pzaxtl
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by pzaxtl on Apr 5, 2009 16:59:17 GMT -7
Wasn't sure if I was going to post anything here or not since I'm already a regular on the Seymour Duncan forum and the Fine Woodworking forum. Keeping tabs with one more forum will probably keep my head spinning but you guys have managed to suck me in with all the great info I've gleaned here. So, my questions is: What will the Remedy do for me that the Route 66 doesn't already? I have a 15th Anniversary Route 66 with a 212 ZBest cab ( God, I love that amp!!!) and I'm thinking about getting a Remedy. My son says I should sell the Route and get the Remedy instead. Sell the Route?! No way -- I'd rather sell my kidneys. I'll keep the Route AND buy the Remedy (hehehe... he's gonna be jealous). Specifics would be great: Beyond the JTM-45 vs. Plexi characterization, how are they different tonally? Will the Remedy breakup sooner, at a lower volume? Cleans -- how do they compare? Does the Remedy get grittier, dirtier, spankier, chimier, whatever -- feel free to fill in your own adjectives. Thanks!!
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pzaxtl
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by pzaxtl on Apr 5, 2009 20:36:13 GMT -7
FWIW, I checked all the pertinent threads describing the Remedy vs various amps (including the Route) and they were helpful. I'm just looking for more detail. I don't want to buy an amp that is in the same neighborhood, tonally, as the Route, but one that has it's own unique thing going on.
14 views and no one has an idea?
C'mon, folks! Here's your chance to make Dr. Z some money ;D
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 5, 2009 20:46:28 GMT -7
Clean strat clip up in the Sounds section. No 66 experience here though, so I can't help on that front...
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pzaxtl
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by pzaxtl on Apr 5, 2009 22:15:05 GMT -7
Clean strat clip up in the Sounds section. No 66 experience here though, so I can't help on that front... Thanks, man! Let me see if I can simplify this some. If you own a Route, and had the opportunity to buy a Remedy would you do it? Why?
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Apr 6, 2009 16:32:07 GMT -7
They're really different amps. The Route 66 has the EF86 front end, the unique "treble and bass gain cut" controls, an ultralinear power section with fixed bias power tubes, and KT66's. The Remedy is a Plexi-ish sounding jumpered preamp design (12AX7 input) with more "standard" tone controls. It uses four cathode biased 6V6's and solid state rectification. It also has the killer half power switch. How does this affect the amp's sounds? First I must say that any discussion of the Route 66 must include the mention that examples built before 1999 or so had less power supply filtering, and therefore a different sound an feel from the 1999-present models. The earlier ones have a somewhat softer attack, a little more compression, and the infamous "overtones" or ghost notes as heard on the Free song "Fire and Water". I've got one of the first 66's, pre-ordered directly from the Doc in 1998. I know Doc used the "Beano" tone as the inspiration for the amp, but I've always thought that the 66 is a very unique sounding amp. The tone control design allows you to get a top end that breaks up while the bottom end stays clear, or a clear top end and a thicker bottom. Doc's EF86 front end amps take pedals better than almost anything out there, while giving the amp a unique feel and great sustain and tone even at low volumes. The KT66's have a unique sound, especially when run in ultralinear mode...the transition from clean to distortion is complex and subtle. The 66 *always* sounds thick, even with the bass control turned down. It's all about that huge fat midrange, big low end and a softer top. The older 66's have a softer attack that feels very "broken in"; they're very fun to play. I always said it's like an iron fist in a velvet glove. The post-1999 66's have a different feel, a little harder but great for rock. The Remedy is a *great* amp. I personally don't think there's any "overlap"; you could own both and not feel like you duplicated amps. The only problem is your 66 may get jealous The Remedy is more versatile due to the half power switch. In full power mode I'd say the volume is similar to the 66, although I haven't A/B tested mine for volume. The tone controls combined with the high and low volumes controls give the Remedy more flexibility in tone shaping/speaker cab matching. However, the Remedy breaks up "across the frequency band" like Marshalls do, so you can't do the "dirty top clean bottom" like the 66. The Remedy's got a *great* feel; it's got a lot of the percussiveness of a RxES or KT-45 (especially in full power mode) and great string-to-string definition, some of which gets blurred in the 66 with higher bass control settings just because the mids are so fat. The thing is the Remedy has that great attack but never feels "stiff" or hard to play; just the opposite, even at low volumes the sustain is incredible and the harmonics just jump out of the speaker. It's extremely fun to play. It may have a solid state rectifier but maybe because of the cathode biasing you'd never guess. I'd say that the Remedy will break up sooner, especially in half power mode. At least it will be more noticeable, as the 66 has a lot of "is it clean or is it dirty" smooth ultralinear tones that it goes through on the way to Beano-land. The Remedy also has great transitional tones, and cleans up fantastically with the guitar's volume control, but it is a Plexi sort of preamp and reacts like one. As far as cleans go, they're both great in my opinion, just different. The 66 has that fat midrange and warm top that give it a unique fat sound. The Remedy has a clearer but still Marshally sounding clean that does sound great for Hendrix's cleaner sounds like Castles Made of Sand, Little Wing, etc. and Dickey Betts. I do own a Route, and got a Remedy as well after hearing it at Z-Fest. Why? One listen to Curt playing it was all I needed. It's a very special amp for anyone who loves rock, blues rock, Southern rock, or any other fine music played through a Marshall. The half power switch is incredibly effective and sounds great. Actually, "half power" has the connotation of diminishing how good this mode sounds. Maybe it should be called "normal" and "double power". It's just *fun* to play; at least for me it produces the sound in my head and the feel under my fingers that I always wanted in a Marshall style amp.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 6, 2009 19:08:50 GMT -7
Very nice Phil.
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Post by jammergreg on Apr 6, 2009 19:20:35 GMT -7
I have never used the ''Full Power" mode at gigs just 1/2 power ....that said maybe an outdoor gig this summer I will get a chance to use full power ...At all my club situations I found 1/2 power like on 2 or 3 (nine o'clock on high vol. and 7: 30 on normal vol.) plenty of power in the clubs I play.. 25-100 people. What an AMP! ;D With my es 339 it sounds like Crossroads (CREAM) and w/ my Hamer more Dicky and Duane ala Bloomfield. What a nice combination; not to mention the ground my Grosh Strat covers.
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pzaxtl
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by pzaxtl on Apr 6, 2009 19:37:41 GMT -7
I do own a Route, and got a Remedy as well after hearing it at Z-Fest. Why? One listen to Curt playing it was all I needed. It's a very special amp for anyone who loves rock, blues rock, Southern rock, or any other fine music played through a Marshall. The half power switch is incredibly effective and sounds great. Actually, "half power" has the connotation of diminishing how good this mode sounds. Maybe it should be called "normal" and "double power". It's just *fun* to play; at least for me it produces the sound in my head and the feel under my fingers that I always wanted in a Marshall style amp. Hey, thanks, Phil! I think that was my greatest concern was getting another amp that was, essentially, just a variation on a tone I already had. You're post pretty much convinced me, that, and the clip by benttop. Definitely getting one! Now... how can I do this without my wife expecting me to sell something to fund it... hmmm, if I've got to sell something... the only thing I can think of would be the kids... ;D
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Post by guitarstan on Apr 7, 2009 4:11:53 GMT -7
Geez, you guys got me going now. Looks like I'm gonna have to get a Remedy. Where's my list of Gear To Sell? Dang! Gota have me some of that sound!
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Post by DRZ on Apr 7, 2009 5:15:08 GMT -7
Very nice Phil. Yes VERY nice X1000 Phil. I may use that on our new website..... Z
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Post by dock66 on Apr 7, 2009 10:38:18 GMT -7
You always have your ways with words Phil. Very nice.
JB
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 25, 2009 7:41:19 GMT -7
Any further opinions on this? I'm looking for JH Little Wing cleans and an excellent pedal platform. It looks like the Remedy could be it. I'm a sucker for 6V6 tone too.
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Post by taswegian on Apr 26, 2009 21:48:11 GMT -7
Well if you want the best tone in the world, get a Route66. If you want THAT Plexi tone you know and love in a 40 or 20 watt package done the Z way (top notch) get a Remedy. "Duck, Weave, run, stop and give some lip, start running again." ;D ;D ;D Yes I will have both someday.
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Post by jtguitar on Apr 28, 2009 6:40:55 GMT -7
I don't know... I've talked to the Z guys quite a bit about these two amps. To me it's Little Wing and Riviera Paradise that define cleans, and driven Plexi for dirty. Everyone I've talked to says you can't get that chime with the R-66 and that it's a slightly darker amp. It going to be Remedy for me.
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Post by smolder on Apr 28, 2009 7:29:41 GMT -7
You can get 'some' of that chime with the 66 if you dime the treble and play through a gold. But frankly... I prefer the warmth of the blues with the 66. I am usually seeking that duane and derek tone whether I know it or not.
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Post by Curt on Apr 28, 2009 15:54:37 GMT -7
Very nice Phil. Agreed.
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Post by johngourlay on May 17, 2009 2:10:39 GMT -7
Phil's review convinced me....
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