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Post by swampcooler on Jan 5, 2019 7:34:15 GMT -7
Snappy New Year to everyone,
I have a new cure with about 30 hours of healthy volume playing time on it. To me, it overdrives too soon, and the low end is a bit looser than I prefer. I've tried a cannabis rex, too mellow, a celestion v-type, very nice, but I'm back to the Z speaker. I play a 335 with a Timmy, but it happens with all my guitars, pedal or not. The tubes are just fine, really.
I have switched V1 preamp tubes a bunch and am currently trying 5751 tubes including JAN phillips and GE tubes. I'm still not satisfied.
This makes me think the looser tone is associated with the OT. Is this correct? I know the OT is designed from a very specific vintage style recipe. The amp just gets a bit too loose too soon. Your thoughts and comments will be appreciated.
Swampcooler
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Post by simpleton on Jan 5, 2019 9:37:11 GMT -7
It seems to me that it is a tad bit squishier than most Z amps, due to OT, but still VERY articulate. The 6v6 tubes that come in the amp are a “medium” output tube....I think you can get a higher rated 6v6 which will give a bit more headroom and slight watts..... The Cure is a bit more loose and capable of singing feedback than other Z amps I’ve played. Still very articulate....but more greasey . . . Buy some tubes with a higher output as the tubes in the Cure are low to medium link to Dr Z comment
Putting in high output 6v6 helped me a bit...keep the Bass low and maybe a different speaker known for clarity and not breaking up.
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Post by digs57 on Jan 5, 2019 10:08:23 GMT -7
Your findings are close to my assessments as well...its either your amp or not...great amp but for me it was just that simple...
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Post by swampcooler on Jan 5, 2019 10:28:37 GMT -7
Yes, thanks for the comments, and please keep them coming. I have owned and played at least 10 different Z amps on stage over the years, so I know what's meant by the idea, it's either your amp or it's not. I remain somewhat uncured . . . Thanks, Swampcooler
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Post by digs57 on Jan 5, 2019 10:47:11 GMT -7
Plus is one amp that sound like it would be in wheelhouse...maz is my amp...could see having both!right?...( )
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Post by justjoshinya on Jan 5, 2019 10:51:04 GMT -7
What about a eminence swamp thang... I can’t remember which one I ended up with in my Cure it may have been the C-Rex...
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2019 12:01:31 GMT -7
If unhappy, sell it to me. Love mine, but I could use a spare.
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Post by swampcooler on Jan 5, 2019 15:23:25 GMT -7
Some good comments here. I think after 3 speaker swaps it's not the speaker. The looseness is deeper in the electronics. The V-type was actually the tightest of the 3 speakers, but not where I'm headed exactly. Heyboer deluxe reverb OT might be a fun swap. There's a lot of deep character in different OT's. Yes, I know the amp was designed this way, but it's fun to make things your own. Anybody else enjoy trying different OT's? Thanks, Swampcooler
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 5, 2019 15:40:09 GMT -7
When it gets that deep, I usually sell the amp and get another one that's closer to what I want, or I start from scratch and build a new amp.
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Post by pcns on Jan 5, 2019 20:05:45 GMT -7
You might want to consider a more efficient speaker as well. This would give you more apparent volume and lower control settings give you more clean headroom. Celestian Gold comes to mind, should also be tighter in the bottom as well as louder.
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Post by Russell B on Jan 5, 2019 20:58:05 GMT -7
You might want to consider a more efficient speaker as well. This would give you more apparent volume and lower control settings give you more clean headroom. Celestial Gold comes to mind, should also be tighter in the bottom as well as louder. 1+++ on this. I have a Gold in my Cure right now. Love it!
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Post by swampcooler on Jan 6, 2019 7:58:10 GMT -7
The speaker swap was my first order of business. The cannabis rex rings in at 101.8 db, super loud with a super tight hemp cone, no flatulence there. I've used it with other amps as well. Another comment suggests maybe it's the wrong amp for me, and that may be the truth. Good speakers are expensive, OT's are less expensive and part of my journey in learning the lowdown inside amps. Working on the possibilities. If I swap the OT, maybe I'll share the results.
Thanks again for all the thoughtful ideas, Swampcooler
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Post by John on Jan 6, 2019 8:09:44 GMT -7
. If I swap the OT, maybe I'll share the results.
My opinion: Don't swap the OT..sell the amp.
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Post by LT on Jan 6, 2019 14:50:42 GMT -7
. If I swap the OT, maybe I'll share the results.
My opinion: Don't swap the OT..sell the amp.
I agree. I've had several amps that, for various reasons, I didn't bond with. When they are stock, they are easier to sell (although IMO the amp market right now favors buyers)
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Post by simpleton on Jan 6, 2019 20:01:27 GMT -7
I don’t think music equipment is about the investment soooooo if you swap the OT keep us posted. A punchier Cure might be what you wanted. Maybe a email to the Z team and see what the y say....perhaps they’ve done it and can save you time with the info.
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Post by justjoshinya on Jan 6, 2019 20:18:08 GMT -7
Shoot if you have the know how, and enjoy tinkering under hood go for it! I’m sure all of us were a bit scared the first time we changed our own pickups but now I don’t think twice about it!
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Post by Don on Jan 7, 2019 9:12:22 GMT -7
I installed a Heyboer TO20 tranny in one of my Princeton’s with amazing results. It really tightened up the low end and lost that flabbiness.
But with that being said, I agree with simpleton - call Doc or Don and discuss your concerns with them to get their opinion and recommendations before changing anything.
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Post by gsquare on Jan 7, 2019 18:04:18 GMT -7
If unhappy, sell it to me. Love mine, but I could use a spare. Actually, I've got a mint one that I was thinking of putting in the classifieds...
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Post by LT on Jan 15, 2019 15:11:29 GMT -7
If unhappy, sell it to me. Love mine, but I could use a spare. Actually, I've got a mint one that I was thinking of putting in the classifieds... I see you've done so. GLWS!
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Post by tpritchard on Jan 22, 2019 13:58:22 GMT -7
Just a thought, but I find dialing back the Master and turning up the Level increases clean headroom and tightens up the drive as the Volume knob goes up. I've got it pretty clean with my humbucker guitars and crystal clean with singles.
But yeah, Z has so many great amps, I would be inclined to sell or trade for the right one.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jan 23, 2019 7:27:37 GMT -7
Ive played my cure as a clean platform and worked great. Im the type where if its clean i want clean - no hair on it- But you can dial that in to. You absolutely have to explore amps with your ears and not the eyes. Turn those kobbies until you are happy with the sounds. Of course all amps have there base sound. But so many people don’t Eq enough to really know what there amp can do.
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Post by justjoshinya on Jan 23, 2019 8:12:22 GMT -7
Knobs are my problem... lol I want the eq’s all at noon, it bugs me if I have to turn them to get the sound I want! I guess I expect a perfectly voiced amp. I will say that my Z-Plus and Maz 8 has made me extremely happy, they love all my guitars! I’ve even thought about after I find my sound loosening the knobs and make them point to noon...lol. I must be OCD... I like things in nice neat lines!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 23, 2019 8:56:47 GMT -7
OCD overdrive . The tone stack is there for a very good reason, one of which is that every room sounds different. We need to be able to adjust our amplifier's tone to compensate.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jan 23, 2019 9:16:01 GMT -7
Living on the dirty side most of the time I have really come to appreciate the lack of eq you get by stomping on the bypass switch with the dial wide open. The fullness and amount rich tones always amazes me. Especially with the Maz' (8 & 18), the Cure, and the Z-Lux.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jan 23, 2019 10:10:22 GMT -7
Living on the dirty side most of the time I have really come to appreciate the lack of eq you get by stomping on the bypass switch with the dial wide open. The fullness and amount rich tones always amazes me. Especially with the Maz' (8 & 18) and the Z-Lux. Now i do get this too- I have a two rock and it sounds great- but I almost prefer To have the bypass on all the time on that amp- Again though its the ears that let me know this- but yeah The eq is there for a reason and I get the leave at noon vibe- But I don’t hesitate to wildly twist those knobs just to see what it sounds like- I almost readjust every time I use an amp
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