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Post by sutoman on Dec 14, 2010 10:56:42 GMT -7
First impressions - It is hard to get a bad tone out of the amp. It sounds great clean at low volumes. The reverb is incredible and controllable. I bought it used. My amp does hum a little too loud when you turn up the mix on the reverb. It isn't normal amp hiss..it is a hum that is loud enough to be annoying. I am hoping new tubes will take care of that. It looks like this has happened to others from previous threads. I also am suprised at how early the guitar breaks up, especially when playing hard. It could be the speakers in my Z-best. I think there is a g12-30 and a greenback in there. I thought there would be more headroom before that crispy sizzle kicked in. I will order some new tubes and see what happens. Any input w/ the noise issue and how loud I can expect this amp to get before starting to sizzle is appreciated.
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Post by mtlrecords on Dec 14, 2010 14:32:16 GMT -7
What point on the pre and post controls do you get breakup?
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Post by sutoman on Dec 14, 2010 22:41:21 GMT -7
I've played around with them a bit...and it seems like it doesn't matter, once it hits a certain volume there is some crunch. I think it might be the speakers. There isn't a whole lot more distortion when the pre is high versus the post or vice versa. They are both around noon and there is clipping when I hit the strings hard. Haven't had time to get too into it...tomorrow evening I have time and will give it a thorough playing through.
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Liquids
Junior Member
Electronics!
Posts: 88
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Post by Liquids on Dec 15, 2010 4:02:35 GMT -7
Even if the post is dimed, you shouldn't get any breakup unless the pre is up.
At earliest, you shouldn't get much breakup until 9:30 on the pre. Where the tone controls are set is also a factor in where and how it will break up.
But no matter where you put the post, if your pre is at noon, you're bound to get some breakup, when digging in, with a normal guitar and chain etc.
I do think it may be a speaker thing. Seems like everyone here is marveling at how loud these seem. I wouldn't put all your stock in new tubes - and sending it to the Doc for a nice once-over tune up could be a good idea - if there IS a tube issue, they'll spot it. That may be cheaper than guessing and replacing all the tubes one by one blindly.
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Post by mtlrecords on Dec 15, 2010 15:00:59 GMT -7
With a single coil guitar, both pre and post controls at noon, through a 1x12 Celestion G12-65 Z cab your tone should be almost completely clean. Even when digging in.
Some humbuckers might get a bit of hair, but not much. For me, once the pre goes past 1 o'clock and the post is at noon or higher, I start to get some "crunch". The tonestack is important here as is your speaker/cab choice. Sounds like you might have an issue
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Post by sutoman on Dec 15, 2010 21:13:03 GMT -7
Yea...it is pretty good with the single coil tele...break up is from higher output pickups. All good there - but the reverb hum issue is a problem.
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Post by 55tele on Dec 27, 2010 17:54:47 GMT -7
I have an EGZ-50 Head and it also has hum when turning up the reverb. I think it is normal for this amp as the transformers are huge and in close proximity to the reverb driver tube. I recall others having various levels of success dealing with it from slight success to almost total elimination by switching out reverb tubes. Another possible fix is turning the reverb tank 180 degrees....??
I can live with the level of hum at the max level I use the reverb, so no real issue with me. I am curious if folks with EGZ-50 combos have experienced the same problem.
I also had real hum / noise issues when I first recieved the amp, but some preamp tube changes elimianated that problem.
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Post by sutoman on Dec 29, 2010 10:20:56 GMT -7
Changed the tube in V1....it has helped. Still some hum, but within reason now!
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