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Post by stevegansen on Feb 8, 2016 20:32:05 GMT -7
(This has probably been discussed before so please re-route me if possible....)
Here is my situation. I have a Maz 18 2x10 reverb combo that I love. It's older (no eq bypass or effects loop) but it sounds great and it's been my faithful companion for years. My only issue is the speaker configuration. For the last few years I've been running the 2x10 in conjunction with a 1x12 cab via a sweet splitter cable from pro cables n sound. I really dig this sound for some gigs, I like the 2x10's alone for some gigs, but lately I've mainly just been running into the 1x12 cab.
So I'm basically lugging around a 67 pound head in a 20 pound road case. And I live in a second floor apartment now. So you see my dilemma.
So since I like the 2x10's sometimes, the 1x12 sometimes, and both together sometimes, I really want to be able to have options. Basically I just need to have a head and two cabs. But I can't sell this thing for enough money to pay for a head and a 2x10 cab.
My idea, then, is to take the chassis out of the 2x10 cab and put it into a head. Then I can use the remaining 2x10 "cab" whenever I need it.
Has anyone successfully done this? Obviously putting it into a Dr Z head will make everything upside down which is not ideal...anybody every build one or buy a non-Z case to put the chassis in?
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Post by purpletele on Feb 8, 2016 21:04:44 GMT -7
Steve,
I am actually unboxing a 1 x 12 cabinet that I bought from the Z shop, it had been subject to a foam hose issue.
I am going to convert my Head Cabinet to a 1 x 12.
Point being that the Maz Jr is convertible even more than you would think. The faceplate is reversible to accommodate your choice. One of the coolest manufacturing ideas I have seen with faceplates.
I am going to preserve my head cabinet, otherwise I would offer it. I think Mather Cabinets would be able to make the cabinet to fit the Maz without a problem.
The conversion can be accomplished without any major issues I am told.
Good luck
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Post by wubberdubber on Feb 8, 2016 21:07:44 GMT -7
I did the opposite...convert what was originally a MAZ 18 head into a 1X12 combo. That was a few years back before they updated the graphics, so I don't know for sure one could still do this, but I just contacted the factory and ordered a set of reverse face and back plates and swapped them out myself. The front was easy, the back required a little more since I had to de-solder the then-attached power cord and such. I bought my empty cab off the forum here, and empty MAZ/Remedy/etc. heads pop up from time to time. For me, carrying ONE piece was easier than carting separate head and cabs around, but to each his own. There's a few builder types here on the forum as well that could build you an excellent head cab, and I'm sure they'll chime in within a few days.
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Post by stevegansen on Feb 8, 2016 21:08:30 GMT -7
That's awesome!! Thanks a ton. I'll check out Mather Cabinets for sure.
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Post by purpletele on Feb 8, 2016 21:11:00 GMT -7
Steve,
I would post a WTB Maz 18 Head Cabinet note. I bet others have one sitting around just in case.
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Post by wubberdubber on Feb 8, 2016 21:15:17 GMT -7
^^^good idea. Sold mine on the forum a while back or I'd offer it to ya.
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Post by stevegansen on Feb 9, 2016 16:32:09 GMT -7
Steve, I would post a WTB Maz 18 Head Cabinet note. I bet others have one sitting around just in case. An excellent idea. Thanks man.
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Post by vaderz on Apr 11, 2019 7:44:37 GMT -7
Reviving this thread as I am interested in converting my Maz 18 with reverb(2x12) into a head. I've always seemed to have issues with cab vibration and microphonics. When doing this and flipping the chassis upside down, won't all the controls then turn the opposite direction, counter clockwise? Am I missing something? Or do people actually twist them around?
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Post by gbowman on Apr 11, 2019 8:10:57 GMT -7
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Post by zpilot on Apr 11, 2019 14:12:26 GMT -7
I converted a JAZ combo to a head and cab. It was not that hard. The only thing difficult was mounting the fan. You will not have to mess with that. Finding the empty head cab will be the hardest thing. I was lucky that the factory had a spare since the amp was not still in production. Since they are still making the MAZ 18 I would check with them first.
drzrepairs@gmail.com
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Post by "Z" Steve on Apr 12, 2019 18:53:47 GMT -7
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Post by purpletele on Apr 12, 2019 19:05:16 GMT -7
That is a really nice conversion cab! Anyone that wants to convert a Z-Plus or a Maz this cab is perfectly engineered.
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Post by tacklingdummy on May 16, 2019 6:47:38 GMT -7
Steve, I am actually unboxing a 1 x 12 cabinet that I bought from the Z shop, it had been subject to a foam hose issue. I am going to convert my Head Cabinet to a 1 x 12. Point being that the Maz Jr is convertible even more than you would think. The faceplate is reversible to accommodate your choice. One of the coolest manufacturing ideas I have seen with faceplates. I am going to preserve my head cabinet, otherwise I would offer it. I think Mather Cabinets would be able to make the cabinet to fit the Maz without a problem. The conversion can be accomplished without any major issues I am told. Good luck Are you saying the faceplate has printing on both sides so I’m able to reverse it?
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Post by purpletele on May 16, 2019 8:12:15 GMT -7
Steve, I am actually unboxing a 1 x 12 cabinet that I bought from the Z shop, it had been subject to a foam hose issue. I am going to convert my Head Cabinet to a 1 x 12. Point being that the Maz Jr is convertible even more than you would think. The faceplate is reversible to accommodate your choice. One of the coolest manufacturing ideas I have seen with faceplates. I am going to preserve my head cabinet, otherwise I would offer it. I think Mather Cabinets would be able to make the cabinet to fit the Maz without a problem. The conversion can be accomplished without any major issues I am told. Good luck Are you saying the faceplate has printing on both sides so I’m able to reverse it? Believe it or not, that is correct. The face plate is reversible on the Maz series. i thought that was ingenious
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Post by z4me on May 16, 2019 9:11:48 GMT -7
The Maz faceplates are reversible only on newer models from around 2013 to date if I am not mistaken. The old Maz faceplates only have a combo or head orientation with printing on one side. Easy to check if a faceplate has printing on both sides. I have a Maz 38 Sr that I converted from a combo to a head. The amp was made 10/2013 and the front faceplate has printing on both sides where I could flip it for the head orientation. However, though the the backplate has printing on both sides, it only has the combo orientation with either US or European voltage specs. I just received a head orientation backplate from the Z shop to get the amp to have the correct head orientation. Again, this new head backplate also has printing on both sides, but with US or European voltage specs.
I am not an electroics person at all, but I was able to swap the orientation of the hi and low inputs, flip the on/off and standby switches and all of the knob sweeps. I thought that the volume and tone pots would all have to be flipped as well, but that isn't the case. Only have to change the orientation of the knobs when you reinstall back onto the pot post.
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Post by tacklingdummy on May 17, 2019 9:20:10 GMT -7
The Maz faceplates are reversible only on newer models from around 2013 to date if I am not mistaken. The old Maz faceplates only have a combo or head orientation with printing on one side. Easy to check if a faceplate has printing on both sides. I have a Maz 38 Sr that I converted from a combo to a head. The amp was made 10/2013 and the front faceplate has printing on both sides where I could flip it for the head orientation. However, though the the backplate has printing on both sides, it only has the combo orientation with either US or European voltage specs. I just received a head orientation backplate from the Z shop to get the amp to have the correct head orientation. Again, this new head backplate also has printing on both sides, but with US or European voltage specs. I am not an electroics person at all, but I was able to swap the orientation of the hi and low inputs, flip the on/off and standby switches and all of the knob sweeps. I thought that the volume and tone pots would all have to be flipped as well, but that isn't the case. Only have to change the orientation of the knobs when you reinstall back onto the pot post. Fantastic!
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Post by telejas on Jun 3, 2019 7:38:17 GMT -7
FYI: If you get an actual Dr Z head cab....make sure you flip the hi/low inputs... They need physically swapped around inside the chassis to match the faceplate. Hi is always on top. I just discovered this last night, after I converted my amp this weekend (to a head from a combo).
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 13, 2021 21:24:49 GMT -7
I just got the outside shell of my home built cab all glued up. Might be a stupid question, but why couldn't you just attach the chassis to the top of the head cab? Save all that flipping stuff around...
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 14, 2021 16:12:30 GMT -7
I decided to see how much trouble it would be to flip the faceplate, turns out it wasn't too bad at all. I had to take the board loose to have enough room to wiggle the inputs out to flip, that was the hardest part. I'm not messing with the back, it can stay upside down. This thing is too pretty inside for me to be unsoldering anything. This is where I'm at:
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 14, 2021 16:59:36 GMT -7
I'm going to need a Z logo to put on this thing, is that possible? I looked at the website store page, but I didn't see one for order.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 14, 2021 17:19:23 GMT -7
One of our members, Harvey, used to make the coolest wood Z logos out of really great looking wood. Not sure if they're still available but you could reach out...I haven't seen him around here lately but he has a facebook page: Harvey Reams woodworking
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 7:36:00 GMT -7
Just waiting on handle and feet.
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 8:11:09 GMT -7
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Post by GuitarZ on Nov 17, 2021 12:16:44 GMT -7
That looks really nice.
Have you weighed the almost finished product yet? Where did you come in?
I've been tempted for a while to convert my Maz Jr combo. My Ghia gets more use simply because it's easier to lug around as a head.
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 13:15:25 GMT -7
Thanks! I never even thought about weighing it, but I just did, it's 23.5 pounds. It's kind of rustic looking, but that's fine by me. I just used some of the plywood I had left over from boarding up for the last hurricane. I just looked at the whole thing as a learning process. I went by the dimensions they give on the Dr. Z website, it could have been made a bit shorter.
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 13:47:06 GMT -7
I just happened to set this thing down like this, and now I'm thinking I might just flip that faceplate back around and keep this look.
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Post by GuitarZ on Nov 17, 2021 14:49:24 GMT -7
Thanks! I never even thought about weighing it, but I just did, it's 23.5 pounds. It's kind of rustic looking, but that's fine by me. I just used some of the plywood I had left over from boarding up for the last hurricane. I just looked at the whole thing as a learning process. I went by the dimensions they give on the Dr. Z website, it could have been made a bit shorter. That's pretty good. Per the good Doctor's website, my Ghia head comes in at 24 lbs. If you keep the face plate flipped, I can just hear folks saying "Hey! You know your amp is upside down?" and you responding "Really? No way! I just put it into that cab! Doop!"
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 15:04:43 GMT -7
Thanks! I never even thought about weighing it, but I just did, it's 23.5 pounds. It's kind of rustic looking, but that's fine by me. I just used some of the plywood I had left over from boarding up for the last hurricane. I just looked at the whole thing as a learning process. I went by the dimensions they give on the Dr. Z website, it could have been made a bit shorter. That's pretty good. Per the good Doctor's website, my Ghia head comes in at 24 lbs. If you keep the face plate flipped, I can just hear folks saying "Hey! You know your amp is upside down?" and you responding "Really? No way! I just put it into that cab! Doop!" I’ll tell them it was like that when I bought it.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 17, 2021 15:56:13 GMT -7
Just waiting on handle and feet. I like the shade of finish you used. What is it, a stain or a tinted varnish?
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Post by sultan59 (Tim) on Nov 17, 2021 16:32:07 GMT -7
Rustoleum American Walnut, stain and polyurethane combined, put one coat on.
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