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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 7:23:19 GMT -7
I messed w/the RAy a good hour yesterday and I'm just not bonding with it...I cant get any of my pedals to sound right...plugged straight in it sounds good but its just too clean. It does has some grit when you crank it up but its like the clear clean tone overrides the grit if that makes sense.
I'm not giving up on it yet but I fear I may be moving it out for something with a little more drive.
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Post by Fiestared69 on Dec 19, 2007 8:17:00 GMT -7
Hey Ronnie, I think that the Ray will do what you want your just goin'to have to do some tweakin'. I changed the rectifier with a NOS and that gave the amp a little more sag ,and I put a Telefunken 12AX7 up front with a Dario EF86. Changed the amp quite a little bit, Made the controls more user friendly. The Sovtech rectifiers don't do these amps justice at all.
I just got a RxEsjr brand new out of the box I had to retube it was just to harsh.
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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 8:30:28 GMT -7
Hey Ronnie, I think that the Ray will do what you want your just goin'to have to do some tweakin'. I changed the rectifier with a NOS and that gave the amp a little more sag ,and I put a Telefunken 12AX7 up front with a Dario EF86. Changed the amp quite a little bit, Made the controls more user friendly. The Sovtech rectifiers don't do these amps justice at all. I just got a RxEsjr brand new out of the box I had to retube it was just to harsh. I do have a Mullard ef86 and rec...I'll try those next time and see if that helps.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Dec 19, 2007 8:51:17 GMT -7
Well not everyone gets along with the 'ray. It is a very clean amp. When I'm using it for blues type playing, I turn on my RC Booster with all knobs at around noon and just leave it on. Gets the mojo happening real nice, and I can always shut it off if I want that pristine clean again. Then for higher gain I go to the BB Preamp or the Zen Drive. Been favoring the Zen lately, but it's newer so that would be normal. Anyway, if you have a way to try the RC Booster you should - I'm betting it will get you right where you want to be.
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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 9:07:21 GMT -7
Well not everyone gets along with the 'ray. It is a very clean amp. When I'm using it for blues type playing, I turn on my RC Booster with all knobs at around noon and just leave it on. Gets the mojo happening real nice, and I can always shut it off if I want that pristine clean again. Then for higher gain I go to the BB Preamp or the Zen Drive. Been favoring the Zen lately, but it's newer so that would be normal. Anyway, if you have a way to try the RC Booster you should - I'm betting it will get you right where you want to be. I have the RC and tried it yesterday...I too thought it would work for me but it really didnt get me there...I will try again though...might need a combination of boosting with the RC and bringing it back down w/the airbrake.
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Post by dock66 on Dec 19, 2007 9:13:15 GMT -7
RC and BB may do the trick.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Dec 19, 2007 11:14:15 GMT -7
Well not everyone gets along with the 'ray. It is a very clean amp. When I'm using it for blues type playing, I turn on my RC Booster with all knobs at around noon and just leave it on. Gets the mojo happening real nice, and I can always shut it off if I want that pristine clean again. Then for higher gain I go to the BB Preamp or the Zen Drive. Been favoring the Zen lately, but it's newer so that would be normal. Anyway, if you have a way to try the RC Booster you should - I'm betting it will get you right where you want to be. I have the RC and tried it yesterday...I too thought it would work for me but it really didnt get me there...I will try again though...might need a combination of boosting with the RC and bringing it back down w/the airbrake. Well it may just be that it's not your deal. I sure like mine, but you aren't me. Thank God for that, eh?
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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 11:55:08 GMT -7
I have the RC and tried it yesterday...I too thought it would work for me but it really didnt get me there...I will try again though...might need a combination of boosting with the RC and bringing it back down w/the airbrake. Well it may just be that it's not your deal. I sure like mine, but you aren't me. Thank God for that, eh? Thank God ...I mean uh, yeah it just may not be my thang...I guess I was confused...everyone sayas it is clean but I didnt know they meant it was that clean!
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Post by ruger9 on Dec 19, 2007 14:28:46 GMT -7
I just got a RxEsjr brand new out of the box I had to retube it was just to harsh. Not to hijack, but what tubes did you put in?
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Post by telejas on Dec 19, 2007 14:29:01 GMT -7
The Ray has a mind and voice of it's own.... Most people like it, and some won't like it. It's the "cleanest" amp I've ever played, even the grit is clean (up to about 12:00). I absolutely love it for everything, my other guitar player says "it's got a great clean, but that's it". One of my bands sound guys loves it, the other yells at me for getting rid of the Mesa Boogie I had last year.
The Ray isn't for everybody..... Just like I found out the Maz Sr isn't for everybody. I got it expecting to be wow'd, but I wasn't. There's plenty of other Z's out there, don't spend too long trying to be happy with an amp you aren't happy with....... But don't judge it too quickly either.
That's my $.02 worth today.
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Post by Bill on Dec 19, 2007 14:30:42 GMT -7
It's enormously clean, great for those spanky & punchy tones. If you eventually find it doesn't work for you, go back to your original idea of a Mazerati. I just picked one up and like it as much as the Stingray. Great cleans, but more grit, and takes pedals like a champ! Like the 'Ray, it has few knobs to deal with too...just turn it on and play
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Post by drew on Dec 19, 2007 14:33:22 GMT -7
Ronnie, stop it you're scaring me! My first impression was, "this is a nice amp but not for me" then I turned the airbrake off and my opinion changed to "dang this is one cool amp and it could be my goto amp". I'm still getting used to the Ray and need more time gigging it with a full band. I played it last night with a full band on a huge stage. It was only 3 songs but I liked what I heard with the BB on and rode the guitar volume, the airbrake was off. But, I really need more time with the amp to give any useful info. At home one surprise is how much the Sparkle Drive made that refined Ray tone sound EL34ish. Your Z28 clips were some of the finest I've heard. Maybe you're a big bottle guy. Were you breast fed as a child? (sorry I don't know were that came from and don't think there is scientific research to back it up). Could the Galaxie be a Z for you?
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Post by hdahs143 on Dec 19, 2007 15:00:32 GMT -7
I love my Ray, but IMO it is picky about pedals. It sounds like that what your missing, would be solved with a Keeley Blues Driver, or a Barber LTD, set with the gain low, for that just broken up sound.
Works well for me. The trick with this amp, is finding the right pedals, cause when you do it's a beautiful thing.
Harold
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Post by Curt on Dec 19, 2007 16:42:43 GMT -7
I love my Ray, but IMO it is picky about pedals. It sounds like that what your missing, would be solved with a Keeley Blues Driver, or a Barber LTD, set with the gain low, for that just broken up sound. Works well for me. The trick with this amp, is finding the right pedals, cause when you do it's a beautiful thing. Harold Ronnie I have a Keeley modded Blues Driver sitting here that has not been on my board in awhile that you are welcome to test drive. I loved that box with my Ghia FWIW.
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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 16:55:15 GMT -7
I love my Ray, but IMO it is picky about pedals. It sounds like that what your missing, would be solved with a Keeley Blues Driver, or a Barber LTD, set with the gain low, for that just broken up sound. Works well for me. The trick with this amp, is finding the right pedals, cause when you do it's a beautiful thing. Harold Ronnie I have a Keeley modded Blues Driver sitting here that has not been on my board in awhile that you are welcome to test drive. I loved that box with my Ghia FWIW. That would be great...I have a stock BD I tried but I hear the Keeley mods make it a much more useable pedal. You have my address
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Post by rcrecelius on Dec 19, 2007 16:57:29 GMT -7
The trick with this amp, is finding the right pedals, cause when you do it's a beautiful thing. Harold The trick for me is gonna be finding the one pedal that makes it work for me...I dont like using a pedalboard anymore...just guitar, amp and 1 pedal if I need a little extra oomph
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Dec 19, 2007 17:16:01 GMT -7
The trick with this amp, is finding the right pedals, cause when you do it's a beautiful thing. Harold The trick for me is gonna be finding the one pedal that makes it work for me...I dont like using a pedalboard anymore...just guitar, amp and 1 pedal if I need a little extra oomph You'd have a hard time beating the Zen Drive. I know they are not like growing on trees or anything, but I bought one for almost twice the going rate (via our own buy and sell here) and I don't feel I got ripped at all. It's a great pedal, especially in the Stingray.
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Post by Curt on Dec 19, 2007 17:52:03 GMT -7
Ronnie I have a Keeley modded Blues Driver sitting here that has not been on my board in awhile that you are welcome to test drive. I loved that box with my Ghia FWIW. That would be great...I have a stock BD I tried but I hear the Keeley mods make it a much more useable pedal. You have my address Done. I'll include another pedal that when your done you can return to it's rightfull owner up there.
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Post by Fiestared69 on Dec 19, 2007 20:25:52 GMT -7
Hey Ronnie, If you are just wanting to use one pedal, A Keeley comp would be my choice. With the level you can drive the amp . Bar none if they took my pedal board and told me I could only use one pedal that would be the one!
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boomer
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by boomer on Dec 21, 2007 1:02:22 GMT -7
I love the clean tone of the Ray. But also found it picky with pedals. My favorite is a Tim followed by a Zendrive then a BB. I am just really used to my MazSr, DC30, AC30, or RSA23 which seem to love all my pedals.
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Post by robbz on Jan 14, 2008 0:31:33 GMT -7
Hey Ronnie, hows the Stang Ray journey going?
Cheers
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Post by Hohn on Jan 14, 2008 19:36:07 GMT -7
Ronnie, which speakers are you using? The Stang with the Blues gives more texture to the notes-- but a clean speaker like an EV, you are talking about near JC120 levels of clean-- not a hint of grit at all.
If I had a recording getup, I'd do a stereo track of the two separate speakers in my Z cab (Blue and EV) and you could pan back and forth to hear the difference. Th EV is very hi-fi, and the Blue is definite color city-- almost a polar opposite. They work well together IMO.
Anyway, the point is that the Ray needs something like a Blue in low power to break up early enough to get the color you want on the notes.
Otherwise, just run the volume and 2:00 and put the amp a couple blocks down:)
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Post by rcrecelius on Jan 14, 2008 20:17:17 GMT -7
Call me impatient guys but, the Ray is going bye-bye...I am keeping the 2/12 blues cabinet though. If everything goes my way, the Ray will be gone this week, then I'll turn right around and get another Z28.
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Post by Hohn on Jan 14, 2008 20:22:45 GMT -7
Sayonara, Stang!
As good as you sounded though a Z-28, it's hard to fault your choice!
Post clips when you get that new Z-28 broken in:)
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 14, 2008 20:35:33 GMT -7
Yep, the 'ray doesn't make everyone happy. I've never seen anyone post a message here saying they were ambivalent about it. No lukewarm owners - you either love it, or sell it.
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Post by Bill on Jan 15, 2008 8:53:24 GMT -7
Ronnie does sound quite good on a Z-28! Steve is right, it's one of those amps that goes quick or stays. I move a ton of gear and this amp never goes anywhere. I just picked up a LP Classic last night and got to quickly check it out on the Ray...just a killer pair! Guitar/ BB/ Stingray, that's all- quite formidable. Man those pickups are HOT, throw that compressor off the board. For those asking about 'buckers and Rays, it is definitely a good matchup.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 15, 2008 9:03:35 GMT -7
Yeah, mine's not going anywhere either.
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Post by aj1169 on Jan 15, 2008 9:07:12 GMT -7
I'm in the same boat as you are Ronnie, or I should say was in the same boat. I got a StangRay right when they came out and loved it. I actually went to the store planning on buying a RxES, and left with the Ray. A few months later I ended up getting the RxES and realized I could get just as good of clean tone but have more drive at my disposal, so out went the Ray. While I still think it's a great amp, if you're like me and like the ability to drive the amp more and use as few pedals as possible, the Ray just might not do it for you. My main setup now is the Mazerati GT for the really singing gain, and either a MAZ Sr. or Jr. for everything else. I've never been happier with my setup.
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Post by funknbluezer on Jan 15, 2008 15:04:02 GMT -7
I have used the Barber Tone Pump with some outstanding results with my Ray. I've used this setup with my Strat and PRS Cusom 22.
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Post by MeZadude on Jan 16, 2008 8:17:52 GMT -7
I've found that running 3 distortion pedals with the Stang-Ray allows me to get that 'shred' tone at lower volumes. I was so used to Mesa amps with 3 or more channels when I picked up the Stang-Ray. The Ray has such sweet clear, spanky tones to it, that I just haven't been able to NOT use it.
With some experimentation, I've found that I can still have my Mesa-style fix (only nicer) with this amp by using 3 different fuzz pedals. I have a G-system, which has 4 loops. What I've done is hook up a Zendrive, a Keeley BD2 and a Keely TS9. If I want just great crunchy rhythm, I'll use the Zendrive only. If I want that Mesa-style sound and sustain, I'll use the TS9. If I want a clear, Marshally roar, I'll use the BD2. If I want a little more than that, say a Boston-style sound, I use a combination of the Zendrive & the TS9 or BD2. Using these combinations, I've found that I have all manner of tones & sustain I need with this amp. And, in addition, I have the pleasure of the Stang-Ray tone to boot. One other thing is that I'm finding, is that I'm using the amp without the drives much more than I ever used my Mesa equipment on the clear channels. The Ray is just so sweet. It performs well with all of my guitars too. Not just the single-coil ones.
This is one technique to add a lot of drive to the Ray without having to kill ears while doing so.
MeZa
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