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Post by Faze on Mar 31, 2019 16:02:35 GMT -7
March 12, 2019 Randy, San diego Music Background: 28 years of gigging and playing in the Church former recording artist I been waiting a long time for an amp like this. I am a huge fan of the three 10 speaker configuration. The way they work together is something magical. The only amp that would give me that was the Fender Vibro King. I been gigging that amp off and on since the 90's. Now that Im older I have been looking for something with the three 10 inch speakers and similar tone but in a lighter weight package. The Z-Master has answered my prayers. It has beautiful cleans and warm overdrive the way the two volume controls work you can dial them in for single coils or humbucker's to your taste. The tone is pure. Pure Vintage tone. You can feel the amp. The notes pop off of your fret board. It's very musical in itself. You can hear every note when you strum a chord its very precise and the tone you get inspires you. The eminence speakers sound warm and articulate. The way the 3 speakers work together is something you have to experience for yourself in a live setting when you are in front of the amp to really appreciate the magic and mojo they create. This amp has a great feel to it and will react to what you give it. Its has a blooming beautiful tone its very linear and is not bright or harsh at all and I play single coils. It also has plenty of bottom end. It's a big full sound it's 3D like and it surrounds you and fills up the room. You can dial it in easily its not an amp you have to turn a bunch of controls to get good tone out of it. The tone is in it from the get go. Plus you can play it at bedroom levels with no attenuator needed. Dr. Z and Joe Walsh have really put a lot of thought and character into this amp and the component's that the Doc used in it are of the highest grade and standard. Thats why I continue to support Dr. Z. Because he makes amps for us the players and continues to raise the bar and make high quality amps that are well built and durable and sound incredible. This amp has exceeded my expectations.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 31, 2019 16:42:26 GMT -7
Great review, Randy. I loved the amp at this summer's Z-Fest. This seals the deal, the Z-Master is my next Z amp. ETA 3 months...as long as the tax man gives me a good report day after tomorrow!
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Post by Faze on Mar 31, 2019 16:45:54 GMT -7
Great review, Randy. I loved the amp at this summer's Z-Fest. This seals the deal, the Z-Master is my next Z amp. ETA 3 months...as long as the tax man gives me a good report day after tomorrow! Thank you Dave. You won't regret it. It really is an impressive sounding amp.
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Post by perryr on Mar 31, 2019 20:00:59 GMT -7
Drool, i def need a Zmaster!
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Post by DRZ on Apr 1, 2019 9:11:41 GMT -7
Drool, i def need a Zmaster! YES you do Perry. This amp is in the center of your wheel house.
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Post by rhinoman on Apr 1, 2019 19:25:35 GMT -7
What Randy said....this thing has the most wonderfully complex sound and I've never really played anything that sounds so big in the room.
The Z-Master is that rare amp where I don't ever even think about cleans and dirt. I play Teles and this amp simply sounds gorgeous with a perfect amount of sag and compression that gives a dirty vibe while it's still clean and a clean vibe even when I'm pushing it.
If you have a need for tweed, this will scratch the itch. Now I'm look at my other amps and asking, "Explain to me why you are here...!"
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Post by Faze on Apr 2, 2019 14:12:51 GMT -7
I finally got to crank both volumes all the way up to ten today and got to really push this amp. Wow what a killer tone! It's almost fuzz like in its overdrive tone. Very warm and buttery real crunchy and thats with my Strat with custom shop 69's in it. Then just rolling back the volume it cleans up beautifully like Rhinoman says where its dirty yet clean. It's just such a harmonically rich sounding amp. Its mind blowing how good this tone is. To be able to get rich lush bell like tones and then crank your volume up and get that sag and crunch is amazing. And even with both volumes maxed and my germanium fuzz engaged the amp was quiet when rolling back to get that clean tone. Awesome.
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Post by LT on Apr 8, 2019 14:58:21 GMT -7
I'm wondering how different the ZM would be from the Nova. I have a Nova head and use a 1-12 cab. There are some differences in the preamp, and definitely in the speaker config., but both are based on the tweed type tonal base and use a similar tube complement.
I'm asking because I'm thinking about a Wreck combo (which is definitely different than the Nova and my Cure).
Do you guys think the ZM would be enough of a difference to the Nova?
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Post by rhinoman on Apr 8, 2019 15:18:39 GMT -7
I'm wondering how different the ZM would be from the Nova. I have a Nova head and use a 1-12 cab. There are some differences in the preamp, and definitely in the speaker config., but both are based on the tweed type tonal base and use a similar tube complement. I'm asking because I'm thinking about a Wreck combo (which is definitely different than the Nova and my Cure). Do you guys think the ZM would be enough of a difference to the Nova? I can't speak to comparing the Z-Master to the Nova but I can say that I just didn't get along with my Z-Wreck. The Wreck was just way to forward and zingy/chimey EL84 for me. My Z-Master doesn't sound like any of the Nova clips I've heard and it sounds bigger in the room that any amp I've owned and that's a disturbingly large number of amps! I tried to capture as much of the "amp in the room" sound today as I could with the Z-Master. Maybe you can hear your Nova in it? soundcloud.com/atomiczombiekillers/z-master-mood
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Post by DRZ on Apr 8, 2019 16:25:10 GMT -7
Sweet demo rhino man. Rich bluesy tone. Z
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Post by rhinoman on Apr 8, 2019 16:26:17 GMT -7
Sweet demo rhino man. Rich bluesy tone. Z Well thank you....I just tried to not mess up what you put in there!
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Post by Faze on Apr 8, 2019 16:44:12 GMT -7
I'm wondering how different the ZM would be from the Nova. I have a Nova head and use a 1-12 cab. There are some differences in the preamp, and definitely in the speaker config., but both are based on the tweed type tonal base and use a similar tube complement. I'm asking because I'm thinking about a Wreck combo (which is definitely different than the Nova and my Cure). Do you guys think the ZM would be enough of a difference to the Nova? Well they both have the same type of output tubes the 5881's and both are in the tweed territory. I never played the Nova. But based on what I heard from it and comparing it to the Z-master they both sound really good. I almost got a Nova. The Z-Wreck would be different for sure. The Z-Master is a very special amp it has this vintage vibe to it and it's so simple. Just plug in and let your guitar and amp work together like Joe says show it what you got. It fills up the room you are in. Im currently playing in a bigger church now and the Z-Master is cutting through beautifully. The Nova may have more natural gain and more controllable gain at lower levels on its own than the Z-Master. With the Z-Master you would have to use a pedal at lower levels to drive it. The clean tone is so good on the Z-Master though. Once you get to noon it gets this slightly dirty yet clean broken up tone that just sounds wonderful and its easily to control with your guitar. Im using a fuzz pedal for my dirt right now and it sounds fat through it. I plan on trying a barber direct drive compact through it and see how that sounds. The strymon El cap sounds huge through it as well. No need for an effects loop. I never use them anyway. The main difference would be the three speakers and the way they project the sound especially live. Thats what I would say would be the difference. There is mojo in the three speaker configuration.
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Post by LT on Apr 8, 2019 18:10:06 GMT -7
Sweet demo rhino man. Rich bluesy tone. Z Well thank you....I just tried to not mess up what you put in there! Nice indeed! Thanks brother.
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Post by Faze on Apr 8, 2019 18:43:34 GMT -7
I'm wondering how different the ZM would be from the Nova. I have a Nova head and use a 1-12 cab. There are some differences in the preamp, and definitely in the speaker config., but both are based on the tweed type tonal base and use a similar tube complement. I'm asking because I'm thinking about a Wreck combo (which is definitely different than the Nova and my Cure). Do you guys think the ZM would be enough of a difference to the Nova? I can't speak to comparing the Z-Master to the Nova but I can say that I just didn't get along with my Z-Wreck. The Wreck was just way to forward and zingy/chimey EL84 for me. My Z-Master doesn't sound like any of the Nova clips I've heard and it sounds bigger in the room that any amp I've owned and that's a disturbingly large number of amps! I tried to capture as much of the "amp in the room" sound today as I could with the Z-Master. Maybe you can hear your Nova in it? soundcloud.com/atomiczombiekillers/z-master-moodSounds awesome rhinoman!
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Post by LT on Apr 9, 2019 11:11:20 GMT -7
I can't speak to comparing the Z-Master to the Nova but I can say that I just didn't get along with my Z-Wreck. The Wreck was just way to forward and zingy/chimey EL84 for me. My Z-Master doesn't sound like any of the Nova clips I've heard and it sounds bigger in the room that any amp I've owned and that's a disturbingly large number of amps! I tried to capture as much of the "amp in the room" sound today as I could with the Z-Master. Maybe you can hear your Nova in it? soundcloud.com/atomiczombiekillers/z-master-moodSounds awesome rhinoman! I agree!
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Post by DRZ on Apr 9, 2019 12:11:58 GMT -7
Sounds sweet rhinoman. Z
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