|
Post by propellr on Jan 19, 2006 6:58:07 GMT -7
This thread is for all you Z-ers who practice at lower than stage volumes, including pros, weekend warriors, and bedroom soloists:
I want to access the overdrive of my Maz 38, but it's not practical for me to do that when I rehearse at home. I think an Air Brake might do the trick, but I've read about the compromises. Here's what Stu had to say:
"I use an Air Brake occasionally, but beyond a couple of clicks of attenuation you do start to lose speaker excursion and cab resonance so the tone suffers a bit as with all attenuators. If you only need to roll off a bit of volume they work beautifully."
Do you think I would be pleased with an overdrive pedal like a Zendrive, or should I go for the Air Brake?
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Jan 19, 2006 12:29:34 GMT -7
Can't say with a Sr but; 1. I love it with my Z-28, Enhances the sound in someway, Let's me dial in the sweet spot at home levels. 2. Loved it w/Route 66...see above 3. Do not like what it does to my Ghia, takes all the good stuff away IMO 4. Actually even tried it on the Mini, works well for those "the wife is watchin' CSI" jam sessions when I just wanna rock out I'll have a Sr first week of Feb so can feedback with that then.
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Jan 19, 2006 12:38:19 GMT -7
I have a Zendrive and live near you propellr...you're more than welcome to give it a whirl. Great pedal, used it last night at practice...luv it! That and a TU 2 is all that's on my board.
I work in the West End, pick it up and borrow it a couple days, see what you think.
|
|
|
Post by rcrecelius on Jan 20, 2006 9:34:34 GMT -7
Im sure the Zendrive is a great pedal but...if you want to access the Maz 38's overdriven tones the only real way is to crank that sucker up! It is true(IMO) that attenuating more than just a few DB will be somewhat detrimantal to the tone but I think probably suffice for home rehearsal...just my uneducated opinion of course. I dont own an airbrake but I used to have a Hot Plate I used with a Twin reverb. I personaly stopped using anything (amp) when I rehearse at home...just pick up a guitar and play...the wife is happier that way I only fire up an amp if I'm testing a guitar, pedal, new tube, etc and then I have to go to the back room(which is not a temperature controlled environment...sucks in the summertime!). However, I may have a trade deal working on a Mini Z so I may be able to start rehearsing with a good tone again
|
|
|
Post by James on Jan 20, 2006 13:00:43 GMT -7
I also am interested in the zendrive.......I use an OCD, and I know a lot of the members don't like it, but with the drive at 9 or less......it works well with the Rt66....for me. I was thinking the zendrive might be good for the smoother, more saturated stuff.......in conjunction with the OCD....or maybe the mosferatu? re: the airbrake...........sounds like you need the mini Z. I had the same question a month ago and ended up buying both a mini z and an air brake. The air brake is mostly for live preformance......at home you can use it to keep your ears from "bleeding"....when you wanna still "feel" the bottom end crunch and have increased sustain.................but its still gonna be pretty loud.............unless you use the "max" bedroom level............but then you sacrifice tone....niether bedroom level (max to min)gives you the kind of low level saturation with bottom that the mini offers............ and live, the airbrake is indespensible in small bars situations when your band has a 4 x 10 ft. performance space....
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Jan 21, 2006 21:54:25 GMT -7
Thanks for the offer, Madison. I'll take you up on that offer. Look for a P.M. in the next week or so from me. I'm having an air brake mailed to me for a 3-day trial to see if I can use it to suit my needs.
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Jan 25, 2006 11:51:06 GMT -7
Air Brake should arrive today. Interested to see what the fuss is all about.
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Feb 9, 2006 7:33:44 GMT -7
I've played my ES-335 nearly every day since I got my Air Brake. My 3-day trial was over in about six minutes.
You were right. I still crank it up when no one's around and blow myself away. It's great after work. I hear you on the "just pick up a guitar and play" bit, too. Strangely enough, though, my wife is happy for me to turn up in the house. If I were more of a lead player, practicing without amplification would be quicker, easier, and more practical. Thing is, though, I'm a singer, and the Air Brake is allowing me to rehearse my stuff with guitar and vocals so I can get the right grind from my guitar for each song and still sing over it without having to go through my PA and "entertain" the whole block. I'm able to keep my amp settings dialed in and to rehearse the same volume and tone settings from my guitar that I'll use at a show. I rehearsed acoustically or at low volume for years and then would get so excited to hear how it sounded turned up on stage, that I would drop a lyric here and there because I was too busy listening while performing. This way, I get to work it all out ahead of time, which helps me to perform at peak. It's true that the electric guitar is it's own instrument. I've heard it also said and agree that the guitar amplifier is getting to be one, too. Combining guitar, amp, and vocals together is an elaborate compromise, at least for me, so I appreciate the "auto pilot" control that the Air Brake has afforded me.
tele62, Have you gotten your Sr., yet?
|
|
|
Post by johnnyl on Feb 9, 2006 12:59:24 GMT -7
Nicely put propellr - I'll have to practice your technique more. I tend to drag out the acoustics and PA too often to practice guit & vocals...
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Feb 14, 2006 7:35:05 GMT -7
The AIR BREAK saves I disagree in a small club on a writers night playing a Z-28 & a ES 135 I don't follow.
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Feb 14, 2006 11:27:01 GMT -7
I've played my ES-335 nearly every day since I got my Air Brake. My 3-day trial was over in about six minutes. You were right. I still crank it up when no one's around and blow myself away. It's great after work. I hear you on the "just pick up a guitar and play" bit, too. Strangely enough, though, my wife is happy for me to turn up in the house. If I were more of a lead player, practicing without amplification would be quicker, easier, and more practical. Thing is, though, I'm a singer, and the Air Brake is allowing me to rehearse my stuff with guitar and vocals so I can get the right grind from my guitar for each song and still sing over it without having to go through my PA and "entertain" the whole block. I'm able to keep my amp settings dialed in and to rehearse the same volume and tone settings from my guitar that I'll use at a show. I rehearsed acoustically or at low volume for years and then would get so excited to hear how it sounded turned up on stage, that I would drop a lyric here and there because I was too busy listening while performing. This way, I get to work it all out ahead of time, which helps me to perform at peak. It's true that the electric guitar is it's own instrument. I've heard it also said and agree that the guitar amplifier is getting to be one, too. Combining guitar, amp, and vocals together is an elaborate compromise, at least for me, so I appreciate the "auto pilot" control that the Air Brake has afforded me. tele62, Have you gotten your Sr., yet? No.....
|
|