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Post by prspastor on Jul 27, 2011 13:05:37 GMT -7
;D Unpacked my baby and wow, what tones! For those of you all that were wanting a comparison between the 66 and the Z-28, I'll give you my first thoughts... I think that the cleans are very similar, to the best of my memory. There is a bit more mid "uumph" in the 66 though. The output tube overdrive is very different though. While the Z-28's overdrive had more bite, compression, and Marshallesque kind of vibe going on, the 66's overdrive is, well, smooooth. I can't compare it to anything else I've ever heard - it is a very different amp - it's own animal. I just kept on thinking - sheesh, this is the smoothest amp I've ever heard in my life. With the right archtop, this would be a great jazz amp if you could mike your amp. Cleans are beautiful, they bloom and are very three dimensional. Like a Carmen Ghia, it almost sounds like it has a reverb built in somewhere - just a bit of swirl around the notes. The overdrive is absolutely great. It is THE BEST blues amp I've ever put ears to. Now, my 66 came stock with a 5U4 rectifier, so I'm getting some great sag in there. There is a lot of flexibility with the tone controls. I got some great bright tones, Clapton's woman tone, and some smooth jazz tones too. I just keep returning back to the idea that this is a "smooth" amp. Very similar to the Z-28, but the overdrives are very different. I think that about sums it up right now. I'll report back after some more playing and I'll post a picture. Oh - it sounds great with my 1x12 convertible cab, (closed), with the Celestion G12H30. Good match I think. Entirely pleased and completely happy. Thank you Dr. Z and a thank you to all your crew! John
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 14:59:28 GMT -7
Have you started turning the dials clockwise yet? All at once! She'll give ya' more than smooth ;D
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Post by Jan on Jul 27, 2011 19:56:38 GMT -7
We wants one, our Precious.This one is shiny new, yes? What tubes did you get? Brands, I mean. My brain says last time I looked, the Mothership says a GZ34. Oh, it still does. But wait, the tube info page says V1: NOS EF86, V2: Sovtek 12AX7LPS, V3/4: Genelex Gold Lion KT66 (matched pair), V5: EH 5U4. Fascinating. Do you think you are going to stay with the 5U4? Or slam it with a GZ34? Just curious, but with a reason, sort of. There is a bazillion churches down here. Next time ask to go to Cobb County, GA. BTW, got any 6V6s left over from your Z-28 days you want to part company with?
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Post by prspastor on Jul 27, 2011 20:57:23 GMT -7
Hey Jan, Yes, shiny new. There is a NOS EF86 in there, not sure what the 12AX7 is, although my guess is a Sovtek LPS as I don't see any filament light-typical for that tube... It has the Gold Lions in it and a JJ 5U4.
I like the sag with the 5U4 and I don't have any 5AR4s on hand to try out.
I'll have to look in my tube drawer to see if if I have any 6v6s. I'll PM you if I have any.
The rectifier is funny. The tube itself buzzes/sizzles slightly. However, if you turn the amp sideways 45 degrees, the buzz goes away. Through the speaker, the amp is dead quiet-awesome!
Sounds great paired with my Z-Verb!
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Post by eggman on Jul 27, 2011 21:09:42 GMT -7
Howdy,
I'm happy for you, PRSPastor. I hope to read more tone reports; it's half the fun of the Z forum!
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Post by Jan on Jul 27, 2011 23:03:22 GMT -7
Well that is a funny buzz thing there. I have no NOS 5AR4s. However, I probably have more NOS 5U4 than I need. I suppose I am mostly curious what EF86 Z was shipping now. Not that I am in any danger of being able to afford a shiny, new Z any time soon.
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Post by prspastor on Jul 28, 2011 6:08:00 GMT -7
Ah, that's just the way tubes are nowadays. It's working right now and I don't see any fireworks. You can't hear it unless your are standing real close to the amp.
I'll have a closer look at the EF 86
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Post by prspastor on Jul 28, 2011 19:12:56 GMT -7
Hey Jan, I poked around a bit and here is the tube complement. EF 86 is a Winged C PI is a Sovtek LPS Gold Lions for the KT 66 JJ 5U4 The tube chart now lists the 5U4 as standard.
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Post by jb on Jul 30, 2011 12:26:56 GMT -7
The G12H30 is a great much for the 66. Congrats and enjoy. The notes just sustain forever.
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Post by Jan on Jul 30, 2011 14:28:14 GMT -7
That is the new =C=, not the old one, I imagine. The old ones are going, going, nearly gone.
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Post by pcns on Jul 30, 2011 14:48:33 GMT -7
congrats on the new amp!!! nothing like the smell of new tolex to make your day! Todd
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Post by prspastor on Jul 31, 2011 18:46:31 GMT -7
Hey Jan, You know I didn't know there was such a thing as NOS =C=. To be honest, it looks pretty new to me, but that does not mean anything.
Todd, thanks for the congrats... I'm really enjoying your cables. They go really well with the 66! Really high quality cables... Thank you!
Greg, hey, it's great to hear from you. I like your new handle... Cetacean... Doesn't that refer to marine mammals? Anyway, my path through all things Z has been a great journey. It has been a lot of fun finding my flavor of Z that is best for me. Yes, the Ghia is gone. I fell in love with my Z28 and I had some economic reasons Spurring me into selling the Ghia to a fellow Z Talker in Canada. But I had to keep the Z28. Most everyone here knows that in early June, someone broke into my church office and stole my Z28. Mike Zaite has been wonderful to me, as well as Todd at PCNS, and many kind folks here helped me out in the aftermath. I wanted to try the Route 66 because while I loved the sweet tones of the 28, I wanted a bit more midrange ummph and the milkshake thick tones were calling me.
I'm completely pleased, as the cleans on the 66 are in the same camp as the 28... Very toneful and sweet. I do like the overdrive a little better on the 66 though... Just reminds me of Clapton's tone that I love so much. This is a blues amp for sure.
Next amp will be a Maz 8 I think... ;D
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Post by Jan on Aug 1, 2011 10:11:16 GMT -7
I may be abusing the term NOS in this instance. Tubes from 2,000 and earlier were made in the St Petersburg Svetlana plant. New tubes labeled =C= are from the Reflector plant and are not the same. At least that is what the tube gurus I read say about them.
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Post by dixiechicken on Aug 1, 2011 10:51:57 GMT -7
DC here! Interesting read on the ultra-linear amplifier - just read through it. ( nerds are all around - ) Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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Post by Jan on Aug 1, 2011 14:59:30 GMT -7
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Post by prspastor on Aug 1, 2011 20:13:33 GMT -7
Great info and discussion above. I took your advice and bought a couple 5U4s from KCANOS tubes. The 5U4 that was in there was troubling me a bit... It had this electronic fizzing sound in it that was fairly noticable coming directly from the tube. Strangely, if you rotated the amp forward a bit, the fizzing sound went away. I was concerned the rectifier was getting ready to go on the fritz and take out a power tube, so I wanted to protect my expensive KT66s and I put in a NOS 5V4 for the time being. Rebiased, although I encountered the same situation you did... I ran out of adjustment with the bias pot. I'm running at 35ma at 425 plate volts right now. I'll be interested to see what the plate voltage runs with the 5U4 tube.
Once the 5U4's come in from KCA, I'll put one of those in. I do like the amp better with the 5U4. Seems like the 5V4 has a little more headroom and is cleaner. Surprise to me as I thought that the 5V4 was the weaker tube. Very managable volume.
I'm loving this amp a lot.
Thanks for the advice on the quarter. I usually pull the chassis as I bias with the shunt method. Just quicker for me than using a bias probe.
Great amp... Clapton in a box.
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Post by prspastor on Aug 3, 2011 10:44:26 GMT -7
Hey Greg, I'm definitely enjoying the amp. Absolutely fabulous!
It is good to have some figures on plate voltages from you for the 5AR4 and 5U4. I do think that you are right... what with all of those funny sounds that the JJ 5U4 was making, I bet it was leaking voltage/malfunctioning/very weak. I am fairly sure that the 5V4 is the next step down in power too, from the 5U4.
I took a picture of my rig... I'm going to have to figure out how to post it here in this thread. Lotta fun! jw
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Post by eggman on Aug 3, 2011 16:39:35 GMT -7
Howdy,
This may be the most informative thread I've seen on the Z forum in..well, ever! I'm not even a Route 66 owner and I'm diggin' all the good info. Keep it coming, ya'll!
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Post by Jan on Aug 3, 2011 17:02:35 GMT -7
https <- the s should not be necessary. The link you posted is not a link to an image. I do not use picasa so I do not know how to help there. I have a web hosting account and put images there. This link to a jpg, genjokoan.com/images/route66tv0.jpglooks like this when surrounded by img tags If you quote this reply, you can see how it is formatted. The preview button (between the Post Reply and Spell Check buttons) will show you what your text will look like. So if the image does not show in preview, no one else will see it either.
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Post by prspastor on Aug 3, 2011 18:44:30 GMT -7
There... Figured it out. I had to take the image link that google was giving me, but I had to change one small thing. It was giving me a https link and I changed it to an unsecured http link. I guess the secured link was not compatible... Anyway, there is my new stack and new guitar.
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Post by Jan on Aug 3, 2011 18:57:13 GMT -7
voilà! Shiny! How are you liking your new Strat?
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Post by prspastor on Aug 3, 2011 19:04:04 GMT -7
Duh... Greg and Jan, I just read your posts about the https http issue. I was busy figuring it all out when I should have been reading your post!
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Post by prspastor on Aug 3, 2011 19:12:18 GMT -7
voilà! Shiny! How are you liking your new Strat? You know, I really like my new Strat Jan. I never really liked the bridge single coil on my other Strat that was stolen. This Strat was sitting over there at Wilcutt's and I thought that the bridge humbucker might give me a little more usability and flexibility. So, it works great. Deep, dark sounding Strat too. I need to do a treble bleed cap job on it though... That is driving me nuts. The thing I most like about this Strat is the neck. It has really nice jumbo frets on it and a nice, comfortable radius. Bends notes like butta'.
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Post by prspastor on Aug 4, 2011 21:17:39 GMT -7
Jan, I've been doing a little research. Looks like SED =C= EF86 tubes are no longer made anymore, and thetubestore.com considers them to be NOS. What a shame...
If I had my druthers, it would be nice if SED made KT66's, EF86's, and 12AX7's. (Website says they make 12AX7's, but I can't find them for sale anywhere...)
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Post by joeellis on Aug 5, 2011 4:59:17 GMT -7
This is a very informative thread. Thanks for all the good info. I too will soon be a Route 66 owner. I purchased a like new/used head from a member of another forum. He plans to ship it today, so I should have it by mid week. I have also lost some additional sanity. I am purchasing an R9, used but also in new condition. It will be shipped to me on Monday. Last but not least, I found another good deal on a like new/used EZG-50 head at a local music store. I'm taking off early today to pick it up. I wanted single channel amps that would give me both American and British flavors. I had initially planned on buying a Remedy, but the more I read about the Route 66, the easier it was for me to change my mind. I do love KT66 tubes. I once owned a Marshall 2266 combo and 2466 head. I put in Gold Lion's and rebiased the amps and they both sounded wonderful. I will post pics of all my new gear once I have everything.
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Post by prspastor on Aug 5, 2011 6:18:24 GMT -7
Joe, Welcome to the forum! This is a great place full of great people.
Wow, a Gibson R9 will sound very sweet through your new amps. And... you've picked some really nice amps too, btw. You will enjoy both amps - very different tones for sure but you've got a variety of tones on tap. You've got the thick tones of the Route 66 coming your way and the beautiful Blackface tones coming with that EZG. You'll be able to do SRV tones to Clapton. Have fun, and post some pictures for us!
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Post by Jan on Aug 5, 2011 6:30:09 GMT -7
You can find many people selling lots of tubes labeled =C= on ebay at some attractive prices... if you want to buy them from former members of the U.S.S.R. For the younger folk out there, that is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. I do not have enough disposable cash to gamble on tubes from places like Bulgaria, Romania or Ukraine. They may be perfectly good tubes at nice prices but this little voice says to me, don't go there.
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Post by Jan on Aug 5, 2011 6:40:08 GMT -7
Bends notes like butta'
Shiny! I have never bonded with a Strat. I have one, probably a very nice one, a 60th Anniversary model. It has gotten very little attention. I was a couple of days late reading about your gear going walkabout and I thought, maybe he would like to borrow my Strat. Before I got to the last post, I read that you had already bought a new one. I am going to make myself get the Strat out more now that I have a Carmen Ghia. I suspect that combination is going to sound very nice together.
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Post by joeellis on Aug 5, 2011 16:35:56 GMT -7
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Post by prspastor on Aug 5, 2011 18:27:40 GMT -7
Hey, congrats! You got an anniversary model! Very cool. My Z-28 that was stolen was an anniversary model too...
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