|
NAD!
Aug 4, 2012 5:41:28 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 4, 2012 5:41:28 GMT -7
I'm heading out the door to pick up my Maz 8! ;D ;D I just had to tell someone and I knew you guys would understand.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 4, 2012 10:25:30 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 4, 2012 10:25:30 GMT -7
Honey, we're home!! Cameraman!! A close-up!!! And finally, a family photo: Now, if you'll pardon me, I have a date with a salt-n-pepper angel. hoby
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 18:07:54 GMT -7
Sweet!
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 5, 2012 15:44:34 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 5, 2012 15:44:34 GMT -7
Ever go on a first date that tanked through no fault of your own? Like, you're out for a nice walk and while gazing into your date's lovely eyes you step on a rusty nail and you end up at the emergency room instead of at dinner? After about an hour of Maz and me getting to know one another, things started to go south. From the start, I felt like the reverb was even more subtle than I remembered. Even at low gain settings with the reverb dimed, it was hardly there at all. At one point I heard some tell-tale tube crackling, then a loud hum developed in the reverb channel. The hum would disappear when I turned the reverb all the way off. Then I lost volume in the triode mode. The pentode mode was sounding off, kind of one-dimensional, but still fully present. Not at all what I remembered. Then triode just vanished. When I switched to triode I would lose 95% of my volume. Now I know there's a power/volume drop in triode, but not like this! In the excitement of getting the Maz home yesterday, I didn't lay in any spare tubes, so I headed back to the shop today. There, we discovered that new tubes didn't make a difference and that the power tube would heat up to "holy sh*t" levels after being powered for only a minute or two. So the problem seems to be somewhere in the amp's circuit and I had to leave the head at the shop. The hope is that things will be set right by tomorrow evening and we can be reunited after work. <sigh>
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 5, 2012 16:59:17 GMT -7
Post by doctorice on Aug 5, 2012 16:59:17 GMT -7
Oh man, that's a shame. Hang in there. Dr Z (and your dealer) will make it right. The amp is a honey.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 5, 2012 20:40:45 GMT -7
Post by jesslm02 on Aug 5, 2012 20:40:45 GMT -7
Ah.. The only issue with tube amps... the TUBES! Like doctorice said, Z and the dealer will make it right!
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 6, 2012 6:03:41 GMT -7
Post by markT on Aug 6, 2012 6:03:41 GMT -7
Sure is a nice, classy looking date you have there. Sorry she is sick. The good Doctor will make her all better.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 6, 2012 6:16:58 GMT -7
Post by brayks on Aug 6, 2012 6:16:58 GMT -7
"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how'd you like the play." Good looking family you got there. I feel so bad for you and you're unfortunate first date experience. Cheer up MD8, soon all will be well.......
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 6, 2012 7:51:40 GMT -7
Post by pcns on Aug 6, 2012 7:51:40 GMT -7
that amp is a beauty, once its straightened out you'll be able to go on a 2nd date that can only be better than the first!
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 8, 2012 18:23:54 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 8, 2012 18:23:54 GMT -7
Still no joy in Mazville. Thought we'd fixed the problem over the weekend. The guys at the shop determined that the Tung Sol AX7 in V2 was acting strangely, so they swapped in a GT. Everything sounded great there in the shop so we came home and settled in for our delayed "getting to know you" session. Imagine my dismay when I powered up and was greeted with more massive hum. The hum is present in both pentode and triode modes. There seems to be a second "layer" of hum introduced when I turn up the reverb although the reverb is more present than before we replaced V2. OK, so everything sounded great at the shop and now it sucks. Must be something in the environment, right? I pulled everything out of the rig so that I was running guitar > amp > speaker with nothing in the effects loop. I even disconnected the bypass pedal. Still hummin'. I moved the amp to a different part of the room with a different power source. Still hummin'. I tried other guitars. Still hummin'. I tried two different speaker cables. Still hummin'. (I wish this damn amp would learn the words already. : Next I removed the back panel to get a closer look at the tubes. Now I"m still a tube amp newbie, so forgive my ignorance, but the only thing that I could discern is that the Mullard ECC83 in V5 (for the phase inverter according to the guys at the shop) seemed to be noticeably dimmer than the other tubes. Problem or feature? I don't know. The last possible clue I can offer is that sometimes when I flip the standby to get sound i hear some faint tube crackle. It doesn't persist. So it looks like I'll be making another trip to the shop this weekend. Any advice you guys can offer would be most appreciated. I will say this, if I can ignore the hum, I love the sound of this amp. Even with that nasty noise floor, I got lost in the tone for an hour without even realizing it. I have complete faith that we'll solve this problem and then I'll be in heaven.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 8, 2012 18:36:33 GMT -7
Post by nigel (Rick) on Aug 8, 2012 18:36:33 GMT -7
Sucks to have a bad start like that. Hang in there they'll make it right. Bet it turns out to be something simple. not what you want to hear from a new amp. I gotta say tho, that amp/ speaker combo looks super-badass!!!! REALLY like it.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 8, 2012 18:41:30 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 8, 2012 18:41:30 GMT -7
Thanks. I do really like the way it turned out visually and can't wait until it sounds a good as it looks.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 9, 2012 5:27:33 GMT -7
Post by jesslm02 on Aug 9, 2012 5:27:33 GMT -7
Some of the newer tubes don't "light up" like others do. Well, it's not they aren't lighting up, because they are, you just can't see it because of the way the tube is constructed. So I would base anything on seeing/not seeing the filament if it's a newer tube.
Some places do have noisier power. Do you have a buddy that wouldn't mind you coming over and trying out at his house? Just to eliminate your home power. Sounds like it could be some nasty 60 cycle hum.
I just remembered a story I heard somewhere, maybe here, don't remember. But basically, a guy was having trouble with his amp being noisy and humming, and tried everything to fix it no results. One day he plugged in and the hum was gone but came back when he noticed one of his appliances kicked on (or something to that affect). Long story short, somehow this appliance was introducing noise onto the circuit and that was being transferred to his amp.
Crazy, I know, but he never complained about it again so that must have been the culprit. I'm not saying this your issue but just thought I'd share because crazy things can happen. Chances are it's a tube or grounding issue though.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 9, 2012 17:24:12 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 9, 2012 17:24:12 GMT -7
Thanks for the input but I'm confident it's not a power issue. Plenty of other tube amps have run in this room (including my friend's Z18 that first launched me on this quest) without any issues at all. Also, I've got a digital recording rig that has run off the same power circuit for years without issue.
Swapped out the V1 and V2 tubes tonight and she's still hummin'.
Looks like we're heading back to the shop this weekend. Bit of a bummer because I live pretty far away. I burned 3/4 of a tank of gas last weekend trying to get this fixed.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 9, 2012 19:55:32 GMT -7
Post by zed on Aug 9, 2012 19:55:32 GMT -7
Ah, that sucks hoby, sorry for your troubles.
I'm sure that they'll find the problem and make it right.
Hang in there, it's worth it!
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 10, 2012 3:22:58 GMT -7
Post by kcraig on Aug 10, 2012 3:22:58 GMT -7
I had a problem with my Maz 8 when i first got it. Tubes kept frying. I emailed Brent and Doc sent new tube. Right after that Brent emailed me and wanted me to send it back to them as they had an "upgrade" they wanted to do on it. I think it was the tranny?? I have Maz 8 head #002 so maybe it got out of the shop before they realized there was a problem with tranny?? Anyway, my point is I think you should contact Brent and tell him whats going on. You may be better off sending it back to Z-Land for a check up. Pain in the arse for a new amp I agree but once I got my amp back she's been singing pretty ever since! I may have missed it and you've already contacted them?? I would send it to the Doc if it was me. Good Luck and like the guys have said" It will be worth it!"
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 10, 2012 6:01:42 GMT -7
Post by DRZ on Aug 10, 2012 6:01:42 GMT -7
Moondog so sorry for your inconvience. Where are you located? And were did you buy the amp?
I have a thought about the Reverb, try reseating the RCA cables on the chassis and make sure they are good and tight, if not the reverb will hum do to loose ground.
DR.Z
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 10, 2012 6:28:22 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 10, 2012 6:28:22 GMT -7
Moondog so sorry for your inconvience. Where are you located? And were did you buy the amp? I have a thought about the Reverb, try reseating the RCA cables on the chassis and make sure they are good and tight, if not the reverb will hum do to loose ground. DR.Z Hello Doctor! Thank you for your reply. I am in the Capital Region of NY. I bought the amp from Parkway Music in Clifton Park and they are being great about this as they always are (even gave me a used RX ES as a loaner last weekend). I am at work now but I have the amp with me and am hoping to get it back to them this evening. I will mention the reverb cables to them when I get there. (I eyed those cables last night but didn't mess with them.) Thanks again, hoby
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 10, 2012 13:24:47 GMT -7
Post by DRZ on Aug 10, 2012 13:24:47 GMT -7
OK good Hoby, let's try one more time at the shop. IF ANY problems pop up after that call me first and I will have a great painless solution for you.
DR.Z
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 10, 2012 19:31:01 GMT -7
Post by "Z" Steve on Aug 10, 2012 19:31:01 GMT -7
That's why all my amps are and will be Z's. Love you Dr. (Great service at the store as well)
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 13, 2012 8:11:23 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 13, 2012 8:11:23 GMT -7
I just got off the phone with the good Doctor and Brent and these guys are going so far above and beyond that I have to say this is the single best customer service experience I have ever had. The reason for the loyalty displayed by everyone on this board is now quite clear. It goes beyond the amazing amps themselves.
Wow.
hoby
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 13, 2012 10:12:49 GMT -7
Post by doctorice on Aug 13, 2012 10:12:49 GMT -7
No firm does customer satisfaction better than Dr Z. This is another prime example.
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 13, 2012 13:57:17 GMT -7
Post by kcraig on Aug 13, 2012 13:57:17 GMT -7
I told ya so!!! :-) I'm glad it's working out for ya. Doc's gonna make it all better....
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 13, 2012 17:37:09 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 13, 2012 17:37:09 GMT -7
I never doubted. ;D
|
|
|
NAD!
Aug 27, 2012 18:15:18 GMT -7
Post by moondog8 on Aug 27, 2012 18:15:18 GMT -7
Wow. It was worth the wait. The Doctor came through in the biggest of ways, replacing my amp in record time and he threw in a t-shirt for my troubles! I haven't heard from him or Brent about what might have been going on with my original amp. Not that I expect them to give me updates. Lord knows they're busy enough doing the voodoo they do oh so well. (Maybe there was nothing wrong and they're too polite to tell me? ) But to me, the triode mode on this new one sounds completely different. There is nowhere near as much hum and it sounds totally alive. Of course, now I have a different problem. It's impossible to play for just a little while. Every time I pick up my guitar and power up the Maz8, 2 hours go by before I look up and realize how long I've been "away". It's wreaking hell on my to-do list. ;D This really is an incredible instrument; totally involving, inspirational, and fun. So many tones and all of them great. And all of the pedals that I thought were so great? They're even better! But at the same time, I'm using them less. The sound of just the guitar and the amp is enough to keep me occupied for long periods of time; something I've never experienced before. At the start, I wasn't sure about the EQ bypass switch. Last night I spent some time with it and holy smokes!! I'm not sure I'm rated to handle that much mojo. I may need a stunt double when I want to use that. So, alls well, etc, etc. and there is only one amp shop that I will recommend to anyone who asks. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go order myself another Dr Z t-shirt (that way I can alternate days) and a hat so I can wear my Z colors proudly! Then maybe I'll fire up the Maz8 for just a few minutes hoby
|
|