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Post by slidus on Aug 11, 2005 20:16:33 GMT -7
I posted this in "which to choose" also. I have a '96 Prescription head (original strength) that I use with an Avatar 2x12 Celes. cab. I also have an Alessandro "Redbone" that I use with another identical 2x12 cab. My question is this: How does the Maz compare to the Rx in terms of top-end sparkle and low-end woof? I love my old Rx, it has the magic-sparkle-tone to die for, with BALLS. At low volume, however, it lacks bottom end. It's still there, it just doesn't really come out until the volume approaches noon. I tend to use the Alessandro more for practice, because it has a HUGE bottom end. Onstage, the Rx cuts through the mix much better and has much more sparkle and definition. So... anyone that has experience with both, Myles, I'd like to know how the Maz compares to the Rx, and at different volume levels, and does anyone consider the Maz to be a better "practice" amp with more/less bass response at low levels. ( FYI, when I run the Rx & the Redbone together w/my A/B-Y box, well... I think it might be the rig that God uses, because it sounds like HEAVEN, imo!) Thanks, Slidus
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Post by Laroosco!! on Aug 11, 2005 21:27:25 GMT -7
The Rx has the balls and the bite that I couldn't get from the Maz 38. I couldn't get the Maz to bark like the Rx. That badass british Billyh G thing just isn't happening with the Maz. It's a much more low gain open sounding amp. Of all the Z's I've played the Maz Sr is actually my least favorite Z's(but still a GREAT amp) I haven't played the Rx ES yet The Maz 38 has nice cleans but I actually liked the clean tone of my Rx a little better. I didn't own the Rx long but it had quite an effect on me. One day I'll get another old model Rx If you decide to get a Maz I'll take the Rx off your hands
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Post by Laroosco!! on Aug 11, 2005 21:32:36 GMT -7
I just noticed that this is in the Mazerati forum(woops)
Are you talking about the Maz or Mazerati?
I love the Mazerati but I've never owned one so I don't have enough time with it to make many comparison to the Rx. I will say that the Mazerati haas a clean tone that makes me wet myself just thinking about it. And It doesn't lack low end. I've only played a 1x12 combo Mazerati.
I know what you're saying about the Rx's lack of low end at low volumes. I always used an attenuator with mine so this wasn't an issue.
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Post by slidus on Aug 12, 2005 9:53:31 GMT -7
I guess I'm not really hip to the differences in the Mazerati, Maz 38, and Maz Sr. Laroosco, if you have experience with any or all of these three, I'd appreciate your input. My main use for the Rx is onstage. It has proven to be more bulletproof than my Alessandro, it cuts through MUCH better, faster response-time, more focused, more attack and drive, etc. With humbuckers, it sounds like my old '68 Marshall stack sounded with Mullards, ZZ Top first album to a "T". With the Tele, the sparkle-tone factor is off the charts. For practice, and I practice a LOT even after 40-years of playing, I definitely use the Alessandro "Redbone" more simply because it is soooo rich and full-sounding. It has the hugest bottom end of any amp I've ever heard or played. It also has the class-A sparkle, but to a much lesser degree than the Rx. The two of them TOGETHER is the best-sounding rig I've ever owned or played through, they complement each other extremely well. But back to Z-amps, if you can hip me to the differences in the Mazerati, Maz 38, and Maz Sr., and how they might compare to my old Rx, I'd appreciate it. To me, the discussion here is like comparing different vintages of fine wine - all excellent, all slightly different. My best friend Steve Hennig ( see "Steve's Boogie" on Ah Via Musicom) has built acoustic AND electric rigs for his best buddy Eric Johnson. What I've found over the years is this: these guys NEVER stop searching and constantly experimenting to take already-excellent tone and make it the stuff of legend! The better we sound, the more we play. Pretty simple ... Thanks, adios - Slidus
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Post by telefunken on Aug 15, 2005 10:07:25 GMT -7
The Mazerati has only the Volume and tone controls. The Maz sr has, cut, master treble mid bass volume and reverb as an option. The Sr is more capable of the Fender tone. The mazerati is a very full sounding amp, with great bottom. The older Maz Invasion, was a different animal again, with not as much bottom end. Hope this helps.
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 16, 2005 5:44:58 GMT -7
I had a Mazerati for about two weeks and one gig. It is an absolutley fabulous amp for Brad Paisley kind of bridge pickup Tele tone. It has tons of low end and a glassy high end. If you want that kind of distorted Tele tone it's ideal but in my opinion that's about all I could see doing with it. You can't control the tone enough to suit other styles. Very little clean headroom. The Mazerati is a great one-trick pony but if you need tone shaping capabilities or clean headroom move on to a Maz 38 sr or the Prescription ES. I've always had reverb amps so my fave is the Maz 38 sr.
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 16, 2005 5:47:22 GMT -7
I had a Mazerati for about two weeks and one gig. It is an absolutley fabulous amp for Brad Paisley kind of bridge pickup Tele tone. It has tons of low end and a glassy high end. If you want that kind of distorted Tele tone it's ideal but in my opinion that's about all I could see doing with it. You can't control the tone enough to suit other styles. Very little clean headroom. The Mazerati is a great one-trick pony but if you need tone shaping capabilities or clean headroom move on to a Maz 38 sr or the Prescription ES. I've always had reverb amps so my fave is the Maz 38 sr.
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Post by Laroosco!! on Aug 16, 2005 18:28:27 GMT -7
I guess that you've never played a 335 thru a Mazerati
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Post by slidus on Aug 18, 2005 5:46:26 GMT -7
If the Mazerati is anything at all like my old Rx ( EL84's), it sounds amazing with the 335. My Rx brings out the "woody" character of my 335 much moreso than any other amp I've ever played it through. Also, the small-bottle tubes impart a much greater singing-type of sustain than either of my other amps. Remember "I'm So Glad" off of Fresh Cream, which I think was Cream's first album? That's it to a T - with the volume up a bit, the 335 feeds back effortlessly and in harmony. The neck and mid-pickup positions give a great, woody jazz tone. Slidus
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 18, 2005 14:52:57 GMT -7
Replying to laroosco: You're right, I haven't played a 335 thru a Mazerati. I prefer 25-1/2" scale guitars so my Lucille and 347 just wait in their cases. 24-3/4" scale guitars feel loose and sound a little 'dark' to me. My Tom Anderson Drop Top Ts are more satisfying to me. Both of these guitars have a big humbucker at the neck and single coils at the bridge. The Mazerati, when set for the bridge pickups on these guitars, were too bassy when I went to the neck pickup and like I mentioned I couldn't get the glass off of the top either. Also the amp would distort more quickly with the neck pickup. If I could gig out playing Fresh Cream and Bluesbreakers then that amp would be killer but at my age (51) I gig playing Louie Jordan and Nat "King" Cole type material and the Mazerati isn't appropriate. I hope you didn't think I was putting down the Mazerati in any way. I thought it was wonderful for what it did, that's why I bought it in the first place. I just couldn't use it with my band because of it's specialist leanings. Right now I didn't think it was financially wise to keep it AND buy the Maz 38 at the same time.
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Post by Laroosco!! on Aug 18, 2005 16:52:07 GMT -7
I hope you read any attitude into my reply. It was meant as jut an observation. When I lived in NM I would always go to Encore music and play through their Mazerati 1x12 Combo. I would more often than not use aa G&L ASAT Classsic they had hangin on their wall. I loved the Mazerati with that guitar. To me there is no guitar that sounds better than a good Tele. I could dial in the perfect bbiting tone thhaat wasn't harsh or too boomy. I got to play through my first AC30 wwhile I was in NM too so I got to hear ther differences and similarities between the 2. I prefer the Mazerati but loved both.
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Post by slidus on Aug 19, 2005 18:49:34 GMT -7
Reply to Billyguitar - Billy, I'm 52 going on 53, been playing for 40-years, and I play EVERYTHING, including Cream. I don't try and make a living at it anymore, but I do play out at least once a week. What I'm saying is this - I feel that good musicianship demands that we be totally flexible, especially in today's music biz. I use the 335 not only for "White Room" when I feel like it , but even moreso for George Benson-esque single note jazz lines and pure funk. I also play five other guitars that are suited to different styles and different gigs, and I play regularly in a traditional blues band as well as a country band. The only reason I mentioned the 335 at all was in response to Laroosco's comment re: it with the Maz. No matter what you play, Nat King Cole notwithstanding, it is a total RUSH to have an amp that is so responsive that you can pick a single note on the G or B string and play an entire riff off of it using nothing but sweet, harmonic feedback from start to finish. I have another boutique amp that cost about twice what the Rx did, and it won't do that. That is why I mentioned it, thanks for letting me "share"! Class A is the ONLY way, adios - slidus
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 20, 2005 8:43:02 GMT -7
Right on and solid! I agree with you 110%! This is a great forum for discussions and exchanges of info and ideas. It's like a good Saturday afternoon at a guitar show! I should do a side band (but, not enough time) where I can rock out a bit. I love to play everything from Cream to Danny Gatton (well, I try). The problem is volume or perceived volume by the club owner and/or the customers in the more adult clubs I play now-a-days. Loud drummers and real volume excites my tinnitus and loud sounding guitars and too much energy coming off the bandstand make the audiences in the places I play stop talking. When they stop talking they leave at break when means less sales at the bar which means we're not a success for the club. It's sure not like it was 25 or 30 years ago when I could crank my Dual Showman, and later a 50 watt non-master volume Marshall 1/2 stack, and everyone just loved it. Check out my band at www.luckysoandsos.com and you'll see the music I do now.
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Post by slidus on Aug 21, 2005 8:21:35 GMT -7
Thanks for the website, you got it going on. The audiences now are much different than they were thirty years ago, for sure. I live in Austin, and needless to say, we have great guitarists out the ---. It's evolved to the point that most folks here are much more interested in good BANDS than they are in guitar-gymnastics, which has become rather passe'. At my blues-gig on Monday nights, the crowd is much more receptive to a little harmonic feedback and some well-placed Allman-style slide. They are, for the most part, older folks that are serious about hearing the music and doing some serious drinking(not me!). The country gigs w/ "Horizon" are, for the most part, really hard-partying youger folks. The treat for us in that gig is getting to watch the audience get crazy while we're up there playing, "they gotta lotta nice girls down there...". It's ALL GOOD, amigo, and I'm grateful to still be getting out there. Slidus
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Post by slidus on Aug 21, 2005 8:24:29 GMT -7
By the way, I feel your pain brother, I've got arthritis which is getting a little worse each year as I get older. Guess we gotta suffer for our art! Adios, Slidus
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