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Post by dickieg on Feb 9, 2006 12:19:51 GMT -7
I'm absolutely in love with the sound of my Maz Jr Rev 2x10. I now want the next step up - so I can get the same tones at higher volume (bigger venue) levels. Would the Junior push an ext cab okay? (That's the cheapest and most flexible upgrade!) What speaker config would best compliment the jr 2x10 combo? I want clean headroom - since this amp takes pedals so well. Or, would I be better off (not financially obviously) by getting the Senior head/cab combo?
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Feb 9, 2006 13:22:54 GMT -7
I have the 2x10 with reverb also. When I need to move more air I use a ZBest 2x12 cabinet. This actually gives me three speaker configuration options.
First, of course, the 10's in the Junior.
Second, use just the Zbest, it's 8 ohms so I just connect it instead of the 10's in the amp.
Third, I use a series/parallel speaker config box from KJL to combine the ZBest (8 ohms) and the combo's 10's (8 ohms) into a 4 ohm load and connect this to the 4 ohm output on the amp.
In addition to progressively moving more air, each of these setups has a different voice, each great in it's own right.
The third option, with two 10's and two 12's at 4 ohms is absolutely huge sounding and LOUD.
But also consider, if you have an adequate PA setup, simply getting a good mike and miking the amp in the larger venues, that will help keep stage volume under control and make it easier to achieve consistency in your sound.
The Senior is not going to be that much louder than the Junior, it's that old laws of physics thing, 38 watts isn't twice as loud as 18 watts.
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Post by dickieg on Feb 9, 2006 14:01:41 GMT -7
GStan -thanks! Telll me about the tone difference when you just use the 2x12s; when you use everything? Did you get the ext cab for the same reason I'm thinking of it? Is the Jr plenty enough amp to push 2 10s and 2 12s? Did you consider a single 12 cab? Sorry for so many questions, but I'm sure you went thru this exact process. Thanks again
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Feb 9, 2006 16:12:05 GMT -7
Yep, I did go thru much the same thought process, the goal being to be able to match the rig to the venue. But there was another angle to getting the ZBest cabinet and that was to be able to use it with my other amps as well. For instance, I have often played out with the MAZ 18 and the Carr Mercury which is an 8 watt (albeit true Class A single ended) amp. Running the Mercury thru the ZBest allows it to push more air and stay with the MAZ better in clubs where I didn't mike the amps.
The Junior handles the cabinet very well, like I said you will be amazed at how it will hold it's own, easily hanging with most 30-40 watt amps.
Let's put it another way, if you get to the point that you feel like the amp is not loud enough and you need MORE, then at that point humans probably shouldn't be in front of the amp without hearing protection and you need to get your hearing checked.
The basic difference as you step thru the three setups is the "biggness" of the sound, you get progressively more low and mid "punch" and the ZBest imparts what I call a "woody-ness"and resonance by virtue of it's design, think of that point in Spooonful(mis-spelled to get past the filters) in Clapton's solo right after he hits a power chord and right before the flurry of notes, he grabs this one note and bends it and the amp is really cooking and the note swells and sounds like the earth is being ripped open. BIG, like the note is coming from everywhere, not just from the focal point of the cabinet.
All the time the upper mids and highs are all still there.
Clean, it gives this amazing sense of dimension, you hear the sounds of the fingers and pick on the strings and the sounds of the strings on the frets and fret board.
You do have to be careful about how much low end you create to keep from competing with the bass and possibly creating too much overall bass resonance, you will find that by cutting back on the bass you will cut thru the mix better.
I find that pedals generally work better in combination with a closed back cabinet, granted I don't use pedals that much, but I generally like the sound of pedals better when the ZBest is part of the rig. If you like phaser/flanger pedals this rig will soil your shorts for you.
One word of caution, I've seen recommendations in this forum for the use of a Y-cable to connect an extension cab in conjunction with the internal speakers. If you go this route make certain that you use a speaker cable Y-cable and not a shielded or input type Y-cable.
Personally I prefer to use a series/parallel box that is purpose built for connecting multiple cabinets. With two 8 ohm speaker sets going thru the box you can select either a 4 ohm or 16 ohm load allowing you to get a match or safe mis-match for the output of the amp.
It is safe to connect either a 4, 8 or 16 ohm load to the 4 ohm out put of the MAZ, and it is safe to connect an 8 or 16 ohm load to the 8 ohm output. But never connect less than a 4 ohm load to the 4 ohm output and never connect less than an 8 ohm load to the 8 ohm output. Bad bad things may happen.
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Post by dickieg on Feb 9, 2006 23:35:56 GMT -7
Thanks = keep your ears open for a used ZBest for me!! ABout the censors - what is that My name is eikcid (backwards) and look what the censors did. Someone on this forum suggested a website where I could get a great amp stand (for the Jr) and the censors messed up the name of the website. I think it came out Sweethingyer.com or something like that!! Can you decipher it???
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gstan
Full Member
What, me worry?
Posts: 180
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Post by gstan on Feb 10, 2006 9:28:24 GMT -7
s w e e t w a t e r . c o m
The filter didn't like the p o o n in the middle of S p o o n f u l and it didn't like the t w a t in the middle of s w e e t w a t e r.
BTW, on the amp stand issue, another way to get more out of an open backed combo is the Enhancer amp stand. It is like a folded horn that cradles the amp and redirects the sound coming out of the back of the amp forward. I have one and my experience is that it makes the amp appear to be a little more than half again as loud. But it can depend on the room and the layout of the band stand. Drummers like it because it protects them from the blast out of the back of the cabinet.
I also use the little Ultimate amp stand, it's a $30 folding tripod that allows you to adjust the tilt back angle plus it has a threaded extendable back support that you can attach a boom or gooseneck to for a mike.
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Post by m1911 on Feb 11, 2006 6:16:22 GMT -7
Add an 8ohm Z-2x10 Extension Cab with a Y cable into your 4 ohm input...OR....Get a MAZ Senior Head and a 4x10 Cab. Mark
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