grado
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Post by grado on Oct 7, 2019 9:46:12 GMT -7
Hi there everyone.
I recently had a chance to try out a Z-Lux combo and I was blown away. We don't see too many Dr. Z amps where I live so I haven't tried many but I've always been impressed with his amp and the Z-Lux was simply amazing to me.
So obviously... now I really want one. The problem is when everything is said and done. I'm looking at $4100 after taxes for the combo that I saw at Long and McQuade here in Canada. I just can't justify that right now and let's face it... I'm not that good of a player so this is definitely a luxury item for me. I've come across a used head version for $1999. I can swing that without much difficulty.
I'm very impressed by the weight of the combo and of course how it sounded but since I'm not a gigging musician the weight isn't that big of a deal. So my question is this, Is the combo, with it's specific design and specially selected speaker likely to sound far superior to a Z-Lux head plugged into a generic non Dr. Z cabinet?
So basically will I be playing my Z-lux head and always be thinking there is something missing?
Thanks for your feedback!
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Post by Rockerfeller on Oct 7, 2019 9:57:01 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum, Grado!
Will you miss not having the combo? Only if you're a combo kind of guy! I have the head and only wish I had a combo, at times, to make load in /out at gigs easier. But that's it. You'd want to also get the Dr. Z 12" speaker that was designed for the amp as that makes a difference. I think you'd start to feel you WERE missing something if you didn't have that speaker. I know that I did! I tried it with a Celestion Creamback and immediately ordered the 12" Dr/ Z speaker from the shop. HUGE difference.
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Post by doctorice on Oct 7, 2019 10:13:02 GMT -7
Second Rockefeller's comment on the speaker. They're available directly from Dr Z, or at least they used to be. I think they were $89 US plus shipping. Of course, you'd need a cabinet to put it in.
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grado
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Post by grado on Oct 7, 2019 10:42:48 GMT -7
I was afraid that would be the general consensus. I figured the Dr. Z speaker was a critical part of the magic.
I'd need to pick up a decent 1x12 cab and order the speaker by the time that's all said and done it's probably $600+ . Add the possibility of needing to replace the tubes in a used head and we are getting closer and closer to the cost of just buying the new combo.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Oct 7, 2019 11:00:54 GMT -7
I was afraid that would be the general consensus. I figured the Dr. Z speaker was a critical part of the magic. I'd need to pick up a decent 1x12 cab and order the speaker by the time that's all said and done it's probably $600+ . Add the possibility of needing to replace the tubes in a used head and we are getting closer and closer to the cost of just buying the new combo. If you already have a cab, all you have to do is change out the speaker. If you don't have the cab? It's cheaper to buy the combo in the US than it is to buy the head AND a Dr. Z cab.
Have you considered the Cure?
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grado
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Post by grado on Oct 7, 2019 11:24:43 GMT -7
I have a 4x12 cab that I came across some time ago. It's actually pretty decent, loaded with V30s but overkill for me obviously. I'd want to pick up a 1x12 cab for the Z-lux.
I thought about the Cure but I have to say I really liked the embedded Reverb and Tremolo on the Lux and again If I'm going to spend that kind of cash I don't really want to be always thinking I settled.
To be clear I'm not trying to suggest that the amp is over priced or anything like that at all. It seems to be more or less on par for that quality of that level of boutique amplifier. I'm just trying to assess whether I can get into one in a way that I'll be happy with it within my budget.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 7, 2019 14:43:58 GMT -7
Don't overlook Z Luxes. Doc builds his amps like tanks.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 7, 2019 16:19:57 GMT -7
I have both the combo and the head with 1x12 Z cabinet, both with Z12 speakers. The head and 1x12 have a bit more low end, but that’s about the only difference I can detect. I run the 1x12 cabinet with the middle piece removed from the back. Love them both!
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grado
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Post by grado on Oct 7, 2019 17:05:40 GMT -7
Don't overlooked Z Luxes. Doc builds his amps like tanks. I'd definitely consider a used combo, as long as it's a version that has the fan installed. However they will be hard to come by where I live and probably still at a premium price. I guess the good news is that it's an amp that is still in production, so if worse comes to worst I should be able to order a new one from the Canadian distributor. Meanwhile I'll thin the herd out a bit to help speed up the funding. Besides... maybe the Canadian dollar will increase in value soon! OK probably not. Sigh...
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Post by KeithA on Oct 8, 2019 2:09:25 GMT -7
Don't overlooked Z Luxes. Doc builds his amps like tanks. I'd definitely consider a used combo, as long as it's a version that has the fan installed. However they will be hard to come by where I live and probably still at a premium price. I guess the good news is that it's an amp that is still in production, so if worse comes to worst I should be able to order a new one from the Canadian distributor. Meanwhile I'll thin the heard out a bit to help speed up the funding. Besides... maybe the Canadian dollar will increase in value soon! OK probably not. Sigh... There is a used one for sale on Reverb (Montreal). The seller seems to be open to offers. I'm in Canada, too. reverb.com/item/27189584-dr-z-z-lux-1x12-combo
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2019 4:53:48 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum Grado! Be sure to let us know how your search goes.
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grado
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Post by grado on Oct 8, 2019 9:49:57 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum Grado! Be sure to let us know how your search goes. Thanks so much!
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grado
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Post by grado on Oct 8, 2019 9:54:53 GMT -7
I'd definitely consider a used combo, as long as it's a version that has the fan installed. However they will be hard to come by where I live and probably still at a premium price. I guess the good news is that it's an amp that is still in production, so if worse comes to worst I should be able to order a new one from the Canadian distributor. Meanwhile I'll thin the heard out a bit to help speed up the funding. Besides... maybe the Canadian dollar will increase in value soon! OK probably not. Sigh... There is a used one for sale on Reverb (Montreal). The seller seems to be open to offers. I'm in Canada, too. reverb.com/item/27189584-dr-z-z-lux-1x12-comboThanks for the heads up Keith, I will check it out. I'm a little nervous about having amps shipped a long way though. I bought a Blackstar Artisan 15 (great amp) a while back from a fellow. He had the original packaging and did a great job but the shipper laid the amp down on its back and obviously stacked a ton of things on top of it. When it got to me the speaker cloth had been stretched and sagged in. Luckily the speaker was unharmed. I took the grill off, wet it and took a heat gun to it and it's pretty well good as new but I got lucky. UPS basically said, if we don't package it ourselves we are not responsible for damage.
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Post by KeithA on Oct 8, 2019 10:20:57 GMT -7
Thanks for the heads up Keith, I will check it out. I'm a little nervous about having amps shipped a long way though. I bought a Blackstar Artisan 15 (great amp) a while back from a fellow. He had the original packaging and did a great job but the shipper laid the amp down on its back and obviously stacked a ton of things on top of it. When it got to me the speaker cloth had been stretched and sagged in. Luckily the speaker was unharmed. I took the grill off, wet it and took a heat gun to it and it's pretty well good as new but I got lucky. UPS basically said, if we don't package it ourselves we are not responsible for damage. Yeah, I know the feeling. I'm in Newfoundland
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 9, 2019 7:01:41 GMT -7
Good luck in your search, the Z-Lux is a very special amp. Let us know how it works out for you!
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grado
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Posts: 7
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Post by grado on Oct 9, 2019 12:38:29 GMT -7
Good luck in your search, the Z-Lux is a very special amp. Let us know how it works out for you! I'll keep everyone posted. And again thank you everyone for the information. It's been very helpful!
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