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Post by cowboylion on Aug 16, 2023 19:24:32 GMT -7
Hey! I'm a new guy here on Z-Talk. Never owned a Z, but I've played many.
I'm looking for a new amp. Primarily for a modern, pop-country project. Here are the boxes it needs to check:
- Needs to play nicely with a wide range of guitars, mostly humbuckers. - I'd like it to excel on the edge of breakup, a little on the dirty side. - I'd like the breakup to be smooth, but clear and bold. (gosh darn tone buzz-words...) - Needs to take pedals well. Boosts, fuzz, compressors, delays, reverbs, all that. - We do travel, so I'd like it to be portable and not too heavy. - Needs to maintain clarity, bass response, and presence on stage without being overly harsh or flubby.
For reference, I'm currently using a Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic 100W 2x12 combo. I always use the low gain mode and just boost it with pedals. It's an absolute boat anchor, and such a burden to carry around to gigs. I do like that it has so much presence and depth on stage due to it's headroom and size; it's just too cumbersome to load around the more we travel. I'm usually partial to this style of amp, sonically, but this band just needs something different. The Mesa is a little too hot-rodded Marshally for what the band calls for.
On my radar are: Z-Wreck, Z-Wreck Jr., Maz 38, NOVA... Z-Wreck has my attention the most. But, I'm open to suggestions! I'm also open to head and cab or combo, 1x12 or 2x12. I'm sure even a head and 2x12 cab from Z is more portable than this darn Mesa.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help steer me towards my first Z!
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Post by bryan0418 on Aug 17, 2023 13:48:22 GMT -7
Sounds like a MAZ 18 or 38 would fit the bill nicely. The newer ones have the lighter weight cabinets.
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Post by John on Aug 17, 2023 16:01:12 GMT -7
How loud do you need it to be? If you're searching for those 'edge of breakup' tones, that can be volume dependent. You may squish down a 100watt Mesa..but a 15 watt amp may not be enough.
The Z-weck doesn't have a master volume, so if you're looking for edge of breakup...it can be a rather loud amp.
There's the Ghia, Wreck Jr, Maz Jr and Cure...all in that 15-18 watt range.
I've had two Maz Jrs and a Ghia. I was partial to the Ghia and it was a 1x10 combo. GREAT gigging amp. Small, light (relatively) and fantastic tone. (Ghia is a bit more in the Marshall camp than others being mentioned) Do not be put off of a 1x10. There was only ONE gig I ever did that the little 18 watt 1x10 combo couldn't handle. (Heavy drummer and thunderously loud monitor/PA...stage volume was deafeningly loud...didn't need to be)
If you are partial to a vintage Marshall tone, I would suggest a Ghia. If you are partial to a Vox tone, I would go Wreck Jr. Maz Jr is probably somewhere in between. Cure has the front end and tone stack of the Maz...but with big bottles for power tubes.
But as I said, if you need something more than a 15-18 watt amp, perhaps move up to a Maz Sr or a Wreck.
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Post by sharkboy on Aug 17, 2023 18:42:55 GMT -7
A Z-Wreck hits the requisite points here. As stated above, it’s loud while it’s still clean, so the comment of “too much amp” is sometimes true. I use an attenuator sometimes.
Really, I would also consider a Z-28 mkii. I have a Route66 which works with the same caveat as the Wreck, but the Z-28 mkii is not quite as loud _and_ it has a master volume.
In the Z stable, you should be able to find your favorite sounds somewhere.
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Zed
Full Member
Posts: 183
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Post by Zed on Aug 17, 2023 19:52:50 GMT -7
Maz 18 or 38 is the gateway drug. It is so versatile. I have a 18 jr, a z-28-2 and a ghia. I would like to try a wreck and a z master one day. You won’t go wrong with any of them really. No matter where you start, you will always wonder what the others are like. Z-28-2 is special. I think you’d really like it too. Sounds like you are leaning toward a wreck. I’d say jump in and enjoy!!!
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Aug 18, 2023 5:31:09 GMT -7
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Post by cowboylion on Aug 18, 2023 6:21:24 GMT -7
Sounds like a MAZ 18 or 38 would fit the bill nicely. The newer ones have the lighter weight cabinets. I actually happen to have access to a Mk1 Maz 18 NR for a great price. I like it, but I don't love it. How much different does it sound compared to the MKII's?
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Post by cowboylion on Aug 18, 2023 6:23:33 GMT -7
Thanks for all the feedback so far, guys! Super helpful. The multiple recommendations on the Z-28 MKII are intriguing...
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Post by John on Aug 18, 2023 8:35:15 GMT -7
Sounds like a MAZ 18 or 38 would fit the bill nicely. The newer ones have the lighter weight cabinets. I actually happen to have access to a Mk1 Maz 18 NR for a great price. I like it, but I don't love it. How much different does it sound compared to the MKII's?
I've had many different Z amps...and I will say this: They do their best work playing a live gig. You can have lots of amps that may sound great in the basement/garage playing alone....but playing on a stage with drums, bass and other instruments...some amps don't have the tone and dynamics. That's where Z amps excel.
I say this as you said you've tried a Maz Jr. Did you play it alone? Or was it in a live band situation?
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Post by cowboylion on Aug 18, 2023 10:51:25 GMT -7
I actually happen to have access to a Mk1 Maz 18 NR for a great price. I like it, but I don't love it. How much different does it sound compared to the MKII's?
I've had many different Z amps...and I will say this: They do their best work playing a live gig. You can have lots of amps that may sound great in the basement/garage playing alone....but playing on a stage with drums, bass and other instruments...some amps don't have the tone and dynamics. That's where Z amps excel.
I say this as you said you've tried a Maz Jr. Did you play it alone? Or was it in a live band situation?
I haven’t gotten to play a Z live, unfortunately. However, I do play out a whole lot, and have been lucky enough to play many high-end amps in a serious gigging scenario. I’ve even worked at a Dr. Z dealer. So, my ear knows what it wants to hear. The Maz just wasn’t it, I could tell. It sounded great; just didn’t do what I’m looking for. Didn’t sound quite big enough. Maybe the 38 would be preferred? For what it’s worth, the Maz 18 was a head running through a Z 2x12, loaded with a Vintage 30 and G12H 75th Ann. Two speakers I usually like.
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Post by John on Aug 18, 2023 13:05:34 GMT -7
It sounded great; just didn’t do what I’m looking for. Didn’t sound quite big enough. Maybe the 38 would be preferred?
What you said here makes me turn you to the Maz Sr. Perhaps a little more dynamic punch from 4 tubes instead of two. I've heard it said the Maz Sr is the sleeper hit of the Z amp line. I don't know if I've ever even SEEN one.
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Post by frankie on Aug 21, 2023 11:55:41 GMT -7
Sounds like a MAZ 18 or 38 would fit the bill nicely. The newer ones have the lighter weight cabinets. I actually happen to have access to a Mk1 Maz 18 NR for a great price. I like it, but I don't love it. How much different does it sound compared to the MKII's? Don't judge a MK II based on experiences with an MK I. The later is a more consistent and versatile amp, and is many shades more user friendly. There are many great sounding MK I's out there, and there are some that can be more particular/peculiar, depending on the era/age. The good news is that the MK II update is pretty much universally praised, and the advantage of getting an old MK I updated it is that Don can tweak and tailor closer to your needs, as he will ask you exactly what you are going for, what guitars and pedals you use, and will take that into account during the update. Many people will tell you that their amps went from "like it" to "love it" after he had his hands on it: drzamps.com/support/mods-and-services/#testimonials
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Post by hosscartwheel14 on Sept 6, 2023 13:48:27 GMT -7
I have a Jetta…. I think the Jetta works well with the country band I play with ( clean to edgy tones ) and also in the rock and blues bands I play with.. It’s a pretty versatile amplifier..
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Post by MattHays on Sept 10, 2023 11:08:45 GMT -7
I actually happen to have access to a Mk1 Maz 18 NR for a great price. I like it, but I don't love it. How much different does it sound compared to the MKII's? Don't judge a MK II based on experiences with an MK I. The later is a more consistent and versatile amp, and is many shades more user friendly. There are many great sounding MK I's out there, and there are some that can be more particular/peculiar, depending on the era/age. The good news is that the MK II update is pretty much universally praised, and the advantage of getting an old MK I updated it is that Don can tweak and tailor closer to your needs, as he will ask you exactly what you are going for, what guitars and pedals you use, and will take that into account during the update. Many people will tell you that their amps went from "like it" to "love it" after he had his hands on it: drzamps.com/support/mods-and-services/#testimonialsThis was definitely my experience with my NR!
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