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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 1, 2017 12:37:47 GMT -7
Howdy, all. I'm now the proud owner of a very lightly used 2015 Z-Lux (looks new to me). I'm absolutely digging it, and have already gigged with it quite a bit (it's become my favorite amp for small/medium venues). I noticed that mine didn't come with the "Variable Boost Footswitch," but rather a single button version. I was wondering if it was worth buying the one with the knob on it. I'm thinking not, but was seeking opinion. First off, when I play a Les Paul or 335, I don't need the the boost at all, as everything drives so sweetly already. When I play the strat, tele, etc., I've rigged up an "open" 1/4" plug I just pop in the jack, which just turns on the boost and leaves it on (I'm not a pedal guy at all, and do everything with the guitar's volume/tone controls). How much versatility and "sweep" does the knob actually add? Also, V1 came with an Electro Harmonix 12AX7. I see that the current V1 recommendation for the Z-Lux from the Good Doctor is a Mullard 12AX7/ECC83. First, I want to clarify WHICH Mullard 12AX7 Mike likes in there, as there are TWO different Mullard "12AX7"s currently reissued: There is the "Mullard 12AX7 / ECC83," but there's also the "Mullard CV4004 / 12AX7". I'm guessing the former, but want to be sure. Second, is anyone in a position to describe the sonic differences between the EH and Mullard 12AX7s in V1? Just curious. Finally, my amp came in a color configuration I've never seen before. It's all black. Black tolex, black grille cloth, black piping. Anybody else have one of those? Thanks for the feedback, and Happy New Year!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 1, 2017 13:44:59 GMT -7
Just put a 250K ohm pot across the hot/ground connection of the 1/4" jack and you've got a variable boost. It'll nearly go to "off" boost but not quite. The Mullard is a little softer, not as trebly. I like it. PS...Welcome to the forum, it's a great group of guys (and a few gals too)!
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 1, 2017 13:52:07 GMT -7
Thanks for the info, Dave. I'll definitely heat up the Weller and give the 250k pot a shot! This isn't my first Z (had a MAZ for a spell, thanks to Anson Funderburgh, and an early Mazerati for a bit). I'm curious about playing with the V1 tube, and if anybody else has a "blackout" model, as well. Cheers!
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jan 1, 2017 13:58:36 GMT -7
I have the variable boost and I run it wide open. I use it as a lead boost in a loud band, and I find it is just perfect for that application.
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Post by Easyrom on Jan 1, 2017 15:21:38 GMT -7
Congratulations. Nice looking in this black tolex and grill cloth. Mine came with the plain foot switch which I modified with a 500k pot and it sounds great. I personally think the variable foot switch worth the effort. You have nothing less and a few more shades of tone.
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 1, 2017 16:49:21 GMT -7
Thanks for the response. I've had one guy suggested a 250k pot, and another 500k. Anybody know what's in the pedal now?
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Post by justjoshinya on Jan 1, 2017 18:35:13 GMT -7
From another thread I read it didn't matter which pot I used a 250k and it works great.
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Post by Faze on Jan 2, 2017 17:24:53 GMT -7
I have the variable boost with mine and keep it engaged at about half way up all the time it never comes off. I also have the Z-lux with the Z-Lux grill but special ordered a silver Z logo and put it on mine. I like that silver Z better. My Z-lux looks just like Joe Walsh's Z-lux now If I could only get mine to sounds as good as he gets his to sound! Your amp looks cool! Thats unique. I have not seen the Z-Lux in that combination very cool. The mullard does make a difference. Mine came with the same tube yours did the EH.
Once I switched to the mullard the amp really opened up.
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Post by Easyrom on Jan 3, 2017 0:56:09 GMT -7
From another thread I read it didn't matter which pot I used a 250k and it works great. I'm almost certain Dr Z uses 500k pot, but indeed 250k works just fine too (I have 250k in my Maz 8 foot switch and 500k in my Z-Lux footswitch). So if you have a good 250k pot at home, don't look further, but if you have to buy one, I would go with 500k.
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 3, 2017 8:55:35 GMT -7
Thanks for the all the good info. Is there, perchance, a 500k pot out there with an on/off feature that would be suitable? Also, would audio taper v/linear make any difference?
Also, I'd be really interested to hear what Dr. Z himself would put in V1 if money were no object (i.e., a NOS Mullard ECC83, vs. the reissue, etc.).
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 3, 2017 9:15:08 GMT -7
I have the variable boost with mine and keep it engaged at about half way up all the time it never comes off. I also have the Z-lux with the Z-Lux grill but special ordered a silver Z logo and put it on mine. I like that silver Z better. My Z-lux looks just like Joe Walsh's Z-lux now If I could only get mine to sounds as good as he gets his to sound! Your amp looks cool! Thats unique. I have not seen the Z-Lux in that combination very cool. The mullard does make a difference. Mine came with the same tube yours did the EH. Once I switched to the mullard the amp really opened up. Thanks for the feedback, Randy. I got the Mullard 12AX7/ECC83 in yesterday (I'm presuming that's the right one, as opposed to the CV4004), and will pop it in V1 before tonight's gig (been playing the same Tuesday 8-10p show at the same venue for oh, about 10 years now... damn, I'm old). Since I know the room and how my amp sounds in there pretty well, I'll try and describe the difference I hear with the new tube.
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Post by Faze on Jan 3, 2017 10:10:10 GMT -7
No problem. Glad to be able to help. And yes that is the correct mullard tube. The amp sounded great when I first got it but when I changed tubes it sounded even better. Enjoy!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 3, 2017 14:11:06 GMT -7
Easyrom's right, I misspoke. It is a 500K ohm pot that Doc is using. I was thinking back to when we had to roll our own, and I used a 250K which works fine.
Hope I didn't steer ya into a wrong purchase, brother!
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 3, 2017 14:29:26 GMT -7
Easyrom's right, I misspoke. It is a 500K ohm pot that Doc is using. I was thinking back to when we had to roll our own, and I used a 250K which works fine. Hope I didn't steer ya into a wrong purchase, brother! Nope! I haven't done anything other than buy a Mullard 12AX7, which I'm going to try out at tonight's gig. The variable boost "knob" creation is low on the priority list, as I only use it with single coil guitars, and love it as is. Would you be able to point me in the right direction for a 500k pot that has an "off" position? Come to think of it, would an "off" pot act like an "open" 1/4" jack, leaving the boost all the way on, or would it "close" the circuit completely, making the boost all the way off? Thanks for the insight.
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Post by Easyrom on Jan 3, 2017 16:29:28 GMT -7
It's more like a "no-load pot" what you're looking for. But actually, I think the difference between a normal pot at max and no pot at all is hardly noticeable, so it may be a vain quest! The new Dr Z foot switch hasn't such a pot though.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 3, 2017 16:36:07 GMT -7
"Open" is full boost...you said in your first post that you rigged up an open 1/4" plug and that gave you full boost, right? 500k ohms isn't open, but it's getting close. As you get closer to ground, there is less boost and the tone stack comes more and more into play. The final thing would be to put the stomp switch in series with the pot so that it will be 100% off when you hit the switch.
If you take a short guitar lead or speaker cable and plug it into the boost footswitch on the amp (with the other end of the cable unplugged), it's going to give you full boost. Then short the leads and you're back to normal with full tone stack. It's counter intuitive, the jack in the amp closes that circuit when you unplug, thereby eliminating boost.
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Post by renegade44 on Jan 5, 2017 9:04:23 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum . . .
I love my Z-Lux. i build a pedal that let me switch between full boost and half boost (or no boost) I pulled it off my board. I love it with no boost and using my volume knob to handle the boost.
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Dig the BlackOut too. Let me know if you ever want to get rid of it! 8^)
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Post by scottunzicker on Jan 27, 2017 14:30:40 GMT -7
FYI - I finally got around to soldering a 500k linear taper pot across the tip and sleeve of a 1/4" plug and it works like a charm! I find that with humbucker guitars (e.g. my Lester and 335), I never need/want the boost function, but with strats and teles, I do. However, depending on the volume requirements of the gig, I want more or less boost. So, for louder gigs (40 watt setting, well cranked), I need less boost, where smaller rooms (20 watt setting, reigned in on the master volume), I want more, to fatten up the sound. Totally worth it. Sorry I didn't by your pedal, Doc, but I'm a guitar-cable-amp clumsy SoB, who tends to trip over stage detritus, including any pedals that may be lining the stage. At any rate, the Z is by far my favorite amp in the stable, and I'm using it on all my gigs now. Cheer to you, Doc, for making an incredible product!
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Post by mudman on Jan 27, 2017 20:05:24 GMT -7
Another trick I found is to put a standard ernie ball volume pedal between the boost switch and the amp. Foot swell enabled boost.
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Post by renegade44 on Jan 30, 2017 7:13:54 GMT -7
Another trick I found is to put a standard ernie ball volume pedal between the boost switch and the amp. Foot swell enabled boost. Now THAT is a cool idea!!!
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