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Post by craigmccle on Mar 15, 2008 8:57:50 GMT -7
First and foremost, I love the sound of this amp. Every time I play it, I fall in love with it more and more.
My issue lies in that this weekend I've gotten it out of my apartment for the first time into a place that is one of the bigger places I play. Even with my Airbrake on 4 and volume at 9:00 I'm having the keep my cab backstage with a blanket over it. With all those going, I'm not getting to use this amp to its full potential. I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake in getting this amp because I'll never really get to use it. I'm so torn because I love the sounds this thing puts out, but I can't ever use it. Should I sell it and get a different Z? I don't know.
I love my Maz Jr., but it doesn't even come close to the awesomeness of the Ray. Darn you Dr. Z for making an amp so awesome, that now that I've used it, even my favorite of my other amps is unsatisfying.
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Post by taswegian on Mar 15, 2008 9:11:17 GMT -7
Better get yourself a RXjr and send the 'Ray to me!!! ;D
I know how you feel, I'm like that with the 66 and Z-Best. It sounds so good but I can't get the amp up where I like it with that cab and so have to use my 1-12, which is still a great cab but I think two speakers will mostly sound better than one.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 15, 2008 9:29:37 GMT -7
Wow, you must be playing some pretty quiet gigs then. Airbrake on 4 clicks - that's about like turning the Stang Ray into an 8 watt amp! If that's still too loud, I think Taz might have something there - the RXJr has a very cool clean tone - close to the 'ray but different, yet that amp starts off at only 15 watts, has a master volume, and with the Overdose off it's another 3db quieter.
The other possibility is to switch your speakers to the lowest sensitivity you can find and still get the tones you want. You didn't say if you're using Alnico Blues or not, but they are very loud speakers.
Hope that helps...
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Post by robb on Mar 15, 2008 10:15:15 GMT -7
Why not use the airbrake on bedroom level then? With the bedroom volume adjusted halfway up or louder, my Zbest still sounds great....lower than that and it gets buzzy.
I agree with the others that you must be playing some quiet gigs...I did a few gigs with a local R&B band, and my 'Ray was getting drowned out with the volume at 10:00...no airbrake, either! For rock gigs, I usually just use the Ray full bore. But for jazz, I grab the Ghia.
+1 to the lower sensitivity speaker comment...what's the instrumentation of the band you're playing with?
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Post by craigmccle on Mar 15, 2008 13:23:57 GMT -7
Well, I am playing through a 2x12 w/ blues. I have a 1x12 w/ Gold. Would that get much quieter?
Mostly I play in the auditorium on campus here (where I was last night and tonight). I also play at church a lot. Hoping to really start gigging around Nashville this summer.
I guess I should clarify that I'm playing tonight with one of my campus' vocal ensembles. The focus is on the vocals 16 piece vocal ensemble. That said, the mix is generally pretty good in that room. Last night though, I had the cab on stage for awhile facing backwards and using a mic, but they had me off in the house and I was still louder than they wanted me. I don't know. I just absolutely love this amp and want as much use out of it as possible.
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Post by Hohn on Mar 21, 2008 10:54:05 GMT -7
The 1x12 will cut volume a good bit.
A Greenback will also drop the volume quite a bit-- it's rated at 95dB compared to the 100dB rating of the Blue.
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Post by Curt on Mar 21, 2008 19:39:56 GMT -7
Try a 5V4 or better yet a 5R4 rectifier you'll be amazed at how you can tame the output.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Mar 21, 2008 19:44:39 GMT -7
Try a 5V4 or better yet a 5R4 rectifier you'll be amazed at how you can tame the output. Seriously? What does this do? Is it at all harmful to the OT? Thanks!
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Post by brad737 on Mar 21, 2008 20:59:57 GMT -7
Craig, I've been preaching this a LOT lately, but I think it bears repeating since you're having a volume issue. A friend and I spent about 4 hours trying every conceivable amp/ speaker/ cab combination a few weeks ago. We both agreed wholeheartedly that the Stingray sounded best with a closed-back 1x12 with a G12H30. That speaker, plus your Airbrake, should tame things down, while still giving you that sweet Ray tone. Try it. I guarantee you'll be amazed. Good Luck, Brad
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Post by drew on Mar 22, 2008 12:20:01 GMT -7
I run an open back cab with a weber 50W alnico blue dog. That speaker is so inefficient that it really knocks down the output. Blues and gold are very efficient speakers. I'm running the airbrake at 1 or off and sometimes it's not loud enough. No kidding... The lower power rated Weber's are more efficient and a bit brighter so if you want to tame the beast go with the 50 watt version. Plus it sounds great with the stangray, it's a smooth mellow speaker.
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Post by Paul G on Mar 22, 2008 12:53:13 GMT -7
Well, I am playing through a 2x12 w/ blues. I have a 1x12 w/ Gold. Would that get much quieter? Mostly I play in the auditorium on campus here (where I was last night and tonight). I also play at church a lot. Hoping to really start gigging around Nashville this summer. I guess I should clarify that I'm playing tonight with one of my campus' vocal ensembles. The focus is on the vocals 16 piece vocal ensemble. That said, the mix is generally pretty good in that room. Last night though, I had the cab on stage for awhile facing backwards and using a mic, but they had me off in the house and I was still louder than they wanted me. I don't know. I just absolutely love this amp and want as much use out of it as possible. Well, that kind of explains it. The Ray with a vocal chorus... Kind of like taking a tank to a pistol shooting range.... Time for a 2nd amp... For example, If I had your gig, and my choice was my Maz 38 w/ Z-Best or my Ghia 1x12... I'd go with the Ghia. It's not the amp, it's the situation your putting it in. You need the right tool for the right job... You're bringing a jackhammer to drive some finish nails... ;-) Keep the Ray for when you go out and jam with a a full band, pick yourself up a Ghia, either used or new. I think you'll find a balance. Then again, I jam with full band with my Ghia... it's 18 watts, but it's 18 Dr.Z watts.
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Post by Hohn on Mar 22, 2008 17:36:40 GMT -7
I think a Ghia would work very well with a small sealed 1x12 with a relatively inefficient speaker like a Greenback.
Between a modestly configured Ghia and a full-bore Stang with Blues, you'd be able to cover a ton of ground, imo.
jh
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Post by jwr on Mar 26, 2008 18:10:15 GMT -7
Set a Ghia head on that 1x12 Gold cab.
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