brion
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by brion on Sept 9, 2005 6:24:50 GMT -7
I recently traded my RT66 for a Z28 head which I run through a Jenkins 2x10 with '80's celestion g10s50's(?) or a Theile ported 1x12 with a G12H30 (for now). I've always dug my FDII with my Maz Jr, but really don't like it at all with the Z28. I have a MI audio Blue Boy that I think might sound decent, but it's not behaving right now so I can't try it. My Lovepedal COT is too bright and My Keeley modded TS9 doesn't do it for me either. I have not tried the BD2 yet. I use a Tele, Strat Or Newport to play Blues, Rock, Jazz or country. I'm just looking for a good overdrive for a medium gain tone that plays nice with the 28. I've been wanting to try the Barber DD and a few Menatone products (I had a Blue Collar once and it was nice, but a little gainier than I'm looking for currently). What do you use with your Z28?
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Post by terryg on Sept 9, 2005 7:47:03 GMT -7
At the moment I'm running analogman stuff, in this order: Sunlion (beano side = low/full), Beano (mid or treble), [looper TB switch] -> TS-9 "Silver." The fuzz and beanos don't really help me at all, until the amp itself is running hot...that is, the volume is at about 11-12 or so. I understand this is normal behavior for these types of pedals, too. I'm also using higher-output humbuckers. When everything is cooking they have a useful effect, but only then. The TS-9 is fine for me with lower amp settings.
Don't forget to do unexpected things with the tone controls on the amp. Even when the volume is in the 9 o'clock range they have an impact. What do you have in the amp as far as tubes?
Congrats on the amp, btw.
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brion
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by brion on Sept 9, 2005 9:26:51 GMT -7
It's running stock tubes right now. I have 2 Phillips EF86's From Holland and some JJ6V6's. I haven't had too much time to play it yet as I'm moving into a new house and preparing for that has taken most of my free time. When I have more time, I'll experiment with tubes. I know I'll put 1 of the Phillips EF86's in and I'll try an AX7 in the P.I slot. I'm not sure that those celestion 10's are the best choice for speakers and I have not had the chance to try the amp through the G12H30 loaded cab. I wonder if Dr Z would sell a pair of his 10" speakers to me?
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Post by Curt on Sept 9, 2005 12:56:47 GMT -7
I use a Keeley BD-2 with my Z-28 and I like it alot. I am looking at getting a ZenDrive to try as well.
I have the Keeley TS-9 and just use it as a kind of "clean boost" thing.
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brion
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by brion on Sept 9, 2005 17:46:19 GMT -7
My BD2 is not modded, but I'll have to try it.
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Post by rpavich on Sept 10, 2005 4:47:43 GMT -7
Hi, I use an RC Booster from Xotic. I also have an AC Booster but use it less; it's only there to get really over the top dirt when needed...which is almost never..
My Ghia also likes these pedals.
bob
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Post by arniez on Sept 11, 2005 19:15:18 GMT -7
I have used a Sparkle Drive and a Fulltone OCD with my Z28 and they both sound great. My Bad Monkey also works well. I don't think you could goto far wrong with any of them. ArnieZ
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 12, 2005 7:07:22 GMT -7
dont use a bd-2 unless it is modded....the keeley mod is simply incredible....u have to mess with it a while to get it right with your rig, and it sounds way way better at higher volumes, but its a smokin pedal
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 12, 2005 7:10:36 GMT -7
oh yeah...also the keeley fuzz head is sick...u can set it so it does an overdrive kinda thing, but it can also go to an awsome fuzz tone......i have to plug the hell out of keeley stuff.....not only does it sound great, but they are the most musical pedals i have ever played.....once you get to know them, they really become a part of your playing, rather than a part of your pedal board
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Post by UnclePat on Sept 12, 2005 15:39:59 GMT -7
I really enjoy a Visual Sounds Route 66 with a Z amp. I've used it with 4 different amps now (a older Prescription, a Carmen Ghia, a Mazerati and a Z-28) and it's done very well with all of them. The Z-28, with it's own brand of sparkle and crunch, seems to be the best fit for this pedal for what I play. The 66 has a compressor side for sustain and/or clean boost, along with the distortion side that I leave turned way down for a little extra hair on the sound I use 90% of the time. A little tweak on the guitar volume goes a long way with this pedal, which acts a lot like an amp itself. You can use either side, or both sides at the same time for some over-the-top stuff. It's the one pedal I never leave home without. I don't always use it, but when I do it's very predictable and easy as hell to dial in quickly.
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Post by cementman on Sept 13, 2005 9:06:41 GMT -7
i have used an ocd with my maz 38 and it sounded way too harsh, but a keeley modded ts9 was perfect. but with my z-28 the ocd just shined. and the ts9 wasnt as outstanding. the best one of all that worked well with all amps i have owned was a fulltone fulldrive 2. for some reason i cant keep them and have owned 3 and always trade/sell them off. maybe one day i will get my head on straight for the amps i have. one pedal that is picky with amps is a nick greer peacemaker.
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Post by Bill on Sept 13, 2005 9:29:08 GMT -7
i have used an ocd with my maz 38 and it sounded way too harsh, but a keeley modded ts9 was perfect. but with my z-28 the ocd just shined. and the ts9 wasnt as outstanding. the best one of all that worked well with all amps i have owned was a fulltone fulldrive 2. for some reason i cant keep them and have owned 3 and always trade/sell them off. maybe one day i will get my head on straight for the amps i have. one pedal that is picky with amps is a nick greer peacemaker. That sounds all too familiar. One pedal I have had success with using a variety of Z amps is the Visual Sound Rt 66, otherwise all other pedals have been hit or miss. The 66 was especially nice with my Maz Jr. I did order a Zendrive, due to be shipped 9-28. My ongoing search for the "Holy Grail" pedal ;D
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Post by jzguitar on Sept 13, 2005 10:17:33 GMT -7
Let us know how that ZenDrive works out! It's next on my list of pedals to try - also thinking about the Lovepedal Eternity - anyone using one?
jz
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 13, 2005 13:23:27 GMT -7
The Reverend Drivetrain is essentially the same pedal as the Visual sound Rt 66 only it has bass and treble controls instead of just a tone control. they're out of production now but if you get the chance to try or buy one, I suggest you do. It's really a transparent pedal with only a little "mist". I have a/b'd the Reverend and the Route 66 and the Reverend was a little better to me because of the additional tone controls.
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Post by Tom the Guitar Guy on Sept 16, 2005 15:14:03 GMT -7
I'd definitely recommend you play with the tone controls - they aren't like a regular tone stack. you can get it to "growl" by turning either/both of knobs past 12 o'clock - the more the grittier - which means that you can use your boost/od pedal to really push it.
I really like the Z-28 for those tone controls (I think a lot of it's the EF-86 tube as well), and if it weren't for my Mazerati, I'd play the Z-28 even more.
hope this helps.
tomtheguitarguy
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Post by paddywhacker on Sept 17, 2005 8:28:13 GMT -7
...i'm using a TC Jauerning Luxury Boost with my new Z-28 2-10...its a clean boost but with amp volume set at noon which is starting to break up a bit the Luxury Boost takes it to another level thats not all that clean...very fat but still well defined and open as opposed to mushy and compressed...i've got a Zendrive coming which i'm hoping will live up to its hype....if Robben Ford and Brad Paisley are using one it must have something going on....so far the Z-28 is proving to be very pedal friendly as pretty much everything i throw at it sounds great....
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Post by terryg on Sept 22, 2005 22:50:02 GMT -7
I'll second (or third or millionth) the tone control thing. I'm loving the sound of the somewhat cranked amp and my guitar. I'm using OD/distortion/boost for color more than anything.
Right now I'm experimenting with a Keeley RAT (thanks JChance!), on the "RAT" side, as a boost with the distinctive RAT growl. It's really cool to me. Today an MI Audio "Blues Pro" OD arrived, and in the 5 minutes I got to spend with it, I knew the pedal would have a place on the board.
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Post by johnthigpen on Sept 23, 2005 5:35:39 GMT -7
I'm using both those pedals...the Luxury Drive and the MI Audio Blues Pro. I love the way the Luxury Drive adds just a bit of grit. It seems to boost the harmonic content a little, especially on the high end. I just got my Blues Pro and haven't finished dialing it in yet. Last night, I actually ran the Blues Pro into my Fulldrive II and it sounded great with both on. I don't have a Z-28...normally I play a Tele into a Carmen Ghia or Maz 38, but last night I was using my Crate V3112 because it was getting lonely at home. They're very good sounding amps but not built like a Z.
John
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Post by terryg on Sept 27, 2005 8:35:59 GMT -7
I'm really happy with my recent OD/Distortion purchases (Keeley RAT and MI Blues Pro). I used the BP quite a lot last Saturday night, and it was a really nice accent to the Z28. So far I'm setting it to be something of a soft overdriven boost, since the amp's already distorting on its own. Just what I was looking for, another color! (and the pedal is blue)
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brion
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by brion on Sept 27, 2005 17:23:47 GMT -7
Id love to try my MI blues Boy, but I'm sending it off to MI to repair mine as it is very noisy. Something has failed.
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Post by miguel777 on Oct 1, 2005 21:10:47 GMT -7
I play a Tele and use a BOSS DS-1 with the AM Pro mod - for whatever reason, the thin, gritty fizz of the DS-1 seems to play well with the more rotund tones of the Z-28. Used to use the Keeley-modded TS-9, but the sound was not feral enough - too smooth. I also use a Budda Phatman (12AU7 in the gain position) and it gets a ferocious classic rock kerrrang tone with my 1x12 cab (Weber 12A150), but isn't as versatile as the DS-1 in terms of genre applicability.
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BigMike
Junior Member
The Mykkus Abides
Posts: 89
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Post by BigMike on Oct 2, 2005 23:33:30 GMT -7
Just an AC Booster and a HBE Dos Mas when needed. Usually just crank the hell out of it and work the guitar volume control.
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brion
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by brion on Oct 4, 2005 18:47:07 GMT -7
I installed a Red Fang in my 1x12 cab and played my strat and tele through my COT 50 and it was very nice. Not my staple tone, but a very nice alternate tone. ;D
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Post by terryg on Oct 19, 2005 6:12:47 GMT -7
I just have to give another positive mention to the MI Audio Blues Pro. This pedal is starting to see some real action with me. I've been noticing that the last couple weeks. Now that I mention it, the Keeley Rat has worked itself into some solid positions as well. Hmm, I seem to have a lot of variety in distortion/od between my amp and the pedalboard. Granted, the board will get used with different amps from time to time (and I'm playing mostly covers lately) but for me and my Z28 the Keeley and the MI Blues Pro are the ones most used. OK, the sunlion gets at least 1 tap a night too. My TS-9 is curiously idle at the moment.....
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Post by schridb on Mar 8, 2006 12:06:11 GMT -7
Try an Xotic BB preamp and/or a Keeley Blues Driver. Both sound fantastic with the Z-28 IMO. I run an Xotic RC Booster after both pedals and I use the RC in combination with either one depending on what type of tone I want.
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Post by erock on Mar 8, 2006 16:14:24 GMT -7
I've been using one of the "new" OCDs, in LP mode, with the gain around 9 o'clock and the volume around 3 o'clock. Tone straight up. Mostly, it just adds a little "hair" to the sound. I hit the front of the OCD with a Keeley Baked TS9 for over the top leads. I also have a Zvex Super Duper last in the chain, just in case I need a little extra boost. This is, and I don't say this lightly, the BEST tone I have ever had in my life. I tend to run the treble on the Z28 pretty low at band practice, but like it cranked up at gigs. With all pedals off, the Z is set just on the edge of breakup. This gives me the most touch responsive rig I've ever played.
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Post by JD on Mar 9, 2006 5:55:02 GMT -7
I just added a Z28 with a 2x10 z cabinet to my lineup (had the Maz Jr since 98). I set my Z28 to run fairly clean with the Volume and Tone controls with just a little crunch and then use my Fulltone FatBoost or FD2 for some of my lead tones (primarly blues). On the FD2 I primarily use the Comp-Cut mode as this is the most transparent (almost mimics the Fat Boost). In this setting I add just a little more drive than the Fat Boost. Primarily though I find the Fat Boost does it for me. You can see some photos of my Pedalboard at www.houndstoothblues.com/bio/view?member=5 then click on my photo to see some gear.
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Post by terryg on Mar 9, 2006 9:50:56 GMT -7
Hey, Milwaukee! Hello from Chicago!
Nice ride you've got there.
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Post by JD on Mar 9, 2006 15:41:28 GMT -7
Thanks Chicago - I had get my Z28 and 2x10 cabinet from the stores down your way as there are no dealers here in Milwaukee.
J.D.
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Post by terryg on Mar 10, 2006 11:18:49 GMT -7
Hey JD, I'm guessing "Maken" for that huh? They sure have a nice showroom. I've been to Dave's in LaCrosse before, that place was real nice too....but it's farther away.
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