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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Aug 23, 2005 16:48:52 GMT -7
For a long time I've been considering a Mazerati. Never heard one in person, but based on everything I've read on this site and other websites I called a dealer tonight to buy the 1x12 combo they had in stock. The guy talked me out of it!
From what I've read about this amp, it has beautiful, clear and chimy tones, and it is quite loud with loads of clean headroom, with just a hint of hair at higher levels. I've also read that the single tone control is voiced so well that you don't miss all the other knobs.
The sales rep at the store told me that it is a midrangier, honkier tone than a Maz Jr (my reference point, I have one of these), and that the Mazerati doesn't have much headroom - less than a Maz38. He also told me that while the amp sounds good for what it does, the single tone control is pretty limited.
I didn't buy the amp based on his description. Was this guy way off base, or have I formulated the wrong impression of what a Mazerati sounds like?
I know that the ideal situation would be to audition one in person, but there are no dealers near me, and the dealers that are even a half a day's drive away don't have any in stock.
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Mike
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Mike on Aug 23, 2005 17:02:04 GMT -7
That guy doesnt sound like a very good salesman! I have a Maz Sr and a Mazerati and the Mazerati is my favorite. It doesnt have as much headroom as the Maz Sr but it still has a lot of clean headroom. The Maz Sr can be Fenderish at times and Voxy at times if you want. The Mazerati is big fat full cleans and can get some grit also. It definately falls toward the Vox side. I never find myself wishing for more tone control. One thing about the Mazerati was that I did not get most out of it for me until I ran it through a pair of Celestion Blues.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Aug 23, 2005 17:10:50 GMT -7
Mike, how loud can you run it and stay clean? Can it hang un-miced in a band setting and stay clean? I don't mean solid-state, super crystal clean - warm clean with the slightest hair is what I mean.
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Post by Laroosco!! on Aug 23, 2005 18:18:21 GMT -7
The Mazerati is a great clean sounding amp. Very dynamic.
I like the Mazerati a lot more than the Maz Sr.
That salesman is a dumass IMO
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Post by jzguitar on Aug 23, 2005 18:20:34 GMT -7
Hey ignatius
I agree with Mike - nice big fat clean tones! (I've got the 1X12 combo). I run overdrive pedals most of the time and it sounds great with anything I've thrown at it. I use a 5751 tube in V1 and for the PI, so that gives me a little more headroom I guess. I usually run the volume anywhere from 8 to 10 o'clock and it's pretty loud and clean. I also run a 1X12 extension cabinet to fatten it up even more. I don't mind the single tone knob, either - it seems to be voiced just right. I've heard that using a really good rectifier tube can give you a bit more clean headroom, although I haven't tried that yet. Hope this helps! If you are anywhere near Nashville, you are welcome to check mine out.
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Post by UnclePat on Aug 24, 2005 4:50:14 GMT -7
I'd have to agree that salesman is a moron. Depending on how you use your guitar volume knob, you can still get some nice clean stuff with a Mazerati running "WFO" (wide f*ckin' open) and even moreso with the use of single coil pickups. I use a Mazerati head with a separate 1-12" cab (G12H30) and it's the best live rig I've ever used. Plug it in, turn it on and forget about it. No futzing and tweaking a gazillion knobs and presets, just sweet tone that you know will be consistent from one gig to another.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Aug 24, 2005 4:59:05 GMT -7
Hey Uncle Pat, good to hear from you. I've seen your name in other places (no, not in gas station rest rooms) and I know you're a Z fan. So is the Mazerati nice and loud at those mostly-clean, WFO settings? I will be miking this in 90% of the situations I'll be in, but for the sake of comparison I'm trying to find out if this thing can hang in there at high volumes.
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Mike
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Mike on Aug 24, 2005 5:13:46 GMT -7
It is louder than a Vox AC30 if that will help you any. Like JZ said switch your preamp tubes around and get a little more clean headroom. He is running 5751's in both slots. On Zac's advice I just switched my v1 and PI tubes and I was good to go. One thing I noticed playing through different speaker cabs and types really gives the amp different character. Make sure you explore those options.
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Post by UnclePat on Aug 24, 2005 10:24:47 GMT -7
Absolutely. That's the final say in ANY amp's tone...the speaker.
ignatius, it's loud enough that I can only use it for outdoor gigs around here, and still expect to run it hot as I like to do. I've grown away from distortion pedals over the last few years, and I feel like I just "sound a lot better" for having done so. I was originally looking for a Maz Sr head, but tried the Mazerati on a whim because I liked the two-knob simplicity after using a Carmen Ghia for a couple of years. Depending on the speaker cab you have in mind...closed-back for me, for better projection...there's a lot of juice for most any stage application. Getting loud AND clean then falls on your picking attack, guitar volume, etc....the little things. I would stay away from farty speakers like greenbacks that can't handle the low end, but that's just me. I used to run them with an older Rx model 2x12, and they would fall to pieces when I cranked on it. (I guess they work better in a closed 4x12...?)
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