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Post by gitaryzt1985 on Oct 21, 2020 6:25:04 GMT -7
Hey guys. I have a Marshall Studio Vintage head, and I'm starting to feel like I'd like to sell it and get a Maz 18 head. I feel like there isn't a lot of headroom in the Marshall, nor is there really any low end definition. It's all highs and mids, and it does that sound nicely, but I just think I want more control over EQ ranges and more headroom.
How would the Maz compare to the Marshall? Are they more different than similar, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 21, 2020 7:07:00 GMT -7
While I don't have a Marshall SV - I do have several Marshalls. I feel the Maz 18 is far more versatile than an SV. It can do Marshall, Vox, and Fender. Does it do Marshalls with the best Marshalls? Probably not but certainly better than most. If you HAVE to have the exact Marshall sound, you might want to look at the EMS (essential Marshall sound), the Remedy, or the Antidote (my favorite). All do a great Marshall sound! A story I've told here before is our experience at a mini-fest the year the EMS came out. We decided to A/B the EMS with a 1987XL (50 watt) to see which was better. We were using a Radial ToneBone to switch between the two amps. We had a lot going on - several other amps being tested, cables being switched out, etc. We reluctantly decided that after quite a bit of fiddling and picking, that while they were close the Marshall did sound better. (We are Z-Natics after all). However when we went to take apart the rigs we realized that the cables were switched and what we thought was the Marshall was actually the EMS! It out-Marshalled the Marshall.
p.s. - if you go the Maz route, you might want to look at a Maz 38 with a half-power switch. It adds a whole lot of versatility and headroom when needed.
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Post by GuitarZ on Oct 21, 2020 8:27:24 GMT -7
It might depend on how you run your Marshall. My Marshall JCM800 50 watt master volume was my amp from 1981 until I bought my Maz Jr around 2002 or 2003. I couldn't get the same level of crunch and sustain through the Maz when I was just running it with the master volume and not playing loud. The Marshall's preamp has way more drive/distortion. I got an AirBrake along the way and it was like the Maz Jr was a whole new amp. With the ability to push the power amp section, I was good with crunch and sustain.
Before responding, I did some quick research on the SV. At 20 watts, it doesn't have the same stiffness that you get from a larger Marshall, but you get in the area without breaking your eardrums. Thus, even the SV isn't the original Marshalls.
This week I cranked up the old JCM800. I was running it into my Ox and was able to open it up wide. I mean, it just has that rock & roll sound. I then plugged in my Ghia which is kind of close in tone. The difference was that 'stiffness' they talk about. The Ghia was just less intense and it's the same with the Maz Jr. The weird thing was from a feel perspective, it felt more comfortable with the Ghia and Maz Jr from a playing perspective.
Long story short is that I'm a Marshall guy that bought a Maz Jr and fell in love with it especially after getting the AirBrake. If you're cranking AC/DC type tunes, you can't beat the Marshall JCM and maybe the SV. However, I can tell you my Maz Jr and Ghia get about 90% of the playing time and I plug in the Marshall from time to time just to reminisce, get a little different tone, or compare tones.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 21, 2020 13:47:30 GMT -7
I sold my JCM 800 2x12 combo after I got my Maz. It's got all the gain my 800 had plus it has a Voxy shimmer that you can dial in. For me it's much more useable. The JCM 800 is a fine, legendary amp but it's limited compared to the Maz.
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Post by gitaryzt1985 on Oct 21, 2020 13:50:59 GMT -7
Thanks for the responses so far! I definitely don't mind branching out from the Marshall sound, as I am mainly after a better amp all around with more flexibility in EQ and dynamic range. The Marshall cleans up nicely, but I don't like the sound of the amp when it is clean. It just wants to be cranked. It sounds great when it is cranked, but I just wish it had more oomph and low end.
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Post by gitaryzt1985 on Oct 26, 2020 6:35:43 GMT -7
Just purchased a MkI Maz 18 head with reverb from a great person here on this forum. I'm going to A/B it with the Marshall and report back. I had a Maz combo back around 5 years ago, but all I remember about the sound is that I liked it. Sold it because I went down the modeling route.
My only fear is that I will love both and have to get an extra side job on the weekend lol.
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Post by GuitarZ on Oct 26, 2020 8:32:19 GMT -7
My only fear is that I will love both and have to get an extra side job on the weekend lol. Enjoy that new part-time job.
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