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Post by JoeMo' on Nov 20, 2012 17:38:38 GMT -7
I posted a few months ago about how i bought a new wreck, it was the best amp on the planet, blah blah blah, BUT it was waaay too loud for the type of gigs that i do.
Well, now im wanting another one because it was killer. Even if it is too loud i want it. It will be my Corvette in the Garage.
Does anybody know how to tame this thing without attenuating it? Id like to be able to use it at gigs. I feel like i didnt go down all the avenues i could have before sending it back. I put a Brake light SA on it. Is that too small? Is there a big difference between that and the AirBrake?
Anybody use Plexiglass shields in smaller clubs? or is that just stupid? What about speaker choice? Cab? I need advise. Id rather not run a bunch of pedals with it. Thats like taking some Hot curvy babe out and making her wear a trenchcoat!
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Nov 20, 2012 18:59:54 GMT -7
[Well, now im wanting another one because it was killer. Even if it is too loud i want it. It will be my Corvette in the Garage. ][/i][/b] This has to be one of the best lines ever! ;D ;D
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Post by bryan0418 on Nov 20, 2012 19:30:06 GMT -7
You can disconnect the Celestion Blue speaker and just use the Gold. I do that and it tames it a little. be sure to use the 8 ohm tap then.
You could use a 2x12 with Greenbacks if you liked the sound. Those speakers are less efficient than the Gold/Blue.
What I like to do is to use my AirBrake and run an EP booster last in my chain. Even at unity gain, it seems to put the sparkle back into the amp that the attenuator took away.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Nov 20, 2012 20:46:49 GMT -7
You can mail that Care of Muzacman02 @ WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT WRECK IN THE BIG OLE 502 KY ;D
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Post by Jacques Belanger on Nov 21, 2012 6:21:30 GMT -7
I don't have a wreck (yet) but I use a Lexan shield and I cannot recommend them enough!! I hated the brakelite but I always mic my cab so I built a Lexan shield myself. Don't use plexiglass it's too brittle and WILL crack. It cost about $100 (Canadian) for the materials for a 1x12 cab and I can crank the crap out of my Ghia and nobody ever complains now. It was the best solution for me.
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Post by markT on Nov 21, 2012 8:36:34 GMT -7
The Z wreck sounds great at low volume to me. Good and clean. Volume around 9am..... But the fun factor goes up increasingly as the knob is turned to the right! ;D 1-12 cabs can cut down on the SPL's too. I personally prefer the AirBrake to the Brake Lite with the Z Wreck. Much more control over the volume.
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Nov 21, 2012 9:02:42 GMT -7
The trick we used to use when playing 50 watt nonmaster Marshall combos in small clubs back in the day was to face the speakers of the amp toward the back wall of the stage, then tilt the amp back and bounce the sound off of the back wall. Works better if the wall is hard rather than curtained. If you are micing the amp the sound guy will love you. The problem is the amp will sound way different to you on stage. You need a long cord, wireless, someone you can trust in the room to set volume and control settings during sound check to get the mix right. Then don't tweak during the gig. Another idea is to set your amp at the front of the stage facing you like a monitor. Again tilt it back and bounce off of the back. It's way more fun for you since you will get the full brunt of the sound and volume. Maybe not as much fun for the rest of the band who might be in the area of your amp. Again, works well for the sound guy if you use one.
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Nov 21, 2012 12:23:44 GMT -7
Junior Brown has a thing for his twins that are maxed out that is sort of like a vinyl vest with a zipper in the middle. Kind of looks like those things you see on the front of semis in winter to control how much air reaches the radiator. He then unzips it different amounts depending on the size of the venue to let different amounts of sound out. Works for him. I have a picture of it somewhere. I'll post if I find it.
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Post by Frankie Starr on Nov 21, 2012 18:30:53 GMT -7
Junior Brown has a thing for his twins that are maxed out that is sort of like a vinyl vest with a zipper in the middle. Kind of looks like those things you see on the front of semis in winter to control how much air reaches the radiator. He then unzips it different amounts depending on the size of the venue to let different amounts of sound out. Works for him. I have a picture of it somewhere. I'll post if I find it. That I would like to see ! The amp jacket, by Norelco ! ;D
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Nov 21, 2012 19:17:18 GMT -7
Ask and ye shall receive. Here's a not very good picture of one of Junior's contraptions.
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Post by praisegeetarman on Nov 21, 2012 22:09:19 GMT -7
I use an Aracom with both my Wreck and my /13 MJL. I've tried just about all the attenuators and there is a difference. The Aracom is a by far the best one I have owned. Expensive....... yes, but why spend 3 grand on an amp and refuse to spend a few hundred dollars to actually be able to use it.
Keith
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Post by aufamily on Nov 23, 2012 8:26:57 GMT -7
Looks like sound absorbing blankets with some Velcro straps. Would be easy to make...and easier to haul around compared to a hard shield of some sort...but then you can't see the amp/cab!
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Post by aarondavis on Nov 23, 2012 19:18:59 GMT -7
I think the first thing to do would be to swap out the Celestion B/G for a couple of 65 watt Scumback M75s. It's actually amazing how much quieter you can be with less efficient speakers. Then, if that's not good enough I'd suggest you get over your aversion to attenuators. Just use a BrakeLite on 1 or 2 clicks down. Personally, I'd hate dragging around blankets or any other contraption. Just my opinion.
The ZWreck is a *killer* amp! Good luck!
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Post by TBox on Nov 25, 2012 6:10:38 GMT -7
I agree with Praisegeetarman. I own the Aracom also and it tamed my ZWreck and kept the tone. I owned the Brakelite and it was good on the first couple of clicks, but after that it would get a little muddy. I haven't tried the Air Brake, but a friend of mine has one that he uses with his Maz 38 and he loves it.
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Post by doctorice on Nov 25, 2012 8:44:27 GMT -7
I've been very pleased with the Air Brake on the Z Wreck. Have not tried the Brake Lite. Key factor, imo, is to set the tone with the attenuator engaged. In fact, click on more attenuation than you may want, set the tone, play, let your ears adjust, then reduce the amount of attenuation. To wit: ztalk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=brakelite&action=display&thread=53062
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Post by JoeMo' on Nov 25, 2012 11:11:36 GMT -7
Thanks for the tips fellas.
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Post by M Fowler on Nov 26, 2012 9:38:31 GMT -7
Try lower gain preamp tubes like 12AU7, or 12AY7 or 5751 in V1 & V2 with 12AT7 in V3 PI position.
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Post by JoeMo' on Dec 1, 2012 16:33:16 GMT -7
New question.... Has anybody ever put a Master volume on a z wreck? Do you think it would ruin the Magic?
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Post by jammers5 on Dec 11, 2012 6:04:04 GMT -7
I don't quite understand the adversity to attenuation on this amp. I have an Airbrake, but the THD Hotplate, in my opinion, is the better attenuator for this amp. The hotplate has a "deep" and "bright" switch on it so you can modify the attenuated bass and treble loss. To me sounds better that all other options I have available!
A lot of people praise the Aracom, I haven't used one myself but may try one eventually. Right now I am extremely happy with the THD Hotplate and cant understand why more ppl are not using them on their Wrecks!
J5
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Post by ilikeamps on Dec 17, 2012 17:06:16 GMT -7
Since it has already been mentioned, i will seconde the Aracom attenuater. It is the most transparent attenuator that i have found......but it comes with a price. I will gladly ship mine to the good Dr. because I bet he can improve upon it.
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Post by ilikeamps on Dec 29, 2012 14:01:39 GMT -7
Did someone say Aracom? Works with my Wreck too. I wonder if Jeff will do one in a silver cab to match ;D?
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Post by JoeMo' on Dec 29, 2012 16:35:46 GMT -7
Nice!
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