Post by mattsblues on Feb 11, 2010 9:23:32 GMT -7
I wanted to post an update regarding my Galaxie. If anybody has followed this Gal forum you have probably seen a few post by me regarding issues I was having with my Galaxie.
I purchased my Galaxie new last summer (June 09) and the tone that came from the pretty red amp was great. I received compliments by many regarding the great sound. I thought it was a great ambassador to Z products and I was always happy to talk it up.
Over the course of time I noticed the tone start shifting towards the bassy side until the low end overpowered the mids and highs. It got to the point where when I played a gig, the treble was maxed and the bass was turned down to the point where you start to lose some of the amp and it was still too bassy. I started getting frustrated with the amp because in my head, I knew the tone I wanted, I knew what it used to sound like and I couldn't get it.
After trying a few things I contacted Brent in hopes he could shed some light on the issue. He said he hadn't heard anything similar to my situation with the Galaxie and first recommended changing the preamp tubes thinking one of them may of been off. After going through a few sets of preamp tubes the tone sounded the exact same. He then recommended changing the power tubes which I did, but to no avail. Then the recti and even a different reci type. From a 5U4 to a 5AR4 (or something of the sort) to help cut some of the low end. That helped a little bit but still was bad.
After Brent ran out of ideas he then turned it over to Z. After conversing a bit about it he recommended me sending it back for him to look over. I did so and a week later - I was amazed at how quick the turn around was - I received the amp back and it sounded the same to me but I wanted to give it another chance to shine. The following day we had a gig and I brought her out hoping that she'd scream again. Unfortunately afterwards, a few friends of mine confirmed my fear and what my ears heard, the amp sounded the same.
I need to throw this in the middle of my update -- While the amp was at Z getting looked at, a fantastic player was in town by the name of Michael Burks. We were out at his show when he approached me and asked "have your guitar with you?" Apparently a local fan of mine who knew Mike told him I was an up and comer and that he should get me up to play (thanks again Michael). Obviously I was floored to get to play with a man whose CD's I have worn out over the years. After the show we chatted for quite a while about everything. While on the subject of equipment we chatted about Zs and the Galaxie. I hadn't a clue Michael played a Galaxie when he plays in Europe. He spoke very highly of the amp and we chatted about some details in regards to the amp. I figured if it is good enough and works that well for Iron Man, it should do wonders for me. Faith restored!
A few days afterwards we called Z and starting mulling it over. We nor did he have a clue what was causing this. After chatting a bit Z offered to go way above and beyond anything I would of ever dreamed of to help me get this thing sounding good again. He built a new amp and sent it to my local Z dealer for a bit of comparing. We made the trip to the Z dealer after it arrived with high hopes.
We first plugged my rig in and I played with my father and two employees of the dealer in their Z amp room. After a few minutes of playing we switched to the new Gal chassis and we all immediately noticed a difference - I noticed a huge difference but I spent many many hours on this rig. I was floored, the thing actually shot flames (not literally) but this thing sounded great, like I remembered. I'm sure everybody thought I was strange by the giant grin on my face. We compared the two another time and we all still noticed the difference. The massive low end was gone.
Long story short, this thing is a beast and I have to apologize sincerely to Z for a few comments I made in regards to the amp. He went well above and beyond anything he had to do to make a customer happy. I was extremely impressed. It isn't every day you get service like that. This amp is a beast and I have refound (if that is even a word) my love for this amp and will play it till it stops working. I'm a Z customer for life I believe.
Thank you Doc.
Best,
Matt
I purchased my Galaxie new last summer (June 09) and the tone that came from the pretty red amp was great. I received compliments by many regarding the great sound. I thought it was a great ambassador to Z products and I was always happy to talk it up.
Over the course of time I noticed the tone start shifting towards the bassy side until the low end overpowered the mids and highs. It got to the point where when I played a gig, the treble was maxed and the bass was turned down to the point where you start to lose some of the amp and it was still too bassy. I started getting frustrated with the amp because in my head, I knew the tone I wanted, I knew what it used to sound like and I couldn't get it.
After trying a few things I contacted Brent in hopes he could shed some light on the issue. He said he hadn't heard anything similar to my situation with the Galaxie and first recommended changing the preamp tubes thinking one of them may of been off. After going through a few sets of preamp tubes the tone sounded the exact same. He then recommended changing the power tubes which I did, but to no avail. Then the recti and even a different reci type. From a 5U4 to a 5AR4 (or something of the sort) to help cut some of the low end. That helped a little bit but still was bad.
After Brent ran out of ideas he then turned it over to Z. After conversing a bit about it he recommended me sending it back for him to look over. I did so and a week later - I was amazed at how quick the turn around was - I received the amp back and it sounded the same to me but I wanted to give it another chance to shine. The following day we had a gig and I brought her out hoping that she'd scream again. Unfortunately afterwards, a few friends of mine confirmed my fear and what my ears heard, the amp sounded the same.
I need to throw this in the middle of my update -- While the amp was at Z getting looked at, a fantastic player was in town by the name of Michael Burks. We were out at his show when he approached me and asked "have your guitar with you?" Apparently a local fan of mine who knew Mike told him I was an up and comer and that he should get me up to play (thanks again Michael). Obviously I was floored to get to play with a man whose CD's I have worn out over the years. After the show we chatted for quite a while about everything. While on the subject of equipment we chatted about Zs and the Galaxie. I hadn't a clue Michael played a Galaxie when he plays in Europe. He spoke very highly of the amp and we chatted about some details in regards to the amp. I figured if it is good enough and works that well for Iron Man, it should do wonders for me. Faith restored!
A few days afterwards we called Z and starting mulling it over. We nor did he have a clue what was causing this. After chatting a bit Z offered to go way above and beyond anything I would of ever dreamed of to help me get this thing sounding good again. He built a new amp and sent it to my local Z dealer for a bit of comparing. We made the trip to the Z dealer after it arrived with high hopes.
We first plugged my rig in and I played with my father and two employees of the dealer in their Z amp room. After a few minutes of playing we switched to the new Gal chassis and we all immediately noticed a difference - I noticed a huge difference but I spent many many hours on this rig. I was floored, the thing actually shot flames (not literally) but this thing sounded great, like I remembered. I'm sure everybody thought I was strange by the giant grin on my face. We compared the two another time and we all still noticed the difference. The massive low end was gone.
Long story short, this thing is a beast and I have to apologize sincerely to Z for a few comments I made in regards to the amp. He went well above and beyond anything he had to do to make a customer happy. I was extremely impressed. It isn't every day you get service like that. This amp is a beast and I have refound (if that is even a word) my love for this amp and will play it till it stops working. I'm a Z customer for life I believe.
Thank you Doc.
Best,
Matt