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Post by gotmojo on Aug 12, 2016 18:47:17 GMT -7
Wow. I Had the opportunity to try an M12 today at Guitar Center (not that that is a very good place to try to hear any piece of gear, what with the overhead rock music playing constantly and other people trying amps, but I did get about 4 minutes of no other amps playing, and had to settle for an off the shelf Tele, not like using my usual piece). Quite an amp. I can see why you guys love it. I'd like to have an hour with it in my room at home. It was a 1-10" combo with a brake lite installed - used. Had a ceramic speaker with a Dr. Z sticker on it. I only played it with the brake maxed. Pretty amazing amp. Wished I had read the recent thread about "flat tone controls" prior to playing it. Certainly noticed how clean it was with tones at noon, but the big surprise was how nazzy it got by turning the tone controls (having read that thread, now I know it's "gain") up to 3:00 and beyond! Really had great distortion. And that small cab with a 10" speaker: very impressive tone for a grab and go amp! I liked it. A lot. I could probably gig with that amp alone, without pedals.
Interesting to compare it to the thread discussing the Steve Miller mod in trying to make it like a lower powered Stang Ray. In that listening environment and with that unknown guitar, I did not think it's tone was much like the Stang Ray (or I'd have bought it then and there). Was a great tone, but not StangRayish. I made that word up.
I am about to acquire a Carmen Ghia 1-10" combo - looking forward to getting to know that beast (Celestion Gold). When I've gotten my arms around the Ghia, I'd love to try one of these M12's with some real time to get to know it. I am ever on the search for an amp that sounds like a half powered Stang Ray and with more inherent distortion.
really enjoyed that test run today.
jj
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Aug 13, 2016 7:09:14 GMT -7
The good news, James, is that (in my opinion) the Carmen Ghia isn't THAT far off the StangRay-type tone, in a sense that they've both got Dr. Z's signature character--especially and more obviously when the 'Ghia is played cleaner.
Also, I agree with you that, in its stock form, I've never really thought of the M12 as a half-StangRay. But when Doc brought Steve Miller's modded one to Z-fest last year, it did indeed start sounding that way. That is, until we directly A/B'd the modded M12 versus an original StingRay.. at which point it was noticeable that the more powerful amp had much bigger bottom end. (This is simple electronics/physics, though. A 12W amp just ain't gonna push the bass that a 30W amp will.)
I don't think you can go wrong either way with the M12--stock or modded. I have loved mine from day 1 in its stock form, and it continues to be a well-loved home-studio/practice staple of mine.
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Post by Rich (fbb90) on Aug 14, 2016 9:14:57 GMT -7
but the big surprise was how nazzy it got by turning the tone controls (having read that thread, now I know it's "gain") up to 3:00 and beyond! Really had great distortion. And that small cab with a 10" speaker: very impressive tone for a grab and go amp! I liked it. A lot. I could probably gig with that amp alone, without pedals. jj I haven't done the rectifier swap or any other "Ray" type mods, but I love the M12 for its nazzy-ness. I more-or-less use it as my low wattage KT45 (which I always run on the 3-3-3 setting). I love that whole series of amps (although I have yet to play through a Rt66) cranked-up and nasty. Great OD/distortion sounds out of that series. They are phenomenal clean, but I like 'em best for the nazzy-ness.
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