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Post by diabx0r on Jul 16, 2008 17:39:39 GMT -7
I had originally posted over in the Maz Sr. forum thinking that it was the amp for me, but some of those guys seem to think that I may be more into the EZG-50. Here was my original post, so maybe you guys can read it and let me know. I've been posting on TGP, but they suggested I come here for a final push. Here's what I need and what I will be doing: 1) I want an amp that will be clean - ALWAYS clean - this will be a pedal platform. 2) The cleans must be absolutely gorgeous - fat, chimey, sparkly, 3D, you name it. 3) I'll be using some time based effects up front (delay mostly) - since it's going to be ran clean this shouldn't be a problem from what I've been told. Now keep in mind I'll be gigging small to medium sized clubs with this, but I'll also be using it a lot at home. I don't need the amp to be at whisper or TV volumes, but I can't break windows or rattle the neighbors house either. Someone on TGP mentioned that the amp may not sound great with pedals until a certain point (9 oclock and on???). Is that the case? I would like to be able to rock at night without being too loud, but I still want to sound good (better tone = more fun for me) I guess my style falls somewhere in between Knopfler, Gilmour, and Eric Johnson. Hopefully this is enough info. -Alex And thanks a ton, you Z nuts! Thanks!!
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jul 16, 2008 18:57:34 GMT -7
The MAZ 38 and EZG-50 both have great clean sounds. Neither is clean "all the time".
Except for one of your criteria "can't break windows or rattle the neighbors house either." I know exactly what amp you're describing. (Almost) always clean...gorgeous 3D clean sounds...great with pedals...harmonics galore...
KT45.
The only problem is that when turned up, the KT45 will break windows. However, it sounds *great* at lower levels and is a clean players dream.
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Post by kledbet on Jul 16, 2008 21:43:39 GMT -7
I have both of these amps. The EZG-50 is more Fender based but can have more mids. Because of the master volume the Maz can get dirt earlier. Both amps can be really loud. But if you want clean I think the EZG-50 is your best bet. It has more bass and a really great reverb. Both amps take pedals well. In my set up the EZG has to get its overdrive from pedals, otherwise it is to loud for me.
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Post by diabx0r on Jul 16, 2008 23:32:03 GMT -7
I have both of these amps. The EZG-50 is more Fender based but can have more mids. Because of the master volume the Maz can get dirt earlier. Both amps can be really loud. But if you want clean I think the EZG-50 is your best bet. It has more bass and a really great reverb. Both amps take pedals well. In my set up the EZG has to get its overdrive from pedals, otherwise it is to loud for me. I use compression, delay, fuzz, OD, you name it... I play A LOT of heavily compressed delayed Gilmourish type stuff, so the EZG definitely sounds like a good idea. Headroom and amazing cleans = :drool:
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Jul 17, 2008 4:13:12 GMT -7
I think the KT45 has the highest clean headroom of any Z amp (way more than the EZG), and has awesome cleans. Gilmour played Hiwatts and there's a lot of "Hiwatt" in the KT45.
I think Myles will back me up on this.
I'm jest sayin'.....
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Post by diabx0r on Jul 17, 2008 5:06:23 GMT -7
I think the KT45 has the highest clean headroom of any Z amp (way more than the EZG), and has awesome cleans. Gilmour played Hiwatts and there's a lot of "Hiwatt" in the KT45. I think Myles will back me up on this. I'm jest sayin'..... Hmm... What has more headroom... the Maz Sr or the EZG? Also, I don't really want to nail Gilmour's tone or anything. I simply have a similar style. Johnson and Knopfler definitely rock Fender or rocked Fender. How often are the KT45s on the market? I haven't seen any.
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Post by myles on Jul 17, 2008 10:26:03 GMT -7
I think the KT45 has the highest clean headroom of any Z amp (way more than the EZG), and has awesome cleans. Gilmour played Hiwatts and there's a lot of "Hiwatt" in the KT45. I think Myles will back me up on this. I'm jest sayin'..... I will back you up on this. The KT-45 also does the Vox AC50 (grid biased EL34 amp also) really nicely. The AC50 is one of my all time favorite amps. The KT45 also does the "fender black face 6L6 cleans tones" really well. It is the only EL34 based amp that had the full robust mids of a 6L6 amp without 6L6s. I never figured out how that is done ... tone stack, EF86 front end, output transformer ... and maybe more Z design stuff as well. The KT-45 will also be the amp where you will get the most accurate tone out of pedals and be able to use pedals over a wider range of output level from the pedal as the pentode front end will not squash and compress nearly as quickly as a triode (12AX7) and the EF86 pentode has a lot more output on tap. This feature is not limited to the KT-45. It is also the case with the Z-28, Route 66 and Delta 88 when it comes to pedals.
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Post by cashandkerouac on Jul 17, 2008 17:25:27 GMT -7
i have both the KT-45 and EZG-50. it's a tough choice, but from what you described i'd say the EZG-50 is what you want (good thing too, 'cause the KT-45s are hard to get).
headroom - in my experience the EZG-50 has more headroom. with my tele i get no break-up from the EZG, but i do with the KT at higher levels.
sound of the cleans - "fat, sparkly, and 3D" very much describes the EZG. i'd also describe the sound of the EZG-50 as having a lot of texture. i do not think the KT has much of a 3D sound unless you use pedals. fat and sparkly, yes, but 3D no. the KT is a real "in your face" type of amp.
pedals - i've only used a compressor (Barber Tone Press) and an OD (Zen Drive) with the EZG-50 and it takes the pedals very well. the Zen Drive sounds super sweet. the KT-45 is a very pedal-friendly amp , but i don't think you'll have pedal issues with the EZG. my experience so far has been very good with it.
Knopfler and Gilmour - the EZG-50 is a much better amp for Mark Knopfler type of stuff (excellent, in fact... i'll bet you can really nail the Knopfler tone with the EZG), whereas the KT-45 is probably more Gilmour-like. but you said that you're not trying to nail the Gilmour tone, so that's another reason why i'd say to go with the EZG-50.
hope this helps. cheers!
one last thought... the KT-45 will expose your every playing flaw. it is unforgiving in that respect (not that that's a bad thing, but just something to be aware of. it's a really, really tight amp) the EZG-50 seems to be much more forgiving by comparison.
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Post by myles on Jul 17, 2008 17:58:48 GMT -7
i have both the KT-45 and EZG-50. it's a tough choice, but from what you described i'd say the EZG-50 is what you want (good thing too, 'cause the KT-45s are hard to get). headroom - in my experience the EZG-50 has more headroom. with my tele i get no break-up from the EZG, but i do with the KT at higher levels. sound of the cleans - "fat, sparkly, and 3D" very much describes the EZG. i'd also describe the sound of the EZG-50 as having a lot of texture. i do not think the KT has much of a 3D sound unless you use pedals. fat and sparkly, yes, but 3D no. the KT is a real "in your face" type of amp. pedals - i've only used a compressor (Barber Tone Press) and an OD (Zen Drive) with the EZG-50 and it takes the pedals very well. the Zen Drive sounds super sweet. the KT-45 is a very pedal-friendly amp , but i don't think you'll have pedal issues with the EZG. my experience so far has been very good with it. Knopfler and Gilmour - the EZG-50 is a much better amp for Mark Knopfler type of stuff (excellent, in fact... i'll bet you can really nail the Knopfler tone with the EZG), whereas the KT-45 is probably more Gilmour-like. but you said that you're not trying to nail the Gilmour tone, so that's another reason why i'd say to go with the EZG-50. hope this helps. cheers! one last thought... the KT-45 will expose your every playing flaw. it is unforgiving in that respect (not that that's a bad thing, but just something to be aware of. it's a really, really tight amp) the EZG-50 seems to be much more forgiving by comparison. Just a thanks from me for this very nice writeup. I have not played the EZG but what you say makes a lot of sense. The KT-45 is a tight amp and the EF86 front end is going to be more gainy in the front than a 12AX7. Big tones come from bigger bottles (6L6) that have a harder vacuum and Fender tolex era amps have shown this for decades. Since the Doc wanted the EZG to be "the fender blackface that never was) what you say here in your writeup seems to be right on the money. Now then ... it would seem to me that if you wanted a tight EZG it would be a very simple matter to pull the tube rectifier and plug in a solid state one ala Fender BF twin reverb which did not use a tube rectifier. In fact, the Super Reverbs that used a 5U4 in some cases had some owners swap for a 5AR4 to tighten thing up and that is another EZG option as well. Thanks again for a nice insight from somebody that has both of the amps to play.
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Post by cashandkerouac on Jul 17, 2008 21:33:11 GMT -7
i have both the KT-45 and EZG-50. it's a tough choice, but from what you described i'd say the EZG-50 is what you want (good thing too, 'cause the KT-45s are hard to get). headroom - in my experience the EZG-50 has more headroom. with my tele i get no break-up from the EZG, but i do with the KT at higher levels. sound of the cleans - "fat, sparkly, and 3D" very much describes the EZG. i'd also describe the sound of the EZG-50 as having a lot of texture. i do not think the KT has much of a 3D sound unless you use pedals. fat and sparkly, yes, but 3D no. the KT is a real "in your face" type of amp. pedals - i've only used a compressor (Barber Tone Press) and an OD (Zen Drive) with the EZG-50 and it takes the pedals very well. the Zen Drive sounds super sweet. the KT-45 is a very pedal-friendly amp , but i don't think you'll have pedal issues with the EZG. my experience so far has been very good with it. Knopfler and Gilmour - the EZG-50 is a much better amp for Mark Knopfler type of stuff (excellent, in fact... i'll bet you can really nail the Knopfler tone with the EZG), whereas the KT-45 is probably more Gilmour-like. but you said that you're not trying to nail the Gilmour tone, so that's another reason why i'd say to go with the EZG-50. hope this helps. cheers! one last thought... the KT-45 will expose your every playing flaw. it is unforgiving in that respect (not that that's a bad thing, but just something to be aware of. it's a really, really tight amp) the EZG-50 seems to be much more forgiving by comparison. Just a thanks from me for this very nice writeup. I have not played the EZG but what you say makes a lot of sense. The KT-45 is a tight amp and the EF86 front end is going to be more gainy in the front than a 12AX7. Big tones come from bigger bottles (6L6) that have a harder vacuum and Fender tolex era amps have shown this for decades. Since the Doc wanted the EZG to be "the fender blackface that never was) what you say here in your writeup seems to be right on the money. Now then ... it would seem to me that if you wanted a tight EZG it would be a very simple matter to pull the tube rectifier and plug in a solid state one ala Fender BF twin reverb which did not use a tube rectifier. In fact, the Super Reverbs that used a 5U4 in some cases had some owners swap for a 5AR4 to tighten thing up and that is another EZG option as well. Thanks again for a nice insight from somebody that has both of the amps to play. no worries, glad to help. i am a hack amateur, but every once in a while i get flashes of clarity. i guess this was one of my better moments. thanks Myles for confirming that my info was good and in no way misleading. i appreciate the friendly posts and supportive vibe in the forum, so i am happy when i have something to contribute that may help others. cheers!
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Post by myles on Jul 18, 2008 8:47:39 GMT -7
cashandkerouac ....
Bottom line here is ....
Your commentary and info was very cool for a lot of folks and that includes me as well.
We all have our own strong points and weak points. One of the coolest aspects of this particular forum is the way that folks help each other and how much I learn myself from others like you.
Thanks again ....
Myles
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Post by hdahs143 on Jul 18, 2008 9:06:53 GMT -7
Kinda suprised that I didnt hear the Stingray mentioned in this thread, especially the 3D, chimey part. Granted, I use the low input on mine, but to my ear it stays pretty clean throughout its range. That being said, I've been thinking about acquiring an EZG. I love my Ray, but that Class AB thump in the EZG, along with that FAT, ROUND, 6L6 thang are just near and dear to my heart ! Harold
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Post by cashandkerouac on Jul 18, 2008 11:18:59 GMT -7
Kinda suprised that I didnt hear the Stingray mentioned in this thread, especially the 3D, chimey part. Granted, I use the low input on mine, but to my ear it stays pretty clean throughout its range. That being said, I've been thinking about acquiring an EZG. I love my Ray, but that Class AB thump in the EZG, along with that FAT, ROUND, 6L6 thang are just near and dear to my heart ! Harold i've never played a Ray, so i can't comment from experience. but, because the Ray and EZG are built for "cleans" i'm sure there is some degree of overlap in their sound/tone. however, i'd venture to guess that they are very different amps in a lot of respects. the design and architecture of the two amps is definitely very different. i'm sure that Myles and others can speak more intelligently about this issue. i guess my main point is that if you do end up with an EZG, it's not like you'll have two amps that are totally alike.
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Post by hdahs143 on Jul 18, 2008 11:32:53 GMT -7
I've played both, and they're definitely different beasts. They both do the clean thing in spades, although the EZG will dirty up a bit. It really sounds to me like a twin crossed with a hiwatt. If I do get the EZG, I dont know that I'll keep the Ray. Time and $$$ will tell. I think maybe my ears are getting a little tired of EL84's Harold
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 22, 2008 13:25:31 GMT -7
Yeah, the 'ray is really different from the EZG. Both can do amazing cleans, but they are way different. One is old blackface tone, the other is old AC30 tone.
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