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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 3, 2014 16:42:42 GMT -7
Someone told me that Z amps are like Lay's potato chips, ya can't have just one. Wow, how right can a guy be! I was cruising Craigslist a day after my first Z, a Maz 8, was delivered to my front door, and up pops a mint condition Mini Z in red. My wife said, wow, that's COOL, you should get it! I couldn't call the guy fast enough and now 2 hours later I'm plugged in and loving the daylights out of my second Dr. Z amp in as many days...have I got a great wife, or what?!? Here's a shot...they look so cool together.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Oct 3, 2014 17:28:01 GMT -7
A keeper for sure. Both the amp, and the wife!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 3, 2014 17:33:24 GMT -7
That's fast even for me!!! Congrats!
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Post by zed on Oct 3, 2014 18:42:55 GMT -7
Well that didn't take long. Congrats on the growing collection!
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Post by Traumatized (Eric) on Oct 3, 2014 19:32:34 GMT -7
Just wait...it doesn't get any better, haha...One good thing is that they all sound and look amazing!
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 3, 2014 19:46:58 GMT -7
If you keep up this pace you will need Therapy. Congrats on the Z's and on your wonderful wife - my wife has done the same so I know where you are coming from!
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Post by hotmod on Oct 3, 2014 21:59:54 GMT -7
That's identical to mine and I bet it sounds divine! Congrats and enjoy!
If you find the time I'd appreciate if you could test both your amps at full volume through the same speaker, preferably mini's 10" and let us know the difference in volume ,gain and tone between them.Also which one of the two can achieve a lower volume for practicing quietly? Maz 8 is cruising in my head for quite sometime now.
Anyway happy NAD, enjoy in good health and I'm sure that everyone is jealous for having such a supportive wife!
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Post by supernaut on Oct 4, 2014 9:32:02 GMT -7
That red & that green look GREAT together I must put in my cheer for my Wife as well. She would let me buy WHATEVER I wanted, so I have to be very very careful not to abuse that. As all of you know, GAS can get expen$ive! Rock on and enjoy, brother
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Post by Lefty on Oct 4, 2014 15:18:48 GMT -7
Do I lie?
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 4, 2014 17:07:11 GMT -7
You nailed it, Lefty. I've gotta stay away from this board for a couple of days to get acquainted with my new amps...I have to tell you all that I love, love the Z sound. I've got some nice vintage amps and these are making me rethink my backline in a big way! Potato chips....(!)
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Post by digs57 on Oct 6, 2014 9:00:09 GMT -7
oh...nooooo....the bag is almost empty...
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Post by pcns on Oct 6, 2014 10:47:07 GMT -7
2 days, 2 Z's. Not bad at all! Todd
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Post by simpleton on Oct 6, 2014 11:24:07 GMT -7
Congrats on that pairing, I'm sure that a stereo use of them would not be a wasted adventure.
Rock em and sock em ...... bam
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 8, 2014 16:48:16 GMT -7
Congrats on that pairing, I'm sure that a stereo use of them would not be a wasted adventure. Rock em and sock em ...... bam That's a great idea, I'm going to hook them up to my Flashback X4 delay and do the ping pong thing...or stereo chorus. Bet that would sound great.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 8, 2014 16:50:36 GMT -7
I just ordered some ANOS RCA 12AX7A's from Mike at KCA. Also a couple of Tungsram EL84 output tubes for my new Z's...should sound outrageous.
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Post by simpleton on Oct 8, 2014 17:43:18 GMT -7
I just ordered some ANOS RCA 12AX7A's from Mike at KCA. Also a couple of Tungsram EL84 output tubes for my new Z's...should sound outrageous. I've heard so many good things about KCA. Did you talk to him on the phone or just order online? Did you specify the amps and tone wanted or just pick out what seemed good? Ping pong that pair for sure. I used to use my Boss TU-2 to stereo a couple of amps but lately I've been ABY-ing them so that they are not both always on. However I've been considering moving to an actual stereo set up just to be overly complicated for no needed reason other than that's how my brain seems to act. Overly complicated for no needed reason
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 9, 2014 7:06:05 GMT -7
We 'talked' via email over a couple of hours. I told him that I'm playing a Mini-Z and a Maz 8, told him I'm an old fart of 62 and play classic rock, blues, and a little jazz. He was really informative and quick to respond...I have a good feeling about Mike. He recommended some AMOS RCA 12AZ7A for the front end and some Tungsram EL84 for the output tube. Right after I got my amps, I played 'em a couple of hours each, then started swapping tubes in from my stock of old tubes...I ended up with a new TAD 12AX7 Select in V1 of both amps, left the stock output tube in the Maz 8, and put a JJEL84 that's been around for a long time doing nothing in the Mini. I'm looking forward to getting the new tubes from KCA! Should be here tomorrow or Saturday I hope.
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Post by Luke on Oct 25, 2014 11:32:16 GMT -7
Mike at KCA is a really cool dude. I called him about some tubes for my Z and he was very knowledgable and helpful. I will surely be ordering more from him.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 30, 2014 17:44:05 GMT -7
I'm loving the Mini. It has such a great tone, it just blows my mind that it's only got two tubes in the amp. I have a NOS RCA12AX7A in it with the stock output tube...and it just sings with my Les Paul. Any guitar, really, Strats to 335. I spent the afternoon going through a box of tubes and it's amazing how sensitive the amp is to the differences in each tube. I used it to sort out my tubes. In a couple of weeks I'm going to build a tube curve tracer, and that will be a great tool to analyze my tubes with. Stay tuned...
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Post by clarkgriswold on Nov 10, 2014 8:51:03 GMT -7
I did it as well. Found a killer deal on a Mini last week. Played with different preamp tubes all weekend. Sort of sold on the 12AY7 but still thinking about a 5751 too. What a fun addition to the lineup.
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