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Post by henryjurstin13 on Apr 21, 2016 7:54:54 GMT -7
I started out being interested in the Monza, but it's pretty much the only Z I've got experience playing besides a Z-Lux. Is there a comparison chart anywhere that puts all the Z amps together with vital info to say what each one sounds like (in general & in comparison to another amp)?
I didn't know which forum to post this in, so I used the one I check most often...
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Post by bryan0418 on Apr 21, 2016 14:26:43 GMT -7
There isn't a chart that I know of. There are some Z's that sound similar to popular amps of the past but every Z amp has its own twist. Say for example you are looking for a Plexi tone, you would look at the Remedy. If you wanted a Blackface tone you would look at the Z Lux or EZG. The cool thing about Z amps is they are not clones of any vintage amp. They all have their own sound.
Perhaps if you tell us the type of music you play, the type of amp sound you are going for and the size of the venue, myself and the other members could point you in the right direction.
There are also great retailers such as Humbucker Music and Guitar Riot that could also give you good advice and sell you an awesome amp.
You came to the right place. A lot of good guys and gals here with a lot of knowledge.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 21, 2016 15:15:24 GMT -7
I think it would be a great thing to put together such a chart. I know when I came to the Z camp a year and a half ago, I did a lot of homework learning about which Z amp had a certain tone quality. Maybe we could start a post in each amp page, and ask owners to, in two or three sentences each, to try to put a label on that amp's sonic signature...for example, I just came up with this off the cuff:
The Monza sounds like a bit of everything that classic Marshall amplifiers achieved with 100 watt 4x12 stacks, compressed into a single 10" combo amp that has a very effective master volume control as a bonus. A real rock and roll amp with lots of attitude.
If we could each write up a description of our favorite Z amp, maybe we could end up with a useful document. Thoughts?
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Apr 21, 2016 16:01:38 GMT -7
Steve (Benttop) has a chart that puts in technical details of Z amps- let me see if I can find it and I will post a link.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Apr 21, 2016 16:05:15 GMT -7
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Apr 21, 2016 16:19:06 GMT -7
Here is something I did a couple of years ago - based on Doc's Amp Comments and award's he's received.
Carmen Ghia Clean notes come out with a warmth, complexity, and sustain like one has never heard from such a small amp. Every note has a hugeness to it that seems far beyond an 18 watt head. All this comes before the amp really starts to sing. As you turn the Volume clockwise, the fun factor increases. The big clean notes get even BIGGER than they were before. Sustain becomes as smooth and musical as you have ever heard it.
EZG 50 The EZG-50 is the blackface head that never was...ala Dr Z! It has a very definitive 6L6 clean sound. Whether you are lusting after the classic "El Mocambo" tone, looking to surf the big waves, or want twang straight out of Bakersfield. The EZG-50 will satisfy the most discriminating blackface tone seeker.
Galaxie The Galaxie is a channel switching (via footswitch) amp that combines classic Fender-style tweed clean tones and smooth modern drive sounds. The clean channel nails the sweet swirling sound of classic tweed amps that have become the foundation of electric guitar tone. The drive channel is the result of Dr Z’s 20 plus years of design experience. You’ll find it has excellent sustain and a rich open sound with plenty of gain on tap for today’s needs.
JAZ 20/40 Output tube tremolo gives you a depth not heard with pedals or opticoupler circuits. You get deep pulsating swells of tremolo from the JAZ. Whether you desire slow and mellow or faster Bo Didley sounds you can dial it in with ease via the speed and depth controls. Add in the tube driven reverb and you'll be navigating the swamps of the bayou.
KT 45 Sonically the KT-45 captures the rich tones of the WHO's "Live at Leeds" LP. It combines powerful driving distorted tones with a touch of defined articulation. VOX AC-30/4 meets HiWatt.
MAZ 18 Jr. The Maz 18 has the perfect combination of front end drive and output tube distortion. It has a wonderful 3D reverb clean tone, matched with the sweetest top end response and tightest bottom end in a lower powered amp. All this has made the Maz 18 our most popular selling reverb combo to date.
The Maz 18 NR has that certain old school attitude that comes alive under your fingers. You can dial in clean chimey tones or raw vintage drive. The NR delivers rich singing tones from single coils and sweet British crunch from humbuckers.
MAZ 38 NR Originally built as a 3x10 combo at the request of Joe Walsh, the ever versatile Maz 38 NR. The 38 NR will give you plenty of clean headroom and sweet driven tones for stages of all sizes.
MAZ 38 SR Whether your forte' is Blues, Country, Roots, or Rock, The MAZ 38 Senior will fit the bill.
Mazerati GT Achieves that elusive “boutique” high gain tone. The GT uses the time tested output transformer designed for us by Ken Fischer. The gain comes on fast and strong allowing you to simply use the volume knob on your guitar to provide sparkling clean tones.
Mini-Z The breakup begins lightly at around 9 o'clock on the dial, and the sound gets fatter and fatter with more gain as you turn up the volume. Want a nice & crunchy rhythm tone? It's at about 10-11 o'clock. Want a nice, sustaining tone for leads? It's at high-noon. Want ZZ-top? It's at about 2-3 o'clock. Want over the top saturation? Crank it all the way up. The amp gets both louder AND more distorted as you turn it up, so it's "quite a ride." Most will find a happy setting between 12 and 2 o'clock and control the volume and tone with their guitar.
Monza The Monza is a gain and sustain monster. It excels at giving your fingers back what they put in with the feel and response of an amp 5x its power. Chords ring strong while single notes rise and bloom. It’s like harnessing the power and response of a 100 watt stack without clearing the first 20 rows. The term “Billy in a Box” has been used to describe the Monza. It’s that and so much more.
Prescription ES A collaboration between master Tele player Brad Paisley, and Mike Zaite has given birth to the all new Prescription Extra Strength. Dr Z's old friend (and avid supporter of Z Amps since 1989) Joe Walsh demo'd the RX ES and ordered one on the spot to use on the Eagles Oct '04 tour of Japan. Look and listen to his Blonde RX ES on new Eagles' releases, and upcoming shows.
Prescription ES Junior The Prescription Junior Strength (Rx Jr.) has all the same sonic characteristics of the RX ES, but at less than half the power.
Remedy The full on assault and sweet crunch of the Plexi style circuit. Using four 6V6s and coming in at 40 watts you have all the spit and growl on hand for burning your guitar at Monterey or playing High Voltage rock and roll.
Route 66 Marshall JTM 45 style sounds This tube generates the “Milkshake Thick” tones, as heard on John Mayall’s “Bluesbreaker” album featuring Eric Clapton (the “Beano Album” as it is known to many).
SRZ 65 Gain and power combine to deliver pure crunch making this the ultimate rock amp. Simply roll the volume back on your guitar and you’ll hear the shimmering bell like cleans from the EL34s. The SRZ-65 is perfect for dialing up modern and classic rock sounds as well as old school British Steel.
Stangray The Stang Ray is the result of his second collaboration with superstar country guitarist Brad Paisley. Using the classic setup of a quartet of EL84's biased close to true Class A at 30 watts, the new Stang Ray tips its hat to classic British tones (think Vox), but like all Dr.Z amps, has its own unique voice.
Z-28 Having more of an American type sound, the Z28 gives you a wide pallet to work from. You can dial in a clear, sweet clean sound as well as a biting crunch with just 3 knobs.
Delta 88 Best full, sustaining, 3 dimensional clean tones this side of a 100 watt Plexi.
Therapy A 6L6 based amp with the flavor of a low-power Tweed Twin – an American-type overdrive sound. Tweed-Twin clean with a modern clarity.
Antidote Marshall tones – with a vintage/modern switch that takes the amp from 1960’s JTM45 to 1970s JCMs
Z-Wreck - There’s plenty of Vox-y character to this amp in terms of lively top end, but the rich, full and complex mid range is really something special. Every last drop of tone is rung out of those Alnico speakers and the transient response – the clarity of the initial note attack before it blooms into natural valve compression and sustain – is simply joyous. Plugging in a Telecaster, we can see why Brad Paisley is such a fan of this amp. The bridge pickup’s brightness and twang are here, along with huge dollops of meaty mid range snarl, but the highs never become sharp or unpleasant. Perhaps more surprising is how great this amp sounds with a Les Paul – chunkier than Leslie West, but still with that astonishing bite and clarity that makes each note seem to pop and shimmer.
Z-Lux - the underlying flavour is vintage and Fender-like, but thankfully devoid of the lifeless feel and glassy trebles that are sometimes associated with the more powerful silverface models. At full power, the Z-lux has a big three-dimensional tone that feels supple and dynamic with single coils as well as humbuckers. For clean tones, max out the master control and turn the gain up to achieve the optimum volume level. With single coils, things should stay clean so long as the gain control doesn’t pass halfway.
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Post by henryjurstin13 on Apr 22, 2016 11:05:31 GMT -7
This thread just blew my mind....
That being said -- if anyone makes this into a doc to tag/upload somewhere, I'm sure a lot of others would greatly benefit. THANKS!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 22, 2016 12:49:53 GMT -7
Welcome to Z-Talk, brother!
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Post by simpleton on Apr 22, 2016 14:37:43 GMT -7
This thread just blew my mind.... That being said -- if anyone makes this into a doc to tag/upload somewhere, I'm sure a lot of others would greatly benefit. THANKS! Mine too. And I've been he a while. The Therapy can also sound like other Z amps I've owned. It does a good Ghia and Monza impersonation....not quite as sweet though without the EL84 twinkle. I love my Therapy....welcome aboard.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 22, 2016 17:31:12 GMT -7
I've got a matrix/flow chart that I've been working on... it's not totally complete but it's my personal comparison notes from when I've compared one Z-amp to another. I'm on the iPad right now; can't remember if the chart is on my desk at home or at work, but I'll see if I can scan it at the office & post.
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Post by helmi on Apr 24, 2016 3:37:29 GMT -7
Welcome to Z-Talk, brother! DITTO!
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