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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 12:19:27 GMT -7
The JAZ is my favorite amp. It's been through a few incarnations since I've had it, and many speaker swaps. About a year ago I made version 2.0. This included removing the oval baffle and making a new one covered with ZW cloth. I also installed an EQ bypass, Tungsol 5881s and a WGS G12 C/S. I hung the old oval baffle in the garage with all my tin signs and stuff. The other day I was looking at that oval baffle just hanging there and decided it needed to go back on the amp. That idea prompted a few more. Version 3.0. I ordered a new quad of JJ 6v6's with the dual mica for reduced rattle, and also ordered a new speaker. I went with a Celestion Cream AlNiCo. So far no rattles from the JJ's. It's definitely warmer and creamier than with the 5881's. As long as these don't start to rattle they'll stay. Then I swapped the speaker. Whoa! Huge difference as expected. The AlNiCo Cream really rips. It seems really balanced and no offending frequencies. Seems to increase the sensitivity of the amp greatly. I love the pick dynamics with this speaker. Sounds great for just about any style the amp will cover. Clean to pretty rockin'. This should get me another couple happy years with this great amp. Then the oval returns. I touched it off with some black piping and the last bit of ZW cloth I have behind it. It's like a honeymoon all over again! [
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Post by Ridgeback on Jul 5, 2018 12:47:16 GMT -7
Very cool. I've never had the chance to play a JAZ or a Z-Lux. I had an oval front EZG head for a couple of years. I understand why he went to the more conventional cabs but the ovals were a super cool look.
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Post by KeithA on Jul 5, 2018 13:23:08 GMT -7
Nice Nick 😎
I love over the vibe of the oval front JAZ. I also love the Cream AlNiCo 😎
I'll be getting another Cream AlNiCo in my next amp....which I need to PM Doc on this week.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 5, 2018 13:25:29 GMT -7
Great looking set-up! One of these days I'll find the right JAZ 20/40 - they are out there.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jul 5, 2018 14:07:14 GMT -7
Bring back the oval!! Nice rig, very nice.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 14:39:13 GMT -7
Bring back the oval!! Nice rig, very nice. Bring back the oval is right! Chanting: "Oval, Oval, Oval "
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 14:47:24 GMT -7
Great looking set-up! One of these days I'll find the right JAZ 20/40 - they are out there. Yeah. It's a terrific amp. My favorite so far. The JAZ has this "old skoolness" to it for lack of better words. It's not as smooth and polite as the newer Z designs. It's a little ragged around the edges and I love it for that. Someday I'll check out a Zlux. It's inevitable. But I got some time with this guy yet.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 14:51:46 GMT -7
Nice Nick 😎 I love over the vibe of the oval front JAZ. I also love the Cream AlNiCo 😎 I'll be getting another Cream AlNiCo in my next amp....which I need to PM Doc on this week. Nice! I'm waiting on my Surgical Steel! Super excited about that one. What amp do you have in the works?
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Post by doctorice on Jul 5, 2018 15:02:46 GMT -7
I miss my JAZ, Nick. But I don't miss the weight Z-Lux remains a key player in my amp arsenal.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 16:21:41 GMT -7
I miss my JAZ, Nick. But I don't miss the weight Z-Lux remains a key player in my amp arsenal. Yeah, it's heavy. The weight helps burn off the calories from excessive IPAs. Or so I've been told. The Zlux is inevitable. Resistance is futile.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 16:40:10 GMT -7
So after a solid day of playing with the new 6V6's I popped the 5881's back in. I like the 5881's better. I'll keep the JJ's for a back up. I like the crisper sound and cleaner headroom of the 5881's. Man. The 339 sounds other worldly with the JAZ. Such a great amp.
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Post by zpilot on Jul 5, 2018 19:35:14 GMT -7
I have considered selling my JAZ but I just can't bring myself to do it. As most of us know it was misunderstood which led to it being discontinued. Now the player who wants that type of amp seems to prefer the Z-Luz although they are essentially the same amp, which keeps the price of the JAZ down. Mine is a head/cab which keeps the weight manageable. I will probably eventually sell it but the price will have to be right. I have a set of 5881's that I haven't tried in it yet. I love the oval grill and so do all my other musician friends. I collect old radios and it is reminiscent of some of my Zenith pocket transistor radios from the 1950's. It almost looks like it should have a "Z-enith" logo on it. The Royal 500H is one of my favorites. www.jamesbutters.com/zenithroyal500h.htm
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2018 20:51:00 GMT -7
I have considered selling my JAZ but I just can't bring myself to do it. As most of us know it was misunderstood which led to it being discontinued. Now the player who wants that type of amp seems to prefer the Z-Luz although they are essentially the same amp, which keeps the price of the JAZ down. Mine is a head/cab which keeps the weight manageable. I will probably eventually sell it but the price will have to be right. I have a set of 5881's that I haven't tried in it yet. I love the oval grill and so do all my other musician friends. I collect old radios and it is reminiscent of some of my Zenith pocket transistor radios from the 1950's. It almost looks like it should have a "Z-enith" logo on it. Yeah, misunderstood it was. Oddly if I remember right, most of the fuss was about the cosmetics. I think it only sold for a few years? I bought mine new when I heard it was being discontinued, I'm glad I did. It's a splendid amp. I won't ever sell it. I gotta say, the 5881's really fit it well. If you have them on hand, toss them in that bad boy! It's spectacular. For real.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2018 7:57:05 GMT -7
That v3.0 looks great Nicholas! I like the ZW cloth behind the oval. Ah yes, the oval. Really nice to hear some love for this amp. I'll never sell mine, that's for sure...
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jul 11, 2018 19:14:44 GMT -7
Really sweet with the ZW cloth, it's a looker! Those that have had the Z-Lux too, what's the main difference in tone? Does one have more gain on tap than the other? Are they voiced pretty much the same? I'm asking because I watched BW's demo of the Jaz at the 2011? Z-Fest the other day, and it really ripped. I can't get that kind of gain out of my Z-Lux.
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Post by doctorice on Jul 12, 2018 12:15:00 GMT -7
Really sweet with the ZW cloth, it's a looker! Those that have had the Z-Lux too, what's the main difference in tone? Does one have more gain on tap than the other? Are they voiced pretty much the same? I'm asking because I watched BW's demo of the Jaz at the 2011? Z-Fest the other day, and it really ripped. I can't get that kind of gain out of my Z-Lux. Dave, my recollection is the JAZ's reverb was more "on" than the Z-Lux, i.e., like a BF Fender that goes from no 'verb to lots of verb very quickly. I think Doc tweaked the trem circuit as well to reduce/eliminate a slight delay that occurred when engaging it. Z-Lux may have had its low end dialed back a bit, not unlike the updated EZG-50. I don't recall if there was much gain difference. (JAZ did not have the eq bypass.) I do think the Z-Lux is slightly more 3D and articulate due to more of Doc's tweaks. But I'm old and the memory ain't what it used to be.... (These observations were from a side-by-side with both amps running into the same speaker, so cab/configuration was controlled for.)
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jul 12, 2018 13:20:21 GMT -7
I want an oval front for my ZLux combo! Is this possible?
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Post by nicholas on Jul 12, 2018 14:50:50 GMT -7
Really sweet with the ZW cloth, it's a looker! Those that have had the Z-Lux too, what's the main difference in tone? Does one have more gain on tap than the other? Are they voiced pretty much the same? I'm asking because I watched BW's demo of the Jaz at the 2011? Z-Fest the other day, and it really ripped. I can't get that kind of gain out of my Z-Lux. I can't compare Dave as I haven't played a Zlux. However I'm sure Mike's assessment is correct. What I can say is the reverb on the JAZ is over the top past 9:00. But it sounds great in that narrow window. Just have to make slight tweaks. Great sounding verb, just touchy pot. The trem has a delay when engaging with the depth past 3:00 or so. But at that point it's really powerful, way more than I use. I rarely have the depth past noon. I usually set mine with the volume and master around noon on full power. It does rip. With my 339 it gets a really great smooth Carlton type tone. No pedals needed. I gotta say. The Alnico Cream in this amp is unbelievably good. I just got done playing it and have that "how could it get any better" feeling. Such a great amp. The sustain is off the charts. Once it's up to a decent volume it just sings.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 13, 2018 15:59:53 GMT -7
I think I mentioned I put a tone stack bypass in it a while back. I haven't been using it lately. Just got done with lengthy jam. Man! With the TSB around 50% it's super thick and meaty. D style thick crunch and singing leads. Put it in half power for the first time in a long time. Really gets cookin'! The Alnico cream really brings out the best in this amp. That's for sure. You Zlux guys should try the Cream!
I'm pretty sure my new speak is broken in. This amp is special.
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