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Post by ksquared on Mar 16, 2018 17:15:36 GMT -7
I've been considering a Cure. Does anyone have both a Cure and a Maz and can speak to the differences? Is it as big of a difference as, say, plugging into an AC 30, then switching to a Deluxe Reverb?
I have both a Maz18 NR and Maz 8 already; they cover a lot of ground to be sure. They do "British" best, IMHO, but as you all know they can also get into clean blackface territory. Is the Cure that much better at the Blackface thing to justify adding it? I'm most interested in getting big clean tones.
BTW, I have listened to all the videos clips out there. But the compressed audio of computers/headphones/Internet probably doesn't explain the differences as well as a knowledgeable member of this forum...Thanks for any input.
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Post by southmusic70 on Mar 16, 2018 18:29:56 GMT -7
Good question, and although everybody hears differently. I would really like to hear from members that own both, particularly now that the Cure has been out for well over a year.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 17, 2018 12:02:14 GMT -7
I am lucky enough to own all three amps in question, and probably the best way I could answer it is that I would have a really hard time deciding which one to sell if I could only have two. I love them all but lately the Cure has been getting the call for gigs more often than the Maz(s) has. The Cure covers so much sonic ground that it's just a must have amp for me. It works for jazz, praise, blues, and rock styles.
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Post by mickey on Mar 18, 2018 2:26:19 GMT -7
I have a Cure, a Maz Jr head and a Sr head, with a 1x12 cab. Difficult to compare the Maz's to the Cure as the 1x12 naturally has more girth sound wise than the small combo, and I've not tried the Maz through the Cure's speaker. What I can say is that I sold my '72 Deluxe Reverb when I got the Cure, as the Cure does more of what I want and it's easier to carry around. With a Flint in the loop I can get it sounding close to the DR, but I would hesitate to describe it as big clean, as the Cure has more tweed character and sag than the DR, which was always stiffer sounding and feeling. Both amps can get blackfacey to an extent, though I'd say both have their own character as well. With a Strat or Tele both amps can stay clean to reasonably high levels if you want them to. With humbuckers both have more hair, and I would struggle to keep the Cure really clean. I'm not being much help here I'm afraid, the only real test is to try them. My Maz gets most of my gigs, but the Cure is great in the smaller venues and an excellent general purpose amp as it's so versatile; I wouldn't be without either.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2018 7:22:10 GMT -7
I have a Maz 18 NR and a Cure. (also a Maz 8, Z-28 and a Carmen Ghia) The Maz 18 has been one of my main amps since I got it in around 2001. I have a few favorite settings for either "full" or "clean" I only use pedals for solos or extreme settings, never for my "main sound". I look to the amp for a great sound. I also use the guitar's volume control.
The Cure has been a great amp. The Level control delivers on being able to turn down the "turned up sound" of the amp better than any master or attenuator I've ever heard. It's completely variable (not in 2 dB steps like an attenuator) It's also turning down the sound you have dialed in, not working the pre-amp tubes to compensate for the lack of having the power tubes really turned up. It's crazy good.
After having the Cure for a year (? a year already?) It's been a really great thing for gigs.
Doc's amps are on the pure side for me. You can "hear" the tubes. Beyond just the Level control I'm really hearing the difference between the EL84 and 6V6. I think my taste has evolved over almost 40 years from 6L6 to 6V6 and finally, after the last ten or so years, to the EL84.
I keep a Carmen Ghia and the Cure at home to take to gigs. The rest of my gear is at the studio. I favor the Ghia but if I have any doubt about running into volume trouble I take the Cure.
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zacmac
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by zacmac on Mar 19, 2018 11:38:47 GMT -7
Doc's amps are on the pure side for me. You can "hear" the tubes. Beyond just the Level control I'm really hearing the difference between the EL84 and 6V6. This. The level control is a game changer for me being that I play at home by myself 20x more than in a group setting. The Maz 18 takes pedals better to my ears than the cure.
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Post by mickey on Mar 20, 2018 10:22:29 GMT -7
Doc's amps are on the pure side for me. You can "hear" the tubes. Beyond just the Level control I'm really hearing the difference between the EL84 and 6V6. I definitely agree, a very good way of describing these amps. And.....I probably agree with zacmac in that my drive pedals (KOT, OCD, Tumnus), integrate slightly better with the Maz than the Cure, but that might just be my preference.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 20, 2018 14:24:01 GMT -7
Have the Maz 8, 18, and the Cure and don’t bother with pedals, especially OD/Dist. (I attenuate if necessary). The Maz’ are definitely more in the British vein and the Cure is definitely more American. With that, I think they are different enough to suggest a Cure. That would round out your tone and increase your options. The Cure can do it all at any volume. The Cure is not one of those “it’s really not for me” kind of amps, you’ll be able to cover any music style. My advice - get on with it. Call Humbucker and order up! Besides, it’s tax season and you deserve it!! Cheers!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 20, 2018 14:57:02 GMT -7
My Maz 18 gets the call for tonight's rehearsal. I had a Greenback in it for a week or two, and I liked it at first but today I put the WGS ET-65 back in. Ahhhhh. Great match for me.
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Post by ksquared on Mar 21, 2018 18:57:54 GMT -7
Thanks all for the good input. I'm definitely leaning towards picking up a Cure soon.
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Post by ksquared on Apr 19, 2018 6:32:44 GMT -7
Have the Maz 8, 18, and the Cure and don’t bother with pedals, especially OD/Dist. (I attenuate if necessary). The Maz’ are definitely more in the British vein and the Cure is definitely more American. With that, I think they are different enough to suggest a Cure. That would round out your tone and increase your options. The Cure can do it all at any volume. The Cure is not one of those “it’s really not for me” kind of amps, you’ll be able to cover any music style. My advice - get on with it. Call Humbucker and order up! Besides, it’s tax season and you deserve it!! Cheers! I'm still on the fence about a Cure. One thing I realized I'm looking for is more clean at a loud volume. (My Maz 18 is an NR, as we all know it gets hairy fairly early on the Volume dial.) Could anyone comment on the Cure versus Maz 18 NR in terms of clean headroom?
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Post by simpleton on Apr 19, 2018 16:25:21 GMT -7
Cure will not be clean CLEAN at stage volume unless you are in a quieter band. Cleanish and you’ll be set but not Fender Twin clean.
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