Liquids
Junior Member
Electronics!
Posts: 88
|
Post by Liquids on Mar 29, 2010 7:51:06 GMT -7
Okay, so I'm a humbuckers (335 or modded strat)--> clean "blackface" guy, tonally speaking. I've got a modded '68 Super Reverb that I bought as a 'player's amp. and I'm quite happy with it, and I have been for a while, and I could potentially always be happy with it. But, I got a chance to demo a MAZ 38 for "the first time," this weekend. I haven't demoed an amp in years now being quite happy, but certain Zs are one of a handful of amps I've been curious about just for fun, and the MAZ is what they had. One landed in the area, and I thought it would be a fun addition to my weekend so I went to check it out. At the end of the day, I was certainly more impressed than I thought I would be. It was a 1x12 combo, no idea the speaker type to be honest -- I don't think this store ordered anything special, so it was probably whatever speaker the Doc usually sends the MAZ 38 1x12 out with. I found the clean tone I dialed in amazing compared to my Super Reverb. But to get 'my type of tone' I definitely had to dial in the cut low and carefully (9:00ish) and keep the mids up (2:00ish). With that, the bass and overall clean tone felt like it could get bigger than my Super could once it was past 12:00, and yet it was always tight even dimed. I'd love to have tried it with 2x10 4x10s! Master was dimed, volume was low 8:30-9ish. On the other hand, engaging my homebrew overdrive pedal for my lead tone, I would then give the tonal edge to my Super. The pedal was voiced around my current rig, keep in mind, but it is very tweakable tonally. To my ears, once I dialed in my lead tone with the same amp settings, the MAZ had a little more high mid content and suddenly felt thinner in the bass than the super, which feels smoother and fatter. I thought that might be due to a bright cap on one of the pots and/or have concluded that the differences there were mostly the speakers, thought I can't know for sure... As for the amp drive, that's where it got interesting. For 90% of my playing, if I had one, I'd leave the amp clean and run pedals into it. But in certain musical situations (gig/recording/fun, etc) I could easily coax out a dynamic array of tones with chime, bite, and crunch and use pedals to goose it for 'more.' Amazing array of tones in there. The dynamics of the overdrive were astounding, and when I wasn't trying to dial in a lead tone and just let it do what it does, while I wouldn't say all settings sound good, as the tone stack and cut are very wide their range, I'd say I've never found that many impressive and useable tones in one amp. All that with the master around 9:00 ish. Wow! The EL84s and the cut knob has a lot to do with the array of tones available of course. Seems like the cut does a good job at making the EL84s and tone stack feel more like 6v6 amp and have a darker Fender vibe. It's almost like you're 'counteracting' the EL84s high end to sound 6x6ish, but you can always turn it back up for a British thing, unlike a typical Fender amp. All this MAZ talk, and why am I posting it in the EGZ area? Well... This amp left me drooling to try an EZG-50 too, and to compare one. Part of me thinks that in the end I could be more satisfied playing through 6L6s and straight Fender style amp with 4x10s. Rather than the MAZ where I'd kind of have to 'dial out' the EL84s with that cut knob for my bread and butter tone. The gravy is the quality of the amps gig/recording/fun tones--cranked with the master low. But on the other hand, I can't know how those sound in the EGZ 50. I'm imagining, well, that they're cool but not as cool, not as varied and not as numerous, since I can't try one right now....hmm. Wonder if I'd be as excited about the tones of EGZ with the 'pre' up as I was with the variety of tones of the MAZ with the 'volume' up. In this sense, the two amps seem complete opposites -- seems MAZ has a great bass but you have to really control the highs carefully since it's EL84s. And I'm imagining the EZG probably has a great, sweet, clear high end, but you really have to control those lows. Also, I never use the bright switch on my Fender amp. I hate it. The EGZ, though a Fender type amp, has no bright switch that I can see? So it's either there or it isnt (which would be my preference), and since I can't hear one...while clipping a cap is easy, I'm not sure I'd want to risk getting one and then find myself wishing to clip a cap on a Dr. Z amp! Hmm. In reality probably won't be selling the Super Reverb for a MAZ or EGZ anytime soon, but I'm definitely taking it seriously. I'm looking for tips from you guys who are EGZ owners and lover to sing the praises (or compare) of the benefits of the EGZ over the MAZ. I guess if it comes down to it, I'll just need to take a vacation day and drive somewhere far to compare them BOTH side by side in person before I pull the trigger. And Of course the best answer is both, but any comparisons given my backgrounds, settings, etc, would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by mtlrecords on Mar 29, 2010 8:03:58 GMT -7
The EZG can be made to sound very similar to a 60's Super Reverb. That is a classic sound and if that was all it did, that would be fine by me- a road worthy SR replacement with more flexible verb and a warranty- great!
But it can get many other fine sounds via the Pre and Post controls and cutting/boosting the EQ. For instance, the EZG can conjure up killer crunch tones that are similar to a cranked Bassman or Bandmaster, but sweeter and more "complex". Also, there are lots of "in-between" semi-dirty tones to be had. But remember- this is going to be loud.
The other factor I have noticed is that speaker choice seems to be more critical with the EZG than some amps. My SRZ-65, Galaxie and my Germino seem to care little about which cab- 1x12, 2x12, 4x12, etc- they just rip on anything it seems. But the EZG truly benefits most from the right speaker/enclosure setup. I prefer a 2x12 or a 4x12 but many on the forum swear by the 4x10 (makes sense- Super Reverb anyone?).
Hope that helps in regard to the EZG-50.
As far as the MAZ 38 goes...it's cool too, but further down on my list than the MAZ 18 Jr NR (gain, gain, gain!) and the Monza (even more gain!). You might prefer the MAZ 38 for the headroom and the master volume, though it is quite a different beast than the EZG to my ears.
|
|
|
Post by ScottStrat on Mar 29, 2010 12:13:02 GMT -7
I have a Super Reverb, an EZG-50 w/ 4x10 cab, and a Maz 38 (head) with a 1x12 cab (Celestion Gold). I like'em all. However, I am strictly a single coil Strat and Tele guy so you'll have to take my opinions with a grain of salt.
I agree with the SR comparison with the EZG. But yes, it will do a lot more, and really comes alive when you stand on the "pre". It has the smoothest break up I have ever heard in a 6L6 amp. Really fun driving it hard with the bridge pickup on my Tele.
Sounds like you have the SR thing well covered so I would go with the Maz 18 or 38 depending on how loud you need to get. If you want SR volume definitely go with the 38.
One other thing, the EZG head, and the 4x10 cab are pretty daggone heavy. The head alone weighs in at 40 lbs. and the cab is 53 lbs. Compared to 65 lbs. for the Super.
|
|
|
Post by starrman on Mar 30, 2010 11:11:30 GMT -7
I can comment here, The EZG and MAZ 38 are my main amps for gigging, and I'm a Humbucker guy. I come from a back-ground of using Fender amps for decades too. I use the MAZ with the tone-bypass on all the time, and have it semi-clean and push it over the top with pedals. It's great. I do that with the EZG too. The MAZ is a great club amp, it sounds a little more hairy then the EZG. The EZG has better cleans. It holds together better when it's turned up. And og course the reverb is to die for. If you like your reverb, you would like the EZG. Huge difference from the MAZ. I think of the EZG as my "Big Guns". When I can crank it....The 38 is killer for clubs. They really sound different. I use the brake-lite with both. I also use the same 1-15 cab with a Big Ben for both. It sounds great. In a perfect world I would suggest getting both !!!haha You won't miss having a bright switch. It's voiced real sweet. If you want something closer to your super, the EZG is it, and more. If you want something different the MAZ would be it. I stopped using my Fender's ever since I got the EZG.
|
|
|
Post by brightlight on Mar 30, 2010 17:24:14 GMT -7
^ this post is making me drool for an EZG to pair with my Maz 38! Ideally, I'd A/B them with the EZG as my clean channel and the MAZ for my overdrive. Then when no one expects it that it could sound any better I'd hit my little "Both" button and blow em away with death by stereo!
now where did I leave those credit cards...?
|
|
|
Post by ScottStrat on Mar 30, 2010 18:28:03 GMT -7
^ this post is making me drool for an EZG to pair with my Maz 38! Ideally, I'd A/B them with the EZG as my clean channel and the MAZ for my overdrive. Then when no one expects it that it could sound any better I'd hit my little "Both" button and blow em away with death by stereo! now where did I leave those credit cards...? I have gigged with my AC-30 and my SR paired, and with my Maz and my Super Reverb paired. Next up, Maz and EZG-50 paired. I use a Voodoo Lab Amp Selector when I use two amps, flexibility and the only splitter I have tried that doesn't suck the tone out of my guitars.
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Mar 30, 2010 22:55:36 GMT -7
I can comment here, The EZG and MAZ 38 are my main amps for gigging, and I'm a Humbucker guy. I come from a back-ground of using Fender amps for decades too. I use the MAZ with the tone-bypass on all the time, and have it semi-clean and push it over the top with pedals. It's great. I do that with the EZG too. The MAZ is a great club amp, it sounds a little more hairy then the EZG. The EZG has better cleans. It holds together better when it's turned up. And og course the reverb is to die for. If you like your reverb, you would like the EZG. Huge difference from the MAZ. I think of the EZG as my "Big Guns". When I can crank it....The 38 is killer for clubs. They really sound different. I use the brake-lite with both. I also use the same 1-15 cab with a Big Ben for both. It sounds great. In a perfect world I would suggest getting both !!!haha You won't miss having a bright switch. It's voiced real sweet. If you want something closer to your super, the EZG is it, and more. If you want something different the MAZ would be it. I stopped using my Fender's ever since I got the EZG. What speaker config do you use with your EZG50? I am thinking about grabbing an EZG50 Combo in 1x12 for my solo gigs. I need clean headroom, great Fendery cleans and killer Reverb. Side note: Would the jaz 20/40 be better, or is the EZG50 your recommendation? Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by starrman on Mar 31, 2010 9:09:49 GMT -7
It's a 15 inch Big Ben.
|
|
Liquids
Junior Member
Electronics!
Posts: 88
|
Post by Liquids on Mar 31, 2010 12:30:58 GMT -7
Thanks guys! I guess I'd lean toward the EZG now, but in the end, I'd have to try it myself and maybe the MAZ again if I were to pull the trigger. The MAZ surprised me, I imagine the EZG might as well, thought maybe in it's own way. Hearing things like "smoothest break up" and "killer crunch tones that are similar to a cranked Bassman or Bandmaster, but sweeter and more 'complex'" means the EZG might be a great amp for me, dead clean and beyond! Can't wait to try one myself! Gotta book a trip to do so.
|
|
|
Post by tdarian on Apr 1, 2010 7:45:43 GMT -7
"Side note: Would the jaz 20/40 be better, or is the EZG50 your recommendation? Thanks![/quote]
I would also be interested in Gary's question above about the general differences between the EZG and the Jazz in terms of how much uber clean headroom the JAZZ has in either 20 0r 40 watt mode compared to the EZG, and what the general character of the amp is relative to the EZG. If the EZG is closest to a stout Super Reverb, then where does the Jazz sit relative to it? Any comparison of the reverbs would be helpful as well.
|
|
|
Post by starrman on Apr 1, 2010 22:21:12 GMT -7
I've spent time with the Jaz too. It is pretty clean, just a little less volume and headroom. And as you would expect, the 6V6's give it a different vibe. It doean't have that huge big bass thing like the EZG. The reverb is different, just one knob. I like the EZG better myself. But that's just me. Od course if I used the tremolo a lot, you just can't beat it with the Jaz. But as far as Z amps go, It's pretty darn clean. And all the extra features are a plus.
|
|
|
Post by argytar on Apr 2, 2010 0:50:01 GMT -7
Hi ! I was going for the EZG 50 myself but needed the tremolo in my arsenal really badly... I love 'intense' reverb too I went for the JAZ because of the tremolo ,the reverb and the power features (it also has a brake lite installed which makes it even more versatile...) and the bass response is pretty tight too! big b@llsy bass (with the 2x10) and it has sweet breakup! of course if there is ever an EZG 50 with tremolo and half power mod...well then I admit I ll be quite tempted to trade in...
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Apr 7, 2010 9:52:17 GMT -7
Hi ! I was going for the EZG 50 myself but needed the tremolo in my arsenal really badly... I love 'intense' reverb too I went for the JAZ because of the tremolo ,the reverb and the power features (it also has a brake lite installed which makes it even more versatile...) and the bass response is pretty tight too! big b@llsy bass (with the 2x10) and it has sweet breakup! of course if there is ever an EZG 50 with tremolo and half power mod...well then I admit I ll be quite tempted to trade in... There is a half power solution, ...sort of. Get a Brake lite. ... and use a Fulltone Supa-Trem or other highly regarded Tremolo pedal. :-) ..No those trem's are not quite as rich as the Tremolo built into the Jaz, but they are surprisingly good.
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Apr 7, 2010 10:05:14 GMT -7
I spent quite a lot of time in my local DR Z shop last week. I took my Maz Jr 1x12 combo w/reverb and Celestion Gold for comparison.
Tried: Maz 38, Maz Jr as above, EZG50 head w/2x10 convertible cab. (also tried a Monza ...It is a completely different animal, so didn't compare it. but WOW!)
My Maz Jr combo with Celestion Gold is really dialed in, broken in and has a NOS Mullard 5AR4 Rectifier. So tonally, it sings and seemed way more refined sounding than the new Maz 38 with G12H30 and stock tubes. But tonally, the Maz 38 sounded a lot more different to me than I expected compared to my Maz Jr. But with the speaker difference and NOS Rectifier in my well broken in Maz Jr, it wasn't really the most fair comparison.
The headroom of the Maz 38 impressed me since it stays clean longer and louder than the Maz jr. I really felt my Maz Jr was the tonal champion however. The EZG50 through Dr Z 2x10 convertible cab was very impressive however. More blackface sounding, amazing reverb, and the EZG has the a signature DR Z refined tonal response and touch sensitivity I notice in all of the Docs amps.
The Convertible 2x10 cab had the back screwed on and it wasn't convenient to open it up. So I left it alone. With the closed back, the cabinets sounds more percussive and a bit bassier. I would prefer an open back cab. Yet still, the EZG headroom, tonal response, clarity, volume and blackface type tone was truly exceptional.
I think I want one. But I also proved that my Maz Jr is soooo good and so refined sounding that I cannot let it go to fund an EZG. Gonna have to figure out how to have both I think.
|
|
|
Post by tdarian on Apr 7, 2010 10:32:38 GMT -7
Gary:
Did you have a chance to try the 2-10 cab with your MAZ18? I know it adds additional total bulk, but I'm wondering if using a 2-10 with your MAZ or combining your combo's Gold and a 2-10 cab below would yield more clean headroom with which to work for now.
(Of couse you would want to get an EZG down the line, maybe in head form if you already have a 2-10)
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Apr 7, 2010 11:33:50 GMT -7
Gary: Did you have a chance to try the 2-10 cab with your MAZ18? I know it adds additional total bulk, but I'm wondering if using a 2-10 with your MAZ or combining your combo's Gold and a 2-10 cab below would yield more clean headroom with which to work for now. (Of couse you would want to get an EZG down the line, maybe in head form if you already have a 2-10) I plugged in the 2x10 Closed back cabinet to the output on Maz Combo head. I had to disconnect the Celestion Gold in my combo cab from the amp head since I didn't have the adapter cable to run both cabs. The 2x10 Cab in closed back config is very percussive, loud, and a bit bassy to my ears. I would have prefered it open back to really hear the speakers the way I would have liked. I don't care for the closed back cab personally. Pop the back panel off however and it's a different beast. The amp room at my local shop where I did the comparison was so small that I honestly can't play loud enough to determine clean headroom like I would at home or at a gig. Everything sounds great (and loud!) in the small, hardwood floored amp room at this shop. So I couldn't really determine if the 2x10 gives more clean headroom. I honestly doubt it. I think the 2x10 cab just yields a different sonic presentation. For my uber clean needs, I still believe I need an amp with more power and a bigger transformer to stay uber clean at the volume I need. (Not really all that loud. But louder than the Maz 18 allows before going into it's glorious, very musical edge of breakup. Hope that helps.
|
|
|
Post by argytar on Apr 7, 2010 14:02:29 GMT -7
Hi ! I was going for the EZG 50 myself but needed the tremolo in my arsenal really badly... I love 'intense' reverb too I went for the JAZ because of the tremolo ,the reverb and the power features (it also has a brake lite installed which makes it even more versatile...) and the bass response is pretty tight too! big b@llsy bass (with the 2x10) and it has sweet breakup! of course if there is ever an EZG 50 with tremolo and half power mod...well then I admit I ll be quite tempted to trade in... There is a half power solution, ...sort of. Get a Brake lite. ... and use a Fulltone Supa-Trem or other highly regarded Tremolo pedal. :-) ..No those trem's are not quite as rich as the Tremolo built into the Jaz, but they are surprisingly good. hi again i got the demeter tremulator and the fulltone supa trem already.. but they don t compare to the JAZ swampy trem.. it s just more 3-D!! i use tremolo almost every other song and lush reverb is my kind of reverb so I couldn t be happier.. plus i like to think i play my guitar straight into the amp (it s sooo touch responsive!!) and get all the goodies with the provided footswitch!! later when i get more cash i ll try to score an EZG head and use it with my tremulator and a ts 808...
|
|
|
Post by groberts on Apr 7, 2010 15:19:24 GMT -7
There is a half power solution, ...sort of. Get a Brake lite. ... and use a Fulltone Supa-Trem or other highly regarded Tremolo pedal. :-) ..No those trem's are not quite as rich as the Tremolo built into the Jaz, but they are surprisingly good. hi again i got the demeter tremulator and the fulltone supa trem already.. but they don t compare to the JAZ swampy trem.. it s just more 3-D!! i use tremolo almost every other song and lush reverb is my kind of reverb so I couldn t be happier.. plus i like to think i play my guitar straight into the amp (it s sooo touch responsive!!) and get all the goodies with the provided footswitch!! later when i get more cash i ll try to score an EZG head and use it with my tremulator and a ts 808... Totally understand. There is nothing like a great tube amp Tremolo. Anything else is just an approximation. The Jaz Trem is wonderful. I agree. I've heard other Tube amp trem's the blew my mind too. Point is well taken. That said, I still love the EZG. It is soooooo musical, refined, clean and clear. I might go down the EZG Head / cab avenue myself. I think the Combo would be too heavy. Even though a head and cab is more overall weight, I can schlep them in chunks that are manageable.
|
|
|
Post by argytar on Apr 10, 2010 15:22:56 GMT -7
for those wondering if the JAZ can get all surfy and fendery...check this out!! (I used my trusty old '73 fender Mustang)
|
|
|
Post by clivekay on May 12, 2010 1:27:59 GMT -7
I had the Maz 38 SR for a very short while I play a les Paul and I found that it broke up way too fast and really even at 38 Watts was not keeping up with the band ( Loud lot !) I use a 1 by 12 G12-65 Heritage in an open cab. I swapped it for an EZG 50 which is the loudest amp I have heard for a while . I reckon it is louder than my 100W Bluesmaster. It doesn't really overdrive even with the pre up full so with pedals it is perfect !!.. Like it !!
|
|
|
Post by English John on May 12, 2010 5:30:13 GMT -7
hey clive, nice les paul!
|
|