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Post by scottc on Jan 29, 2018 9:35:48 GMT -7
I had an opportunity to check out a Z Plus for a short time about a month ago.
I talked my local dealer into ordering one for the store in my preferred color (blonde with tan) and my preferred speaker choice (creamback).
It came in over the weekend and I spent a couple hours with it, with my guitar - I am happy to report that it came home with me!
The funny thing is that I had a vintage, original 1968 drip edge, silverface Deluxe Reverb that sounded good, but I could never really see myself gigging with it due to both its delicate and vintage nature (don't want to ruin it) or the fact that I have just become a "Z man" through and through as I have been gigging the MAZ for the last 9 years.
So the plan was that if I liked it, I would trade the Deluxe towards the Plus as an upgraded replacement for the Deluxe.
The thing is that I think there is a good shot that the Plus may replace the MAZ. I like it that much so far. I have a rehearsal this week and a gig on Saturday so I will test it out.
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Post by doctorice on Jan 29, 2018 10:48:13 GMT -7
Looking forward to your report. My impression is the MAZ 18 has more volume on tap.
Fwiw, I used the Plus in 7-watt mode at a recent gig, and it was fine. (I may have had the eq bypass engaged.)
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Z Plus!
Jan 30, 2018 8:54:10 GMT -7
ME likes this
Post by scottc on Jan 30, 2018 8:54:10 GMT -7
I'll get on that report ASAP! I have a feeling that the Plus in 7 watt mode will be good for one of my projects, while the 15 watt mode will be good for the other. This first is a trio that is generally not the wall of sound that the big band which has guitar, bass, drums, B3/Leslie and a near-deaf vocalist who plays harmonica, sax and flute at blistering levels through his monitor! I still think full power mode will work though as I typically reign in the MAZ with at least one click of attenuation from the brakelite. I also keep a convertible 1x12 in our equipment trailer which could be utilized if I need a touch more. Scott
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Z Plus!
Jan 30, 2018 9:34:26 GMT -7
ME likes this
Post by captainron (Ron) on Jan 30, 2018 9:34:26 GMT -7
I still think full power mode will work though as I typically reign in the MAZ with at least one click of attenuation from the brakelite. I also keep a convertible 1x12 in our equipment trailer which could be utilized if I need a touch more. Scott What speaker do you have in the convertible cab? The Z-Plus does sounds super full with two 1x12's working. I plugged my Plus in my convertible Z cab (with Creamback M) and split it with the housed Blue in the Plus's Cab at 7 watts mode! GLORIOUS!
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Post by scottc on Feb 1, 2018 7:32:59 GMT -7
Hi Ron, I have a G12H30 in the convertible cab. Might be a nice combo with the Creamback - only one (fun) way to find out!
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Post by scottc on Feb 7, 2018 7:10:45 GMT -7
Gig Report:
I brought my MAZ 18 w/reverb and G12H30 along with my Z-Plus with Creamback to a fundraiser gig where both my projects would play a full set each. Brought an ABY box to switch on the fly.
During sound check I set up the amps with similar tone, gain and volume levels and went back and forth. The tones were in the same ballpark but clearly different.
RE: Volume - I had the MAZ set as usual, which is: V 3'oclock, treble at 1, Mid at 3, bass at 11, cut at 9:30, master at 1 with one click of attenuation on the braklite. To get close, the Plus was set with higher bass and lower treble and cut.
RE: Tone - The Z-Plus is brighter by quite a bit. You can soften it with the treble and cut controls but there is an underlying sizzle to the top end. It is a cool Fuzzyness, but you have to watch out or you will get ear fatigue/ring. I found a key to controlling this was to crank the gain volume and then back it off to where the sizzle disappears.
RE:Actual sets: I played the Plus with the Trio at full volume and loved the response of the amp. Very dynamic, great reverb and having the EQ bypass option made it very versatile.
Using the MAZ for the big group's set, I noticed that when we started really cooking, I wanted/needed the extra volume that the MAZ has.
In conclusion, I think that you could use the Plus for louder gigs with an extension cab and/or a bit in your monitor, but personally, I think I will utilize the Plus for gigs where each band is required to play softer. The Black Cadillac Trio gigs, especially at smaller rooms will get the Plus and Detroit Breakdown, the bigger group, will get the MAZ, except at places like the casinos, where they torture us about decibel level.
I am quite pleased with this new amp!
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Post by aaronblues on Feb 9, 2018 22:13:48 GMT -7
Gig Report: I brought my MAZ 18 w/reverb and G12H30 along with my Z-Plus with Creamback to a fundraiser gig where both my projects would play a full set each. Brought an ABY box to switch on the fly. During sound check I set up the amps with similar tone, gain and volume levels and went back and forth. The tones were in the same ballpark but clearly different. RE: Volume - I had the MAZ set as usual, which is: V 3'oclock, treble at 1, Mid at 3, bass at 11, cut at 9:30, master at 1 with one click of attenuation on the braklite. To get close, the Plus was set with higher bass and lower treble and cut. RE: Tone - The Z-Plus is brighter by quite a bit. You can soften it with the treble and cut controls but there is an underlying sizzle to the top end. It is a cool Fuzzyness, but you have to watch out or you will get ear fatigue/ring. I found a key to controlling this was to crank the gain volume and then back it off to where the sizzle disappears. RE:Actual sets: I played the Plus with the Trio at full volume and loved the response of the amp. Very dynamic, great reverb and having the EQ bypass option made it very versatile. Using the MAZ for the big group's set, I noticed that when we started really cooking, I wanted/needed the extra volume that the MAZ has. In conclusion, I think that you could use the Plus for louder gigs with an extension cab and/or a bit in your monitor, but personally, I think I will utilize the Plus for gigs where each band is required to play softer. The Black Cadillac Trio gigs, especially at smaller rooms will get the Plus and Detroit Breakdown, the bigger group, will get the MAZ, except at places like the casinos, where they torture us about decibel level. I am quite pleased with this new amp! I agree with all of this. Haven't gigged my Z Plus yet (some recording and rehearsals), but I definitely find the treble a lot brighter then my Maz overall. I read in a different post in the Z Plus forum that these two are nothing alike; I'd definitely disagree. There's a certain shared feel to them that I really enjoy.. Cheers
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Z Plus!
Feb 12, 2018 8:32:19 GMT -7
Post by scottc on Feb 12, 2018 8:32:19 GMT -7
Gig Report: I brought my MAZ 18 w/reverb and G12H30 along with my Z-Plus with Creamback to a fundraiser gig where both my projects would play a full set each. Brought an ABY box to switch on the fly. During sound check I set up the amps with similar tone, gain and volume levels and went back and forth. The tones were in the same ballpark but clearly different. RE: Volume - I had the MAZ set as usual, which is: V 3'oclock, treble at 1, Mid at 3, bass at 11, cut at 9:30, master at 1 with one click of attenuation on the braklite. To get close, the Plus was set with higher bass and lower treble and cut. RE: Tone - The Z-Plus is brighter by quite a bit. You can soften it with the treble and cut controls but there is an underlying sizzle to the top end. It is a cool Fuzzyness, but you have to watch out or you will get ear fatigue/ring. I found a key to controlling this was to crank the gain volume and then back it off to where the sizzle disappears. RE:Actual sets: I played the Plus with the Trio at full volume and loved the response of the amp. Very dynamic, great reverb and having the EQ bypass option made it very versatile. Using the MAZ for the big group's set, I noticed that when we started really cooking, I wanted/needed the extra volume that the MAZ has. In conclusion, I think that you could use the Plus for louder gigs with an extension cab and/or a bit in your monitor, but personally, I think I will utilize the Plus for gigs where each band is required to play softer. The Black Cadillac Trio gigs, especially at smaller rooms will get the Plus and Detroit Breakdown, the bigger group, will get the MAZ, except at places like the casinos, where they torture us about decibel level. I am quite pleased with this new amp! I agree with all of this. Haven't gigged my Z Plus yet (some recording and rehearsals), but I definitely find the treble a lot brighter then my Maz overall. I read in a different post in the Z Plus forum that these two are nothing alike; I'd definitely disagree. There's a certain shared feel to them that I really enjoy.. Cheers aaronblues: Total shared feel! And the good news is that although the high end sizzle is there, I was able to tweak it down enough to where my sound man mentioned that he was fine with the top end and that both amps work great for our needs.
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