|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 6, 2017 8:15:38 GMT -7
First off, Hi. I'm new to this board and Dr. Z in general. A little history/context for my question(s) I play rock music that's not quite rockabilly, not quite punk, not quite americana, but all of those things, if that makes any sense. My main guitar is a 6120RHH with a TV Jones T'Armond in the neck and a TVJ Brian Setzer Signature Classic in the bridge. I have a 65 Bassman that I dropped into a 2x10 combo. I've been struggling with this amp for the past 5 years trying to get the sound that I'm hearing in my head out of it. Started out with a 2x12 closed back cab, then changed it to a 1x10/1x12, then went to the 2x10 combo setup. Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed with the upper mids I'm getting out of it. I've had Eminence Ragin Cajun and Weber California's (ceramic) in it. I love the quickness of a 10 and the thumpy bass but the mids are killing me. I'm thinking I want to go back to either a 1x12/1x10 set up or a 2x12, but I also want to just get a different amp altogether. I've tried out a twin RI, too much amp for me. Tried out a Supro Rhythm Master. The 15" speaker sounded fantastic while I was playing the amp alone, especially in the tube rectified 45 watt mode. But in the mix with my band the overdrive was not very musical sounding at that level, it didn't have the headroom at 60 watts and just didn't cut through the mix enough. I've wanted to try out an EZG for a while now but the local shop that carry's Z amps doesn't have one in stock, my buddy there recommended I check out the Z-Lux head they do have, so I've been watching youtube vids, reading reviews and posts here, hemmin' and hawin' over the EZG and Z-Lux all week. I'm going to look at that tomorrow afternoon. Can anyone with experience with both the EZG and Z-Lux tell me your preference and why? If I go with the a Z-Lux or EZG would you recommend the Z-Best 2x12 or the X open back 2x12..... or something else to pair it with? Here's a link to my band to get a feel for what we sound like: soundcloud.com/diablogato-1Thanks
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 10:05:46 GMT -7
I checked out your soundcloud and also a couple of YouTube vids--looks like your band has two guitars, hard-hitting drummer, and sometimes a sax player. Loud, fast, and raucous--in a good way; somewhere between Social Distortion and Horton Heat. Very cool--dig what you're up to.
As someone who owns both an EZG and a pair of Z-Luxes (EZG is for sale--full disclosure), I honestly think you'd be happy with both/either. The EZG has a ton of headroom, even compared to the Lux (which is no slouch in that department, either, but will break up sooner). Both respond really well to od/distortion pedals. Both have very usable tone stacks. Neither is plagued by harsh highs or strident upper mids--although I hear you on the upper mid issue, running a Gretsch through a Fender amp.
The EZG opened up is a wondrous thing--giant cleans with just a touch of natural hair. Drive it with a good OD and it'll melt your face off (and induce moderate brain damage) at anything near full volume, pretty much. It's what I think of as a "big stage" amp--perfect for outdoor gigs and big indoor spaces. The reverb is great--nice ambient space, and will totally surf, if you're into that. If you need rockabilly cleans at all, I'd say the EZG is definitely your amp--though it also shines when driven, as I say. It can nail those huge SRV tones, but it also rocks, rolls and boogies if that's what you're after. As for cabinets--I ran mine with a Z 4x10 for a couple of years, and that was cool, but in a moment of experimentation I ordered a custom Mather 1x15 cab and stuck an Emi Legend 1518 in it to get my SRV on and it really opened up the amp in a way I loved. On the downside--the EZG is a big, heavy beast (the head alone weighs almost 45 lbs) and is a lot of amp to take to a club gig.
The Z-Lux is also killer--so nice I bought it twice. The combo is perfect for club gigs--definitely loud enough at full power to keep up with your drummer, etc.--and for me as a blues/rock guy it sits right in the middle of SRV and late Clapton, say, in terms of its tonal palette, but it can also ZZ and HH, no problem. The 20/40 watt switch is VERY useful, ditto the V/MV controls. I use it with always-on drive pedals, though if I wanted them it's got big, round, gorgeous cleans on tap. The reverb and trem are about as good as they can be. Downside--expensive, and hard to find used. As far as cabs/speakers go, I've been real happy with the 1x12 combo loaded with a Z-12 speaker, but I've also run it with an extension cab (also with a Z-12), and that's just more of a good thing.
Can't speak to the Z-Best--I owned one, briefly, maybe ten years ago and it wasn't what I was after at the time.
In all, given how loud you guys play, I'd probably lean EZG as the better fit.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 6, 2017 12:06:30 GMT -7
Thanks! Yeah, we play loud, our drummer is LOUD. Trying to get him to dial it back a bit but I used to be a drummer and I know it's tough to do.
Thanks so much for the info and opinions.
My gut tells me I will want the headroom and have more versatility with the EZG as far as venues we play but I'm very excited to hear the Z-Lux and see how it holds up.
Follow up, is $500 a decent price for a lightly used Z-Best with the stock speakers?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 13:01:36 GMT -7
If it's in good shape, that seems ok to me. Other folks?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 13:05:55 GMT -7
Cab-wise, I'd prefer an open back with the EZG, I think. Although the Z-Best does project like crazy, so there's that. And it looks cool.
|
|
|
Post by thatstatuemoved on Jan 6, 2017 16:54:36 GMT -7
For what it is worth--the Z best is a killer cab, but very heavy and awkward to haul around. I had one once and loved they way it sounded, but too heavy for my tired old back. YMMV.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 8, 2017 17:13:49 GMT -7
So, I braved a snow storm and spent two hours with the Z-Lux yesterday.
Goddaaaaaamn it is one glorious amp.
I had it going through a Z 1x12 convertible cab with a V30 in and then I tried it with a Mesa 2x12 cab with V30s. It sounded absolutely fantastic through both. I found a used Z-Best with the stock V30 and G12, picked that up this afternoon. Unfortunately, a migraine is keeping me from cranking through that right now. Working a double tomorrow and Tuesday so I won't be able to really play it until Wednesday. I also have a 4x10 cab to try it with that has an oval open back.
I know I'm preaching to the choir but this amp is seriously the best sounding amp I've ever played through. I have no regrets selling my 64 Bassman today. (I still have a 65) I can't WAIT to get into band practice with it on Wednesday. I'm about to order a quad of RI Tung-Sol 5881s to try with this amp too. I have RI Tung-Sol 5881 in my Bassman and really dig em.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 18:03:42 GMT -7
Congrats--the Lux is superb. You're going to dig it with the band.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 8, 2017 18:51:36 GMT -7
Thanks EZGbiscuit. And thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
|
|
|
Post by JasonM on Jan 8, 2017 19:35:15 GMT -7
I use the Tung-Sol reissue 5881s with my Lux and like them a lot. Congrats on the new amp and enjoy!
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 10, 2017 10:52:27 GMT -7
I'd LOVE to re-cover the baffle grill of the Z-Best cab with Z-Wreck grill cloth to match the head. I sent an email to the shop to see how much it would cost since I can't find a source for that grill cloth anywhere.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 10, 2017 14:13:11 GMT -7
Please share it when you find the source. I've got a cab that would really look great with it.
|
|
|
Post by renegade44 on Jan 19, 2017 7:56:26 GMT -7
I'd LOVE to re-cover the baffle grill of the Z-Best cab with Z-Wreck grill cloth to match the head. I sent an email to the shop to see how much it would cost since I can't find a source for that grill cloth anywhere. When they built my cabinet, they turned the "Z" logo 90 degrees since the head is wider than the cab. Plus i like mine on it's side too.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 19, 2017 9:57:52 GMT -7
Yeah, I've been playing it with the cab on it's side, horizontally lately and am liking it a lot.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Jan 25, 2017 7:22:19 GMT -7
Please share it when you find the source. I've got a cab that would really look great with it. Haven't found a source for the grill cloth. I contacted Dr.Z to get a quote on how much it would cost to have them re-cover the grill baffle on my Z-Best cab, they quoted me $125. Not sure if I'm going to go that route or just get some other grill cloth and re-cover both the amp and cab. I'll probably end up sending it into them to re-cover. I really dig the Z-Wreck cloth.
|
|
|
Post by tonezone66 on Feb 2, 2017 23:38:07 GMT -7
I use the Tung-Sol reissue 5881s with my Lux and like them a lot. Congrats on the new amp and enjoy! Hi Am I right thinking 5881s are equal to 6L6s? It came as a surprise that you can change the 6V6s of Z-Lux into 5881s without any biasing or other modification? Could I use also regular 6L6s? How did it change the tone and the whole anatomy of the sound of Z-Lux? I bought Z-Lux only 2 months ago and I had to admit that I miss the 6L6s my Two Rock Studio Pro 35 had - the rock solid, firm bottom etc. I like the color ot the tone of Z-Lux but I'd like to think that Z-Lux with 6L6 tubes could be the perfect amp for me. Really liked to know. Sorry that I'm a total amateur when it comes to technology of the amps. A
|
|