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Post by rickyp on Mar 23, 2018 13:26:14 GMT -7
Stopped into a local shop today while I was in Atlanta, because no one around the area that I live in carries any of Z's stuff. Their website said that they had a Z-plus in stock, and I should've called ahead, because the amp had sold earlier in the week. It was still worth the hour drive because they had a bunch of other Z amps, and it's one of the coolest guitar shops I've been to in a long time. The guys there told me to check out the Z-lux and the Cure, since "they are along the same line as the Z-Plus". I was surprisingly underwhelmed. Nothing against anybody that likes either amp, but I wasn't all out impressed. I assumed that the Cure or the Z/Lux would get a lot dirtier when it was cranked, and neither did. I was playing with a Nash S-63 with a 2 single coils and a humbucker in the bridge. I took the opportunity to plug into every Dr. Z amp that they had. The Maz 18, of course, always impresses me, but for some reason whenever I get one home, I feel like something is missing. I've had two of them already. I still want another one. The EMS was really cool, but I'm not into the British style amps these days. The DB4 was really cool...once I dialed it in, it sounded fantastic. But without a master volume or reverb, it was a no go for me. I plugged a Z Wreck head into a 2 x 12 open back cabinet and a 1x12 closed back cabinet. It sounded absolutely amazing through the open back cabinet, but again, no master volume and no reverb is a dealbreaker for me. I so wish they had a Z plus in stock. I really wanted to try one. I am doing a gear purge right now, because I have had 3 amps (now 2) (Monza, Tone King Imperial, Fender Deville), and the Tone King is the only one getting any use. I sold the Monza, and I'm planning to sell the tone king and the fender, with the hopes of getting one really cool amp. The Z-Plus is on my radar, as well as another Maz. Really wanting a Z, but nothing is really blowing me away. Was so hoping the Cure would knock my socks off...I would have brought one home today. Thoughts?
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 23, 2018 13:57:45 GMT -7
Sounds like the Plus is exactly what you need. It gets filthy when dimed and has all of features you cited. I have the Lux (2) and the Cure and agree, the Lux is a cleaner amp (my favorite creation ever) and the Cure does not have verb (but does have a loop). The Plus should scratch the itch. I’m definitely itching for one.
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Post by rickyp on Mar 23, 2018 14:23:07 GMT -7
Sounds like the Plus is exactly what you need. It gets filthy when dimed and has all of features you cited. I have the Lux (2) and the Cure and agree, the Lux is a cleaner amp (my favorite creation ever) and the Cure does not have verb (but does have a loop). The Plus should scratch the itch. I’m definitely itching for one. Thanks man. Just what I wanted to hear! Might wait awhile and snag one when they start hitting the used market.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2018 19:00:40 GMT -7
Did you get a chance to try the Cure or the Lux with a good OD pedal?
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Post by doctorice on Mar 24, 2018 4:00:03 GMT -7
Was the Nash yours or the shop's?
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Post by rickyp on Mar 24, 2018 6:48:59 GMT -7
Did you get a chance to try the Cure or the Lux with a good OD pedal? No...I've got great OD Pedals, but the amp itself has to have that "sound" for me to build on. I usually like to play an amp straight in with no pedals to determine if it has the right foundation for me to build on.
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Post by rickyp on Mar 24, 2018 6:50:37 GMT -7
Was the Nash yours or the shop's? The shops. I play a strat with lollar pickups and a les Paul with PAF type pickups, so the Nash was a good choice for testing out amps. Was tempted to take the guitar home with me, but it was on the heavy side.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2018 7:21:03 GMT -7
Did you get a chance to try the Cure or the Lux with a good OD pedal? No...I've got great OD Pedals, but the amp itself has to have that "sound" for me to build on. I usually like to play an amp straight in with no pedals to determine if it has the right foundation for me to build on. Now when I go to try out amps I always bring my #1 guitar and a favorite OD, since I'm pretty much a pedal-always-on guy both at home and on stage. It's partly about getting the grit and sustain I want at home, or managing stage volume, but it's also just what I'm used to--the way I know how to get "my" sound. So, for me, an amp that may not knock my socks off playing straight in can take on a whole new sound and feel with the right OD--and vice versa--an amp that sounds better than average straight in can interact with pedals in weird, unpredictable ways. With both the Lux and the Cure, I generally set them up as clean platforms for my favorite ODs, although the Lux's clean tones are also killer IMO--big and lush and gorgeous, especially with a Strat and a touch of reverb. Also, I'm not great at managing really high gain amps, and don't really want to deal with the extra cables, etc., required to run through a loop, so there's that. YMMV, as we say--but if it was me, before I made a decision I'd go back and try both the Cure and the Lux with your favorite OD and see what happens.
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Post by doctorice on Mar 24, 2018 7:42:12 GMT -7
The Maz 18, of course, always impresses me, but for some reason whenever I get one home, I feel like something is missing. I've had two of them already. I still want another one. Thoughts? Since all of the Cure, Z-Lux and Z-Plus are designed with front ends similar to the MAZ, it may be worth pondering why you might be having this reaction. Not my place to speculate, just food for thought.
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2018 10:28:34 GMT -7
You mentioned needing a master, when you tried them in the store were you able to crank em up?
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Mar 24, 2018 10:33:28 GMT -7
[/quote]Since all of the Cure, Z-Lux and Z-Plus are designed with front ends similar to the MAZ, it may be worth pondering why you might be having this reaction. Not my place to speculate, just food for thought.[/quote]
Allergic to EL84s?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2018 10:59:22 GMT -7
With the blowout prices on the DB4, you can get one and a Powerstation and have your needs met.
I'm not wild about EL84's myself. I tend to like them best when they're paired with either an EF86 or a 5879. The MAZ's are modern classics and I loved my 18 and 38, but the DB4 covered everything I liked about the MAZ series and also filled in all the gaps.
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Post by rickyp on Mar 25, 2018 0:56:48 GMT -7
No...I've got great OD Pedals, but the amp itself has to have that "sound" for me to build on. I usually like to play an amp straight in with no pedals to determine if it has the right foundation for me to build on. Now when I go to try out amps I always bring my #1 guitar and a favorite OD, since I'm pretty much a pedal-always-on guy both at home and on stage. It's partly about getting the grit and sustain I want at home, or managing stage volume, but it's also just what I'm used to--the way I know how to get "my" sound. So, for me, an amp that may not knock my socks off playing straight in can take on a whole new sound and feel with the right OD--and vice versa--an amp that sounds better than average straight in can interact with pedals in weird, unpredictable ways. With both the Lux and the Cure, I generally set them up as clean platforms for my favorite ODs, although the Lux's clean tones are also killer IMO--big and lush and gorgeous, especially with a Strat and a touch of reverb. Also, I'm not great at managing really high gain amps, and don't really want to deal with the extra cables, etc., required to run through a loop, so there's that. YMMV, as we say--but if it was me, before I made a decision I'd go back and try both the Cure and the Lux with your favorite OD and see what happens. In the past, I'd have agreed with you, but I've found that I need to like an amp as is, before I put pedals in front of it. I've done it the other way, and deep in my heart of hearts, if I'm not in love with the amp alone, I never hang onto it.
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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Jul 8, 2018 10:23:47 GMT -7
Since all of the Cure, Z-Lux and Z-Plus are designed with front ends similar to the MAZ, it may be worth pondering why you might be having this reaction. Not my place to speculate, just food for thought.[/quote] Allergic to EL84s? [/quote][/div]
The Z-Plus has 6v6 output tubes, not EL84s. If the front Ends are similar they must all be 12AX7s.
I find myself lusting for a Z-Plus (as well as a DB-4, to-be-released Nova, and JW).
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Jul 8, 2018 11:03:45 GMT -7
Yeah - he was just saying something about the Maz wasn’t clicking with him. I’ve sort of drifted away from EL84s, preferring 6v6 and loving 6L6 amps. That said, I’m sure a Maz might change my mind
But I too am lusting for a Z Plus. 😏
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Post by Rhythmark on Jul 30, 2018 21:08:48 GMT -7
I’m surprised the cure didn’t get dirty enough. When cranked and level where ever it can Get real dirty to my ears! I even use it as my overdrive. Set dirty- use the lux for cleans.
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Post by Maddog on Jul 31, 2018 5:35:54 GMT -7
I've gone into Guitar Shops on days when everything sounded like shxx, only to go back next week and all is good....
Since many of those great amps sounded crappy to a guy who plays a Fender Deville, I wonder if .....you might have been having "one of those days." My advice: try 'em again....it can't hurt...
PS: I re-read this post....didn't mean to sound snarky with the 'Deville comment....I have a very similar (Fender Blues Deluxe) and LOVE it....but it's NOT a Z-Lux....If you can, re-try those Z's, bro....I think you might re-consider them....
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Post by Easyrom on Jul 31, 2018 7:49:06 GMT -7
Never used a Z-Plus (but I'd love t!).
Had a Maz 8, a Cure and a Z-Lux at the same time.
On paper, the Cure should have won, easily. To my ear, it was Z-Lux all the way, for its big large full sounds (of course I still own the Z-Lux). I wish I could have kept the Maz 8 also. I like it very very much for its crispy, juicy overdriven flavors.
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Post by djhblue on Mar 23, 2020 17:45:51 GMT -7
I'm new to a Z-Plus, having had it for a month. The clean is harmonically beautiful, and satisfies your need for reverb as well. Also, the footswitch gives you outside of the tone stack bump. Hard to explain unless you try it. The gain is a Fender type gain IMO,so its not what I would call thick or fat. Not an overly loud amp. I use a J Rockett Audio Dude pedal for overdrive, just because I'm use to that tone and gain. The Z-Plus handles the OD beautifully. Also, the size of the cabinet really influenences the sound; being that much deeper projects your sound more. I'm digging it. You won't be disappointed. Also, I like the sound the Z Speaker as opposed to the Celestion Blue. Ive tried both.
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Post by Abandoned on Apr 23, 2020 19:00:40 GMT -7
I’ve been listening to a lot of demos trying to figure out which Z is for me.
Is it right to say that the Cure and the Z Plus seem to have a much more narrow / shallow bass response?
It seems the Z Lux has a more blooming bass (without being muddy).
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Post by rickyp on May 2, 2020 19:13:20 GMT -7
I’ve been listening to a lot of demos trying to figure out which Z is for me. Is it right to say that the Cure and the Z Plus seem to have a much more narrow / shallow bass response? It seems the Z Lux has a more blooming bass (without being muddy). I can’t say much about the bass response, but there is no comparison between the Z-Plus and the Cure. A couple years ago when I first posted this, I was really wanting to like the cure. I tried one along side the Zlux, and really wasn’t impressed. I also tried one next to the Z plus, and I went home with the Z-plus. I found the Cure to be very sterile. No disrespect to Z...it’s a popular amp and a lot of folks like it. It just didn’t inspire me.
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