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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 11, 2015 11:39:17 GMT -7
Long story short - I purchased another head made by another boutique builder. I plugged it into my Z 1x12 convertible back cab which is loaded with an Emi Red White & Blues.
I then had an opportunity to purchase a "compact" 1x12 matching cab made by the builder of that amp. It is loaded with the same type of speaker - Emi RWB.
I was almost shocked at the difference. The amp seemed almost lifeless through the compact cab, and it sounded boxy and dry to me. Through Doc's cab the amp sounds killer. If you'll forgive me, it sounded more "3D" and airy. Both cabs are open back and (I think) have similar construction.
I've owned and played smaller combos and I've sort of noticed a difference that smaller cab sizes can impart on the tone, but I've never A/B'd the same amp through two cabs of different sizes. It opened my eyes to the differences cab sizes can make, but it also made me realize that Doc's 1x12 cab is a dang nice sounding box.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2015 16:00:03 GMT -7
I play through a 1x12 cab i built to the same dimensions as the Z cab. I love it but i've been jonesing for a smaller combo and was considering getting a studio cab for my Maz 18. Now you've got me having second thoughts! I love the sound of my 1x12.
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Post by simpleton on Sept 12, 2015 16:43:07 GMT -7
It seems to me that my Z cab has more highs and clarity than other cabs I've had....I think he might actually know what he is doing. Instead of doing just what others do it seems I keep finding him having done it for his own purposes. His 1x12 really pushed out the sound compared to a couple other two speaker cabs that I had from various other places. As well the cabs don't seem to bass or treble biased...
Great cab
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 13, 2015 7:51:25 GMT -7
I play through a 1x12 cab i built to the same dimensions as the Z cab. I love it but i've been jonesing for a smaller combo and was considering getting a studio cab for my Maz 18. Now you've got me having second thoughts! I love the sound of my 1x12. Well, I can't comment on Doc's studio cab. It might not sound boxy or significantly smaller because I think I read that he makes the bottom of the cab a little deeper. I suppose physics will dictate how "big" a small cab can sound to a certain point, but I also know that cab builders who know what they're doing can employ tricks here and there. Don't let my post talk you out of it ;-) I was jonesing bad for a studio cab for a while there, but since I'm doing far fewer electric gigs these days I've decided to stay with the separate cab. But there's a lot to be said for portability, and if you're micing up your amp, etc., it might not matter that much at all.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2015 8:03:47 GMT -7
I have a MAZ 8 w the Studio cab. I don't find it to be at all "boxy" sounding.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2015 12:10:41 GMT -7
I bought a Maz 8 studio cab and put a Dr Z Galaxie chassis in it. It sounds fine. His cabs are just awesome.
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Post by BritInvasion on Sept 13, 2015 18:22:26 GMT -7
I have a MAZ 8 w the Studio cab. I don't find it to be at all "boxy" sounding. Ditto
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Post by z4me on Sept 14, 2015 12:53:27 GMT -7
I had a Maz 18 Jr NR in a studio cab and like the previous posts, I also did not think it sounded boxy at all. It sounded nice and full, a truly grab and go sized combo with the Maz Jr tone. I received compliments on my tone playing live with that amp. With a gold speaker the combo weighed in at 39 lbs.
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Post by Don on Sept 17, 2015 9:07:39 GMT -7
I've been doing something the last few days that I've wanted to do in a long time. I just bought a Radial Cab-Bone, and I'm able to A/B a lot of the cabinets and speakers that I have here using one head.
The first thing that I did, was to compare my Mantaray combo with a Celestion Gold with a Dr. Z convertible also with a Celestion Gold. Boy, was I surprized. Using the same amp and speakers, I expected no difference, but there was. Just to be fair, I removed the center panel of the convertible to make it an open back cab like the combo. There was a bit more low and body with the convertible cab, but the combo just blew it away in terms of chime and tone. Doc sure knows his business when he designs his combo cabs.
Using 2 Z convertible cabs, again using the 'Ray, I was also surprized how much better a G12H30 sounded next to a Gold. But that's another thread.
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Post by z4me on Sept 17, 2015 20:38:37 GMT -7
Don, were are your gold speakers about the same vintage and broken in status? I am curious if you would get the same results of the combo cab having a better tone if you swapped the speakers. This is if there was a difference in the actual speakers.
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Post by zpilot on Sept 18, 2015 1:27:50 GMT -7
OK, I'm going to tread on some dangerous territory here. There really aren't any speaker cabinet designs being used by any current amp builders that haven't been used before. The only exception that comes to mind is the Z Best. Even that is just a combination of things that have already been done. All other things being equal, larger cabs are going to have more "beef" and smaller cabs will have more "chime". The other main thing that governs resonance (in open back cabs) is the choice of material. Baltic birch seems to be preferred by most players. My favorite cabinet is an old Twin Reverb cabinet that I have with the chassis removed and the hole plugged. The tolex covering has been removed so it looks like xxxx and I think it resonates better that way. The particle board baffle has been replaced with 5/8" plywood. Also it is made from solid 1-piece pine which is much harder to find and more expensive than plywood. If you would rap your knuckle on the side of that cab you would hear what I am talking about.
I like Mike's move to thinner plywood in the Z-Lux cab because I've always thought that sounded better. More alive and actually a part of the speaker. Not just a box to put it in. Of course I haven't heard a Z-Lux yet but I've built some cabs in the past with 5/8" and 1/2" plywood.
These differences in material only matter however when you are close to the amp where a player would normally be standing. After you get 20 to 30 feet out in the audience I don't think you can tell much, if any, difference.
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Post by jimmysmith on Sept 21, 2015 17:53:16 GMT -7
of all the amps i have owned, i have only owned two z 1/12 combo cabs,, i have a z 2/10 and a z 4/10,,,it is on the heavy side but perfect for the low volume mini z i use,and i have a light greeback in it, i dont want to buy a new z convertible 1/10 cab for 500 bucks with the eminence speaker without hearing it first.
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Post by Don on Sept 22, 2015 16:58:50 GMT -7
Don, were are your gold speakers about the same vintage and broken in status? I am curious if you would get the same results of the combo cab having a better tone if you swapped the speakers. This is if there was a difference in the actual speakers. Ya know, I did buy them at the same time, and they really do have equal playing time on them, but you're right, it would be interesting to swap them out to hear if there's a difference.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 7:03:04 GMT -7
Gigged last night for the first time with my new Studio Cab. It does indeed sound much different than the homemade Z styled 1x12 baltic birch cab i was using before. The smaller studio cab seems quieter, more direct, and delivers less bass and treble. I actually prefer all of these things when playing with a band, it just seems easier to blend in. I thought i would be making some tonal compromise switching to a smaller cab, but as they say, bigger ain't always better.
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Post by eggman on Sept 25, 2015 23:23:04 GMT -7
Howdy,
My Ghia sounds fantastic through Dr.Z's 1x12 cab. I still prefer Weber's AlNiCo (30 watts, pre-rola) Silver Bell to the Celestion Blue I currently have in place. The 15 watt 'Blue does break up earlier and that suits my current needs, even if the SB is better for British Invasion, low volume happy chime.
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Post by digs57 on Oct 7, 2015 13:03:35 GMT -7
Having both maz amps...bigger cab/reg cab has a little more throw and depth...studio is as good as it gets for portablity....did have a (studio) cab from very reputable maker and tried my reg cab chassis in it cause it had reverb...couldn't do it.
The reg cab crushed the tone I was getting out of it...back in the chassis went...done and haven't looked back...moral is...either way your going to get kick arse tone...but i think someone did there homework on the reg cab maz....reg cab does have the edge.
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