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Post by gotmojo on Jul 31, 2016 6:55:29 GMT -7
I'm a little confused here. Wait .... let me rephrase that .... I'm always a little confused. But specifically, here with the DB4 discussions going on, I initially thought this may be an amp made for me - a lover of vintage AC30's and the Wreck and the StangRay because of the sparkly highs and the cool but subtle mids that these amps get and the cool compressed nature of EL84's. And somebody posted that the DB4 got that AC30 vibe going on. But then another said that the mids are way forward on the DB4 and that it doesn't have the sparkly highs. So........ therein lies the confusion. I briefly had an Antidote, but it did not sparkle as I'd hoped and had a mid peak that I couldn't dial to my "love spot". I had a Maz 18 years ago and it, too, had a midrange peak that I could not dial out nor could I abide by. And as much as I adored the tone of the StangRay, it just stayed too clean for me - I abhor fuzz pedals and need my amps to break up tube-like, vis-a-vis the Wreck.
So........ Does this DB4 sparkle or not? Is it way midrangy or not? Can it get the sweet addictive tone of a StangRay but be driven to distortion or not?
IS THIS THE AMP FOR ME OR NOT?
inquiring minds want to know.
jj
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 31, 2016 7:32:43 GMT -7
Definitely not a sparkly amp in my mind - more Marshall than Vox. Think Brad Paisley playing rock rather than country. Very versatile amp because of the tone settings. But I don't hear sparkle.
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Post by DRZ on Jul 31, 2016 8:56:07 GMT -7
IS THIS THE AMP FOR ME OR NOT? inquiring minds want to know. jj The short answer is NO, I think the Z Wreck is more to your described taste. The long answer is, I do not try to slightly vary my designs and call them new models. I design from a clean sheet of paper and offer some of the most original and unique hand wired amps on the market today. And for this I don't get a lot of respect from players looking for their personal perception of Chime and Mid placement as the only deciding factor on a products value. Personally someone like this should evaluate his speaker choice more importantly then the amps . Artists like Brad Paisley are always looking for new and interesting tones to add to their palate, not just for uniqueness but help keep their interest fresh and dynamic. Joe Walsh opened his mind to playing a Surgical Steel Amp on his important latest tour, would anyone think of using a Pedal Steel Amp , besides maybe SRV? Harking back to classic old tones surely has its place in cover bands. But unique original tones interest players like Buddy Whittington, Brad Paisley, Joe Walsh , and Walter Becker to drop just a few patients names. IMHO one must plug a Les Paul into a DB 4 to understand its full glory. DR.Z |
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Post by gotmojo on Jul 31, 2016 10:00:00 GMT -7
Ahhhhhhhh, nooooooo! I did not mean to offend and give any disrespect to the very guy whose amps I love and use 98% of my guitar playing time!!!!!! Doc, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I am telling local players about the wonders of your unique amps all the time! I'm simply trying to get some verbal description and comparison of the DB4 to amps I know and love, as the funds to buy yet another amp are always hard to come by. Not to mention the space to keep them in. Regular Joe's like me can only own so many amps. Yet the verbal descriptions are never like owning the doggone things and putting them through their paces, so....... It usually is a wash.
Doc, please accept my apologies, my post was not thought through very well.
jj
(And send me a DB4!?!)
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Post by DRZ on Jul 31, 2016 10:56:43 GMT -7
No apologies needed, I just tried to answer your question as straight and direct as I could.
Remember this is Support Forum, not a Marketing Forum.
I know you are a long time Z user, and I feel the Z Wreck can supply your sonic needs, I believe you already own one.
You're looking for something different and as I stated on my website the DB 4 doesn't sound like any EL 84 amp I ever heard .
And I don't believe it truly addresses your currant needs, that's all.
Maybe I got a little long winded, but it is Sunday morning......
Z
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Post by sharkboy on Jul 31, 2016 11:49:30 GMT -7
Most of my taste leans toward that bright and clear zone in which the ZWreck thrives, but in the late 70s, I had occasion to go to a guitar part company in Camarillo (I think.) The owner spent a fair amount of time with my brother, who was trying to sell him on acquiring his active pre for a Les Paul. Even though the company made guitar parts and pickups, the owner said that the real test was if it could get "the sound." In his mind, there was a single rock and roll sound that involved playing a late fifties LP into a GA40-LP. He demonstrated. It really did sound great. I believe that amp to be a bit similar to the architecture of the DB4.
I guess that since I have the ZWreck and a Les Paul, I do have some curiosity and interest in finding that sound again. I also find that it would be nice to blend in a little chocolate with the citrus highs I get with my room, amps and mics, since I don't really like cutting tone knobs much.
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Post by gotmojo on Jul 31, 2016 15:25:11 GMT -7
Right. I actually don't want all my amps to sound just the same - not much sense in that. Love the different favors. And the "doesn't sound like any other EL84 amp I've ever heard" thang is very intriguing. And Brad Paisley using them for his killer sound is very reassuring. So .... I am curious as heck as to how this amp sounds in my hands with my Teles. Although I'm asking all these questions, it's really just subliminal rationalizing and stalling so that I don't just quickly get one on impulsiveness, but ..... I'll probably have to get one just to satisfy myself with having the knowledge of what it can and will do. Then I'll put it on some of my songs that'll be on my next album. So I guess I'd better sell that '67 Gretsch and order one pronto.
jj
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Post by gotmojo on Jul 31, 2016 15:29:40 GMT -7
What I think I'm trying to say is, the Doc says the short answer is No. But, in this real life scenario, the long answer is Yes.
Its an new EL84 Dr Z amp. It's that simple.
jj
and I'm that sick.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jul 31, 2016 15:50:54 GMT -7
We all recognize what is going on here........Buy it and get it over with!  |
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Post by gotmojo on Jul 31, 2016 19:02:37 GMT -7
You are on to me. Thanks for helping me to see my denial. 🙂
jj
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Aug 1, 2016 23:22:07 GMT -7
IS THIS THE AMP FOR ME OR NOT? inquiring minds want to know. jj Personally someone like this should evaluate his speaker choice more importantly then the amps . IMHO one must plug a Les Paul into a DB 4 to understand its full glory. DR.Z That speaker choice comment has been SUPER important in my sonic life; has saved me a fortune; and made my love of my Z amps grow ever deeper............... And the thought of my SG through a DB4 sometimes keeps me awake at night!  |
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Post by pcns on Aug 2, 2016 7:10:20 GMT -7
We all recognize what is going on here........Buy it and get it over with! go buy the amp, it sounds amazing. It does not do the sparkle thing like a Wreck but man does it do a bunch of other stuff really great. The Doc said it best regarding his amps. They all sound different and great. You see amps for sale in the buy sell trade because of this. They all sound great, they all do something different and there is not very much overlap so you see players want to trade or sell in order to try a different flavor. Not all of us are in a place to own them all but those that have a lot of amps can confirm their uniqueness and variety of tonal bliss. I currently own 3 amps and have two more in the house that belong to my wife and oldest son. All 5 have their own voice, it's really amazing to me. enjoy the ride, buy the amp, play it for a while, if you end not liking it there will be a line waiting for you in the buy sell trade section Todd |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 15:04:06 GMT -7
IMHO one must plug a Les Paul into a DB 4 to understand its full glory. DR.Z THIS!!! |
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