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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 9, 2018 7:21:00 GMT -7
For starters, I know the Remedy and Z Lux are totally different amps. However, here is the background: I currently have a Remedy and a Z Wreck. Both are head and cabs. I may have an opportunity for a Z Lux (combo) trade for my Remedy. I feel like the Remedy and Wreck do the same things, but with different voices. I love the Remedy so it isn’t an easy decision, but I feel like it’s more readily available than a Z Lux. Rarity isn’t a concern other than to say if I wanted to go back to the Remedy, I could. I play a lot of “roots rock”, Classic Rock, and slide. My guitars are a Gibson LP and a Gibson SG with 3-P90s. Thoughts?
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Nov 9, 2018 10:54:16 GMT -7
I don't have any of the three. My question is more basic and meant for consideration. Do you want a combo, or does it even matter? I've always kinda thought it would be cool to have on board tremolo.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Nov 9, 2018 11:31:59 GMT -7
The main difference between a ZLux and a Remedy, at least for me, was the clean tone and headroom. ZLux stays clean longer and can be much louder. That is why I went from a Remedy to a ZLux. I play mostly country and classic rock and the ZLux covers all that no problem. The Remedy does too, except it doesn't do LOUD country style cleans.
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Post by nmz on Nov 9, 2018 12:39:14 GMT -7
Zlux if you use pedals for your dirt. Actually the headroom on a Zlux is a way better pedal format. Remedy for straight rock and roll!
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 9, 2018 13:57:45 GMT -7
This is kinda why the Z Lux came into consideration. I feel like the Wreck breaks up about as fast as the Remedy. And while I love that, I now have two amps that break up at about the same volume level. The Remedy really excels in its gain stage and that’s my hesitancy to move it. However, I am really blessed to have a really fantastic board (my gain stages are: A.Man Mini Bi-Comp > Sun Lion > Astrotone > King of Tone). Both the Wreck and Remedy often make me want to throw out the board. Not because it’s junk, but because they both excel without gain pedals. But I do like the idea of having an amp with higher headroom because the pedals are fantastic and I can’t get the true voicings from the fuzz pedals (I like those voicings a lot).
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 9, 2018 17:46:59 GMT -7
Collect all three, I always say.
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Post by KeithA on Nov 9, 2018 20:42:15 GMT -7
Collect all three, I always say. At least !
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 9, 2018 20:49:28 GMT -7
Question: What do you call three Dr.Z Amplifiers?
Answer: A good start...
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 10, 2018 5:03:15 GMT -7
Nobody should go through life Luxless. Just isn’t right.
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Post by redzsrock on Nov 10, 2018 8:06:41 GMT -7
I had a Remedy and a Z Lux. As others have already said, the Lux will stay cleaner more than the Remedy. I too absolutely loved the Remedy (especially with the 1/2 power switch), but I tend to like a cleaner amp for use with pedals. To me, the Lux is more versatile. I think the Lux and the Wreck would be a match made in tonal heaven!
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Post by Rhythmark on Nov 10, 2018 10:11:39 GMT -7
I sold my wreck to buy -a Zlux- I like the Z lux a lot for my needs! The Z wreck was and is awesome- but I like the Z lux better..
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 10, 2018 21:59:28 GMT -7
This is all really good info. I think the guy with the Lux may drive his Lux over to me so I can compare it with the Remedy. He also wants to try my Wreck out so it’s a good way for him to play one before buying as well. I hate to get rid of the Remedy, but I spent all my gear dough on the Wreck and definitely prefer it over the Remedy. While the Remedy is great, the Wreck has a responsiveness and harmonic quality I love. The Wreck just happens to break up much sooner than I thought it would (I bought it blind). I have a feeling I’ll end up keeping the Remedy, but it would be nice to have a grab and go amp since the Lux he has is a combo.
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Post by Faze on Nov 11, 2018 9:11:45 GMT -7
I had both and loved both sold both and now just bought another remedy. The Z-Lux is amazing I just prefer the reverb on my Vibro King better than the reverb on the Z-lux but still the Z-lux holds its own and may even be better then the Vibro King when you consider the weight and 1/12 power full power options. I regret selling my Z-lux it really is a great amp. Its more of a fender blackface tone and takes pedals great but I found I liked using it just straight in no pedals most of the time. The remedy is more of a rock amp great cleans and also takes pedals well its just a different flavor then the Z-lux. I plan on hopefully trying the tung sol 5881 tubes in the remedy once I get it. I play clean most of the time and use fuzz and boosts pedals and overdrive to get my dirt. If I didn't have the vibro king I would Probably have a z-Lux but the two of them are so similar thats why I went with the remedy. I know have two different voiced amps. So Im soon to be back in the remedy club and the really cool thing is I now have acab with an alnico cream in it so I can share some info on how that speaker matches up with the remedy. I have had 3 other remedy's and have tried several speaker options with them in the past. So I am excited to hear how this speaker sounds with it. I would say either amp they are both my two favorite amps the doc ever built. I could see having both you would be set.
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Post by ampedup on Nov 11, 2018 11:09:37 GMT -7
I currently have both, the Z-Lux is my gigging amp because it’s a combo and cleaner which gives me more options for the blues and blues/rock my band plays. But... the Remedy is the one I rehearse with. The band is a little quieter in rehearsal so dirt is less of an issue and I don’t have to lug the 2x12 and head around. Also the Remedy doesn’t have a master so I need an air brake with it. They are definitely different beasts but there is commonality depending on how things are set. I’ve played the Remedy at a gig and it sounded great too.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 11, 2018 11:19:00 GMT -7
I have two Lux amps, one combo and one head and 1x12 cab - both with Z12s. I cannot imagine a better amplifier in terms of tone, versatility, and quality. If the guitar talent gods descended on my house and said "Son, with your obvious lack of talent you are only entitled to one amp" it would be the Lux without question. The chime, sparkle, and definition in that circuit/speaker combination are unmatched in my opinion. I own other amps that were more expensive, but the Lux tops them all. Very inspiring and always puts a smile on my face.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Nov 11, 2018 12:22:19 GMT -7
I regret selling my Z-lux it really is a great amp. I tried to warn you....😁
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Post by Faze on Nov 11, 2018 16:08:26 GMT -7
I regret selling my Z-lux it really is a great amp. I tried to warn you....😁 You sure did! You were right.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 12, 2018 21:30:07 GMT -7
Another question... I don’t think I am likely to get this one as he’s had it nodded.
A local amp builder (not just a Joe,... he builds amps for Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, and some others) did a job on this Lux. The owner wanted a more lush Reverb, so they changed the reverb somehow. The amp tech/builder added in the 3rd and 5th order harmonics (he said the stock Lux is wired to use 6v6s as pentode tubes; whether this is true I don’t know). And he said he modified the tremolo circuit to achieve slower and faster speeds than stock as well as more depth. For those with a Lux, do these changes make sense to you, or is it perfect stock?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 12, 2018 21:36:17 GMT -7
Another question... I don’t think I am likely to get this one as he’s had it nodded. A local amp builder (not just a Joe,... he builds amps for Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, and some others) did a job on this Lux. The owner wanted a more lush Reverb, so they changed the reverb somehow. The amp tech/builder added in the 3rd and 5th order harmonics (he said the stock Lux is wired to use 6v6s as pentode tubes; whether this is true I don’t know). And he said he modified the tremolo circuit to achieve slower and faster speeds than stock as well as more depth. For those with a Lux, do these changes make sense to you, or is it perfect stock? Those changes may be great, but they devalue the amp pretty significantly, unless the changes were done by Dr. Z. You should pay less because you will find it harder to sell with those changes in there, again unless they were done by Dr. Z.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 12, 2018 22:25:27 GMT -7
I agree 100% with you on this. I ampart of the group of players for whom it would devalue the amp to me as an owner. Again, like you said, the changes may be great but they’re not stock nor were they done by Dr. Z. Given the changes, would you say $1,200? He also replaced the speaker with something by WGS. WGS makes fine speakers (I’m from Kentucky and like to support home grown folks), but I’m not aware of any of their speakers being a tonal upgrade over stock.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 13, 2018 7:47:54 GMT -7
That's really a call you'd have to make upon inspection and test playing the amp. Personally I wouldn't give $1200 for a Z amp that had been modded unless I could vet the changes. I'd really have to love it and buy the amp knowing that I would be keeping it for my own use. It would have to be a heck of a mod. I build amps myself and I've always modded my amps to one degree or another. That's until I started buying DR.Z amps. I've yet to find a Z amp that I could improve.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 13, 2018 8:29:03 GMT -7
Like Dave above, I'm constantly under the hood of my own builds modding and experimenting but with my Zs I'm only there to admire and to learn. No soldering irons come out.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 13, 2018 18:46:20 GMT -7
He did state that all the internals are still in their original positions and able to be easily reversed, but I’m not an amp tech or knowledgeable enough to spot the differences on my own. He’s asking $1,800 which I think is overpriced even for stock.
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Post by dcarver on Nov 13, 2018 20:01:50 GMT -7
Here's a slightly different approach. You've probably already thought of this, but what the heck. Come to think of it, it may be how you arrived at the $1200 figure.
He wants $1800. OK, take $1800 and subtract the cost of sending it to the mother ship to be returned to stock.
These numbers are just a rough guess, but you get the idea: $1800 (minus) $89 Z 12" speaker $150 shipping $150 $75 / hr. bench rate X 2 $200 new tubes ------------------------ Total about $1200
$1200 might be a good price. But, if you're not close enough to play the amp before buying, it's probably not worth the gamble.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 14, 2018 6:46:27 GMT -7
IMHO I would steer clear of someone's science project, easily reversible or not. This part makes me the most skeptical of the tech's understanding of tube topology: "The amp tech/builder added in the 3rd and 5th order harmonics". I'd pass on this one, plenty out there that have not been molested.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 14, 2018 19:47:01 GMT -7
I needed up essentially offering $1k. He’s close enough that I could play it first. He didn’t like the offer (I don’t blame him). So we’ve moved on.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 14, 2018 19:47:28 GMT -7
Thank you all for your input though. It was helpful to be reassured.
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