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Post by evildoc on Jan 21, 2006 7:05:32 GMT -7
Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've posted here...had a very hectic holiday season and I've had to lay the guitar down for a few weeks...
anyway, I've got some x-mas cash burning a hole in my pocket and I think my used Ghia here needs a friend.
So I'm thinking one of two different amps:
MazJr 18 w/verb or Z-28
Granted, they're both, from what I can read, different amps....I'm suspecting I'm going to want them all some day ;D But for now, I'm thinking of adding one of them.
Can you guys with experience of both of the above mentioned amps (or all 3) offer some insight as to the differences in tone, feel, responsiveness of each amp. This would help me solidify my decission process, as I don't live very close to a Z dealer...
Thanks so much!
Clint
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Post by pickupcentral on Jan 21, 2006 8:04:21 GMT -7
I can't speak to the Z28 question, but my first Z was a MAZ 18. So I'm more of a Maz owner with a Ghia! The az 18 is clear. Even running a pedal with a lot of distortion, every note comes out. I am kinda of used to it now, but when new I was amazed at how every note had definition. Flexible EQ. The cut knob is handy for switching from darker to brighter guitars. I use it clean, with pedals added for dirt. Master full up, and adjusting the volume control for, um, volume. I have the NR version.
I have found that the Maz is more versatile and has more clean headroom than the Ghia. It doesn't do the greasy fat thing like the Ghia. There are some things only the Ghia can do. I find the two amps complement each other.
I hope this helps. It is hard to verbalize these things.
-Phil
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Post by Bill on Jan 21, 2006 8:32:55 GMT -7
A couple thoughts: since you have a Ghia, a Maz Jr would offer you a broad EQ , with master volume and cut. A Z28 would move you into "Fendery" 6V6 territory, only with an amazingly strong bottom. Each amp would be a significant departure from the Ghia.
It's not on your list but I wouldn't rule out a Maz Sr either. More headroom than any of the other 3 and would be an excellent compliment to the Ghia. And don't even get me started on the RxES... ;D
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Post by sicktone on Jan 21, 2006 9:17:16 GMT -7
I agree with all of the above. The "journey" has lots of tough decisions I have a Ghia that has become my "go to" amp. A buddy and I went to our local Z dealer and played through everything. Z stuff is SO good that I wanted to buy one of everything. The amp that really spoke to me was the Z-28. It's a very different animal than the Ghia. Similar volume, but it seems to be the ultimate "2nd Channel" for the Ghia. ( Also, rpavich's avatar picture put me in serious gas mode!) The cleans are beautiful and it can seriously rock as well. This setup seems to cover the most ground for my tastes. I've had a Maz 18 - it was killer and I may own another someday, but the Ghia covers some of that territory. The 38 NR has some serious mojo. The Mazerati is like the Ghia on steroids, but once again, different. The 6545 is one of the best channel switchers ever. Who am I kidding...I'll probably end up with the "Myles overflowing alcove of Z amps". I still don't know how the Dr. sells such phenomenal amps for such a great price. After walking the floor at NAMM this year, I didn't even flinch on my Z stuff. Nobody has amps that do the Z thing. I don't know if that hurts or helps, enjoy the journey!
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Post by evildoc on Feb 1, 2006 23:15:14 GMT -7
Hey guys,
I'm still not out of the woods on this decission...
Which amp would be the furthest departure from the Ghia..? (so there isn't any redundancy on my amps...)
-C
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dave
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by dave on Feb 2, 2006 3:16:34 GMT -7
I'm fairly new to this but for what its worth my first Z was a Z-28 followed up quickly with a Ghia. There is a region where tone overlaps but at equivalent volumes the Z-28 does twang superbly the Ghia does crunch superbly. Overlap occurs with humbuckers on the Z-28 which gives a great plexi-like sound, and the Z-28 fendery clean sound can be got on the Ghia but at slightly lower volume. They are both just so right in terms of power so you can get the sweet spot at a reasonable stage volume. I love'em both!
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Post by bluzsteel on Feb 2, 2006 5:40:28 GMT -7
you've got 18 watts ,get something with some more guts .....Maz 38 with verb
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Post by guitarman1 on Feb 2, 2006 7:50:15 GMT -7
you've got 18 watts ,get something with some more guts .....Maz 38 with verb I agree bluzsteel. A Sr just sounds much bigger than a Jr. For me, a Ghia and Jr are too close. A Sr can cover just about any size gig with lots of clean headroom and big bottom. I'd also check out the Stingray threads & sound clips. From what I've heard, I might trade my wife for one.
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Post by evildoc on Feb 2, 2006 9:04:23 GMT -7
Honestly guys....the 18-watt amps that I have (and I've got 3, a ghia, a tophat club deluxe and a marshall 18watt clone) are far more amp than I will ever need. For live work, if I need more headroom than a single amp can provide, I simply wheel in another amp and run it parallel to the original amp. Instant 36 watter! Doing this, instead of just using a higher wattage amp has some significant advantages...The tonal complexity of playing through two amps cant be beat and the low end that one would get from a bigger wattage amp is still achieved with the 2nd amp. So having said that, my goal with this next amp that I buy, is to find something that is tonally a departure from the ghia, the tophat and the marshall... Plus I do far more recording and home play with these amps than live play....anything over 20 watts in my home studio is overkill to the highest order. So the idea with getting the maz 18 jr or the z-28 is to find something that is either very unique to the above mentioned amps...or something that sits in between them nicely. Plus, I love just collecting these small wattage amps (although the wife is about ready to pull the plug on my operation here! )...I used to have a wall of 100watters here...and the smaller ones have far more character.... regardless, thanks for the suggestions so far!
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Post by bluzsteel on Feb 2, 2006 9:15:28 GMT -7
no big gigs in the future? get a Mini I hear they are great for recording
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Post by squeallydan on Feb 2, 2006 15:38:00 GMT -7
I haven't played a mini- yet, but I have to agree with Bluesteel the mini- sounds like the ticket. It's small and is probably different than what you have. I know Brad Paisley said he recorded some of the guitar parts on his most recent album with a mini.
I know what your saying about wattage. I have a Maz Jr. and a Carmen Ghia and they both work well for gigging. I play some fairly big rooms quite often, and the Maz seems to work well even for those. I mic. everything and I can always turn my monitor up, but I never really need to. I think if I had a Maz Sr. I would never be able to crank it loud enough to work the tubes.
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Post by sicktone on Feb 2, 2006 16:49:06 GMT -7
My current fave setup. I love all of the Z's, but I took Myles advice on this rig and I couldn't be happier. My music room is going to look like Myles "Z-ampbar" (wetbar) someday
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Post by zane on Feb 2, 2006 18:24:18 GMT -7
I have a trio of Z's...MAZ JR, GHIA, & a MINI-Z.... I would LOVE to get a Z-28 Looking to sell the Z-Best if anyone is interested ...listed in the Buy,Sell,& Trade section
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Post by guitarman1 on Feb 3, 2006 8:07:15 GMT -7
My current fave setup. I love all of the Z's, but I took Myles advice on this rig and I couldn't be happier. My music room is going to look like Myles "Z-ampbar" (wetbar) someday Very, very cool looking Germino cab. He makes some awesome amps. Best Marshall clones I've ever tried. Is that grill cloth the "Marshall Black & Tan". Mojotone sells something that looks like this and I was thinking about getting some. Here is a pic from there website. Is yours the same stuff?
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Post by sicktone on Feb 3, 2006 11:07:09 GMT -7
It looks close. This was a custom job from Greg Germino about a year ago. He may have been using Mojotone to build his cabinets at that time. The guys at Mojotone are great to deal with--I'd shoot them an email. Here is a closeup of my grill cloth--hope it helps!
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Post by guitarman1 on Feb 6, 2006 9:01:23 GMT -7
Thanks sicktone. I really appreciate the photo.
Here's some karma.
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