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Post by billyguitar on May 16, 2006 18:20:17 GMT -7
Z was holding out on us! He must have had the prototype face plate ready for a while. Good drama Mr. Z!
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Post by 6strang (aka Paul) on May 17, 2006 6:34:09 GMT -7
Looks pretty classy and cool at the same time...however, I still really liked the script logo of the previous Stingray... Oh well, it awesome to see that Z is getting press and will continue building killer tone machines like the Ray! 6strang
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Post by zekmoe on May 17, 2006 17:39:32 GMT -7
Yea, but one thing they mentioned is that the volume might be too much for smaller venues. Is there going to be a 2-el84 version on the way at some time?
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 18, 2006 4:52:24 GMT -7
The Sting/Stang Ray IS loud, but it is, as the Doc said, very "easy on the ears". No harshness anywhere. I thought it was an O.K. review, but they didn't give it the kind of praise it deserves, IMO. They just seemed to say "It's a good choice for a British toned/Vox inspired amp that takes pedals extremely well." If GP thinks the 'Ray is loud, they need to get their hands on an RxES...... Also, check out the "interior" pics of the amps. The 'Ray makes its magic with just a few components (like all Dr. Z amps). That's one of the reasons I love Z's amps- I really agree with the minimal circuit design. And, GP used the Matchless interior pics for more than one amp (oops!).
PDW
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Post by Hohn on May 18, 2006 5:30:23 GMT -7
I dunno if there's a lot of value added in going to a lower-powered 'Ray. Most guys are saying that it sounds pretty good at lower volumes as well-- and there's always a hot plate/airbrake if you need to knock it down a little.
jmo
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Post by billyguitar on May 18, 2006 7:37:09 GMT -7
I agree it was a pretty lackluster review. They all were really. No Editor's Pick Awards or any kind of rating. I guess the article was really a review and not a shootout. The 'Rays will be our stealthy secret weapons! I noticed the chassis pics were wrong. That's a drag for whoever was shortchanged, I forget which it was.
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Post by Hohn on May 18, 2006 8:37:23 GMT -7
I bet if Doc bought a huge two-page ad in the GP rag then his amp reviews would magically become more enthusiastic....
I'm suspicious of the guitar rags, as they seem to care a heck of a lot more about being shills for the advertisers than being good writers or reviewers....
JMO-- I know I'm a freak:)
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Post by billyguitar on May 18, 2006 8:58:41 GMT -7
GP in particular has had a strange way with reviews. First it was everything's great, then they were critical (I think even in the first Dr Z review) and now everything's great again. Even though a lot of it's bogus, I think you can get some good info from Harmony Central and forums like this if you filter what you read. People can tell it like it is and at least you can get an idea about the gear without someone worrying about their advertisers.
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Post by Bill on May 18, 2006 9:47:39 GMT -7
Yea, but one thing they mentioned is that the volume might be too much for smaller venues. Is there going to be a 2-el84 version on the way at some time? Really not necessary, zekmoe. I typically play tiny clubs and get the tone I'm shooting for, at lower volumes. So, I wouldn't particularly agree with GP on that statement. On the other hand, I'll be taking the 'ray to a big outdoor jam this Sunday, dual drummers, lots 'o amps & volume...a GOOD test for the capability of the Stingray. Btw for contrast, it'll likely be parked beside a Budda Twin master if I get my usual annual spot on the stage. Pedal wise, I'm only taking a Barber TP & a Keeley RAT, hopefully that'll do it! Here's a pic of the stage last year, as we were getting set up: And a shot of my son (on the far left) ripping the Tom Anderson thru a Z 28/ RC Booster.
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Post by blackstrat on May 19, 2006 6:51:43 GMT -7
Hey Bill - I recognize that place! Is this the annual Crewe Jam?
Tear it up!
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Post by Bill on May 19, 2006 9:28:57 GMT -7
Hey Bill - I recognize that place! Is this the annual Crewe Jam? Tear it up! Mike, speaking of tearing, I seem to remember you burning up the black strat on that stage!
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Post by blackstrat on May 20, 2006 13:35:59 GMT -7
I should've known you had photos! That's a mighty impressive chord I'm playing there - I think that's the part where I just turn down and play real convoluted (non-existent) chords to impress other guitarists (kind of like how you recommend acting like your tuning a string in the middle of a tune when you're really just faking turning the machine head)! Have fun this weekend - beatiful weather to boot!
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Post by Bill on May 20, 2006 13:48:20 GMT -7
Yeah, scotty's looking at you like, "what tha heck kinda chord is that!" . At least you've got the Hendrix/SRV thumb on the E string goin' on.
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Post by Hohn on May 22, 2006 5:13:00 GMT -7
Looks like an A7/F# fretted the hard way to me:)
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Post by smitty on May 23, 2006 22:47:17 GMT -7
... to be fair, Z has had several great reviews during the years he wasn't advertising with them at all, and the Dr. Z Route 66 received the first ever "Editors' Pick Award" from Guitar Player mag during the same time frame...
Smitty
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Post by propellr on May 24, 2006 11:01:49 GMT -7
Magazine publishers aim to print reviews, articles, and columns that they believe will interest their readership. Say GP is reviewing 50 watt combo amps. They want to select amps that will make for interesting reading. Make something good and you will get press. Make something bad and you'll get more. I don't think it matters who pays the bills.
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Post by teleking36 on May 27, 2006 17:56:11 GMT -7
which issue of Guitar Player is the review in? I looked through the current issue on the shelves and found nothing...
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Post by billyguitar on May 27, 2006 18:12:23 GMT -7
It's in the July issue with Tom Petty on the front.
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Post by myles on May 29, 2006 10:39:11 GMT -7
This was a great review. I hope Steve Carr is not upset that the chassis photo for the Matchless was shown on the review of his amp! At least the photos for the Matchless and Carr were not swapped as the Matchless photo is on the Matchless review as well as on the Carr review.
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 7, 2006 7:28:25 GMT -7
I've had that Guitar Player magazine in the "reading room" for a while and I've been reading the rather luke warm Stang Ray review. I noticed that they don't mention the sustain and bloom that the owners on this forum have mentioned. They also talk about it being super loud. A well made 30 watt amp should be expected to be loud, especially with Celestion Blues. What do you guys think about the volume of the Stang Ray? Too loud to crank at a gig? I'm planning on using a pedal for overdrive and perhaps an attenuator anyway so I'm not concerned about the overall volume. I just thought it odd the GP would make such a point of it.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 7, 2006 7:40:50 GMT -7
I've had that Guitar Player magazine in the "reading room" for a while and I've been reading the rather luke warm Stang Ray review. I noticed that they don't mention the sustain and bloom that the owners on this forum have mentioned. They also talk about it being super loud. A well made 30 watt amp should be expected to be loud, especially with Celestion Blues. What do you guys think about the volume of the Stang Ray? Too loud to crank at a gig? I'm planning on using a pedal for overdrive and perhaps an attenuator anyway so I'm not concerned about the overall volume. I just thought it odd the GP would make such a point of it. It wasn't "too loud" when I used it at a gig with my 4x10, but those are pretty inneficient speakers. I always use an attenuator so that I can get the amp's sound right and get the level from the attenuator, but I had the Airbrake on -2db all night - not much attenuation there at all. I think it's going to depend more on what kind of band you play with, and what you are used to. I played the Mazerati wide open, and everyone said it would be too loud - I found it to be just about right most of the time. In other words, YMMV.
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Post by fishman on Jun 7, 2006 8:08:06 GMT -7
a review is one thing, playing the amp out time after time and finding your sound is annother...its only an opinion, if they wanted to do a real review, they should take the amp. play it for six months in all kinds of situations...and then review it....i don;t hold alot of stock in "commerical" reviews...maybe Doc needs to boost their bottom line in exchange for a more favorable nod....because as you all know, Sting-Stang Rays are just piled up on dealers floors with no buyers in sight.....ahem...I rest my case....
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Post by brando on Jun 7, 2006 9:45:12 GMT -7
Amp reviews are purely luck of the draw, especially when you're dealing with subjective taste. The amps too loud? You gotta be kidding me. Z deserves a better than that! I'm always amazed at how guys here amps differently. At least all of us 'Ray owners know what we have. Our little secret eh?
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Post by sonicgator on Jun 7, 2006 9:46:35 GMT -7
Most magazines, be they guitar or car mags, have an interest in keeping companies interested in advertising and don't want to hurt the relationship. When is the last time you saw Car and Driver rip a car for being a piece of junk?
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 7, 2006 10:24:14 GMT -7
I play allot of small clubs & bars, so I can't generally crank up the Ray to the point of overdrive, but I can't say the Ray is too loud. It has plenty of head room when needed and I use pedals for dirt. I didn't read the review, but if they said it was "too loud" then I don't agree with them. It seems that the Ray was designed for great clean tones at reasonable levels, with the added bonus that it sounds great cranked.
I guess the old classic non-master volume Marshalls, Fender Blackface Twins and AC30s must be too loud also!
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Post by myles on Jun 8, 2006 10:10:09 GMT -7
I play allot of small clubs & bars, so I can't generally crank up the Ray to the point of overdrive, but I can't say the Ray is too loud. It has plenty of head room when needed and I use pedals for dirt. I didn't read the review, but if they said it was "too loud" then I don't agree with them. It seems that the Ray was designed for great clean tones at reasonable levels, with the added bonus that it sounds great cranked. I guess the old classic non-master volume Marshalls, Fender Blackface Twins and AC30s must be too loud also! The amps you mention are loud amps and in fact, and AC-30 is just as loud as a Twin Reverb. In any case .... the "Ray" has less wattage than an RxES or Mazerati as an example but there is a ton of harmonic content in these amps that is missing in many amps out there .... so ... they are perceived to be much louder than they are. Also, if you are running speakers such as Vox Blues that are very efficient ... 1watt in = 100dB out, the amp is going to behave like a 50+ watt amp rather than a 30 watter if you compare to the same amp running Greenbacks at 98dB Spl as an example. But .... if the amp to too loud then it is really simple to just use an Airbrake and set it to 1 or 2.
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 8, 2006 11:31:58 GMT -7
The Air Brake is going to be my answer.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 8, 2006 15:42:10 GMT -7
The Air Brake is going to be my answer. +1 for the airbrake. Wonderful tool!
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Post by brando on Jun 28, 2006 14:30:36 GMT -7
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 29, 2006 11:11:25 GMT -7
Good man Brando! Karma for you for the review link.
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