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Post by ss "Shane" on May 12, 2022 21:07:07 GMT -7
The only amp I really miss owning is the Z Wreck combo. Nothing on the market that’s attainable (for me) can get that tone as far as I’m concerned. Unfortunately I had to let it go because it was just too much power for the venues I play.
So as far as that golden tone of the Wreck, can the Wreck Junior get me there or maybe even close? I understand the differences of the two builds but I’m not advanced enough to translate amp parts into what those parts do for tone.
It’s hard finding threads that’s directly compare the two amps. Does the Junior do the classic Z Wreck thing or is it it’s own tone? If it can get me really close to its big brother then I might be all in.
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on May 13, 2022 5:49:25 GMT -7
I think it can get really close. But expectations are everything. It will be a tad warmer and won’t have the exact same chime, authority, or dimension. Chalk that up to speakers and transformers. But it’s financially attainable and probably as close as you can get. 👍🏻
Also, I think the JR wants to “crunch” a little more than “chime” in the way the big wreck does. Maybe it’s just because it’s quiet enough to push it that far, unlike the big wreck. Again, they are real close but expectation is everything.
I believe there is both a JR head and combo for sale here now in BST. No affiliation with either.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on May 13, 2022 7:45:21 GMT -7
I detect a whole lot of desire to "crunch" in the Wreck Jr., but not that strong low-end or "big" chime that I'd expect out of a 4xEL84 amp with much more power (i.e., the original 'Wreck). I'm just guessing, but I suspect this is due to the Jr's smaller Ghia-like output transformer AND its more-squishy 5Y3 rectifier. With this in mind, I do sort of view the Jr. and the original 'Wreck as an AC15 vs. AC30 kind of thing. [Not that it's a clone of those, but the comparison of 15 vs. 30 still relates.]
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Post by ss "Shane" on May 13, 2022 11:11:53 GMT -7
This is all very interesting. I wonder if the ghia has more chime.
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Post by nick0 on May 13, 2022 20:12:25 GMT -7
This is all very interesting. I wonder if the ghia has more chime. Have you given the Maz18NRmkII a try? It wants to drive. But running the volume low, there is plenty of master there to get a cleaner tone at good volumes. Lots of tone shaping with a boat load of top end to tap into. Especially using a Celestion Alnico Cream. However, I don't have a wreck or wreck jr to compare it to. The Maz has a lot of flexibility there as well. It can do chime clean to gritty British drive.
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Post by ss "Shane" on May 13, 2022 23:37:06 GMT -7
This is all very interesting. I wonder if the ghia has more chime. Have you given the Maz18NRmkII a try? It wants to drive. But running the volume low, there is plenty of master there to get a cleaner tone at good volumes. Lots of tone shaping with a boat load of top end to tap into. Especially using a Celestion Alnico Cream. However, I don't have a wreck or wreck jr to compare it to. The Maz has a lot of flexibility there as well. It can do chime clean to gritty British drive. I actually have the Maz 18 but it’s the Reverb version. Great amp, but I’m looking for something specifically for my Les Paul. The Maz, I’m my opinion, playes better with my single coil guitars. Funny thing is…most Z demo vids are done with Teles. To somebody unfamiliar with Z amps one would think their built for Telecasters. I’m a LP player and I think Dr. Z amps are also great for humbuckers. My goal at the moment is to find a Z amp with chime and with the mid range grunt that suits a LP. I know the Maz has plenty of chime but for me it’s missing something with my humbuckers.
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Post by lowbudget on May 14, 2022 5:43:16 GMT -7
This is all very interesting. I wonder if the ghia has more chime. I know nothing about the Wreck Jr. so can’t help you there. But if it’s chime you’re after, the Maz Jr. is right up there with the best of them IMO and can be made even more so with the EQ knobs. BUT, don’t ever sell the Ghia short on chime! While I think it may be speaker dependent to some extent, both of my Ghias are currently in 1x10 cabs and run speakers on opposite ends of the spectrum- one is an Alnico Red Fang (yes, I know it’s loud!) and the other is a Greenback. Weird thing is they both chime for days. I will stipulate to loving Teles on the bridge and Esquires, so there’s that. But the lesson is, never sell the little Ghia short on anything you want it to do.
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Post by nick0 on May 14, 2022 8:50:22 GMT -7
Have you given the Maz18NRmkII a try? It wants to drive. But running the volume low, there is plenty of master there to get a cleaner tone at good volumes. Lots of tone shaping with a boat load of top end to tap into. Especially using a Celestion Alnico Cream. However, I don't have a wreck or wreck jr to compare it to. The Maz has a lot of flexibility there as well. It can do chime clean to gritty British drive. I actually have the Maz 18 but it’s the Reverb version. Great amp, but I’m looking for something specifically for my Les Paul. The Maz, I’m my opinion, playes better with my single coil guitars. Funny thing is…most Z demo vids are done with Teles. To somebody unfamiliar with Z amps one would think their built for Telecasters. I’m a LP player and I think Dr. Z amps are also great for humbuckers. My goal at the moment is to find a Z amp with chime and with the mid range grunt that suits a LP. I know the Maz has plenty of chime but for me it’s missing something with my humbuckers. This is interesting. Last weekend, I took my Maz18NRmkII to jam night for my buddy to use. He's a Les Paul player. It sounded great. I wonder how much of that tone you are looking for comes from the speaker. I assume your Wreck combo had a Gold. I have an Alnico Cream in my Maz. Maybe you need to try speaker swapping if you haven't already. I'm always amazed at how huge of an effect speakers have on overall tone. Good luck!
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