|
Post by guitarman1 on Apr 22, 2006 19:21:15 GMT -7
I need you Mantaray owners to please help me out. I was in LA last week and had the chance to check out a 15 watt Bad Cat Cub II at True Tone Music on Santa Monica Blvd. All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow. That Cub has the sweetest cleans with all kinds of chime, harmonics & 3d complexity that I've heard in very few amps. It made a Maz 38s (I currently own one) in the store sound bland and one dimensional in comparison. I didn't get a chance to really crank it up, but I'm pretty certain it doesn't have the headroom of a Maz 38. They also have a 30 watt Cub II available, but I didn't hear one yet.
My question is, how does the TONE of a Cub or Black Cat compare to the Mantaray? Please respond ASAP, 'cause I'm about to pull the trigger. That Cub sounds amazing.
|
|
|
Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Apr 22, 2006 20:41:47 GMT -7
Guitarman1, I've played the amp your talkin about but it's been awhile.. I also owned a 1995 sampson era Matchless HC-30 and that was one heck of an amp!! kick myself everytime I think about the fact I got rid of it.... and I've played the Badcats in Elite Music's Amp room ( hotcat and the badcat your talking about) That said... the STINGRAY is unbelievable!! the RAY and the Badcat are VERY VERY different cleans I hope someone else will chime in that has had more recent experience with the Badcat but from what I remember it was beautiful but with hair and just had that matchless type sound thing that is great.... but the RAY is a whole different ballgame.. I would maybe say the Badcat is more "top boost" style voxish with a Matchless thing going on clean... where the RAY is MEANT to be and IS in fact the more "PRE topboost" voxish thing with the DR Z vibe happining, SMOOTH!! Ya really can't compare what you heard from a MAZ 38 with the Stingray... although you can get some of the Maz 38's CLEAN HEADROOM BIG tone sounds out of the Stingray it can do so much more... and the CLEAN is so different.. It's BIG and SMOOTH with chime and bass... really gotta hear it... and then you go... oh!! So You'd REALLY have to hear and play a RAY and a Badcat to compare each of those... If you like clean tone, You owe it to yourself to try the Ray before you make the decision... you may still like the Badcat, hey that might be your thing and they are both great amps... but it AIN'T a STINGRAY!! ask Bentop now... or one of the other STINGRAY owners.... I hope this helps, I don't know if my Badcat comparison is as close as it should be but it's been over a year since i've played one... maybe one of the other guy's will chime in for ya quickly... good luck and get what makes YOU happy! Jason
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Apr 23, 2006 11:34:10 GMT -7
Thanks jgleaton for the quick response. Great info buddy & some karma for ya'! Anybody else please "chime" in.
I'm currently on a cruise ship in French Polynesia, so the only communication to the states I have is via the web. I can't call any dealers and speak directly until May 1st.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 23, 2006 13:06:15 GMT -7
I'm currently on a cruise ship in French Polynesia, so the only communication to the states I have is via the web. I hate it when that happens...
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 23, 2006 14:47:27 GMT -7
It can really be a cruel world!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by southpawtone on Apr 26, 2006 20:08:22 GMT -7
Hey guitarman1.
My current Amp that im playing through is a Bad Cat CubII 1x12 non reverb. I've had it for almost 2 years now with no problems. It's funny you mentioned True Tone Music, i was there recently to ironically enough, possibly trade it for a Dr. Z Maz38. The trade wasnt even, and i would have owed more money than i cared to spend, so i didnt do the trade, but looking back now, im kinda glad it worked out that way.The cub is a great amp. I havent played the new Stang Ray, so i cant make a comparison. But for the money you will spend on the Bad Cat, you can get a Stang Ray head or combo, and have double the wattage, as well as more clean headroom. The only thing i dont personally care for in regards to the Bad Cat CubII is the ACTIVE tone controls. However, there is a switch on the amp that lets you bypass the tonestack and just run the amp with the volume and cut control, as well as a little more clean headroom. Either way, which ever amp you get, you will have great tone. But, for over all value and bang-for-your-buck, the Dr.Z Stang Ray is pretty unbeatable. I hope i've helped a little. Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Apr 27, 2006 19:34:55 GMT -7
Thanks for the info Soutpawtone & some karma for you. That True Tone Music store is like a candy store. I could spend 2 weeks in there trying out the amps, pedals & guitars. What a selection. When I was there I saw so many amps, including Bad Cat, Dr. Z, 65, Divided by 13, Top Hat, Tone King, and other ones that I don't remember. Anyway, I pulled the trigger and bought a 1x12 Custom Shop Bad Cat II built to 30 watts, no-verb from Wilcutt. I should be at my house this Tuesday. I'll mention how it sounds if anyone's interested. I know this is a Dr. Z forum, but it never hurts to compare notes among gear junkies!
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Apr 27, 2006 19:41:34 GMT -7
I'm currently on a cruise ship in French Polynesia, so the only communication to the states I have is via the web. I hate it when that happens... Yes Bentop....it's a real drag! Right now, I swear to God, our ship is anchored in the harbor in Bora Bora and I'm looking out at aqua blue water and the old volcano peak covered in tropical rain forest. That's the view from the Internet cafe on board. We're sailing to the main island of Tahiti in 30 minutes for 2 more days of fun-in-the-sun. Unfortunately, I'm flying home Sunday and saying farewell to Paradise.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 27, 2006 20:01:10 GMT -7
I hate it when that happens... Yes Bentop....it's a real drag! Right now, I swear to God, our ship is anchored in the harbor in Bora Bora and I'm looking out at aqua blue water and the old volcano peak covered in tropical rain forest. That's the view from the Internet cafe on board. We're sailing to the main island of Tahiti in 30 minutes for 2 more days of fun-in-the-sun. Unfortunately, I'm flying home Sunday and saying farewell to Paradise. My heart bleeds for you..
|
|
|
Post by southpawtone on Apr 28, 2006 0:16:46 GMT -7
Guitarman1............i am a little jealous. Wow, a custom shop CubII 30 watt. Those are around $3500, right? Well, evidently, money is not a factor if you're on a polynesian cruise. Congrats on the purchase. Why Willcutts though? You can get that amp from Tone Merchants in Orange County, or Wild West Guitars out in Riverside (thats where i got my cub). Let me know how it sounds, im curious as to how different it is than the Cub 15 watt. Although, when you double the wattage of an amp, i think it's only around a 3 decibel increase in volume. Anyway, congrats on the purchase, James Heidrich(owner of badcat) is a great guy, and provides excellent customer service......he even invited me out to the factory out in Corona.......way cool. Luke
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Apr 28, 2006 9:45:05 GMT -7
Guitarman1............i am a little jealous. Wow, a custom shop CubII 30 watt. Those are around $3500, right? Well, evidently, money is not a factor if you're on a polynesian cruise. Congrats on the purchase. Why Willcutts though? You can get that amp from Tone Merchants in Orange County, or Wild West Guitars out in Riverside (thats where i got my cub). Let me know how it sounds, im curious as to how different it is than the Cub 15 watt. Although, when you double the wattage of an amp, i think it's only around a 3 decibel increase in volume. Anyway, congrats on the purchase, James Heidrich(owner of badcat) is a great guy, and provides excellent customer service......he even invited me out to the factory out in Corona.......way cool. Luke The Custom Shop Cub II, 30 watts, without verb new cost me $2300.00. The ones with verb & tremolo are going for around $3100.00 and are way too rich for my wallet, plus I don't want reverb or tremelo. I don't have allot of disposable income and may have to sell a piece of gear to pay for the Cub. Instead of buying new cars, TVs, etc., my wife and I save up for a trip every once-and-a-while. We love to travel. I bought from Wilcutt for 3 reasons. 1) They are the only dealer I could find that had one in stock in this config. 2) I bought some Zs from them before and they're great to deal with. 3) They're in Kentucky, which isn't too far from me in Charleston, SC. After seeing what UPS can do to an amp, I try to buy as close as possible. I had to fly out of LAX to Papeete, Tahiti, so I was able to get to True Tone for some fun. I'll let you know how it sounds next week.
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on May 4, 2006 13:32:14 GMT -7
Well I got the Cub, played the heck out of it for a day & sent it back. While the top end and mids were wonderful in the Vox/Matchless chimey way, the low end farted out at louder volumes, clean or overdriven with the master. My pedals didn't do very well at all through it. The Maz doesn't have quite the rich, complex tones as the Cub, but the Z beats it every other way! Nice amp, but not worth the money IMHO. By the way, this is the hottest amp I've ever used. The speaker input jack actually got so hot, that it hurt when touching it.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on May 4, 2006 13:50:33 GMT -7
Heat is an amp's worst enemy! For that money you could get a Stang Ray.......
|
|
|
Post by southpawtone on May 4, 2006 13:58:46 GMT -7
Wow, im surprised you sent it back, though i can understand your reasons. My CubII 15 watt is a little picky with pedals, it's tricky. I honestly think the farty bass my be attributed to the ACTIVE tone controls and maybe that it was a 1X12 with a Vintage 30. Sorry to hear about it though, that sucks, what a bummer. On my 15 watt version, there is a toggle switch labeled "Focus/Spectrum". When it's switched to "Focus", it takes bypasses the ACTIVE controls and you just use the volume and cut knob. Thats how i mostly play it now, it sounds more natural. The Contenders for my next amp though are either a Stang Ray, Prescription ES maybe a Maz38. Check out the new Heritage Amplifiers, i played one recently, and wow. Very nice.
Luke
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on May 5, 2006 7:38:39 GMT -7
Wow, im surprised you sent it back, though i can understand your reasons. My CubII 15 watt is a little picky with pedals, it's tricky. I honestly think the farty bass my be attributed to the ACTIVE tone controls and maybe that it was a 1X12 with a Vintage 30. Sorry to hear about it though, that sucks, what a bummer. On my 15 watt version, there is a toggle switch labeled "Focus/Spectrum". When it's switched to "Focus", it takes bypasses the ACTIVE controls and you just use the volume and cut knob. Thats how i mostly play it now, it sounds more natural. The Contenders for my next amp though are either a Stang Ray, Prescription ES maybe a Maz38. Check out the new Heritage Amplifiers, i played one recently, and wow. Very nice. Luke I tried it with an Emi Tonker in another cab and the bass was still flatulent at high volume. The Tonker is a very clean, loud & defined speaker with tight low end.
|
|