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Post by goodwillsteve on May 14, 2006 21:00:50 GMT -7
anyone owned both or at least played both? i own a maz jr and im looking to add one or the other to my rig. i know the rt 66 will be louder and all that but im wondering about sound. any suggestions/ comments are appreciated.
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Post by taswegian on May 14, 2006 22:36:37 GMT -7
I will undoubtedly get to play a Z28 next week (see Z28 hardluck story) I'll let you know my thoughts as I'll be able to compare them at the same time, same guitar, speakers, etc. Should be fun and devastating all at the same time!
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Post by prowler on May 15, 2006 5:41:31 GMT -7
tas... if there is any way you can record a few clips I'd appreciate it. I'm seriously considering adding a 28 to my line up.
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Post by Telemanic on May 15, 2006 12:50:48 GMT -7
Hi Goodwillsteve, up until very recently i owned both a 28 4-10 combo, and a RT.66. I find them in some ways very similar, tonaly. In fact close enough for my style, that i found that i was using them kind of interchangably. Now that being said,... the 66 is thicker in the mids, and if you do more twangy stuff, country-ish, i felt that the 28 handles that better for sure. I think that the ef-86 front end, and same type tone stack are largely responsible for the similarities. As well the 6v6's definately are going towards the sound of 6l6/kt66 etc. as opposed to say the el84's. For my playing style i eventually solidly landed on the 66, and the 28 began to collect dust. Its not that the 28 isnt incredible, it IS!!!! its just that the 66 is like the pefect old marshall, cranked, and i have a 65 vibrolux to handle the fendery duties. So.. with the 28 firmly somewhere in bettween those two camps, i just found for me, it was kind of overlap, and i sadly needed some funding for other endevours, and grudgingly let my beautiful gold front baby go. If money were no object.... well it'd still be right here!! If i had only one nice amp,.... well now that would be a tough choice. The 28 is quite versatile, and may be the winner, ( it can be pretty marshall-esq, dimed out, and quite fendery pulled back! ) Some may have another opinion, i'm only referencing it in regard to my style requirements. Now that being said, i would seriously consider the 66, being that youve got the MAZ already, which does great fendery stuff, clean, twang etc. BUT, while it has killer crunch and its own voxy/marshally thing goin on, it is an el84 amp, and i happen to love big bottles! I just think you could not go wrong with a 66 to "round " out your tone arsenal. I'm a little biased, cause i LOVE the 66, but you certainly would not be disapointed with the amazing 28 either!.... Good luck! P.S. >> my 4-10 combo was LOUD....even with a 28 head and 1-12, you may still need an airbrake to get it cookin in a smaller club. As well with the 66 too, obviously.
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Post by John on May 15, 2006 16:56:48 GMT -7
My two cents worth:
I agree with telemanic. If you've already got a Maz Jr, you'd be better off going with the Route 66. I have never played a Z28...but I do have both a Maz Jr and a Route 66.
They are probably as different as you can get in Z amps. Yup, the Maz has the Fendery twang (with overloads of VOX) and the 66 is like an old Marshall. LOTS of crunchy mids.
I basically go for two guitar sounds. Single coil Fenders with the Maz for the twang sound, and my Les Paul or ES335 with the Route 66 for that early Marshall sound. Toss a Fulldrive II in front of the 66 and I can't stop playing.
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Post by goodwillsteve on May 15, 2006 19:46:17 GMT -7
thanks so much for the detailed responses! you guys are awesome. im going to try and describe what im wanting to hear that i cant seem to pull out of my maz. im a pretty clean player. i really hate using overdrives and such but i have an OCD for a boost during choruses playing live. the thing is i need a real tight, big, solid hitting sound for my verse parts but not a big crunch on it. a little hair is good. the maz just seems to "wimp" out on me for this particular thing. i remember playing a 66 when i was test driving z's at fat sound but that was about 2 years ago. i guess i feel like it may be too much power for me and i was thinking the z28 might be able to get that sound also. im not a big airbraking fan but i guess i'll do what i gotta do. oh and one more thing: what are your thoughts on running either amp into dr z 2x10s?
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Post by windolph on May 16, 2006 7:32:44 GMT -7
Just like you, goodwillsteve, I too am using a G&L ASAT (1990 model). The ASAT sounds AMAZING through the 66! The thing that does it for me is the richness of the mid-range of this gtr/amp combo. It has that Hellecasters Matchless thing going if you like that tone, plenty of top end, as well as a more "open" sounding distortion when you crank it (compared to the more compressed sound of the Matchless).
I've never tried a 28, but I can testify to the greatness of the 66, especially with a G&L ASAT. My 2 cents.
David
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Post by billyguitar on May 16, 2006 8:49:22 GMT -7
Re: Z's 2 x 10 Other guys may disagree but I think it is a very neutral cabinet. What goes in comes out. It's open back so your not going to get huge pillows of billowing bass but that's the bass players department anyway. I think it has a very strong fundemental to the midrange. That and the small size and light weight are why I have one on order.
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Post by Stumpy on May 16, 2006 13:44:16 GMT -7
I have both and all I can say is they both have unique qualities that make each of them special.
There is one thing you mentioned "the thing is i need a real tight, big, solid hitting sound for my verse parts but not a big crunch on it." IMHO, they are both tight but I would say the 66 can do what you describe more so than the Z28. The Z28 though, has some top end sparkle that goes beyond the 66. They are both great, It really would be just personal preference on which amp you prefer.
Just resign yourself to the fact you will need to own both at some point in time so you can decide and you can't loose! ;D
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Post by James on May 16, 2006 15:05:49 GMT -7
Amen...Stumpy.... another thought is that you can really Really increase the top end sparkle on the Rt 66 by adding a nice clean boost like the xotic RC...........makes it a very versatile amp....I have been enjoying my RC and the 66 immensley! I have been running both my maz and my rt 66 (with airbrake) at my gigs and loving it! Hums---70's rock, blues, p90's -Rt66......... T- wang and coils(maz)...........I have been able to nail every tone I wanted to cover with this setup. ( I am saving for the z-28 though......definately my next Z..........oh, unless of course Z "births" some type of 6L6 model......).......and a stingray would be nice..... P L E A S E ...h e l p me o U T T a c o n t r o l ............. <
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Post by taswegian on May 17, 2006 7:22:14 GMT -7
I think Z is working on a 6L6 model now. Or at least it was going to be the next model before Kurt passed on. I imagine whatever it is, it will sound stellar through Z's 4-10 cab!
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Post by Curt on May 17, 2006 11:26:38 GMT -7
All things mentioned above are accurate IMO, I have owned both and one thing that amazed me was they were VERY close in volume........Most will need to break either depending largely on speaker choice.
+1 on the 66 for whay you say you need....66 = big fat mids and bottom, it is my preferance between the two.
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Post by goodwillsteve on May 17, 2006 14:02:23 GMT -7
thats pretty much all i needed to hear. i do believe i'll be makin a trip to fat sound sometime in the near future just to make sure the 66 is what i need. im crossing my fingers that it'll put out through 2 10s. i'll keep ya posted. thanks to everyone for their two cents worth.
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Post by James on May 17, 2006 14:52:22 GMT -7
gw steve.........+1 for givin' us all a reason to talk up our 66's!
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Post by taswegian on May 17, 2006 19:00:00 GMT -7
Gwsteve, if you go to Fat Sounds try to play it through a 2-10 as I seem to remember alot of guys saying that it was their least favorite cab with the 66, only because it has (their opinion) a strong mid presence and the 66 does also. I haven't played through a 2-10 cab so I can't comment but I will get to play mine through a Z 4-10 very soon. Billyguitar says they are pretty neutral and he's a great source of information. So definitely try it through a 2-10 if you can, I'm sure it will still sound great, just depends on what your needs are and the sound in your head, but you can work that out after you get the most awesome amp ever! ;D
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Post by goodwillsteve on May 17, 2006 20:21:07 GMT -7
yeah i had planned on doing a couple cab combos just to see. i was hoping to be able to switch between my maz and the 66 through my 2x10 maz combo. just to keep cost and rig size down. we'll see how i feel after i play it. and jmm... thanks for the karma!
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Post by Curt on May 17, 2006 20:56:23 GMT -7
FWIW my '96 G&L ASAT special was my favorite guitar with the route 66.
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Post by groovergeorge on May 19, 2006 7:11:13 GMT -7
If the good Dr is in the process of introducing a 6L6 based I'd certainly love to see something along the lines of a 1x15 combo very similar to Fenders great 1960's Vibroverb that the late SRV made famous. A friend of mine owns one of the original 400 or so ever made and plays his 63' olympic white strat into it with astonishly good results. For outright blues at small to medium sized gigs with the volume set around 4 (sweet spot) there is hardly any other amp that comes close. Back on the topic of the 28' vs 66'. I can't say what the 66' is like but I found the 28' very tight and focused in the mids,the top end was bright, but not quite as piercing as a Maz sr or Fender deluxe it's closest rival, although the one I played did have a greenback in it and not a Jensen so that no doubt played an important part in the tone factor. Cranked,the 28' took on a way more aggressive nature than a Fender and to me suited a humbucker loaded guitar more than a strat. I decided against it in the end but thats not to say that it wasn't a really good amp,just not me. I used to own a Marshall JTM 45 head that absolutely screamed through an old basketweave 2x12 greenback cab. To me there isn't a sweeter (humbucker) sound than a Les Paul into one of those, they say the 66 is the good Doc's version of that so I am very keen to play one if I ever get the chance. I think if you are after a (bigger) sound if that is the right word and can get around the volume factor (19jmm68's)comment about the route 66' being blues/rock and Maz for twang could be right on the money. I gotta stop reading these damn posts, they don't do anything to help my G.A.S addiction. Be warned if you hang around here too long you will start to develop a case of MYLES-a-sightus. Your collection of Z will increase but so will your credit card debt! Good luck , I hope you find the right choice...........If I had the dollarez right now that 6545 on ebay right now would be comin' down under on the big FED-EX bird in the sky. Don't want the bank to re-possess my house and my wife to leave me so I might just leave that one for now. "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THEW FREE WORLD"
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Post by windolph on May 19, 2006 11:07:17 GMT -7
Amen to a 1x15 Z combo. I special ordered the 15" from the Fender '64 Vibroverb RI. Made by Eminence. Built a small cabinet to match my Route 66. It sounds amazing!
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Post by taswegian on May 24, 2006 6:33:29 GMT -7
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Post by twotontone on Jun 1, 2006 9:13:27 GMT -7
One last thing to add here. I have owned both of these amps, and the sparkle that the 28 has over the 66 wasn't enough for me to surrender my 66. I put a celestion alnico blue along side a celestion G12H-30 in the Avatar Premier 2x12 open back cab and have never looked back! If there is anyone who wishes their 66 was a little more "open" or "brighter" or if you're looking for that little bit of "magic"sprinkled over the high end, I STRONGLY sugggest this spkr. config.. I have found my tone ....and it is good.
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Post by LeftyLang on Jun 1, 2006 13:25:24 GMT -7
One last thing to add here. I have owned both of these amps, and the sparkle that the 28 has over the 66 wasn't enough for me to surrender my 66. I put a celestion alnico blue along side a celestion G12H-30 in the Avatar Premier 2x12 open back cab and have never looked back! If there is anyone who wishes their 66 was a little more "open" or "brighter" or if you're looking for that little bit of "magic"sprinkled over the high end, I STRONGLY sugggest this spkr. config.. I have found my tone ....and it is good. I would love to hear this speaker combo...any sound files ??
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Post by taswegian on Jun 1, 2006 19:42:42 GMT -7
I totally agree. I've thought about that combination as it would also reduce the volume a fair bit too. My trouble is, I love the stock Z-best as is too. I think this may be my "next" speaker combination though.
I'm also looking to save my 66 and GEC KT66's from the rigors of week to week covers!
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Post by James on Jun 2, 2006 7:07:02 GMT -7
Whew!.....................The local shop got a z 28 head yesterday..........What a great amp!!!!!
This was the first time I ever got to play one and I must say, its a real GEM. It was atop a rt 66, both on top of a z best. I am waiting for the right used deal or I would have snapped it up. Trying to be patient here. There is a gold face on Ebay.......but it looks kinda beat up......I know its no big deal really, but, I am a geek that way.....
Anyway, I posted in this thread because I got to AB the 66 and z28.........and much to my happiness, they are very different amps. Of course, the tone stacks are the same, but NOT the tone. My happiness stems from the fact that now I can justify owning both !
I'd start to go into my comparison.......but, really, all of the guys on this forumn have done a great job in describing both amps..........
I am a bucker fanatic mostly........and this pair of amps seems like just the perfect duo. I love the wide open airy distortion of the 66...........and at the same time, I love the fact that I can get some nice zz top grind out of the 28 at a lower volume.......I also like the z 28 better for rolling back the volume on the guitar........stays more sparkey than the bigg 66......of course, they both have their inherint "transatlantic" differences in tone as well........
.......and..........Hearing the 2 28 thru the z best just made me love that cab even more...
BTW, I finally got around to buying that "Howlers" disc. Wow, some really signiture 66 tones in that mix!
cheers
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