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Post by donnyrocker on Mar 12, 2020 8:36:44 GMT -7
... a Fender Blues Junior 3 shellacked tolex with Jensen C12N speaker at a moderate dB level (65-85)?
I have used my Z-28 (112 combo, Creamback) with a band for two gigs (letters and critters venues): one venue with Volume at 9:00 was fine but at the next venue (several times bigger area) it was "pushing too much air" (too loud).
To address the tone/volume concern, I acquired the BJ and it's still within its GC 45-day return window. I like the amp. I am running it side-by-side with my Crate VC 2110, though I'm using an external Friedman 112 cabinet (Creamback). The BJ sounds slightly better, but no one in the audience (perhaps not even most musicians) could tell the difference.
It occurs to me that my Z-28 might be competitive tone-wise with the BJ if it had the Brake-Light mitigating the volume.
Does anyone have advice?
Thanks!
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Post by goodez on Mar 12, 2020 8:50:42 GMT -7
I’m hoping the good Doctor will come along to offer up some good news for you on this. The prognosis has been well documented, we’re all just waiting on Rx slips. 😉
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Mar 12, 2020 9:03:51 GMT -7
I’ve used a Brakelite with the Z28 with very good results. I run the Z28 hard (3-3-3 on the knobs, sometimes bass only at 12) and it sounds great even with the BL at 4 clicks.
As hinted at above, Doc has said there’s a Z28 mod coming to install a master volume on the Z28.
I think the Z28 is a completely different animal than the Blues Jr. - 6v6 vs EL84 for starters, and obviously hand built master designed vs, well, not. Volume aside, I don’t know that I could compare the tone of the two.
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Post by donnyrocker on Mar 12, 2020 9:13:23 GMT -7
Thanks for that answer. It's very helpful! I've been an EL84 guy for a couple of decades, with EL34 and 6L6 amps thrown in the mix, but the Z-28 is only my second 6v6 amp ever (the other is a Fender Excelsior ). I came close to letting the Z-28 go a few months after I got it. I felt it didn't have the bottom-end punch that I was used to for an alternate to my EL84 amps (let alone the EL34/6L6 amps I had at the time). But it sounded too good to let go! At one band's rehearsal space, I regularly play through the other guitar player's spare BJ (tweed, not shellacked) and like its tone. I understand the build quality differences, sure, but I thought I was "getting the right tool for the job."
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Post by donnyrocker on Mar 12, 2020 9:40:11 GMT -7
FWIW, my other "big" amps are the Stang Ray (head + 212 cabinet), Fender Twin RI, Top Hat Club Royale 212 and BluGuitar Amp1 (up to 100 watts). I also gig with Tech 21 RK5 Fly Rig, but I'm in an area where bands want to see amps on stage
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Mar 12, 2020 10:34:54 GMT -7
Any time the subject of attenuators comes up I always put in a plug for the Fryette PowerStation. I learned about it on this forum and got a used one relatively “cheap” (but it was still expensive). It’s an expensive unit (around $900 new), but provides the best “attenuation“ you can get because it is actually re-amping the output of your main amp. This lets you capture the exact tone of your amp at literally any volume (including amplifying a small amp up to 50W). It can also provide a dummy load and send your output to the board.
With your collection of amps it may be something to consider because it would allow you to use any of those amps at any venue - from coffee house to major club.
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Post by donnyrocker on Mar 12, 2020 10:44:58 GMT -7
Any time the subject of attenuators comes up I always put in a plug for the Fryette PowerStation. Yeah, Sweetwater has this on my wish list. Thanks for the review!
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Post by bigben55 on Mar 13, 2020 13:32:35 GMT -7
I think 1 and 2 clicks on the Brakelite dont alter MY amp tonecenough to matter. It's almost discernable. At 3, I can notice tone change. More compression, more and looser bass. Turn the bass down and treble up a tad, and you're good. And I never use 4 clicks. 1 or 2 is still a band giggable volume. 3 and most medium hitting drummers are starting to bury you.
I think all Z28s should have BLs. It really adds to the versatility volume wise. And so does the Z-Drive pedal. It's all powerful EQ control is awesome.
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Post by meanslide on Mar 14, 2020 9:46:49 GMT -7
I think 1 and 2 clicks on the Brakelite dont alter MY amp tonecenough to matter. It's almost discernable. At 3, I can notice tone change. More compression, more and looser bass. Turn the bass down and treble up a tad, and you're good. And I never use 4 clicks. 1 or 2 is still a band giggable volume. 3 and most medium hitting drummers are starting to bury you. I think all Z28s should have BLs. It really adds to the versatility volume wise. And so does the Z-Drive pedal. It's all powerful EQ control is awesome. Good description! I had some time with my Z28/BL yesterday and kept it on 2 the whole time. I tried it on 3 for a minute and had to go back to 2. That's the sweet spot. Plugged in a Tumnus and it rocked with the 28!
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Post by bubs42 on Apr 14, 2020 8:58:47 GMT -7
All I can say is that I am amazed how clear it stays attenuated all the way down and with the amp just off of zero. Just goose it a bit with a pedal to get some OD and it kicks butt. I have been using it to practice some songs while the wife and kids are in the house. I just preamp it with a Durham Sexdrive into a Lovepedal OD11 and a Lovepedal Gen 5 for echo. I was very apprehensive at first with he Z28 it just felt different than my Princeton, but now it has turned into my favorite Z to date. Simple amps, the Ghia and the Z28 have made me a believer.
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Post by ME on Apr 14, 2020 10:32:12 GMT -7
I’ve used my BrakeLite with all my Z’s. Never had a Z-28, but I used it quite successfully on a Route 66. Currently I’m using one on my Remedy (with master volume). It is a tone enhancement tool with the added benefit of additional volume control. ME
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