Revoicing of the Maz 18 Jr. NR
Mar 18, 2018 11:01:42 GMT -7
iluvpunz, BritInvasion, and 4 more like this
Post by mustachio on Mar 18, 2018 11:01:42 GMT -7
I have to say, I am totally blown away how great the new tweaks are to the Maz 18 Jr. NR.
Little history: I bought my first Maz Combo with a single G12H30th Ann. in 2012–sold it, bought a head and cab the next year—sold it, got an M12. Traded the M12 for a Carmen Ghia 10” combo. Got rid of that. No Z for about a year and a half then I got another M12 combo with a Blue and Cab with a heritage UK Greenback. Fast forward to last week, I called Dr. Z headquarters and the very nice gentleman on the phone helped me choose between a Carmen Ghia head or a Maz 18 Jr. NR head—thankfully he sold me on the new updated Maz. According to him (can’t think of his name...), the Maz now is sporting NOS EL84 tubes, reduced bass, variable control to the EQ bypass footswitch and new revoicing. These may be subtle changes but this amp is much more refined and easier to dial in than I remember. The EQ bypass seams way more usable. There’s not a real bad setting on the tone stack. No harshness (not that there was before, but I had to be aware of the ‘treble’). And I’m overdriving it now, which was something I wasn’t into before on the old Maz(s) that I’d had. Much smoother OD.
Everything is just a little rounder in the attack, the bloom, the sustain, the overdrive. Refined but not too hi-fi. A little more forgiving too. I’m not a super technical player and Teles with a Maz is thing of beauty but you better be careful. There’s not any sag to hide behind, but maybe I’ve been sheddin’ a lot lately, maybe it’s the Fralins I just put in, but there’s just enough squish (to quote Greg Koch) that wasn’t there before that makes the amp seem easier to play.
But, to be honest, Dr. Z isn’t the only brand I have. I have a Tweed Deluxe and a Clark Lil’ Bit (Champ). And Tweeds are on opposite sides of the spectrum—literally, completely different feel and sound than the Dr. Z. But, I’ll ONLY gig with Dr. Z amps. I love the Z-Wreck Grills and valance on the head, I love the Z aesthetic, the reliability (truely an heirloom, as Doc says), and the way they cut in a mix. Just great.
I’m keeping my M12 (I put the Heritage Greenback in that) and my Maz. 18 NR Head (and put the Blue in the Z 1X12 which is so good—open and closed—can’t decide—but when closed I love the way it throws. Fantastic!).
Doc, if your reading this: Thank you. Sincerely. In between having multiple amps of yours, I’ve owned other builders’ amps at and above your price-points and have gotten rid of them, and I'm back to where my boutique journey started. The Maz. Every time I had stepped out and tried another makers’ amp, the gig went terrible and I regretted ever selling my Z’s in the first place. Your amps are like the Corleone Family. I can’t get out. “Drop the canolli. Now, pick up the Maz.”
P.S. Kind of bummed about the end of the M12, Z28, etc. That M12 is something special. I’m keeping mine. A matter of fact, I think I’m going to sell my 2017 ‘57 Tweed Custom Deluxe. It was made in July 2017 and the OT had to be replaced last month. That doesn’t happen with Z products!!!
P.S.S. Sorry for gushing. No affiliation. Private buyer/musician. Really happy is all.
Little history: I bought my first Maz Combo with a single G12H30th Ann. in 2012–sold it, bought a head and cab the next year—sold it, got an M12. Traded the M12 for a Carmen Ghia 10” combo. Got rid of that. No Z for about a year and a half then I got another M12 combo with a Blue and Cab with a heritage UK Greenback. Fast forward to last week, I called Dr. Z headquarters and the very nice gentleman on the phone helped me choose between a Carmen Ghia head or a Maz 18 Jr. NR head—thankfully he sold me on the new updated Maz. According to him (can’t think of his name...), the Maz now is sporting NOS EL84 tubes, reduced bass, variable control to the EQ bypass footswitch and new revoicing. These may be subtle changes but this amp is much more refined and easier to dial in than I remember. The EQ bypass seams way more usable. There’s not a real bad setting on the tone stack. No harshness (not that there was before, but I had to be aware of the ‘treble’). And I’m overdriving it now, which was something I wasn’t into before on the old Maz(s) that I’d had. Much smoother OD.
Everything is just a little rounder in the attack, the bloom, the sustain, the overdrive. Refined but not too hi-fi. A little more forgiving too. I’m not a super technical player and Teles with a Maz is thing of beauty but you better be careful. There’s not any sag to hide behind, but maybe I’ve been sheddin’ a lot lately, maybe it’s the Fralins I just put in, but there’s just enough squish (to quote Greg Koch) that wasn’t there before that makes the amp seem easier to play.
But, to be honest, Dr. Z isn’t the only brand I have. I have a Tweed Deluxe and a Clark Lil’ Bit (Champ). And Tweeds are on opposite sides of the spectrum—literally, completely different feel and sound than the Dr. Z. But, I’ll ONLY gig with Dr. Z amps. I love the Z-Wreck Grills and valance on the head, I love the Z aesthetic, the reliability (truely an heirloom, as Doc says), and the way they cut in a mix. Just great.
I’m keeping my M12 (I put the Heritage Greenback in that) and my Maz. 18 NR Head (and put the Blue in the Z 1X12 which is so good—open and closed—can’t decide—but when closed I love the way it throws. Fantastic!).
Doc, if your reading this: Thank you. Sincerely. In between having multiple amps of yours, I’ve owned other builders’ amps at and above your price-points and have gotten rid of them, and I'm back to where my boutique journey started. The Maz. Every time I had stepped out and tried another makers’ amp, the gig went terrible and I regretted ever selling my Z’s in the first place. Your amps are like the Corleone Family. I can’t get out. “Drop the canolli. Now, pick up the Maz.”
P.S. Kind of bummed about the end of the M12, Z28, etc. That M12 is something special. I’m keeping mine. A matter of fact, I think I’m going to sell my 2017 ‘57 Tweed Custom Deluxe. It was made in July 2017 and the OT had to be replaced last month. That doesn’t happen with Z products!!!
P.S.S. Sorry for gushing. No affiliation. Private buyer/musician. Really happy is all.