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Post by jmilla on Jan 10, 2023 20:03:16 GMT -7
Hi all,
I’m new to the forum but have been reading for quite some time. I am in the process of selling most of my gear and moving to only one amp. I only play at home and do use some pedals. I play a Strat, lp, and a prs Mira. I also play blues, classic rock and occasional heavy stuff like Metallica. I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time. If you had to pick one amp for my purposes in the Z lineup what would it be?
Thanks!
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Post by nick0 on Jan 10, 2023 20:18:13 GMT -7
Hi all, I’m new to the forum but have been reading for quite some time. I am in the process of selling most of my gear and moving to only one amp. I only play at home and do use some pedals. I play a Strat, lp, and a prs Mira. I also play blues, classic rock and occasional heavy stuff like Metallica. I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time. If you had to pick one amp for my purposes in the Z lineup what would it be? Thanks! What is your favorite amp? What do you want it to do differently or do better? What volume do you play at home? What is your ideal tone? What pedals do you use most?
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Post by jmilla on Jan 10, 2023 20:46:56 GMT -7
Hi all, I’m new to the forum but have been reading for quite some time. I am in the process of selling most of my gear and moving to only one amp. I only play at home and do use some pedals. I play a Strat, lp, and a prs Mira. I also play blues, classic rock and occasional heavy stuff like Metallica. I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time. If you had to pick one amp for my purposes in the Z lineup what would it be? Thanks! What is your favorite amp? What do you want it to do differently or do better? What volume do you play at home? What is your ideal tone? What pedals do you use most? Favorite amps of all time were vintage ac15 I got to play as well as a fender super reverb. Currently have a vintage ac4 and reissue 68 Princeton. Haven’t bonded with either. Improvements are the ability to get some gain at lower volumes and still have a warm clear clean tone. I normally play at bedroom volumes but can play a little louder if I want. Ideal tone is David Grissom clean and dirty and the song Lenny clean. I have a variety of pedals but mainly use some slapjack, a cali 76 stacked and various drives/fuzzes. I guess my bottom line would be full warm tone at low volumes with ability to get some dirt from the amp.
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Post by lowbudget on Jan 10, 2023 22:15:44 GMT -7
Many different Z amps would fit the bill for you, but as I was reading your post above I kept seeing a Maz 18 Jr. MKII NR dancing in front of my eyes.
Start reading the Maz Jr. section here, listen to some clips here and on YouTube and you’ll quickly see why. One Z amp = Maz 18 Jr. NR. If you need verb, get a Flint. Boom, all done!
Member Mark N has some beautiful clips posted up if you’ll search them out. And I don’t think his amp is even a MKII. (Not an absolute anyway, just nice to have.) His style preferences may or may not be yours but his tone is right up your alley!
Oh and sorry, welcome to the best corner of the ‘net!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 11, 2023 3:48:04 GMT -7
I second the Maz 18NR MKII. It's versatile, lots of voices in there. It can chime, and it can rock. Pushed with a pedal it screams.
Do check out the videos, Mark N and Adam as well. I remember Adam did one that really shows it off here:
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Post by nick0 on Jan 11, 2023 4:09:49 GMT -7
The Maz 18 mkII is a great amp. Super versatile. Great cleans and can get good articulate overdriven tones. It's got some of that vox chime as well.
Another option to check out is the Cure. It's also a very versatile amp. It is sometimes left out of the conversation, but it is one of my favorites! Where the maz has a hint of chime underlying, the Cure has that Fender thing.
Both amps can definitely cross paths as well. Either one would not disappoint!
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Post by John on Jan 11, 2023 4:22:24 GMT -7
Maz Jr MkII or a Cure. Sounds like low volume is pretty important to you.
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Post by LT on Jan 11, 2023 8:30:38 GMT -7
I've never owned a Maz, but I agree with the Cure. It has the fantastic Level control that lets you dial in any sound you want, then adjust how loud/soft you want that sound.
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rudeboy
Full Member
Rudecaster into a Z...heaven.
Posts: 124
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Post by rudeboy on Jan 11, 2023 11:10:24 GMT -7
Another MAZ 18 vote.
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Post by steamroller on Jan 11, 2023 12:33:14 GMT -7
Check out the various Z-plus posts. Mine can produce excellent bedroom volumes, I think the amp is very versital, you can play a lot of music styles on it. I like variety in music, and the Z-plus is not a one trick pony. I can see me switching out guitars, but not this amplifier!
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Post by jmilla on Jan 11, 2023 15:32:50 GMT -7
Definitely considering cure,maz, and z-plus. Any thoughts on a this with mv added?
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Post by jmilla on Jan 11, 2023 16:18:37 GMT -7
Also have seen some good reports for my purposes on the nova and z lux. Too many choices!
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Jan 11, 2023 17:23:02 GMT -7
MAZ 18 would be my first choice, but I will also second the Z-Plus.
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Post by adam on Jan 11, 2023 18:28:49 GMT -7
The maz18 I think is definitely something to look at. I've done a bunch of videos on it which might help give you an idea if would work for you. I think mainly it's sort of like a great vintage amp, but if you crank it up loud, it has another gear in it which I think turns it into something like a beast Marshall, but it's not a Marshall. Keep in mind the amp is really moving air at that point. Some references to that. In that list, you'll see a reference to a caz45 demo, but I used the maz18 for the solo. Just straight in, eq bypassed, and loud. www.youtube.com/@adamgotheridge/search?query=mazPeach Guitars has an excellent video comparing the maz18 and maz38 which you should really check out. They (Jack mainly) use the maz18 and a couple pedals for all their quick "no talking" guitar demos. There's a fairly recent one with a red 335 style guitar which sounds fantastic and just reeks that maz tone. Something with the attack and saturation which lets you know what the amp is even though they didn't explain it there. Also, don't discount the Carmen Ghia if you are looking at a one amp for all time. No, it won't do Metallica, but it has such a wonderful voice and takes pedals so well that I think it really deserves mention. I'm older and have a bunch of Z's and other amps as well. But as I get older and think of thinning stuff out, I think the Ghia will be that last one standing. It's all I really need to be happy playing guitar. And it's so simple that I'll still be able to operate it well into dementia.
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Post by jmilla on Jan 13, 2023 11:16:10 GMT -7
I usually buy my gear used. I am having trouble finding any mk2 maz that ship that aren’t basically new price. Z plus seems to be same situation. I have been doing a ton of listening and think z plus maz or ghia are all great. Do you guys think the ghia is versatile enough if I had the mv added?
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Post by nick0 on Jan 13, 2023 16:51:59 GMT -7
I love the ghia. I have a mv mod. In my opinion, the Maz and Z Plus do a better job at the cleaner blues tones. The ghia still does a great job at it. However, i simply prefer the maz and z plus in that tonal spectrum. I'm sure some will disagree.
Not to throw another wrench into the mix, but the Z28mkII is simply incredible. It's super unique. It's like hints of fender at times and then hints of marshall at times. Sounds really full and big and percussive, even at low volumes. Tones outta the combo are top shelf!
Hey, there's a reason most of us have multiple Z amps in our stable. You can't just pick one!
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Post by adam on Jan 13, 2023 17:56:43 GMT -7
Do you guys think the ghia is versatile enough if I had the mv added? I think it's versatile enough without the master volume. Thoughts as to why... (and sorry for being so long-winded) The master volume is going to allow you to dial in more preamp distortion/compression and maybe phase inverter distortion at a lower volume, but maybe at the expense of less output section distortion/compression. But, how many people are using pedals to push the preamp and or add preamp type gain anyway? Probably everyone. If you lower the volume with a master volume, the tradeoff is you give up some straight up clean headroom. For a lower wattage amp like the Ghia, clean headroom might just be the thing you feel you are missing compared to a more powerful amplifier. At that point, it's really up to the player, the guitar, and what they are looking for in a sound (or sounds). The Ghia by itself sounds great clean at really low volumes. It's full sounding, just like that. Not like some other amps that just don't wake up at all until they are pushing some volume. There's some versatility just in that. As you push the amp to say drummer volume, you introduce some grit and compression that is controlled under your hands. Basically I think it's a great balance of practical, just as it is with no master. I think where a master volume can really help you out is really in an amp with more potential output, like say the new Z28. But for the Ghia, it already sits in a nice place all by itself with just 2 knobs and and 1 on/off switch. Lastly, there's no one size fits for everyone. You'll see posts from people who play jazz and put the amp on 10 and control the whole thing with their guitar volume. Then you'll see another thread about reducing the volume of the amp with an attenuator. because it's too loud. Like is the amp too loud, or not loud enough... it totally depends on the player and what they are trying to achieve. For me, I like the Ghia as is, simple and works.
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Post by John on Jan 14, 2023 11:59:31 GMT -7
I forgot about the Z-Plus....so I'll amend my recommendation above to include the Z-Plus
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Post by ajteleman on Jan 14, 2023 12:45:30 GMT -7
Highly recommend the Z-Plus. Lively, harmonically rich tone, great Z tone stack (V,T,M,B,Master,Cut switch. Great reverb, too) half power, tone bypass/boost. I play a tele and a strat on my gigs, and with a quick adjustment to Vol and Cut, I can maintain similar presence from both guitars. I have owned 13 Dr Zs over the years. I still have a Z-Lux,and a Z Wreck Jr, but if I had to keep only one amp, it would be the Z-Plus. (Full disclosure I swapped its Z-12 for a Creamback.) I
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Post by ajteleman on Jan 14, 2023 12:49:47 GMT -7
Addendum: yes, I still have my Z-Plus (if it wasn't clear in my recent post.)
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jan 15, 2023 10:44:55 GMT -7
"I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time."
"for some time" being the key phrase. How short is the "some time" time frame? 6 months? One year? Once you upgrade to the Dr. Z line, you never only have one. Right guys?
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Post by mule43 on Jan 15, 2023 11:42:04 GMT -7
"I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time." "for some time" being the key phrase. How short is the "some time" time frame? 6 months? One year? Once you upgrade to the Dr. Z line, you never only have one. Right guys? Yep, that is how it has worked for me, one is not enough! I got my first right before covid and am up to 3 now!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jan 15, 2023 20:20:05 GMT -7
"I’m looking for one amp that can cover most of my bases and be my end game amp for some time." "for some time" being the key phrase. How short is the "some time" time frame? 6 months? One year? Once you upgrade to the Dr. Z line, you never only have one. Right guys? Yep. I started in 2014 and I'm up to 17, I think.
They're all so great and all so different. Tonight I had the other guitar player in our praise band over to help me decide which amp to use next. We decided on the Z-Lux and a few pedals.
They're all so good in their own ways, it was tough to pick one.
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Post by doctorice on Jan 16, 2023 18:34:32 GMT -7
I suppose it depends on how loud "bedroom volume" is for you. I have an original, not MKII, MAZ 18, and it is loud.
For quiet playing at home, my top choices are MAZ 8, which is no longer made, Z-Plus and Cure, not necessarily in that order. All take pedals well. Fwiw, when I need to really keep it quiet the MAZ 8 with a Z Brake-Lite attenuator gets the nod.
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Post by jmilla on Jan 18, 2023 17:19:38 GMT -7
I think I have narrowed it down to maz 8 with updates or Carmen ghia based on sound and what I was able to find in my area. I like the ghia with bigger cabinet but am worried about if I can play quiet enough when needed. I feel stuck and don’t know how to decide at this point. I wish there were more demos of this situation.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Jan 19, 2023 5:32:39 GMT -7
A little off topic, but anytime I see threads about trying to find an amp for low volume playing I feel compelled to mention the Fryette Powerstation. Was playing last night and I use this all the time so I can chose any amp, crank it to the sweet spot, and not worry about too much volume.
This one piece of gear let’s you play any amp at any volume without sacrificing tone (at low volume you still of course lose the effect of moving lots of air you get at higher volume). It is expensive - $800-$900 (but you see used ones now and then, I got mine for under $600 used) - but I wish I had bought one of these eons ago. I can play the Therapy, with EL34’s, wind it to 10, and play it at “bedroom” volume. My Z28 original can be cranked as well. It can also take a small wattage amp and bring it to big stage volume. It’s hard to spend this much on a piece of ancillary gear, but this bit of kit opens up having any amp you want in any situation. It’s taken the entire “I love this amp but it’s too much for my situation” off the table.
I know this sounds like a “fan boy” post but after playing about 50 years, I wish I had bit the bullet on this years ago (so I could have kept my Bassman 4x10).
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Post by jmilla on Jan 26, 2023 15:20:10 GMT -7
Just an update….. I ended up ordering a used maz 8 with the updates. Super excited to get my hands on it and explore.
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Post by LT on Jan 26, 2023 15:28:50 GMT -7
Just an update….. I ended up ordering a used maz 8 with the updates. Super excited to get my hands on it and explore. Awesome! Let us know what you think once you've played it some.
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Post by jmilla on Feb 1, 2023 18:22:31 GMT -7
Just an update….. I ended up ordering a used maz 8 with the updates. Super excited to get my hands on it and explore. Awesome! Let us know what you think once you've played it some. So first impressions are that the feel and sound are great. Very much easier to get my basic sound out of than my Princeton or vintage ac4. Any settings recs for the 8 specifically for getting fender vs marshal sounds out of this or do the same idea apply as the 18?
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