and pull out some mids and it was there. The boost really kicked those pups into action, too.
The Boost: I started the night setting the EQ like BW taught us. But the boost was a little too much. Probably would have been fine if I weren't going 3 piece tonight. But there wasn't much I needed to overpower so it was a little strong. Not a problem. I just turned the low mid and high up the same proportions, adjusted the MV accordingly and it eases the amount boost. You can dial it in perfectly. I hope I'm making sense. If not, let me know and I'll try again to explain.
If Jimmy Nolen were still with us, he'd flip over this amp. And somebody needs to get one in front of Nile Rodgers. I'm not good at describing tone, but that's the guys I thought of as we played tonight. Beautiful depth, articulation and clarity with a reverb that could go toe to toe with any tank out there.
I'm not a versatile guitar player. I tend to dial in my fat, clean sound and leave it there, using only a boost pedal for just a bit of hair. So I'm not the guy to ask how it works for country or rock. I don't doubt that it'll do that stuff, too. I just didn't go there. But funky, bluesy, roots rock, this mother's all over it. We got into some heaver stuff the last set with the Grosh. It also got plenty dirty for me playing at Hendrix.
I'm trying hard to not sound too giddy or like I'm just excited to have the new girl in town, but this amp is me. It's my tone. For the first time, I think my GAS has been cured. It really is the best amp I've ever played. Megan even came up to me and said it sounded amazing. Then on the way home she said "Really, I noticed it sounded great. I wasn't just saying that because it's your new amp."
I'm not saying it's for everyone. Everyone has a style. But the Z-Lux is going to be THE amp for a lot of people. I'm also excited that next time I play, I'll carry a Strat, a cord and a lighter than it should be combo amp. No brakes or pedals. One trip to and from the car. I might even get me a clip on tuner. No one will pick on me after they hear my tone.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on May 24, 2015 3:06:43 GMT -7
Great report Shannon!
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Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on May 24, 2015 4:15:07 GMT -7
So it's a keeper then, Shannon?? Excellent report.
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Post by doctorice on May 24, 2015 4:45:40 GMT -7
I'll take mine to its first gig in a couple weeks, so it's great to hear how well it worked for you, Shannon.
Your comments confirm my thought that you don't need a Brake Lite with this amp, unless you want to really push volume and master.
Added: In adjusting for the boost, I think you hit on the same thing I did for the MAZ. If you turn up the eq knobs, they're not attenuating the signal as much. So when you hit the bypass the relative "gap" in volume is smaller. Bringing MV down a bit compensates for the increase in un-bypassed volume caused by bumping up the eq knobs. Have I got that right?
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 5:51:07 GMT -7
Don't you guys use tremolo? Neither you or Doctorice mention it!?!?!
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Post by doctorice on May 24, 2015 6:10:55 GMT -7
Don't you guys use tremolo? Neither you or Doctorice mention it!?!?! Didn't get to it yet, Eric. It will be used. I want to compare it to the JAZ to see how Doc's new tweak turned out.
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Post by Maddog on May 24, 2015 7:10:34 GMT -7
Shannon, Shannon, Shannon.... dang it!!!!!!
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Post by Shannon on May 24, 2015 8:20:57 GMT -7
Don't you guys use tremolo? Neither you or Doctorice mention it!?!?! It hit me as I was laying in bed that I didn't mention it. The only experience I've ever had with trem is on a Fender Deluxe, late 70s that's been blackfaced. I never cared for it. I felt like it took away from the sound. So for me to describe the Lux trem as 'very useable' is big. I've never really wanted trem or felt like I needed it anywhere. I'll definitely be utilizing that function on the Lux. Once again, don't know how to describe it other than full sounding and beautiful. And very useable.
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Post by deltone on May 24, 2015 10:48:49 GMT -7
...If Jimmy Nolen were still with us, he'd flip over this amp. And somebody needs to get one in front of Nile Rodgers...So I'm not the guy to ask how it works for country or rock. I don't doubt that it'll do that stuff, too. I just didn't go there. But funky, bluesy, roots rock, this mother's all over it... Great report, Shannon! And I really appreciate you mentioning the style of music that you are playing with it as well as what style you didn't use it for. That's a bit of info I find missing from most reports. Certainly is helpful to me.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 24, 2015 11:10:05 GMT -7
Now stop that!
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Post by pcns on May 24, 2015 12:14:21 GMT -7
I must STOP reading these posts!
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Post by digs57 on May 24, 2015 13:34:42 GMT -7
yeah...it can be hazardous...ok...it sound's like my type of amp...plug and play.
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Post by nmz on May 24, 2015 13:37:19 GMT -7
Very cool!
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Post by KeithA on May 24, 2015 14:21:18 GMT -7
Unless Doc trickles out a new something that we don't know about yet, this will be my next amp in the fall....a red/tan head, of course
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Post by djcakadave on May 24, 2015 14:51:36 GMT -7
I'll carry a Strat, a cord and a lighter than it should be combo amp. No brakes or pedals. The wheels are a turning
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Post by Dan F"i"fe on May 25, 2015 8:42:50 GMT -7
Nice report!
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Post by Shannon on May 26, 2015 6:42:47 GMT -7
Added: In adjusting for the boost, I think you hit on the same thing I did for the MAZ. If you turn up the eq knobs, they're not attenuating the signal as much. So when you hit the bypass the relative "gap" in volume is smaller. Bringing MV down a bit compensates for the increase in un-bypassed volume caused by bumping up the eq knobs. Have I got that right? Exactly! Works like a charm. You can dial in just the right amount. I'll be using more for full bands when I'm not heavy in the mix and less for the 3 piece when I'm already strong in the mix.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on May 26, 2015 9:02:02 GMT -7
Alright... this is gonna be long, sorry in advance, but this amp deserves it.
Shannon did a fine job describing the one he gigged and he was pretty excited about this amp...
I told him and also leaned over n told Megan as he was playin Friday night... that this amp WAS Shannon.
Now that I have played the one he has and also heard it in band setting...I'll tell ya... one of, if not the best all around amps I ever played and in a word, Perfect. Kinda felt it would be.
The Strat kills with it and my old beat up fullerton roared to life... Shannon's ol Pank sounded perfect. But my Tele's, ALL OF THEM... were equally wonderful with this amp. Could not find a bad setting. So Single coils are wonderful... and like he said, just need to adjust and maybe roll back some mids and / or hi's n low's a bit for Humbuckers.
Several ways to use it but Shannon described using the Boost only with no pedals and he is right... I had to adjust the EQ some but was able to dial it in where when you hit the boost it is perfect...
and live when Shannon kicked in the boost he thought it was too loud (amp was leaned back and right up at his head) but it really wasn't where I was sitting at all... and the mix out front was just perfect (small club w/ 20 watt setting and unmiked). And again you can really dial it in with the EQ so that the Boost is more (or less) where you need it to be and right where you want it volume wise with the Master Volume.
The Reverb was as good as the EZG to me which is saying something... nice big sweep for just a slight verb to full on Surf. The Tremolo is also perfect and can be very subtle or deep and pulsing... I kind of like it very subtle. The amp is very quiet even cranked with the reverb and tremolo working smoothly even when driven harder (pedals too) or with the boost and cranked.
The foot switches that come with it control everything (reveb and Trem on one foot switch and the boost with the other) and really ALL you need if you don't want to use pedals.
I'm a pedal guy,
BUT I could ABSOLUTELY use this amp with the boost only and NO pedals at all as Shannon described. That is VERY VERY rare in any amp for me, as I love pedals and using different boosts for a variety of tones.
Saying that.... I personally would use my pedals and set up my board just like I do with my Maz and when I tried it I didn't have to adjust ANY of the pedals from where I had them set for the Maz Jr or SR... I did roll the Mid back some on the Z lux (I think it was around 10-11 o'clock) for using the pedalboard and then did not use the boost. It worked wonderfully... That's how I use my Maz and that's how I would use a Z lux... but that's just me.
Another way you could use this amp is the Boost set always on and just roll the volume back to clean it up... or actually use the boost pedal the opposite way (since you can fine tune it so it doesn't have quite as much volume drop with the EQ/ mids cranked some)... just to turn off the boost for some softer stuff (basically back the volume DOWN using the switch)... kinda cool that way, for a quick volume drop and / or roll the volume too when needed. Smooth very USABLE drive straight in from the Z lux with a little grit. Don't need a tube screamer or the BB.
I think we may have FINALLY found another bass player for the blues band fingers crossed?? and I am really looking foward to playing WITH Shannon and his Z lux live,
I will play my Maz Jr Studio 1x12 with my Tele and this should match up well with his Z lux and his strat...
The Maz Jr / Sr really ended my search and even though I like to mix in a different flavor with them... the Maz amps are just "ME" and I think the Z Lux has done that for Shannon. I know I am more of an El-84 guy after all these years... but if I played something else other than a MAZ it'd probably be the Z wreck, EZG, or Z Lux...
and of all the amps beside the Maz Jr / Sr... the 6V6's in this amp will absolutely do for me what I need and at any volume. The Z wreck or EZG will usually be too loud for me without an airbreak,
but with the Z lux you really don't need an airbreak at all...
VERY VERY versatile amp and it's a nice lighter weight... I was impressed with the weight and size.
Oh yea, and it looks cool too...
Shannon's is just like Joe Walsh's and very cool looking. Almost as good looking as my simple trusty favorite Maz Studio 1x12...(I also think a navy Z wreck 1x12 combo would look and sound really cool on the other side of the drummer from him...)
Which brings me to the new speaker...
HOLY CRAP. That's a GREAT all around speaker. I am pretty picky when it comes to speakers and this is a REALLY good one... I prefer Alnico's but THAT speaker is voiced perfectly and has enough headroom for an amp like the Z Lux / Maz SR but is still "lively" sounding and can help when you're trying to get a bit of hair from the amp... so to me It wasn't speaker drive as much as it was letting the AMP do it's thing and staying "lively" at lower and also at louder levels... very impressive and I tend to use a different speaker for lower vs. higher wattage amps somewhat, but I think this speaker may work very well for an M12 (sounded very good with mine) as well as an EZG / higher wattage Z (sounded good with my Maz SR too) in a 1x12 which is pretty impressive.
I'd love to get his Z Lux back and have more time / run it with more of my other amps than I did through that speaker, spent most of the time playing the Z Lux.
I first started playing the Z Lux, and just got lost playing it with out pedals or before even hitting the boost... the pure tone and then with all the USEFUL features...
I don't know how you could make a better all around gigging amp.
Now if you could put the EZG (w/ built in break lite) in THAT cab (lighter) with THAT speaker you'd have another pretty cool gig rig with 6L6's and a bit more thump ... but not much more, the Z Lux has some pretty good thrust and low end too.
AGAIN, SORRY this was so long... I debated whether to write all this and wasn't gonna post it since it was Shannon's amp and not mine, but he said go ahead and do it so... here it be.
Ya'll gotta play this thing and it really shines live just like the Maz does...
All I can say is it's THE PERFECT amp for Shannon as if it was made for him and I feel like a WHOLE LOT of other players are gonna feel the very same way REAL soon... Overall one of, if not the best amps I have ever played... Ever.
I think Doc is gonna sell a whole LOT of these amps... Another Modern day classic.
jus sayin.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 26, 2015 10:32:16 GMT -7
Now cut that out!
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Post by doctorice on May 26, 2015 10:42:05 GMT -7
Now cut that out!
I am very glad that I have more than one amp, but if I could only have one, I think this would be it. And that's based on maybe two hours of playing time.
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Post by DRZ on May 26, 2015 11:04:36 GMT -7
Thanks for taking the time to write this great review Jason. Shannon I'm happy you dig it.
Z
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Post by dock66 on May 26, 2015 11:09:32 GMT -7
Thanks for the reviews Shannon and Jason This may be one of Dr.Z's all-time favorite amps.
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Post by KeithA on May 26, 2015 11:13:59 GMT -7
I like how this thread is taking on that 'ol school Z-Talk vibe !
Great feedback on the amp guys (pun intended) !
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