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Post by jacabal on Jun 1, 2006 8:08:52 GMT -7
I've read all of the Posts (well almost all), and tried every different combination of settings that I could think of and every combination of settings that I've read in this forum along with the suggested tube swaps and as far as a Strat is concerned, this aint the amp for it. I've got an American Strat, and a Lone Start Strat, and this amp puts out way too much of a ?squawk? sound with a strat. I've got other amps that make the Strats sound like a dream (at least to my ears). I was thinking to myself "Man, do my chops suck that bad"), I thought I was a pretty damn good, till I got this thing and it was a struggle just to get some decent tone out of it. I was getting ready to dump the amp ASAP for whatever I could get for it, but was waiting on a Gibson LP Studio that I had a local Luthier repairing before I made my decision. It took him 5 weeks to complete the refinish, repairs, and mods for it. I was in a state of depression, because I wanted to get rid of the amp, but I've heard so many great things about it that I thought "Maybe it's just me", so I was holding on to it giving it dirty looks as I walked by it. I finally got my LP back and am I glad I waited!! Whew this thing is smokin with the LP!! What a monster. This is the tone I am talkin about! I wont ever get rid of this amp as long as I own the LP. I've got the volume @3:00, and the master @ 9 to 12 depending on the venue, and It's plent loud for a small club gig and I've miked it for an outside gig, and guess what.... if I want to clean it up, I can roll off the guitar volume and get a decent clean sound with the proper pick or finger attack. What a great little amp!! Thanks Dr Z.
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Post by amakitalo on Jun 1, 2006 8:34:45 GMT -7
My Strat sounds good with a Maz Jr., but I like it better with the Z28. I am with you regarding the humbucker tone out of the Maz Jr. Mine has a killer tone with a PRS McCarty and a Yamaha semihollow. For me a definite humbucker amp.
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Post by ke4unr on Jun 1, 2006 12:02:32 GMT -7
jacabal,
Wow! Almost the exact opposite for me.
I had my Strats dialed in fairly quick, though not perfect.
But, it took longer to find what I liked with my Les Pauls. And, yes I was kind of sweating it like you, wondering if I had made a mistake.
Tube changes (listed in my sig.) and playing around with different than "normal" settings did the trick, and now it is great with both single coils and humbuckers!
Just curious...where are you running your Cut for the Les Paul?
Thanks, Ray K.
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Post by jacabal on Jun 1, 2006 15:36:36 GMT -7
Cut set at 1:30, no effects, plugged straight into the amp. I'm, a chocolate or vanilla kinda guy. ;D
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Post by JChance on Jun 1, 2006 23:06:06 GMT -7
My MAZ amps are perfect for either guitar. I don't even change settings. The most versatile amps I've ever used for sure...
J
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Post by guitargeorge on Jun 2, 2006 4:57:05 GMT -7
I have always used Humbucker guitars up to recently, I bought a Tokai TST-62 that had a killer feel to it, about as close to a real 62 strat as I'll ever get but the pickups on it produced a scratchy, awful tone through my Dr Z. I had a Sebring strat that I used for slide and the pups in that guitar were pretty happenin so I installed them in the Tokai and have been in Strat tone heaven with my Dr Z ever since. I think you may need to look at the pickups on your strat, it will make a big difference, I had 4 different strats and hated them and this tokai with the Sebring pups is becoming my main axe, giving my PRS a break.
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Post by ke4unr on Jun 2, 2006 8:17:52 GMT -7
Cut set at 1:30, no effects, plugged straight into the amp. I'm, a chocolate or vanilla kinda guy. ;D Yeah, I did the same for quite some time when I first got mine. Just loved the tones, etc. I run mine clean with just a bit of hair when the guitar volume is rolled up. I've started adding the few necessary and carefully selected effects pedals but not really coloring the amp. It still sounds like a Dr. Z! Ray K.
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Post by ke4unr on Jun 2, 2006 8:22:10 GMT -7
My MAZ amps are perfect for either guitar. I don't even change settings. The most versatile amps I've ever used for sure... J J, That's what I'd love to find without compromising. I'm not asking too much...I just want it all! Agree though, these are incredibly versatile amps. Ray K.
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Post by ke4unr on Jun 2, 2006 8:41:28 GMT -7
I have always used Humbucker guitars up to recently, I bought a Tokai TST-62 that had a killer feel to it, about as close to a real 62 strat as I'll ever get but the pickups on it produced a scratchy, awful tone through my Dr Z. I had a Sebring strat that I used for slide and the pups in that guitar were pretty happenin so I installed them in the Tokai and have been in Strat tone heaven with my Dr Z ever since. I think you may need to look at the pickups on your strat, it will make a big difference, I had 4 different strats and hated them and this tokai with the Sebring pups is becoming my main axe, giving my PRS a break. Long time humbucker player here too! I got drug into "Strat Land." Oh, it was sneaky and subtle, but here I am. One foot in both camps. Not entirely ready to give up my Les Pauls, but starting to "get it" regarding Strats. I love being able to get such a beautiful clean sound that is so harmonically rich, almost "acoustic" sounding. I can then roll up my guitar volume and start to get that nice break up. Then kick in a pedal and get tastefully done overdrive which gets me very close to Les Paul/singing lead tones. I'm all over the map, it seems. All good! And all from one pristine single channel! I absolutely love not having to channel switch! Gee, I got a wee bit excited there. Ray K.
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Post by JChance on Jun 2, 2006 13:25:34 GMT -7
Well, I guess it all depends on *what type* of Strat sound you are trying to get, in terms on figuring out if it's the "perfect" Strat amp. If you dig semi-clean with a touch of grit, and use stomps for more dirt, then I think the MAZ amps are hard to beat. Here's the "Santanaesque" backing track from TGP. That's Strat & MAZ with 2 10's. www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3467765&q=hiI also think that other tones are there, from cleaner stuff to even classic rock. Finding the right speaker, guitar, etc is, of course, a big part of the equation. As I said, I think "perfect Strat amp" is a great description, but for me, it's also the "perfect tele amp," "Perfect 'bucker amp," etc. JC
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cosmo
Full Member
Posts: 156
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Post by cosmo on Jun 4, 2006 9:50:34 GMT -7
Add one more here for the "perfect all-around amp." I've been loving the sound of my MAZ with Strats since I got it early this year (been a Strat guy for a long time). Then I picked up a G&L ASAT Bluesboy with the T-style bridge pickup and a Seth Lover in the neck, and lo and behold, the MAZ just kills with the humbucker!
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Jun 14, 2006 9:47:26 GMT -7
My strat and my LP both do great things with the JR but it is my tele that really gets that "bloom" and cuts through without being harsh.
I do think that the Weber beam blockers are essential for the 2x10.
One thing to remember when playing with the settings is to not let the settings you've used on any other amp influence what you try. This tone stack is different and you can achieve some really amazing results by taking what you might consider to be a radical approach.
For instance, with the strat, give this a shot: Set the V between noon and 2:00, T at 9:00, M either fully counter c/w or at no more than about 8, B at no more than about 9:00, Cut at from 10:00 to 2:00 and R at about 9:00. Master to taste. Then start fiddling with just the T and Cut, more T less Cut, more Cut less T.
Where other amps expereince loss of volume when the tone controls are set toward maxing attenuation the tone stack on the Z makes the full range of the controls useful.
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