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Post by Strato on Aug 5, 2007 16:45:45 GMT -7
Well...
I think its time this ol' chap gets a StangRay ;D I have a few questions though. The Maz Jr gave me a taste of the british side of amps, now I want more! I want an amp that can do AC30 very well, but more, with plenty of controllable chime, headroom, and a strong low end. I will almost never be cranking the amp into overdrive - I will almost always be using pedals, so headroom is a must(However I always play miked gigs, so this shouldnt be too much of an issue.) Is the StangRay what I need?
How does the headroom on this amp compare to that of an AC30? What differences can I expect going from a cascaded gain section like that on my Maz Jr to an EF86 front end? Does the EF86 take OD pedals better? Is the cut control as functional on the StangRay as it is on the Maz?
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Post by Hohn on Aug 5, 2007 22:29:17 GMT -7
I can't tell you about the MAZ (never played or heard one in person), but the Cut on the Stang Ray is very useful.
Compared to an AC30, there's no comparison in my mind. The Stang is just a much purer sound, imo. The Stang has headroom for days, and high-headroom speakers will let this thing stay clean to earsplitting levels.
I think the Stang is a perfect amp for you. Then again, I just think it's the perfect amp. The low is huge and tight (even with Blues).
I've never thought a regular TS9 was anything special. That is, until I played it through my Stang.
Presently, I use a FD2 as a clean boost to push a TS9 into my Stang Ray. Joe Walsh himself would LOVE that strat tone!
In my Z 2x12, I have a Blue and an EVM12L. If I want earlier breakup feeding the house system, I mic the Blue. Otherwise, I mix the EV. Ideally, you could mic them both because it's just a postively ginormous tone with those two speakers!
The bottom of the Ray with the EVM just thumps!
I'm so happy with this amp, that I find myself not spending much time here on Z-talk anymore, as I don't think I'll ever want another amp!
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Post by guitarstan on Aug 6, 2007 6:34:37 GMT -7
+1 Hohn .... what he said pretty well covers it. I haven't spent much time on the board either because I am playing much more now that I have awesome amps.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Aug 6, 2007 7:37:41 GMT -7
You've no doubt seen me say here that the 'ray is the cornerstone of my gig rig. And that is for reason - nothing does cleans like the 'ray. Nothing. It stands on its own. The RXES is pretty close, and I've played other amps that had nice cleans too (my Flexi-50 is pretty darn good too) but the 'ray is simply the most beautiful sounding clean amp I've ever played. Period. Tons of headroom, and yeah, it's taken every pedal I've put in front of it. It is very flexible in that regard.
You might want to consider how you want it to sound and tailor its tone with speaker selection. I happen to like the Alnico Blues and Golds, but if you like a little warmer tone, you might opt for something else. You can get a wide variety of tonality by adjusting via speaker selection.
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Post by Danny on Aug 6, 2007 8:11:36 GMT -7
Hey benttop,
We've just had a couple of PM exchanges in recent weeks, but I think I'll pick your brain here too - and Hohn's - on the topic of speaker selection.
Hohn, you mentioned a mismatched pair - Blue and EV - and it seems that nowadays every boutique amp maker is pairing the Blue with a G12H30.
So, gentlemen, what would [glow=red,2,300]a 'Ray specifically [/glow]sound like with one Blue and one G12H30? or one Blue and one Gold?
How would that effect the "huge and tight low end" and "the most beautiful sounding clean amp I've ever played. Period." ?
Thanks,
DF
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Aug 6, 2007 10:43:01 GMT -7
I know I couldn't say, because I haven't tried any of those combinations. When I heard the Blues, I was instantly sold on that alone, and played them exclusively for a year before I got the Golds. Now I'm using those exclusively, so my brain has nothing to pick.
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Post by telejas on Aug 6, 2007 15:37:44 GMT -7
The StangRay is the absolutely BEST amp I've ever played, heard, or owned.... The best cleans of any amp you could possibly imagine and a nice mild break up around 4. This is the "Twin/Deluxe" of the new generation. I have owned several Fenders and a newer Vox AC30cc, the Stangray is leagues above them as far as tone and even in low end. This amp will rattle your walls and celing fan if you want it to (crank the tone to about 8 1/2). The Ray is based off of a non-top boost AC30, so it can sound pretty AC30-ish too, but not as harsh IMO. this amp is a "clean" amp, but just like any non-master volume single channel amp, once the volume knob gets past about 3 1/2 you start getting in to power tube saturation and the more you crank it, the smoother and fatter it sounds. I honestly thought nothing could top the clean tone of my RxES, but I was wrong. As far as mixed speakers... I'm using a Z cab with Weber 50wt: Alnico Blue and Alnico Silver bell and it sounds huge and full. The Ray really loves alnico speakers, but if you want less chime then I'd maybe get a ceramic in there too. The Blue is a pretty warm speaker though, but it does chime nicely and has a sooner breakup than some popular ceramic speakers. The silver is a little more "scooped" out sounding, and doesn't seem to break up as soon. Get a StangRay, and you'll be as happy as me If you haven't checked them out, which I'm sure you have, check out all the Ray clips from the sounds page. Bentop's clips (and Brad Paisley of course) are the ones that got me to pull the trigger on a Ray. I've just posted clips too, if the sound page gets re-arranged before you get a chance to listen to them, mine are at www.guitartest.moonfruit.com along with several other amp clips.
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Post by Danny on Aug 6, 2007 18:17:39 GMT -7
Thanks guys, that helps a lot!
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Post by Strato on Aug 10, 2007 2:31:40 GMT -7
Ah I am soo close to ordering my StangRay... just waiting for the kind man that purchased my Maz Jr to pick it up. I am soo giddy right now
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Aug 10, 2007 7:55:24 GMT -7
Ah I am soo close to ordering my StangRay... just waiting for the kind man that purchased my Maz Jr to pick it up. I am soo giddy right now I can feel your anticipation all the way over here!
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Post by Strato on Aug 10, 2007 11:38:26 GMT -7
Ah I am soo close to ordering my StangRay... just waiting for the kind man that purchased my Maz Jr to pick it up. I am soo giddy right now I can feel your anticipation all the way over here! That's probably an earthquake. You might wanna take cover.
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Post by Jones'n for Tone on Aug 11, 2007 7:31:25 GMT -7
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D I just got my Stangray (one of the 4 that were previously on Ebay). Had to pry myself away from it long enough to share w/somebody (my wife isn't as trilled as I am about the amp). WOW! It truly lives up to all the hype. This is by far the most musical amp I have ever played thru. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D I'll probably be buried with this amp. I may have to change my screen name since I'm no longer jones'n for tone. There was so much talk of this being a clean amp that I was thinking I would need to use my pedals alot. That's absolutely not the case at all. This amp rocks! But it does have a very fine clean sound as well. I certainly don't sound like Brad Paisley (even playing it w/ a tele) but that's not what I was after anyway. Each guitar I've played thru this amp maintains it's own unique character and minor changes to the guitars controls/pickup selection make for major variations in the sound but it's all incredibly well balanced. The distortion is so pleasing and it never gets muddy. Dr Z you've certainly created a masterpiece. Stato, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm diggin mine. I'm hooked. Is there a prescription for Z addiction?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Aug 11, 2007 8:01:14 GMT -7
It truly lives up to all the hype. This is by far the most musical amp I have ever played thru. AGREED! Dr Z you've certainly created a masterpiece. AGREED! I'm hooked. Is there a prescription for Z addiction? Dr. Z Prescription ES! ;D ;D ;D Seriously, I agree with everything you've said. In my view, fifty years from now the Stang Rays will be the amps folks are bidding up to the sky on the online auctions because it will have achieved legendary status. It's already legendary here at my house.
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Post by guitarstan on Aug 11, 2007 12:05:14 GMT -7
It truly lives up to all the hype. This is by far the most musical amp I have ever played thru. AGREED! AGREED! I'm hooked. Is there a prescription for Z addiction? Dr. Z Prescription ES! ;D ;D ;D Seriously, I agree with everything you've said. In my view, fifty years from now the Stang Rays will be the amps folks are bidding up to the sky on the online auctions because it will have achieved legendary status. It's already legendary here at my house. Amen Brother!
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Post by dock66 on Aug 12, 2007 8:31:09 GMT -7
Z seems to have the magic touch,every thing he touches turn success.
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Post by Strato on Aug 12, 2007 22:34:15 GMT -7
Alright the Maz has been sold. As soon as the funds filter through paypal, I will be giving ol boston guitar works a call.
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