Erik
Full Member
Posts: 195
|
Post by Erik on May 23, 2017 7:42:23 GMT -7
Hi, I've had my Maz 18 NR for several years. I run it through a 1/12 cab with an EVH/heritage greenback speaker. I always used the amp with single coil pickups and loved it. I just picked up a PRS Sunburst Series 22 (very cool limited release from 2009 - nitro version of the custom 22 with 57/08 pickups and 3 way toggle/coil tap). The pickups are not high output, but still are pushing the amp more than single coils. Right now I have EL844s in the amp from my single coil days, as I wanted to tame volume. Now I'd like to get more headroom out of the amp. I don't really like the lo input because I feel I lose brilliance and I want a fairly bright and snappy sound, even from a humbucker. I already have a 5751 in V1. I am going to try putting the EL84s back to increase headroom. Any other ideas? I don't really want to put a much higher powered speaker in because volume is an issue. The creamback is probably the only option, at 97db. Any thoughts on that option? Any ideas will be considered and appreciated! Thanks so much. -Erik
|
|
|
Post by headshrinker (Marc) on May 23, 2017 8:14:31 GMT -7
You might want to try lowering the height of the pickups in the guitar, or if you are getting less headroom from certain strings but not all of them, the adjustable pole pieces for those strings. That will give you less output to the amp while still giving you the sound of humbuckers. A little change can make a pretty big difference. It's a lot harder to get bright ans snappy sound out of humbuckers, especially PRS ones, which to me seem to be generally on the dark side, though I've never played 57/08s.
|
|
|
Post by sharkboy on May 23, 2017 9:33:42 GMT -7
I think you see most of the hitters. A humbucker has less highs, first of all. The Rickenbacker and Gretsch ones do better than traditional HBs. If this were me, I'd change to EL84s and possibly add an attenuator. If the highs are a problem, I would look at a blue or gold.
|
|
|
Post by dwelshmusic on May 23, 2017 16:38:53 GMT -7
I've also, at times, used a compressor to help my guitar not hit the amp as hard. Also, make sure to keep your EQ knobs below noon.
|
|
|
Post by John on May 24, 2017 3:30:32 GMT -7
You've done everything to make the amp quieter: 5751, EL844 and a 96db speaker.
...and overall volume is still an issue. You'd prefer not to change a speaker.
To me this is simple: Lower the volume knob on the amp. (not the master)
|
|
|
Post by mikefleming on May 24, 2017 8:33:19 GMT -7
Try a 12AT7 in the PI.
|
|
|
Post by greenblues58 on May 24, 2017 9:20:46 GMT -7
I don't quite understand your dislike for the lo input . I use it with most of my guitars buckers and single coils as l prefer that higher headroom feeling of pushing the EL 84 's rather than the pre amp into drive. My Maz has a greenback, but l like an EC803 S in V1 ,and l use a high cut level with a low treble setting rather than the other way around with master as high as circumstances will allow (mostly past half way) and volume around 11 to 12 o clock. Set like this if you dig in it will drive but with normal playing it has some hair with humbuckers but drop your guitar volume to 7/8 and it's clean and still loud but l never feel there is any loss of brilliance or highs and l normally have my tone controls on the guitar on 6/7. Hit it with a boost or a drive pedal with drive off and level up and it's a full on rock tone. Is the PRS dark or bright through another amp that might be adding to the issue.
|
|
|
Post by z4me on May 24, 2017 12:45:11 GMT -7
Definitely replace the EL844s with the EL84s as the EL844 tube actually lowers headroom, allowing you to get breakup in an amp at a lower volume. Suggest lowering the volume as John suggests, and if possible, increasing the master volume. I understand you are attempting to keep the overall volume as low as possible. You should probably consider a brake lite or air brake to help with volume reduction as mentioned previously. For me I couldn't quite get the desired headroom with the Jr NR and humbuckers, so when I decided to get a Maz again, I went with a Sr reverb and I am very happy with the headroom results. I also use an air brake.
|
|
Erik
Full Member
Posts: 195
|
Post by Erik on May 26, 2017 7:28:27 GMT -7
Thanks guys. I put the EL84s back in and it sounds a lot better and the volume really isn't much higher, if at all. I have a few spare NOS 12AT7s so I will try that in the PI. I had asked the forum about this before and people said that wasn't a good idea, but I've seen people discuss it elsewhere online as a possibility. The PRS sunburst has 57/08s in it, so these are not high output pickups. The Sunburst 22, made in 2009, was the beginning of PRS's current move to more vintage sounds. The guitar isn't dark sounding. --Regarding the EQ settings. Keeping the EQ knobs below noon will help clean things up? I've always wondered why some people kept all of the levels so low. --I usually keep my master at noon or so and the volume knob at 9 o'clock. However, I've now moved it down to 8 o'clock and it sounds better. My feeling with the Maz was that the Master has to be at 11 o'clock or above to get the mojo out of the amp, below that the amp looses its complexity and brilliance.
|
|
|
Post by daveyk on May 26, 2017 7:36:48 GMT -7
Definitely try out the lo input again. It shouldn't take away any brilliance, it's just not hitting the preamp as hard in that input. I currently play through a Maz 38 and have to use the lo input to get the cleans i want to achieve, but i actually prefer the lo input now since it tames the amp quite a bit, otherwise it's a wild ferocious beast
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 5:33:29 GMT -7
Either a treble bleed or 50's wiring will give you more control of what hits the front of the amp.
|
|
Erik
Full Member
Posts: 195
|
Post by Erik on May 29, 2017 18:12:51 GMT -7
I put a NOS at7 in V3 and it sounds great. With the el84s, a 5751 in V1, and a 12at7 in V3 the amp is crisp and clear even with humbuckers and a heritage greenback. I'm loving the 12at7 in V3 so far. Tighter bass response too. Not sure if there is any difference in volume. It may be that my phase inverter needed to be replaced anyway, as it was the original 12ax7LPS from 2012. Anyway, thanks for the idea. I might do a new post about the 12at7 in V3.
|
|
|
Post by baldeagle on Jun 4, 2017 0:58:05 GMT -7
I agree with the attenuator suggestion. Attenuators are tone tools: they provide the flexibility to drive the power tubes to get the tone you want at a reasonable volume. With the Maz, the power tubes have an especially big impact on the overall tone. Well worth the price.
I bought my Maz Jr NR used with a Brake-lite included. I already owned a Weber Micro-Mass, which is a well-regarded, transparent attenuator for lower powered amps. It was adequate for a 30w Egnater Rebel. I A/B'd the Brake-lite vs the Weber and the Brake-lite was more transparent.
In terms of brightness, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Cut knob. It controls the tone of the power tubes. With humbuckers and P90s I prefer the Cut knob at ~ 2 o'clock with the Treble at ~9:30. Experiment with the relative settings between the Treble and Cut.
Finally, the optional variable boost pedal (tone stack bypass) adds a whole other element to the Maz. It darkens the tone but unleashes a monster.
|
|