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Post by randalp3000 on Aug 16, 2011 12:19:36 GMT -7
I picked up a used RX/ES and it doesn't seem to have the low bottom end and super high end chime that my Maz sr and Stang Ray have. Is this normal for this amp or do you think I might have an issue?
I really like the headroom this amp has compared to the Stang Ray but I'm really missing the low and high end. I like to feel what I'm playing and cut through at the same time.
Thanks for the help, you guys rock rp
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Post by mcook217 on Aug 16, 2011 15:41:01 GMT -7
what speakers are you using? I've got the rx jr, which is just a lower wattage version of the ES (with a master volume) and i think it has a lot of low end (almost too much at times) and there is definitely a nice chime to it that's bright but not harsh. could very well be the speakers you're using?
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Post by randalp3000 on Aug 16, 2011 16:03:18 GMT -7
I use the same 1x12 for all my amps, it's a Thiele style cab with an over sized port to simulate an open back loaded with a G12H Anniversary.
Looking for a comparison to the Ray or Maz.
thanks for the input
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floyd
Full Member
Posts: 241
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Post by floyd on Aug 16, 2011 18:27:19 GMT -7
If you don't know how many hours are on the tubes i would start there with a complete re-tube.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Aug 26, 2011 14:24:22 GMT -7
If you don't know how many hours are on the tubes i would start there with a complete re-tube. Agreed. A healthy ES has a huge low end and a ton of chime.
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Post by randalp3000 on Aug 26, 2011 14:29:36 GMT -7
Thanks guys, I'll try some new tubes when I get time. I might send it in for a checkup also. It's been rode hard and it's an '06 I think.
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Post by rcrecelius on Aug 28, 2011 9:28:14 GMT -7
If you don't know how many hours are on the tubes i would start there with a complete re-tube. Agreed. A healthy ES has a huge low end and a ton of chime. I dint really agree w that statement Phil...Stingray has what I would call huge low end...RxES had enough low end for me but I wouldn't call it huge and it's nowhere close to the low end of a stingray...of course speaker selection plays a big part
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Post by rcrecelius on Aug 28, 2011 9:28:57 GMT -7
RxES does have plenty of chime though, you shouldn't be lacking in that sept at all
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Sept 9, 2011 5:49:02 GMT -7
Agreed. A healthy ES has a huge low end and a ton of chime. I dint really agree w that statement Phil...Stingray has what I would call huge low end...RxES had enough low end for me but I wouldn't call it huge and it's nowhere close to the low end of a stingray...of course speaker selection plays a big part Yeah, maybe "huge" wasn't the right adjective When ranked with the Dr. Z titans of low end like the Delta 88, EZG-50 and Stangray, the RxES isn't exactly "huge". I think part of the apparent difference in low-end between those three amps and the RxES is that the ES doesn't have as big of a lower midrange no matter how you set its controls. It's more of an upper mid/treble balanced amp to me. Still, the RxES's low end, when the amp is healthy and when played though a cab like the 4X10, a 2x12 with a Weber blue/silver combo or a Z-Best, is pretty tight and percussive, and certainly not lacking. Is that better
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Post by randalp3000 on Sept 9, 2011 6:40:31 GMT -7
Thanks Phil, I sent it in for a checkup and post PI master like the jr. I thought there was some monkey business because there was a switch on the front instead of an LED for the boost. Turns out the switch on the front is stock and the footswitch jack was added because it's an early one. I really liked the headroom this amp has but I like the sound of the Ray a lot more. The Ray to me sounds bigger and more open than the RX.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Sept 9, 2011 8:12:33 GMT -7
It's hard to beat a 'Ray. Every time Don and I get together for a mini-ZFest the Ray with 2 blues wins. I think Hohn agrees...
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Post by hazy86 on Sept 10, 2011 7:02:44 GMT -7
I really liked the headroom this amp has but I like the sound of the Ray a lot more. The Ray to me sounds bigger and more open than the RX. Did you ever get any new tubes? What brand power and pre-amp tubes do you have in the amp? They DO make a difference. Here's what I think the RX ES NEEDS for tubes: Philips EL84s, Mullard or Amperex or similar EF86, USA 12AX7s. I know some of these are expensive; but, the Zs are worth it!! Also, I have the 1x12 RX ES combo with a Celestion Gold. Huge bottom and no bottoming out. I installed a Brake Lite in the cab and love it - better than a master volume. Can't get to low, low volume but it's a killer for small gigs to get output tube distortion (BL on 2 or 3). Rick
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Post by randalp3000 on Sept 10, 2011 10:13:31 GMT -7
I really liked the headroom this amp has but I like the sound of the Ray a lot more. The Ray to me sounds bigger and more open than the RX. Did you ever get any new tubes? What brand power and pre-amp tubes do you have in the amp? They DO make a difference. Here's what I think the RX ES NEEDS for tubes: Philips EL84s, Mullard or Amperex or similar EF86, USA 12AX7s. I know some of these are expensive; but, the Zs are worth it!! Also, I have the 1x12 RX ES combo with a Celestion Gold. Huge bottom and no bottoming out. I installed a Brake Lite in the cab and love it - better than a master volume. Can't get to low, low volume but it's a killer for small gigs to get output tube distortion (BL on 2 or 3). Rick Wow that's a lot of cake, lets see el84's, x4 all I could find were used ones at KCA $160 or $400 for nos others ef86, mullard at KCA for a good one $90 12ax7's, x2 RCA long plate $150 GZ34, can't neglect the rec, gotta be a mullard right? $110, for a used one. Even though I prefer ss, $12, less heat, more power, more headroom, no failure. looks like about $510 plus shipping, that's more than half what I paid for my head (I got a good deal). Does it really take all that to make this amp sound good in a band situation? or $119 for the doc recommended set the amp was designed around from tube depot with a nos Tesla ef86. But wait I own a music store and can get all but the ef86 at wholesale, about $70 with TAD or EH 84's. It kills me to see what you guys pay for tubes. Now will my amp sound 5 times better and the tubes last five times longer, can any one guarantee that? Will I definitely hear a difference over drums, bass, keys, and vocals? I'm starting to see the benefits of nos tubes especially in the preamp and PI now that I have seen some real scientific data to back up these opinions (thanks Myles) and when I get time (key word here is time) to swap out and listen to different nos tubes I'll make up my mind. It's not that I'm a cheap skate, look at my list of amps. Those are just my Z's, about a quarter of my collection (any one wanna by a Bruno). Maybe I'm spoiled because I've either worked in or owned a music store for 3/4's of my life. I almost never buy gear at retail or MAP. I sometimes wonder if I could have become a Z dealer with the amount of amps I bought in the last two months. Thanks for your recommendations. rp, still on the fence but leaning harder
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Post by hazy86 on Sept 10, 2011 16:14:22 GMT -7
I really didn't mean to imply anything by my reply, especially that it takes big $$ to get good tubes and a good tone. I love my RX ES and it inspires me to play. I know it sounds corny, but I hear Brad P in the room when I crank it up with a tele...really.
If you only lack access to a NOS EF86 you can get a NOS or ANOS Philips Holland (remarked Amperex, Philips, Mullard, Valvo and others) on The Bay for <$30. Takes a bit of looking.
I'm just trying to contribute based on my tube amp experience.
Rick
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Post by randalp3000 on Sept 10, 2011 17:11:43 GMT -7
Thanks Rick, I have some nos ax's, at's, and 5751's on order and 2 good size boxes of old tubes (at least a dozen ax's that would make some drool) that I'm trying to get tested. It's a good thing I never throw anything away. When I get my amp back from it's checkup and I get time I'll experiment with some new tubes. As for the ef86 it's post eq driving the pi so I really don't know if it will make much difference.
thanks rp
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