|
Post by gotmojo on Oct 14, 2019 17:39:02 GMT -7
Well, my big plan of selling some amps to generate cash and space has gotten off to a slow start, and so I’ve had some time to mull over this question in terms of a new amp for all purposes without executing a rash and impulsive amp addiction buy as yet!
What I need most is a 1-12 combo amp that’s quick to get my tone out of, at ANY volume, for gigs, home rehearsals, home-alone, and home-somebody-is-sleeping. I’d love to do that without a brake, only because when you’re small stage gigging or even playing at home, it’s too hard to reach back inside an amp with your guitar on to crank it a notch (invariably the wrong way), banging your guitar up against the amp, etc. Love my Wreck combo and can do all of the above with it and a brake lite in back and the MV I had put in. And the Wreck does the EL84 Vox thang that I love. And I also love the Remedy and Therapy tones and MV’s, but it’s a head and a cabinet to haul. I’m an old tweed Fender lover, and I’d love to get a Z that can do that American thang in spades, too. My love of the tweeds is their beautiful distortion when cranked, so a clean amp like the Z Lux is not the answer, I don’t believe. The DB4 is kinda close with a beautiful distortion, but still pretty darn loud braked down hard with a brake lite.
Sounds like the 15 watt 6V6 Cure with its MV and a level control might just do the trick. But the clean and overdrive Nova blended function sounds like something of a versatile beast also. I’d love an amp that can still sound rocking in that 85-95 dB level I’d love to be playing at.
Anybody own both these amps and can give me some insight? Have you used both for gigging?
jj
inquiring minds want to know. of course, the obvious answer is “get both”, but ...... I’m trying to thin the herd, not enlarge it.
|
|
|
Post by blueser7 on Oct 14, 2019 18:46:02 GMT -7
I can’t offer up opinion on the Cure but the Nova is outstanding! I’m a fairly new Z convert and I have a Zwreck and Nova. I absolutely love the wreck and can’t see myself ever selling but since I got the Nova it is what I play most the time. I play small clubs as a 3 piece and the master volume makes it easy to get the sound at the right volume. We play classic rock, country and blues and this amp can cover it all really well! From the description of what you say you are looking for this amp is definitely a strong contender. If you haven’t already, read klontart’s discovering Nova post. He does a really good job reviewing this amp.
|
|
|
Post by fallingstarsusa on Oct 14, 2019 19:47:47 GMT -7
I'm a Cure owner. I've gigged it in little coffee shops with either no percussion or a drummer playing a cajon and small clubs with a drummer whacking a full kit. The level knob lets you do both. I run a tele with filtertrons though a king of tone. The amp is usually set on the edge of breakup, and I use the guitar's volume knob and the KOT for more or less gain. It's a very versatile, great sounding--and light--amplifier.
|
|
|
Post by gotmojo on Oct 14, 2019 21:52:20 GMT -7
Thanks Blueser! And thanks Fallingstar, for the review. However ........ The thing I love about old Fender tweeds is the distortion they provide, and the clean vs distortion I am able to control with the guitar volume and tone knobs, no pedals!! I was under the impression that the Cure could provide such distortion using no pedals. Why do you use the KOT with an amp that gets lots of distortion? Or am I mistaken about the Cure’s ability to be overdriven?
thanks,
jj
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 15, 2019 8:48:55 GMT -7
I'm lucky enough to have both amps. Overall I think the Cure is more adaptable to different tone needs. The Nova is solidly in the Tweed camp and it'll clean up but if you want pure cleans, the Cure will get there better than the Nova. The Nova is such a sweet beast and sounds so good onstage with a group. The Nova's overdrive is tone heaven, my Firebird straight in is all I need for a lot of dates.
The Cure does get plenty dirty when you crank the Volume up, and you can get really nice cleans too. It's very cool to be able to control the drive going to the phase inverter via the Master Volume. Then you set your overall output with the Level control. So it's very versatile. Plus it's plenty loud, small, and light weight. It goes to almost all my rehearsals.
I love them both, and have no intention of selling either one. They're both terrific amps, just different.
|
|
|
Post by gotmojo on Oct 15, 2019 15:37:57 GMT -7
Thanks Dave. I almost never want pure clean, my rhythm is usually on the edge of dirt cleaned up with light picking, then dial in as much distortion as I want with the guitar volume. Still sounds like either amp would do the trick for me. Gonna be a matter of tone, which is hard to evaluate without actually having one for a few weeks. So I prolly need both. Or neither, and keep playing what I have. The Wreck is simply a great amp. And I need to gig this DB4 a bit more to get a better feel for it with the full band. Too bad we don’t gig much.
jj
|
|
|
Post by LT on Oct 16, 2019 8:25:14 GMT -7
I also own both and totally agree with Dave's thoughts. The Cure is my main gigging amp. Last gig we needed to bring the volume down, so I just kept all settings as normal and decreased the Level. Sounded great as usual. You can definitely set either for the edge-of-breakup sound, or what I do is go for a rather clean tone and keep a light OD on all the time (unless I need loud/clean when I'll turn it off).
You won't make a wrong decision with either. Let us know what you decide!
|
|
|
Post by Rhythmark on Oct 24, 2019 6:47:37 GMT -7
The all Mighty ... The wonderful... The glorious.....
The Level control!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing like it!!!
Seriously needs to be included on all amps!!
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Oct 24, 2019 7:01:09 GMT -7
I don't have a Nova, but I do have a Galaxie. The Cure is my all time favorite amp that Doc has put out. It is just perfect for the gigs that I do. I can set my settings and just use the Level control to set the volume I need. I set it to "just starting to break up" and lower my guitar volume for a clean sound. For the over the top sound, I use the Tone By Pass. It's all works great.
|
|
|
Post by gotmojo on Nov 4, 2019 21:36:17 GMT -7
Well......... I’ve been struggling over whether to get a Cure or a Nova as possible best and easiest gig amps. Lightweight, great distortion at low volume, legendary Z tone! Tough decision, as you guys have given both amps great reviews. Trying to fund the purchase by selling off some amps I simply never use. Have 5 vintage amps on Reverb right now, and none have sold thus far. But .......... I simply couldn’t stand it, so I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova from Humbucker Music! Not exactly an impulse buy as I’ve been pondering for weeks. Irresponsible, yes. But not exactly impulsive. Be here in two more days. Even at my old age, totally pumped! Once an addict ........
jj
|
|
|
Post by purpletele on Nov 4, 2019 23:10:29 GMT -7
Said what?😳
|
|
|
Post by dcarver on Nov 4, 2019 23:36:10 GMT -7
.... I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova ....
KABLAMO ! That's what I call pulling the trigger. Congrats ! Let us know what you think of them, after a suitable break in.
|
|
|
Post by perryr on Nov 5, 2019 1:02:03 GMT -7
Yep, only 1 way to find out, gotta plug in, congrats!!
|
|
|
Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 5, 2019 4:06:37 GMT -7
Well......... I’ve been struggling over whether to get a Cure or a Nova as possible best and easiest gig amps. Lightweight, great distortion at low volume, legendary Z tone! Tough decision, as you guys have given both amps great reviews. Trying to fund the purchase by selling off some amps I simply never use. Have 5 vintage amps on Reverb right now, and none have sold thus far. But .......... I simply couldn’t stand it, so I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova from Humbucker Music! Not exactly an impulse buy as I’ve been pondering for weeks. Irresponsible, yes. But not exactly impulsive. Be here in two more days. Even at my old age, totally pumped! Once an addict ........ jj Now that's what I call making a decision!!! Way to go!! Please report your findings when they arrive. Congrats!
|
|
|
Post by markT on Nov 5, 2019 4:22:14 GMT -7
Well......... I’ve been struggling over whether to get a Cure or a Nova as possible best and easiest gig amps. Lightweight, great distortion at low volume, legendary Z tone! Tough decision, as you guys have given both amps great reviews. Trying to fund the purchase by selling off some amps I simply never use. Have 5 vintage amps on Reverb right now, and none have sold thus far. But .......... I simply couldn’t stand it, so I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova from Humbucker Music! Not exactly an impulse buy as I’ve been pondering for weeks. Irresponsible, yes. But not exactly impulsive. Be here in two more days. Even at my old age, totally pumped! Once an addict ........ jj oh dude...... JETTA......you overlooked the new JETTA! Go ahead and order that one too. {only $1399) Be prepared to be blown away!~ Chexk our the JETTA section.
|
|
|
Post by purpletele on Nov 5, 2019 9:24:18 GMT -7
Well......... I’ve been struggling over whether to get a Cure or a Nova as possible best and easiest gig amps. Lightweight, great distortion at low volume, legendary Z tone! Tough decision, as you guys have given both amps great reviews. Trying to fund the purchase by selling off some amps I simply never use. Have 5 vintage amps on Reverb right now, and none have sold thus far. But .......... I simply couldn’t stand it, so I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova from Humbucker Music! Not exactly an impulse buy as I’ve been pondering for weeks. Irresponsible, yes. But not exactly impulsive. Be here in two more days. Even at my old age, totally pumped! Once an addict ........ jj oh dude...... JETTA......you overlooked the new JETTA! Go ahead and order that one too. {only $1399) Be prepared to be blown away!~ Chexk our the JETTA section. That's cruel
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 5, 2019 16:03:48 GMT -7
Well......... I’ve been struggling over whether to get a Cure or a Nova as possible best and easiest gig amps. Lightweight, great distortion at low volume, legendary Z tone! Tough decision, as you guys have given both amps great reviews. Trying to fund the purchase by selling off some amps I simply never use. Have 5 vintage amps on Reverb right now, and none have sold thus far. But .......... I simply couldn’t stand it, so I just bought BOTH a Cure and a Nova from Humbucker Music! Not exactly an impulse buy as I’ve been pondering for weeks. Irresponsible, yes. But not exactly impulsive. Be here in two more days. Even at my old age, totally pumped! Once an addict ........ jj This is a decision that you'll be very, very happy you made, way to go jj!
|
|