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Post by pcns on Oct 26, 2018 6:28:57 GMT -7
Hi everyone, I thought this could be fun. I know there is a lot of questions about the NOVA so why put them in one spot? From my count there is 6 NOVA's in the field right now. If you have a question about the amp or would like one of NOVA owners to try something for you before make a purchase yourself please feel free to post them.
I do believe these are available to forum members through the end of 2018 so get your order in right away so you can still get the color of your choice, in 2019 they will only be available in black. Contact sales@drzamps.com
For those who have questions. Here is my set up and the guitars and speakers I have available . . . .
NOVA #6 is a 1x12 combo in red with a purple light. Speaker is a G12H30 Guitars in the house, Les Paul, Telecaster, ASAT, SG, Parker Nitefly. Speaker cabs available: 2x12 with english Greenbacks, 2x12 with V30's
Fire away boys and girls!
Any NOVA owners feel free to chime in with your experiences and what you have available to tryout . . . .
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 27, 2018 9:57:22 GMT -7
Todd and All, Despite all of the great video demos I’m still wondering about the Nova’s gain potential. How dirty can it get in comparison to say the Therapy, Maz, EMS (all different kind of distortion, I know...). And how would you characterize the gain? Thanks!
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Post by doctorice on Oct 28, 2018 12:47:43 GMT -7
Random ramblings: 1. Really interesting to dial in different combinations of volume and overdrive. For example, (all o'clock in the following numbers), V 12 to 1 and OD 9 compared with V 9 to 10 and OD 11 or so; OD engaged of course. To me it sounds like there's a bit more wool and mids with the latter, but it could be a volume difference. This is also a great setting for working the guitar volume as it cleans up really nicely. 2. T and B critical to shaping gain sounds, especially B. 3. I think this has been discussed already, but you can get a great pushed sound by cranking V, T and B into the 1:30 to 3 zone, and fine tuning to the guitar with B and T. Again, cleans up nicely and will deliver with guitar wide open. For this setting I'd probably keep OD low and use it to boost for solos. Alternatively, if you want the amp to stay cleaner, keep T and B fairly low so you can push V up more. 4. Master is really good. Amp comes to life at 9:30 to 10 on Master, but useable below that for quieter sessions. Also good at getting clean amp sound at higher volume. (I haven't needed the Master up higher than 10:30 so far.) 5. Plenty of brightness on demand by using T and Presence. Again, very flexible in shaping to the guitar and can get nice and crunchy. 6. Lots of dirt on tap. It seems to me to have more than the MAZ and, possibly, the Therapy. Can't speak to the EMS as I don't have one 7. Worked fine with my pedals at a gig, but I would re-think my board, which is set for the Z-Plus, for using the Nova. 8. I've mainly worked it with a humbucker-fitted Nash Tele. Did a brief session early on with an LP, which was cool. Have to try single coils soon. I don't know how Z does it. All these great amp designs in a relatively short period, with more to come.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 28, 2018 16:00:53 GMT -7
Random ramblings: 1. Really interesting to dial in different combinations of volume and overdrive. For example, (all o'clock in the following numbers), V 12 to 1 and OD 9 compared with V 9 to 10 and OD 11 or so; OD engaged of course. To me it sounds like there's a bit more wool and mids with the latter, but it could be a volume difference. This is also a great setting for working the guitar volume as it cleans up really nicely. 2. T and B critical to shaping gain sounds, especially B. 3. I think this has been discussed already, but you can get a great pushed sound by cranking V, T and B into the 1:30 to 3 zone, and fine tuning to the guitar with B and T. Again, cleans up nicely and will deliver with guitar wide open. For this setting I'd probably keep OD low and use it to boost for solos. Alternatively, if you want the amp to stay cleaner, keep T and B fairly low so you can push V up more. 4. Master is really good. Amp comes to life at 9:30 to 10 on Master, but useable below that for quieter sessions. Also good at getting clean amp sound at higher volume. (I haven't needed the Master up higher than 10:30 so far.) 5. Plenty of brightness on demand by using T and Presence. Again, very flexible in shaping to the guitar and can get nice and crunchy. 6. Lots of dirt on tap. It seems to me to have more than the MAZ and, possibly, the Therapy. Can't speak to the EMS as I don't have one 7. Worked fine with my pedals at a gig, but I would re-think my board, which is set for the Z-Plus, for using the Nova. 8. I've mainly worked it with a humbucker-fitted Nash Tele. Did a brief session early on with an LP, which was cool. Have to try single coils soon. I don't know how Z does it. All these great amp designs in a relatively short period, with more to come. Well said, Mike. Couldn't have worded it better. I'm sure loving mine, and I'm exploring all sorts of different speakers. I keep coming back to the G12H30, I think I'm going to drop it back in and compare. I've had the Z-12 in it for a week or so, and it's a real nice match. I need to try the Blue too.
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Post by LT on Oct 29, 2018 8:41:29 GMT -7
Random ramblings: 1. Really interesting to dial in different combinations of volume and overdrive. For example, (all o'clock in the following numbers), V 12 to 1 and OD 9 compared with V 9 to 10 and OD 11 or so; OD engaged of course. To me it sounds like there's a bit more wool and mids with the latter, but it could be a volume difference. This is also a great setting for working the guitar volume as it cleans up really nicely. 2. T and B critical to shaping gain sounds, especially B. 3. I think this has been discussed already, but you can get a great pushed sound by cranking V, T and B into the 1:30 to 3 zone, and fine tuning to the guitar with B and T. Again, cleans up nicely and will deliver with guitar wide open. For this setting I'd probably keep OD low and use it to boost for solos. Alternatively, if you want the amp to stay cleaner, keep T and B fairly low so you can push V up more. 4. Master is really good. Amp comes to life at 9:30 to 10 on Master, but useable below that for quieter sessions. Also good at getting clean amp sound at higher volume. (I haven't needed the Master up higher than 10:30 so far.) 5. Plenty of brightness on demand by using T and Presence. Again, very flexible in shaping to the guitar and can get nice and crunchy. 6. Lots of dirt on tap. It seems to me to have more than the MAZ and, possibly, the Therapy. Can't speak to the EMS as I don't have one 7. Worked fine with my pedals at a gig, but I would re-think my board, which is set for the Z-Plus, for using the Nova. 8. I've mainly worked it with a humbucker-fitted Nash Tele. Did a brief session early on with an LP, which was cool. Have to try single coils soon. I don't know how Z does it. All these great amp designs in a relatively short period, with more to come. I agree with Dave....well said Mike. I haven't yet gigged mine as I'm waiting for my S Slips clam cover (it's on the way!). I have played mine through a Mesa C-90 and Em Lil Texas Neo and it sounds great through both. For now, the nod goes to the Lil Tex. It's very balanced with more of an "American" lean. Plus, it's about 6-7 lbs lighter!
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Post by pcns on Oct 29, 2018 9:04:02 GMT -7
Todd and All, Despite all of the great video demos I’m still wondering about the Nova’s gain potential. How dirty can it get in comparison to say the Therapy, Maz, EMS (all different kind of distortion, I know...). And how would you characterize the gain? Thanks! I'll take a stab at the gain question . . . . The NOVA can get there pretty good thats for sure. You can actually get gain three ways out of this amp. You can crank up the main volume, you can engage the drive and you can crank up the tone controls. Once you get past noon on the tone controls they start to contribute gain to your signal, the treble tone control adds a very pleasing sizzling hair to the tone (almost fuzz pedal like). Chilly, you are correct in stating that Therapy, Maz, EMS and NOVA all have different types of distortion I would rank them this way as far as overall gain from my experience (YMMV) EMS NOVA/Therapy Maz The Therapy is much smoother where the NOVA is hairier (the hairier sounding overdrive gives me the impression of it having more gain but I think they are about the same) Its not too late to get one on order! Hope this helps! Todd
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Post by doctorice on Oct 29, 2018 9:27:51 GMT -7
I pushed the "loud and clean" envelope last night. If you keep the tone controls way down -- 9 o'clock or so (even less for bass, maybe more for treble) -- you can crank V up pretty high and stay clean. Then Master to suit.
Interestingly, the OD set to around 10 - 11 was a bit more of a boost with only modest "hair" sound than when the tone controls are doing more of their gain thing. Seemed a bit like using the eq bypass on the MAZ-type amps with the variable pot at about half.
Gonna try single-coil axes today, I hope.
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Post by nmz on Oct 29, 2018 14:32:26 GMT -7
Thanks guys this is good stuff. I like how the eq operates like a three nob Z!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 29, 2018 14:49:12 GMT -7
You guys did a great job describing this amp's response. I've been struggling to try to explain it and now I don't have to, thanks. I will add that I've done a lot of speaker swapping and settled back to the stock G12-H30. Surprise, surprise! I haven't spent too much time with the tone controls set below noon, I'm going to have to check it out. It's just that it sounds so good I haven't yet explored all the options. Another CLASSIC AMP from Cleveland.
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