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Post by bigben55 on Oct 1, 2017 18:24:39 GMT -7
I played a Z28 2x10 combo as my main amp for 4 years. 2 yrs ago, I stumbled across a deal I couldn't refuse for my holy grail dream amp, a 1966 Fender Super Reverb, and traded the Z28 away. I still have and love the Super and don't regret doing it, but I've missed the Z28 too. I am trading some other gear tomorrow for a 1x12 Z28 combo with a Greenback and a Z Brake Lite and I'm excited about it! The 2x10 with Z blue label 10s I had was too loud to 3-3-3 most places, this one shouldn't be! Generally I'm not the biggest Celestion fan though. How's the Greenback with the Z28?
Also, thinking a Strymon Flint and a boost/OD strictly FOR the Z28 will round out the ensemble(I have a big board, want to keep it simple with this one). What's a good "do everything" dirt pedal that compliments the Z28? I had grwat luck with my old Fulldrive2 in the past, anyone use the newer FD3 with the Z28?
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 1, 2017 20:22:43 GMT -7
If I am not mistaken I believe Doc thought the Greenback was his favorite speaker for the Z28 when he created it. So far I have been happy with the Greenback, Creamback, G12h, and even the Gold sounded alright. But, I also had a 2x10 cab that I removed the Z 10's because of volume and put in a Weber Blue Pup and a Silver 10. I had that for years but I eventually took those out and replaced them with Jupiter 30 watt ceramics for more of an "American" (or Fender) tone. Re the Greenback, it will give up the goods quicker than the other higher rated speakers, so if that is what you are after it is an inexpensive investment.
Have fun with your search, and don't forget to try a (NOS) 5751 instead of a 12AX7 for more headroom.
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Post by djcakadave on Oct 1, 2017 21:49:32 GMT -7
The Cure ended my search for DrZ amps but of all the Z amps I went through the Z28 is the only one I might return to if I get that feeling again? I have to say at bedroom level nothing beats a blue! but, for playing out Green back all the way!
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Post by Ridgeback on Oct 1, 2017 22:48:38 GMT -7
Welcome back to the club. I rejoined it myself a few months ago. Great amp design.
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 2, 2017 3:01:51 GMT -7
I'm ok with the Greenback "giving up the goods" early. I want lower volume on this one than the last one. I have a big loud clean amp already. This will be for every situation where the Super Reverb is too big(i.e. most situations). I'm hoping for plug and play ability up to pedal platform headroom, and with the Brake Lite and Greenback think I can get there.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 2, 2017 6:55:53 GMT -7
Another part of the equation will be if you are using single coils or humbuckers. They both sound great but the buckers will deliver the goods sooner.
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 2, 2017 7:42:55 GMT -7
Yep. I'm mostly strat and tele, but have one tele with a hot bridge single coil and a neck humbucker. I don't remember ANY guitar sounding bad with the Z28.
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 2, 2017 17:43:05 GMT -7
It's official, I'm a Z28 owner again! I picked it up at 6pm, took it home, played for 10 min just to make sure it worked(traded with someone I know and trust), took the kid to volleyball practice and now I'm at a local blues jam about to give it a workout!
In that 10 min, I noticed the 1x12 w/Greenback is nowhere as loud as the 2x10 with Z blue labels. Which is GOOD! I have a Brake Lite now, 1 click ought to do it here tonite. It sounded as thick and responsive and awesome as I remember. And I don't even know what tubes are in it! More to come later.....
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 2, 2017 18:11:00 GMT -7
It's not a bad idea to check the age of the 6V6's as well as where it is biased at, just as a reference for your new amp! Congratulations!!
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 2, 2017 20:48:25 GMT -7
SO much more controllable with the Brake Lite. Went down to 2 clicks, knobs at 1-12-3. On that "hot" tele, 7 on the volume knob was mostly clean/slight edge of breakup, 10 was a good lead tone. I did miss the reverb and tremolo some, need that Strymon Flint!
I forgot how solid, brick s___house heavy that amp Is! Don't care tho, killer tone!
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Post by TelePrankster on Oct 3, 2017 0:05:06 GMT -7
I'm using mine with knobs at 10-8-11 and it's pretty clean and loud.
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 3, 2017 2:58:17 GMT -7
I'm gonna run all 3 guitars and the pedalboard thru it tonite. Like I said, i played one for 4 years, so it's more of a reaquainting than a get to know period. Initial impression tho: Z28+Brake Lite=one of the only non master volume amps that can properly be BOTH a pedal platform AND a plug & play. It has those kind of balls!
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Post by Joey Beverages on Oct 3, 2017 5:12:54 GMT -7
Welcome home cheers always, Joel
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 3, 2017 16:07:41 GMT -7
I looked at the tubes in my new Z28. Genelex Gold Lion GZ34 and 6V6s(newer ones), a newer Mullard 12AX7, and a Winged =C= EF86, with the screen grid. I pulled the Mullard 12AX7 out, but have choices on its replacement. I have several good NOS GE12AX7As, or a newer Sovtek 5751. I also can change the V6 tube in my BF Super Reverb back to a 12AT7 and put the JAN GE 5751 in the Z(but I really like it in the SR.
What would you all do? I have no experience with the newer Genelex tubes. Made in Russia. Are they just relabeled Sovtek/New Reflector? They sound good and I'll leave them in for now. I used to like the new Tung Sol 6V6s but they don't last long. The JJs rattled.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 3, 2017 20:29:55 GMT -7
I've been very happy with the Tungsol RI's in my 28. A few years back I bought some NOS 6v6's from KCA but I also acquired some tube rattle with them so I dropped them in a friends Rivera era Champ and bought the Tungsols. From what has been posted by Myles in the As the Experts section the new production 5751's are very inferior - just poor quality 12AX7's that don't meet spec. I try to obtain NOS when it comes to the preamp sections of my amps and stick with good quality "tested" power amp tubes since they typically don't last as long as their smaller neighbors. I've also swapped out the 5ar4 rectifier for a 5y3 for more SAG - sounded nice but I went back to the 5ar4. This amp is so simple to make little changes to it makes it a great tonal platform. Again, congrats!!
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 4, 2017 3:26:13 GMT -7
I haven't been on Z Talk the last couple years, I need to re read some of Myles work.
I was thinking about it though, that Sovtek 5751 came out of my OLD Z28, a 2005 model. Must have taken it out for a reason. I'll swap some tubes on the other amp and get the GE in the Z
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