|
Post by fishman on Apr 26, 2006 16:26:21 GMT -7
well, its happened...what the he!! do you follow the Ray with? NOTHING....everything else I have is now for lack of a better word..obsolete.... So I have a MAZ 38 that just sits wondering what it did wrong....and why the new guy gets all the play time...I thought it would pass, but the Ray just gets better and better.....did some recording on Sun. for a new CD...I will post some clips when we get it mixed down...the Ray was smokin;'.....big time....had one of those....pink floyd sounding solo/'s in there, the song did not call for it, but the Ray kinda just took over, band guys were very impressed......unreal the sound and texture..... It is the best amp I have ever owned.....and that makes it a catch 22...... I am not getting rid of the herd just yet, but really, what is the point of keeping good amps that I am not going to play...?? Who knew!!...
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 26, 2006 16:52:06 GMT -7
Well, there is hope... I had a similar experience when I got my Flexi-50 - I had three Riveras here, three Fenders, a load of rack based preamps and power amps - you name it! All of that junk is gone now - I sold it all, except the Flexi. The thing is though, great as the Flexi is for my style, I wanted another really great amp, but really different from the Flexi. I think the Stingray may be that and more. And here's the deal - I liked the Flexi so much I just HAD to have another for the studio so I didn't have to keep hauling my one amp up and down the stairs. I could see having two Stingrays too - for stereo, for studio/live, or just because I want two of this great amp! But now that I have two really great amps, there surely can't be anything else out there that I'd want, could there? HMMM? Stingray rocks my world though!
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Apr 26, 2006 17:06:17 GMT -7
"...but the Ray just gets better and better."
It certainly does! I just got done using benttops settings with vol maxed, cut maxed, tone at noon, into a comp, into a Keeley RAT. Great day, man!! ;D
This setting is perfect for the neck pickup on my Tele...a new discovery...can't wait to try it out with band. So yes, STILL finding new sounds (all good). I never would have thought to max the cut, but it works awesomely well on the 'ray.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 26, 2006 17:25:16 GMT -7
"...but the Ray just gets better and better." It certainly does! I just got done using benttops settings with vol maxed, cut maxed, tone at noon, into a comp, into a Keeley RAT. Great day, man!! ;D This setting is perfect for the neck pickup on my Tele...a new discovery...can't wait to try it out with band. So yes, STILL finding new sounds (all good). I never would have thought to max the cut, but it works awesomely well on the 'ray. I played it that way about two hours this morning, just blazing with the neck pup on my Grosh Strat - d'OH! That thing just sounds amazing! You want clean, put the volume at noon, but if you want some crunch, dime it!
|
|
|
Post by fishman on Apr 26, 2006 17:26:18 GMT -7
benttop, I have some great fenders......I have already disposed of the Rivera's.....I had several, the last one went on a trade a a music store and it still sits there.. Those amps are way to complicated ...and it takes forever to get a sound, then if you move the amp, the sound goes with it...not bashing Rivera;s here, just werent; my style of amps... My fenders on the other hand have all been worked over and tweaked...and for what they are they are great...they are just not Z"s...... I really like my MAZ but the Ray is just taking over ..... I could play others I suppose , but, I DONT WANNA.... my other amps seem almost lifeless....no soul...can;t quite explain it, but if you have a Ray then you know what I am talking about...
|
|
|
Post by brando on Apr 26, 2006 17:29:58 GMT -7
I'm glad I'm not the only either. I've got several gigs underneath my belt and each time I'm more in love with the 'Ray. It's very hard to even walk by it and not flip the switch on.
I've been using my Maz Jr at rehearsals and although it sounds great, I'm just not happy unless I'm playing the Stingray.
I do agree that it is nice having another amp that is vastly different. I've heard some vague rumors that Docs next amp will be covering American Tweed ground. That would be HARD to pass up. Best of both worlds, classic British AND American tones.
Feeling GASy...
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 26, 2006 17:43:23 GMT -7
benttop, I have some great fenders......I have already disposed of the Rivera's.....I had several, the last one went on a trade a a music store and it still sits there.. Those amps are way to complicated ...and it takes forever to get a sound, then if you move the amp, the sound goes with it...not bashing Rivera;s here, just werent; my style of amps... My fenders on the other hand have all been worked over and tweaked...and for what they are they are great...they are just not Z"s...... I really like my MAZ but the Ray is just taking over ..... I could play others I suppose , but, I DONT WANNA.... my other amps seem almost lifeless....no soul...can;t quite explain it, but if you have a Ray then you know what I am talking about... You don't have to 'splain it to me - the 'ray has so MUCH going on at so many different levels - I expect to have mine for a VERY long time. It is so cool to set the amp for a really clean tone and be just as blown away as with the best overdriven sound you've ever had - that's the thing the 'ray does more than any amp I've ever played. It sounds very cool even when really clean. THere is so much complexity going on there... hard to describe, but when you hear it, it's like "oh, YEAH!"
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Apr 26, 2006 17:43:54 GMT -7
...can;t quite explain it, but if you have a Ray then you know what I am talking about... I know exactly what you're talking about.
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Apr 26, 2006 17:53:48 GMT -7
Should also mention I REALLY dig the low gain input of this amp. All other Z's tried or owned, I've only used the high input.
|
|
boomer
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by boomer on Apr 26, 2006 17:55:07 GMT -7
You guys are killing me. Iv'e got the Mantaray gas so bad I just put my Ghia and Route 66 up for sale. I can't see ignoring my Maz 38 though. You should be ashamed.
|
|
|
Post by fishman on Apr 26, 2006 17:55:25 GMT -7
Oh mannn, if Z comes out with a tweed style I am in....I have a epiphone comet, circa 1960's ....it gets that wild tweed thing goin on...it was tuned by my amp guy, but for tweed growl and scream...its got it.... it is a one trick pony but mannnn its a real good trick...but once again... can;t get away from the Ray, and the epi sits....as well as my custom fender 69 BMR in a 2-10 Rogers deep cab w/ celestion vintage 10's (the real ones)_... custom voiced normal channel to resemble a the early marshall circut...and classic fender on the vibrato, reverb/vib on both channels with switch to take it entirely out of the circut...variable neg.FB control to really give some "teeth" if you want it.... Great amp....just not a Z....see what I mean??
|
|
|
Post by fishman on Apr 26, 2006 17:59:03 GMT -7
I am not putting the MAZ down...great amp....just ain;t a RAY...... I guess this is what happens when you get bit by a Vampire....you turn into one and don;t even know it....then you kinda hang with other Vamps, and start talking Vamp trash....you know.......BWHHAHHHAHHHH........ Thats it! The Ray, is a Vampire amp......it bites you a little, then it takes you over complely!!!....ACK!....no wonder I don;t like daytime jobs anymore...
|
|
jeffd
New Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by jeffd on Apr 27, 2006 21:05:05 GMT -7
Two questions about this amp:
First, how loud does it need to be to hit it's sweet spot? I've got a Maz 18 Jr 2x10 combo; maybe that will be useful as a comparison for volume.
Second, how does it take pedals?
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 27, 2006 21:12:13 GMT -7
Two questions about this amp: First, how loud does it need to be to hit it's sweet spot? I've got a Maz 18 Jr 2x10 combo; maybe that will be useful as a comparison for volume. Second, how does it take pedals? Thanks. With my Strat, I can expect to start growing hair on the edge with the volume much above noon. Wide open it has a pretty distinctive crunch, especially with a compressor. I don't have a Maz Jr. to compare it to here, so I'll leave that for someone else with both amps. I think the sweet spot is right at about 6 (about 1:30 o'clock) on the volume. I like the tone over at about 4 (about 10:30 o'clock) and the cut anywhere from noon to wide open depending on what I'm doing. But I don't have my Celestion Alnico Blues yet so it may change when they get here.
|
|
|
Post by fishman on Apr 28, 2006 5:38:08 GMT -7
hmmmm the sweet spot starts when you turn the amp on...and just goes on and on....it depends on what you are looking for.. The sound is so distintive that it is hard to nail it down to one setting, or even one style. Let me say that the amp sounds good at all settings....even very low vol. As far as pedals go, I think the amp is a bit more selective than the reviews suggest. I have found that you may have to play around a little more with the pedals to get the sound that you want, but it is in there.... I finally got my Barber DD to sound the way I want it to.....for what its worth here....less is more.... you really need to play one to get the feel, and that will only be a tease....as the amp just gets better and better the more you play/get familiar with it.
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Apr 28, 2006 7:04:26 GMT -7
Sorry BoyZ...but I had a 'ray and Sr at the same time and the MAZ Sr was the winner for me and what I do......hence Steve owning 'ol #25 now ;^).
The 'ray is alone in one area though for me, as Fish stated...it sounds great even at very low volume.
|
|
|
Post by fishman on Apr 28, 2006 7:29:33 GMT -7
I think that part of the magic for me with the Ray is the fact that the sound of this amp is what I heard when I first started and was playing a Howard electric guitar thru an amp that was more receptive to radio stations than to my playing! When I jumped up to a Silvertone 2-12 amp-in-the-cab outfit I was in Rock and Roll heaven...lol Seriously, the Ray has that sound that has been in my head for over 40 years...mannn I have been doing this a long time!...whew.. As stated, that ...wait a minute....I am on the verge of a break thru.....If you are familiar with the "Big Bang" theory......I submitt the "Big Clang" theory....it is that "hard days nite" thing...but alot more.... I hate to say this, but you had to be there I guess to understand the memories and the feel that this amp brings to the surface ..... things that were lost in the haze start coming back and you realize what it is about....mannnn this is kinda like "Amp of Dreams" ..build it and they will come......and thats pretty much what happend to me..... Got a Maz 38 myself and I am holdin' it......tooo good to get rid of....besides, after all this time I have learned one thing...love is fickle commodity.....either for amps or women!....
|
|
|
Post by brando on Apr 28, 2006 7:41:13 GMT -7
Two questions about this amp: First, how loud does it need to be to hit it's sweet spot? I've got a Maz 18 Jr 2x10 combo; maybe that will be useful as a comparison for volume. Second, how does it take pedals? Thanks. The guys are right in that the 'ray has more than a few sweet spots, but I wouldn't think of comparing the Maz 18 2x10 / Ray in terms of volume. Both amps are plenty loud, but the Maz is more aggressive, with dense mids and tight highs. The biggest difference I've noticed between the two is that the Ray with 2x12 Blues is much smoother and has better bass response than the Maz 18 2x10. Of course, speakers have a lot to do with that as well, but this is just to illustrate that these 2 amps in those configuerations are very different. I love that vintage British creamy tone and in my opinion the Stang Ray just does it way better than the 2x10 Maz. I love my Tim and Toneman Rangemaster with the 'Ray. With all those combinations, I literally have a 4 stage amp! ;D
|
|