|
Post by amdowell on Mar 1, 2023 19:42:07 GMT -7
Bad title really, but my question is fairly specific. I’ve got a Maz 18 NR MKI from 2015. Love it, but as I get to know it, I’ve found that I prefer the master and the volume to both be at 10:00. The master above 9:00 on my amp gives me a perceived “fullness,” however this is pretty loud. I’ve been using a Weber Mini Mass to bring it down a bit. My question for those of you who have upgraded your MKI to MKII and previously used, I or still use, an attenuator, what are your thoughts on the new master volume? Do you perceive a fullness at a lower volume? I dig my setup as is, but wouldn’t mind upgrading to do away with the attenuator.
|
|
|
Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 2, 2023 3:00:31 GMT -7
I’m a MKII convert and would say the attenuator will probably end up on Craigslist, in a drawer, or used on another amp. The upgrade is really that good and Don will personalize the voicing and gain range according to your playing style and needs. It really makes the amp shine at low or any volume.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 2, 2023 4:23:03 GMT -7
↑↑↑ This! The MKII Master Volume is really that good. My attenuators and Power Station have been gathering dust. The amp retains clarity and tone all the way down.
|
|
|
Post by amdowell on Mar 2, 2023 7:52:59 GMT -7
Don will personalize the voicing and gin range according to your playing style and needs. Can you clarify this statement? I don't want the amp to change much. Maybe a little more gain (which, my understanding is that the MKII adds anyway). But in what way is the amp personalized?
|
|
|
Post by John on Mar 2, 2023 8:10:39 GMT -7
Yeah, I also was wondering what 'personalize the voicing' means.
|
|
|
Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 2, 2023 14:18:09 GMT -7
When I had mine done, Don called and asked what type of music I mainly played and if I preferred a generally brighter tone or more mellow. I told him I’m mostly a rocker and want the most available gain and on the brighter side tone wise. With that, I got just hat I was looking for. Still the Maz 18 we all know and love, but with a dragon inside at higher gain settings. Although I sent only the chassis and tubes, I didn’t really study the board to see what was changed as I wanted fire it up and hear for myself ASAP. I think he changed a preamp tube to two, but it’s been awhile since I had it done. Don can adjust component values in several places in the circuit to suit your needs if you talk to him.
|
|
|
Post by amdowell on Mar 3, 2023 12:53:47 GMT -7
Maybe I'll hold off until I can find a MKII to play for myself first. I love the Peach Guitar demos on YouTube, which is what prompted my consideration of the mod, however my amp sounds good and the attenuator does its job for now.
|
|
|
Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Mar 3, 2023 13:35:09 GMT -7
I've had four Maz's. The only one that wasn't a mkii when I got it I sent in for the updates. Not only did I stop using any attenuation, I have never felt like I was sacrificing tone/dynamic/high end with the Master like I always felt at some point even with a Brake Lite. The only setting that I might feel this way about is with the Master at the very first notch or two from silent. But that isn't usable volume anyway. It's literally quieter than strumming the guitar not plugged in. All your doing there is testing a pedal or a cable to make sure it works. I no longer own attenuators.
|
|
|
Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 3, 2023 13:44:54 GMT -7
Yeah, the AirBrake that I was using with my MKI is sitting now. I won’t sell because it has the Trainwreck logo and looks so good on the amp shelf. If you want to burn through EL 84s, that’s definitely your call. But I’d save the wear and tear and upgrade. That’s just me, and my advice +$5.00 now might get you a cup of coffee.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 3, 2023 14:39:01 GMT -7
All my attenuators are gathering dust, except for one Brake-Lite that's in my hand built 5E3 '57 Deluxe amp. I would put a PPIMV like Doc uses in it too, but I want to leave it true to the 1957 specifications.
As long as you're happy with the way the amp is sounding and feeling now, it's a good call to leave it until you're sure. But Todd T's point about tube life is well taken, running a cranked amp into an attenuator is tough on tube life.
|
|
|
Post by amdowell on Mar 6, 2023 10:59:52 GMT -7
Yeah, the AirBrake that I was using with my MKI is sitting now. I won’t sell because it has the Trainwreck logo and looks so good on the amp shelf. If you want to burn through EL 84s, that’s definitely your call. But I’d save the wear and tear and upgrade. That’s just me, and my advice +$5.00 now might get you a cup of coffee. That's a fair point about the tubes I hadn't considered.
|
|
|
Post by douglong on Mar 18, 2023 4:57:42 GMT -7
Another convert here. I sent my 2011 MAZ 18 NR head in about a year ago. I sold the Tone King II attenuator shortly after gettoig the amp back. It was no longer needed. The upgrade was very much worth it. An added benefit was that Don went through the amp and gave it a good checkup as part of the upgrade process.
|
|
|
Post by CanadianBacon on Mar 27, 2023 15:45:31 GMT -7
Agreed, I just got my 2012 Maz 18 NR done and it was well worth it. Amp sounds better overall, more gain on tap if needed, and usable at lower volumes now. I was going to buy an Ironman II but the Mk 2 mod took care of things
|
|
|
Post by smolder on Mar 27, 2023 16:21:27 GMT -7
Do all mkii’s across DrZ amp lines have the same MV? I wouldn’t think so.
|
|
oowl
Full Member
Posts: 154
|
Post by oowl on Mar 27, 2023 17:29:12 GMT -7
I have 2 airbrakes. one is in a Harvard clone and the SA gets little use anymore. Doc's PPIMV are fantastic. I've compared them to attenuators with several of his amps (including Maz18 mkii) and I cannot tell the difference. Comparing in more extreme attenuator settings, the MV actually works better. I would definitely do the mkii upgrade if I were in your shoes.
|
|
|
Post by frankie on Mar 28, 2023 9:05:05 GMT -7
Do all mkii’s across DrZ amp lines have the same MV? I wouldn’t think so. The master operates the same way, however it's circuit specific into how it's tweaked to work for the amp. It's not as cut as dry as just putting the exact same MV circuit into every amp, every amp is slightly different as to how the master is tuned to achieve the same outcome.
|
|
|
Post by smolder on Mar 28, 2023 11:35:33 GMT -7
Do all mkii’s across DrZ amp lines have the same MV? I wouldn’t think so. The master operates the same way, however it's circuit specific into how it's tweaked to work for the amp. It's not as cut as dry as just putting the exact same MV circuit into every amp, every amp is slightly different as to how the master is tuned to achieve the same outcome. Yep. I’ve got a book here with dozens of master volume circuits, and I’ve used one of Ken’s successfully on bf and sf fenders. The PPIMV is typically a fit for many amps, but not all. I do have the LARMAR variation in a plexi that works great. My larger point is, “mkii’ is typically a design generation designation… not specific to the design update (in this case MV) which is how I’m seeing it used in this forum. Just seeking clarity.
|
|
|
Post by telejas on Apr 7, 2023 6:11:07 GMT -7
I prefer a good MV over an attenuator any day, but the Maz 18 MK.II MV is on another level! I didn't realize how good it was, until I use other MV amps. IMO, no attenuator is needed, but YMMV? **I wouldn't sell your attenuator, just put it in your gear box for future use
|
|