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Post by petty1818 on Sept 25, 2017 5:38:58 GMT -7
Hi all,
I am new to this forum so I apologize that my first post is not about a positive issue! Anyway, I am interested in the Z-Lux but have yet to try one. They don't seem to be as readily available here in Canada as I had first hoped. I have read a bunch of reviews though and the Premier Guitar one in particular made mention of the reverb and tremolo circuits being noisy. I have seen a few reports about this online as well. Have you guys found this to be the case or was there potentially something else going on here?
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Post by Stephen on Sept 25, 2017 6:36:08 GMT -7
Mine is dead quiet. (And I am very picky.)
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 25, 2017 7:14:20 GMT -7
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2017 7:28:24 GMT -7
From the Z website:
V1: First Stage, V2: Tone Stack Driver, V3: Reverb Driver*, V4: Reverb Recovery, V5: Tremolo, V6: Phase Inverter
*This tube must be a NOS 6201 NOT a new production ECC81/12AT7
The asterisk is there for a reason. I'm sure 99.9% of Z Lux owners miss this. The other .1% reside here.
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Post by scottunzicker on Sept 25, 2017 8:00:35 GMT -7
From the Z website: V1: First Stage, V2: Tone Stack Driver, V3: Reverb Driver*, V4: Reverb Recovery, V5: Tremolo, V6: Phase Inverter
*This tube must be a NOS 6201 NOT a new production ECC81/12AT7The asterisk is there for a reason. I'm sure 99.9% of Z Lux owners miss this. The other .1% reside here. It's funny. That tube recommendation lineup changed from its original V3 suggestion (a NOS 12AT7) to the NOS 6201 literally the day after I had ordered a fairly expensive JAN Phillips 12AT7. I was slightly annoyed, but so far, the 12AT7 has worked fairly well. Every now and again the reverb is a little bit "hissy" (almost unnoticeable in a live situation). I usually just let the amp warm up for a spell, and it goes away. Sometimes I have to give the AT7 a tap, and that works, as well. Other times, I never hear a hiss at all. I used the Z-Lux on a 3 day recording session, and never had a problem at all. So, in short, as with all tube amps, YMMV.
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Post by DRZ on Sept 25, 2017 8:09:52 GMT -7
From the Z website: V1: First Stage, V2: Tone Stack Driver, V3: Reverb Driver*, V4: Reverb Recovery, V5: Tremolo, V6: Phase Inverter
*This tube must be a NOS 6201 NOT a new production ECC81/12AT7The asterisk is there for a reason. I'm sure 99.9% of Z Lux owners miss this. The other .1% reside here. It's funny. That tube recommendation lineup changed from its original V3 suggestion (a NOS 12AT7) to the NOS 6201 literally the day after I had ordered a fairly expensive JAN Phillips 12AT7. I was slightly annoyed, but so far, the 12AT7 has worked fairly well. Don't be slightly annoyed a 6201 is a Mil spec number for a NOS 12AT7. The government has dumped large quantities of their logistics stock of old vacuum tubes all with mil spec numbering , hence the large supply of 6201's on the market for sale.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Sept 25, 2017 8:14:48 GMT -7
All quiet here.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2017 8:23:11 GMT -7
It's funny. That tube recommendation lineup changed from its original V3 suggestion (a NOS 12AT7) to the NOS 6201 literally the day after I had ordered a fairly expensive JAN Phillips 12AT7. I was slightly annoyed, but so far, the 12AT7 has worked fairly well. Don't be slightly annoyed a 6201 is a Mil spec number for a NOS 12AT7. The government has dumped large quantities of their logistics stock of old vacuum tubes all with mil spec numbering , hence the large supply of 6201's on the market for sale. And there we have it! I love to experiment with tubes. One area where I would not experiment is with manufacturer recommended reverb and trem tubes...
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Sept 25, 2017 14:10:01 GMT -7
Dead silent here as well. There are a great many variables that are not amp related that could result in increased noise, namely the environment in which the amp is operated. My place is a great example of bad, dense urban, 80 year old house with who knows what for wiring, dimmers upstairs, flourecent lights, computers, etc, etc. Yet mine is noise free. Could be cables, foot switches not plugged in all of the way, tubes... I say go for it! You won't regret it, but beware of the Zaddiction.
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Post by JasonM on Sept 26, 2017 8:04:04 GMT -7
Mine is silent as well. Great amp, defiantly seek one out to try!
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Post by Rik on Sept 27, 2017 17:43:24 GMT -7
Mine is dead quiet
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Post by petty1818 on Sept 27, 2017 19:34:39 GMT -7
Sorry everyone, I got tied up with work and couldn't reply. I appreciate the information though. I wonder why the Premier Guitar reviewers felt the trem and reverb were noisy though? Wouldn't their demo model come with the correct tubes?
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Post by Rockerfeller on Sept 28, 2017 5:59:25 GMT -7
Sorry everyone, I got tied up with work and couldn't reply. I appreciate the information though. I wonder why the Premier Guitar reviewers felt the trem and reverb were noisy though? Wouldn't their demo model come with the correct tubes? I remember reading that review before I bought my Z-Lux. What stood out to me was the guy in the comment section that said this: "But for $700 I can run a Line6 Pocket POD through a Carvin power amp with 3800 WATTS OF DOOM !!! It will KRUSH these puny tube amps !!! It BRINGZ DA BROOTALZ !!!" "Clueless" was my first thought. But here is what the review says: "The only concern I encountered is that both effects can get a little noisy, particularly when turned up. This poses more of a problem when recording than performing live, but bears mentioning" That was not my experience, although if you dime the Reverb, (which I never did) there is some kind of Reverby ambient sounds that you hear, but I wouldn't call it noisy. Playing live, I never ever thought the amp was noisy. Not the amp, not the verb and not the tremolo and I used both effects constantly. I wouldn't worry about this much. If it was a problem, you would hear about it here first and no one here seems to think it is a real problem. It is a fantastic amp.
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oowl
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Post by oowl on Oct 3, 2017 8:50:41 GMT -7
I have another high-end amp (not a Z) that is quite noisy especially when you add a foot switch for the verb. I've had no such problem with my Z-Lux. Pretty much dead quite as others have said. Dialing in a cleanish tone with the reverb up around 2-3:00 and some verb it will make an absolutely beautiful sound! ...remarkable!
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Post by nmz on Oct 3, 2017 18:26:01 GMT -7
I picked a used Z-lux up not too long ago and noticed that with dirty power. The pedal though,I've had no luck with eliminating the noise. I will order a new one to give it a shot. I did take apart the stock one and it looks good but I still have the noise.
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Post by DRZ on Oct 3, 2017 23:40:08 GMT -7
I picked a used Z-lux up not too long ago and noticed that with dirty power. The pedal though,I've had no luck with eliminating the noise. I will order a new one to give it a shot. I did take apart the stock one and it looks good but I still have the noise. Don't know if it's just me , but I'm having a problem understanding your post. So you have an issue with dirty power ? You have noise with the Rev/Trem pedal plugged in ? Is the noise on the Reverb, if so is the Reverb portion a Shielded cable , as it should be? Is it a Black FS, or a Chrome FS ?
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Post by nmz on Oct 4, 2017 16:08:22 GMT -7
I picked a used Z-lux up not too long ago and noticed that with dirty power. The pedal though,I've had no luck with eliminating the noise. I will order a new one to give it a shot. I did take apart the stock one and it looks good but I still have the noise. Don't know if it's just me , but I'm having a problem understanding your post. So you have an issue with dirty power ? You have noise with the Rev/Trem pedal plugged in ? Is the noise on the Reverb, if so is the Reverb portion a Shielded cable , as it should be? Is it a Black FS, or a Chrome FS ? Sorry for the confusion. I wanted to convey that I have plugged into some old/sketchy outlets and noticed some noise. But that it went away when I plugged into known clean power outlets it was resolved. Just a reminder to double check the power source. I do hear noise from the reverb when I plug in the foot switch (black). I do not have noise when I use the reverb without the foot switch. I also do not have noise when I use a RCA jack just on the trem and manually turn it up or down. I never hear any noise when I turn off the reverb and use the trem. That made me think it is in the footswitch. Hope that made sense. Awesome for you to chime in on a used amp Dr. Again, best product support in the business!!!!
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Post by zpilot on Oct 7, 2017 8:15:15 GMT -7
I have a JAZ. The reverb is quiet at a normal setting and even when turned up into "surf" territory. If I turn it up past that there is some hiss but lets get real. This is an analog circuit and some noise comes with that. It's as quiet as any other spring reverb I've ever heard.
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Post by DRZ on Oct 7, 2017 8:38:21 GMT -7
Hey guys thanks for your replies, but the OP petty1818 appears to be a troll. He has posted about the Z lux as well as the CURE acting as he's interested , but won't accept anyones reply. Just keeps asking about info that he has heard that is troubling about the two amps on multiple forums.
Just stirring the pot, looking for dirt. Apologizes for negative posts , but still persists and doesn't except any experience from owners, and he has never tried either amps.
Z
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 7, 2017 9:38:47 GMT -7
Too bad some people get their kicks that way. Re-reading it makes me agree that we're rising for the bait.
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Post by nmz on Oct 7, 2017 13:29:56 GMT -7
Boo troll!
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Post by Russell B on Oct 8, 2017 10:46:20 GMT -7
Hey guys thanks for your replies, but the OP petty1818 appears to be a troll. He has posted about the Z lux as well as the CURE acting as he's interested , but won't accept anyones reply. Just keeps asking about info that he has heard that is troubling about the two amps on multiple forums. Just stirring the pot, looking for dirt. Apologizes for negative posts , but still persists and doesn't except any experience from owners, and he has never tried either amps. Z You know, I really don't understand why people come into this forum to stir up trouble. I've been using the Doc's amps since 2003, EXCLUSIVELY! They are by far the best amps I've ever owned. These people need to get a life and get a Z to live life!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 8, 2017 11:52:47 GMT -7
I love this place because of the lack (for the most part) of that kind of behavior. I can't quite put my finger on it but this place consistently attracts the cream of the crop. Talented, smart, sincere, trustworthy guys (and a few great ladies too). I feel like I've made several hundred good friends that I've never met face to face...yet. You all are the best.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 9, 2017 8:12:33 GMT -7
Just picked up a second Z-Lux, this time in a head format with a Z 1x12 convertible. Dead silent as well.
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Post by zpilot on Oct 11, 2017 21:43:12 GMT -7
I love this place because of the lack (for the most part) of that kind of behavior. I can't quite put my finger on it but this place consistently attracts the cream of the crop. Talented, smart, sincere, trustworthy guys (and a few great ladies too). I feel like I've made several hundred good friends that I've never met face to face...yet. You all are the best. I wish I could replace some of my family with forum members.
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Post by ampedup on Oct 19, 2017 23:09:56 GMT -7
Yep, I told him the amp was quiet over on the gear page. I think it’s legit to try several sources though, it’s really hard buying an amp when you can’t try it. Having said that I basically bought my Remedy and Z-Lux amps based on what I’d read and heard on my computer but it was still nerve wracking. I’m hoping he’s not a troll I guess and just on a careful tone quest. petty1818 if you’re for real, the amp is more than good but ultimately the risk and decision is yours. You just need to pull the trigger or try something else. Good luck.
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