Did I hear my name?
Mentioning the KT and EZG in any thread is sure to get me to respond...
Let's see...well, where to start....the KT has an EF86 front end and the "small box head" (28/45/66/88) preamp, so on a scale of 1-10 it takes pedals like an "11". It also gives it that certain feel that only the EF86 input tube amps have: a certain richness, a feel like you have unlimited headroom for large strings/high input signals, and it keeps those characteristics even at very low volume levels.
The KT does cleans extremely well but it's got more of a "flat" or neutral midrange compared to other Z's. The lows (whether the amp is SS or tube rectified) are extremely tight. With the SS rectifier the low end is scary tight; it does that "clang" you hear SRV do at the end of songs on the low "E" extremely well. The KT is capable of more highs via the treble control than the other small box heads, more than any Z except the RxJr/RxES in my opinion.
On the cleaner settings the clarity, definition and string balance are awesome. It kills in this mode with a Ric. Because of the "flatter" mids it really accentuates the "notch" in pickup positions 2 and 4 on a Strat; Mark Knopfler would love this amp. Notes just pop off the fretboard.
More than a couple of guys have said that the neck position Strat sounds are the best they've ever heard; and that SRV would love this amp.
It has plenty of clarity to sound great on the wound strings of humbucking equipped guitars too.
The KT does a great grind at high volumes in "Pete Townshend" mode, but it's really loud. The grind does sound just like the clean sound, if that makes sense. It retains the same characteristics.
The EZG has more of a "conventional" front end, but it sounds and feels differently than my Super Reverb or other Fenders. I have a feeling that Doc did a couple of his tricks to the front end but I haven't traced the circuit out to find out; I'm too busy playing.
It's got more sustain and clarity than my SR especially at lower volumes. It's got a wider sweet spot than my SR too; partly due to the inclusion of the "pre" volume control.
It takes pedals very well; not *quite* as well as the KT. It's a 9.5 on the 10 scale.
The lows that the EZG puts out are nothing short of scary. They're not as immediate as the SS recto KT-45 but they feel like they go an octave deeper and they're plenty tight. It sounds like someone's playing bass and doubling everything you do. Check out the massive transformers in back; that's part of the reason. There's no flubby bass like my SR can get if you're not careful.
The mids on the EZG are very warm and smooth, as are the highs. It's a very warm, refined sounding amp. It doesn't have the all out clarity of the KT, partly due to the KT's lack of a traditional tone control network and the EZG's built-in reverb. The EZG still has plenty of clarity. I would define the EZG as a "lower midrange" leaning amp. It's got big fat ankles and HUGE feet.
The KT is a more balanced amp frequency wise but leans toward the treble side. You can turn down the treble and get a warm sound but the amp just wants to give you more clarity than you've ever heard.
They're both incredible amps but they both do things the other won't. The KT has clarity to spare and could be the perfect pedal platform. It does the grind but only at extremely high volumes. The EZG is the best clean amp I've ever played thanks to its rich sound and fat low end. It can do a great blues grind too but also at higher volumes. The KT can do the "high end breakup/tight low end" Dr. Z small box head thing, where the EZG's breakup is across the spectrum (when it does finally break up). When the KT does break up it's EL34 crushed glass clang, where the EZG is more 6L6 overdrive.