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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 8, 2019 8:44:21 GMT -7
I’ve been playing Zs for a while because they’re awesome. One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is how quiet they are. However, I recently got a Maz 38 Reverb and it’s noisier than other Z amps I’ve had. This post may be a bit premature because I’ve got a set of 6n14n arriving today. However, generally speaking, is this model a little noisier than others? Even without my instrument plugged in, there’s some noise. It isn’t a level of noise that would likely be heard when playing in a band situation, but it would be perceptible between songs. In my experience, if there’s no signal going to an amp, it ought to be near silent.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Nov 8, 2019 9:14:00 GMT -7
It's been a long time, but I had a Maz 38 1x12 combo and it was silent. I's start with replacing each preamp tube one at a time along with using DeOxit on the tube sockets and any input jack (including effects loop if you have one). Just for the heck of it make sure the chassis bolts are tight. Try these things if the new power amp tubes don't take away the hiss - or do it anyway as preventative medicine!
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Nov 8, 2019 10:27:32 GMT -7
What year was it made? Don't have a 38, but I have a Maz 18 reverb made in 2002. It is noisier than my newer Z amps. Don at the mothership gave it a listen and said that those made during that era seem to be a bit noisier. If I remember right, it had something to do with the way one of the transformers was mounted then compared to afterwards. I think they got turned 90 degrees after. Mine is more like a hum than noise. It isn't loud enough to make a difference at gig levels or in a club environment. I can hear it at home when I turn it on, but it gets buried at any level of volume.
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on Nov 8, 2019 11:57:49 GMT -7
Try the items noted in Doc's maintenance AMA.
Hopefully that will help lower the noise floor more.
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Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Nov 8, 2019 14:08:20 GMT -7
Short story long... the other day I thought I’d be swapping back with the guy. He had issues on his side, I had issues on mine, but then things just worked out and we’re both now very satisfied. After hearing the noise, I knew things weren’t right. I did the old microphonic tube tap test (nothing was microphonic), took my board out of the equation (noise persisted), and when I’d pull the instrument cable from the input there was even more noise. I went ahead and ordered the 6n14n set from Perry since I have a Wreck they could go into if they didn’t solve the problem. The tubes came in today. The reverb is a little noisy, but I hear that’s normal with the older Maz reverbs. When I roll off the reverb, everything is as quiet as a mouse. My initial thought was to check the preamp tubes but I didn’t think that would actually be where the problem was. My next thought was power tubes and that’s exactly what the issue was.
As an aside, I believe I recall Doc saying that newer JJs have been unreliable. These are newer. The guy I got the amp from just had it returned in the last couple of months and gone over by an amp tech. The JJ power tubes already failed.
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