|
Post by dickieg on Feb 2, 2006 10:47:52 GMT -7
Just got a great amp [Jr 2 x10s] but I'd really like some help with settings. I don't really get the volume-master balance and the tonal differences between the two. Also the balance between the treble control and the cut..seems to be a relationship. Any help with different settings would really help. And...what changes in the amp setting do you use when you're going to be using a pedal board in front of it. THanks for any help.
|
|
|
Post by dickieg on Feb 2, 2006 10:49:53 GMT -7
Also - do you use both imputs? Someone told me that he liked #2 for pedals.
|
|
|
Post by John on Feb 2, 2006 11:28:43 GMT -7
I'm not really sure what you're asking? As for the first part, the 'volume-master balance'. Turning up the volume will overdrive the preamp (the 12ax7 tubes) more of a tone shaping feature. And the master: Controls the overall volume (yes, I know the input volume does effect volume too) and also controls (for a class A) the amount of signal going into the power tubes...and that too can have an effect on tone and feeling.
As for the treble/cut issue. To me, the cut is more of a high end rolloff knob. You could think of it as a 'presense' knob, but I know there's more too it than that.
If you're using decent pedals, you shouldn't have to make any tone changes on the amp.
Almost everyone I see here, upon using a MAZ for the first time, comments how bright the amp is and how the have to turn the treble and cut WAY down. Same with me. In every other amp I've ever used, I've always had to turn the treble up. Not this one, especially if you're using single coil pickups. Turning the treble and cut up....it will tear your head off.
Someone else in the forum stated it best: Close your eyes and turn the knobs until you hear the sound you like. Don't look at the knobs because you probably have a preconceived notion of where they should be set. You need to throw those preconceived ideas out the window. Close your eyes and play. Better yet, turn your back and have someone else turn the knobs for you.
|
|
luke
Full Member
Mini
Posts: 109
|
Post by luke on Feb 2, 2006 11:31:41 GMT -7
I own a Non Reverb Head w/ a Weber 12A125 , 30 watt speaker. Favorite settings: Cut 9 0'clock, Master 2 o'clock, treble 10 o'clock, middle noon, bass 2 o'clock, volume 10 o'clock. Guitars : American Tele, G&L Semi hollow Bluesboy. Enjoy. Luke
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Feb 2, 2006 11:55:03 GMT -7
Unlike other amps turning the treble down or off doesn't seem to effect how much signal gets into the output stage. So there's no harm in having the treble and cut very low or even off. On my Maz 38 I get a nice jazz tone with the treble and cut almost off, the mids very high and the bass very low. These settings would sound bad with most other amps but not a Z. Raise the treble and cut for pop/rock/blues. Set the volume to suit how much breakup you want and then adjust the master volume to the overall volume you want. To get the bloom from the output section you'll need to run the preamp volume fairly high. Just turn down the guitar's volume for clean/clarity.
|
|
|
Post by dickieg on Feb 2, 2006 13:18:38 GMT -7
If I understand (forgive me for not knowing the difference between pre amp and amp) - the master is more of a volume (decibel) level and the volume is like "gain" on other amps??? I haven't found a bad sound yet out of this - but I want to understand it better. Also, need to be able to get the right tone and keep it as I change decibel levels for the venue and the song. THanks guys - (can someone tell me what the "Karma" notation by member is??)
|
|
|
Post by John on Feb 2, 2006 13:28:01 GMT -7
Sounds like you've got it. Volume=gain, and Master=decibel volume control.
That's the simple explaination. However, drastic adjustments in either will effect tone and volume.
I don't know what the Karma is. I think you can 'rate' someone if they've been helpfull to you.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Feb 2, 2006 14:18:28 GMT -7
If they said something you like, or are helpful or particularly funny hit Exalt and that will give them Karma. If they are mean or rude Smite them and it will take away Karma.
|
|
|
Post by John on Feb 2, 2006 14:27:02 GMT -7
"Take Away Karma"? Didn't they have some hits in the 80's?
|
|
|
Post by zane on Feb 2, 2006 16:40:33 GMT -7
These are settings the DR sent me once...purty cool!
1) "Vintage Tweed" Volume Max, T,M,B Max, Master 9-11:00, Rev 10:00, CUT 10-12:00 2) "British Pop" Volume Max, T,M,B 12:00, Master 9-10:00, Rev 10:00, CUT 10-12:00 3) "Black Face Scoop" Volume 9:00, T,B Max, Mid Off, Master Max, Rev 12:00, CUT 10-11:00
|
|
|
Post by dickieg on Feb 2, 2006 17:08:52 GMT -7
Wow - So the Dr likes to max out either the volume or the master. That's something I've got to try - I've never maxed out a knob! So do you use these settings yourself? What settings do you use on those Texas Zs? Thanks
|
|
|
Post by zane on Feb 2, 2006 18:34:16 GMT -7
Wow - So the Dr likes to max out either the volume or the master. That's something I've got to try - I've never maxed out a knob! So do you use these settings yourself? What settings do you use on those Texas Zs? Thanks Yeah I've tried them all & they purty much "have the sounds"...BUT... usually I keep it on the Buddy Whittington settings, as shown it this pix of Buddy's Maz Sr
|
|
|
Post by Strato on Feb 2, 2006 19:29:38 GMT -7
The cut control adds tons of tonal possibilities... like a strat with the cut control rolled off... can we say "money for nothing?" Ive had this amp for less than 24 hours, and i cant believe all the sounds im getting out of it. Rolling up the cut does make your tone brighter, but this can be corrected by turning down the treble control.
|
|
|
Post by dickieg on Feb 2, 2006 23:12:00 GMT -7
THe "Buddy" setting - all treble, no bass, no mids? ?? (Am I reading that right)
|
|
|
Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 2, 2006 23:54:14 GMT -7
Hi, thingyieg
Yes, your reading it right...
the tone controls on the Maz jr / sr are NOT like any other amp that I know of....at all...they are very interactive and react to each other....ummm, that is to say, they WORK. just not what we ex-fender guy's are used to.... and there is no RIGHT way to set them...
AWFUL LOT of variations here.... let your ears decide.... cool thing...you can set all the tone controls in the middle and it sounds good...max em, cut em....good sounds...
if you set the VOL and the MASTER around 1:00-2:00 I think you get a good Loud clean headroom....now if you roll the master on all the way stand back...BIG TONE then dial the VOL in too suit your needs, back off for little more clean or add more for a little more hair but still somewhat clean (now add a good pedal to the setting with a little hair on it!! yea!)
I find that sweet spot with the VOL (mine is at 2:30 right now) this way with the Master up, then dial the master back down (again right now after a practice at 11:00) to fit the size room... most of us tend to use very little cut with the master way up, but as you roll the master down you can use the cut a little more (mine is on 9:30 right now, just a tad up from where it usually is cause the master got rolled back at practice...) to "make up for" some of what you lose when rolling the master down....and you can use the lo input on these amps...I use the low input for my senior and it works great...
there really aren't any rules with these ....the CUT is your guitars friend (especially if you have different guitars) also different speakers or TUBES can help tame, smooth out or shape your sound also if you really have any problems.... and YOUR settings may differ from other because of the guitar, speakers, or tubes you use...so start from buddy's settings or somebody else's (couple of really good suggestions earlier in the thread) and work from there with YOUR gear...makes a difference... "THAT" great tone is in that amp...just gotta find it and be able to manipulate it to different size venue settings...
ONE COOL THING I LIKE ABOUT THESE AMPS!!! I noticed some other players mention this (about supers) but I noticed it with my bassman and especially my tweed twin...they sometimes sound other worldly and then other times I'm struggling with them at different places... but NOT REALLY with the Z's!!! because I find it's not quite there and I go back and redial the CUT or roll on/ back the master or volume and I'm in tone heaven again....Wonderful...never really had that with ANY other amp.
I'm probably fixin to get another Maz jr and THIS TIME i'm gonna try the different speakers I have now....I loved my ol maz 18 but knowing what I know now after playing the Maz 38 and other Z's...I'd like to have another go at it myself.... theres a slight learning curve on these amps but well worth it when you find THAT TONE....have fun ;D
Jason
|
|
|
Post by zane on Feb 3, 2006 4:06:15 GMT -7
THe "Buddy" setting - all "treble, no bass, no mids? ?? (Am I reading that right) Here's Buddy's explanation: ............................................................................................. "Hmmm, wellesseehere... Roughly, depending on the room, Reverb is at about 8-9 o'clock-- just on enough to wet it up a little when the guitar volume is all the way up Cut varies w/ the room, but is always around 9 o'clock give or take a hair more or less. (and usually less) Depends on if the room is high-endy, and how high the treble and mids are. The Master is always halfway up, or 12 o'clock. Bass is pretty low too, just enough to round the sound out a little. Usually 7-8 o'clock. Just turn it up to where you begin to hear the lows respond. If I'm having trouble w/ the room, usually its the mid that needs to be rolled back and that's where I go first. Pretty low, about 8-10 o'clock tops. Treble is between 12 and 2 o'clock, or halfway up or a little above. I used to run it higher on my original MAZ 38 Studio Deluxe combo, ( still a slammin' Z amp!) but w/ the cut control, I don't seem to use as much treble. Its still pretty bright, but you can sorta 'cut' back the whole high-end 'envelope' w/ the cut knob. The Volume is, with single coils, from about 3 o'clock to all the way up. If I happen to plug in a guitar w/ 'buckers (which ain't TOO often) the Volume goes back to about 12-1 o'clock. Use the guitar volume control to 'play' the amp into different levels of sustain. Hope that's not too confusing!"
|
|
|
Post by Lefty on Feb 3, 2006 9:13:37 GMT -7
Funny thing, most of us (aside from Buddy, but he's nuts ) set them pretty much the same way. It took me a little to get used to the controls too, but what they do, they do 10X as much as Fender amps. The controls are almost "active". I set mine approx like this... Vol- 12-1:00 Treble-11-12:00 Mids-11:00 Bass-12-1:00 Master 1-2:00 (depending on room) Cut -9:00 (redundancy below) The way I understand the cut control is it controls the "presence/treble" of the output tubes, thus affecting breakup as well. The vol bascially controls the amount of signal that comes from your guitar into the amp or 1st preamp tube, more like a sensitivity control. With the volume all the way up it basically becomes a non master volume amp. Think of the Maz like a woman, twist her knobs till you moan...I mean till she moans
|
|
|
Post by Strato on Feb 3, 2006 15:24:31 GMT -7
Lefty, do you mic the amp with those settings? I would imagine the sound man having a fit! When i sit in front of the amp, I put the volume on nine and and master at 8 or I blow my eardrums! I cant imagine running both the volume and master straight at noon or more.
|
|
|
Post by Lefty on Feb 4, 2006 6:42:47 GMT -7
Yes, and no. The Master varies depending on the room, but as a general rule yes. When your up against 40-50 watt amps, it's not that loud. And there is something more "vocal" like about the Maz, more like a conversation with a close friend, the tone is not as intrusive as other amps so it doesn't seem as loud. Plus I work my guitar volume alot.
|
|