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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 18, 2016 9:13:08 GMT -7
She's a keeper, that is for sure!
1. I am using less pedals
It is true. The EQ boost, the verb and the Tremolo (and the amp itself) are so good that I don't really need much after that. I have an Aqua Puss on the board that I don't use at all any longer, and it use to be used all the time(edit: it is now off my board). I have two compressors, one for country tone and the other for other stuff and I am barely using them. I know that I am going to pull one of those off. Honestly, I think I could gig without a delay pedal, that is how good the verb is. I have one dirt pedal (Greer Lightspeed) and I am using it less and less and less. If I had to do a show with just the Zlux and nothing but a tuner, I could. Easily. Although, the thought of going pedal-less is too scary to really consider.
2. I like running it clean rather than dirty
I tried running it with the volume around 3pm and the master at noon. That is a great tone, but I find running it cleaner makes it more versatile for what I do.
I play it on 40 watts with the master around 3pm and the volume around 10:30ish and play Tele's exclusively. With this setting I get great cleans for country lead when I boost with my Archer Ikon set with almost no gain on it. I also get a great rock rhythm tone. If I need more, I can add my Greer Lightspeed OR the EQ Boost. I can pretty much cover any tone I need from Alan Jackson to ZZ Top with that set up.
3. I am selling my Remedy and....
As much as I hate to admit it, the Z-Lux is all I need. I bought the Z-Lux hoping it would be able to replace the Remedy (an amp I LOVE), and it has. I have the amp up for sale locally on CL, but it is probably going up for sale on Reverb or here pretty soon. I am also selling my Diamond Tremolo and my JRAD Boing Reverb pedal. Both of those pedals are fantastic at what they do, but not as good as the Zlux verb and trem.
4. OMG the EQ BOOST..
Talk about perfect. It is just the right amount of boost and EQ for leads. It is such a pleasure to step on that pedal and hear the amp roar behind you. It cuts through the mix so eloquently, in a rip your head off nice kind of way. I smile every time I engage it.
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Post by Faze on Sept 18, 2016 10:16:54 GMT -7
Wow Its crazy how good the z-lux sounds. I also use the archer icon the same way with it and man what a great tone. But for the past couple months I been playing live just straight in no effects. Just the variable boost engaged. Your post was a confirmation of my experience with the Z -Lux.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 18, 2016 10:32:01 GMT -7
I love this amp, I'm thinking about selling my Therapy and Mini, maybe my Monza too. It does it all, (well, gotta have a good dose of Barber Direct Drive to take over for the Monza!) and does it eloquently. I'm liking running it clean too, down around 9:30 or so, full power. It just sounds so dang huge, it's a brilliant amp.
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Post by Faze on Sept 18, 2016 15:27:44 GMT -7
I love this amp, I'm thinking about selling my Therapy and Mini, maybe my Monza too. It does it all, (well, gotta have a good dose of Barber Direct Drive to take over for the Monza!) and does it eloquently. I'm liking running it clean too, down around 9:30 or so, full power. It just sounds so dang huge, it's a brilliant amp. I Always play in 40 watt setting. Huge 3D tone!
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Post by doctorice on Sept 19, 2016 5:09:33 GMT -7
I know this is alien to our natures, but set both Vol and Master quite low, like 9 o'clock. 20-watt setting. No pedals. Play for at least 15 minutes and let your ears acclimate. Let your fingers do the talking. I think the rich tone is still completely there. YMMV.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 19, 2016 5:41:05 GMT -7
I know this is alien to our natures, but set both Vol and Master quite low, like 9 o'clock. 20-watt setting. No pedals. Play for at least 15 minutes and let your ears acclimate. Let your fingers do the talking. I think the rich tone is still completely there. YMMV. Agreed, Mike. The Z-Lux Master and Vol controls (and the half power, brilliant) are the most non-intrusive, effective level control units ever designed. It all comes together in this amp.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 19, 2016 6:20:33 GMT -7
It all comes together in this amp. I DO NOT need to hear this!!! LA LA LA LA LA LA ..................
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 19, 2016 6:42:32 GMT -7
I know this is alien to our natures, but set both Vol and Master quite low, like 9 o'clock. 20-watt setting. No pedals. Play for at least 15 minutes and let your ears acclimate. Let your fingers do the talking. I think the rich tone is still completely there. YMMV. I agree with you here. When I first got the Z-Lux, I took it to my teaching studio to mess around with. In there, I had to keep the volume down, way down. I couldn't believe how great it sounded at those levels. However, I play in a band with a loud drummer and a loud Dr. Z Therapy on the other side of the stage. Believe me, I need the master volume in the 2-3pm range and the 40 watt setting on all the time
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 19, 2016 6:44:28 GMT -7
It all comes together in this amp. I DO NOT need to hear this!!! LA LA LA LA LA LA .................. Shucks, don’t duck the influx of a Z-Lux on the big brown truck. It won’t cost you too many bucks to improve your magnetic influx…WTF? (as he ducks)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 9:22:16 GMT -7
I need a Z Lux Lite!!!
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 19, 2016 9:53:37 GMT -7
I believe that would be the head on 1/2 power
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 10:07:01 GMT -7
I believe that would be the head on 1/2 power I was thinking sans reverb and trem...
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 19, 2016 10:46:50 GMT -7
I believe that would be the head on 1/2 power I was thinking sans reverb and trem... The Reverb and Trem are a key part of what make this amp so.....bitchin!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 11:27:33 GMT -7
I was thinking sans reverb and trem... The Reverb and Trem are a key part of what make this amp so.....bitchin! I don't doubt that one bit, but I can't help thinking of all the gain it would have without those in the circuit!!! I've played a Z Lux on full bore at CME, it truly is a wonderful amp.
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Post by Faze on Sept 19, 2016 13:35:41 GMT -7
I love this amp, I'm thinking about selling my Therapy and Mini, maybe my Monza too. It does it all, (well, gotta have a good dose of Barber Direct Drive to take over for the Monza!) and does it eloquently. I'm liking running it clean too, down around 9:30 or so, full power. It just sounds so dang huge, it's a brilliant amp. I Always play in 40 watt setting. Huge 3D tone! I should have mentioned thats in live settings. At home the 20 watt setting is also great as Doc quoted. The amp still sounds big and fat even in the 20 watt setting! Live I have to go with the 40 watt's though.
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Post by ampedup on Sept 19, 2016 19:51:07 GMT -7
The wait is killing me, I have a gig coming up this weekend and I'm really wishing the Z-lux would magically appear by then :-). Thanks for the report Rockerfeller!
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Post by simpleton on Sept 19, 2016 21:59:51 GMT -7
I know this is alien to our natures, but set both Vol and Master quite low, like 9 o'clock. 20-watt setting. No pedals. Play for at least 15 minutes and let your ears acclimate. Let your fingers do the talking. I think the rich tone is still completely there. YMMV. I agree with you here. When I first got the Z-Lux, I took it to my teaching studio to mess around with. In there, I had to keep the volume down, way down. I couldn't believe how great it sounded at those levels. However, I play in a band with a loud drummer and a loud Dr. Z Therapy on the other side of the stage. Believe me, I need the master volume in the 2-3pm range and the 40 watt setting on all the time Do the Therapy and ZLux sound similar on stage? Or do you here a difference? I'm sure guitar pickups and speaker plays a part in the tone too but curious on the two as they came out in a similar time frame and ninth have more Fendery tones.
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Post by Faze on Sept 19, 2016 22:25:41 GMT -7
I agree with you here. When I first got the Z-Lux, I took it to my teaching studio to mess around with. In there, I had to keep the volume down, way down. I couldn't believe how great it sounded at those levels. However, I play in a band with a loud drummer and a loud Dr. Z Therapy on the other side of the stage. Believe me, I need the master volume in the 2-3pm range and the 40 watt setting on all the time Do the Therapy and ZLux sound similar on stage? Or do you here a difference? I'm sure guitar pickups and speaker plays a part in the tone too but curious on the two as they came out in a similar time frame and ninth have more Fendery tones. There is a difference the Z-Lux sounds richer smoother sounding more of a Blackface tone. The therapy is more in your face. Having both amps I have went back and forth between the two and they are both great amps but in all honesty the Z-Lux is really something special if I had to have just one amp it would be the Z-Lux. It just has such a killer tone. It sounds real full and open. It blooms yet it's very articulate and expressive. The therapy is also fat sounding and expressive as well. They are both Def in the fender camp. The Z-Lux just has a little more bells and whistles. They both have excellent clean tones but I would def have to give the Z-lux a edge on the cleans. The Therapy can get a little nastier then the Z-Lux but still the Z-Lux overdrive tone is real fat warm and crunchy real buttery. You really don't need pedals with either one of these amps. They both take pedals really good though.
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Post by KeithA on Sept 20, 2016 2:54:58 GMT -7
The Reverb and Trem are a key part of what make this amp so.....bitchin! I don't doubt that one bit, but I can't help thinking of all the gain it would have without those in the circuit!!! I've played a Z Lux on full bore at CME, it truly is a wonderful amp. Funny.....this is one amp that I wouldn't want much gain in.....and I love my gain. As noted above, for me this amp would be about chime, reverb & trem!
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 20, 2016 7:42:05 GMT -7
I agree with you here. When I first got the Z-Lux, I took it to my teaching studio to mess around with. In there, I had to keep the volume down, way down. I couldn't believe how great it sounded at those levels. However, I play in a band with a loud drummer and a loud Dr. Z Therapy on the other side of the stage. Believe me, I need the master volume in the 2-3pm range and the 40 watt setting on all the time Do the Therapy and ZLux sound similar on stage? Or do you here a difference? I'm sure guitar pickups and speaker plays a part in the tone too but curious on the two as they came out in a similar time frame and ninth have more Fendery tones. They both sound great together. IluvPunz and I came to an agreement awhile back: I play Tele's and he plays a Les Paul (all though he does play a Tele on one or two tunes.) That makes a big, big difference.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 20, 2016 9:53:44 GMT -7
I bet the Les Paul / Therapy on one side with the Tele / Z-Lux on the other sounds outrageously good.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 20, 2016 15:36:08 GMT -7
So I play a fair bit of rock - indie, crunchy, edgy stuff - mostly on my SG..........my Therapy just kills it, but I could do with a relatively light weight combo for those quick in and out gigs, with little time or space to set up. I am happy using a pedal or two (clean boost and dirt pedal).........is the Z Lux going to do that job? (Given that Joe Walsh loves his; gets GREAT tone, and I love Joe, I'm guessing "YES!")
Enquiringly minds want to know.........
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Post by Faze on Sept 20, 2016 17:08:40 GMT -7
So I play a fair bit of rock - indie, crunchy, edgy stuff - mostly on my SG..........my Therapy just kills it, but I could do with a relatively light weight combo for those quick in and out gigs, with little time or space to set up. I am happy using a pedal or two (clean boost and dirt pedal).........is the Z Lux going to do that job? (Given that Joe Walsh loves his; gets GREAT tone, and I love Joe, I'm guessing "YES!") Enquiringly minds want to know......... Yes it will do the job and it will do it wonderfully. The Z-Lux combo is also big sounding really wide open and 3D like. I also have the therapy and its a great amp but the Z-lux has a sweeter tone they both are great don't get me wrong. The Z-lux will definitely cover the type of sounds you mentioned. You don't need pedals either. The variable boost is exceptional I keep mine on all the time and work my guitar tone nobs. My pedal board is slowly diminishing. aIm down to a overdrive a boost and a delay thats it and I only use it at home now live I just use the Z-lux.
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Post by simpleton on Sept 20, 2016 22:13:18 GMT -7
So I play a fair bit of rock - indie, crunchy, edgy stuff - mostly on my SG..........my Therapy just kills it, but I could do with a relatively light weight combo for those quick in and out gigs, with little time or space to set up. I am happy using a pedal or two (clean boost and dirt pedal).........is the Z Lux going to do that job? (Given that Joe Walsh loves his; gets GREAT tone, and I love Joe, I'm guessing "YES!") Enquiringly minds want to know......... I'd be curious to hear your take on the ZLUX after being in deep Therapy for a good while. I've thought of having a combo cab made for my Therapy like Dave did.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 21, 2016 6:45:48 GMT -7
I bet the Les Paul / Therapy on one side with the Tele / Z-Lux on the other sounds outrageously good. We just played a played a corporate show on Monday night and I had a chance to record the whole show with a Zoom Q3. The audio part came out great and you can hear the two guitars / Z's together and they sound great and compliment each other well. The Therapy and a Lester are a match made in heaven!
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Post by Faze on Sept 22, 2016 14:12:35 GMT -7
Do the Therapy and ZLux sound similar on stage? Or do you here a difference? I'm sure guitar pickups and speaker plays a part in the tone too but curious on the two as they came out in a similar time frame and ninth have more Fendery tones. There is a difference the Z-Lux sounds richer smoother sounding more of a Blackface tone. The therapy is more in your face. Having both amps I have went back and forth between the two and they are both great amps but in all honesty the Z-Lux is really something special if I had to have just one amp it would be the Z-Lux. It just has such a killer tone. It sounds real full and open. It blooms yet it's very articulate and expressive. The therapy is also fat sounding and expressive as well. They are both Def in the fender camp. The Z-Lux just has a little more bells and whistles. They both have excellent clean tones but I would def have to give the Z-lux a edge on the cleans. The Therapy can get a little nastier then the Z-Lux but still the Z-Lux overdrive tone is real fat warm and crunchy real buttery. You really don't need pedals with either one of these amps. They both take pedals really good though. Actually the therapy can get some Marshall like tones too. The Z-Lux is more American voiced.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 24, 2016 1:18:00 GMT -7
So I play a fair bit of rock - indie, crunchy, edgy stuff - mostly on my SG..........my Therapy just kills it, but I could do with a relatively light weight combo for those quick in and out gigs, with little time or space to set up. I am happy using a pedal or two (clean boost and dirt pedal).........is the Z Lux going to do that job? (Given that Joe Walsh loves his; gets GREAT tone, and I love Joe, I'm guessing "YES!") Enquiringly minds want to know......... I'd be curious to hear your take on the ZLUX after being in deep Therapy for a good while. I've thought of having a combo cab made for my Therapy like Dave did. I'd thought of the Therapy combo conversion but the weight would be way too much.......there's a lot of good heavy iron in that Therapy!!
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 24, 2016 1:27:36 GMT -7
I know this is alien to our natures, but set both Vol and Master quite low, like 9 o'clock. 20-watt setting. No pedals. Play for at least 15 minutes and let your ears acclimate. Let your fingers do the talking. I think the rich tone is still completely there. YMMV. I agree with you here. When I first got the Z-Lux, I took it to my teaching studio to mess around with. In there, I had to keep the volume down, way down. I couldn't believe how great it sounded at those levels. However, I play in a band with a loud drummer and a loud Dr. Z Therapy on the other side of the stage. Believe me, I need the master volume in the 2-3pm range and the 40 watt setting on all the time I LIKE your band already!
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Post by Don on Oct 2, 2016 13:19:33 GMT -7
I have many Z amps, but my Z-LUX is now my absolutes goto amp. Amazing sounding amplifier!
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Post by Easyrom on Oct 6, 2016 11:56:30 GMT -7
Great reviews here. I'm quite amazed by my Z-Lux every time I plug any guitar into it. I used to have a great great compressor (Cali76 Compact) I found just wonderful into my Maz 8, but it seemed to be almost useless into the Lux. This amp is pure magic all by itself.
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