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Post by bloozeman on Dec 11, 2015 10:12:09 GMT -7
Just received my new Z28 head from Surreal McCoy. Man this thing is a beast. Holy LOUD!! Ive only had about a half hour with it but noticed upon first firing it up it was a thick full sound and very warm, I then hooked it up to an attenuator and got great tones out of it with that but after reading a post from doctorice saying he felt it sounded better with out an attenuator, I disconnected the attenuator and yep, he was right, sounds much better and thicker/fuller with out one. Now I have my volume at about 1 and using OD pedals, have a gig tonight and will take the gal for a ride for a few hours and see how she does with the band. did I mention that this is one LOUD amp? lol.
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Post by purpletele on Dec 11, 2015 10:55:49 GMT -7
A splendid outcome.
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Post by southmusic70 on Dec 11, 2015 11:47:51 GMT -7
I hate to say it, particularly after the good deal you gave me on your Therapy, but:
WE TOLD YOU SO
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 11, 2015 12:52:31 GMT -7
Congratulatons. You now own what I believe to be the Doc's best design. I'll own another one some day when I can find a blonde head with the brown grille for the right price. I didn't find it to be any louder than the Maz 18 I had (through the same speakers) but it easily hung with Super Reverbs and tweed bassmans on stage with the right cab. Give us a report after you spend some time with it.
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Post by nmz on Dec 11, 2015 12:58:33 GMT -7
Great amp, will get another some day. Congrats!
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Post by markT on Dec 11, 2015 16:42:20 GMT -7
Enjoy that amp.....I know it well.
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Post by Surreal McCoy on Dec 11, 2015 16:50:07 GMT -7
markT!!!! It is a special amp indeed. For those of you that haven’t listened to any of bloozeman’s stuff, you need to check out his website. When I saw who was buying the head, I checked out his site. Monster player and a great voice. www.jefffetterman.com
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Post by digs57 on Dec 11, 2015 17:37:54 GMT -7
kool jeff...from listening to your site that z 28 might be your animal
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Post by "Z" Steve on Dec 11, 2015 18:51:24 GMT -7
Try it with a 12AX7 and a 5751 and see the difference, then use each of those tubes as a pedal. 12AX7 - more gain, 5751 - less gain/more head room. Swap them out as desired for whatever the gig calls for.
Congrats on a great amplifier - with one more knob than a Ghia
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Post by gfreak on Dec 11, 2015 19:05:19 GMT -7
Congrats!!! ^^^+1 on the 5751.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 12, 2015 11:49:15 GMT -7
Try it with a 12AX7 and a 5751 and see the difference, then use each of those tubes as a pedal. 12AX7 - more gain, 5751 - less gain/more head room. Swap them out as desired for whatever the gig calls for.
Congrats on a great amplifier - with one more knob than a Ghia will the 5751 make the amp not as loud? because this amp is a beast. which 5751 would you guys recommend? would a standard JJ 5751 be a good choice? I can only run this amp on about 1 or 2 on the volume dial because its so loud, but it has great tone
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Post by markT on Dec 12, 2015 13:14:05 GMT -7
Jeff...If that amp still has the JJ 6V6's, they are very stout and almost 6L6ish...
I liked NOS RCA 6V6's best....or any other new 6V6's will be a tad less "stout"...loud. Not much but a difference for sure.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 12, 2015 14:17:27 GMT -7
Jeff...If that amp still has the JJ 6V6's, they are very stout and almost 6L6ish... I liked NOS RCA 6V6's best....or any other new 6V6's will be a tad less "stout"...loud. Not much but a difference for sure. yes they have the JJs in them. Im loving the big fat thick tone Im getting from it. I do notice a difference in tone if I use my brake lite with it, it seems to thin out some and not sound as beefy so Im not going to use the BL on that amp. Just wondering what a 5751 would do to the tone and volume? Ive never experimented with swapping pre amp tubes much. Tim did send me a NOS ef86 dario with the purchase which Ill be trying out.,
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Post by "Z" Steve on Dec 12, 2015 14:28:02 GMT -7
Try it with a 12AX7 and a 5751 and see the difference, then use each of those tubes as a pedal. 12AX7 - more gain, 5751 - less gain/more head room. Swap them out as desired for whatever the gig calls for.
Congrats on a great amplifier - with one more knob than a Ghia will the 5751 make the amp not as loud? because this amp is a beast. which 5751 would you guys recommend? would a standard JJ 5751 be a good choice? I can only run this amp on about 1 or 2 on the volume dial because its so loud, but it has great tone I bought mine from Mike at KCA www.kcanostubes.com/catalog/26
I've never used a new production 5751 but they don't get positive reviews. It has been said that they are just poor quality 12AX7's - don't meet spec's. Paying more for a NOS 5751 at a reputable tube monger is the safest bet.
Also re loudness, it won't bring it down that much but the break up is lighter. I've always used a Brakelite with mine at 1 or 2 clicks. Only once at an outdoor gig was I able to blow it out 3-3-3 and boy, I miss those days.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 12, 2015 15:02:39 GMT -7
will the 5751 make the amp not as loud? because this amp is a beast. which 5751 would you guys recommend? would a standard JJ 5751 be a good choice? I can only run this amp on about 1 or 2 on the volume dial because its so loud, but it has great tone I bought mine from Mike at KCA www.kcanostubes.com/catalog/26
I've never used a new production 5751 but they don't get positive reviews. It has been said that they are just poor quality 12AX7's - don't meet spec's. Paying more for a NOS 5751 at a reputable tube monger is the safest bet.
Also re loudness, it won't bring it down that much but the break up is lighter. I've always used a Brakelite with mine at 1 or 2 clicks. Only once at an outdoor gig was I able to blow it out 3-3-3 and boy, I miss those days.
Steve, what are your settings that you're using with the brake lite at 1 or 2 clicks?
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Post by "Z" Steve on Dec 12, 2015 16:02:07 GMT -7
I bought mine from Mike at KCA www.kcanostubes.com/catalog/26
I've never used a new production 5751 but they don't get positive reviews. It has been said that they are just poor quality 12AX7's - don't meet spec's. Paying more for a NOS 5751 at a reputable tube monger is the safest bet.
Also re loudness, it won't bring it down that much but the break up is lighter. I've always used a Brakelite with mine at 1 or 2 clicks. Only once at an outdoor gig was I able to blow it out 3-3-3 and boy, I miss those days.
Steve, what are your settings that you're using with the brake lite at 1 or 2 clicks? bass at 11 to 2, depending on the guitar, treble at noon to 3, again depending on guitar, and at 2 clicks of the BL volume at 10 to 12 depending on the venue. I am either using a 1x12 with Creamback, ET65, G12h, or Gold, or a 2x10 with 30 watt Jupiter's. I am preferring the Creamback lately.
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Post by gfreak on Dec 12, 2015 23:20:43 GMT -7
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Dec 14, 2015 18:11:59 GMT -7
Congrats on the purchase bloozeman. I got a z28 not too long ago and I am really liking the amp. I got a head and it is simple, light and has plenty of power. Good luck with yours.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 14, 2015 18:32:49 GMT -7
Congrats on the purchase bloozeman. I got a z28 not too long ago and I am really liking the amp. I got a head and it is simple, light and has plenty of power. Good luck with yours. Thanks man. I'm really liking the z28 so far. I prefer not to use a brake lite with mine. Its got a huge thick tone and I'm really digging it. Plenty of power for any gig I would say.
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Post by smolder on Dec 14, 2015 20:00:26 GMT -7
I'm a little jealous. Discovering that z28 tone is something you only get to do once. You never forget it.
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Post by daveyk on Dec 14, 2015 20:40:08 GMT -7
The JJ 5751 is a great new production tube. It is a REAL 5751 and not just a lower gain 12ax7 like some new production 5751's are. Volume will be relatively the same, you'll just get more clean headroom at the same volume setting with a 12ax7.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 15, 2015 7:10:57 GMT -7
I honestly dont know if I will need a 5751 or not, as Im getting good headroom now out of the z28 with the stock tubes. Im getting more adapted to the controls on it now and gettign it to where I want to hear it at at volume levels and its sounding pretty darn good. I have noticed that the z28 sounds darker to my ears than other Zs.
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Post by doctorice on Dec 15, 2015 7:36:48 GMT -7
Congrats on the new amp, Jeff. I think you're right that it's a little darker or, perhaps, more "tweedy", especially in comparison to your JAZ and M-12.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Dec 15, 2015 19:06:54 GMT -7
Z-28 is awesome Congrats and enjoy cheers always, eh Joel
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Post by markT on Dec 16, 2015 9:29:38 GMT -7
. I have noticed that the z28 sounds darker to my ears than other Zs. Very correct. This is the only reason that amp is not still at my house. I could not get the sparkle with humbuckers that I need. No issues whatsoever with single coils, P90's included. If I could afford to have an amp exclusively for one type pickups, I'd still have it. I need amps that I can use all my guitars with, with no pedals. Not that the Z28 doesn't sound great with humbuckers... Just the clarity that I needed was not there without pedal help. Glad you are digging it!
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Post by southmusic70 on Dec 16, 2015 10:38:36 GMT -7
Yes, and for this very reason - the dark leaning- the 28 is a really good amp for jazz.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 11:21:38 GMT -7
I have noticed that the z28 sounds darker to my ears than other Zs. a few tricks here: 1: A zvex super hard-on has a brilliant top end sparkle that gives the z28 that clarity that it lacks with humbuckers. They can be found on the cheap. 2: Since the amp takes pedals incredibly well, any preamp pedal feels natural (bb preamp, fulltone fat boost) and can sculpt the details that the amp eq can't. 3. Last but not least, remember that the eq controls are kind of atypical. Having the bass at 9 o clock and treble at 2 o clock may look weird but take your eyes off the knobs and listen. I use my z28 exclusively and couldn't dream of owning a better amp. Good luck!
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 16, 2015 11:38:33 GMT -7
It sounds good with my strats, and I have the volume at about 9, bass is at about 11 and treble at about 1-2. It sounds warm and thick and fat. I do a little eq-ing with my pedals as well.
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Post by bloozeman on Dec 16, 2015 11:48:02 GMT -7
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Post by purpletele on Dec 16, 2015 12:58:50 GMT -7
Sounds great!
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