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Post by cpa2guitar on May 15, 2012 21:23:57 GMT -7
...But once in a while I get tired of seeing everyone making requests for new amps. My advice is to work with what you have. I've had to contact the Z-shop to make small adjustments to my amps here and there. They bend over backwards for us regularly to make sure we're happy. So...all of this to say....try the usual stuff. Buy an Air Brake. Trade in the 2x12 for a 1x12. Try less efficient speakers. Or...turn down. It works. I don't know. I have purchased three Dr. Z amps, all new, and as a loyal customer I have no qualms about saying, "Hey, I could use an amp that does this or that, and if you make one, I'll buy it." Not sure why someone, in this case me, making such a request would trouble you.
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 14, 2012 20:32:58 GMT -7
Mini Z, built in attenuator Maz 8 with Brake Lite Maz 18 with Brake Lite Remedy 1/2 power , add attenuator. I used a Weber Mass sounded fantastic Rx Jr, is 15 watts, with a Fantastic Master Volume. Highly unappreciated amp Thanks for the suggestions, but I am already playing a Remedy at half-power with a Brake Lite. I am smitten by the tone, but it's still just a bit too loud. Guess I am a big fan of Dr. Z now, and would like to hear that great Dr. Z tone everytime I pick up my guitar to play.
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 14, 2012 20:29:27 GMT -7
He may, or he may not. I don't try to push the issue, simply because I understand how difficult it might be to make a 7 watt Remedy. It would not be trivial. I don't doubt you Steve, but a 15/7.5 watt Remedy would certainly be awesome. Regarding the economics of it, I have no market data on which to rely, but I have to believe there is a market segment that would shell out for a Remedy at that wattage. If I seem to be pushing it - don't know... hadn't thought about it... maybe I am - it's just that I like the sound of the Remedy so much that I want to be able to play with that tone all the time, not just when my family is not in the den. Any by the way, you are partly at fault for my owning a Remedy, Steve, as you gave me great advice some 18 months ago about my tone problem. So... got any great advice about my volume problem? ;D
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 14, 2012 17:23:01 GMT -7
I was hoping that one of the moderators or someone in the know might give us a hint as to the direction Dr. Z is taking regarding the need for that fantastic tone at lower volume. I stand by my earlier statement: Even though I have just ordered an amp head, if Dr. Z came out with a 15 watt Remedy with a half power switch to bring it down to 7 or 8 watts, I would immediately order one; notwithstanding that I would likely face the wrath of my beautiful but sometimes animated wife (that's what I get for marrying an Italian). So, is it possible to give us some idea of what might be in the pipeline regarding new, lower powered amps without releasing any proprietary information?
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 12, 2012 17:44:17 GMT -7
Well good luck and I hope the Maz 18NR works out for you. How about posting a report after you receive the amp and have some time to put her through the paces at rehearsals or gigs?
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 12, 2012 11:32:44 GMT -7
There have been some rumors that perhaps our tone meister, Dr Z, will be coming out with some lower power models. Having owned three Dr. Z amps - the Maz 18, the Remedy, and the Z-Wreck - I wanted to add my 2 cents and strongly encourage Dr. Z to come out with some lower wattage versions. Yes, I know about the Maz 8, but I sold my Maz 18 because it just did not have what I was wanting. For this reason, I really have not gotten interested in the Maz 8. I will never sell the Remedy or Z-Wreck, as these amps do have exactly what I was seeking, but I play more around the house than I do out, so I need something that will deliver that great tone at lower volumes. The Remedy with a Brake Lite almost gets me there, but not quite. So, a couple of weeks ago I ordered an amp from another company (sorry... ) that is supposed to deliver its tone at low volume like no other amp on the market today. BUT... regardless of that purchase, I would call Fat Sound Guitars right now and order a 15 watt Remedy with a half power switch if Dr. Z made one. So... as a Dr. Z repeat customer, I respectfully request that Dr. Z consider producing such an amp.
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 12, 2012 11:07:00 GMT -7
But don't shortchange the head/cab idea. Yeah the combined weight equals your Stang Ray, but you can make two trips and both will be significantly lighter. ++1. I have no problem lifting a combo amp into the trunk of a car, but at 55 I just don't have any desire to do that sort of thing any more. Steve is exactly right about going with a head and cab and making two trips. Plus, you have the versatility of taking a cab that matches the job. I have several cabs at the house, including a Z-Best, a Bogner Ubercab, and a Dr Z 1X12 with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a removable back so it can be used as an open back or closed back. I love the sound of the Ubercab, but if I am just going to a friends house to play, I'm taking the 1X12. By the way, setting a combo in the trunk of a car requires bending at the waist and putting the lower back into a position it just does not want to be in, no matter how strong you are, and I can attest that back pain is no fun.
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Post by cpa2guitar on May 9, 2012 19:34:04 GMT -7
Do you think it would be worth it even if I know that I'll never use the 40W setting? I know the amp would be fine but I think it would make me feel like I'm never getting what the amp was intended for always having to leave it set at 20W. I really have my eyes on the Z28 because it's low wattage and sounds amazing but I've never gotten to try the Remedy and have always wondered. Hey Texan2step, Your concern is warranted, IMHO. I own a Remedy and a Z-Wreck, and I find myself playing most of the time through the Remedy because of the volume issue. The Z-Wreck sounds awesome with a Brake Lite, but even with the BL set on 4, the Z-Wreck is just TOO LOUD for playing around the house. I've even played some small clubs where it might have been too loud if I had owned it back then, though for most places I used to play it would have been fine. The Remedy is quieter, but even with the BL the Remedy is still too loud for playing around the house when it is set for good Led Zepplin tone. I should emphasize that it is just a bit too loud. Of course "a bit too loud" is still unacceptably loud when the family has gone to bed. For this reason, I have been on an amp search, looking for something that will give me great tone at "playing around the house" levels. Please don't misunderstand me - the tones of the Z-Wreck and Remedy are just darn near perfect for my taste. If I could just get that glorious tone at lower volume, my quest for the holy grail of amps would be over. By the way, I should mention that I used to own a Maz 18, but traded it off because I just could not get it too break up with the two guitars I owned at that time; however, when I had the Maz I did not know about attenuators or the Brake Lite. How much that might have helped I cannot say.
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 25, 2012 21:48:44 GMT -7
I was able to order my Remedy with an effects loop.
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 18, 2012 14:12:29 GMT -7
Thanks gents. Of course her good looks would not matter at all if she did not have great tone, but she has a beautiful voice and is a cannon. I have played a number of guitars at the Newport Guitar Festival (before they moved it to Miami) and the Healdsburg Festival, and Tim's guitars with double tops and double back and sides are the best I have ever played, except for the guitars built by Ed Claxton. I have two of Ed's guitars, an EM and a Torres, and the one Mini Mac from Tim, as they are very different beasts. The guitar from Tim is an all-arounder, whereas the guitars from Ed produce a more delicate sound for fingerstyle, with tons of overtones. The use of double backs provide several opportunities: 1) they allow you to hold the guitar up against your body without muting or changing the tone; 2) they greatly reduce the stress on both the backs used, thereby reducing the possibility that one of the backs will crack (it's a real setback when a great set of Braz for which you paid a huge upcharge cracks due to changes in humidity or other environmental stessers); and it allows you to pick the inside back for tone (the outside back does not affect the tone) and the outside back for appearance. For instance, if you like the sound of mahogany but the look of koa, you can have mahogany as the inside back and koa as the outside back. I've heard guitarists refer to our time as the "golden age of lutherie", and I think they are right. Nothing against pre-war Martins - I wish I had one - but these can cost the price of a luxury automobile. For those of us who don't have limitless resources, you can find a luthier today who can build a guitar way beyond what we ever dreamed of having back in the 1970s. I look forward to my life settling down so I can have more time to practice and play. wow. that is so beautiful. what is the back and sides? cocobolo? Both the inside back and sides and the outside back and sides are Brazilian rosewood. The outside back is "sinker" Braz, as it was from a log that sank years ago when they were floating rosewood logs down the river to sawmills. With the price of Braz through the roof, due in part to the C.I.T.E.S. treaty, efforts are being made to recover old logs from river bottoms, and also rosewood beams from old houses.
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 17, 2012 17:00:40 GMT -7
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 16, 2012 18:51:01 GMT -7
...So, any recommendations for a boost to facilitate the sustain? Thanks, These are way cool! Well I spoke with Mike Gallow at Fat Sound Guitars today about my sustain problem and whether he thought a boost would help. He agreed with Maddog and Eddie about the Xotic EP Booster, saying that box is hard to beat. But ultimately that is not what he recommended after probing me with questions to ascertain my situation and exactly what I was trying to accomplish. Mike recommended a Fulltone Fat-Boost 3, which I bought from him today. Should be here April 19, so I'll post a report of whether it did or did not solve the problem. Thanks to all for the advice and helping me with my problem,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 14, 2012 22:21:05 GMT -7
So, any recommendations for a boost to facilitate the sustain? Thanks, These are way cool! I think you may have put me onto something good here. After watching the video in your post I went to Fat Sound Guitars web site to see what one of these would cost and what Stu and company think of them. Guess Monday morning I'll call Mike Gallo, who sold the Remedy and the Shiva to me, and see what kind of lead time we're looking at. Thanks for the advice,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 14, 2012 13:00:40 GMT -7
Or use one of these and forget the pedals and string height.... Only 20 watts and sustain until next Tuesday.... I've wondered about the Monza. Would you please compare and contrast the sustain and sound of the Monza with the sustain and sound of the Remedy? Thanks,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 14, 2012 12:57:59 GMT -7
Wow, that's a tough one unless you want to add gain/dirt, etc. What do you think about raising your action about a millimeter or more? It will throw off your touch a bit, but it can give more sustain at least for this tune. I think I'd try that first - raise the action on my guitar, lower the pickups, and see where that gets me. Then, I'd add gain as a last resort. I would LOVE to hear a recording of this with you and your daughter! Best, Eddie Don't really want to mess with the action on my guitars, as I currently have it where I want it. The intro notes to this song that need the sustain are not clean. It's more of a creamy overdrive sound, so adding dirt is not a problem. As far as gain, thought I could offset the increased gain from the boost with the Brake Lite. So, any recommendations for a boost to facilitate the sustain? Thanks,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 13, 2012 23:59:30 GMT -7
Opinions vary. I am not going to say it's the great no-impact way to do things. If you do it, it's on your head, not mine. But I've run my Remedy that way for a couple hours, wide open, and it seemed to survive. Still, my wife smoked for 40 years and didn't get cancer. What did she prove? Steve, I may be misremembering, but I think I read in the Z-Wreck section that you sold yours because it was too loud. Can I assume from this that running two Brake Lites on the Z-Wreck did not work well for you? I'm asking because I had not considered running two Brake Lites simultaneously, so your post intrigued me. Actually, you were one of a couple of folks who put me on to attenuators in the first place, which proved to be outstanding advice. Thanks,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 13, 2012 23:53:01 GMT -7
I have noticed that the air brake works better with the z wreck than my maz 38 sr 2x12...has anyone noticed they react differently thru different Z amps? I use a Brake Lite on my Remedy and Z-Wreck and it works fantastic on both. The Z-Wreck has the best tone of any amp I've ever played through, and I don't notice the Brake Lite altering that tone enough for me to care about. On the other hand, even with the Brake Lite the Z-Wreck is still too loud for my den. Keep pickin,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Apr 13, 2012 23:32:22 GMT -7
My daughter's piano teacher has her working on the Rhodes piano part to Jeff Beck's Cause We've Ended as Lovers so my my daughter and I can play this together. Have started learning the guitar part, which I generally play through my Remedy with a Brake Lite, but my problem is this: Unless I set the volume loud enough to shake the rafters, I cannot get enough sustain for those opening bent notes that JB bleeds in using his volume control. Although I mostly abstain from using pedals, it occurs to me that a boost between my guitar and Remedy might give me the longer sustain I need.
So my question is: Will this work, and if so, what product would you recommend? In a perfect world, this pedal or box would give me the long sustain, without altering the tone, and would not significantly add to background hum or hiss.
Thanks,
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Post by cpa2guitar on Nov 2, 2010 22:02:14 GMT -7
John, Have you considered trying the Grosh Blown 59 humbuckers? These were designed by Bobby Smith, who gives an excellent demonstration of these on the new Grosh web site. In the demo, he plays his Grosh ElectraJet loaded with Blown 59 pickups through a Germino. You can find it at: groshguitars.com/pickups/humbuckers/blown-59/Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Oct 30, 2010 15:16:06 GMT -7
After not playing electric for a number of years, I decided early this year to dust off my 1980 Strat with the original pickups and 1973 Les Paul Recording Model. My motivation was my 13 year old daughter who is beginning to really cook on the keyboards. Thought perhaps we could form a band in a couple of years.
Problem is: My guitars have low output signals, and I just could not get the tone I was seeking out of my Maz 18. So, ordered a Bogner 20th Anniversary Shiva and a Bogner Twin Jet. Loved the Shiva; did not like the Twin Jet at all, not for what I play. Got rid of the Twin Jet, traded the Maz 18 head for a Remedy that's still on order, and ordered a Z-Wreck.
When the Z-Wreck arrived Wednesday, I tried it with the Strat first, because it mates well with so few amps. Could not believe what I heard. I have played through a number of amps over the years, but never heard sustain at low volume like the Z-Wreck produces. Turned it up to where it was not quite clean and hit a few bars of "Hey Joe." I got shivers. Played "Hey Joe" from the beginning to the end of the first verse three times to hear whether it really sounded as good as I thought it did - the amp, that is, not my playing. It did. I have no idea why my Strat sounds so good on this amp when it has sucked wind on so many other amps; it just does. Set the volume around 3:00 (the family was not home at the time) and started playing "Lazy" from Machine Head. The Z-Wreck delivered the tone in spades.
Finally tried it with my Les Paul and it was the same story in different colors.
The only thing left to test is how it takes an attenuator. I will be trying that tonight, using a Brake Lite and an ARACOM PRX150-Pro. If it retains the majority of that tone when braked, then my tone quest has come to an end. Will post a report on how it takes the attenuators.
Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Oct 25, 2010 15:42:18 GMT -7
Steve,
The data you have compiled is quite useful; thanks for posting this. I have one edit to propose. You indicate an effects loop is not available on a Remedy. I currently have a Remedy on order from Fat Sound Guitars that will have an effects loop. I have no idea when this option became available on the Remedy.
Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Oct 24, 2010 10:17:48 GMT -7
...Amps need to be great for everything and not limeted by the speakers. So while I was joking about the metal thing earlier in fact it's not a joke. I would need it to be able to twang and chug. My guess the amp is head is more than willing to do what is ask but the speaker choice limets the head. Asattwanger, I was also curious about Stu's comment that the Z-Wreck does not do metal. As it turns out, my Wreck did not ship until this past Friday, so I won't be able to ascertain this for myself until Wednesday. So, when I was talking to Mike Gallo at Fat Sound Guitars about the shipment details, I asked him about Stu's observation. Mike clarified the Z-Wreck does what my generation calls "Metal" (e.g., Led Zeppelin and AC/DC), but these bands are now considered "Classic Rock." He went on to state that by "Metal," Stu was referring to "Modern Metal." I see Stu has posted on this thread, so I really should defer to him. Stu: Did I understand Mike correctly? FWIW - and I mean no offense to anyone, this is just my opinion as I hear it - I find the tone of "Modern Metal" to be a large step backward from the sweet tone of the bands we now call "Classic Rock." Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Oct 15, 2010 15:21:13 GMT -7
Will do, as soon as it gets here, which should be one week from today. Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Oct 15, 2010 12:39:56 GMT -7
Heard from Mike Gallo at Fat Sounds this afternoon. Fat Sound Guitars has received the Z-Wrecks! Mine should arrive here in Oklahoma late next week. Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 24, 2010 14:33:38 GMT -7
I love this amp. This is the amp I've wanted since I was a teenager. I haven't been playing much at all lately, but I just got a new cable from Todd that I have been noodling with (just a GREAT cable, by the way) and that dang Remedy is still blowing my sox off! I got the idea from someone here to put both of my Airbrakes on there so that I could play with different combinations of attenuation - this is a great trick! I can get the volume way down and it still sounds like the Remedy. Anyway, just rambling on here - love, Love, LOVE this amp! Steve, Given that I have to wait about six weeks before mine arrives, your gushing about the Remedy is not helping my GAS at all. Seriously, thanks for posting this. Living on the Oklahoma prairie, I have to drive to Kansas City or Dallas to audition equipment, and then the stores often do not have the model in which I am interested. So I traded my Maz 18 for a Remedy based on: 1) the tone I heard on my Maz 18 when I finally used it with a Brake Lite; 2) the recommendation of Mike Gallo at Fat Sound Guitar's; 3) your recommendation on the Grosh web site; and 4) other comments/reviews on this forum. Even so, between when the order is placed and the gear arrives, it's reassuring to have your purchase decision reinforced by another owner. And by the way, thanks for that good advice on the Grosh forum. Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 19, 2010 18:10:55 GMT -7
Finally did my first gig with the thing last night. Took me a set to get used to the amp. The more you turn it up, the more sensitive she is. lol. Sat in the mix better than any amp I have tried yet. (we run two guitars so it can be hard not to muddy the mix up sometimes) Just really sang nice with everything else going on. Hit it with a Fuzz Head at the start of the night for solos, just what I was used to doing. By the end of the night, I just used my volume knob on the guitar. The louder it gets, the better it sounds. Nice! Dazed1: Congratulations on the new Remedy. From your post-gig report, it sounds like the Remedy is living up to your expectations. Cool!
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 18, 2010 19:40:33 GMT -7
I have a feeling there is yet another Dr Z in my near future. Welcome to the forum Kirk! And congrats on your Remedy......and your Z-Wreck!!! I just got through with a long session with my Remedy this afternoon. Boy that amp just smoke's!! I'm sure, with the Brake Lite you will get what you are looking for. It has much more "meat" than the Maz Jr. Not to knock the Jr!! I still have mine and it's not going anywhere. I'm looking forward to the Z-Wreck as well. I quoted you saying you have the feeling there's another Z in your future, and before I got to the end of the thread, you'd already ordered the top of the line Z!! COngrat's again..and how 'bout some karma for some fine choices!! Thanks Mark! It may seem like I made the decision to purchase the Z-Wreck rather quickly, but Mike Gallo has been working with me on this tone puzzle posed by my low output guitars since May, and I have benefited significantly from his product knowledge. Under more normal circumstances, I may have delayed my purchase of the Z-Wreck until I had lived with the Remedy for awhile, but there are a couple of anomalous issues that made purchasing the Z-Wreck now the right choice. One of those issues is that my oldest daughter will be starting medical school in the Fall next year. Once that happens, I will be doing good to buy strings for my guitars, let alone a new amp. (The cost of four years of medical school ranges from $230K to $300K, and that is after incurring the cost of obtaining an undergraduate degree in a four or five year program.) So I pulled the trigger on the Z-Wreck now. Mark, it sounds like you also own a Remedy and have a Z-Wreck on order, so I would appreciate your thoughts on this: Do you intend to use both amps at a gig? If the answer if "yes," what role will you assign to each amp? What was your overall objective in owning both amps? I am asking this because I just finished going through this decision tree and am very interested in the perspective of a another player who reached the same conclusion, but most likely with a set of different facts and objectives. Thanks, Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 18, 2010 13:29:23 GMT -7
Congrats! Awesome amp. Would have said so earlier - but I've been busy playing my Remedy I got a couple weeks ago! ;D Have we seen a pic of this one yet? Hi Norrin, No - Fat Sound Guitars had to order it. They tell me it will be about six weeks before I have it. That will undoubtedly be a long six weeks. I will take pictures of the Remedy with the Bent Top when they arrive and post them here. I should receive both the guitar and the Remedy in November, but I have no idea how soon the Z-Wreck will arrive. Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 18, 2010 13:12:13 GMT -7
I bought my Remedy from Mike Gallo at Fat Sound as well. One of the best amp purchases I've ever made. LOVE this amp! You will definitely need/want an attenuator with the Remedy to get out of it what it has to offer. Haha Now, I need to lose Fat Sound's address from my GPS or I'm going to be in the poorhouse. Pzaxtl, I hear you! Mike Gallo at Fat Sound Guitars has done a wonderful job of recommending (and selling) equipment to me that gives me the sound I am seeking. I mentioned in my original post there may be yet another Dr. Z in my near future. Well Mike and I talked again this morning, and I have now given him a deposit on a Z-Wreck. By the way, Fat Sound Guitars have five Z-Wrecks on order and four pre-sold, so if anyone is still thinking about pulling the trigger, Fat Sounds has one more on order that is not yet spoken for. My missus could not have been a better spouse for a musician, even though I have not played professionally for 20 years. So I try to treat her right and reciprocate when I can. For example, a family needs at least one good car, so she always gets the new car, and it is usually something very nice. When I had to replace my last car, I bought what was then a nine year old Bonneville with hail damage, so instead of driving a nice car and playing a beater, I play nice guitars and drive a beater. Works for me and generally keeps the missus from being upset about my GAS. Even so, when we talked about the Z-Wreck this morning, she gave me THE LOOK, which 34 years of marriage has taught me that it means, in this context, that the Z-Wreck had better be my last new amp for awhile. No matter - I think Mike Gallo now has me lined out with what I need for the tone I've been chasing. Still, given Mike's product knowledge and my terminal GAS, I'd better have the missus hide Fat Sound Guitars' phone number for awhile! Kirk
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Post by cpa2guitar on Sept 18, 2010 12:59:14 GMT -7
Welcome and congrats on the on-the-way Remedy. It is a spectacular amp. As Steve said, one of the Doc's attenuators is a must-have so you can match the overall output level to the venue and get the tone(s) you enjoy. Absolutely - so I kept the Brake Lite Mike Gallo sold to me. Kirk
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