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Post by scotth on Oct 27, 2013 10:01:59 GMT -7
Hey all! New member here, immigrating from TGP.
I love the clips I've heard of the Remedy, and I'm considering picking one up. I thought I'd come ask some questions from the experts at Z-Talk..
I'd appreciate any comments/answers to my following thoughts:
-Volume. I can only afford one amp. With the master volume, can I play the remedy at bedroom levels? or do I have to get an brake light to go with it? and the follow ups: can I get bedroom levels with the brake light?
-speakers. I'm building a 2x12 with a WGS veteran 30 and a WGS 65. (already purchased). reading the forum, it seems the Creamback is the way to go. Are the speakers I have going to do the Remedy justice?
-master volume/eq bypass mod. If I buy a used Remedy and get the Mod done, will I have the same amp as the newer models? or will I be missing out on something?
-guitars. I have a 2010 American Strat (custom shop 50 pickups? correct me If I'm wrong). And an affinity telecaster (that I've had for years and is family to me! haha) Recommend me some non-boutique tele pickups I can use to get a Stone Gossard, Les Paul through a Marshall rythme tone. (through the Remedy, of course)
- Used prices. What should I expect to pay for a used Remedy? new model and old
Thanks for help, looking forward to your feedback!!
Scott
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Post by JSA61 on Oct 27, 2013 10:13:06 GMT -7
I'm no expert, but I have an older remedy that has not been modded. The only question I can address is speakers. Of the ones I have tried, my fav. is the Eminence C-Rex, but with a sensitivity of 103db, it is just too loud. I use a stock Zbest for larger venues and a 1x12 w/creamback for smaller. Having said that, they all sounded good to my ears.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Oct 27, 2013 11:06:49 GMT -7
Firstly, welcome to the forum - all "immigrants" welcome! Secondly, you could not pick a better amp for your only amp, IMHO - the Remedy is just STELLAR! I've had 5 different Z amps, and the Remedy is my go to amp for almost everything I do now. Just awesome. I can talk about a couple of things you ask about: Volume: yes, you can play it quietly at home with the MV. Of course, one man's bedroom level, is another man's divorce proceedings, but I can play mine in the next room while my wife watched TV without too many complaints! You will not need a Brake Lite IMHO, but if you do, then you should save your money and buy an Orange Micro Terror or some such, as at extremely low MV levels, PLUS and attenuator, all of the Remedy mojo will be lost anyway. Oh, and the Remedy has that Half Power switch on the back, which I only use for "bedroom levels" - everywhere else it goes into Full Power (40W) and stays there! The MV really controls the overall volume brilliantly. Speakers - if you're worried about bedroom levels, then don't play through a 2x12! Get a 1x12 and very inefficient speaker for home play if the 2x12 is too loud. Mods - I got mine done, and compared it to a new one - no difference at all in tone or volume. I'm in the UK, so can't speak about prices. I use Fender Texas Specials in my Tele, and get a pretty hot grind going (they're pretty raunchy pickups and give a great tone for non-boutique) Hope that all helps! Cheers Pete
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Post by LT on Oct 27, 2013 17:57:12 GMT -7
Scott....welcome to the forum! Good guys and lots of info here. My first Z was a Rem....great amp. More versatile than you might think, and plenty loud!
Mine has the EQ bypass but not the MV so I can't speak to bedroom level playing with just the MV. With a BL and 20w setting you can get pretty quiet, but I agree w Pete...you can strangle an amp too much and lose its mojo.
I picked up a Creamback based on the guys recommendations here and I really like it in a 1-12 Z cab. However, I have several other 1-12 cabs with different speakers, and the Rem sounds great with all of them.
Price....I think I paid about $950 for my Rem used. Might want to also factor in a new set of tubes (see the Z website for recommendations). I sent mine in for the EQ bypass mod, but opted not to get the MV.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Oct 27, 2013 23:57:51 GMT -7
Oh Scott, one other thing I forgot to mention, and reading Lou's post above reminded me of it. If you max the MV, it effectively goes out of circuit. So, although Lou didn't get the MV mod done and has elected to stay with the Brake Lite, had he done the MV mod and not wanted to use it, he could just max it, and use the BL as he currently does. That's a nice touch by DrZ IMHO.
Anyway, hope you're getting some information which helps.........
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Post by scotth on Oct 28, 2013 12:05:26 GMT -7
Thanks for the warm welcome, guys.
Definitely some good information here.
I think I'm going to stick with a 2x12. Maybe just pull a lead of one speaker for home practice? ( just gotta remember to change the Remedy impedance).
I get what your saying with the MV and attenuator: I only need one or the other. With one I should be able to get T.V (ish) volume levels? use both and I would be strangling the mojo.
Thanks, Pete, for the Texas special pickup suggestion. I'll have to look into those..
Keep the thoughts coming, guys. I'm soaking it all up!
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Post by bryan0418 on Oct 28, 2013 14:20:02 GMT -7
I believe the only 6V6 tubes that can handle the higher voltages in the Remedy are the JJ brand 6V6. Make sure you get a matched quad.
Keep in mind that the cranked sound you have in your head of how you want your Remedy to sound like is a combination of your preamp and power tubes overdriving and sending a real powerful signal to your speaker. Your speaker may break up or not depending on what speaker it is. It does however move a lot of air and you get the cabinet to resonate. All these things combine to give it the "tone." Anything you do at a lower volume will be missing the moving a lot of air piece which is impossible to duplicate with a pedal, airbrake, etc.
Just want to set your expectations before you try new gear to tame the volume.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Oct 28, 2013 14:21:15 GMT -7
TV volume is a good description and VERY doable with the MV The 2 Vs are very powerful too. Clean to Mean before and after noon. The Rem has glorious cleans btw so make sure you don't just think of it as a crunch machine
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Post by scotth on Oct 28, 2013 15:33:58 GMT -7
Thanks for the pro tip on the JJ tubes, Bryan. Not something I thought of at all. What's the difference between matched and un matched tubes?
and I get what you're saying about expectations. I'm not unreasonable; there's nothing that sounds like a cranked amp like a cranked amp. Period. Some nice, warm, crunchy tones at low volumes is all I ask. (some nice fat, round cleans, would be a bonus too, hey Pete? lol)
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Post by bryan0418 on Oct 28, 2013 15:52:31 GMT -7
I don't know the technical details about the matched tubes but I believe they have the same amount of gain each. If you have a mismatched set of output tubes, you will hear an annoying hum. When you order tubes from any of the vendors mentioned in this thread, you can specify that the 4 should be matched. I don't think it costs extra either.
The Remedy actually has great cleans. It does dirt and crunch so well that we sometimes forget it can get clean too.
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z4zed
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by z4zed on Oct 29, 2013 15:53:44 GMT -7
Newby here too but have had the remedy for a bit now and will answer my opinion: master volume works very well and can give bedroom volumes at 20 watt setting (1/2 power). As others have said Im not talking whisper volumes but when playing in the bedroom and closing the door I don't really bother anyone.
I have a z best cab with a WGS 12' ET65 and a celestion vintage 30 and it sounds great.
AS far as I know the mods done to an older model(which is what mine is) brings it to modern specs.
Not sure of prices as I am up north in Canada and we tend to pay a bit more. I got mine in a trade. Thanks again 6strang!!!
Good luck great amp and really shines when you get to crank it up a bit.
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Post by scotth on Oct 29, 2013 16:31:56 GMT -7
Newby here too but have had the remedy for a bit now and will answer my opinion: master volume works very well and can give bedroom volumes at 20 watt setting (1/2 power). As others have said Im not talking whisper volumes but when playing in the bedroom and closing the door I don't really bother anyone. I have a z best cab with a WGS 12' ET65 and a celestion vintage 30 and it sounds great.AS far as I know the mods done to an older model(which is what mine is) brings it to modern specs. Not sure of prices as I am up north in Canada and we tend to pay a bit more. I got mine in a trade. Thanks again 6strang!!! Good luck great amp and really shines when you get to crank it up a bit. That's good to see! I was hoping someone would chime in on that combo. also glad, that the Remedy has got another vote for "good bedroom volumes" Where in Canada are you? I'm a few hours north of Winnipeg.
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z4zed
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by z4zed on Oct 30, 2013 16:35:05 GMT -7
Im located in London, Ontario. If you can find a remedy I would not hesitate they really are great amps! Good Luck!
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