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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Jul 11, 2018 10:21:44 GMT -7
I am interested in the differences between the Cure and the Z-Plus. They use the same power tubes, preamp tubes, and rectifier. I know the the Z-Plus has reverb and the half power mode while the Cure has no reverb (but an effects loop) and the level control. I know they are voiced differently and the Z-Plus sounds good with a Celestion Blue and the Cure is generally thought to be better with the stock Z12.
Do they serve the same functions in terms of portability (although the Z-Plus is five pounds heavier) and sound level variability? I am currently leaning toward the Cure because I get my Champ sounds from my '64 Vibro Champ.
Thanks in advance for comments.
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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Jul 12, 2018 9:21:55 GMT -7
How different are they in terms of sound and versatility?
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Post by detuned on Jul 12, 2018 12:06:11 GMT -7
Disclaimer: I do not own either amp. My experience with them comes from hearing them at Z-Fest. The Cure was stacked on top of the Z-Plus, both were pointed right at my face, and played by Buddy with a tele, strat type, and Lester.
The Cure is a great amp by any measure. Like most of Doc's amps, it sounds great with the tome controls set at noon, although I'm sure there's a fair bit of flexibility once you start fooling with the dials. Where it really shines is the interplay between the preamp, master volume and Level control. You can dial in any combo of tube saturation, and hear that same tone at ANY (literally any - Doc dialed it down to just over a whisper then up to full bore, and it sounded the same). There are some small differences (cranked speakers and cabs give up the goods differently than a lower-volume sound), but it's really, really close. Sounds fantastic.
The Z-Plus is around $500 more, and honestly, sounds like it. That true Class A action is like that scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy opens the door and skips from black and white to Technicolor. It's really dramatic. I'm not saying the Cure doesn't sound great - it does, it's just that (IMO) the Z-Plus is a whole level up. It's hard to describe how much richer-er the Plus sounds, but it's glorious.
Now that said, I'm saving my dough for the upcoming Nova, but as always, YMMV. Hope that helps!
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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Jul 12, 2018 19:31:24 GMT -7
Thanks. What you said makes sense. I think the Cure is using the 6V6’s in push-pull while the Z-Plus uses them in parallel. Thanks for the comments—they help my thinking about these amps. I wonder quiet you can make the Z-Plus and still have it sound good?
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Jul 13, 2018 12:03:41 GMT -7
I do own a cure and have never heard the z-plus, but I have to say that level knob on the cure is one of the things that makes that amp shine.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 8:16:52 GMT -7
I've played Both : The Z Plus IMO is Louder : What makes the Cure versatile is the Level control . Without it The Cure would be to loud to get the tone you want in a Home setting. The Zplus is a Great amp But even at 1/2 Volume it's to loud in a Bedroom setting. I have a Pretty large Home that's open Floor Plan . Main Floor is 2000 SQ FT. And the Ceiling is 16 Ft Tall. I've owned the Majority of Z's. Until I bought a Cure I didn't realize How much I was losing with having to keep the other AMPS manageable Volume wise. IMO If Doc would put the Level in an EL84 Based AMP . I'd have all the bases covered with that and My Cure . Sadly from what I have read the 6V6 6L's are more in demand these days . They do seem to run in overdrive a Bit Clearer :
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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Jul 18, 2018 9:06:03 GMT -7
Thanks! Just what I was wondering.
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zacmac
Junior Member
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Post by zacmac on Jul 18, 2018 11:34:03 GMT -7
I have Cure #37 for about 18 months and I played a new Z-Plus today at a dealer and I really liked it but I don't know that it was drastic enough for me to purchase. I hear the same forward zing thing in both amps but the Z-plus def has that single ended robust tone. I think the deciding factor for me would be volume requirements and expectations and the Z plus would probably be a slightly better pedal platform amp. I have played a half dozen cures since purchasing and mine really seems to have something extra going on! Thanks Doc
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 13:59:05 GMT -7
All yah have to do to get the cure more head room to open the level control all the way and just use the V and Master . At least that's what I've been doing :
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Post by DeanG on Aug 9, 2018 20:19:14 GMT -7
Thanks. What you said makes sense. I think the Cure is using the 6V6’s in push-pull while the Z-Plus uses them in parallel. Thanks for the comments—they help my thinking about these amps. I wonder quiet you can make the Z-Plus and still have it sound good? True, Doc has explained that the Z-plus being Single Ended power output produces both Odd and Even Order Harmonics, an advantage over Push-Pull power section design limited to Odd Order Harmonics. I believe the Z-plus tone richness is demonstrated in this video.
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Post by fastfrets (Bob) on Aug 10, 2018 22:27:59 GMT -7
Thanks. What you said makes sense. I think the Cure is using the 6V6’s in push-pull while the Z-Plus uses them in parallel. Thanks for the comments—they help my thinking about these amps. I wonder quiet you can make the Z-Plus and still have it sound good? True, Doc has explained that the Z-plus being Single Ended power output produces both Odd and Even Order Harmonics, an advantage over Push-Pull power section design limited to Odd Order Harmonics. I believe the Z-plus tone richness is demonstrated in this video. Thanks for the the video. I'll bet with a small Air Brake you could make it quieter similar to the level control on the Cure. Z-Plus just sounds tremendous!
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Post by doctorice on Aug 11, 2018 5:18:04 GMT -7
Bob,
The 7-watt mode on the Plus is great for taming the volume. I'm sure a Brake Lite would work fine to lower the output volume further if needed.
Fwiw, I've used the amp live several times in small bars at 7 watts. I do push it to get the sound I like: guitar into high input, eq bypass engaged (at a bit below 50%) and amp volume up pretty high with single-coil guitars. This lets me work the volume knob on the guitar, and it works fine with drive pedals added.
I also have a Cure, which is a fine amp, and have gigged it too. I prefer the Plus's sound. (I went with the Cel Blue which, of course, is part of this.)
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