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Post by kinoble on Aug 22, 2007 6:09:25 GMT -7
Hey Guys,
Im new here so first of all hello!
Ive been pondering about a Dr Z amp, i need to sell my Fuchs Lucky 7 first so we shall see!
What is the best amp, in your opinions for a Robben Ford sound?
I really dislike Marshalls, and am a 'Fender' guy, so any help would be much appreciated.
Ironically enough, i though the Route 66 sounded most like a dumble, especially from the FIRST soundclip, but its KT66, not 6L6 and meant to be similar to a JTM45!
The Z28 is also an option and the Galaxie too.
Any help and some soundclips (maybe?) would be fantastic.
Many thanks,
-Ben
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 22, 2007 9:14:21 GMT -7
RXES senior or junior would be my best bet.
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Post by kinoble on Aug 22, 2007 9:35:16 GMT -7
Hi Billy Guitar.
Thanks for the reply.
May i ask why the prescription series?
I want to avoid el34's as they were in the amp i was selling (fuchs lucky 7) and it sounded WAY too harsh.
I see the el34's are in the prescription aswell, are they smooth?
I guess i basically would like a Fender Twin/blackface reverb sound in a more manageable package!
Thanks,
-Ben
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 22, 2007 11:04:22 GMT -7
The RX amps use EL84s. Those amps have a lot of articulate gain available but not a cascaded sound like a Boogie. You can go down to the sound clip section and hear them. The RXjr will have a master volume making it a little more controllable. The tone controls work real well so you should be able to scoop the mids for a Fendery sound. A Galaxie might be good too.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Aug 22, 2007 11:07:51 GMT -7
Hi Ben, Welcome to the forum, and the RX RXES and new RX JR's are EL-84 and not EL-34's so that should help you... and Z's really kinda have their own thing going own with the ability to dial in a little Fender, Marshall and Voxish-ness outta most of them... the RX ES has been compared to a dumble-ish thing and it really does have it's own very rich unique sound. the cleans can be stunning and the drive is thick... and Like Billy said above... it's a Very articulate amp and the RX JR ( 2 x EL 84 amp... 15-18 watts) will not be as loud and with it's Master volume you'll have a little more control over the volume than the RX ES ( 4 x EL84 amp 45 watts) which is a pretty loud amp. NOTE... I also think if your truly set on a Blackface type 6L6 sound... wait till Doc releases the "Evan"/ "EZG-40"!! Thats gonna be his take on that theme and it's a very beautiful 6L6 sound with a great reverb... NICE! Jason
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Post by kinoble on Aug 22, 2007 11:11:42 GMT -7
Hi Guys,
thanks for the help!
I really am just set on the 6L6 sound, ive was dissapointed with my Fuchs a bit (not the fuchs fault), and dont want to go on an endless trail if that can be helped!
I think i'll wait for the Evan and see what i think-When is it released?
Thanks again for your help,
-Ben
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Aug 22, 2007 11:23:31 GMT -7
Hi Guys, thanks for the help! I really am just set on the 6L6 sound, ive was dissapointed with my Fuchs a bit (not the fuchs fault), and dont want to go on an endless trail if that can be helped! I think i'll wait for the Evan and see what i think-When is it released? Thanks again for your help, -Ben Good question, maybe Doc will chime in but, He's gotta release the RX JR ( Sept) and Maz GT ( Oct/ Nov??) first... I was thinking maybe end of the Year, 1st of next year... ?? A few of us are waiting on that amp too... It's gonna be another big seller when he releases it. We played the prototype at Z-fest and besides the RX JR, the other amp I would be interested in is the Evan too. SWEET sounding amp. ;D Galaxy is a great amp but more of a "Tweed" sounding 6L6 style, it can really roar on the gain channel. You might wanna test drive one of those too, as the clean channel of the Galaxy might work fine for ya... and personally I think a MAZ SR with REVERB cannot be beat and would do what you need it to do also... can get great blackface style sounds out of it, and alot of other sounds too. With the right speakers, tubes and pedals the Maz SR can do it. Jason
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Post by dixiechicken on Aug 31, 2007 13:22:21 GMT -7
DC here!
To me Robben Fords sound is articulate - his guitars somehow sounds clean - even when they really are not clean at all.
Given this quality I suspect you could get close that sound with most of Dr-Z:s amps. To me ( again I'll stress that ) all Z-amps are very articulate, albeit with different timbres. Just my 2 cents.
I must stress again that I have only listened to the various soundclips here and at the website. I have no direct personal experience - YET. ;D
Cheers: Dixiechicken
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Post by Telemanic on Sept 14, 2007 11:52:58 GMT -7
I think ultimately it comes down to what your hands and touch jive with in shaping ford type tones. To me any way, it's all about how he shapes the notes, and could be done with a number of unlikely amps in certain hands. That being said, from a starting point for a Z i'd have to say the Evan! VERY Fendery but massaged! The dumble has kind of a unique O/D so maybe a particular pedal as well, .... Zen or Eternity?
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Post by jwr on Sept 14, 2007 12:11:10 GMT -7
I agree with Mr.Gleaton on the Maz Sr. I think that a Route 66 could get you there in a hurry though too. Treble: Noon Bass: 9:00 Master: Noon Put a Zendrive or something similar in front of it with a Z-Best and I think it could put a smile on your face. JMO though.
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Post by janinedoubly on Sept 15, 2007 10:33:30 GMT -7
I would chime in with a vote for the RXeS. Yes, it uses EL84's, but the EL84's allow the amp to get into that articulate, touch sensitive arena that Dumblesque amps do well, but at more manageable volumes. The trick, I think, Z does to get EL84's to sound so good and Dumbly is the wider band width with the tranny design. Dumble used a lot of different trannies in his amps, but his MO seemed to be a wider band width than most guitar amp products used (as did Kenny Fischer, RIP). Dumble's trick seemed to be to get that wider bandwidth without being sterile (ala hi-fi). I think Z nailed this same vibe with the RXeS, especially when clean. Now in overdrive, the RXeS has its own vibe, not as Dumbly, but clean, its killer. The Zendrive or a Pete Cornish SS-3 into an RXeS would give you very cool Dumbly lead tones. An RXeS (w/ a Zendrive or SS-3) into a Z best 2 x12" cab...Oh yeah, I'd feel very confident that it would provide really nice Ford/Dumble tones, clean and overdriven.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 15, 2007 11:28:10 GMT -7
Chris: I think you're going to need a RXjr!
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Post by Telemanic on Sept 17, 2007 12:04:21 GMT -7
Just as a side note, i saw Robben once and he played a Tele thru a fender something, and it sounded just like him! Just a different version.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 17, 2007 14:10:03 GMT -7
We should ask Buddy Whittington - there are several places in his new CD that I could have sworn I was listening to Robben Ford. And I think he was doing that with his Maz Jr., but I might be wrong about that.
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Post by Telemanic on Sept 17, 2007 17:39:14 GMT -7
This is totaly off track but speaking of Ford and Dumbles, i just remembered that earlier this summer i was at Tim Schroeders shop, a well known tech/builder in Chicago, and he had a customers Dumble. I forget the model name but i had never seen nor heard of it, but it was this HUGE, Honkin head, i mean seriously big, and powered by 4 kt88's!! Can you say Marshall Major! Man i didnt know Dumble made anything like that. Musta be 1 loud sucka!
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 17, 2007 19:45:28 GMT -7
John Mayer was just on Live From Abbey Road. His clean tones were great but his drive sound thru a Dumble and Blues Breaker wasn't all that great. I've heard pedals sound just as good, as a matter of fact that's what it reminded me of, my King of Tone! He didn't have that wailing Robben Ford or David Lindley Dumble sound at all.
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Post by anacephalic on Sept 19, 2007 14:27:16 GMT -7
i've never played a Dumble but what i've read about them is that they are dependant on the player to sound good. in the hands of a lesser dude they just don't sing. Not sure where most folks stand but i think Mayer is Waaaay over rated. definitely not anywhere close to the the same league as Robben Ford.
I had the pleasure of seeing Robben play through a dumble at the first gig in a small club once from about 15 ft away...way too cool and what tone. The band had dust coming from the rafters of the renovated 100 yr old bldg all over the band. what a gas.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 19, 2007 17:14:18 GMT -7
I don't see Mayer as over rated, rather I see him as usually disrespected. I don't dig his stuff much but he does get a great clean tone. I'd say he should win an award for most improved. When he first started doing the blues stuff it was weak. Pretty passable now.
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Post by anacephalic on Sept 20, 2007 7:58:10 GMT -7
i can see your point Billy, i may fall into the disrespector camp. I read some interviews with him in his early days when his claims of blues stardom just didn't go with what he was dishing out and i pretty much turned against him. What i've seen of his playing seems pretty self indulgent and not too focused but it may just be me. Joe Bonamassa is another guy that a lot of folks think are great but i think ranks in there with Mayer. different tastes for different dudes.
at any rate the point was, though maybe too well hidden, i think Robben Ford is a monster who holds a lot of his tone in his hands so amp selection is only part of the equation. Sonny Landreth is another Dumble player but when i heard him he was using something else and still sounded like Sonny. He made me want to go home and sell my gear and take up finger painting or something i could succeed at. that dued is scary good .
Another thing that may help the original poster was that when i bought my z i got it from Stu at Fat sounds, i think he is the top z dealer and surely one of the longest lived, and i also mentioned Robben Ford in my tone goals. Stu shipped me an Rx and said if i didn't like it send it back. still got it. it has an openness and clarity that fenderish amps just don't have. the Jr may be the ticket cause the original is way loud.
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