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Post by lowbudget on Jan 16, 2017 15:56:05 GMT -7
This was bound to come up sooner or later so I thought I'd go ahead and ask. Some of you few guys who already have a Cure in the house are bound to have a Maz 18 Studio too. How would you compare them?
Obviously, one has EL84s and the other uses 6v6s. And the Cure has level control and the Maz does not. But in terms of tone and maybe just general usefulness, how do they stack up? If you had one, would you necessarily need the other?
Only having seen and heard the Cure in videos, it seems to me that it might just come down to the sound difference between EL84s and 6V6s. And again, just from videos, the Maz seems to have a little more girth. But I don't know so therefore the question.
I'd love to hear what people think as time goes on and more Cures find good homes.
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Post by BritInvasion on Jan 16, 2017 16:06:48 GMT -7
I was going to post this exact same question - thanks for bringing it up!!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jan 16, 2017 16:52:52 GMT -7
When I get mine we can run this for you guys!
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Post by Dan F"i"fe on Jan 16, 2017 16:54:16 GMT -7
Interesting comparison, I suspect the Maz will be a bit more favorable being the Swiss Army knife of Z amps. But I'll await the verdict from the others...
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Post by lowbudget on Jan 16, 2017 16:55:00 GMT -7
When I get mine we can run this for you guys! Can't wait! Curious minds want to know! It just kinda seems like a natural comparison.
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Post by markT on Jan 16, 2017 19:06:29 GMT -7
I never had the Z speaker (which is a great speaker) in my Maz Jr NR Studio. But from my memory, The Maz was a tad louder if need be. More upper mid push and more solid lows.
But I'd say the Cure is the most versatile for my needs. Cleaner sounding cleans, and much creamier overdrive...and more of it. All at much wider volume ranges. My Maz had a Brake-Lite that was most always on 2 clicks. With the Cure there is no need for the extra gear.
That said, they can sound similar as well. The Maz is a modern day classic. I'm thinking the Cure will be too!!
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Post by frankie on Jan 16, 2017 19:32:04 GMT -7
I never had the Z speaker (which is a great speaker) in my Maz Jr NR Studio. But from my memory, The Maz was a tad louder if need be. More upper mid push and more solid lows. But I'd say the Cure is the most versatile for my needs. Cleaner sounding cleans, and much creamier overdrive...and more of it. All at much wider volume ranges. My Maz had a Brake-Lite that was most always on 2 clicks. With the Cure there is no need for the extra gear. That said, they can sound similar as well. The Maz is a modern day classic. I'm thinking the Cure will be too!! The Maz is perceptibly louder than the Cure due to its speaker and the high mid focus. The Maz cleans are also more scooped and chimey, where I would call the Cure, as Mark mentions, "cleaner" for longer. It's also much smoother and creamier at crunch levels, with a middle mid focus. The Maz crunch is edgier, more hair and strident. In very general terms, the Maz is more "british" and the Cure more "American," as noted, in large part to the output tubes. But I can't stress this enough, the Cure's transformer plays a large part in the sound. My preference is towards the British-sounding amps in our line. Maz, Z Wreck, Antidote, KT45/RT66/Delta88. The Cure is my favorite of our American-inspired amps. Prior to this, I liked the Galaxie a lot (I have a tendency to love the amps that only sold a couple dozen, the 88, 6545, Galaxie), and note that the Galaxie also used this transformer.
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Jan 16, 2017 20:18:44 GMT -7
I love the detail in that transformer. No need for extra gear is the way I like to play.
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Post by dergit (Markus) on Jan 17, 2017 3:28:16 GMT -7
I have a MAZ 8 and an 18 and since the Z-Lux, no amp has intrigued me as much as the CURE. I wanted to buy a Z-Wreck first, though. Ah.
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Post by Easyrom on Jan 17, 2017 4:12:43 GMT -7
I LOVE my Z-Lux but was wondering about getting a Air Brake because my Brake Lite is not enough to tame the beast... And now the Cure comes in. And as you probably know better than me Markus, it's not easy to try Z amps around here! ;-)
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Post by lowbudget on Jan 17, 2017 6:14:40 GMT -7
I never had the Z speaker (which is a great speaker) in my Maz Jr NR Studio. But from my memory, The Maz was a tad louder if need be. More upper mid push and more solid lows. But I'd say the Cure is the most versatile for my needs. Cleaner sounding cleans, and much creamier overdrive...and more of it. All at much wider volume ranges. My Maz had a Brake-Lite that was most always on 2 clicks. With the Cure there is no need for the extra gear. That said, they can sound similar as well. The Maz is a modern day classic. I'm thinking the Cure will be too!! The Maz is perceptibly louder than the Cure due to its speaker and the high mid focus. The Maz cleans are also more scooped and chimey, where I would call the Cure, as Mark mentions, "cleaner" for longer. It's also much smoother and creamier at crunch levels, with a middle mid focus. The Maz crunch is edgier, more hair and strident. In very general terms, the Maz is more "british" and the Cure more "American," as noted, in large part to the output tubes. But I can't stress this enough, the Cure's transformer plays a large part in the sound. My preference is towards the British-sounding amps in our line. Maz, Z Wreck, Antidote, KT45/RT66/Delta88. The Cure is my favorite of our American-inspired amps. Prior to this, I liked the Galaxie a lot (I have a tendency to love the amps that only sold a couple dozen, the 88, 6545, Galaxie), and note that the Galaxie also used this transformer. The more chimey cleans on the Maz certainly makes sense to me, but those cleans being more scooped than the Cure kinda surprises me a bit. This is the kind of information I was hoping for, especially given that I tend to run my Maz 18s fairly clean. I usually keep the master dimed and just adjust the volume as needed.
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Post by frankie on Jan 17, 2017 10:06:19 GMT -7
The Maz is perceptibly louder than the Cure due to its speaker and the high mid focus. The Maz cleans are also more scooped and chimey, where I would call the Cure, as Mark mentions, "cleaner" for longer. It's also much smoother and creamier at crunch levels, with a middle mid focus. The Maz crunch is edgier, more hair and strident. In very general terms, the Maz is more "british" and the Cure more "American," as noted, in large part to the output tubes. But I can't stress this enough, the Cure's transformer plays a large part in the sound. My preference is towards the British-sounding amps in our line. Maz, Z Wreck, Antidote, KT45/RT66/Delta88. The Cure is my favorite of our American-inspired amps. Prior to this, I liked the Galaxie a lot (I have a tendency to love the amps that only sold a couple dozen, the 88, 6545, Galaxie), and note that the Galaxie also used this transformer. The more chimey cleans on the Maz certainly makes sense to me, but those cleans being more scooped than the Cure kinda surprises me a bit. This is the kind of information I was hoping for, especially given that I tend to run my Maz 18s fairly clean. I usually keep the master dimed and just adjust the volume as needed. These two demos that were posted yesterday I think do a great job of showing the difference in the midrange of the two amps (despite it not being in a studio cab). Both tele's both, both neck. The Cure has a softer, warm midrange with a little more splash and glass in the top, while the Maz 18 has the chime and a slightly hollowed midrange. Of course there are shades of both in each amp, and with some adjustment of the mid knob you can get close to each. Of course speaker choice has something to do with this all as well.
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Post by henryjurstin13 on Aug 5, 2017 19:52:12 GMT -7
The more chimey cleans on the Maz certainly makes sense to me, but those cleans being more scooped than the Cure kinda surprises me a bit. This is the kind of information I was hoping for, especially given that I tend to run my Maz 18s fairly clean. I usually keep the master dimed and just adjust the volume as needed. These two demos that were posted yesterday I think do a great job of showing the difference in the midrange of the two amps (despite it not being in a studio cab). Both tele's both, both neck. The Cure has a softer, warm midrange with a little more splash and glass in the top, while the Maz 18 has the chime and a slightly hollowed midrange. Of course there are shades of both in each amp, and with some adjustment of the mid knob you can get close to each. Of course speaker choice has something to do with this all as well. I was having difficulty deciding if I liked a Cure or Maz18nr better s couple days ago. That Maz clip is insanely nice!!!!! Do we know what cab and/or other that was used to make that clip?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2017 7:29:10 GMT -7
I'm working partly from memory here as I sold my Maz 18 NR studio a while back, but for me the Cure is generally darker and thicker in tone, with a smoother breakup and, for me, richer harmonic content. Because of the level control, it can be pushed into basically infinite sustain at moderate volumes. The key to getting the Maz to thicken up is to run the V control at12:00+, but depending on your situation that can create a volume problem. Then it becomes a bit of a struggle to get your tone without overpowering the room. I also prefer the Cure's mid-emphasis, which as others have pointed out is in the mid-mids vs the upper mids. Basically, if you want a jangly amp, get the Maz. If you want something a bit darker/fatter/smokier, get the Cure.
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Post by henryjurstin13 on Aug 6, 2017 8:16:38 GMT -7
I'm working partly from memory here as I sold my Maz 18 NR studio a while back, but for me the Cure is generally darker and thicker in tone, with a smoother breakup and, for me, richer harmonic content. Because of the level control, it can be pushed into basically infinite sustain at moderate volumes. The key to getting the Maz to thicken up is to run the V control at12:00+, but depending on your situation that can create a volume problem. Then it becomes a bit of a struggle to get your tone without overpowering the room. I also prefer the Cure's mid-emphasis, which as others have pointed out is in the mid-mids vs the upper mids. Basically, if you want a jangly amp, get the Maz. If you want something a bit darker/fatter/smokier, get the Cure. It's a tough call for my needs... I own a Carr Slant 6V, so I've got big cleans covered. I've also got a PRS H which does smooth and compressed gain very, very well. I wanted chime, but fell in love with that LaGrange/Grissom tone that the Monza has in spades. Single time knob & lack of versatility has me wondering about the Maz 18 -- then I tried the Cure. Anyone tried a G12H in a Cure? Much different than the Z speaker? (I didn't care much for the blue in the maz 18 I tried)
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Post by simpleton on Aug 6, 2017 9:34:31 GMT -7
I'm working partly from memory here as I sold my Maz 18 NR studio a while back, but for me the Cure is generally darker and thicker in tone, with a smoother breakup and, for me, richer harmonic content. Because of the level control, it can be pushed into basically infinite sustain at moderate volumes. The key to getting the Maz to thicken up is to run the V control at12:00+, but depending on your situation that can create a volume problem. Then it becomes a bit of a struggle to get your tone without overpowering the room. I also prefer the Cure's mid-emphasis, which as others have pointed out is in the mid-mids vs the upper mids. Basically, if you want a jangly amp, get the Maz. If you want something a bit darker/fatter/smokier, get the Cure. It's a tough call for my needs... I own a Carr Slant 6V, so I've got big cleans covered. I've also got a PRS H which does smooth and compressed gain very, very well. I wanted chime, but fell in love with that LaGrange/Grissom tone that the Monza has in spades. Single time knob & lack of versatility has me wondering about the Maz 18 -- then I tried the Cure. Anyone tried a G12H in a Cure? Much different than the Z speaker? (I didn't care much for the blue in the maz 18 I tried) Ahhhhhh, I see the problem. You've realized that you need them all . Typical problem for us Z fans. The MONZA has a pretty set flavor of tone....the tone knob moves that around from brighter to darker.....cleaner to dirtier. The MAZ will flex its tonal muscles a bit more because the EQ is more versatile, people call it the Swiss Army knife. The Monza is a great amp to own...a great lead guitar amp as well as a sweet Fuzz when cranked. MAZ will chime and be more flexible....I haven't owned one but many others have.
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zacmac
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by zacmac on Aug 7, 2017 6:39:25 GMT -7
The better question is how good they would sound in stereo!
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Post by simpleton on Aug 7, 2017 13:13:07 GMT -7
The better question is how good they would sound in stereo! Well played
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Post by tgftele on Aug 7, 2017 17:10:56 GMT -7
I have owned a Carmen Ghia, and now have played my Cure in several shows over the last couple months. I can't speak to the Maz because I ended up going with a Ghia and then a Cure over the Maz both times..largely due to this: To me the Cure is an American sounding amp with the ability to be Fender clean with the bass and treble up and the mids scooped a tad, or Fender Tweed/early Marshall, so thicker and more juicy, with the mids back up to noon or 1 and the bass and treble back down a bit at say 1 or 2. I have seen a few things here and there about a slight lack of bass on the Cure but I disagree. I say the bass knob and/or a speaker change would yield as much bass as one would need in a band situation with a bass player. I hope that may help put the Cure in perspective. It's excellent.
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Post by doctorice on Aug 8, 2017 6:53:36 GMT -7
I say the bass knob and/or a speaker change would yield as much bass as one would need in a band situation with a bass player. My experience playing the Cure live is similar. I don't need the guitar amp's low end to be hitting me hard. The drummer and bass player take care of that part of the sonic spectrum. I want my guitar to sit in the mix and then step up to solo. Cure delivers.
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