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Post by phoenix on Jun 20, 2005 11:37:46 GMT -7
Hello - this is my first post on the Z forum! I have a couple of questions. I love my MAZ-18 2x10, but am thinking of adding a 1x15 extension cab to fatten up the sound of my strat -- something along the lines of SRV's 15" Vibroverb tonally, but with the British Z twist. At the same time, I play a Don Grosh Set Neck (Les Paul style guitar) and I want to retain clarity when I'm playing that through the Z and the 15" cab. Thinking about a Jenkins 15" cab with a Weber speaker. First question: my amp is in my band's rehearsal space right now, and I forget what the impedance is. What's the impedance on a MAZ 18 2x10? Need to know in order to pick out the right 15" speaker. Also -- there are a number of Weber 15" speakers available and am wondering what wattage would be best. 15 watts? 20 watts? More? I know the MAZ 18 puts out more wattage than the official 18 watt rating. Would appreciate any other general thoughts people might have about this, too. Like I said, I want to fatten up my strat sound, without sacrificing detail and high end clarity. I also want to be able to play my Les Paul through the MAz-18 + 15" ext. cab. too. Thanks!
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Jun 20, 2005 14:36:56 GMT -7
First, I'm surprised that you don't find that the 2x10 combo has a fat sound. How long have you had the amp/how many hours does it have on it? If you have less than 40 hours at gig volume the speakers probably haven't completely broken in yet.
The 2x10 speaker load is 8 ohms. Do you want to be able to run the 10s and the 15 simultaneously? If so then you will need a series/parallel speaker connection box and you will need to get a 8 ohm 15. KJL amps in Louisiana make a good series parallel box that is easy to use. This box will allow you to combine the two 8 ohm loads into a single 4 ohm load and you will connect that to the 4 ohm output of the Junior.
If you don't want to have the flexibility to run the combo speakers and the 15 together then you have the option of getting a 4 ohm 15 if anybody makes one, but if you do get a 4 ohm 15 do not ever try to connect both the 10's and the 15 at the same time.
Also note that you can only use one of the outputs of the Junior at a time, do not attempt to plug speakers into both outputs simultaneously.
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Post by phoenix on Jun 20, 2005 15:52:51 GMT -7
Thanks very much for the helpful reply, gstan. Yes, I do want to run the 15" and the 2 10"'s at the same time. I'll definitely check into that series/parallel box you suggested.
My MAZ-18 may not have 40 hours at gig volume on it at this point. You raised a good question. It may have 40 and it may be more than that -- I'm just not sure. I'll crank it for more hours before I do anything.
Actually, the MAZ 18 2x10 sounds pretty fat to me -- especially with my HB Grosh Set Neck, which sounds really amazing through it. The MAZ 18 sounds as fat or more so than my Bogner Shiva 2x12. I guess I'm looking for an exceptional level of strat fatness -- something beyond what I get with the MAZ-18 now and my OD pedals (Fulltone FD 2, Fat Boost and OCD). I'm not totally ready to add the 1x15 at this point. Dr. Z suggested that I try out NOS Phillips 12AX7 WA's in the V1 and V2 position. I may well do this first, as getting the phat sound from tubes rather than a 1x15 would be a lot easier on my back! However, adding the 1x15 is a serious possibility. Thanks for all the good info!
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luke
Full Member
Mini
Posts: 109
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Post by luke on Jun 21, 2005 6:57:04 GMT -7
This is a reply to member "gstan" regarding the KJL series parallel box. Does a "y" splitter do the same connection safely?
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Post by Jefferson on Jun 21, 2005 8:26:55 GMT -7
Hello Phoenix and welcome to the discussion.
You have probably already thought of this, but what type of pickups are you running in your strat? If you are playing some of Fender's stock junk, then i would start with a new set of pickups from someone like Lindy Fralin. That is certainly part of the reason your Grosh sounds so good through your rig. That set neck almost certainly came with Fralin paf's.
I have a Clapton strat that came with lace sensors. Removing those things was the best thing that ever happened to that guitar. I replaced them with Fralin vintage hots in the neck and mid and a Fralin Steel Pole 43 in the bridge. This is an extra hot pickup that actually makes the bridge position not only playable, but one of my favorite tones.
I do run my guitars (strat and les paul, both with Fralins) through a Maz 18 connected to two Bogner 1x12 cube cabs (one with a g12h and the other with a vintage 30). They both sound phenomenal! One thing I learned was that I had to play with a different set up on the amp to get what I was looking for on each guitar. Now those set ups are marked on the amp and I just turn knobs as I need to.
Like I said, you have probably already thought of all this, but there it is anyway.
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Jun 21, 2005 9:21:38 GMT -7
I suppose it would but you better be sure whether it is series or parallel and make damn sure it isn't a shielded cable. Z's are tough and can take a fair amount of abuse but don't expect the Dr. to be happy of you fry the amp because you used a shielded cable to carry the power output to the speaker. If it doesn't say specifically that it is a speaker cable do not use it to connect the amp to the speaker.
My advice is to get a device built for this specific purpose, like the KJL series parallel box.
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Post by kc on Jun 21, 2005 10:09:08 GMT -7
I asked Dr Z about running two cabs and he replied: MOJO Musical has a very nice splitter jack that works perfect for this. Just plug two 8 ohm cabs in, then plug the splitter into the 4 ohm amp jackBased on this I bought one and it works OK, although I plug the splitter into an Airbrake. www.mojomusicalsupply.com/cgi-bin/mojotone/1100556.htmlkc
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Post by reverbbb on Jun 23, 2005 7:31:00 GMT -7
What is all this talk about a splitter? Why is it a problem to use both jacks on the Maz 18 Jr.? I have been doing this for almost two years now.
However, I soldered a jumper between the two jacks and cut the 8 ohm tap to make them parallel 4 ohms all the time. I figure, that a single 8 ohm load is not going to ever overload the 4 ohm tap. Likewise, a 4 ohm load is a 4 ohm load.
Again I ask, what is the problem of connecting two 8 ohm loads - one in each jack (assuming stock jack connections)? Isn't this the way all other amp manufacturers intend their dual jacks to be used? If not, then why is there no warning on the amp "NOT" to do this?
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