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Post by trojanhov on Jun 18, 2019 9:26:31 GMT -7
I finally broke down and sprung for a z-lux. It came at the price of a phenomenal guitar, but when a sea foam green z-lux combo becomes available, you need to act quick!
I let my PRS Stripped 58 go to teedawg and will inherit his z-lux. While the PRS is every bit a phenomenal guitar, I just didn’t bond with the PAF as much as I hoped I would, and the 57/08 is an exceptional and beautiful sounding pup, just not MY sound. The Gretsch I have is just my sound. Full bright, chimey, ballsy... u name it. Looks like teedawg wasn’t bonding with the lux as well and was looking for a lp style guitar. The timing couldn’t be more perfect imo and teedawg couldn’t be a better person to deal with. Communicative, friendly, just a great dude!
I’m looking to eventually run my z-28 with the lux in a wet dry set up or even just stereo. I feel like the amps will compliment each other well and I’m excited to get this amp fired up.
What drives are you guys using nowadays with the lux? Right now my gain stages involve a forest green comp, benson preamp, snouse black box 2, and a Timmy. Should I be looking into klon style pedals for this amp?
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Post by Maddog on Jun 18, 2019 9:49:49 GMT -7
Ryra Klon clone, exotic AC, and Wamplers Clarksdale Delta OD. You’ll love a Klon type OD with the Lux but honestly you’ll love it w any pedal! Don’t forget to try it on half power with the bypass engaged and the vol and master each around noon. MAGIC!
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 18, 2019 9:52:37 GMT -7
Ryra Klon clone, exotic AC, and Wamplers Clarksdale Delta OD. You’ll love a Klon type OD with the Lux but honestly you’ll love it w any pedal! Don’t forget to try it on half power with the bypass engaged and the vol and master each around noon. MAGIC! I have my eye on that ryra pedal man. The tumnus deluxe was nice, but I don’t think I need the eq section on that pedal as much with the lux. RYRA klone, manticore, jrocket archer, arc effects are all on my radar
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Post by Maddog on Jun 18, 2019 9:57:34 GMT -7
As mid scooped as the lux is, it’s good to have a tube screamer (mid heavy) type pedal onboard. Hence the Wampler on my pedal board.
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Post by Stephen on Jun 19, 2019 5:24:58 GMT -7
I use a Z-Drive. The green side is on all the time and I hit the red side for dirt.
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Post by muletrane on Jun 19, 2019 7:20:54 GMT -7
Congrats!
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 19, 2019 20:18:24 GMT -7
Thanks guys! Anyone play an arc effects klone v2 through the lux?
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 19, 2019 21:13:55 GMT -7
Thanks guys! Anyone play an arc effects klone v2 through the lux? No, but I haven't found a pedal that the Z-Lux doesn't eat up like candy. Congrats on your new amp, they're great!
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Post by muletrane on Jun 21, 2019 7:19:33 GMT -7
Thanks guys! Anyone play an arc effects klone v2 through the lux? No but my Mythical Overdrive sounds great. Same kind of pedal.
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 9:03:20 GMT -7
An update: This amp is phenomenal! Sounds great!
The only gripe I have is that it seems to have this hum at idle.
This hum is present with the reverb at 0, gets a bit louder when the reverb is past noon. When I turn on my compressor, it doesn’t get any louder or quieter (thought it would get louder).
The hum is present with or without the trem/rev footswitch.
When I removed the v3 tube, the hum completely went away and it was dead silent. It seems as though the tube is a 12at7. Can’t tell if it’s a nos 6201 labeled as a 12at7, but it’s stock with what came with the amp. Looks like the amp was made in 3/2016 and the tube chart inside the amp says it’s a 12at7. Do the newer models say 6201?
Anywho, I just got the amp yesterday. Looks like the wires are connected just fine and no tubes are loose. Will try to pick up a nos 6201 today from my local amp tech and try it out.
Are all 6201 tubes created equal? What are you guys using? Seems like the prices for them range from $20-60.
Best, Hovik
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Post by goodez on Jun 21, 2019 9:22:36 GMT -7
This thread needs pictures 🤔
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 9:23:44 GMT -7
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 11:25:42 GMT -7
I use a Z-Drive. The green side is on all the time and I hit the red side for dirt. What NOS 6201 do you have in v3v
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 21, 2019 14:33:30 GMT -7
I've got an RCA 6201 WA in mine.
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 14:47:22 GMT -7
I've got an RCA 6201 WA in mine. Thanks man. I hope my amp tech has one. He mentioned having nos Raytheon and Ge 6201’s. No hum on your amp at idle?
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Post by Stephen on Jun 21, 2019 14:50:30 GMT -7
I use a Z-Drive. The green side is on all the time and I hit the red side for dirt. What NOS 6201 do you have in v3v I still have the one that came with the amp in 2015.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 21, 2019 15:50:10 GMT -7
I've got an RCA 6201 WA in mine. Thanks man. I hope my amp tech has one. He mentioned having nos Raytheon and Ge 6201’s. No hum on your amp at idle? With the GV rolled down and the volume and reverb maxed out it's really nice and quiet. That's with the guitar volume control rolled down of course. You get the usual hum/noise from the guitar when you open it up.
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 16:22:54 GMT -7
Thanks man. I hope my amp tech has one. He mentioned having nos Raytheon and Ge 6201’s. No hum on your amp at idle? With the GV rolled down and the volume and reverb maxed out it's really nice and quiet. That's with the guitar volume control rolled down of course. You get the usual hum/noise from the guitar when you open it up.
The hum on my amp only stopped if it was in standby or if the tube was removed. I’m hoping it’s just a tube thing. I’m gonna get one of each (Raytheon and GE nos 6201). Doesn’t hurt to have a backup just in case, esp if it can take the place of a 12at7 anyway. Will report back later tonight
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 21, 2019 16:34:08 GMT -7
I bet that will help resolve the hum issue. My Z-Lux is quite sensitive to reverb driver tube changes. You might be surprised by how much better your base tone is, even with the reverb off completely. It made a very noticeable change for the better in mine.
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 18:06:21 GMT -7
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 21, 2019 22:25:11 GMT -7
I bet that will help resolve the hum issue. My Z-Lux is quite sensitive to reverb driver tube changes. You might be surprised by how much better your base tone is, even with the reverb off completely. It made a very noticeable change for the better in mine. The hum is still there. It’s weird. It did this with both nos 6201. It’s still there when I turn the volume of my guitar down. Not sure if it’s just static that’s normal, but my z-28 is pretty quiet
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Post by Stephen on Jun 22, 2019 5:54:11 GMT -7
I bought a “6201” last summer for a spare. It came labeled 12AT7WA. It hummed too, so I put the original 6201 back in.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 22, 2019 6:25:40 GMT -7
I just ran some experiments with my Z-Lux, trying to create hum in the reverb. I can get a bit of hum that does increase as the Reverb control is cranked up, but it's very, very little. The normal hum introduced by the guitar swamps it out. Make sure that you eliminate any other transformers or electrical things like wall warts or power supplies from proximity to the amp. The reverb tank is most sensitive to interference at the bottom left side of the amp as you face it. I put a wall wart on the floor next to the amp and the reverb hummed like crazy. The hum happens whether or not there is a guitar plugged into the amp, and the Volume control has no effect. The Reverb control does. That's normal, because there's a magnetic transducer inside the reverb tank.
If it were me, I'd pull the cables going to and from the reverb tank and clean them with DeOxit, make sure the ground sleeves have good tension, and reinstall. It's not out of the question that your reverb tank may be bad too. Make sure that the input jack on the amp is good and tight; if you've got a DMM check for any resistance to chassis ground. You also might try a different power cable to the amp, and certainly eliminate your pedal board for tests.
You also might try swapping out the two preamp tubes in front of the reverb driver. If they hum at all, it's going to be passed on to and exacerbated by the reverb, then the phase inverter and output tubes.
I'd definitely get with Don if the hum persists.
Dr. Z Amplification 17011 Broadway Ave. Maple Hts. OH 44137
Email: drzrepairs@gmail.com
Phone: (216) 475-1444 Repair Dept. : (216) 475-1962 Fax: (216) 475-4333
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jun 22, 2019 10:06:23 GMT -7
Dave, couldn’t agree more about external noise sources and the reverb circuit picking it up. And that’s with all amps. Had a Victoria that was sensitive like that, but the Lux's are solid for me anyway.
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Post by Faze on Jun 22, 2019 11:43:35 GMT -7
Congrats. The Z-lux is a one of the Doc's finest amps. I still regret selling mine.
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Post by trojanhov on Jun 22, 2019 12:09:36 GMT -7
I just ran some experiments with my Z-Lux, trying to create hum in the reverb. I can get a bit of hum that does increase as the Reverb control is cranked up, but it's very, very little. The normal hum introduced by the guitar swamps it out. Make sure that you eliminate any other transformers or electrical things like wall warts or power supplies from proximity to the amp. The reverb tank is most sensitive to interference at the bottom left side of the amp as you face it. I put a wall wart on the floor next to the amp and the reverb hummed like crazy. The hum happens whether or not there is a guitar plugged into the amp, and the Volume control has no effect. The Reverb control does. That's normal, because there's a magnetic transducer inside the reverb tank. If it were me, I'd pull the cables going to and from the reverb tank and clean them with DeOxit, make sure the ground sleeves have good tension, and reinstall. It's not out of the question that your reverb tank may be bad too. Make sure that the input jack on the amp is good and tight; if you've got a DMM check for any resistance to chassis ground. You also might try a different power cable to the amp, and certainly eliminate your pedal board for tests. You also might try swapping out the two preamp tubes in front of the reverb driver. If they hum at all, it's going to be passed on to and exacerbated by the reverb, then the phase inverter and output tubes. I'd definitely get with Don if the hum persists. Dr. Z Amplification 17011 Broadway Ave. Maple Hts. OH 44137 Email: drzrepairs@gmail.com Phone: (216) 475-1444 Repair Dept. : (216) 475-1962 Fax: (216) 475-4333 Dave you're the best man. i honestly feel like it's what you're saying. I haven't had an amp with reverb in a long time (that i play regularly anyway). It's been the z-28. I have a blues jr lying around here somewhere. I'll hook it up and see if i'm hearing similar noise. may be a reverb tank thing. This can explain the hum disappearing once I took the v3 tube out essentially taking the reverb tank out of the equation. I have like 3 of 4 outlets occupied and one of them is the z lux, so that can also be a culprit here. This honestly doesn't bother me much at all anymore. Just wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with the amp. When i stand and play the hum is not noticeable and doesn't hum over my playing. I put a brakelite on top and at one click the hum is completely gone and doesn't bother me. I noticed with the 6201 tube, the reverb is less noisy compared to before and at 1 click of the brake lite i was able to play with the reverb at like 3 o clock comfortably with no noise. at low volumes the reverb is subtle. i haven't been able to push the amp too hard. I figure it gets more splashy at louder volumes and when the volume gets cooking. I would use the amp reverb as my base slightly there verb anyway. i have a flint in hall mode for more ambience. The trem's throb on this amp is so lush and deep that it takes my breath away. i love this amp!
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