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Post by telejas on Dec 19, 2021 19:27:03 GMT -7
I've been playing with my Maz 18 Mk.II as my main amp for the last 3 years. Played a small gig over the weekend, with the Z-Wreck Jr. that I picked up last week, here's my initial thoughts.
***Disclaimer - I've had a really bad head and chest cold that was throwing my equilibrium off and felt like I was gonna pass out a few times at this gig, so my perception may be off somewhat?
Z-Wreck JR * The Z-Wreck has a more vintage feel and sound about it. It's more compressed and almost more open at the same time.. Has a really nice "bloom". * Is a looser feeling amp * It's more percussive * It's a really good pedal amp, but it seems to take those modern sounding pedals, and magically blends it into the amp and makes it sound vintage as well. Even a "metal" type drive pedal sounds more vintage Marshall, than modern metal * It's very even across the strings and cuts better than most any other amp I've ever played (on par with the Wreck Sr.). It's a very unforgiving amp and will draw attention to your "slop" and make you a cleaner player * It rides that fine line between clean and overdriven better than about any other amp out there. Several times throughout the night, I thought I was getting pretty gritty on stage, but stepped out front and it was clear as a bell. You could hear the grit, but it was clean and clear at the same time
Maz 18 Mk.II * A more modern sounding and feeling amp * Is a tighter amp * Seems to be a more neutral type of pedal amp. If you throw a "metal" pedal in front of it, it's sound like a "metal amp", throw a Marshall pedal in front of it, it's going to sound like a Marshall * Has a stronger low-mid range with a slight emphasis in that range across the strings, but in a good way. It's a little more forgiving than the Wreck * Has a stronger low-end response * Still a very even sounding amp, despite the more low-mids * Also loves living in that "hairy clean" tone, but the line is more defined
I don't necessarily like one better than the other, and they'll both cover similar ground. The Maz is a little more versatile, but not by a huge margin.
Those are a few observations after just one gig......Like I said, though, I felt like death warmed over and my head was pretty jacked up...so, some of this may change after a few more gigs on it?
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Post by bigboki on Dec 19, 2021 22:01:45 GMT -7
Great report, thank you very much for sharing your experience and thoughts
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Dec 20, 2021 4:31:58 GMT -7
Great comparison as stated. Hope you get to feeling better, even the sniffles are alarming these days.
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Post by markT on Mar 9, 2022 4:14:09 GMT -7
Great comparison! Any other thoughts since you've had them both a while? I would think the Maz has a a little more umph end the end. I only tried the ZW Jr with the stock Greenback which is not that efficient.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Mar 9, 2022 11:06:27 GMT -7
Which one sounds more like an AC30? 🤔 Maybe a daft question, but I’ve become a total Vox fan these last few years, and my Z amps (Z28 and Therapy) are very much in the Fender camp, brilliant though they are! I read lots about Marshall / Fender tones but never about Vox tones, and I feel these two EL84 amps (Z Wreck and Maz) may be the closest to Vox in the Z range? Thoughts?
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Post by Andy 67 on Mar 9, 2022 13:22:48 GMT -7
Which one sounds more like an AC30? 🤔 Maybe a daft question, but I’ve become a total Vox fan these last few years, and my Z amps (Z28 and Therapy) are very much in the Fender camp, brilliant though they are! I read lots about Marshall / Fender tones but never about Vox tones, and I feel these two EL84 amps (Z Wreck and Maz) may be the closest to Vox in the Z range? Thoughts? It's great to 'read you around', Pete! I can say great things about the Maz 18 (you too), and you know you can make it sound 'quite Vox'. I do not own a Wreck Jr. , but I have the older brother, the full Z Wreck. As much as I love all my Z amps, the Wreck is something else. You have to take into account that it is originally based on a tweaked and improved Trainwreck, which was based on an AC 30. I may be wrong, but the Wreck is a beast of its own and yes, it sounds Voxy. I hope I was helpful. Tons of tone!!!
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Post by adam on Mar 9, 2022 16:06:15 GMT -7
Which one sounds more like an AC30? 🤔 Maybe a daft question, but I’ve become a total Vox fan these last few years, and my Z amps (Z28 and Therapy) are very much in the Fender camp, brilliant though they are! I read lots about Marshall / Fender tones but never about Vox tones, and I feel these two EL84 amps (Z Wreck and Maz) may be the closest to Vox in the Z range? Thoughts? Here's a sample of the maz that I think is kind of voxish. Don't bother watching the whole thing, but 15 seconds should give you an idea on the maz anyway.
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Post by nick0 on Mar 9, 2022 16:58:49 GMT -7
Great vid adam ! I love the cream in my Maz18NRmkII. Did you end up keeping the cream in or swapping it back out?
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Post by telejas on Mar 9, 2022 18:16:56 GMT -7
Great comparison! Any other thoughts since you've had them both a while? I would think the Maz has a a little more umph end the end. I only tried the ZW Jr with the stock Greenback which is not that efficient. I've now had the Z-Wreck Jr for just over 3 months and played 10 shows with it. I played all these shows (in a row) with the Wreck, to set a good "tone baseline", and get really comfortable and familiar with the sound so I could then use the Maz 18 Mk.II at a gig and get a good comparison between the two. A few weekends ago, I played the Maz 18 for the first time since getting the Wreck Jr. I then played another couple shows with my Wreck Jr last weekend: Here's my follow-up thoughts after doing so: I still stand by most of what I said, especially the statement of the Maz being more "modern" and the Wreck being more "vintage" sounding. The Wreck definitely cuts through the mix better with it's stronger mid-range. I can turn the mids up on the Maz to about 3:00 and get pretty close to the Wrecks strong mids, but it's a slightly different frequency and doesn't sound as good when I do that. The Maz actually sounded a bit scooped after using the Wreck for the past 2 months. My initial thoughts were the Wreck had more top-end.....But, I've come to realize, while the Wreck has a stronger mids and high-mids, the Maz actually has more top end. The Wreck is just stiffer and more percussive, making it less forgiving when you hit a bad note. I prefer the cleans on the Maz and still feel it takes dirt pedals a little better, but I prefer playing dirty leads on the Wreck. The Wreck just has an edge of cutting through and blooming/sustaining more on holding out long notes. When using distortion pedals, it's still a little squishier on the harder rock songs, but really shines on the classic rock songs and the more "Marshall-y" type tones. The Maz 18 Mk.II, has a stronger low-end..... Not saying the Wreck is lacking, but if you like a lot of low end you may not like the Wreck Jr (or full size Wreck). As for pedals.... The Wreck still makes dirt pedals sound more "vintage" and/or part of the amps circuit, whereas the Maz is a little more neutral and lets the pedals take on their own voicing, to an extent. Both are GREAT, but different in a good way. I have noticed, when I run a delay in front of the amp(s), the Wreck seems to emphasize the delay just a little more, which makes me think there is more compression going on with the amp? In the beginning, I figured I was going to put the Wreck back for a bit after the honeymoon period and go back to the Maz for my main amp... Now, I'm having a really hard time trying to decide what amp I want to use for my next gig? I think if it's a more "rock" gig, the Wreck will definitely go.....If it's more country, the Maz. But, unfortunately I play a good mix of both in my main band (a cover band) making it hard to choose. Ideally, using both would be AMAZING.....But, for 90% of the places I paly, both amps would be over-kill for sound, volume, and size.
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Post by telejas on Mar 9, 2022 18:25:23 GMT -7
Which one sounds more like an AC30? 🤔 Maybe a daft question, but I’ve become a total Vox fan these last few years, and my Z amps (Z28 and Therapy) are very much in the Fender camp, brilliant though they are! I read lots about Marshall / Fender tones but never about Vox tones, and I feel these two EL84 amps (Z Wreck and Maz) may be the closest to Vox in the Z range? Thoughts? In a way, they are both pretty AC30 like... The Z-Wreck is more like a great sounding, angry, vintage AC30. It has a stronger mid-range, like any good AC30 should have. It's more like the normal channel on an AC30, or a non-top boost AC30 with more control over the voicing. Turning up the Wreck, it sounds like it's on the verge of exploding (in a really good way) and is very angry sounding. The Maz 18 can get really close to an AC30, but I'd consider it more of a modern take on the AC30. It doesn't have as strong as a mid-range as you'd here in an AC30, but rather shifted down to the low-mids, giving it more 'umph'. Turning up the Maz, it sounds more "in control". You can also get some decent "Fender" Blackface and Tweed tones out of the Maz by messing with the mids/treb/cut. It's a little more versatile of an amp. If you're looking for AC30 tones, you'll get both with either amp.....Depends if you want more modern or vintage?
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Post by adam on Mar 9, 2022 18:52:30 GMT -7
In the beginning, I figured I was going to put the Wreck back for a bit after the honeymoon period and go back to the Maz for my main amp... Now, I'm having a really hard time trying to decide what amp I want to use for my next gig? Sounds like it doesn't really matter which one you use and they'll both sound good and make playing fun. I guess I'd start asking your bandmates which one they like better and why. They might say something you hadn't thought of like maybe you play better on one over the other. Regardless, thanks for sharing the in depth thoughts on both amps.
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Post by adam on Mar 9, 2022 19:11:16 GMT -7
Great vid adam ! I love the cream in my Maz18NRmkII. Did you end up keeping the cream in or swapping it back out? I used the alnico cream for a while, then a Creamback, and now back to the stock H30 again. Probably have done that iteration 3 times now. They all can sound great, and you just kind of futz with the controls for each one. The H30 is a weird one to me... it's really big sounding, but the highs can be a little harsh to me and you have to be a little careful with the cut and treble. That harshness is the thing which makes me want to try different speakers, but they have their own weird idiosyncrasies too. I really like the maz18 into a 4x12 too. It can really rock like that, but it doesn't really sound like any other rock amp which is really cool. The alnico cream is currently in a closed 2x12 with a v30 and that sounds fantastic with some amps, and not so much with other amps. Currently trying the h30s in the bottom of Marshall 4x12 with v30s on top and am really liking that too. The h30 kind of sounds like it needs something with it to balance it out a little, but what it brings, the other speakers don't ever seem to bring in the first place.
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Post by telejas on Mar 9, 2022 19:24:58 GMT -7
In the beginning, I figured I was going to put the Wreck back for a bit after the honeymoon period and go back to the Maz for my main amp... Now, I'm having a really hard time trying to decide what amp I want to use for my next gig? I guess I'd start asking your bandmates which one they like better and why. They might say something you hadn't thought of like maybe you play better on one over the other. Lol....Well, my current and past band mates, say no matter what amp I play.... I sound like "me". So not sure they'd be of help, Lol Unfortunately, a lot of people can't tell the difference in a $4000 and a $299 amp. Actually I think they can, but they can't put their finger on why?? My wife, who knows nothing more than I play a guitar, into a bunch of pedals, into an amp that's loud.... She used to ask me "why is your guitar louder, but still doesn't hurt my hears like your other guitar player's"? He is a MUCH better player than I could ever think of being, but his tone...Never been too good (I think his tone has changed quit a bit since moving to Nashville recently and getting gigs with some big names). He used a modeling unit into a powered 2x12 cab. His full setup was around $300-400. One day, a power surge reset all his settings 10 minutes before we were to start and he had to use my backup Dr. Z (RxES) and a couple of my Wampler pedals.... The sound man said that was the best he ever sounded and was able to actually able to put him into the mix more than usual. So, I think people do hear a difference....But, not sure what or how? In the end, the guitar player has to be happy with their sound or they don't play as well.
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Post by ajteleman on Mar 11, 2022 12:14:07 GMT -7
Re: Maz vrs Z Wreck Jr. I have owned 13 Zs since 2008 including a Maz 38 and a Maz 18. I currently have a Z-Lux combo, a Z-Plus with a Creamback, and Z Wreck Jr combo. IMO the baby Wreck is something special because of the Greenback. The Z-Plus with Creamback provides a muscular blackface sound. Between the two, I can get a bit "Voxy" with Wreck, BF with Plus. For small to medium venues, they're all I ever need. (The Z-Lux gives me great BF from Deluxe to Super territory with luscious reverb and tremolo.) Doc's Maz front end of Pre, T, M, B, Cut, and Master give a player incredible flexibility for any amp that gas them. All the reasons we love our Dr. Zs!
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Post by Seńor Verde on Mar 12, 2022 6:08:47 GMT -7
Great write-ups! Has anyone compared the Maz Jr and Wreck Jr using the same speaker? The couple videos I've seen had a Greenback in the Wreck and G12H30 in the Maz. I wonder how close they would sound if they used the same speaker and cabinet.
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Post by ajteleman on Mar 13, 2022 10:29:56 GMT -7
One last thought. I have worked with numerous players over the years who kept swapping speakers chasing "better" tone. In most cases they circled back to the original. Doc has shown with his choice of speakers for his creations that he considers the total "tone pallet" when choosing a speaker for an amp. The ONLY amp speaker I have changed out was my Z-Plus with a Creamback.(Apparently Buddy agrees
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Post by telejas on Mar 14, 2022 19:31:12 GMT -7
Great write-ups! Has anyone compared the Maz Jr and Wreck Jr using the same speaker? The couple videos I've seen had a Greenback in the Wreck and G12H30 in the Maz. I wonder how close they would sound if they used the same speaker and cabinet. I have a Blue in my Maz 18 Mk.II and a Greenback in my Z-Wreck Jr. The Blue is in a 1x12 cab, so I did try the Wreck Jr with the cab that has the Blue. I liked the clean tone of the Blue and the added low end, but it didn't sound as good with pedals. The Blue is more scooped in the lower mids with a spike in the upper mids & top end, which made the pedals a little harsh. The Blue works great with the Maz Jr, but not as well with the Wreck Jr. Don't get me wrong, it sounded really good....But the Doctor spent time picking the right speaker for the Wreck Jr, and the Greenback was it....and I have to agree I also tried it in my Friedman JJ Jr combo cab with a Creamback 65. It sounded like a darker Greenback.
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Post by nick0 on Mar 15, 2022 10:51:03 GMT -7
....But the Doctor spent time picking the right speaker for the Wreck Jr, and the Greenback was it....and I have to agree I really like trying out different speakers. It's a lot of fun. Doc's speaker and amp pairing is always spot on!
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