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Post by budman2k on Mar 15, 2017 10:32:42 GMT -7
Hey guys, New to the Z Talk forum but I have browsed occasionally for some Dr. Z info. I recently picked up a used Z-Lux combo in like new condition. I find I keep the treble knob on "0" and it still sounds bright to me. I've tried a different speaker cab and got the same results. Could this be a tube problem? Is the amp normally this bright? I normally play my PRS Singlecut through it but I have tried my Les Pauls as well and it's still a little too bright for my taste.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Budman
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 15, 2017 10:50:55 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum Budman! You'll find a lot of good information and people here. I haven't heard anyone say that their ZLux was too bright but doesn't mean it can't be to your ears. With Z amps you have to play around a little bit with them because the controls can be very interactive. You need to set the EQ with your ears and not eyes for Zs. That said, it's possible that someone has rolled the tubes in the amp - do you know if the original tubes are installed still? Worth checking to see if they are the same as Doc recommends. Finally, you said you changed cabs - what speakers are you trying it with?
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Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 15, 2017 11:14:01 GMT -7
My expereince with the Zlux head and a Creamback speaker was that I had to roll the Treble off a lot, to around 9 o'clock. With the Z12 speaker The Treble is usually up around 11, but I push the mids and really cut the bass.
Does your combo have the Z12 in it?
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Post by Faze on Mar 15, 2017 11:22:38 GMT -7
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2017 11:36:25 GMT -7
This hasn't been my experience, either. Very well-balanced amp, to my ear.
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Post by Faze on Mar 15, 2017 13:21:29 GMT -7
I set my treble at 11 and my Mids and bass at about 1-2 volume and master at about noon to 1 Amp sounds rich and fat with single coils to me in those settings and I have custom shop 69 pickups in my main strat which are on the brighter side. They crunch up really sweet though. I can see how some would feel its bright because it does have a high end clarity too it and it cuts through the mix so well. But I don't think its overly bright. The EQ on this amp can be set for any type of guitar. I only use single coils though I am not a fan of humbuckers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2017 14:53:21 GMT -7
Maybe context is an issue. What are you comparing it too? What amp is the reference point?
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Post by budman2k on Mar 15, 2017 15:09:40 GMT -7
Thanks for all the replies! I believe all the tubes are original; the power tubes are JJs but I haven't pulled the pre-amp tube yet to check them out. The combo has the original Z 12 speaker in it. I plugged it into my Port City 1x12 that currently has an Eminence Red White & Blue. I'll check the pre-amp tubes later this week. Don't get me wrong, it sounds good but I've never had an amp where I turned the treble all the way down. I usually start with everything at high noon and go from there on new amps. I've been playing a Budda SD30 in my blues-rock trio and wanted a little "fatter" tone.
Thanks again! Budman
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Post by justjoshinya on Mar 15, 2017 19:40:03 GMT -7
The Z-Lux I had was a bit too bright for me, but I could eq it to be what I needed. Some speakers I'd recommend would be the Eminence Canibus Rex, and even darker is the Swamp thang.
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geno
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Post by geno on Mar 19, 2017 8:00:06 GMT -7
It is a brighter amp than the others I have (non-Dr Z)... but as mentioned above, I just roll the treble down to compensate. i Like having the extra "headroom" on the treble control, though. It makes the amp cut better. I have found that Treb on 9 O'Clock; Mids at 1 O'Clock and Bass at 10 O'Clock seem to be the right eq settings for me. I play a Tele, so it's a naturally brighter guitar. I could imagine a LP player might need the extra brightness and roll the treble up a bit. I use a Celestion A-Type speaker in a 1X12 cab. Excellent speaker for this amp. Might try a few darker speakers, but I doubt they'll sound as good.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 19, 2017 8:07:45 GMT -7
It is a brighter amp than the others I have (non-Dr Z)... but as mentioned above, I just roll the treble down to compensate. i Like having the extra "headroom" on the treble control, though. It makes the amp cut better. I have found that Treb on 9 O'Clock; Mids at 1 O'Clock and Bass at 10 O'Clock seem to be the right eq settings for me. I play a Tele, so it's a naturally brighter guitar. That is how I set it with my Tele and a Creamback. With the Z12 speaker I have the Treble around 10oclock and the bass to taste for the room, but never above 10 oclock and usually around 9:30
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mj
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Post by mj on Mar 20, 2017 22:22:43 GMT -7
I'm not just saying this because I own one but I don't think its a bright amp. I consider a Bad Cat or Matchless a bright amp. The Z Lux has a lot of low mid distortion and the high end is smooth regardless of the frequency. Ive usually run the volume st noon, treble and mids at 1:00, and the bass at 11:00. I play a LP with low output humbuckers. When I play my Strat I keep the treble around 10:00. As I roll the master up I adjust the treble and bass a bit. When I play my Strat I keep the treble around 10:00 as its brighter than the LP.
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Post by budman2k on Mar 21, 2017 17:43:35 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the helpful response. I had to order tubes for another one of my amps so I also ordered two new preamp tubes (for V1 & V2). I'll see it that helps.
Budman
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mj
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Post by mj on Mar 21, 2017 23:33:14 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the helpful response. I had to order tubes for another one of my amps so I also ordered two new preamp tubes (for V1 & V2). I'll see it that helps. Budman Dont leave us hanging what tubes did you buy!?
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geno
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Post by geno on Mar 22, 2017 5:44:52 GMT -7
I just ordered a full replacement set from the tube store.
Mullard ECC83; Sovtek 12AX7WP; Sovtek 12AX7LPS; JJ Mid-Gain ECC83; JanPhilips 12AT7WC (NOS); TungSol 12AX7; and a matched quad of JJ 6V6. These are the ones DrZ recommends (they're not listed in order above). Total cost was $165
Should be here before my Friday night gig... will report my thoughts on the impact to the tone good-or-bad. If it makes a huge difference, I will be ordering one of each for spares, too.
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Post by budman2k on Mar 22, 2017 6:21:15 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the helpful response. I had to order tubes for another one of my amps so I also ordered two new preamp tubes (for V1 & V2). I'll see it that helps. Budman Dont leave us hanging what tubes did you buy!? V1 Mullard ECC83 and V2 JJ ECC83. These are the tubes that are recommended by Dr. Z
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Post by renegade44 on Mar 28, 2017 12:26:23 GMT -7
Welcome to the club - Z-Lux is where it's at.
Lookin forward to the update after your gig!
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geno
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Post by geno on Mar 29, 2017 16:43:23 GMT -7
Okay, I gigged with the Z Lux and the fresh set of tubes this past weekend.
While it wasn't a world of difference I could definitely tell it was better. The JJs are a bit cleaner and louder (and maybe a bit fatter), but the Tung Sols had a nicer low-mid-range quality to them that the JJ's don't... however, not enough of a difference to my ear that I would risk running them in the amp. Dr Z says the amp auto-biases to the JJ's so that's just safer in my book.
the biggest difference I heard as I changed everything out one at a time, was the Mullard ECC83. That tube makes this amp what it is. The gain structure, the upper mid-range "ooomph" are all from that tube. It made the biggest difference i have heard. It also made the 20 Watt setting come alive. Before, (with a Sovtek or a Tung Sol in that slot) the 20 watt mode wasn't quite as lively as the 40 watt mode. For some reason that I can't figure out, the 20 watt setting is now just as nice and musical (not mushy, or muddy) as the 40 watt, just lower volumes and slightly more gain available.
Also, the other nice difference i noticed is that my drive pedals sound more "grindy" and less "buzzy" than before. I didn't really notice it until it was gone, but all my OD pedals seemed to be low-fidelity compared to how they sound now. More meaty, fatter, and more amp-like grind. Nicer!
So, my recommendation is use what the Dr Prescribes. The amp just seems to like these tubes mo-better.
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