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Post by ksquared on Jan 2, 2012 21:13:34 GMT -7
Hi all: I'm a first time poster, long time lurker, and Maz 18 NR owner. The Maz 18 is my amp for playing out and band stuff with a drummer. I have a brake lite installed and rarely open it all the way. For home practice, I have a Swart Space Tone Atomic Jr. (5 watt, 8" speaker). It's a great amp, but not my preferred sound. The Maz 18 is the sound I want, but, as you all know, it's really loud even with the brake lite. So I've been on the lookout for a 5 watt or so amp with a vibe closer to the Maz 18, and then the Maz 8 comes along, and, well, I'm interested . . . .
So my questions are as follows: if one has a Maz 18 with a brake lite, does getting a Maz 8 make sense? I'm guessing they cover a lot of the same territory. Is there enough of a volume decrease with the Maz 8 to justify owning both?
Also, can anyone provide a tone comparison between the Swart 5 watt series and the Maz 8? Thanks!
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Post by Brian on Jan 2, 2012 21:46:10 GMT -7
First of all, welcome to the forum...
I can't compare your Swart to the Maz 8....but I can tell the Maz 8 is loud enough to play live with, as long as you can get everyone else to turn down (a little). The MV on the 8 works great, so you can get clean to dirt and control your volume, for home/small gig requirements. The biggest difference to me is that you can actually get the tubes working with the 8 where you can't always do that with the 18. You can really hear the eq section and how they interact with one another, and the cut knob is VERY noticable on the Maz 8. Sonically, I think the 8 and 18 are very similar. Justification for owning both is up to your financial situation. I can and do use my 8 at home and for small gig stuff. I use my 18 and StangRay for bigger gigs. If you are just looking to use it for a practice amp....that's an expensive practice amp...that's just my 2 cents.
Once again, welcome to the forum...and good luck finding your tone.
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Post by pcns on Jan 6, 2012 12:07:35 GMT -7
I am a former Maz Jr owner now Maz 8 owner. Not sure how much volume you need but I play in my church praise band with a live drummer and bass player and have no issues with volume at all, and I run in triomode without a brake like at all. I run my volume at 3 oclock and my master volume at 9 o clock with me tele into the high input and its perfect. When I use my Parker it runs a little hotter so I turn the master down a bit. I can still get a lot louder if I need to, if I turn the master up to noon its screaming and sounds wonderful. I like to run my amp just at the point where is giving me a slight overdrive and will push it into OD bliss with either a fuzz or OD pedal (my current favorite is a Fat Penguin OD). The big thing for me between the Maz 8 and the Jr is the pentode/triode switch. Really does give me two different sounding amps with the flick of a switch. It was a brilliant idea. I loved my Maz Jr but I will not be turning back after the Maz 8 came home. hope this helps, God bless, Todd
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Post by doctorice on Jan 6, 2012 12:20:17 GMT -7
Welcome. My thoughts: The MAZ 8 pentode setting produces a sound pretty similar to a MAZ 18 into the same speaker. I have both amps, but with different speaker setups: Z 2x10 for the 18 and 12" Celestion Blue in the 8. As a result, I hear differences in the sound of my guitars but a pretty good part of that is the speakers. I like both a lot. Triode mode is considerably softer and rounder to my ears, very "old school" just as Dr Z claims. It's very useable also, but I prefer pentode for gigging. I use Brake Lites with both amps, but I can run the 8 without and not get the stink eye from my bandmates. However, I don't have either the Volume or Master wide open and I generally use the Lo input.
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Post by Brian on Jan 6, 2012 15:49:56 GMT -7
I'm gonna try my Maz 8 live again this weekend...I'll be able to really use all the settings tonight and tomorrw night.
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Post by pcns on Jan 7, 2012 13:25:57 GMT -7
don't forget if you have the Celestian Blue speaker that it really needs a good break in period to warm up and do its thing
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jan 7, 2012 17:04:50 GMT -7
I think the question isn't how loud the Maz8 can go, but how quiet with good tone? Seems ksquared is happy with the Maz18 for gigs but is looking for a similar sounding low volume amp for home/practice use to replace the Swart. Am I reading this right? and it seems like a good question too ....... ;D
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Post by markT on Jan 7, 2012 17:18:48 GMT -7
I had the 8 for 2 weeks and it sounded great!.....but I always wanted just a little more volume. I would hate to have to adjust the bands volume to my amp, like others have said. That would surely keep the volume from getting out of of hand. However, I just like more control than that. I now have a small box Maz Jr with a Gold and Brake Lite that sounds just as good as the 8.....with power to spare- Like the Doc and others have said above, the 8 has basically the same sound and feel of the 18, just les volume. Just my opinion.
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Post by smolder on Jan 7, 2012 18:18:48 GMT -7
If the maz is your 'the amp', then practice/rehearse with the 8, and play out with a 8, jr, or senior. It's a beautiful thing.
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Post by markT on Jan 8, 2012 7:45:21 GMT -7
If the maz is your 'the amp', then practice/rehearse with the 8, and play out with a 8, jr, or senior. It's a beautiful thing. ;D Right On.....own the whole Maz line and pick your strength depending on the mood or needs. Very Beautiful~
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2012 8:29:27 GMT -7
The Maz 8 is not a 'small amp' the Mini Z is more like a 'small amp'
Maz 8 is a full featured low wattage guitar amp that allows you to get the sound and bloom of the output section in more situations. Great for recording, Fantastic as part of a multi amp rig, Great for guys who are using in ear monitors on stage. It's worked for me in full band situations live too.
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