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Post by walt on Feb 15, 2015 14:42:39 GMT -7
Hello.and thank you to the regulars-I have been lurking here for months,and have joined in anticipation of buying my first Z amp.I think it will be a Therapy,(and then later a Mini Z) to cover all my fendery inclinations,but wouldn't rule out a Maz jr NR,or Ghia.The information shared here has helped A LOT in making my decision-I don't make a lot of cash,and want to spend it productively.I think the Therapy is my kind of amp-especially because it's US made,by hand.My playlist as I type this is The Byrds,Gene Clark,Benjamin Booker,Elle King,Lucinda Williams,and JD McPherson-this will give you an idea of what I am aiming for sonically.A wide range of North American rock and roll ish music.If anyone thinks I would do better with a different Z please let me know-Humbucker has the Therapy I want in stock and I am pulling the trigger by march 1st. Again thanks to all of you for your discussion over the past 8-9 months,it has helped.
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Post by bloozeman on Feb 15, 2015 15:21:03 GMT -7
If youre looking for fendery you may want to wait for the new Zluxe or get an EZG
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 15, 2015 16:21:50 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum Walt!! A lot of good people and great information here! How much power do you need? The Therapy can be a bit overpowering though the Master works really well! Have you had a chance to actually play any Zs? Always good to give them a try though no matter which one you choose it'll be a great amp! Where do you live?? Maybe if there is a Z bro nearby they'll offer to give you a spin of their amp. If you're near S.E. Mich imhave a couple you could sample The Therapy is great but as Bloozeman said, you might want to wait a month to see what the Z-lux sounds like.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Feb 15, 2015 17:39:11 GMT -7
Welcome, Walt! You've landed in a great group of guys here...I have never once been steered wrong. I'll amplify what Mike said. It's always best to play them, but I have yet to play a Z that I didn't like. I bought my first 2 Z's without playing them, something I'd never do with a guitar. But by asking questions here, I got a first rate, honest education on things Z. They are all great amps, just different flavors.
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Post by walt on Feb 15, 2015 19:00:09 GMT -7
Thanks for the welcomes-the jaz 20/40 intrigues me,but Blackface tones are more my son(shoegaze/Britpop)than me-I would lean more towards Tweed/Brown ala Dave Alvin.I am excited to try the Therapy,35 watts is really too much for me,but the master volume sounds very usable.Worst comes to worst,i'll sell and try a Maz JR or Ghia.The high resale value makes it appealing to try Z's until you find what you want.I like that they are doing their own thing,not just assembling kits.In a perfect world i's have time and money to work with them all...
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Post by markT on Feb 15, 2015 20:38:25 GMT -7
Welcome walt!
I think you have the right idea and think the Therapy will be just what you need.
Keep ups informed. Enjoy~
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Feb 16, 2015 3:21:02 GMT -7
Thanks for the welcomes-the jaz 20/40 intrigues me,but Blackface tones are more my son(shoegaze/Britpop)than me-I would lean more towards Tweed/Brown ala Dave Alvin.I am excited to try the Therapy,35 watts is really too much for me,but the master volume sounds very usable.Worst comes to worst,i'll sell and try a Maz JR or Ghia.The high resale value makes it appealing to try Z's until you find what you want.I like that they are doing their own thing,not just assembling kits.In a perfect world i's have time and money to work with them all... You'll struggle more to control the volume of a Maz18 Jr than you will a Therapy...... same for the Ghia. I've had them both and needed a Brake Lite attenuator to gt the best out of either of them in most of the venues I gig. Not so with the Therapy. This is a VERY versatile amp, and hopefully will surprise you with its richness of tone, and the range of its sweet spots - it covers a LOT of ground
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Post by gplayer1965 on Feb 16, 2015 6:34:02 GMT -7
Wise move coming here and asking all the questions. Just for the sonic versatility I would have to agree and say the Therapy is right down the sonic landscape you desire
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Post by gplayer1965 on Feb 16, 2015 6:40:37 GMT -7
Now, I know wattage and volume may be an issue but one amp that is as versatile as the Therapy and don't get much love is the Antidote. No doubt this guy is loud but one can go from Fender like cleans to Vox to thick Marshall yet not overly saturated and remains clear at all points.
Just mentioned it for your knowledge and information. Check out the demo Knowledge is power!!!!!
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Post by kc on Feb 16, 2015 12:11:59 GMT -7
What guitar(s) will you be playing through your Z?
kc
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Post by walt on Feb 16, 2015 13:12:19 GMT -7
Thanks for the heads up on the Antidote.My guitar is a G&L S-500,usually in middle,middle/bridge,or neck/bridge.It is a very bright guitar,but I like it-the tone knobs are bass/treble,and I keep the treble rolled off about 40 % I'd like to add a Gibson/humbucker type guitar,but not this year.
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Post by walt on Feb 25, 2015 19:06:10 GMT -7
Just ordered the Therapy in Blonde/tan grillcloth.I am trying not to build it up too much in my head to avoid possible disappointment,but I have done so much research,thinking and listening I expect to be happy.Still a mediocre guitar player,but happy with my sound Now Playing-Screaming Females Rose Mountain album
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 26, 2015 6:17:01 GMT -7
Just ordered the Therapy in Blonde/tan grillcloth.I am trying not to build it up too much in my head to avoid possible disappointment,but I have done so much research,thinking and listening I expect to be happy.Still a mediocre guitar player,but happy with my sound Now Playing-Screaming Females Rose Mountain album I'm pretty sure you will be floored.
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Post by doctorice on Feb 26, 2015 6:34:46 GMT -7
Welcome aboard. What speaker(s) are you going to use with your incoming Therapy?
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Post by detuned on Feb 26, 2015 9:23:26 GMT -7
Welcome in, new Z brother!
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Post by walt on Feb 26, 2015 18:57:53 GMT -7
I'll be using a homemade 1x12 with a Weber 12F150 to start,i have a bit of cash to play with so I may experiment with speakers mentioned in this forum if it doesn't work for me.Also planning on making a 2x10 with greenbacks when the weather improves.
Now Playing-Lucinda Williams Spirit meets the bone
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Post by simpleton on Feb 26, 2015 20:47:09 GMT -7
I love the Therapy and the master volume is really great for around the house or with a band. Having owned the Ghia and the Monza, I enjoy having the extra watts and available clean headroom if desired BUT the Therapy can get NASTY ..... Enjoy the amp and welcome to the forum Walt.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 26, 2015 21:29:50 GMT -7
I think you'll like the Therapy a bunch. Got a chance to play and really enjoyed it. Playing a G&L Legacy through it I was able to dial a wide variety of tone. Let us know your thoughts.
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Post by pcns on Feb 27, 2015 4:35:18 GMT -7
Congrats on your order.
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Post by djcakadave on Feb 27, 2015 6:41:44 GMT -7
Welcome to Z land. You've made a great choice! I think the Therapy will meet your needs and then some! Let us know when she arrives and how you like her?
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Post by walt on Mar 3, 2015 19:22:42 GMT -7
Took delivery today,and played for an hour ish.I am happy with it,and believe I made the right choice-the sounds I was looking for are in this amp.However,i already know this is not the speaker I like with this amp.Also,my guitar is in BAD need of a setup and it really sounds it.So,i did not have an OMG moment-but I will.I have an eminence wizard i'll try in there,and then i'll go with one of the speaker suggestions found here-Probably the Doc's-he built the amp right?His opinion should carry the most weight.Between that and tube break in,i know I will get what I want from this amp within the next few weeks. And the blonde isn't an exact match,but it looks pretty good with my homemade cabinet
Heres's a pic on facebook,I can't figure out how to post it here.
www.facebook.com/johnny.boots.37
Edit/PS-two things I worried about with this amp were the 35 watts,and the "unforgiving"-ness of the amp-too loud and too exposing of my sloppiness as a player-I actually found the Therapy makes me sound a bit better as player,and with the master at 1 oclock,it wasn't overbearingly loud-although the eminence I have has a big magnet and is loud,so i'll see over the weekend.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 3, 2015 20:14:10 GMT -7
Here you go Walt. Nice looking rig!
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Post by walt on Mar 3, 2015 20:29:34 GMT -7
Thanks:)
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Post by simpleton on Mar 3, 2015 20:33:31 GMT -7
Glad to see it made it thru all the snow.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 3, 2015 21:01:38 GMT -7
You're welcome. All I did was go to your page, click on the image to bring up the full size version, then right click it and choose "copy image location" or some words to that effect. Then I used the little image icon above to insert it here.
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Post by walt on Mar 4, 2015 19:30:23 GMT -7
I put a broken in Eminence Wizard/8 ohms in my cab and woo hoo!there it is-beautiful cleans almost with a hint of shimmer,and when I dime the right hand volume-nice big fat distortion-even with single coils,I easily achieve Steve Jones's guitar tone(example-holidays in the sun,the rest of bollocks,several les pauls into fenders-probably a cranked silver face twin.)Did a 10 minute guitar intonate to last until a real one on the weekend,and had some fun.Anyone else with a wizard might want to try it out.
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