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Post by mpa93 on Sept 27, 2010 15:24:12 GMT -7
I went to my local music store and had the guy demo the Monza for me (head through a Z 2x10 cab). Wow!! I am love with my Maz 18 but, I am thinking that an A/B with the Monza would be very nice for a live situation. Any thoughts on which Z would pair up nice with the Monza (clean/dirty)??
I see my Maz 18 as a great grab and go amp, very versatile. I am going to keep it...
I am just thinking that a Monza and another cleaner Z might be cool to have as well. More Z's!!
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Post by doctorice on Sept 27, 2010 17:20:33 GMT -7
I suggest listening to a Z-28. Similar power as MAZ 18 and Monza, but you move into a whole different set of tubes and, hence, complementary tones. Z-28 in a 1x10 is a superb grab 'n' go amp.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Sept 27, 2010 18:38:28 GMT -7
ANY Z AMP ;D But The Stangray For sure! for nice cleans to mild grit, then the Monza Full on gain and sustain for days!!!! Pure Xctacy!!! I have been begging to see this setup in one box!!!! I guess maybe someday!
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Post by pcns on Oct 4, 2010 18:54:15 GMT -7
I A/B/Y my Monza 1x10 with my Maz jr 2 x 10 and just love it, I really like running them together, the nice bright Maz and the darker gainier Monza really make nice ear candy!
A Z28 and a Monza would be great too, the Z28 has a sizzle to my ears that is really cool
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Post by mpa93 on Oct 4, 2010 20:09:34 GMT -7
I've been hearing a lot about the Z-28. I'm going to have to go down to my music store and try it out.
Quick question....I like running my Maz with the Volume and Master high and using my volume knob to clean it up. Would this work with the Z-28 or is it possible to run the Z-28 clean and the Monza for the high gain stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2010 20:42:06 GMT -7
I have a/b it with the Ray. The tones of the 2 amps are perfect. Almost as though that was the intent when they built the Monza.. They are perfect together. You could play the rhythm and go into a lead for a song with no change in the overall tone. I'm sure it's may sound good with the Z-28- But it's the Rays aggressive little brother.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Oct 5, 2010 1:50:31 GMT -7
I've been hearing a lot about the Z-28. I'm going to have to go down to my music store and try it out. Quick question....I like running my Maz with the Volume and Master high and using my volume knob to clean it up. Would this work with the Z-28 or is it possible to run the Z-28 clean and the Monza for the high gain stuff. The Z28 is very interactive with the GV. It has one of those cleans that always has a sizzle to it - not ultra clean like a 'Ray - but it's gorgeous. I would think it would work well with a Monza or Maz, but I guess Mike (doctorice) might be better placed to advise as he has all three. Cheers Pete ;D
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Post by doctorice on Oct 5, 2010 17:55:25 GMT -7
I've been hearing a lot about the Z-28. I'm going to have to go down to my music store and try it out. Quick question....I like running my Maz with the Volume and Master high and using my volume knob to clean it up. Would this work with the Z-28 or is it possible to run the Z-28 clean and the Monza for the high gain stuff. The Z28 is very interactive with the GV. It has one of those cleans that always has a sizzle to it - not ultra clean like a 'Ray - but it's gorgeous. I would think it would work well with a Monza or Maz, but I guess Mike (doctorice) might be better placed to advise as he has all three. Cheers Pete ;D I hear them as three distinct amps, especially when the '28 and MAZ are fun fairly clean. Monza has the darkest, wooliest tone and the gain from the volume control comes on the fastest in terms of moving the amp into breakup. The Z-28 is brighter and less gainy. It has highly interactive tone controls, which add gain when they're turned up. The MAZ is the brightest sounding and, arguably, has the most clean headroom. The MAZ tone stack is "subtractive": the knobs reduce the amount of sound coming through at various frequencies. All three have their own flavors of gorgeous overdrive. I'd say as the amps are pushed they probably "overlap" a bit more tonally than they do when run toward the cleaner end. Tonally, imo, a clean MAZ and a pushed Monza offer the widest sonic "gulf", so if one is really seeking extremes (which can be blended, of course, if desired) I'd probably go with those two. However, the Z-28 is extremely seductive, and its use of EF86 in the preamp and 6V6 for power gives it a smoother, rounder tone that I have not been able to dial in with the others. I'm keeping all of them, at least for now. Of course my buddy Pete and several others are loving the Carmen Ghia in partnership with the Z-28, so now I feel obligated to check that out. (Don't get me started on Doc's big iron: the Remedy and Galaxie are great, and I really want to try a Stangray and ZWreck.) Hope this is helpful.
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Post by mpa93 on Oct 5, 2010 18:16:48 GMT -7
Thanks Pete and Mike!! Karma coming your way.
Anyway, I am going to take an afternoon off this week and spend some time at my Z dealer trying out all three. They have a nice sound room and are really helpful. I am VERY curious about the Z-28. Although, since I already have the Maz, I may just get the Monza for now and A/B/Y them. We play classic/current rock so I think that will cover all the bases.
The bottom line here is, as we all know, there isn't a bad Z amp. To add to the confusion, my local dealer has two Z-Wrecks on order!!
Thanks again for passing on your wisdom!
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Post by doctorice on Oct 6, 2010 19:54:42 GMT -7
When you're trying the Z-28, make sure you try the 3-3-3 setting: every knob turned to 3 o'clock position. I'm not saying you will want to live there, although some do, but it needs to be experienced.
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Post by pcns on Oct 7, 2010 5:43:36 GMT -7
I wish I had a Z dealer close enough that had some Z's, there is place about an hour away but they don't always a great selection
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Post by doctorice on Oct 7, 2010 9:23:32 GMT -7
I wish I had a Z dealer close enough that had some Z's, there is place about an hour away but they don't always a great selection It's a plot to keep hard-earned $$ in your pocket, Todd ;D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2010 11:39:23 GMT -7
The Monza does indeed A/B/Y very nicely with the MAZ, although the MAZ Jr can "do" the Monza almost exactly with the right OD pedal (the Zendrive hits it almost spot on). My Monza really knocked me out at first, but I found that my ear tired pretty quickly of the Monza's slightly nasal tone; I much preferred the relative sweetness of the MAZ, and in fact got to a point where it didn't make sense to keep the Monza around--I wasn't crazy about the way it interacted with the Brakelite, either, but it was too dang loud to play almost anywhere unattenuated. I've since picked up a Z-28 and I'm really digging it--none of the Monza's harshness--kind of the opposite, really--very smooth, rich breakup, nice cleans (not that I ever use them), takes pedals well, and is highly complimentary to the MAZ--they both fill in each other's gaps almost perfectly when A/B/Y'd.
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Post by mpa93 on Oct 14, 2010 11:44:36 GMT -7
Update: I tried the Z-28 (great little amp!) and I also played the Monza (great as well), at my music store. I was debating, going back and forth about A/Bing them, or maybe just getting the Monza,etc...
Then...I practiced last night with my band and played the Maz without my pedalboard. I was absolutely blown away, once again! Love the tone! I think I will eventually pick up a Monza 1x10 and a Z-28 1x10, but for now it is the Maz.
What you guys were saying about the Z-28 is absolutely spot -on! I was VERY impressed with it! And the Monza is a must for the heavier tunes. Z-fever strikes another!
Thanks again for all the advice guys!
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Post by doctorice on Oct 14, 2010 14:17:20 GMT -7
It's great that you had a chance to check them out. You'll end up with at least one of them ('28 or Monza) + your MAZ!
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