Post by ckisgen on May 26, 2016 20:44:08 GMT -7
Pretty darn pumped .. have been wanting a Z for quite a while now and was torn on which model to go for first. Was pretty sold on a Maz 18, then I started seeing decent deals here and there on Z28s, an EZG50, etc. Then I came across a "can't pass this up" kind of deal on a minty 2014 M12 head. So I went for it. Figured worst case I could flip it for at least what I paid for it if I decided I wanted to try another Z flavor.
I've gotta wait for my Mesa to sell to be able to buy a proper cab for it but in the meantime I'm plugging it into the Black Shadow speaker that's in my Mesa Express combo. (I'd like to hook it up to the UK Greenbacks in my AC30TB but the darn speaker cable is way too short).
I only got to play with her for a couple hours today but so far it's an astounding little work of hand wired sonic art. Only having 3 knobs is kind of refreshing coming from using a Mesa for a while as the main workhorse.
I'm a pedal nut/gear prostitute who currently has a PT-3 crammed full of various pedal shaped toys. I read the M12 was designed as a pedal platform of sorts, and I find this quite accurate. Several of my OD pedals have never sounded so good. It also has a surprising amount of clean headroom for a 12 watt amp.
Unfortunately, I never really bonded with the Black Shadow speaker but it's about my only option currently until the Mesa combo sells. I'm hoping it's the speaker (some people LOVE the Black Shadow) but even with my relatively dark sounding Les Paul, it's very bright. I have to really put some effort into trying to tame some ice pick highs that come through here and there. And I have done my homework and read many of the threads on this forum (and TGP, etc) about the M12. So, yes I'm setting the EQ with my ears and not my eyes. Also, setting the bass first and then slowly rolling treble up from 0 helps. But even on "low", I'm still working some to find the right balance between no ice picks please and totally squashing all of the nice chimey sparkly highs. Obviously how high the volume is set makes a huge difference on this equation (I find it pretty easy at relatively low volumes to dial in a nice full bottom end that still has nice highs that aren't too much / it's once the volume is past 12-1 o'clock that I start to really struggle). But again, some of these "harsh" characteristics at higher volumes are the same sorts of things I struggled to dial out of the Mesa Express so I'm hoping the Black Shadow is in large part to blame for this and that a new cab and speaker will help sort some of this out.
I'm also curious about trying the rectifier swap I've read about (either the full on Steve Miller mod or just the rectifier swap to the "M20")
I'm a bit torn on exactly which cab I'm going to go with. Naturally I'd prefer a Z cab of some flavor. Would prefer a 1x12 for portability sake but have heard great things about how much bigger this amp sounds through a 2x12 (what amp doesn't?).
My other consideration is that I get GC Pro pricing through Guitar Center so can get a pretty healthy discount on any cabs they carry. Have been looking at the black Orange closed back 1x12 as well as the Morgan 1x12. That 2x12 Z-Best cab is quite tempting but at over 60 pounds, ugh. My guess is I'll get a 1x12 to start and then end up with a Z-Best 2x12 at some point in the future for more options. The other nice thing about GC Pro pricing is I can pickup speakers at pretty darn good prices too so I can always go down that tweakers paradise road if and when I feel the itch.
Anyway, just wanted to attest that my first dip into the Dr Z pool overall has been as glorious as I was expecting it to be. I have a feeling this won't be my last Z amp. Already daydreaming about the day where I can have a stable of Z's at my disposal.
I've gotta wait for my Mesa to sell to be able to buy a proper cab for it but in the meantime I'm plugging it into the Black Shadow speaker that's in my Mesa Express combo. (I'd like to hook it up to the UK Greenbacks in my AC30TB but the darn speaker cable is way too short).
I only got to play with her for a couple hours today but so far it's an astounding little work of hand wired sonic art. Only having 3 knobs is kind of refreshing coming from using a Mesa for a while as the main workhorse.
I'm a pedal nut/gear prostitute who currently has a PT-3 crammed full of various pedal shaped toys. I read the M12 was designed as a pedal platform of sorts, and I find this quite accurate. Several of my OD pedals have never sounded so good. It also has a surprising amount of clean headroom for a 12 watt amp.
Unfortunately, I never really bonded with the Black Shadow speaker but it's about my only option currently until the Mesa combo sells. I'm hoping it's the speaker (some people LOVE the Black Shadow) but even with my relatively dark sounding Les Paul, it's very bright. I have to really put some effort into trying to tame some ice pick highs that come through here and there. And I have done my homework and read many of the threads on this forum (and TGP, etc) about the M12. So, yes I'm setting the EQ with my ears and not my eyes. Also, setting the bass first and then slowly rolling treble up from 0 helps. But even on "low", I'm still working some to find the right balance between no ice picks please and totally squashing all of the nice chimey sparkly highs. Obviously how high the volume is set makes a huge difference on this equation (I find it pretty easy at relatively low volumes to dial in a nice full bottom end that still has nice highs that aren't too much / it's once the volume is past 12-1 o'clock that I start to really struggle). But again, some of these "harsh" characteristics at higher volumes are the same sorts of things I struggled to dial out of the Mesa Express so I'm hoping the Black Shadow is in large part to blame for this and that a new cab and speaker will help sort some of this out.
I'm also curious about trying the rectifier swap I've read about (either the full on Steve Miller mod or just the rectifier swap to the "M20")
I'm a bit torn on exactly which cab I'm going to go with. Naturally I'd prefer a Z cab of some flavor. Would prefer a 1x12 for portability sake but have heard great things about how much bigger this amp sounds through a 2x12 (what amp doesn't?).
My other consideration is that I get GC Pro pricing through Guitar Center so can get a pretty healthy discount on any cabs they carry. Have been looking at the black Orange closed back 1x12 as well as the Morgan 1x12. That 2x12 Z-Best cab is quite tempting but at over 60 pounds, ugh. My guess is I'll get a 1x12 to start and then end up with a Z-Best 2x12 at some point in the future for more options. The other nice thing about GC Pro pricing is I can pickup speakers at pretty darn good prices too so I can always go down that tweakers paradise road if and when I feel the itch.
Anyway, just wanted to attest that my first dip into the Dr Z pool overall has been as glorious as I was expecting it to be. I have a feeling this won't be my last Z amp. Already daydreaming about the day where I can have a stable of Z's at my disposal.