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Post by dachshund on May 19, 2007 18:32:26 GMT -7
I was about to order a Carmen Ghia combo, which would take 2 months for delivery. Then I found out another store had a Stangray 1x12 combo! I had already spent an afternoon comparing a bunch of amps - I've been looking for something different after playing through a Deluxe Reverb for 15 years. Different and more powerful. They had the Maz 38, which I thought was more than I needed. But the sound was really special, so all the Fender-like amps fell to the back of the list after I heard the Z. Wow! So I thought I would order the Carmen Ghia until I found a Stangray in town. It took me about 10 minutes to decide on the Stangray. I bought it, but haven't gigged through it yet. Now: on the subject of too much volume from this amp. What do you think about using a Carmen Ghia head to keep as a backup, and to plug into this cab when the Stangray is just too loud? I'm not interested in the attenuator products. We usually mic the guitars, so I'm going to fret until I hear it live. An extra head would be easy to pack in the car, vs. a whole other combo unit. Maybe I'll get over this when I can actually play this amp on stage... but that'll be a couple of weeks out.
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Post by Bill on May 19, 2007 19:51:25 GMT -7
All you need is a Fulltone OCD...great pedal with the Sting/Stangray. Dial it in for any size club...tone for days. ;D
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 20, 2007 9:33:36 GMT -7
I'm curious why you're not interested in the Attenuator solution. I have the Airbrake on my Stingray and it really helps enjoy everything the amp has to offer. While I agree that a great boost in front of the 'ray is glorious, you never get to hear the power amp come into its own point of saturation. On my amp, I have to get the volume up to 6 before I start hearing that. And that is quite loud without the Airbrake on there. Just curious what your thinking is, that's all.
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Post by guitarstan on May 20, 2007 11:09:36 GMT -7
+1 on the OCD, it works great with a Ray. I also use the Z Airbrake with great success. And the Ghia backup idea is great too ;D The Maz 38 is awesome too. See that's the problem, you can't have just one Z amp, they are addictive.
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Post by dachshund on May 21, 2007 7:38:41 GMT -7
I've read mixed reviews about the attenuators, from here and other forums. It's not clear to me if they sound a lot better than turning down the volume, or which model is best. So I asked the dealer if he had the Airbrake, and said that using an attenuator would burn up the amp. I took it with a grain of salt, since so many people use them. But it gave me another opinion on the thing. They recommended getting a pedal - the OCD or any of the Xotic boosters. So that's what I'll probably get, the OCD. I'm assuming this is used to turn the overall volume down, going into the amp.
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Post by billyguitar on May 21, 2007 8:34:48 GMT -7
Your dealer is about 20 years behind on thinking a modern attenuator will burn up an amp. The only thing that will happen is you will wear down your power tubes quicker because you will in effect be playing the amp louder than you would otherwise. The thing I'm not crazy about with attenuators is that you give up your clean headroom.
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Post by yinielin on May 21, 2007 8:42:41 GMT -7
Your dealer is about 20 years behind on thinking a modern attenuator will burn up an amp. The only thing that will happen is you will wear down your power tubes quicker because you will in effect be playing the amp louder than you would otherwise. The thing I'm not crazy about with attenuators is that you give up your clean headroom. Isnt taking down the clean headroom the idea?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 21, 2007 14:30:57 GMT -7
Yeah, your dealer needs to catch up. I think the point, for me anyway, of having the attenuator in the signal path is that I can adjust the amp to the point that I'm getting the dynamic response and power amp saturation that I desire. Without the attenuator, the only way to explore those points on the operational curve is to put up with more volume. I'm not willing to blow my ears out, and I'm not willing to sacrifice the tone that I know my amps are capable of, so I run attenuators on all of them. The point about the tubes wearing out faster is really a minor one - if you were playing at that volume in order to get that tone anyway, your tubes would wear out at exactly the same rate. With the attenuator though, your EARS don't wear out! I have four attenuators right now, and I have just decided to buy a fifth (different feature sets on all of them you know).
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Post by DRZ on May 21, 2007 14:37:34 GMT -7
I've read mixed reviews about the attenuators, from here and other forums. It's not clear to me if they sound a lot better than turning down the volume, or which model is best. So I asked the dealer if he had the Airbrake, and said that using an attenuator would burn up the amp. I took it with a grain of salt, since so many people use them. But it gave me another opinion on the thing. They recommended getting a pedal - the OCD or any of the Xotic boosters. So that's what I'll probably get, the OCD. I'm assuming this is used to turn the overall volume down, going into the amp. Which Z Dealer was that ? Z
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Post by dachshund on May 22, 2007 13:05:48 GMT -7
I feel uncomfortable saying "in public".
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Post by jharris on May 22, 2007 13:10:17 GMT -7
to answer your original question, yes, the ghia head as a backup is a great idea, thats exactly what I do, I have a Mazerati and carry the Ghia in the trunk as a backup.
Also I have the 50 watt mini mass from weber, attenuation is a beautiful thing used sparingly
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Post by Curt on May 22, 2007 14:01:16 GMT -7
I feel uncomfortable saying "in public". PM Doc on this.
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Post by dachshund on May 22, 2007 14:07:02 GMT -7
Thanks, I'll do that. I ordered the Airbrake and will hopefully give it a try this weekend. Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it.
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Post by Don on May 23, 2007 17:59:53 GMT -7
Hey Stan - Invite me over to your house for a week! It's will probably take that long to try all of those amps and cabs out! We'll get Shannon to cater!
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Post by dock66 on May 24, 2007 7:09:57 GMT -7
Holy cow Stan. I am speechless bro.
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Post by guitarstan on May 27, 2007 8:58:00 GMT -7
Hey Don and Dock, You guys can come over any time, that includes any forum members even Jason G. and Shannon ;D. Peace
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Post by Don on May 29, 2007 7:43:23 GMT -7
Alright then. After June, the next road trip will be to 'Bama!
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Post by dock66 on May 29, 2007 12:22:42 GMT -7
Hey Don and Dock, You guys can come over any time, that includes any forum members even Jason G. and Shannon ;D. Peace Hey Stan, Thanks for the invitation bro.
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Post by Shannon on Jun 2, 2007 13:21:26 GMT -7
I've been trying to get to Stans for months. Every time we play in Auburn, I have too much 'baggage'. It's probably a good thing. The last thing I need right now is temptation to buy more stuff. ~Looks like tonight is no exception Stan. With gas prices, everyone is riding with me. But the jam invite is still open if you can come.
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Post by Shannon on Jun 2, 2007 13:22:28 GMT -7
ps Tonight I'm playing a Stingray AND a Ghia! ;D
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Post by drew on Jun 3, 2007 9:42:19 GMT -7
+ 1 on the airbrake as well as the ghia backup. I've had great success with the airbrake taming an RXES and 6545 and Maz Sr. I've read post that say an airbrake has an impact on the feel. In the bedroom setting yeah I agree but but for me the jury's still out as I'd question if some of that feel isn't actually attributed to driving a speaker into the breakup zone. However there is something physically magical that happens when a a good quality tube amp's output section is pushed into OD and being played loud and proud. (standing right in front of your cab and feeling your pant legs quiver... mmm mmm mmm). Stan your photo's are killing me!
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Post by dachshund on Jun 4, 2007 7:30:23 GMT -7
Yeah, that picture is somethin' else! The Airbrake worked fine, it worked as advertised. I think ultimately I'd like to pick up the Ghia head and an extra cab, at some point. That would cover all the bases.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 4, 2007 7:54:29 GMT -7
The Airbrake worked fine, it worked as advertised. See? Who you gonna listen to next time? Your Z Brothers!
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Post by guitarstan on Jun 4, 2007 12:06:03 GMT -7
I look at this way... an AirBrake is like a hammer, every carpenter has one in his toolbox. Use it when ya need to, nuff said.
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Post by jwr on Jun 4, 2007 12:12:58 GMT -7
I really like my Airbrake a lot, it's a very useful tool. That's the way it should be looked at, a tool. And even on the bedroom setting it sounds a heck of a lot better than a Hotplate.
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Post by dachshund on Jun 4, 2007 12:43:58 GMT -7
The Airbrake worked fine, it worked as advertised. See? Who you gonna listen to next time? Your Z Brothers! Yes, you're right, now I know! Next: I need to figure out how to keep the power cord from slipping out the back of the Stangray cabinet. I need to attach a cable tie in there or something.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 4, 2007 13:07:40 GMT -7
One thing you can do is get a Clamshell cover - that captures everything inside. But short of that, I agree it seems one of those Velcro wire ties stapled inside might be the ticket.
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 4, 2007 15:00:12 GMT -7
I use the clamshell head cover from my Stang Ray when I haul my Ghia or Route 66 heads. It's a little loose but that just gives a little more room for cords etc..
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Post by propellr on Jun 4, 2007 15:40:08 GMT -7
See? Who you gonna listen to next time? Your Z Brothers! Yes, you're right, now I know! Next: I need to figure out how to keep the power cord from slipping out the back of the Stangray cabinet. I need to attach a cable tie in there or something. The Scotch Tape people make those velcro ties. You can find them at Staples and Target. They come in different colors. Check them out.
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Post by dachshund on Jun 4, 2007 16:16:49 GMT -7
Yeah, I had already ordered my slip cover before I read about the clamshell... I'll get myself some velcro ties. Thanks all.
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