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Post by scottm58 on Jan 12, 2017 18:24:46 GMT -7
First of all hello everyone I'm new to this forum although I have stuck my head in the door from time to time out of curiosity... Anyway I've finally got enough cash socked away to buy a good amp and have narrowed my choices down to a few different companies. Dr Z is one option and in particular I'm interested in the Z Lux and what exactly it does. Is it basically a more powerful version of a Deluxe Reverb? That in and of itself would be a very good thing but I'm wondering, does it do "the tweed thing" as well, or is it more in the black or brown face camp? I like the classic black face sound but would also like to have an amp that can also break up in a tasty "on the edge" fashion and push out the mid grind when I want it. Thanks for your time.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 12, 2017 18:37:30 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum. It's the best little corner of the internet...I've got a Z-Lux and it's a marvelous amplifier. Joe Walsh calls it his favorite amp ever, and toured with it last year. Do a search of the Z-Lux here, and you'll learn tons about it. I, and many others, have written long reviews about the amp and it's tone. Read up and enjoy, there is a lot to digest.
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Post by doctorice on Jan 12, 2017 18:54:28 GMT -7
There are a lot of sounds inside the Z-Lux. I wouldn't swear to you that it does "tweed" or "brown" but, for me, it goes beyond just blackface. In addition to checking out the Z-Lux videos, such as Dave Baker's, listen to some of the new Cure videos. Dr Z regards the Cure as a scaled-down Z-Lux, so it seems reasonable that the Z-Lux can get the same tones. (I'll know more tomorrow and Saturday as I have a Cure inbound.)
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Post by scottm58 on Jan 12, 2017 19:27:51 GMT -7
Thanks guys I'll have a look at some of the reviews you've posted. Regarding the Z Lux and whether or not it "does tweed" I wonder if instead it leans a little more towards the plexi side?I wonder this because of what I just read about the Remedy,which also uses 4 6v6 power tubes (although in a different way)
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jan 12, 2017 19:28:54 GMT -7
First of all hello everyone I'm new to this forum although I have stuck my head in the door from time to time out of curiosity... Anyway I've finally got enough cash socked away to buy a good amp and have narrowed my choices down to a few different companies. Dr Z is one option and in particular I'm interested in the Z Lux and what exactly it does. Is it basically a more powerful version of a Deluxe Reverb? That in and of itself would be a very good thing but I'm wondering, does it do "the tweed thing" as well, or is it more in the black or brown face camp? I like the classic black face sound but would also like to have an amp that can also break up in a tasty "on the edge" fashion and push out the mid grind when I want it. Thanks for your time. Welcome Scott! The Z-Lux is an extremely versatile amp amp. It has great tone AND it takes dirt pedals really, really well. The tremolo and reverb are outstanding! I would head over to the Z-lux section of the forum as Dave said, there are a lot of great reviews there! I even posted a video of my band playing a Sweet Child O Mine with a Tele and a Z-Lux, which really shows how versatile it is.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 13, 2017 8:50:01 GMT -7
Watch the whole thing, but pay attention at 6:15 - pretty nice. If I'm not mistaken, Buddy's guitar is plugged straight into the Z-Lux.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jan 13, 2017 9:57:03 GMT -7
The videos of this show were what really moved me to get the Z-Lux!
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Post by scottm58 on Jan 13, 2017 13:38:43 GMT -7
That was a gas! Nobody ever accused Buddy of bein a "blues purist" lol Plus he's a dead ringer for Robert Plant! Kidding aside Buddy is a wonderful guitarist and although I was aware that he is a Z fan I didn't know the Z Lux was one of the amps he uses.Just shows to go ya... Thanks Rockerfeller!
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Post by scottm58 on Jan 13, 2017 13:41:55 GMT -7
Oops thanks to benttop for that vid! Good stuff man and it definitely shows the amp off nicely!
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Post by pcns on Jan 14, 2017 9:17:40 GMT -7
I really enjoyed that video, aside from the great tone, those are some really great songs.
Buddy is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet too!
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Post by mickey on Jan 14, 2017 9:29:13 GMT -7
Very nice. I'm guessing that Buddy had the bypass switched in most of the time? It's quite a rounded tone, more so than if the eq was left in....again a guess from someone who's not yet tried a Z-Lux. The tone of that Strat is quite Rory Gallagher-ish at times. Takes me back, that early Zep stuff was hardly ever off my turntable when it first came out
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jan 14, 2017 9:48:57 GMT -7
Very nice. I'm guessing that Buddy had the bypass switched in most of the time? It's quite a rounded tone, more so than if the eq was left in....again a guess from someone who's not yet tried a Z-Lux. The tone of that Strat is quite Rory Gallagher-ish at times. Takes me back, that early Zep stuff was hardly ever off my turntable when it first came out There are several more video clips of that show out there, with a lot of great songs. I had convinced myself that the Z-Lux would be a good amp for me, but was on the fence. I watched all the clips of that show and bought my head the next day! In fact, this post has inspired me to go listen to them again! It is a GREAT amp.
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Post by greenblues58 on Jan 14, 2017 10:37:37 GMT -7
^^^^^^ Go find the one with Buddy playing a 335 at that gig with the Lux It's THAT TONE
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 14, 2017 13:33:17 GMT -7
Just listened to the whole clip again. What a master of harmony and tone BW is. Love his playing, and he's a huge influence. Not that I sound like him, sure wish I did though. They say 10,000 hours of study is required to master a subject. I'm afraid that in my case it is taking a bit longer!!!
Thanks Buddy, love your music.
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Post by Faze on Jan 14, 2017 17:04:16 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum Scott. I have owned several Z amps and had both the non master and master volume version of the Remedy. The Z-lux obviously get's remarkable clean tone but it also gets a nice thick crunchy tone. Its much warmer then the Remedy. Also The Z-Lux in the combo version has a real fat huge 3 D like surround sound something that will really surprise you coming from such a lightweight combo. Also the reverb is very nice as well. I don't use the trem much buts its also fantastic. I have a therapy and that to me gets more tweed like tones. Although the Z-lux tone stack is excellent and the bass on it is awesome so it can get a thick bluesy tone as well its just a little more compressed and silky. I am no expert but that is what my old ears are hearing. Anyway hope this helps.
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Post by scottm58 on Jan 18, 2017 1:05:23 GMT -7
Thanks Randy and sorry for my late response.What you described about the Remedy makes sense judging from the description of the amp "plexi clean to crunch..." (with 6V6s!) It actually sounds like a cool amp. That being said my main love throughout the decades has been the classic Fender with reverb sound and the Z Lux seems to do all that and more with a special authority.Having said that I am also itching for a nice fat midrangey tweed-centric sound and it so happens there are two amps I have a line on that I am also considering. One is the Z Route 66 and the other is a Louis Electric KR12 which I'm told is a pretty hip amp in it's own right. Any opinion on this?
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Post by nmz on Jan 18, 2017 3:42:32 GMT -7
Thanks Randy and sorry for my late response.What you described about the Remedy makes sense judging from the description of the amp "plexi clean to crunch..." (with 6V6s!) It actually sounds like a cool amp. That being said my main love throughout the decades has been the classic Fender with reverb sound and the Z Lux seems to do all that and more with a special authority.Having said that I am also itching for a nice fat midrangey tweed-centric sound and it so happens there are two amps I have a line on that I am also considering. One is the Z Route 66 and the other is a Louis Electric KR12 which I'm told is a pretty hip amp in it's own right. Any opinion on this? You need THERAPY;)
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Post by ampedup on Feb 13, 2017 16:27:52 GMT -7
I replaced my '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb with a Z-Lux back in October and have played it at a few gigs since then and lots of quiet practice at home. It's really stellar for all applications. I usually have it set to edge of breakup and use a pedal when I need more. I would say it's not very tweedy, closer to blackface. Can get great Stones tone from it though.
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