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Post by doctorice on Nov 24, 2023 14:28:18 GMT -7
Welcome to the Loud Room. Haven't fired it up yet. Got to let the tubes reach room temperature! Stay tuned.
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on Nov 24, 2023 14:36:19 GMT -7
I'm am green with envy. Congratulations and enjoy!!!
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Post by nmz on Nov 24, 2023 14:53:14 GMT -7
😮
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Post by helmi on Nov 24, 2023 14:54:40 GMT -7
Congrats Mike.
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Post by KeithA on Nov 24, 2023 15:52:16 GMT -7
Congrats Mike!
I can almost smell the new Tolex from here!
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Post by doctorice on Nov 24, 2023 17:57:03 GMT -7
It's even better than I remembered from August. I plugged straight in with the Nash T-52. The three-knob eq offers up a wide range of tones. Not unlike the Z-Wreck, there's a zone on the volume knob that is clean, high headroom, a zone with some push to it, then some dirt and at the higher level, plenty of overdrive. Not CAZ-45, but very rockin'. The Peach and Keltner demoes are really good, but my sense is that there's even more to this amp than came across in those videos. I know Z is going to "love" this, but I have one initial thought: the lines on knobs are a bit hard to see unless you're up close. I may replace them with chicken-head ones. Sorry, Doc, nothing wrong with the ones you chose, just me dealing with aging eyes.
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Post by DRZ on Nov 24, 2023 19:18:33 GMT -7
Glad you like the Z 80 Mike, and you feel it has sonically improved slightly in three months of production. I realize your point about the knobs but let me give you a little insight into the process of amp production. First you must find a tone that impresses you and look into the components that make up that sound. Find and source out those parts. Build up a proto-type chassis test and play it , have others plug in and listen to their opinions. Then go stage by stage and tweak and improve the working chassis . Once I'm happy with amps operation , build a second unit and compare . Now the packaging or cab design , panel design , and over all look. Then ship it out and have players use it on stage , does it hold up, does it have the "SOUND" and reliability. If I'm happy after all of that start production.
I did have many knobs sampled to try on the finished front panel. I must say the phrase Form over Function applies, I loved they way the Marshall style Silver topped knobs looked , with the Z 80 logo and the complete Silver and Black look of the Z 80 set. I have always stated dial in your Z amp with your ears not your eyes , don't think about how say my Fender controls are set , this ain't no Fender. As you turn CW you increase and CCW deceases what ever control your adjusting , play adjust , play some more and dial it in . I tried the grey chicken head knobs from the CAZ 45 on it and it just didn't fit the look IMHO. Please Mike give the amp some playing time judge how crucial seeing where the knobs are set to the overall sound quality of the amp if you can.
Z
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Post by scottyc13 on Nov 25, 2023 4:55:14 GMT -7
They all look sweet!
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Post by markT on Nov 25, 2023 5:21:27 GMT -7
Congrats Mike! Love the Z80 and your new loud room! Seems your new LOUD room has more room. I feel ya on the knobs.. I vote just leave them….it looks killa!
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Post by adam on Nov 25, 2023 6:08:11 GMT -7
I did have many knobs sampled to try on the finished front panel. I think it came out looking fantastic. Classy and clean. And that sure is a lot to go through to get an amp to production.
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Post by adam on Nov 25, 2023 6:18:57 GMT -7
The Peach and Keltner demoes are really good, but my sense is that there's even more to this amp than came across in those videos. I know Z is going to "love" this, but I have one initial thought: the lines on knobs are a bit hard to see unless you're up close. I may replace them with chicken-head ones. Sorry, Doc, nothing wrong with the ones you chose, just me dealing with aging eyes. I agree there's more in the amp than the demo's show, but the demos are great (fantastic) too. Those 3 guys they have had at Peach are just astounding players. John in particular always blows me away. Knobs - I guess you could also put a really small piece of painters tape (or the white version they sell as tape for mixers) to get a quick reference point. One point of me likes not knowing where the knobs are, but another part of me wants to know like on the master just to have quick reference point. But, I have some other amps that I can't see the controls at all unless I get my face right in front of them, and I kind of like that too. Anyway, hope the amp brings you lots of years of happy playing. And you certainly have options if get bored!
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Post by doctorice on Nov 25, 2023 7:27:03 GMT -7
Please Mike give the amp some playing time judge how crucial seeing where the knobs are set to the overall sound quality of the amp if you can. Z I will, as they do look great. I've never been concerned about where knobs end up. For example, yesterday I did some playing with bass way down, then put the bass up and backed the mids all the way down. Exploring the shades. I can't wait to get back to experimenting more today. My knob comment was a passing thought motivated by wanting to dial up different tones that I liked with minimal eyestrain. I'm in no rush to change the cosmetics of this beautiful package. Besides, I knew I'd get your attention, Z
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Post by doctorice on Nov 25, 2023 7:30:58 GMT -7
Congrats Mike! Love the Z80 and your new loud room! Seems your new LOUD room has more room. Thanks, Mark. There's a bunch of heads in there that are, for now, just stacked on the floor as the room comes together.
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Post by nicholas on Nov 25, 2023 16:01:44 GMT -7
Hey Mike, where did you find it. I haven't seen any for sale anywhere.
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Post by doctorice on Nov 25, 2023 16:10:32 GMT -7
Hey Mike, where did you find it. I haven't seen any for sale anywhere. Humbucker. According to Dr Z website the amp is only going to "premier" dealers. (I assume because Z himself is building this first run, so very limited production for now.) Humbucker got one head/cab set last week, which I had put a deposit on before it arrived. I think they also received a head.
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Post by nicholas on Nov 25, 2023 16:25:59 GMT -7
Hey Mike, where did you find it. I haven't seen any for sale anywhere. Humbucker. According to Dr Z website the amp is only going to "premier" dealers. (I assume because Z himself is building this first run, so very limited production for now.) Humbucker got one head/cab set last week, which I had put a deposit on before it arrived. I think they also received a head. Thanks. I checked there and didn't see the category for it. Guess I'll give em a shout.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Nov 25, 2023 17:30:00 GMT -7
Is that "Z" logo also mirrored or chrome finished? I bet it does look pretty high-end if it matches those knobs and the "Z-80" logo too. A nice look for a flagship amp.
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Post by bubs42 on Nov 26, 2023 7:45:22 GMT -7
The Z80 is so impressive, the tone, the feel, is brilliant. I am also green with envy, I just can’t pull off buying one, which is so hard after playing one.
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Post by doctorice on Nov 26, 2023 14:33:34 GMT -7
Is that "Z" logo also mirrored or chrome finished? I bet it does look pretty high-end if it matches those knobs and the "Z-80" logo too. A nice look for a flagship amp. I'll try to get a close-up shot and post it here, Mark. Added:
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Post by KeithA on Nov 26, 2023 14:53:13 GMT -7
Is that "Z" logo also mirrored or chrome finished? I bet it does look pretty high-end if it matches those knobs and the "Z-80" logo too. A nice look for a flagship amp. I'll try to get a close-up shot and post it here, Mark. Added: The faceplate is great. I have Master Build Serial #001. Doc sent me pictures of my build as it progressed. Towards the end it still had the ‘hand-drawn’ Z-80 faceplate. However, Doc thought the amp deserved a more polished faceplate and had the current version made. It’s evolved a few knobs since mine but the overall faceplate is still the same.
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Post by texaspicker11 on Nov 28, 2023 14:59:33 GMT -7
Is there any cool swag that comes with it like the Quantum Silver Wrecks slip covers? Mine should be here soon!
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Post by doctorice on Nov 30, 2023 16:35:19 GMT -7
Is there any cool swag that comes with it like the Quantum Silver Wrecks slip covers? Mine should be here soon! Mine didn't have anything other than the usual paperwork and a hang tag. Congrats on the inbound!
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