Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 13:25:32 GMT -7
I'm currently evaluating a Dr Z Maz 38 Senior 2X12. I've been reading a bit about the Stangray. Is the Stangray close to the Maz in available clean headroom? I know its a bit less watts but am just wondering how it is for clean head room compared to the Maz.
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floyd
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Post by floyd on Feb 15, 2008 14:13:36 GMT -7
I'll be watching closely, I’m wondering the same also
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Post by Bill on Feb 15, 2008 17:56:49 GMT -7
Two fine amps, I've owned two Maz Sr's, a Stang Ray, and currently a Stingray that I've owned for 2 years...I think it's number 16. If clean headroom is your main concern, it shouldn't be...because both amps have lots, and depending on your cab & speakers can be brutally loud. I get by with a Z cab housing a singleCelestion G12H-30 and it rarely sees the volume over 9:00. I just put a Barber Small Fry on the board and I HIGHLY recommend this arrangement...great cleans and smooooooth overdrive. Tomorrow I plan to gig this setup with a Tele and LP, and it will rock! There are undoubtedly more Maz Sr lovers out there, probably because of it's ability to dial in more sounds than say, a Stang Ray. It has more drive available and of course a master volume and possibly reverb. You really need to just find both and play them to know for sure. For me, the Ray is the one...for my buddy 'Ripple', he swears by the Maz Sr. My partner in crime, 'hwr57' uses a Maz Jr. Another friend 'Rockstok' has two Stang Rays...so as you can see the final result is all over the map! I doubt this is very helpful for your 'vs' question, again you just have to try them out to know for sure.
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Post by telejas on Feb 15, 2008 20:24:36 GMT -7
Two different beast..... But both GREAT in their own. I had a Maz38 and couldn't bond with it, while the Stangray is my #1 amp of all time (and that says alot after all the amps I've been through to get here).
They both have tons of clean headroom, the maz may have slightly more since it's 8wts more.... but the Ray was born to be a clean amp, with only 1 volume control. The Ray stays clean up to about 4 on the dial (depending on you pickups), but really anything past about 3 or 4 is about as loud as it's gonna get, after that it starts getting some grit.
The Ray has more low end on tap, but is easily backed down with the tone knob. The Ray also has a unique mid range focus that the Maz can't reach, but the Maz is slightly more versitile with the more EQ knobs and master volume. It can be close to "Fender" and close to "AC30" (but not as close as the Ray on the AC30 tones).... the Maz is more "top boost" AC30 to my ears, while the Ray is more "pre top boost".
It's hard to really do a vs of the two amps, but I had both ....... I still have the Ray, the Maz is gone. Why? It just didn't have enough low end for me and it was always a bit top endy for my needs... the can be a thicker amp IMO, but I'm sure the Maz people might dis-agree.
That's my $.02.... got any change?
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Post by mrdownchild on Feb 15, 2008 20:32:01 GMT -7
Two different beast..... But both GREAT in their own. I had a Maz38 and couldn't bond with it, while the Stangray is my #1 amp of all time (and that says alot after all the amps I've been through to get here). They both have tons of clean headroom, the maz may have slightly more since it's 8wts more.... but the Ray was born to be a clean amp, with only 1 volume control. The Ray stays clean up to about 4 on the dial (depending on you pickups), but really anything past about 3 or 4 is about as loud as it's gonna get, after that it starts getting some grit. The Ray has more low end on tap, but is easily backed down with the tone knob. The Ray also has a unique mid range focus that the Maz can't reach, but the Maz is slightly more versitile with the more EQ knobs and master volume. It can be close to "Fender" and close to "AC30" (but not as close as the Ray on the AC30 tones).... the Maz is more "top boost" AC30 to my ears, while the Ray is more "pre top boost". It's hard to really do a vs of the two amps, but I had both ....... I still have the Ray, the Maz is gone. Why? It just didn't have enough low end for me and it was always a bit top endy for my needs... the can be a thicker amp IMO, but I'm sure the Maz people might dis-agree. That's my $.02.... got any change? I'm just curious....Would you prefer the Stang over the MAZ for a blues band? Is the Stang voiced for more of a country guitar tone? I'm wondering.
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Post by mrdownchild on Feb 15, 2008 20:35:12 GMT -7
This is a topic I'll be watching very closely. I'm very interested in what others have to say about this matter.
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Post by Curt on Feb 15, 2008 22:35:37 GMT -7
MAZ Sr for Blues?
Works for BW.
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Post by jwr on Feb 15, 2008 23:38:18 GMT -7
I think either can do blues, depending on what your after.
I was a die hard Maz Sr fan, till I played a Ray 2x12 combo. I bought the Sr to cover Vox tones, but the Ray goes where the Sr cannot and unfortunately that tone was exactly what I'd been looking for. So for now, my Maz Sr must go. I'll get another someday when I can afford to keep both but for now the Ray is here to stay. The biggest difference I found between the 2 amps was in the mids. The Ray is just a lot smoother sounding in the mids to me. It's hard to explain, but I couldn't get my Maz Sr to duplicate the voicing of the mid range of the Ray. I played them side by side thru the same cab with a pair of Alnico Blues and for me the Ray was a no brainer. For loud, clean Vox tones there is none better than the Stang Ray.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 15, 2008 23:59:49 GMT -7
You can do blues with the 'ray using a pedal, or you can plug straight in to the Maz and do it with a guitar cord. To my ears, the Stingray isn't really as close to the types of sounds we identify with as blues, while the Maz gets there right away. But YMMV because everyone does things differently. I play the blues type stuff on the Stingray using my RC Booster to push the front end a bit.
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Post by mrdownchild on Feb 16, 2008 5:34:10 GMT -7
Thanks guys, You've shed light on a subjict that I've been wondering about for some time. I would like to purchase another Z eventually, but am unsure which would be a great addition and not replication.
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Post by Hohn on Feb 16, 2008 8:08:00 GMT -7
You can do blues with the 'ray using a pedal, or you can plug straight in to the Maz and do it with a guitar cord. To my ears, the Stingray isn't really as close to the types of sounds we identify with as blues, while the Maz gets there right away. But YMMV because everyone does things differently. I play the blues type stuff on the Stingray using my RC Booster to push the front end a bit. Steve is exactly right-- the Ray isn't your traditional blues sound. That's why I like the Ray for blues-- because it ISN'T "as close to the types of sounds we identify with as blues." Before the greats started going electric (Muddy, Hubert, B.B., etc) acoustic (typically slide) was the only "blues" sound. Then they went electric with Bassmans (Buddy Guy) and DRs (many others) and so forth, and developed the "electric blues sound." But none of them sounded like SRV when he put his stamp on modern electric blues. I guess my point is that I like the idea of stepping outside tradition a bit and experimenting to find your own sound. While playing a Bach concerto through a Marshall stack might not go over so well, maybe the Ray is a great blues amp just waiting to be discovered? Then again, maybe not. It is a loud SOG. But the versatility of this amp just floors me. It seems to do everything I want an amp to-- clean, twang, jazz, rock, and even blues. It doesn't have to be cranked to sound great, but when it IS cranked-- LOOK OUT-- great tones happening! I owe Steve a huge debt of gratitude for leading me to this amp (unbeknownst to him). When I was amp shopping in the summer of 06, the Stingrays were just trickling out, and all the guys who were getting them were RAVING and posting sound clips. When I heard Steve's clips, I was dumbstruck-- THAT WAS IT! THAT'S THE SOUND! I've noodled with 38SRs, Mazeratis, and even a Z-28 in different stores, and for me, the Stang is the Z that does it best for me (some pedals required). jmo
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 16, 2008 8:26:04 GMT -7
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Post by guitarstan on Feb 16, 2008 8:52:20 GMT -7
I play Blues, Classic Rock, Country and some modern rock. I switch back and forth between single coil and buckers. My first Z amp was a Maz 38 - great amp, it's not for sale. My second Z was a Stingray as I wanted a Vox style amp, I play it more than the Maz. My third was a Carmine Ghia, I needed a lower watt amp, I use it a lot. Then Dr Z dropped a bomb called the RX Jr, my main go-to amp of all time. Even with all this fire power I will not sell the Maz and every time I plug into it my jaw hits the pavement, it just sounds awesome.
So my point is, get ready cuz one Z ain't gonna do it for ya ;D.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2008 14:08:23 GMT -7
I play Blues, Classic Rock, Country and some modern rock. I switch back and forth between single coil and buckers. My first Z amp was a Maz 38 - great amp, it's not for sale. My second Z was a Stingray as I wanted a Vox style amp, I play it more than the Maz. My third was a Carmine Ghia, I needed a lower watt amp, I use it a lot. Then Dr Z dropped a bomb called the RX Jr, my main go-to amp of all time. Even with all this fire power I will not sell the Maz and every time I plug into it my jaw hits the pavement, it just sounds awesome. So my point is, get ready cuz one Z ain't gonna do it for ya ;D. I play the same genres as you. So I'm wondering if this is leading me down the path of owning the Maz 38 Sr and the Stangray. Cause if thats what it takes, thats what I'll do.
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Post by amakitalo on Feb 16, 2008 20:18:31 GMT -7
I need to bring the RxEs into this discussion. For a blues rig, how would you rate it compared to the Maz Sr. and Strangray. I need the wattage for not micing the amp, so Maz Jr. and RxJr may not be enough (used to have a Jr.). I am deliberating between the 3 amps.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 16, 2008 21:38:07 GMT -7
Well since you brought up the RX ES...
I feel it falls right between the Maz SR and the Stingray... It has some of the great cleans with chime that the Ray has, but has more bite and drive like the Maz has... all these are really great amps and all will work for blues, but as others have said it really depends on what you're looking for...
I personally prefer the Maz Sr and then also the RX ES for blues with a strat... both very nice and a little different. One is a little more raw (Maz) and the other is little smoother (RX)...
But really I think finding the right speaker to match the amp, your style and what your're after/ along with the guitar you use is important... and with the right set-up any of these amps can work if you're looking for the El-84 thing they do.
YMMV... JMHO...
.02 ;D
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Post by aj1169 on Feb 18, 2008 23:17:42 GMT -7
MAZ Sr. is my #1 rig. I owned a StangRay, and while it sounds great for the clean stuff, it just didn't get the drive I was looking for, even when cranked. Don't get me wrong, the Ray does have grit to it when you get it cranking, but it still sounds very clean if that makes sense. The MAZ on the other hand does a great rock crunch, but cleans up very nicely with the guitar volume. I run mine really hot and plug straight in with either my Strat or Tele. I do everything from Brad Paisley, to the Black Crows, to Hendrix with this setup, and it sounds fantastic for each.
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