|
Post by Hohn on Jul 31, 2006 15:08:15 GMT -7
I get home in 30 min....
Let the mayhem begin!!!!
Much more to come:)
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Jul 31, 2006 15:18:32 GMT -7
Be prepared. These are unforgiving amps. A well played note or chord is rewarded by sounding GREAT!
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Jul 31, 2006 20:11:17 GMT -7
OK. I played it for about a half hour or so with each of my three guitars. Results? Fantastic!!
Observations:
-- The clarity and detail in the amp is astounding. My old setup was so dark and muddy that my Hamer with P-90s never got played-- it was just muddy mush! Playing the 'Ray is much like being able to really hear for the first time-- like having some earplugs removed from your ears.
-- No matter how you set the amp, it sounds great. Even with the Cut up really high, it never gets brittle or thin-- it just "cuts" more. Amazing! I was afraid that I would have to crank the cut way down to use my Tele w/Bardens, since these pups are pretty hot and bright. Turns out that the Cut can be set over a broad range and still sound good. I can see this amp being amazing in a live situation.
-- My Hamer with (Duncan) P-90s is useful again! It actually sounds great, not like the muddy junk it was before. You can hear the LP-jr tones ring off of it, and it actually has a little shimmer to it again. Previously, I was almost ready to sell this axe-- NOT ANYMORE!!
-- My Strat with Kinmans sound absolutely magnificent. I can't believe how much high end sparkle and detail is there now that wasn't there before. I was always worried that these pups were too dark, since they are slightly darker than the regular Kinman AVNs. No longer do I have that concern-- these pups have all the clarity you could ever want.
-- The amp is LOUD! OMG!! I can't believe how loud this thing will go! I couldn't take it over 9:00 without kicking in the Hot Plate. Plenty of volume for a live gig, FOR SURE.
This amp is a study in contradictions. You get warmth AND clarity. Volume AND smoothness. Sparkle AND musicality.
In the end, that's really the best way to describe this amp-- MUSICAL! It's just a very pleasing, artistic amp.
I'm happy with it. Now to start slowly adding other things to it to see what I'm keeping and what I'm getting rid of....
Justin
|
|
|
Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Jul 31, 2006 20:38:08 GMT -7
Congrats justin, welcome to the club.... just a warning though... it scary, cause it's fantastic to ya now.... But the amp just keeps getting BETTER! those celestion blues break in and it just responds to the way you play her... so as you learn how the amp resonds, it just gets better... and to play it live and hear THAT sound is just a joy... makes me smile! Thanks DOC! Jason
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2006 20:53:27 GMT -7
Welcome to the land of the Ray Justin. My knickname for the amp is Z-Ray, as in look at Zee ray. Jason, love your energy man. You are one of the best people on this forum. Well....I love all you guys.
|
|
|
Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Jul 31, 2006 21:04:59 GMT -7
Welcome to the land of the Ray Justin. My knickname for the amp is Z-Ray, as in look at Z ray. Jason, love your energy man. You are one the best people on this forum. Thank you Arun, of course I would say the very same thing about you my brotha.... ;D lots of really good, genuine, tone loving folks on this forum... I love this forum... and these amps... and you guy's.... Jason
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 31, 2006 21:19:59 GMT -7
Yeah, she sounds great at home, but wait till you gig her - OMG! That amp cuts through better than any other I've played. And you're right - it is PLENTY loud! This weekend I had my Flexi wide open and the 'ray wide open next to it, and the 'ray was cutting through just as well - and the Flexi is a 50 watt amp! The only thing I would suggest - if you haven't played a Tele bridge pup through her, you're missing one of the coolest sounds around. Try it - you'll buy one!
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 1, 2006 6:03:28 GMT -7
Oh, I did that alright:) It had so much sheen, that you'd swear there was a little elf inside the amp with a buffer, just polishing each note to a magical mirror shine:) Not a scratch on them, except my playing limits:) You haven't lived until you've played a Barden bridge into a 'Ray:)
This amp even makes my ots TS9 sound good.
Can't wait for the MOSFET FD2 to arrive now! I think I'll then send in my TS9 to get baked, and have my OD range that I want.
This amp truly doesn't need any more knobs or tweaks. Any more knobs would just be a way to mess up the magic.
The real surprise in all this was the Hamer Special w/ P-90s. A GREAT tone with the 'Ray.
BTW-- my 'Ray is #82, black with black/tan grillecloth. I like! I'll snap some pics and update this thread later inthe week:)
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Aug 1, 2006 6:38:09 GMT -7
OK. You get warmth AND clarity. Volume AND smoothness. Sparkle AND musicality. All very true. ;D
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Aug 1, 2006 7:33:12 GMT -7
Congrats Hohn on your new Ray.You really described this amp well.I feel the same way about the Ray,I can not find any bad tone out of this amp no matter how hard I tried.One of the best amps on this planet,IMO and I am very lucky to own them.Thanks to Doc for making these fantastic amps.
dock66.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 1, 2006 18:28:06 GMT -7
obligatory pic.... The grillecloth is different than I expected with the black woven in-- I like it!
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Aug 1, 2006 18:39:10 GMT -7
My head's blonde with a black vinyl front. I wish mine was like yours with the grillecloth on the front of the head. Doesn't really matter. It's all good! Hey! I've heard those yellow tape measures sound better than the chrome or orange ones. When you get done with your testing please print your findings!
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Aug 1, 2006 18:56:59 GMT -7
Be sure and try it thru the low input too. It makes the amp smoother yet.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 1, 2006 19:19:21 GMT -7
Hey! I've heard those yellow tape measures sound better than the chrome or orange ones. When you get done with your testing please print your findings! I actually got that from Mark @ Lavatapemeasures. The best one they had, but $200 for 25ft! Either that, or I was just confirming the StudioSlips measurements-- cab's getting a padded dustcover and head is getting a clamshell bag. jlh
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 1, 2006 19:21:09 GMT -7
So far, the Tele goes in the Low input and all else goes into the HIGH. Low is a better match to the Bardens...
jh
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Aug 2, 2006 4:58:49 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by guitarman1 on Aug 3, 2006 6:01:14 GMT -7
OK. I played it for about a half hour or so with each of my three guitars. Results? Fantastic!! Observations: -- The clarity and detail in the amp is astounding. My old setup was so dark and muddy that my Hamer with P-90s never got played-- it was just muddy mush! Playing the 'Ray is much like being able to really hear for the first time-- like having some earplugs removed from your ears. -- No matter how you set the amp, it sounds great. Even with the Cut up really high, it never gets brittle or thin-- it just "cuts" more. Amazing! I was afraid that I would have to crank the cut way down to use my Tele w/Bardens, since these pups are pretty hot and bright. Turns out that the Cut can be set over a broad range and still sound good. I can see this amp being amazing in a live situation. -- My Hamer with (Duncan) P-90s is useful again! It actually sounds great, not like the muddy junk it was before. You can hear the LP-jr tones ring off of it, and it actually has a little shimmer to it again. Previously, I was almost ready to sell this axe-- NOT ANYMORE!! -- My Strat with Kinmans sound absolutely magnificent. I can't believe how much high end sparkle and detail is there now that wasn't there before. I was always worried that these pups were too dark, since they are slightly darker than the regular Kinman AVNs. No longer do I have that concern-- these pups have all the clarity you could ever want. -- The amp is LOUD! OMG!! I can't believe how loud this thing will go! I couldn't take it over 9:00 without kicking in the Hot Plate. Plenty of volume for a live gig, FOR SURE. This amp is a study in contradictions. You get warmth AND clarity. Volume AND smoothness. Sparkle AND musicality. In the end, that's really the best way to describe this amp-- MUSICAL! It's just a very pleasing, artistic amp. I'm happy with it. Now to start slowly adding other things to it to see what I'm keeping and what I'm getting rid of.... Justin Congrats Hohn! Glad your digging your new 'Ray. Enjoy!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 3, 2006 7:30:55 GMT -7
Just for giggles, I connected the 'Ray to my little PV 1x12 that's loaded with an 10-yr old EVM12L.
I found my main gig rig. The 1x12 is more portable than the 2x12 w/blues, and the 'Ray makes it sound fantastic.
Compared to the blues, the 12L has a little less bite to the top end, and a little less woof to the bottom, given identical tone control settings. The bottom is round and tight.
I'm certain that once the Blues break in that I will love that cab. But for now, the 1x12 EV is in the #1 go-to spot, as it's nice and broken in. Sure, the EV is 300w and the blues are 15W each, so I don't get any "speaker tone" from the EV, but I can't run the amp high enough to get any "speaker tone" anyway.
Honestly, to get the Blues to do their thing takes a LOT more DB than I'd like.
Conversely, the EV sounds pretty consistent at every volume range that I'd ever really play at.
My Z cab is 16 ohms, so I assume that each of the Blues is 8, and wired in series. I suppose I could swap in the EV in one of the spots, but I don't like that idea because the EVM weighs about 20lb for just the speaker, and that would make the cab REALLY off balance to carry:)
Are the Zakk Wylde models the only EVs available anymore?
Anyhow, this little 1x12 open back ROCKS with the EV in it. The Stang and the EVs are a GREAT match!!
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Aug 3, 2006 8:12:31 GMT -7
EV says the Zak Wylde started in 1983. I bought my EVs in '77 or '78 and used them a lot since. In speakers & cabs down below I mentioned that I did a little comparing to my Z 2x10. The EV did sound great with my Ray but the cab I have it in really held it back. I'm going to put that EV in a better cab and compare them again. The EV, in the crap cab, didn't have near as much mid or bass as the 2x10 cab but the highs were actually sweeter from the EV, if you can believe that! A good way to buy EV 12s is used from your local guitar stores, if you can find anyone that has one. The old EV SRO speaker with the big coffee-can magnet is supposed to be an excellent speaker but they are even harder to find.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Aug 3, 2006 8:54:27 GMT -7
I have a non-Zakk EVM12L, and I bought it ca 1998-99. New, from mail order music store (MF, iirc). Mine has a blue label, not black, but is still a MASSIVE speaker.
I think I'll keep this little 1x12 as is. I was considering ditching the EV for a Gold (once they're available), but having played the EV now, I can't see being much happier with something else.
The EV DOES have a really sweet sparkle to it with the 'Ray. With a lesser amp, I could see it being quite harsh on top, but the 'Ray let's it ride the edge between perfect and too much.
The cab that this EV is in is interesting-- it's a 1x12 Peavey designed to match a Classic 30 combo, allowing you to "stack" one 1x12 on top of another. I had that very setup for awhile, then parted with the Classic 30 when it went down for the nth time. I kept that cab, as it was very heavy ply (3/4") and seemed nice and sturdy. Once the PV driver (blue marvel, I think they called it) was replaced with the EV, it's been that way ever since. I've had other PV classic stuff come and go (the 100 is about to "go"), but this little cab stays.
It's a nice little half-back cab that's portable and gets the job done.
jh
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Aug 3, 2006 10:08:35 GMT -7
The Blue Marvels are pretty lame, at least the ones I've heard. Peavey can build a sturdy cab so I'd keep it too. The nice thing about an EV is that it works for anything. I've had keyboard guys use mine, bass for rehearsal and even vocal monitors. That's the main reason I've kept mine so long, they do everything and sound good while they do it. I have one EV Force 10. It doesn't sound as good. I saw a Super Reverb that had four of those in it, HEAVY amp. I think Los Lobos bass player used those in his SVT cabs. I like other speakers for others reasons, particularly my alnico Tone Tubby 12 but the EVs are great utility speakers.
|
|