Post by kfkm on Mar 5, 2017 18:29:17 GMT -7
I finally got to take the Cure out to a gig last night. I've been using the Z-Lux for the past 2 years as my main gigging amp but the Cure was pleasantly surprising.
First let me say that this is not my band but that usually about once every other month I sit in with my friends band as another guitar player. It usually gets pretty crazy as sometimes there are about four guitar players jamming to songs like One Way Out where everyone keeps swapping off leads. It is a lot of fun and can sometimes get pretty loud. You definitely need an amp that can keep up with the group and I can tell you that the Cure will do this.
Lets start with settings. Volume around 1:30, Treble around 11:00, Middle around 11:00, Bass around 1:30, Master around 2:00. I started with the level around 11:00 and it was at around 1:30 for the heavy jams where I needed the volume. Still plenty left to go up if I need be. I played with the boost function off and engaged it for all of my leads. Just the right amount of boost and it really pushed the amp into overdrive for those leads. I usually keep the knob on the boost all of the way to get full boost capability. I can't tell you how many compliments I got from the tone that came out of this amp. I need to say that I am playing with a band that has big professional players in it that used to tour the country. Also most of the guest guitarists that play are from other bands and I feel like I am the least qualified to be there as I've sat and played alongside of some big 80's guitar players with them.
Last night I used a roadworn tele blackguard with maple neck that was modified by Crosstown Customs. It was basically reliced with nitro very realistically and they put a set of 51 Nocaster pickups in the guitar. The tone that came from playing this guitar straight through the amp is amazing. I've always played with at least one overdrive pedal but I feel that with the Cure and the boost function that an overdrive pedal is no longer needed. The only pedal I used was a Boing reverb going straight into the amp that I left on all night. I had that set around 10:00 all night and bumped it up to around 12:30 when we played The Thrill Is Gone for a little more ambiance. I leave this pedal on top of the amp with a short 1 ft cord to the input and run my long cable off of this as I don't touch it at all except for the one time.
I a very pleased with how well the Cure performed and I know that I had plenty more volume to go if need be. I always ran the Z-Lux on the 20 watt setting so it was fine for me. Also the lightweight cabinet was a pleasure to carry into the bar especially since it was around 15 degrees here last night. Amp in one hand and gig bag on my shoulder with the tele. I still would like to find a buffered reverb for the effects loop but the Boing reverb worked very well last night and I think it might be a keeper.