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Post by MeZadude on Sept 14, 2007 8:33:06 GMT -7
I've had this amp for a month or so now. I've been using it in tandem with some of my Boogie amps (as the Boogies are what I'm used to using). I own quite a few guitars, and have not tried them all yet with the Stang-Ray, but I'm slowly pulling different guitars out as I put the Ray through its paces. I have been playing with a couple of new bands this week; one more '80's-style rock, and one more soul/funk/blues-based. I'm having a harder time getting used to the Stang-Ray with the higher-powered music, but it's got such body and clarity that I think I will eventually work it in as a must-bring component. Last night, I played with the blues/funk band. They've got a lighter touch to the music, but it's snappy. I used my Gibson V2 guitar for the funkier stuff, as it has a sonic character which is very similar to a Telecaster. This guitar really sounded great with the Stang-Ray. For slightly crunchier tones at times, I would kick in the Keely-modded Blues Driver, which added a bit of roughness to the tone. After a few tunes with the V2 & the Ray, I was really digging the tones I was getting. Then we finally kicked in a country tune, and this setup just sang! It was a beautiful sound. Something I've 'not' experienced before using just the Mesa stuff. Anyway, I had to share, and will share more as I use the amp more often. At the moment, I'm connected with 5 local bands, and 4 of them are alive and working at the moment. It's fun to see just how the Dr. Z Stang-Ray works out in these 4 or 5 different band configurations, as they're all different, and all of the music is different. The more I use the Ray, the more I'm liking it. I'm getting the feeling I won't be able to leave home without it. Great stuff! MeZa
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 14, 2007 8:48:32 GMT -7
If you haven't tried a good Tele yet, you need to.
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Post by MeZadude on Sept 14, 2007 9:20:25 GMT -7
If you haven't tried a good Tele yet, you need to. I have 2 original Fender Telecasters, an '80's pink paisly model, and a fairly new American Standard. I've always had a harder time playing Fenders, as the fretboard scale is harder for me to play; but I give it my best when I do. I was just amazed at how cool this old Gibson was sounding last night, as it's been a guitar that I haven't been able to use much, as I couldn't quite get a handle on it's tone. But, with the SR, it seems to sing. I'm finding that owning & using a Dr. Z amp is changing the way I've looked at my stock of guitars. Ones that were just cool to have because of the way they look, etc., are now actually coming to life and seem to be more useable than in the past for me. So, thanks Dr. Z, for opening some new sonic doors for me! MeZa
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 14, 2007 10:53:45 GMT -7
That's a very cool axe! What's the story on the pups in that thing? Are they single coils, or stacked, or just plain magic?
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Post by MeZadude on Sept 14, 2007 12:54:49 GMT -7
That's a very cool axe! What's the story on the pups in that thing? Are they single coils, or stacked, or just plain magic? Hey Benttop, the pickups are humbuckers. From what I gather, they are actually 2-sets of 3-pole windings offset to 120 degrees of eachother (in the flying-wing form). So, instead of back to back coils, the coils are side by side, one on the left and one on the right. Very unorthodox. Since these are side by side, they reflect a 'single-coil' sound (without the buzz or hum). I was amazed at how much like a Tele this guitar sounds. To look at it, one would think this guitar would rock, but it's definitely a twanger. MeZa
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 14, 2007 13:21:18 GMT -7
Fascinating. You don't see that particular model much any more - might be worth a looksee if one popped up at the local pawn shop....
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Post by MeZadude on Oct 8, 2007 7:21:56 GMT -7
I finally played an outdoor gig last night using only the Stang Ray. I had been bringing my Mesa amps (being so used to them) normally, but I've been trying to ween myself off of them. Everyone who hears this amp comments on how cool it sounds; especially my band mates, who are used to hearing me play through only Mesa equipment. I've found that using the Stang Ray only, has broadened my tonal palette, as well as enhanced the way I'm playing. This amp has so much 'spank' to it, that I'm finding I'm using my Fender (or Fender-style) guitars much more than I used to, and they're really sounding great through the SR. I had so much fun last night using my Paisley Strat & my Carvin TL60, and comping all of this 'spanky' lead work instead of the usual 80's-style searing solos, I'm like a kid in a candy shop. This is really a blast. Thanks Dr. Z! Of course, I'm having so much fun with the amp, that I had to order a complimentary guitar to go with it. I just placed my first order with Bill Crook for a Butterscotch Tele with a G-bender. Anyway, good times, good times! MeZa
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Post by billyguitar on Oct 8, 2007 8:11:33 GMT -7
About the longer scale length guitars: I had played only 24-3/4" scale guitars for about 25 years when I decided I wanted to play an L5 and a Tele. I had to totally leave the shorter scale guitars alone for a while. After a while the longer scale feels perfectly natural and better to me. There seem to be better harmonics to the notes. Now I won't go back to 24-3/4".
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 8, 2007 8:42:26 GMT -7
Mesadude, your experience parallels mine. The Stingray (I have the earlier name) is the centerpiece of my tone solutions. If I bring one amp, it's the Stingray. If I bring two, it's the Stingray and something else. It is always the common element in my stage setup.
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Post by MeZadude on Oct 18, 2007 7:18:17 GMT -7
I tried my Ibanez JEM77FP through the Stang-Ray last night. This amp really brings that guitar to life. I also brought and tried my Les Paul Pro, with P90's, and it didn't perform very well through the amp; too dark for it. I've been using the amp by itself now for a couple of the projects I'm involved with, and it's opened up a new side to my playing, and it's also allowed me to use & enjoy a few of the guitars I've had sitting around the house that never worked well with the Mesa amps. So, I'm finding that if I have to play more '80's-style rock, the Mesa's work better, but for everything else, the Stang-Ray's the way to go. Plus, I'm also finding that I can use this amp at low volumes and still get beautiful sounds out of it with the right guitars. Oh yeah, and it's a lot easier to carry around than even my small Mesa combos! The more I use the SR, the more fun I'm having, and the more I look forward to playing. Very nice. MeZa
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Post by telejas on Oct 18, 2007 10:11:35 GMT -7
I came straight from Mesa's to Dr. Z's..... I had, let me see (not all at one time): * Triple Recto * Dual Recto * Rectoverb combo * Tremoverb head * Tremoverb Combo * Road King Combo (heavy a$$ amp) * Roadster 1x12 Combo, best sounding of them all.
Then a Dr. Z RxES, quite a drastic change, but I'm happier with my tone. I think I had an AC30 1x12 in there somewhere I A/B'd with some of my Boogies too, but the Z's are much nicer.
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