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Post by mickey on Feb 14, 2016 1:58:20 GMT -7
Just thinking still about the idea of changing my '72 Deluxe Reverb for something a bit smaller, which I think I'd use more often. My Maz Sr and Ghia have a good home here, but I'm thinking maybe a Princeton Reverb, silverface or clone (I'm tempted by a Headstrong Lil King with a 12" speaker, not a 10"), rather than the reissue, or a Maz 8. How do they compare volume-wise, and can the clean tones of a Maz 8 match those of the PR, given that it's 8 watts versus 12? I know we're talking 6V6 vs el84 here, and I'm sure the 8's driven tones are great, but how about those cleans, can anyone here give me some kind of comparison?
Thanks!
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Post by Stephen on Feb 14, 2016 6:09:49 GMT -7
My Maz 8 got a lot more playing time than my Princeton RI, so I sold my Princeton RI. The Maz 8 is nice and clean with the MV opened up. I sold all my Fender RI amps when I started using Dr Z amps.
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Post by pcns on Feb 14, 2016 20:10:02 GMT -7
I used to have a Princeton Reverb but that was 30 years before I owned my first Z so I can't really compare them very well anymore.
I had a Maz 8 Studio, regret selling it now.
It did clean very well and could really great even at lower volumes. The Tone bypass and pentode/triode modes give br his amp a tone of versitility too. I highly recommend the Maz 8
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Post by mickey on Feb 17, 2016 1:40:09 GMT -7
Thanks guys. Basically, a few years ago I tried a Headstrong Lil King, which is a clone of a Princeton, all handwired and better built than the current reissues. I said to myself that if a used one came up for sale I'd maybe go for it. Well, one has just come up, but now there's the Maz 8 to consider as well, hence my question. The Headstrong is somewhat lighter in weight than the 8, and has that classic sound, but the 8 is designed for more of today's tones. Decisions....
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garfy
New Member
Posts: 47
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Post by garfy on Feb 17, 2016 5:30:47 GMT -7
Thanks guys. Basically, a few years ago I tried a Headstrong Lil King, which is a clone of a Princeton, all handwired and better built than the current reissues. I said to myself that if a used one came up for sale I'd maybe go for it. Well, one has just come up, but now there's the Maz 8 to consider as well, hence my question. The Headstrong is somewhat lighter in weight than the 8, and has that classic sound, but the 8 is designed for more of today's tones. Decisions.... I'm in Hertfordshire Micky with a Maz 8 studio, I have Celestion Blue and Gold to hand as well as the Texas Heat that's in mine. Your more than welcome to come and give her a bash if your local.
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Post by mickey on Feb 17, 2016 6:50:26 GMT -7
Thanks guys. Basically, a few years ago I tried a Headstrong Lil King, which is a clone of a Princeton, all handwired and better built than the current reissues. I said to myself that if a used one came up for sale I'd maybe go for it. Well, one has just come up, but now there's the Maz 8 to consider as well, hence my question. The Headstrong is somewhat lighter in weight than the 8, and has that classic sound, but the 8 is designed for more of today's tones. Decisions.... I'm in Hertfordshire Micky with a Maz 8 studio, I have Celestion Blue and Gold to hand as well as the Texas Heat that's in mine. Your more than welcome to come and give her a bash if your local. That's very generous if you garfy, and I'll bear it in mind, though I'm in Sussex so it's a bit of a distance; I'll probably make the trip to Peach anyway at some point to try a few things. Thanks very much for the offer though!
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Post by zpilot on Feb 17, 2016 12:07:41 GMT -7
I don't have a MAZ 8 but I have a MAZ Jr which has the same tone stack and runs cathode biased EL84's. I've also owned every BF/SF Fender made and here is my take. A MAZ can do a nice clean tone and even get close to a Fender sound but if you want "Fender" clean get a Fender amp. I've heard the reissues and they do a really good job of capturing that mojo. I especially like the '68 Custom PR.
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Post by mickey on Feb 18, 2016 1:32:21 GMT -7
I don't have a MAZ 8 but I have a MAZ Jr which has the same tone stack and runs cathode biased EL84's. I've also owned every BF/SF Fender made and here is my take. A MAZ can do a nice clean tone and even get close to a Fender sound but if you want "Fender" clean get a Fender amp. I've heard the reissues and they do a really good job of capturing that mojo. I especially like the '68 Custom PR. Thanks zpilot, that puts it into perspective. I tried the '68 PR a few days ago and was quite impressed. Overall though, after thinking this through a bit more and talking to a few people, I think I've come back down to Earth and realised that what I have already is pretty good, and it would be a bit pointless replacing my DR with a PR. I might just keep my eyes peeled for a used one at a decent price though. Also re the Maz 8, although it clearly sounds great, I would have limited use for it over what I have already, and it would be a lot of cash to pay for that. So just maybe....gas beaten...temporarily anyway:)
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Post by ss "Shane" on Mar 8, 2016 7:21:55 GMT -7
I had a Blues Jr. For 15 years and do miss it. Like you, I'm considering a Maz 8 (and a Ghia too but that's another thread) but might just save lots of money on the Junior after I recall how robust and usable my Junior was. Yes, the Princton is an amazingly clean and pure amp but that's all before the volume is below 4.
I remember the Blues Junior having more clean headroom and being so convenient. I would use it a lot for living room jams and for small gigs. It's been dropped, had liquids spill on it and NEVER had an appetite for tubes. I never took that amp to seriously so I never replaced the tubes. That's 15 years of original tube use believe it or not. Here's the thing...I bought that amp used! I sold it to a friend to finance my Z rig. He still uses it after replacing the tubes. Now that's a little work horse.
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Post by JoeMo' on May 25, 2016 18:50:47 GMT -7
I've got a lil king reverb with a 12. I had a maz 8 a while back. The lil King has way more headroom. It's surprisingly loud and has pretty hefty low end with the 12" speaker. Great cleans and takes pedals just as good as a Z. It's small and light where I think the maz is heavier. When driven the lil King suffers imo. Where the maz has a pleasing overdrive sound, the lil King is kind of gritty or buzzy. I honestly can't remember what the cleans sound like on the Maz8. I usually played mine cranked up. I'm sure they are great. My maz18 has a killer clean so I imagine it's just as good just quieter.
It all depends on what you want I guess. If want dirt.. Maz 8. If you want a nice cleans in a small amp and a pedal platform get a Princeton of sorts. If you want both.. Get a Maz 18 w reverb with a brake light. . You won't be sorry! It's the only amp a man needs! Sorry if I distracted you. Oops!
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Post by dergit (Markus) on May 26, 2016 2:37:06 GMT -7
I play my 8 mostly clean. It's glorious.I set it to barely break up when I dig into the strings hard because that's where it sounds best for what I do. Then I can get sparkly clean if I ever need it via guitar volume and amp-coloured dirt with low-gain boost pedals (Klone, EP-Booster, Z-Drive).
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Post by KeithA on May 26, 2016 19:00:13 GMT -7
I don't have a MAZ 8 but I have a MAZ Jr which has the same tone stack and runs cathode biased EL84's. I've also owned every BF/SF Fender made and here is my take. A MAZ can do a nice clean tone and even get close to a Fender sound but if you want "Fender" clean get a Fender amp. I've heard the reissues and they do a really good job of capturing that mojo. I especially like the '68 Custom PR. I don't buy combos but I'm tempted to pickup up a Fender-esque (read Princeton) amp for the Man Cave. Over the last couple years I've gotten into Marty Stuart and love that sound (want something with great reverb/trem). I don't want to buy a Fender but have been tempted by the Tone King Imperial based on what I've read and heard/seen online (no local dealer). Anyone ever try one of these for as to how it compares an actual Fender?
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Post by KeithA on May 28, 2016 8:00:47 GMT -7
I don't have a MAZ 8 but I have a MAZ Jr which has the same tone stack and runs cathode biased EL84's. I've also owned every BF/SF Fender made and here is my take. A MAZ can do a nice clean tone and even get close to a Fender sound but if you want "Fender" clean get a Fender amp. I've heard the reissues and they do a really good job of capturing that mojo. I especially like the '68 Custom PR. I don't buy combos but I'm tempted to pickup up a Fender-esque (read Princeton) amp for the Man Cave. Over the last couple years I've gotten into Marty Stuart and love that sound (want something with great reverb/trem). I don't want to buy a Fender but have been tempted by the Tone King Imperial based on what I've read and heard/seen online (no local dealer). Anyone ever try one of these for as to how it compares an actual Fender? But then again, a Z-Lux in 20 watt mode in likely in the same company as the Tone King as well.
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Post by pcns on May 31, 2016 13:11:49 GMT -7
Cleaner amp to use as a pedal platform, sounds like an M12
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Post by ianrossiter on Jun 1, 2016 12:05:43 GMT -7
I just got back from a trip home to Newfoundland and while my CS 50's Thinline Telecaster made the trip,my Z's stayed home. I darted into L&M ,St.Johns when I got there and rented a 68 SF Princeton for any wee amplifier needs that may arise. The 8 of course is glorious. The Princeton however is an awesome amplifier in its own right. Two different beasts, but both offer of stunning tones. The Princeton,in Vintage mode, is as classic Fender as you'd want. The small cab almost concentrates the sound,y'know? Think a more focused Deluxe or Vibrolux. What really surprised me was the oomph. The frequencies were so unbelievably balanced in that amp,it was comming close to being a purchase. The Princeton is also much quieter than the 8, noise/hum wise. The MAZ 8 however gets more ferocious at lower levels thanks to the Master volume,and of course those amazing Z frequencies that nothing else gives you. The Princeton is also lighter. As much as I love my MAZ 8, the Princeton is awfully tempting; my Gretsch 6120 for example, needs excessive amp tweaking to get it sounding right when switching off from my Telecaster,as does my 6 string Bass. The Princeton probably wouldn't as much,at least that was the case with the 68 Vibrolux I rented last summer. But it wasn't a MAZ, yknow??
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Post by zpilot on Jun 1, 2016 15:24:24 GMT -7
You are so right. They are different animals. It's not a matter of either/or. I want both.
The vintage SF Princeton Reverb I used to own had the 10" speaker and baffle changed to a 12". I think that was a major improvement. I believe the '68 reissue has the same.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 2, 2016 5:45:41 GMT -7
zpilot, you're a genius. This should be the official slogan of Z-Talk... "It's not a matter of either/or. I want both." Or maybe change it to "I want 'em all!"
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