cftn
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by cftn on Feb 5, 2023 16:07:06 GMT -7
I became interested in Dr. Z amps just this week and started eyeing the EMS. Looks like they just discontinued it this month. I wonder if it will be replaced by something in the Marshall realm. drzamps.com/product/ems/
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Post by Rockerfeller on Feb 5, 2023 16:55:55 GMT -7
Wow. Sweetwater just had a demo unit for sale. Looks like that was the last one they had.
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Post by Ridgeback on Feb 5, 2023 17:04:57 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum. Someone recently posted a EMS in the BS&T. All three of my Z's are discontinued models so the EMS is in good company. A small shop can't continue to introduce new models without retiring something.
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Post by nick0 on Feb 5, 2023 18:12:44 GMT -7
The EMS is amazing. Love mine! Glad I got one when I did...
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cftn
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by cftn on Feb 5, 2023 21:57:01 GMT -7
Thanks for flagging about one potentially being for sale here. New members don't have access to the marketplace thread for 30 days. So fingers crossed that it is still available in a month.
Do retailers typically discount discontinued Zs?
I am quite curious what takes its place. I am hoping for something still in the Marshall style. The EMS and Remedy both sounded great.
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Post by nick0 on Feb 6, 2023 4:07:23 GMT -7
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Post by Rockerfeller on Feb 6, 2023 8:33:58 GMT -7
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Post by nick0 on Feb 6, 2023 10:24:11 GMT -7
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Post by nicholas on Feb 6, 2023 10:25:33 GMT -7
Lol. I was gonna mention an EMS I saw at Humbucker a few days ago with the MV mod. I saw it when scouraging for a new Z28 head (which are onobtanium right now.) That ones gone too. I think it's cool the amps get discontinued and new ones born. Some of the smaller amp companies just continue to make the same few models forever. It's cool Z is always putting out new stuff with all the things he learns along the way.
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oowl
Full Member
Posts: 154
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Post by oowl on Feb 6, 2023 12:05:10 GMT -7
FWIW and for options if you're looking, I'm very happy with my MV Remedy I just bought used, but I don't need the higher gain Marshall tones. Small head @ 19" wide and 33# iirc. Discontinued also but they come up used for good prices, especially if you don't need the MV.
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cftn
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by cftn on Feb 6, 2023 12:11:38 GMT -7
Thanks all. What had me interested in the EMS was that it covered the low to high gain Marshall spectrum. Though, admittedly, the CAZ-45 seems quite interesting to me for high gain. I have read good things about the Remedy hitting the sweet spot for the plexi tones.
I agree that it's awesome that Dr. Z is continuously iterating and bringing past lessons to new designs. Is there a certain time of year when new models get announced?
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Feb 6, 2023 16:35:23 GMT -7
Yeah, I’m wondering if the CAZ has anything to do with the EMS’s retirement.
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Post by doctorice on Feb 6, 2023 17:26:25 GMT -7
In addition to being a great amp designer, Z knows how to run a business. I think he's always "optimizing": unit sales, new design ideas, skill levels of his team and capacity, etc. I had a really nice chat about this with him years ago.
About half the Zs I own are not in the current lineup, but they sound great and I know I can get them serviced if needed.
As I think about it, the Marshall-type amp space is a pretty crowded one. When you have amps like the Z Wreck, CAZ-45 and Z-28 Mk II, why fight for market share in a segment where folks have many good choices, including buying a Marshall?
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Feb 6, 2023 17:38:29 GMT -7
I'm loving my EMS with the Master Volume. It works great and it's too bad it didn't sell better. A lot of people are gonna miss out on a fabulous amp. Great amp.
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Post by adam on Feb 6, 2023 17:49:18 GMT -7
Thanks all. What had me interested in the EMS was that it covered the low to high gain Marshall spectrum. Though, admittedly, the CAZ-45 seems quite interesting to me for high gain. I have read good things about the Remedy hitting the sweet spot for the plexi tones. I agree that it's awesome that Dr. Z is continuously iterating and bringing past lessons to new designs. Is there a certain time of year when new models get announced? I don't know if there's really a timeline on releases. I do know that's there's a significant development timeline to each one and I think that can vary based on a million different things. Or maybe that one gets scrapped or put on hiatus if they feel it's not right. Then there's some sort of timeline to figuring out sourcing parts, how many do they think they might sell, can they get enough parts, when can they get them, how does UL approval fit in, etc. I just think there's a lot of variables to the whole thing of releasing an amp design for production. Regarding the amps you mentioned, I have all of them. All are great, some just don't sell and those are the ones that hit the chopping block. Not because they aren't great amps, they just didn't catch on for whatever reason. EMS, Remedy, CAZ, they are all fantastic at what they do. The z28 was discontinued and brought back and has probably been selling like hotcakes. I guess my point is just because something was discontinued for current production doesn't mean it's not a fantastic amp. I love the Remedy, for instance, and I think that's been discontinued for a long time. If it breaks, I'll send it in and they'll make it as good as new.
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Post by nmz on Feb 7, 2023 6:03:41 GMT -7
The only EL34 amp in the line up is gone, RIP! lol
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Post by JumpMarine on Feb 7, 2023 9:00:47 GMT -7
That's too bad, people are going to miss out on a stellar amp.
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cftn
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by cftn on Feb 7, 2023 13:29:56 GMT -7
Thanks for the responses, everyone. Ya. This seems like a distinct amp with no clear substitute in the line. I reached out about it and it sounds like they discontinued it due to sourcing issues. So it was good to get some closure on it.
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Post by nmz on Feb 7, 2023 15:10:17 GMT -7
Thanks for the responses, everyone. Ya. This seems like a distinct amp with no clear substitute in the line. I reached out about it and it sounds like they discontinued it due to sourcing issues. So it was good to get some closure on it. That makes more sense. Hard to get some stuff these days.
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Post by adam on Feb 7, 2023 16:34:28 GMT -7
Who knows with this stuff, but the fact that maybe not a ton were produced will add to the rarity and value of it 20 years from now. You never know. Supply/demand.
The guy I bought my 65 strat from told me you used to be able to walk up and down the street all day and buy used pre cbs Strats for 350 all day. Who knew?
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Post by adam on Feb 7, 2023 16:43:05 GMT -7
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 7, 2023 17:39:12 GMT -7
I became interested in Dr. Z amps just this week and started eyeing the EMS. Looks like they just discontinued it this month. I wonder if it will be replaced by something in the Marshall realm. drzamps.com/product/ems/Another of Doc's "Marshall"esque amps is the Antidote. It's got the 60s, 70s and 80 Marshalls covered. If you haven't played one yet you owe it to yourself if you're looking for a Z amp. BTW - where is home for you? There may be a Z-bro near you where you can try it out.
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cftn
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by cftn on Feb 7, 2023 18:41:58 GMT -7
Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds pretty good. Can it get close to 800 distortion territory too? I am in the Bay area.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 8, 2023 12:49:47 GMT -7
Here's one of Adam's videos using Maz 18. Definitely gets into that Marshall zone.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Feb 8, 2023 13:14:23 GMT -7
Adam does such a great job. I always get joy watching him and his gang play. They're lovin' it and it shows.
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Post by adam on Feb 8, 2023 17:17:21 GMT -7
You guys are too kind. The 18 cranked up in a 4x12 to me, feels very much Marshall to me, but's it's also different somehow. At lower volumes it feels like a great old vintage fender or something. Someday I'll make a video which hopefully conveys my convictions in the room a little more.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Feb 8, 2023 17:47:51 GMT -7
Man, that does sound really Marshally. Great song to demo that. Great job! Now, about that garden. 🤪
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Post by DocMartin on Feb 16, 2023 8:37:57 GMT -7
Wow, so sad to see the EMS go. I am so thankful I have one with the matching cab. There isn't a better amp for Marshall tones, in my opinion. It even has the original drake transformers used in the vintage Marshalls. This is going to be a legendary amp. Just give it some time.
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Post by Spidouz on Mar 22, 2023 12:13:55 GMT -7
Hi everyone, I’m new here, I actually just created my account today to post here. I’ve been lurking on Dr Z EMS for quite a long time now, and I was planning to buy it by next year or so, and I just saw it was discontinued. So luckily, after some search I could finally buy one of the last in Europe. I bought mine from a Swiss dealer and it should take some time to arrive since I’m handling that by my aunt that lives in Switzerland. Maybe I should have check better, I just saw today a German store that still has one, and it’s even 500 Euros cheaper… meh, so be it, I’m just glad I could still got it before it’s long gone. But just in case some European people would love to get the EMS, I wanted to let you know I just daw one in stock at pro guitar in Germany. I’m not much into EL84, and for clean tones I already love my Two-Rock, so the EMS was really one of the few Dr Z I really wanted (don’t get me wrong, I know others are awesome, I just need priority in my life because my wallet isn’t as unlimited as I would love to, so I have to make choices in gear). And I really wanted one amp to cover most of the Marshall tones from JTM to Plexi and JCM800. That’s why I wanted the EMS so badly, there ain’t much amps out there that would fit my criteria. So, I’m glad to finally join the Dr Z family and to support small businesses
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Post by Ridgeback on Mar 22, 2023 13:34:42 GMT -7
Great story. Welcome to the forum.
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