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Post by woody on Sept 18, 2005 20:41:02 GMT -7
Was wondering the tone differences between the fender blues jr and maz 18...clean vs crunch, overall loudness? and everything in between. I realize this might spark some bias opinions hopefully i can get objective ones as well...
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Post by guitarlightning on Sept 18, 2005 20:52:34 GMT -7
O.K. we can compare a toyota to a mazda, but it is extremely hard to compare a rolls to a pinto. I say this because at one time I owned a blues jr, and have a maz-18 head with a z-best cab at this time. The blues jr is a good amp, barely enough power to play a small gig but some good sounds can come from it. The maz-18 is definetly enough power to gig with, but this amp comes with something the blues jr. does not TONE!!. If are thinking that the maz is only 3 watts more its not that much louder, well my maz is at least twice as loud as my old blues junior. wattage does not always equal loudness. Oh by the way I sold my blues jr. to help pay for my first of currently two Z's.
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Post by charlienc on Sept 19, 2005 9:07:56 GMT -7
I'm with Guitarlightning on this one, there is no comparison. I played the mexi-fender amps like the blues deluxe and deville for a couple of years before I got my Z. Aside from the tone deficit I was suffering from, those Fenders are advertised as "all tube" but when you go to change a bad tube, you damn near have to jam the thing into a computer circuit board. I had nothing but problems with the three that I owned, sending two of them back to Fender for servicing which the factory could not even fix in the 4 months they had them. Since I've gotten my Z, I have never had any problem at all, except for the fact that I can't play the Maz in the apartment. But it's not like that matters, that's what the POD is for.
If you're worried about the money think of this way, by the time you've burned up three or four blues jr's and have nothing to show for it, except a lot of headaches from Fender, you could have one bad-arse sounding Maz for the same price, and it will continue to serve you for many years after.
Charlie
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 19, 2005 10:08:02 GMT -7
I think buying good gear first is cheaper in the long run.
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casey
New Member
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Post by casey on Sept 19, 2005 14:34:53 GMT -7
There really is no comparison in my opinion...and that is unbiased....I've played both...and have owned a MAZ 18 for a while now.
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Post by woody on Sept 19, 2005 18:17:00 GMT -7
I realize that the maz 18 has better tone but how is it better...was just wondering if you can describe the differences like how the clean setting differs or when they are overdriven...I guess I just want specifics....
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 20, 2005 5:20:43 GMT -7
Better electrical components in better circuit topology with better speakers and better/bigger transfomers make the Z sound like a pro amp and the blues jr sound like a toy. I've told this story on here before but it's appropriate to tell it again. About 5 years ago I went into Kansas City's Musicians Friends store with the intent of buying a blues jr.. They have them in blonde vinyl with oxblood grille and they are really pretty. I played it a while and thought it's nice for what it was but didn't really do it for me. Right beside it on the floor was a Reverend Hellhound combo so plugged into it. I know it's much more powerful so it's not a fair comparison but I bought the Reverend. It sounded pro and the Blues jr didn't at all. I'm sure you would have the same experience a/b-ing the Blues jr and the Maz 18. If you seriously can't spend any more money than that then that's a different problem but then you wouldn't be here, would you?
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Post by greenmachine on Sept 20, 2005 7:14:13 GMT -7
I have been using a BJ for years and think it is a good value overall. That said the Z amps have much more dynamics and you can really 'feel' a difference. If you play through a blues jr you don't get much in the way of dynamics and the reverb is thin and uninspiring at best. The Maz has more punch and the when you play the difference in pick attack,finger attack is more pronounced. It actually took me a while to get used to it since the jr is not dynamic at all. Also when you crank the junior the sound doesn't fill out near as much as the Maz.
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Post by charlienc on Sept 20, 2005 8:10:51 GMT -7
Direct differences: -Maz has a bigger, wider sound capable of clean to overdrive and many shapable, different tones in between -Can blow the Jr out of the room volume wise, no contest -ditto on all the pro components and that stuff -Most of all, the blues jr is an entry level priced, made, and non USA manufactured amp, and Maz is capable of hanging with any pro amp
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Post by JD on Sept 22, 2005 9:20:37 GMT -7
My last blues jam band we had a guy with a Blues Jr. and for the money it is a nice sound. But you can basically get one tone out of it and some mild differentiation between clean and crunch by using your volume and the boost switch.
The Maz Jr on the other hand is a whole different animal. You can drop the mid and max the bass/treble and master to approximate a 60s blackface or max the volume, T, M, B and get more of a Tweed sound (I owned a 64' Tremolux and '62 Blonde Bassman at one point). The dynamics on the amp are fantastic. Try playing it with no pedals and just your guitar's volume control; you will discover a world of possibilities.
One thing I would suggest for rehearsals is to get an Airbrake. I can only cut my Z totally open at a gig; for rehearsals I use an Airbrake setting of 2 or 3; and use the Bedroom setting for solo practice (when my daughter naps). The Airbrake saps a little of the speaker dynamics at lower settings but the dynamic feel of the amp remains.
The Cut control on the Maz Jr is a huge tool. It helps me dial-in the exact sound I want whether using a Strat; Tele or LP Special with P-90s.
Every guy who has borrowed my Jr. purchased one. I got mine in '98 after playing Perry Roper's (The Howlers).
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Post by StrangeC on Sept 22, 2005 17:50:39 GMT -7
I had a USA Blues JR and it was a good amp at a good price. A speaker upgrade would help it out, but the Z is a far better piece of equipment. I sold mine and went for a Ghia. I think the Ghia has a better overall tone then athe Maz, but that comes at the cost of no master vol. Most Zs have no master though- part of the great tone. I am tols that you can dime the master on the maz and basically have a non master amp, but in my experience its not the same simplicity and pure tone of the Ghia. So bottom line. A Z, any Z, is the better choice over the Blues Jr, but it'll cost you 2-2.5x the $. Worh it on my opinion.
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Post by garyh on Sept 23, 2005 19:30:23 GMT -7
I have a Blues Junior and a Maz Jr. I considered the Blues Jr. loud for 15 watts until I got my Maz with 18 watts. The Blues Junior is not a bad little amp but pretty farty in the low end. There are a lot of mods for that amp online though to change tubes, speakers and tone stack. There are even mods I saw on ebay to replace the guts with point to point wired circuits emulating a Marshall, a tweed Fender, or get this, a Carmen Ghia for about $500.
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Post by greenmachine on Sept 24, 2005 6:40:31 GMT -7
both are great value being that for the price you pay they sound great
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Post by woody on Sept 25, 2005 8:39:24 GMT -7
After extensive research.....also I will be gigging soon...so I need a decent amp soon....Dr. Z amps gets rave reviews but just can't afford one. I'm poor....I am thinking about purchasing a Crate v series 3112....
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 25, 2005 8:55:19 GMT -7
Peavy Delta Blues is pretty nice. Used amps like Peavy Classic tube amps are usable, actually nice. Used Hot Rod Deluxes are in the $400 range. Used Reverend amps are hard to find but sound good. Rivera era Fender amps are a good buy. Used Ampegs are liked by some. Check Harmony Central for reviews.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 25, 2005 9:00:22 GMT -7
I forgot to mention that the Roland amps always sound good. Remember solid state done right can sound better than tubes done wrong.
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Post by imyurhuckleberry on Oct 3, 2005 20:53:29 GMT -7
no comparison.
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Post by gatorblue on Nov 23, 2005 15:38:21 GMT -7
The Z is superior in so many ways, but tone is the first. Second is control---with the Z amps the slightest adjustment of the tone or volume knob on the guitar achieves notable changes in tone and this is extremely useful. Third, the cut knob can take you from the best '59 bassman to the best AC30 you ever played. The change in the tonal harmonics is amazing and it's all tube driven and real--not the modeling crap that the SS amps have. Fourth, more power. My Maz Jr. (rated 18 watts) puts out more sound and volume than many 30-40 watt tube amps on the market. So, there it is from a guy who's been playing since the late '60s and who almost never uses his classic Concert Reverb anymore except to loan it to a visiting musician who drops in town.
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Post by bluzsteel on Nov 26, 2005 7:04:31 GMT -7
Blues Jr, shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence
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Post by bukowski on Nov 26, 2005 7:19:58 GMT -7
Blues Jr, shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence agreed 100%
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Post by garyh on Nov 26, 2005 21:08:00 GMT -7
I have a Maz Jr. and a Blues Jr. People couln't believe my Blues Jr. was that loud for only 15 watts when I played. Once I got my 18 watt Maz, though, wow. It is three times louder than the Fender and also so big sounding. I haven't played the Blues Jr. since getting my Z other than to put a keyboard through it in my studio.
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Post by zekmoe on Nov 27, 2005 10:15:34 GMT -7
Third, the cut knob can take you from the best '59 bassman to the best AC30 you ever played... I may not be the Z expert many here are, but I have a new Maz18 reverb and don't hear the slightest AC30 type spank or sparkle. It sounds more of a cross between a Deluxe Reverb and a Marshall 18 watt. Care to share the AC30 settings you have? I do notice the tone controls are significant in their adjustment effect. More so than almost any amp I've had. This has led to me playing with it each time. Different sounds, but unlike some amps, all or most very good sounds. Trying to find my fav has been the issue. I don't mind twirlin the knobs, because I've always ended up somewhere I liked. Anyway, AC30 settings please? I'd be interested to hear them.
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a42
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Post by a42 on Nov 27, 2005 13:04:09 GMT -7
Blues Jr, shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence agreed 100% I disagree, and here's the sentence to prove it: I traded my Blues Jr in on a Maz 18.
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Post by guitarlightning on Nov 28, 2005 21:57:52 GMT -7
I disagree, and here's the sentence to prove it: I traded my Blues Jr in on a Maz 18. salvation is had !!!!!!
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nick
Full Member
Posts: 136
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Post by nick on Dec 2, 2005 17:27:31 GMT -7
I found there to be a huge difference between the two. I just sold my Blues Jr. I changed the speaker, tried several diffferent tube options, and had some mods done to it. I had and played the Junior for about six years. I played the Maz Jr. for about an hour, and was sold from the first note. It's a remarkable difference in sound quality, tone, and versatility. Nothing bad about the Blues Junior, the Maz is just better to my ears.
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Post by guitarlightning on Dec 2, 2005 19:53:16 GMT -7
Hey Nick are you a Blues player?? I host an open blues jam on tuesday nights. We are pretty close to Orlando, just head west on I-4 for about 45min(depending on traffic). We often have more than one Z on stage respond and I will give you directions. J
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Post by Curt on Dec 2, 2005 20:07:39 GMT -7
Hey Lightenin' I'll be in the Ft Pierce/Viro (?) beach area after the first of the year sometime...I'd love to come Jam with ya'll !!!! Got room for a Fellow Z hound from Texas ?? I won't have any gear with me though
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Post by guitarlightning on Dec 2, 2005 22:34:46 GMT -7
come on out love to have you. ft.pierce/vero is somewhat of a drive. But a Z is worth it. Look in the members section and you find my personal e-mail let me know. J
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nick
Full Member
Posts: 136
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Post by nick on Dec 5, 2005 13:01:22 GMT -7
Hey - Sorry for the delayed response. I would love to come play with you guys. Let me know how to get there, and if it's on for this week. Thanks. Nick
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Post by guitarlightning on Dec 5, 2005 15:44:07 GMT -7
Hey Nick If you did not get my email I also posted a new thread with the directions called florida blues jam. J
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