telez
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by telez on Jul 30, 2008 15:13:30 GMT -7
Hi all, thanks for all the great input you provide-I rely on it heavily. I do love the mini z in combo with its z cab with vintage 30. I don't need to tell any of you what it is capable of doing as the the volume turns clockwise. However, I'm currently relegating "clean duty" to another amp of blackface type. The clean tone and reverb is wonderful. I've had much interest in switching to a Z amp for this purpose and was wondering, aside from picking up a ghia (for instance)-does anyone have any input on producing a nicer clean tone from the mini? I've tried a digital delay in front of it and was not happy though I'm not really happy with the delay itself. In all fairness, it does better in front of other amps. I do not have an external reverb unit but given what I like-see above-does anyone have any advice on a reverb unit to go with the mini? I feel like I may be missing the point as well and maybe trying to get the dog to act like a cat. If anyone has any ideas let me know-that includes : "buy a stang ray". Thanks for your time.
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Post by bluesdog on Jul 30, 2008 20:25:24 GMT -7
There are a few conversations pertaining to changing the pre amp tube. I have the Mini Z head(12ax7 pre amp) through a greenback and get a pretty decent clean' ish tone around 9 o'clock setting with a strat. Kick on the HG reverb and I swear you can hear it sparkle! If I need a really clean low watt tone I use a L'il Dawg 5F2A (tweed princeton) which doesn't grind like the Mini, but does sparkle and bloom with the 6V6. Bottom line: some clean in the Mini, but not a whole lot.
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Post by wilhelm on Jul 31, 2008 9:15:41 GMT -7
Hi, I´ve tried some tubes to get a cleaner sound out of the Mini. My experience is that this amp is made for crunch and gainier sounds. Turning back the volume knob on the guitar gives a clean sound but I´m not happy with it. This works better on the Mazerati GT. As usual it´s all personal taste. I like the Mini for the crunch and attenuator but I like the sound from the GT more and with the airbrake I have I wouldn´t have had to buy the Mini. So for all looking for a low wattage amp my opinion is to play the amp you like and if it´s too loud get an airbrake.
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Post by smolder on Jul 31, 2008 17:07:44 GMT -7
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telez
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by telez on Dec 21, 2008 13:22:11 GMT -7
Thanks for your advice. It sounds like I'm going to just let the mini do what it does best and leave the cleans to the blackface. However, I am going to check out that tube link right now-thanks smolder. If you could have just one Z amp and needed to play clean and crunchy parts (say volume is a non issue as the amp would not see any gigging and an attenuator would be on hand if needed)-what would be your one pick? I know that isn't really fair but I would like to see what your opinions would be for a solid all around contender?
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Post by bfarrow on Dec 21, 2008 13:47:58 GMT -7
Clean & crunchy, sounds like you need a Maz Jr? Best amp in the world!
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Post by edoetsch on Dec 22, 2008 14:08:36 GMT -7
Actually, I think the Mini is perfectly capable of making nice cleans. Just really quiet ones. It is a great recording amp for clean, but you could not be loud enough to get above the drummer unless you perhaps play through 2 4x12's. Then, you might at well buy a bigger amp with more headroom. I've tried the lower gain preamp tube and all it does is make the amp more adjustable in the clean to just breaking up range of the volume dial. Stock it begins to breakup around 9-10am. With a 5751 the same breakup point is around noon. With a 12AU7 around 2-3pm. Either way, it's not been louder at the higher settings/lower gain tube. If more adjustability might be nice for you, check out: thetubestore.com/gainfactor.html
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Post by mrfrostee on Dec 22, 2008 18:39:23 GMT -7
I also tried lower gain preamp tubes, and had the same experience as edoetsch: the same Mini sounds, just at different positions on the dial.
As for one amp to do it all, I have not put too much time on my Mini since getting an Rx Jr. It does everything I want, and with the good master volume, it is even better than the Mini for very low volume playing.
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Post by edoetsch on Dec 23, 2008 8:24:11 GMT -7
In my opinion, the 12ax7 is has more gain from 3pm on up to max. I prefer the 5751 as it gives me more flexibility in dialing in exact amount of dirt. The 12au7 does not dish up enough dirt even at full volume for me.
I'd go with a good 5751
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Post by deaconblues on Jan 8, 2009 6:55:41 GMT -7
If you could have just one Z amp and needed to play clean and crunchy parts (say volume is a non issue as the amp would not see any gigging and an attenuator would be on hand if needed)-what would be your one pick? I know that isn't really fair but I would like to see what your opinions would be for a solid all around contender? My pick would be a Ghia. I came into this thread thinking I might want a Mini Z combo as a grab and go jam amp. If I could find one used for decent money. After reading through the posts. I think all I need is my Ghia and an attenuator, or a nice OD pedal and the amp volume turned down.
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Post by Rik on Jan 8, 2009 16:46:26 GMT -7
Maz Jr. NR Best amp out there IMHO!
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Post by dustyfakebook on Feb 9, 2009 21:04:33 GMT -7
I have to agree with bfarrow: the Maz Jr has to be the most versitile amp I have ever experienced, even without the use of pedals. I use mine for country, jazz, blues, rock, you name it it plays it well!
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