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Post by Faze on Apr 8, 2016 17:29:05 GMT -7
Just curious right now all I have is a Ramble FX Marvel drive and the J rocket archer icon. Both real warm and fat sounding. I also have a Fulltone 69 Mk11 I picked up used from Gc going to try that with it. I bet the Z drive sounds great with it.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 8, 2016 18:12:13 GMT -7
I really like the Z-Drive with my Z-Lux.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 9, 2016 9:03:48 GMT -7
I just got a Bogner Ecstasy Red pedal and my Z-Lux loves it. Really meaty and smooth; Santana to Van Halen to Trower.
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Post by Maddog on Apr 9, 2016 9:19:42 GMT -7
RYRA Klone stays on all the time, punched in the mouth by a Wampler Clarksdale Delta OD (with humbucking guitars) or an Xotic AC (single coil guitars).
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Post by doctorice on Apr 9, 2016 9:35:09 GMT -7
Z Drive, Xotic SL and RYRA Klone are currently on the board. The Z Drive is first in line. I have the green side set for very slight dirt, mostly clean boost and the red side for medium OD. SL is next and is set to do the higher gain Marshall sounds. I can use the green side as a boost into it as desired, which basically adds just a little lift and additional compression. The Klone is last and is set for clean boost at the back end. This gives me a pretty flexible set up into a fairly clean Z-Lux. I have the boost on the amp if more is needed or wanted
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Post by carrjimi on Apr 9, 2016 10:06:19 GMT -7
Z Drive Green Channel and simble pedal. Also the new variable boot pedal that comes with the amp is fantastic.
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Post by jammergreg on Apr 9, 2016 10:41:13 GMT -7
Z-Drive & a Way Huge Overrated Special! Nice!
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Post by Faze on Apr 9, 2016 21:46:21 GMT -7
Z Drive, Xotic SL and RYRA Klone are currently on the board. The Z Drive is first in line. I have the green side set for very slight dirt, mostly clean boost and the red side for medium OD. SL is next and is set to do the higher gain Marshall sounds. I can use the green side as a boost into it as desired, which basically adds just a little lift and additional compression. The Klone is last and is set for clean boost at the back end. This gives me a pretty flexible set up into a fairly clean Z-Lux. I have the boost on the amp if more is needed or wanted Yea I got my Archer Icon last right before my delay. I also sometimes use the boost on the Z-Luz with it. The Archer (Klone) does a great job I use mine the same way with the Z-lux set Clean. It also just makes my other drive pedals sound fatter.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 10, 2016 5:21:34 GMT -7
^^^
I've currently got the RYRA Klone after my delay so it provides a (mostly clean) boost to everything before it. I had had it before the delay. I think it was zpilot who suggested trying it at the very end of the chain. I'm finding it works really well to lift my volume for a solo while keeping the tone largely the same. Since the amp Volume is set pretty low I'm unlikely to introduce much amp compression when kicking the Klone on.
It's not better, just a different approach.
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Post by Easyrom on Apr 10, 2016 11:11:11 GMT -7
Hi guys.
My Archer ikon had been my main drive into the Z-Lux for a while, until I discovered the amazing KoT. I admit KoT-> Archer -> delay -> Z-Lux sounds hudge, but I'll try the Archer last, as you suggest.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 10, 2016 13:08:24 GMT -7
Hi guys. My Archer ikon had been my main drive into the Z-Lux for a while, until I discovered the amazing KoT. I admit KoT-> Archer -> delay -> Z-Lux sounds hudge, but I'll try the Archer last, as you suggest. I need to try KoT into the Z-Lux. Let us know what you think after swapping the Archer and delay. As I said, it's different, not necessarily better.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 10, 2016 15:08:23 GMT -7
So many different approaches to getting a great tone out of the Z-Lux. I still can't find a bad way of doing it. It just eats up pedals like no tomorrow.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 10, 2016 15:10:03 GMT -7
So many different approaches to getting a great tone out of the Z-Lux. I still can't find a bad way of doing it. It just eats up pedals like no tomorrow. I'm sure I can find a way to make it sound not so good
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Post by Easyrom on Apr 11, 2016 6:56:01 GMT -7
Hi guys. My Archer ikon had been my main drive into the Z-Lux for a while, until I discovered the amazing KoT. I admit KoT-> Archer -> delay -> Z-Lux sounds hudge, but I'll try the Archer last, as you suggest. I need to try KoT into the Z-Lux. Let us know what you think after swapping the Archer and delay. As I said, it's different, not necessarily better. I'm out of town for a while, but I will, for sure. I'll let you know. And yes, you have to try a KoT into the Z-Lux! ;-)
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Apr 11, 2016 8:32:46 GMT -7
Using keeley modded blues driver and keeley modded rat into mine and sounds stellar. Of course the lux sounds awesome without any pedals, but is a very pedal friendly amp. Also running RYRA in front of these two pedals.
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Post by curtisjames on Apr 11, 2016 9:22:22 GMT -7
Kingsley: Harlot, Minstrel
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Post by Big Andy on Apr 18, 2016 7:02:10 GMT -7
I'm still experimenting but I gigged yesterday with the silver Archer and The Dude pedal both from J.Rockett. I was very happy with that combination.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 18, 2016 12:02:54 GMT -7
I'm still experimenting but I gigged yesterday with the silver Archer and The Dude pedal both from J.Rockett. I was very happy with that combination. I keep thinking about The Dude. Might have to try one out. It seems a different approach with the blending that it does.
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Post by tubetone74 on Apr 18, 2016 14:11:51 GMT -7
The Dude by Rockett crossed my mind too.
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Post by hwy145 on Apr 23, 2016 16:36:31 GMT -7
Keeley KE-808 Red Dirt Pro
This the best tube screamer type pedal I've ever used...
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Post by billyg on Sept 20, 2016 13:10:15 GMT -7
Now that I am fully committed to the Z-Lux, it’s time to make some changes to my pedalboard. I was ready for some changes anyway, but we all know that most pedals react and sound differently with different amps, so it only makes sense that now is the time to start experimenting.
I know a lot of you use boost pedals to push this amp over the top. I have tried both the Xotic RC and the Arc Effects clone v2 and both sound good. But, the amp sounds so darn good on its own, for my needs, I don’t see the point. I do have a Vertex clean boost which I was really NOT digging with the Vibrolux. This pedal is really clean -- I mean almost no coloration at all – very much a dB boost. (Also, with an expression pedal, its acts as a volume pedal, so there is no tone suck from your volume pedal at all -- very cool.) Anyway, this pedal made the Vibrolux sound very brittle, so I almost never used it as a boost. But, its sounds AMAZING with the Z-Lux. Call it MORE BETTER. Keeper for now.
I also have an Xotic SL which sounds really good for the high gain stuff and is a keeper for now.
I have a J Rockett Blue Note and The Dude on the way. Both are supposed to be here on Friday. It could be a fun weekend!! I am really excited about the Blue Note. It sounds absolutely amazing to me and I’ve got to think it will go wonderfully with the Z-Lux. Has anyone tried it?
The Dude I’m less sure about, but I need at least one (maybe two) more that fit in between (gain wise) the Blue Note and the SL. I am attracted to the Dumble sound and, at the very least, I am looking for at least one OD pedal that keeps the high notes very full, thick and smooth – no thin screeching. I have seen the Jetter GS124 mentioned here a few times. I see they now have a “hotter” version GS 167 out. Anyone?
I’ve seen the Barber Gain Changer mentioned often on these boards, but for whatever reason, I cannot seem to warm up to that sound. I almost bought an Analogman PoT (mostly because it looked like a good deal) the other day, and would like to give it a try. I’m not sure I could see many distortion pedals make it onto my board, but who knows. I would welcome suggestions and/or discussion about medium to higher gain OD pedals that you have found work well with the Z-Lux. Thanks in advance.
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Post by doctorice on Sept 20, 2016 13:34:24 GMT -7
^^^
I'll be interested in your view on The Dude. Like you, I like the Xotic SL into the Z Lux a lot. That said, I recently swapped it out for a Rockbox Boiling Point.
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Post by billyg on Sept 22, 2016 16:53:39 GMT -7
^^^ I'll be interested in your view on The Dude. Like you, I like the Xotic SL into the Z Lux a lot. That said, I recently swapped it out for a Rockbox Boiling Point. Well, I just spent over one hour with "The Dude" and I found it difficult to dial in. I mean, if you just crank it, it sounds darn good, but that's never going to happen in my band. At reasonable levels, there were only a couple of settings that worked for me. (I basically found that deep knob to be obnoxious. Past 8 or 9 o'clock the lows were overwhelming IMO. I turned it almost off.) I will say, the pedal does what it is supposed to do (at least what I think it's supposed to do) which is to keep the single note stuff thick and solid and not harsh or brittle. But overall, I guess I didn't find it very musical. I will probably return it. The Xotic SL is definitely more squished with the Z-Lux than it was with my Vibrolux. I looked at that Rockbox Boiling Point and that looks like a very cool and versatile pedal. How do you like it? How are you using it? On a similar setting, how would you compare it to the SL?
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Post by Don on Oct 2, 2016 13:16:56 GMT -7
First a Keeley compressor, then into a BB preamp with the gain set at about 10 o'clock for fat but not too crunchy chords. Then into a v1.7 OCD with the gain set low also for lead work. Sounds amazing.
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Post by renegade44 on Oct 5, 2016 13:30:25 GMT -7
I'm new to the amp. But, i'm running the OCD and Boss Blues Driver. Both sound good. I am running a Tele, Humbucker PRS, and a hot rod Peavey Falcon (strat clone) with Duncan single coil size humbucker that i can split tap at the bridge and neck and regular Duncan in the middle.
For my slide guitar an Ibanez shredder style, i use a Red Llama clone i built with some of my circuit mods.
for my license plate guitars and Diddley bows, it the OCD.
I tried my Tube Screamer and mod'ed Screamer. But, didn't like the tone of it with any of the guitars. It seemed to kill the warmth i was looking for and why i bought the amp.
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Post by billyg on Oct 6, 2016 10:32:17 GMT -7
J Rockett - Blue Note sounds wonderful. Without doubt the most transparent OD I have ever owned. Rockbox - Boiling Point sounds fantastic too. Both switches down is my favorite setting although the middle position (no clipping) is usable. Xotic SL sounds really good on the chunky, palm muted stuff. But for most other things this pedal will now play second fiddle to the Rockbox BP. I still need to spend moe time with The Dude. I like it a lot more than I did initially, but won't know until I try it in a band setting. I've spent a lot of time with all of them now, but my opinion may change after use in a band setting.
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Post by doctorice on Oct 6, 2016 10:45:36 GMT -7
Rockbox - Boiling Point sounds fantastic too. Both switches down is my favorite setting although the middle position (no clipping) is usable. Xotic SL sounds really good on the chunky, palm muted stuff. But for most other things this pedal will now play second fiddle to the Rockbox BP. Seems like we came to the same conclusion on these two. (Note that I used the SL in its factory DIP switch setting.) What guitar are you mainly using with the BP?
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Post by billyg on Oct 6, 2016 13:15:55 GMT -7
It's been a long time since I've looked inside the SL, but I believe those are my settings also.
My guitar is an all Korina Suhr Standard HH. (Positions 2 and 4 are single coils which I use a lot) The BP sounds great on all 5 pup settings although I rarely use #3. I can't wait to fire this pedal up with the band. I'm sure it will rock.
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Post by renegade44 on Oct 24, 2016 15:02:58 GMT -7
What am i using or what have i tried . . . 8^)
I'm still doing the shootouts with the pedals in the collection. I'm not a high roller on boutique pedals. So, no fancy stuff.
On the big board today: Electro-Harmonix Soul Food - I played it next to a Klon (sounded the same to me) Love it! Boss Blues Driver - Sounds good - Good boost OCD - Sounds more like a fuzz than an OD to me. But, really pushes the Tele out there. Hand Built TS-808 JRC4558 - This thing has more options and knobs than an amp. But, always too harsh for me. Red Llama - More Fuzz sounding than OD (typically on my slide guitars)
On the small board: Soul Food OCD
I have also gigged with no pedals at all. And, probably liked that tone the most.
Guitars range from PRS, Fender Tele, Strat clone, Strat clone with Seymore Duncan Humbuckers, homemade license plate guitars / cigar box / Diddley bows
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 5, 2016 6:48:39 GMT -7
Lately, the Barber Gain Changer has taken over for overdrive/distortion. A couple of weeks ago I got a Blackbird preamp/overdrive unit that uses real tubes at real operating voltages, and it's very nice too. The thing is that it's a full on preamp with BMT, Gain, and Volume controls. With two different distortion voicings, a Bright switch, and a Clean Channel to top it off. So although it sounds great, it takes time to set up. If I've got time for a proper sound check I love it. It also sounds way different depending on which amp I'm using. The Z-Lux and the Maz 18NR demand different setups, as do the Therapy. The Barber Gain Changer is so easy to use that I usually go to it first. Absolutely outstanding tone. A high gain setting with my LP on both pickups sounds so good. Like a violin or viola, rich and fat, cutting but not obnoxious. It seems to get along with all my Z-Amps very well. Here's my current board with the Z-Lux looking on...
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