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Post by hdahs143 on Jan 25, 2006 19:00:10 GMT -7
Alpha Music, my local store has a red 2X12 combo loaded with Alnico Blues, serial #2 I believe. I tried it out during my lunch break today with a Suhr Tele.
Absolutely amazing! I have NEVER been knocked about by any tone machine like this, and I've been playing a long time and am a bit of a tone freak. The sound is unbelievably rich, filled with sweet overtones, and positively 3D! I was playing in Alpha's "Tone Zone", A small room with sound baffles on the wall so you can crank it up a bit. This is normally kinda dead sounding to me, but with the Stingray, the room was just filled with a vivid, almost magical sound. I know I'm gushing, but it really has to be heard to be believed.
All the snarly, snappy tones you expect from a "Z" are in there, but there's more. Play chords and let them ring, and you start hearing songs from Tom Petty to the Beatles in your head. It's a strong clean sound, but filled to the brim with even order harmonics, and excellent string to string balance. You really do hear all the notes in a chord!. The tone control covers any thing from dark, warm and woody, to Vox bright and snappy. And the cut adds the desired amount of sizzle to the final product. Being EF86 based, the controls are very active. much different than my MAZ 38.
I don't know how much the Blues have to do with the sound but I suspect they are an essential part of the final product. I also dont know how or when I'm going to come up with the $$ to buy one, but I'm going to. This is an incredible amp. It may not replace every other amp you own, but I can assure you that NOTHING else on this planet can replace this heavenly tone machine!
Hats off to you Doc!
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Post by groovergeorge on Jan 26, 2006 3:07:12 GMT -7
Man, I just read what you had to say and I'm thinking, Is it just me or do other people think this amp could be the best ever made as well?
All I can say is I want one...............
Looks like I got some $$$ to save.
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by rpavich on Jan 26, 2006 4:06:28 GMT -7
Gush all you want...I'll be here to take those Ghias, Z28's, and MAZ-18's off your hands for pennies on the dollars so you can fund your Stingray GAS!!! bob
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Post by groovergeorge on Jan 26, 2006 6:50:57 GMT -7
Who said anything about hocking the other stuff to get one.......just gonna have to save those pennies!
;D
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Jan 26, 2006 8:58:07 GMT -7
ahhhhhh...now I want a stingray...everytime I think I'm... OK.... along comes another Z..... it NEVER ends...and I don't think I'd be getting rid of Z's but my tweeds are getting very nervous.....they are scared and well they should be! be afraid be, very afraid.... Hey groovergeorge.... I WANNA SEE THE JAR YOUR GONNA PUT ALL THOSE PENNIES IN..... ;D super size me? might fit in a big gulp.... I can see the LOOK on the bank tellers face when you drive that Jar in... Jason
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Post by DRZ on Jan 26, 2006 16:32:28 GMT -7
hdahs143, thanks for the kind words you have me blushing.
But yes this is finally the sound that has been in my head for forty years, it is a wonderful Grand Piano tone.
It takes be back to the sounds that made me want to be a musician.
DR.Z
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Post by taswegian on Jan 26, 2006 18:04:02 GMT -7
OUCH!!! I didn't need to read that.
Oh, and Groover is gonna have to save his 5 cent pieces 'cause we aint got no pennies in Oz. By the way Groover, I'm supposed to visit my sister in Ballina this year. If you manage to score another Z let me know where you're playing so I can come hear it!
I'm starting to get interested in this amp as my clean! Probably does a pretty good Brian May as well. mmmmm.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Jan 27, 2006 14:41:33 GMT -7
I've gotta admit, this one DEFINITELY has me thinking... I've gotta find one to demo somewhere though, as I'm a little concerned that it'd have too much power for my needs.
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Post by JChance on Jan 27, 2006 16:02:54 GMT -7
I'm curious as to how similar the Stingray is to the Mazerati. Are they "similar, but different?" Or "Different, but different?"
Yes, I know that the Mazerati is not an AC30 clone, and has it's own unique design. But you always hear that, up to this point, it's been the most "Voxish" Z... Especially when you consider that this was the amp that was to help replace Paisley's vintage AC30's.
My favorite "non-Z" amp is a Matchless DC30. I'm curious as to which one of these is closer to a DC30-type amp.... I'm assuming that the Mazerati would be, with it's more "modern" spin. I plugged into a Mazerati with blues a while back at Rock Block Guitars in Nashville, and it reminded me a bit of a Matchless.
Just trying to figure out what my next Z will be!
JC
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 27, 2006 16:05:41 GMT -7
The cut control is the obvious improvement over the Mazerati to me. I had a Mazerati head for a couple of weeks and could never get the highs down to my liking. I'm picky about too much treble.
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Post by hdahs143 on Jan 27, 2006 16:44:02 GMT -7
The cut control is the obvious improvement over the Mazerati to me. I had a Mazerati head for a couple of weeks and could never get the highs down to my liking. I'm picky about too much treble. I've never tried a Mazerati, but I can assure you that is not a problem with the Stingray. It can be as dark and warm or as bright as you want. The EQ section of this amp has a very wide range.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 27, 2006 18:21:40 GMT -7
The cut control is the obvious improvement over the Mazerati to me. I had a Mazerati head for a couple of weeks and could never get the highs down to my liking. I'm picky about too much treble. Hey billyguitar - have you ever tried beam blockers? I have them on a THD cab here and it is amazing what they do to the top end - you can still hear it but its not killing you. I've got a set on order for my Mazerati - expect a full report after I get them installed...
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 27, 2006 19:09:01 GMT -7
I have a beam blocker although I didn't try it with the Mazerati. I've used it quite a bit with another amp so I'm pretty confident in feeling it wouldn't have helped my situation. There was just a high glassy treble that I couldn't get rid of. Probably exasberated(sp?) by my Tom Anderson guitar. It has very bright pickups with a very wide range of tone from low to high. Kind of like Barden pickups but not quite that bright.
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Post by billyguitar on Jan 27, 2006 19:11:55 GMT -7
I forgot to say; I really like beam blockers a lot. It does cut down on the treble beam straight ahead of the amp and also helps you hear the amp better off-angle. Adds no coloration either.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 27, 2006 19:26:48 GMT -7
I forgot to say; I really like beam blockers a lot. It does cut down on the treble beam straight ahead of the amp and also helps you hear the amp better off-angle. Adds no coloration either. Yeah, I like 'em too. Too bad they don't help on that one problem, but maybe that means you need another amp - yeah, that's the ticket...
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Post by groovergeorge on Jan 27, 2006 22:46:43 GMT -7
Hey TAS, no problem,I'll keep you informed.
Not sure when I will be getting the Stingray,but I want one really bad.
I have owned a Vox AC30 re-issue and the clean chime in the sound byte on the Z-site just makes the AC30 sound like a "Piece of S#@t"! Hey, I'm not knocking the Vox,It was a kind of nice clean and then when opened up, a rockin' amp! But compared to an old vintage, real blonde 60's, AC30 or the new STINGRAY it just didn't rate. The whole frequency spectrum and chime in the STINGRAY sounds that much richer and detailed. In simple terms,AC30 wasn't that bad, it's just the STINGRAY was that good! I think coupled with a really good boost like a Fulltone Fat boost to smooth out those mids and give you AC30 top boost vibe or or a Fulltone 69' (all his ef86 loaded amps seem to love pedals) for the Hendrix thing,makes this one of the most versatile rigs ever made. Hey, from early Beatles to Hendrix and everything in between, what a winner!
If you are looking for a clean amp to A/B with your Route 66,look no further TAZ. Order one if you got the dough or save like me. To me this and his KT45 are his crowning achievement. Actually I'll changed that, all of his EF86 amps are ...........actually I might just change that to, anything this guy from Cleveland decides to put together is absolutely brilliant ;D
Thanks again Doc.
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 28, 2006 10:26:54 GMT -7
You all are making me really nervous. I've been a certified amp junkie for years, but my Mazerati is my first Dr. Z. I've only had it a couple weeks and here you are making me sweat bullets over this new amp! I can see that this forum is not helping my addiction - sort of like an alcoholic hanging out at the bar. It would be a lot easier if the good Doc hadn't made so many different sounding but very cool amps. Just based on this thread, I already want a KT45 and a Stingray, and of course one can always use a Maz 18, right?
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Post by Bill on Jan 28, 2006 10:44:38 GMT -7
You all are making me really nervous. I've been a certified amp junkie for years, but my Mazerati is my first Dr. Z. I've only had it a couple weeks and here you are making me sweat bullets over this new amp! I can see that this forum is not helping my addiction - sort of like an alcoholic hanging out at the bar. It would be a lot easier if the good Doc hadn't made so many different sounding but very cool amps. Just based on this thread, I already want a KT45 and a Stingray, and of course one can always use a Maz 18, right? I can relate. Currently on number five, and the StingRay could push the number even higher. I keep trying to move out of the "Z box", but when it actually comes time to pull the trigger the dollars always go to the good doc.
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Post by taswegian on Jan 28, 2006 18:15:22 GMT -7
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Post by teleking36 on Jan 30, 2006 10:10:24 GMT -7
damn! I was dead set on getting an RX ES in a few months and now the Stingray comes along and completely turns me upside down! What do I do?
I realize that it would be hard to A/B these as the RXES is hard to come by for me as it is, and the Stingray is going to be even more difficult! The only Z dealer near me is in Metro Boston and they don't carry the RX ES. Hmmmm....
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Post by Bill on Jan 30, 2006 16:57:56 GMT -7
Dunno tas, I'm thinking Megaexperimenti may be closer ;D
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