a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
|
Post by a42 on Sept 9, 2005 15:45:45 GMT -7
New owner of a 1x12 Maz Jr., here. Got it last week. Love it but haven't had the chance to really open it up yet.
I have a question about the "Cut" knob. Overall the amp is pretty quiet, but it gets real hissy as soon as I start to dial that "up" at all. I know that some amount of hiss is to be expected there, but how much is normal? Any ways to tame it? (Other than "don't turn the Cut knob," of course. ;D)
|
|
brion
New Member
Posts: 33
|
Post by brion on Sept 9, 2005 17:47:47 GMT -7
Not much help, but I've never noticed any extra hiss associated with the cut control on my Jr 1x12.
|
|
|
Post by jherman on Sept 10, 2005 12:54:32 GMT -7
My Maz jr is the same way. Dead quiet until the cut knob breaks about 8:30 or 9:00. After that it just introduces white noise (or hiss, whatever you want to call it). I found I can't even use the cut at home unless the amp is run through an attenuator, then the hiss is reduced and the cut knob usually is set at 12:00-2:00. Set up that way it's pretty good, but run straight into the speakers it is just too noisy for me. It bothered me so much that I sent the amp back to Dr.Z, he checked it out, swapped V4 to 12AX7WB and V5 to 12AX7LPS. When I got it back I really didn't notice any difference, but at least it is functioning properly. An increase in the high end (or cut), is accompanied by some hiss (as I understand it).
|
|
a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
|
Post by a42 on Sept 10, 2005 20:17:38 GMT -7
My Maz jr is the same way. Dead quiet until the cut knob breaks about 8:30 or 9:00. After that it just introduces white noise (or hiss, whatever you want to call it). I found I can't even use the cut at home unless the amp is run through an attenuator, then the hiss is reduced and the cut knob usually is set at 12:00-2:00. Set up that way it's pretty good, but run straight into the speakers it is just too noisy for me. It bothered me so much that I sent the amp back to Dr.Z, he checked it out, swapped V4 to 12AX7WB and V5 to 12AX7LPS. When I got it back I really didn't notice any difference, but at least it is functioning properly. An increase in the high end (or cut), is accompanied by some hiss (as I understand it). Good to know. I don't think I'll send it back, but I am gonna have a tech take a look at it. What sort of attenuator do you use at home?
|
|
dezee
New Member
Posts: 24
|
Post by dezee on Sept 10, 2005 23:27:06 GMT -7
Got a question. Where do you have your Volume and Master set? When I got my Maz Jr....I had been used to non-master volume amps like my Deluxe reverb. I was using the the gain/volume backwards like and idiot and that gave me hiss. When i reversed it...(the right way) the hiss went away. IE using volume as gain and master as volume that is the way I use it now it no hiss. Looking at my amp now, it is at bed room volume with the settings Volume 12 0 clock, master about 8 o clock.
|
|
|
Post by jherman on Sept 11, 2005 12:53:15 GMT -7
My concern was that the amount of hiss that came with the cut knob being turned up was the same regardless of volume-master volume position or having any input plugged in or not. My Fenders could make some hiss, but with the input not plugged in the noise was gone. This Z amp is completly different. I read in a Tonequest interview that the cut was "almost like a single tone control that works the output tubes". It must be post tone controls and post volume controls, that's why they don't have an effect on the amount of hiss (I guess). Hey a42, I've got both a Dr.Z and a Hot Plate. The Z sounds better, but the THD can get way lower volumes. That goes for both with the Maz or a Bassman. They are both compromises at "bedroom" levels. The Jr. sounds awesome with the vol-3:00, master wide open, Hot Plate at -16db. Really distorted, but still retains low string definition and spank with a tele. My opinion, I'm sure others will vary.
|
|
a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
|
Post by a42 on Sept 11, 2005 14:18:46 GMT -7
Got a question. Where do you have your Volume and Master set? When I got my Maz Jr....I had been used to non-master volume amps like my Deluxe reverb. I was using the the gain/volume backwards like and idiot and that gave me hiss. When i reversed it...(the right way) the hiss went away. IE using volume as gain and master as volume that is the way I use it now it no hiss. Looking at my amp now, it is at bed room volume with the settings Volume 12 0 clock, master about 8 o clock. Right now, I've got the volume set kinda low, around 9:00-ish. Not looking for a lot of preamp drive. My feeling is that the hiss isn't dependent on the Volume setting; I'll double check that later.
|
|
a42
Full Member
Posts: 130
|
Post by a42 on Sept 11, 2005 14:24:23 GMT -7
Hey a42, I've got both a Dr.Z and a Hot Plate. The Z sounds better, but the THD can get way lower volumes. That goes for both with the Maz or a Bassman. They are both compromises at "bedroom" levels. The Jr. sounds awesome with the vol-3:00, master wide open, Hot Plate at -16db. Really distorted, but still retains low string definition and spank with a tele. My opinion, I'm sure others will vary. Hmmm. I tried a Hot Plate a year or so ago with a different amp. (Mesa F-30, 2xEL-84, 1x12) I absolutely HATED it. It just sucked the life right out of the amp; I couldn't find any settings that I liked. I'm thinking I'll try a Weber Mini-Mass. If I don't like *that* I'm only out $75 bucks. If that doesn't work I'll probably try the Airbrake.
|
|
|
Post by imyurhuckleberry on Oct 3, 2005 20:52:18 GMT -7
.
|
|
|
Post by charlienc on Oct 3, 2005 20:59:11 GMT -7
for what it's worth, i've never noticed any strange noise from the cut nob on my Maz. any noise i've ever heard can usually be attributed to some other electrical device in the house, tv's, lamps, computers, washers, dryers... you get the idea. and at a bar it's even worse, neon lights and dimmers, yikes!!! but abnormal amp noise, never, unless a tube starts going microphonic, then look out. do you use single coils? i always like a little single buzz, makes my playing sound better
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Oct 4, 2005 4:28:02 GMT -7
How much hiss you hear would also be related to how high you set the treble and mid controls. On my Maz sr I run mid treble and cut all at about the 9:00 or less position. No hiss from my amp and still is almost too bright.
|
|