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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 14, 2014 17:25:00 GMT -7
Hi folks.....I'm really considering the Antidote as well as the Remedy amp. I'f I bought either I would also get the 1 by 12 Z cab to go with it. My concerns about the Antidote...it will just be TOOO LOUD. Now I'm not playing in a band right now, and haven't for several years...and volumen concerns around the house is really not an issue....and I would have a brake lite on hand......I just dont want to go completely def, and I'm not againt using a pedal to get some gain....but dont want to have to teeter on volume level 1 off....and volume turned up to 2 defening.
So are there some comparisons in volumn to other amps that can be made? I used to have a Twin reverb reissue......if I turned that up to 6, 7, 8....yeah...it was LOUD....is that what the Antidote is on 2?
Concerns about Remedy.......yeah , read its loud also....would be getting the one with master volumn, but will it break up just way tooo soon..............compared to the Antidote?
I primarily play a strat right now, but do have gibson humbuckers to entertain too.....I've lilsted to most all the vids on you tube for both amps.
any help would be appreciated...thanks, Mike
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 14, 2014 17:32:38 GMT -7
The Antidote with a Brake Light should be ok for you - I only play at home (in the basement) and it is very doable with the brake lite. Can't answer regarding the MV on the Remedy - haven't had it done on mine. The volume of Antidote and Remedy are in the same ball park if you keep the Remedy on full power. A Twin is a loud beast so if you can handle that you can do either Antidote or Remedy.
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 14, 2014 17:50:43 GMT -7
thanks Mike.....Its hard to really get an idea of what other people consider LOUD!!!. I currently have a Maz jr, loaded with a Creamback....and I can easisly sit right in front of that amp with the volums pegged and I dont consIder it....DEFENING LOUD. Prolly even a little under powered if I were gonna jam with some friends.
And if I got either the Antidote or Remedy...I would be probably running it thru the Creamback. At home, not so much an issue if I'm a bit on the loud side, but if I ever get in a band again....I'd like to think I could still get good Antidote tone, even if I had to use a pedal to get some strong gain.....keeping in mind, any club I'd play would be in the 100 seater realm.
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Post by markT on Mar 15, 2014 7:16:44 GMT -7
Go for it Mike! The Antidote is one of my all time fav Z amps. Full & thick, but clear. Awesome clean tones and also sounds great heavily attenuated and cranked. One of the most versitile of all the Z amps. I just think the no master scares a lot of people away. (They don't own a pair of Big Boy pants!) You'll be able to use the Antidote in the bedroom or on the big stage.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 15, 2014 7:53:19 GMT -7
Mike - here is a video from one of the Forum members that compares Antidote to Remedy - enjoy!
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 15, 2014 12:23:29 GMT -7
Thanks fellas....did some thinking, and went ahead an ordered an Antidote and 1x12 Z cab, in surf green, should be here middle of next week..woot
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Post by mojolabs on Mar 15, 2014 12:59:36 GMT -7
There is no need for a true 45 watt tube amp unless you're playing with a band. It's not that you couldn't play it at a lower volume, or with an attenuator, it's just so much overkill. Playing at lower volumes will keep the amp from finding all its sweet spots. Attenuators will rob you of some of that sweetness. That said, the Antidote is no louder than any real 45 watt tube amp with similar preamp stages. Everyone saying how blow your pants off loud it is on the forums is kinda misleading. KT66es are more of a 'hifi' tube and take way more volume before they start to break up in the way that many players are used to hearing, and I think this leads to people believing that it is somehow a huge amount louder than other 45(ish) watt amps. I totally agree with markT on the Antidote's versatility and awesomeness for sure. Not so much on the heavy attenuation thing though...I will use an air brake a max of 3 notches from wide open, otherwise I feel I'm using a monster truck to get the groceries if you know what I mean. Wrong tool for the job. I would look at a 10 or 15 watt amp for the kind of playing you're talking about - unless the KT66 power tube sound is what you dream of. There is a certain sound with KT66 power tubes that you can never get with other amps. To my ears, it's absolute and pure magic. And the Antidote harnesses that so freakin' well. The tone controls make it more flexible than the Route66 with different guitars (not to mention it has a way less cheesy name! Sorry Z) Let's face it, no amount of youtube videos can help you with the tonal choice. You have to feel the speaker moving the air in front of you, otherwise you're just watching porn instead of making love. (That's it for the bad metaphors, I swear)
To address your volume situation - for home practice sessions, with a Strat, I rarely go above 9 o'clock on loudness II and 8 o'clock on loudness I, then I drive the front end with pedals. The Antidote doesn't suddenly jump up a massive amount when you start turning it up, that's one of the great things about it - you can really tune it to the room. But even at this volume setting - which is basically volume set on 1 and a half - I am rattling anything that's not tied down when I overdrive it. The air brake on 3 keeps things just beyond reasonable where I can still get lots of controllable, natural feedback (when overdrive engaged of course), and still be able to hear when I take a break.
Hope this helps perspective a bit, and good luck with your choice!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 15, 2014 13:37:26 GMT -7
^^^^^ - there's no need for cars with more than a 1 liter engine -' yet them make them . It's not all about what you need - sometimes it's,what you want!
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 15, 2014 13:44:12 GMT -7
Thanks Mojo...
I've pretty much played a Maz jr, pretty consistently for about 12 years, and as Nice of an amp as that has been. I have to be honest and say, it just doent do it for me anymore. When I put a creamback in it, I had a VERY noticable drop in the db level of the amp. But, it just just have the punch and thickness in tone, that I've been fining myself gravite toward.
Anyway, I think as stated before, the only thing that really scares me, is not having a master volume. But, even though I dont play in a band, playing at home, I still like to be loud....So, for now, I'm going to give it a try...I think the less efficient creamback, and a little attenuation, and the use of a pedal now and then, could put me where I want to be volume wise.
Absolute worst case scenario, I dont like it, and I return it...out shipping ofcourse
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Post by mojolabs on Mar 15, 2014 14:22:00 GMT -7
The no master volume thing was a concern for me initially as well. I can honestly say that this concern went out the window when I started playing the amp! So congratulations on your choice, I think you're gonna love it.
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Post by markT on Mar 15, 2014 17:21:56 GMT -7
I've pretty much played a Maz jr, pretty consistently for about 12 years, and as Nice of an amp as that has been. I have to be honest and say, it just doent do it for me anymore. When I put a creamback in it, I had a VERY noticable drop in the db level of the amp. But, it just just have the punch and thickness in tone, that I've been fining myself gravite toward. Congrats on the incoming Antidote! With the Antidote you will have punch and thickness!! The guy above said he didn't agree with me about the Antidote sounding good heavily attenuated. That's all good, but I do think it sounds great with the Air Brake...or Brakelite on MAX...in the bedroom. Is it the correct tool for the job? I'd rather have an Antidote heavily attenuated through a 12" speaker than a Fender Champ maxed through a 8" speaker. YMMV You're gonna love it!
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 15, 2014 18:52:42 GMT -7
thanks Mark......and if I wassnt hiccupping from a few too many beers I'd write mooooorrrreeee......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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Post by smokeytopazzz on Mar 16, 2014 11:32:37 GMT -7
Good choice. I just went from a Remedy to Antidote. You would have been happy with either one as they are very similar. I prefer the Antidote (bought mine in surf green as well with a 1x12 creamback). It's got a little smoother tone to it, which some want and some don't. It can get raunchier with the bypass pedal. Handles pedals well too. Enjoy
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Post by rickyp on Mar 19, 2014 6:53:42 GMT -7
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your surf green antidote!
When I bought (and returned) the first Maz I bought from a humbucker music, I was so tempted to get the surf green, but I was afraid it wouldn't look as good in person as it did online. When I went up there to check them out, boy was I wrong. They look awesome!
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 20, 2014 14:17:31 GMT -7
Well, I guess its official now...got it on weds. First off, volumn wise...it was nothing like I was afraid it was gonna be. Just a great even taper to the volumn knobs like they should be, not On/Off switches, like I have experienced with some other branded amps I've owned. Once tried a Marshall 50 watt re-issue plexi style in a store...too much volumn too soon, wasn't gonna work for me, no matter how nice it may have sounded. Never owned an amp with kt66's, and been a real long time since I even played regularly with a 6L6 amp...EL 84 Maz has been my mainstay for many years. With my strat, its stays clean for a long time...hum bucker, not as much, but still pretty clean, untill I really hit the volumns and whack the strings. Was kinda worried when I first started playing it...like I had made the wrong choice..not that it didn't sound really good, but just was struggling with making it sound how I liked. Certainly cant always blame the amp on that, cause I've listened to all the clips, numerous times....and most of them, I really liked...so, me as the player should take credit for sounding bad. Switched out the V30 for my creamback...initially, I thought, dang...I think I like the V30 better...but then I said to myself...Self?.....You've been playing el84's for a long time...this is a new bag of tricks...its got volumns, treble, middle, bass, and presence...it aint rocket science. If you dont like what ur hearing...twist a knob one way or the other. so, long story shortened(beer kicking in)...I think I AM starting to like it, and get things dialed in, for the guitars I have....I'll share more as time progresses...but its definitely a very nice sounding, quality amp, with Dr Z Zing.
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 20, 2014 14:25:47 GMT -7
this is kinda how I had it set to play with my ES-347....I bought that guitar new in 1990...and I love it...but it needs some attention now...probably new frets...cause I have to set the action pretty high, or it just dont sound nearly as good as I remember years ago...its been to many dive bars, open mic nights, and house party jams with friends......with the Antidote, I think its gonna get alot more play time, than it has in the past couple years....
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 20, 2014 15:59:56 GMT -7
lol..UPDATE: Apparently the Z emblem on the front of the amp, didn't have its "Big boy pants" on. I was rocking out pretty hard, and it collaspe to the floor...minor detail:)
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 20, 2014 16:40:26 GMT -7
about the 1x12 cab. I owned a z-best cab for a very short period of time...and I changed a speaker in it, but that was a long time ago..and I dont remember exactly how the back panel was attached.....
so I didn't know what to expect for the back panels of the 1x12...had always been impressed with the sturdiness of the combo's..anywho....was suprised/impressed that the screws were machined, and screwed into actuall backing nuts, and not just wood screws that could easily be stripped out. and the thickness of the back panels, seemed to be just like the side walls of the cab...I was very impressed
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 20, 2014 16:55:14 GMT -7
and here it is in NEON GREEN....ewwwwwwwwwwwww
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Post by markT on Mar 23, 2014 6:02:01 GMT -7
Hope you are bonding with the Antidote Mike. Sure looks great! .....if not....you could always send it back and get a Z Wreck combo!!
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Post by jammergreg on Mar 26, 2014 11:03:17 GMT -7
Congrats! Now I feel like surfing. I love that color.
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 27, 2014 16:05:04 GMT -7
some more updates...... Been playing the amp ALOT. And I have been liking it, but not LOVING IT. And when you put out some money, thats not a good feeling to have.....BUT.....mostly just been struggling with how it sounds from differnt "hearing" positions...whether I'm standing or sitting..yada yada..... Sooooooo.....I took off the middle panel of the cab....and the first thing I noticed was an amazing increase in gain, and mids...that I could just not dial out...I said to myself...self....WTF!!!!! then I realized I had accidently hit the eq bypass switch...whew!!!! there we go;) Also...my gibson 347 is my baby...but it needs a refret and has not sounded its best for quite some time...and I really wasn't liking it with the antidote or even the maz I had...or any other amp I'd played thru in a long time...couldn't figure it out. then the other day, window shopping at music store, looked at a les paul, and I noticed just how close the pickups were raised to the strings.....I've raised the action quite high on the 347 to eleminate buzzez and fretting out....and so my pickups were pretty low from the strings...so distortion/gain...just really sounded ugh!!!! Sounded weak/tinney...not nice. I Raised the pickups quite a bit....and made a dramatic difference....not alot of clean headroom after that...but much, much, much better tone.....I was liking it alot... Still not sold on the sound of the strat yet...BUT...I like strats, like to have one...but there not my favorite tonewise anyway....MUST GET TELE!!!! Little beefier. Anyway, just sharing...Antidote is a great amp, no doubt about that. And I'm figuring it out more everyday...and even though I dont have a les paul...I'm a big Jimmy Page fan. And maybe if I get one in the next year or so, and have the Antidote.....SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!!!
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Post by harry on Mar 31, 2014 14:03:46 GMT -7
Maybe you could try beefier strat pickups for the time being. I know that my tele and HB equipped guitars sound better than my strat through the Dote. Also a good OD pedal to thicken things up can help. Good luck!
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Post by mikethebike500 on Mar 31, 2014 14:53:12 GMT -7
Yeah, thanks Harry...I wouldn't even know where to begin with different pickups....the only others I have ever had in a guitar were Texas Specials...I do recall they seemed abit stout though. And I've been looking at alot of demo's of clean boost and such, still not sure where to begin?
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Post by nmz on Mar 31, 2014 16:08:06 GMT -7
Yeah, thanks Harry...I wouldn't even know where to begin with different pickups....the only others I have ever had in a guitar were Texas Specials...I do recall they seemed abit stout though. And I've been looking at alot of demo's of clean boost and such, still not sure where to begin? Flying dragon is a great clean boost.
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Post by rickyp on Apr 1, 2014 7:27:21 GMT -7
Mike... Feel free to contact me with any questions about pickups or pedals to beef up your sound. I've done a lot of research and experimentation on the matter.
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Post by mikethebike500 on Apr 1, 2014 8:07:57 GMT -7
ok, thanks
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