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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 12, 2021 7:06:34 GMT -7
I'm asking this because I do not, nor have I ever owned a blackface Fender or clone. How close is the Lux to these types of circuits? I've always considered it to be in the Deluxe Reverb camp but with more versatility, but thinking about it, I actually have nothing to compare it to. I know there are folks out there with vintage Fenders and high quality clones, what do you think? I'm mainly interested in the big, bold cleans with chime and brightness and a big bottom end (I know the Lux has this in spades). I'm extremely happy with my Lux and am not considering adding another amp to the mix other than possibly sending the chassis to Don for the update, just wondering what you think.
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Post by scottunzicker on Apr 12, 2021 8:11:18 GMT -7
I'm asking this because I do not, nor have I ever owned a blackface Fender or clone. How close is the Lux to these types of circuits? I've always considered it to be in the Deluxe Reverb camp but with more versatility, but thinking about it, I actually have nothing to compare it to. I know there are folks out there with vintage Fenders and high quality clones, what do you think? I'm mainly interested in the big, bold cleans with chime and brightness and a big bottom end (I know the Lux has this in spades). I'm extremely happy with my Lux and am not considering adding another amp to the mix other than possibly sending the chassis to Don for the update, just wondering what you think. Happy Monday! In short, I've used vintage blackface Fenders for years around the Austin scene (had Twin Reverbs, Pro Reverbs, and finally landed on a '66 Super Reverb that I still have and love). In short, the Lux will absolutely do that sound ESPECIALLY if you swap out the stock 6V6s for a quad of modern, matched, medium grade Tung Sol 5881s. To my ear, that configuration scoops the mids a little, gives the Lux a bit more headroom, and, I dunno, "chime," whatever that means. I've had lots of sound guys and other players basically say the way I run my Lux makes it sounds like a really well-maintained, more 3-dimensional, much more manageable cranked Twin. As a bonus, I can get an almost-Tweedy grind by using the "boost" function to varying levels. Hope that helps!
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 12, 2021 8:25:06 GMT -7
Definitely helps!! I actually forgot to ask about using 5881s so I'm really glad you brought that up as I'm mostly interested in the big, clean sounds that I love so much from the Lux. Thanks for the reply. Been playing for a number of years but have never owned a Fender blackface amp. Got the tweed thing down though. :-)
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Post by meanslide on Apr 12, 2021 9:08:17 GMT -7
I had the Z-Lux and a minty '64 Super Reverb at the same time (still have the Super). I've also had a couple of vintage Deluxes in the past (a '64 and a '72). The Z-Lux is much more than a Deluxe Reverb, IMO. It can be tamed to be similar but the 40 watt mode is like a big iron Fender to me. Like a Super Reverb, with a single 12, is how I'd describe it.
This rig was awesome to play but I never got to use it live. It's rare to be able to use the Super live these days, unfortunately...
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Post by Seńor Verde on Apr 12, 2021 17:24:51 GMT -7
I know a lot of folks think the Z-Lux is a great Blackface type amp, but I didn't think so. Don't get me wrong, if you want great Blackface tones from Z, I thought the EZG 50 was terrific. I've owned Super Reverb, Pro Reverb and Twin Reverb amps, as well as a few other well respected BF clones. Every other Z amp I've owned I really like(d) but the Z-Lux just wasn't for me as far as BF tones go. I really like my Cure and if I was to get another BF Z, I wouldn't hesitate for a second and would get an EZG. Sorry if this reply offends anyone. In all fairness, I have not tried the Z-Lux MKII or 5881 tubes in the 'Lux. That might be quite a different story, but I don't have any first hand experience with those.
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Post by ajteleman on Apr 12, 2021 19:39:29 GMT -7
The ZLux can deliver great blackface tones. In full power mode, you can get from Pro Reverb, to Super Reverb, to Twin Reverb territory. In half power mode, you can get Delux Reverb and Vibrolux Reverb sounds, even Princeton Reverb sounds. (The various blackface amp speaker configurations can't be discounted of course.) The pre and post volume controls and 3-way EQ can be adjusted for nuance. No offense to the naysayers, but I can't believe they fully utilized this amp's range of tones. Try the bass and treble at 12 or 1 o'clock then sweep the mids in and out. Same with pre and post volume and master. I have owned and played some 3 dozen blackface amps over a long career. It is telling I have sold off all my "collectable" amps and play the ZLux, ZPlus, Maz 8 and Z Wreck Jr.
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Post by nmz on Apr 13, 2021 7:12:49 GMT -7
Try the bass and treble at 12 or 1 o'clock then sweep the mids in and out. Same with pre and post volume and master. This^^ I’m still really enjoying the updates from the shop.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 20, 2021 10:02:40 GMT -7
Okay, just to close this thread and put my meager mind to rest on this. If I have two Z Lux amps, one head and one one combo soon to be updated, I definitely don’t need an EZG-50 to get huge Fender cleans correct? Thanks for all of your input. I’m probably the only person to have played guitar on and off fo the last 40 years or so that has not owned a Fender amp. I guess that’s mainly because I grew up in the high gain era and didn’t learn to appreciate an awesome clean tone until I got my Maz Jr Reverb back in 2008.
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Post by adam on Apr 20, 2021 16:18:18 GMT -7
My gut reaction would be call Z and ask him what he thinks. I don't think blackface tone is a cut and dried thing. I have a blackface bassman, and that has nothing to do with blackface tone if you ask me. Played a sawed-off blackface princeton in my room with a drummer through a 4x12 and that was a fantastic sound, but pretty broken up at acoustic drum level. Also have a 91 blues deville 4x10 (decent sounding), a deluxe reissue (that thing sucks), and Fender 140 head (that can sound great if you get the controls just right), and the twin reissue for a minute (that had a really cool sound). My point there being all those things sound so different from each other, you wouldn't think it was even the same company making them.
Fast forward to my acquiring a used EZG and sending it to Z to go over and make right. When I got it back, I was just floored and asked Z "is that what that old blackface sound really sounded like?". I was kind of dumbfounded because I thought I knew what that fender sound was, but I didn't. Also note that was through a 4x12, which of course isn't in that fender sound area. I'm guessing with a good open back 2x12 or 4x10 it would take on another dimension of "that" sound. I can't speak to the Z-Lux at all, but Z and the staff know exactly what's up with whatever you are questioning.
Maybe one more thought... that BF Princeton had wonderful highs that were in no way harsh, and the EZG is just like that too, but with way more headroom. I'm kind of guessing that the ezg with a 2x12 would take on some that character of a good twin, and a 4x10 would be closer to the super which it's kind of designed around. I bet those circuits were pretty similar, but the boss knows this stuff inside and out and has seen and worked on everything along the way.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 20, 2021 18:00:33 GMT -7
I've got the Z-Lux and an EZG50, and they can both do the Fender thing only better than Fender. I'd say that you don't need to go out and get an EZG, but on the other hand I've realized that for me, the more Z amps I own the more fun life is... I also have a near mint '67 Blackface Deluxe Reverb that is a sweet, sweet amp. But once again the Z-Lux does it better. I can get the DR sound with the Z-Lux but not vice-versa. Once a while I get my DR out of the closet and plug it in. Then I play a Z and the cover goes back on the DR and back into the closet it goes.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 20, 2021 18:26:30 GMT -7
Thanks all for your input!
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