rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 18, 2014 13:03:04 GMT -7
Hi, all. Wanted to introduce myself, and thank you for all the great information here. I am strongly considering a Route 66 as it just seems to be all the things I like in amp tone; fat, on the warmer side, pointing more toward the tweed side of things than blackface and beyond.
I am really impressed with how the Dr. handled using the EF86 front end, allowing the gradual dialing in of all the gain on tap, through the TONE control. Amazing.
I suppose the only concern is volume, however, I know there are good attenuators out there. That's a whole 'nother subject I have to learn about.
At any rate, it's nice to be here. All you brothers come warmly recommended and I'll let you know if and when I finally take the plunge into the Z waters!
Best....
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Post by simpleton on Sept 18, 2014 13:33:53 GMT -7
Welcome to Z Talk Rick. I don't see how you could miss with that amp, it's been one I've wanted for a while as well. I'm sure some of the fellas will stop by and rave bout the 66 tone machine.
Have Fun
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Post by southmusic70 on Sept 18, 2014 13:38:38 GMT -7
My first Z was a Z28, which I feel like I'll always have. I've also owned the Route 66, which I recently sold, and a KT 45, which is currently posted for sale here on BST (my other Z is a Rati v2, which I'll likely always have).
My advice to you would be to get a Z28 combo - it's portable and plenty loud, particularly if you add an extension cabinet, but you can play pretty softly without attenuation. I have found it more versatile than the Route.
Just my opinion, of course.
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Post by nmz on Sept 18, 2014 13:55:47 GMT -7
+1 on the Z-28 for your first. Same tone stack but not as loud, since you mentioned that.
Welcome!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Sept 18, 2014 14:18:08 GMT -7
Welcome Rick! A lot of great people and information here! The Route 66 is a great amp! Have you been able to test one in person yet?
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Post by simpleton on Sept 18, 2014 15:16:57 GMT -7
But 1 click on a Brake Lite and the volume would be the same as a Z28 wouldn't it? Is it 2 or 3 decibels quieter with one click? I like a head and cab over a combo as it just seems to give the tubes less of a beating and has the advantage of using a different cab for a quieter or louder venue.
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Post by muZician on Sept 18, 2014 22:18:52 GMT -7
welcome to the forum! Z28 is great indeed
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Sept 19, 2014 4:34:01 GMT -7
Somewhere around ten years ago I was trying to decide between a Maz 18, Z-28, and Rt 66. I went with the Maz because I thought it would be the most versatile. I wasn't sorry, but kept thinking about that Rt66, so I bought one. I'm glad I did. I love the tone of it on low volume the clean is rich. Get it cranking and it oozes nice syrupy single lines with clarity. Now I sometimes itch for a Z28, but not as much. All of this to say if your leaning to the Rt66 go with your gut. You'll get another Z amp to go along with it; you just don't know it yet. Need proof? Take a look at several forum members arsenal. I have 3 now, and I'm on the light side.
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Post by Ridgeback on Sept 19, 2014 6:49:32 GMT -7
After going through a number of Z models over the years, in hindsight, I wish my first Z had been the Z-28.
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 19, 2014 6:56:27 GMT -7
Thanks, guys, for chiming in here. I appreciate the expert opinions! I played a Rt66 several years ago and it was my favorite of all the Z's that were in the store at the time. Probably because I tend to prefer a darker tone than the Maz series overall. I have certainly looked at the Z28 and listened to demos. Have not played one. My gut feeling still tells me I'd enjoy the KT66 vibe a bit more than the 6V6 platform. I'm not really sure I need a lot of versatility. I enjoy using pedals to mix up the tones, but overall like to keep things simple. Thanks again, it's good to be here. I'll keep you posted when I make the leap.
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 19, 2014 6:59:25 GMT -7
One more note...I am mostly a rhythm player, so need something that fills the spaces rather than a tone that cuts through for leads...
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 19, 2014 9:52:34 GMT -7
Another question, brothers.... I have an older (smaller width) Z 1x12 cab with a Hellatone 60 (which is a V30, I guess). How would this match up with the Rt66?
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Post by southmusic70 on Sept 19, 2014 11:36:21 GMT -7
I've read here that the Vin30 is not the speaker for the 66. I tried a 2x12 cab w/ Vin 30s in it with my Route 66, but my preference for the 66 ended up being a Celestion C90 in a 1x12 Mesa cabinet.
BUT: that's my ears. There is great advice here, but it all ends with your own ears and I think everybody here feels like there's no definitive right or wrong. I mean, I mostly play arch tops, semi-hollows and chambered body guitars, so my preferences tone-wise are necessarily going to be different than somebody who is mostly a strat, Tele or whatever player, to say nothing regarding the different styles of music we play and our approach to the instrument. That's one of the things that makes the Forum what it is, plus everybody is nice.
I'm into my 51st year of playing, and the Forum has been a great resource for me since I joined 4 years ago.
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Post by gfreak on Sept 20, 2014 19:08:18 GMT -7
My first Z was a Route 66. A lot of people say their first because once you have one you gotta have more. The Z-verb followed then the Z-28 and the Maz 18jr NR(which I just sold for a non z amp.) I use a 1x12 cab with a Eminence Governor and a 1x15 with a Eminence Legend 151. I also occasionally use a 2x12 cab that is loaded with 2 Eminence Legend GB128's and on rare occasion I use a 1x12 loaded with a Eminence Red Fang.
No matter what Z you get you cant go wrong. The Z-28 clean leans more to a Fender sound, more sparkle then the Route 66 but the 66 cranked up is smoother and thicker.
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 21, 2014 6:28:29 GMT -7
Thanks, gfreak. I am pretty sure the Rt66 is for me. Am always leaning toward the tweed-flavored landscape, not that the 66 is that exactly, but it shares enough DNA with the bassman to suit my leanings. Sparkle isn't what I crave. Deep, thick growl...is. :-) Appreciate the info, and what a great idea to use a 1x15!! I see that on the horizon, too! A friend has a tweed Pro, and it's awesome with that 15" speaker.
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Post by prspastor on Sept 22, 2014 4:50:43 GMT -7
Well, if you want thick growl, you will want a Route 66. I would not worry about loudness... IF you will be able to perceive a difference between the 66 & 28, it will be small. I think an attenuator such as a brake lite is a must buy and the Route really plays well with a Brake Lite. Go with your gut, I say. I think that brighter speakers are a better match. The V30 is just too midrangey for the 66. Believe it or not, I use a Jensen Jet 10" with mine and it is great!
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 22, 2014 13:38:03 GMT -7
Thanks, prspastor! Kind of figured that the difference between 22 watts and 32 watts volume-wise is not substantial enough to make a decision upon. And I honestly have amps that have the Fender and Voxy side pretty much covered. It seems like the Rt66 is a different enough flavor to warrant "just one more" amp. *wink wink* You're right, I'm surprised it works so well with a 10" speaker. So, you're suggesting that, since the Rt66 is so warm, to use a brighter speaker, like a ceramic of some sort? I tend to like Alnico but maybe that would be too dark with the Rt66. That said, both my current amps have ceramics. However, I plan to go either Cannabis Rex or Weber Alnico on the brighter, Fendery amp that I have.
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Post by prspastor on Sept 22, 2014 18:21:35 GMT -7
My understanding is that your speaker magnet has more to do with the attack of the speaker at higher volumes. It has been a while since I've looked this up, but if I recall correctly, at higher volumes, the Alnico becomes less responsive (softer/spongier) than a ceramic because it becomes loaded. I thought that the cone material and design, as well as the coil design had more to do with the speaker's voicing. I could be wrong though.
But yes, I think that a brighter speaker, or one with a midrange scoop is the better choice since the 66 already gives the mids a nice boost. I think I remember a Celestion G12h sounding good with the 66 too.
Nowadays, I play my 66 for jazz and blues. The 10" gives me a nice, tight bass and an immediate attack that 12" speakers seem to struggle with - at least for me.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2014 6:30:41 GMT -7
Not to hijack, but I've got my 2008 Route 66 (and an Airbrake attenuator) for sale in the BST, if you're interested.
Feel free to PM me if you're interested.
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Post by dixiechicken on Sept 30, 2014 2:51:56 GMT -7
DC here! I have the Route66 with the DR:s 2x10 cab with removeable back plate. great cab btw. I have always liked 10:s over 12:s. (just my preference ) The Route88 is an awesome amp. Its a great amp for rythm playing - it has a great projection and an very full soundscape. For me I always seem to know where I am in the sound mix in relation the the rest of the band. Just my two cents At the rehearsal studion I use it together with a Weber MiniMass 50W model - to tame the volume and getting the crunch I want. I actually most of the time go straight in without pedals or anything - I like the response the dynamics and that percussive feel I get that way. Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Sept 30, 2014 9:58:50 GMT -7
Thanks, Dixiechicken. Good to hear how players are using the Route66. I've wondered about the MiniMass, too. How would you say it compares to other attenuators, if you have tried others?
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Post by Baconator on Sept 30, 2014 13:24:23 GMT -7
I have an early Route 66 and a Brake Lite and find that combo works well for me. It's rare that I'm in a situation where I can use the Route 66 unattenuated and the Brake Lite does a really good job of bringing volume down without killing the great sound of the amp. As for speakers, I have heard many people say the Vintage 30 is a bad fit for the amp and while I don't think it's the best fit, it still sounds pretty good to me. I have a Z-Best and it sounds amazing through that cabinet, but it sounded even nicer to me through a fellow forumite's 1-12 convertible cab with a Celestion Gold in it. I love this amp.
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Post by dixiechicken on Oct 1, 2014 0:37:11 GMT -7
DC here! I have not tried any other attenuators so I can do a direct A/B comparison. But it works out for me. At the rehearsal studio I I tweak the volume and bass & treble with the MiniMass in the signal path Untill I have the crunch/lead sound I want. After that I just dial down the volume on my guitar for chording. The MiniMass have a speaker coil inside to simulate the actual speaker load from a real speakercab. I have never used the bright switch to compensate for the treble loss. As you probably know the human ear perceive a relative treble and bass loss when you turn down the volume. A psycho-acoustic phenomen - the way the human ear works. Cheers: Dixiechicken
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rickb
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by rickb on Oct 2, 2014 9:49:29 GMT -7
Well, the search has turned toward the ever classic Maz 18 NR. After reading about the Doc's recent certification and seeing his article about mods to the Maz 18, it got me very interested in the possibilities. Typically, the Maz has been a little bright for my ears but the Doc's mods can address that, as well as beefing up the bass. The research continues...
I appreciate all the feedback thus far! Thanks.
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Post by bryan0418 on Oct 2, 2014 10:03:40 GMT -7
You can't go wrong with a MAZ 18 or a Carmen Ghia. The problem with Z amps is once you play one....you want to collect more of them. Start saving up for your next one!
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