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Post by digs57 on Sept 19, 2018 12:34:07 GMT -7
I felt that burp!...nice explanation dave...congrats...
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Post by LT on Sept 19, 2018 14:30:10 GMT -7
Dave....question....since the NOVA only has a single knob for OD, is the amount of drive preset or is the level preset? I'm thinking Doc set the level internally, and the OD knob adjusts the amount of grind......correct?
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Post by helmi on Sept 19, 2018 15:50:20 GMT -7
Just out of curiosity, why no "middle" control?
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Post by Faze on Sept 19, 2018 15:59:51 GMT -7
Congratulations Dave. Thats a awesome looking set up. Can't wait to hear some more of your thoughts about it.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 19, 2018 18:04:06 GMT -7
Dave....question....since the NOVA only has a single knob for OD, is the amount of drive preset or is the level preset? I'm thinking Doc set the level internally, and the OD knob adjusts the amount of grind......correct? The Volume control works with the Master just like any other amp in that you can crank the Volume and get overdrive, and control the overall level with the Master Volume. In the Nova, when you hit the footswitch it activates a relay in the amp, and adds the Overdrive into the mix. For instance while you have the footswitch engaged, if you turn the Volume all the way down you only get the Overdrive channel, which sort of picks up where the Volume channel leaves off. Then you can bring up the Volume knob and add clarity to the overall tone.
To answer the question, the OD knob brings up grind AND volume at the same time, like the clean Volume side does; it's just got more gain. The more you crank it, the louder it gets and the more grind it delivers.
So it's really, really versatile. One way to use the amp is to set the Volume up around 10:30-11:00 which gives you a nice fat clean Tweedy tone. Then turn on the OD and bring up the Overdrive knob to around noon, which gives up a fat, snarly grind that mixes in with the clean Volume channel. Set the overall level with Master Volume and away you go.
I'm learning more about it every day, and I'll try to put all this together in a better, more readable format in the next few days.
I'll say this, the more I play it the better I like it. It's growing on me.
Oh, and the Master volume is to kill for. I watched a movie today and played along with the soundtrack with the amp at very low levels and it was articulate and fat. It doesn't lose anything when you turn it down. No need for an attenuator here.
Give me some more questions and I'll put it all together for you. This is a great amp, guys!
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Sept 20, 2018 8:57:30 GMT -7
someone pass me the antacid.....
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 20, 2018 11:36:47 GMT -7
someone pass me the antacid..... Ya want fries with that???
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Post by Russell B on Sept 20, 2018 14:23:25 GMT -7
Dave, Please go get your Therapy head and do a comparision for us (me).
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 20, 2018 16:02:03 GMT -7
God, I want to try one of these.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 21, 2018 9:51:34 GMT -7
So I hooked up the Nova with my Therapy head via a Tonebone Head Switcher, running into the Nova's G12H30. They are both definitely in the same camp, but the Nova has this thing going on with the overdrive channel that's unique. You've got the Clean Volume channel being mixed into the Overdrive. The best way I can describe it is it's like playing two Therapy amps, one clean and the other dirty, at once. With the ability to mix the relative volume of each amp. It has this clarity happening in the Overdrive that makes it sing in a really beautiful way. Check out BW's demo of it posted in this section. He switches channels around 3:30 and 5:50, and you can hear the clarity in the Overdrive that I'm trying to describe. The Clean channel can be pretty ferocious too, it's just so dang versatile.
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Post by DeanG on Sept 22, 2018 19:49:21 GMT -7
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 3, 2018 7:08:34 GMT -7
It was only a matter of time until I started comparing speakers. I tried the Z-12, the V30, the EVM12-L Thiele, the 12" Gold, and the G12M65 Creamback. The Nova really sounds great with the stock speaker, but I ended up putting the Creamback in it for now, and last night I rehearsed it on a large stage. The Creamback has more mids than the G12H30, and it sits really well in the mix. It's also 3dB less efficient than the stock speaker, so the amp can work a little harder. I can get away with turning the amp up louder without getting the stink-eye from the sound man. I think it sounds sweeter than the G12H30 does. The Creamback's highs are smoother, which led me to crank the treble up around 2:00-2:30 to compensate. This also makes the amp react a little different in a good way. The other real contender was the Celestion Gold but I think I prefer the ceramic over the alnico in this amp and cab (Ultra Lite Combo). It's a great combination of punch and sweetness. I love this amp. It's such a useful beast, and I left my pedal board at home again. The amp's overdrive is just to die for. Here's a real treat though...the Nova LOVES overdrive pedals. On the clean channel just about every overdrive pedal I own sounds stellar with it. So even though it doesn't need it, the Nova simply shines when it's pushed with a good pedal.
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Post by nmz on Oct 3, 2018 16:17:55 GMT -7
Sounds great Dave! I can’t wait to hear what it sounds like in red, 🤣.
The waiting IS the hardest part....
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Post by LT on Oct 3, 2018 18:59:24 GMT -7
Sounds great Dave! I can’t wait to hear what it sounds like in red, 🤣. The waiting IS the hardest part.... Me too! My red head will be here tomorrow!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 4, 2018 7:37:44 GMT -7
I almost went for red but I wanted to have Triplets!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 17, 2018 10:43:44 GMT -7
Well, I've had the Creamback 65 in the Nova for a couple of weeks now. Today I was playing it and it wasn't sounding as good as it did when I first played it so I put the stock G12H30 back in. Once again, Doc knows best. Back came that great bite and complexity that first attracted my ear. I turned the Treble and Presence down to about 12:30-1:00 with the bass at 10:30 and there it was. It's funny, I've almost always found a way to make a guitar amp sound better than it did when it came from the factory. It's different with Z amps, they're always great right out of the box. I'm sticking with all of Doc's choices once again.
I'm in Z-Amp heaven right now. While it may be true that "Tone is in the fingers", being connected to your instrument the way that Z amps do is super inspirational. They make practicing a joy, thanks again Doc!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 29, 2018 9:19:28 GMT -7
I hope I can save ya'all some time by saying that I tried multiple speakers and the G12H-30 is back in to stay. It just fits the Nova. Even the Gold didn't sound better. It was different, but the amp lost it's mid-to-high sweet grit that attracted me in the first place. It works just right. Thanks again, Doc!
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Post by doctorice on Oct 29, 2018 9:30:15 GMT -7
Thanks for the speaker comparison work, Dave. I'll stick with the G!1H-30 in the combo.
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