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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 23, 2006 1:26:54 GMT -7
You Know I'm known for long diatribes but ALL I have to say about this amp after playin it today and tonight at practice is.... ! WOW ! photo neg of MADISON's stingray....
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 23, 2006 2:17:01 GMT -7
OK...OK I can't wait... I gotta tell you guy's cause I'm not one thats going for the vox thing..... Blues is what I play...this amp can do it! THIS AMP IS ALL Z .....yea the VOX is in there but SOOOOO much more...... I'm SORRY DOC and this is NOT a negative statement in anyway but FORGET THE VOX COMPARISONS guys.... THIS IS A Z AMP..... It's like several of Docs best, all rolled into one, but making something a little different than any of the others it came from??? if that makes any sense... Mine is serial #006 ;D and I must say I was hoping I didn't like it cause I'm probably gonna have to sell some other stuff but unfortunately I like it.... o well... Um...I still like the Maz SR... but you can get what I like about the Maz SR ("the setting") with this amp.... doesn't get quite the hair the Maz SR gets But it has EVERY bit the bottom and clean headroom the Sr has.... and I think it has some sounds the Maz doesn't have.... the tone w/ cut is VERY, VERY useful.... I tweeked it more than I do my Maz and I couldn't find a bad sound on it.... It has some fattness/ I feel the Maz SR doesn't quite have, but comes close... The Stingray is loud BUT not as loud as the Maz 38... BUT it is sneaky loud cause you can crank it and it is NOT HARSH AT ALL!!!! CUT ANYWHERE and still NOT HARSH!!! I had it just about dimed the whole practice and I could hear everything...was very well balanced and cut through when I really hit it.... I would say it really IS around 30 watts and It feels like MORE than the Maz jr but less than the Maz SR.... nice in between but probably a little closer to the SR... but you can't tell it's that loud cause it's so smooth and not harsh... no ringing ears afterwards I used it with my Z-best, Z-1x12, thd 2x12 cab loaded with Ceramic weber 50 watt blue/ silver.... closed back fender 2x12 w 2 weber 30 watt alnico blues .... This amp sounds good with ANY speaker I threw at it... I do hear the Blue thing with the weber blue dogs though...could get a little more breakup through it earlier with them... very nice. but I really liked it through the Z-best, THE LOW IN THE Z-BEST HAS TO BE HEARD to be believed... AND with the THD / ceramic blue silver.... I only played THAT cab all night...SWEEEEEET!!! If every dealer would get the new Manta-Ray for Z-heads to try out I think DRZ would have a HARD time keeping up with the orders for it... it's THAT good. Big tone, great to run in combination w another Z... ( ran it w/ my carmen ghia cranked...beautiful.... and with the RX I see what MR paisley had in mind...) such a joy to play with a band.... so much brilliance, and spank, and pop, but never ever ever harsh... so much low but never really woofy.... I could just keep going on and on but this amp may have just ended my Z gas... I just need madison's cabinet cause it matches my head perfectly... ;D Jason
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Post by hdahs143 on Feb 23, 2006 5:13:44 GMT -7
[I just need madison's cabinet cause it matches my head perfectly...
Nice 'Ray man, and yes Madison's cab especially with the 30 watt alnico Webers would be perfect. Go on man and get it ! You can do it ;D
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Post by Bill on Feb 23, 2006 5:29:45 GMT -7
Great review Jason, and a sweet looking amp! I also took mine to practice for the first time last night and was blown away...as were my bandmates. Running through a comp and delay, I've never had a better "country" tone. The zen kicks it into blues territory, wow, I'm very very pleased. Used the 1x12 w/ blue dog. Yours IS a perfect match for my 2x12 cab, I'd love to work it out for you...I do have several emails from the Gear Page this morning. Drop me an email at billbolling at luckstone dot com., lets talk.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Feb 23, 2006 6:55:37 GMT -7
Congrats, Jason! I hate to say "I told you so", but I did! As far as the Vox thing goes, you've got to hear it through an open back 2X12 with Blues. I haven't heard the 'Ray with the Weber Blue/Silver combo, but I'll bet it sounds great. The Webers are darker than the Celestion Blues; I noticed that your "cut" knob is set higher than mine. With the Celestion Blues, anything more than 9:00 gets really bright. The Doc built enough range in that cut control to accommodate anything.
PDW
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Post by brando on Feb 23, 2006 7:06:06 GMT -7
PDW, I'm glad you said that about the Blues and cut knob, because I have a Vox and trust me, it can mimic the Vox very well. Having said that, I played it out this weekend. We had another guitarist playing through a Maz Jr. 18 w/ Z best cab and it blended so well with the 'Ray. The 'Ray was so smooth sounding that the keyboardist actually said she didn't mind the amp blasting in her right ear. By the way, mine is #15. -Brando
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 23, 2006 7:38:34 GMT -7
You guys are making me want to realign priorities one more time here... I've been trying to REDUCE the number of amps in my studio! This isn't helping!
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Post by Bill on Feb 23, 2006 7:52:25 GMT -7
By the way, mine is #15. -Brando Mine's #16. Wonder how many were made?
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Post by brando on Feb 23, 2006 8:24:27 GMT -7
By the way, mine is #15. -Brando Mine's #16. Wonder how many were made? I think Brad has 5. Z won't say how many officially, but I believe it's around 20-25.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 23, 2006 8:54:48 GMT -7
I think pdw's (the cool Red and white one from fat sound was #5....?)
bet brads prototype's not numbered??, so that's be about 5 for him if pdw's is the first serial # other than BP to get one???
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 23, 2006 9:16:44 GMT -7
One big reason for the "VOX" thing I said was that I hope nobody reads "vox" or "country" about this amp and never tries it because they think it's got a certain TYPE sound going on.... I would guess this would be a vox or country or tele players dream amp BUT I just hear ALOT more... and I think ALOT of blues players would freakin LOVE this amp.... alternative, rock n roll, Jazz I could hear it all over studio recordings.... and it still has a Z sound about it... it's truly wonderful. I have the 2x12 30 watt alnico weber blues and I know they aren't the celestion blues but I can kinda hear with them what the blues would be like ( I know it's still not the same as the blues but the vox sound is really not what I'm after anyway but whats really cool about that is I've been more of a ceramic than alnico fan for the most part but this amp has changed my mind about alnico's period....) I Know the cut knob in the picture is at around 10:00 but with the ceramic Blue/silver especially I turned that cut all the way up all the way down and EVERYWHERE in between and NOT a bad sound anywhere..... TONE up and cut down, Tone down and cut up.... the webers just went with it.... and I wonder if you guy's noticed this... it seems to "absorb" pedals? It loves em and I actually had to boost my od a little to get where I normally would be at with the distortion level... but sounded very much like a part of the amp?? just wonder if you noticed that... and did you guy's notice the level thing.... most DR Z's are a certain wattage, say for instance 38 watts.. yea right , sounds more like 45 watts... but with the stingray did you guy's notice it really sounds around 30 watts?? maybe it's the sneaky volume no harshness thing and maybe it's louder than you think but to me it was perfect and in between the JR and SR? just wondering if you guy's noticed that.... BTW bentop, get this amp and you WILL reduce the number of amps in your studio... you'll keep your mazarati because they'd be great together... the stingray's not as loud as that amp in my opinion overall but because of it's voicing can easily hang with it or MAZ SR or an RX for a clean dirty combo... I could hear the RAY paired with alot of Z's amps for a nice blend.... sorry so long AGAIN but MAN every FAN of DR Z's work should find and play this amp!!! it may not be for everybody or for every style but I think just about every Z-fan could find a place for in their sound... ;D Jason OK I swear I'll shut up now....
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Post by brando on Feb 23, 2006 9:52:24 GMT -7
Jason, I agree with everything you said. There is a "Z" quality to it that differenates itself from an AC30 and it's true that if you push it in the right way, it morphs into a MAZ-likeness, but with a touch more clarity. I have to laugh at your email, because I'm excited about this amp too and hate to keep runnin' on and on about it, but oh well. -Brando
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 23, 2006 10:47:39 GMT -7
Well I'm already hauling two amps out - I'd have to buy another JX-2 so I could triple-switch! The Flexi-50 isn't going away, and I love the Mazerati so far - jeez! And I actually have two Flexi-50's here, and two of the THD 2x12 cabs, along with the THD 4x12 cab - none of that stuff will depart my establishment. ACK! I need to buy a bigger house - yeah, that's the ticket! More house, so I can get a couple more Dr. Z amps!
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Post by Bill on Feb 23, 2006 10:51:45 GMT -7
I feel your pain benttop! If I just worked in a meat packing plant and won 15m AFTER taxes, there would be none of this talk ;D
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 23, 2006 10:52:43 GMT -7
I feel your pain benttop! If I just worked in a meat packing plant and won 15m AFTER taxes, there would be none of this talk ;D d'OH! Yeah, what he said!
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Post by hdahs143 on Feb 23, 2006 13:28:52 GMT -7
I think pdw's (the cool Red and white one from fat sound was #5....?) bet brads prototype's not numbered??, so that's be about 5 for him if pdw's is the first serial # other than BP to get one??? I'm not sure whether heads and combos had different numbers or not, but the 2x12 red combo they had at Alpha Music was serial #2 I believe. It was purchased by someone in Canada who was making it their SECOND Stingray! I really wanted it but it would have been a streeeeetch financially, and I would have had to been buying it for collectors value, and that wouldn't happen with me. It would have been a gigging amp as it sounds to good to sit at home or sell to someone else. And I really prefer a head. So in the near future with prudent saving/planning, I hope to be one of the first owners of a nice red MantaRay Head!
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Feb 23, 2006 19:50:47 GMT -7
I'm almost sure that the red head that was at Willcutt Guitars was #4, but I could be mistaken.
PDW
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 23, 2006 20:21:58 GMT -7
Oh man,
I bought my Blonde stingray head from wilcutt's and when I 1st called I had the choice of a blonde or a red head ;D.... If I had the money I WOULD have gotten both of them and If I knew the red was # 4 and the blonde #6 I think I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN both of them... and figured out how to pay for em later... oh well
gentlemen prefer blondes..... I actually like brunette's so with the black face panel I guess I've got the best of both worlds.. ;D ;D
Jason
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Post by Curt on Feb 23, 2006 23:20:27 GMT -7
Gaaaaaaszzzzzzzzzzzzz -X plezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZ
You Basterds is a Killin' me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by terryg on Feb 24, 2006 6:05:42 GMT -7
no kidding! I just got a ghia and I'm already formulating strategies....
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Post by cntrytwnger on Mar 18, 2006 22:53:46 GMT -7
Mine's #16. Wonder how many were made? I think Brad has 5. Z won't say how many officially, but I believe it's around 20-25. I have combo #19 and I have seen #22, but I don't know if the combos and heads were numbered differently. Definitely the most awesome amp I've owned. Takes pedals like a dream....even my Danelectro Daddy-O pedal, usually a little skanky, sounds great with this amp!! Oh, kinda got off the original thread....nice looking head jgleaton!! I like the beige. All of my Z stuff is red. Being a country player I have to watch out or people will think I'm trying to imitate you know who.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Mar 20, 2006 23:54:17 GMT -7
I think Brad has 5. Z won't say how many officially, but I believe it's around 20-25. I have combo #19 and I have seen #22, but I don't know if the combos and heads were numbered differently. Definitely the most awesome amp I've owned. Takes pedals like a dream....even my Danelectro Daddy-O pedal, usually a little skanky, sounds great with this amp!! Oh, kinda got off the original thread....nice looking head jgleaton!! I like the beige. All of my Z stuff is red. Being a country player I have to watch out or people will think I'm trying to imitate you know who. Thanks cntrytwnger... instant karma for a STINGRAY!! I'll let BP, M. Burks and Bluzsteel have the RED ones... I would be SCARED to use red ones after seeing Bluzsteel's Humongus Red Stack O Z's!!! ;D ;D Jason
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