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Post by waynelawkid on Jun 17, 2014 8:36:57 GMT -7
I have had my 2001 Z28 head for about a year and a half now. As far as I know, it has never been back to the Doc for a checkup. The amps high end is a little dull to my ears and I have been toying with the idea of sending it back to Dr. Z for a checkup. Has anyone done this? Presuming everything is fine, what's the price point?
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Post by bryan0418 on Jun 17, 2014 8:49:46 GMT -7
Could just be you need some new output tubes. Try that first. Also make sure you use good quality cables as cheap cables can attenuate the high end of your signal.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Jun 17, 2014 9:19:40 GMT -7
Power tubes or the EF86 losing it's charm. Shoot an email to the Doc/shop and see what is suggested.
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Post by waynelawkid on Jun 17, 2014 9:22:48 GMT -7
Could just be you need some new output tubes. Try that first. Also make sure you use good quality cables as cheap cables can attenuate the high end of your signal. The power tubes are a year old (EH 6V6GTs). I suppose its possible, but in a good week I probably only put 2 hours on it. Your instincts with the cables may be right. I just have to pull the trigger and order some from Todd. Then I need to invent an anti-cat chewing system. My bullet cables look like cat chew toys. Even with all that, does a 13 year old amp need to get a checkup now and then?
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Post by Ridgeback on Jun 17, 2014 9:45:34 GMT -7
This may be too obvious a question but did you re-bias when you changed output tubes? On the surface of things, unless it's blowing fuses or something like that, I wouldn't think a 13 year old amp (especially the way Z's are constructed) would need anything more than tubes and re-biasing.
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Post by Lefty on Jun 17, 2014 11:51:24 GMT -7
Outside of tubes and maybe Deoxit on the jacks, you should be good. Even tubes sitting on a shelf have a shelf life.
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Post by waynelawkid on Jun 17, 2014 12:04:03 GMT -7
This may be too obvious a question but did you re-bias when you changed output tubes? On the surface of things, unless it's blowing fuses or something like that, I wouldn't think a 13 year old amp (especially the way Z's are constructed) would need anything more than tubes and re-biasing. Yes! Biased it with Todd (PCNS) and Steve (Brayks). I may just throw a new set of Tung Sol 6V6s in there along with a new 12AX7 and 5AR4. I have a nice stash of NOS EF86 and EF806s that I swap from time to time in V1. Maybe with a full compliment of new tubes (and some new cables from Todd) the high end won't sound so muffled.
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Post by Ridgeback on Jun 17, 2014 12:30:55 GMT -7
I suppose it's possible for a component to drift out of spec. If the tubes\cables\etc. don't help, maybe a trip to the Doc would be in order. Good luck and let us know what happens.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jun 17, 2014 16:07:50 GMT -7
I want to say it cost me around $100 for a general tune-up at Docs - more if they found something seriously wrong. They were very fair in their charges as far as I was concerned.
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Post by waynelawkid on Jun 18, 2014 6:42:34 GMT -7
I want to say it cost me around $100 for a general tune-up at Docs - more if they found something seriously wrong. They were very fair in their charges as far as I was concerned. Thanks, Mike. That seems like a fair charge to make sure my beloved Z28 has a clean bill of health. Hopefully new tubes and cables take care of the "blanketed" treble. If not, a trip to the Doc's shop may be in order!
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Post by Lefty on Jun 18, 2014 7:07:54 GMT -7
I had to send in my gold face Z-28 to Doc for a repair many years ago. However mine was due to a bad filter cap. I'd say, if tubes don't do it, send it in.
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Post by waynelawkid on Jun 18, 2014 14:53:36 GMT -7
I had to send in my gold face Z-28 to Doc for a repair many years ago. However mine was due to a bad filter cap. I'd say, if tubes don't do it, send it in. Thanks, Lefty. I will oblige.
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Post by rcrecelius on Jun 18, 2014 19:16:15 GMT -7
I have had my 2001 Z28 head for about a year and a half now. As far as I know, it has never been back to the Doc for a checkup. The amps high end is a little dull to my ears and I have been toying with the idea of sending it back to Dr. Z for a checkup. Has anyone done this? Presuming everything is fine, what's the price point? Another thought, back in my z28 days I was experiencing a similar loss of high end...I was using a minimal pedal setup, tuner and boost and both were true bypass...without a buffer in the chain I was losing a lot of clarity...put a buffered pedal at the front of my chain and I was back in business.
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