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Post by rosskoss on Mar 14, 2020 19:31:00 GMT -7
Hi all, my first post here on the Z-Talk forum. I've been watching some clips and really like what I'm hearing from the Z-Plus but worried that it might be a little too loud for me for playing at home. I'd prefer not to have to go the attenuator route.
Given that this amp has a 7W mode, seems like it should be an amp you could play at home with the master opened up a little. Any thoughts?
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Post by rosskoss on Mar 14, 2020 19:44:35 GMT -7
BTW, I've also been looking at the Maz8 and that seems like a very good amp as well. If anyone has played both, wondering how they compare?
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Mar 14, 2020 20:46:37 GMT -7
I bought it to take better care of my tinnitus. I’m not disappointed. I think you’ll be happy with a Z-Plus.
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Post by purpletele on Mar 14, 2020 21:00:38 GMT -7
BTW, I've also been looking at the Maz8 and that seems like a very good amp as well. If anyone has played both, wondering how they compare? I have had a Maz 8 and it is a fantastic amp. I currently have a Z-Plus and it is also a fantastic amp. You can play at bedroom levels in the 15 Watt mode, but the 7 Watt mode is more suited. I run either a Timmy or a Barber Gain Changer when I want to play louder. I would recommend the Z-Plus between the two. You can take the Z-Plus to a gig or jam session and boost it with a pedal if needed. You can do the same with the Maz 8, but then you start losing headroom unless you re-amp it. The Z-Plus gives you a great bedroom tone, I'm playing mine now. However, any of the amps of the Dr. Z line up that has a PPIMV are great bedroom amps. That being said you really can consider the Z-Wreck Jr, the Maz 18 or 38, Cure I also have a Mark II Maz 38 and it is very nice at low volumes. I have learned for myself that I like more watts with a good MV. The Maz 38 is a quiet sleeper of the line up, I think it is a swiss army knife amp of performance quality. It also does bedroom quiet. Good luck narrowing it down now
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Mar 15, 2020 5:33:48 GMT -7
The Maz 38 is a quiet sleeper of the line up, I think it is a swiss army knife amp of performance quality. It also does bedroom quiet. Interesting that you say that, because I know Doc feels very strongly about the 38 being one of his favorites. (I certainly don't mean to put words in his mouth, but I seem to recall that he's commented about this lately.) It could be because that new PPIMV makes it even more widely-verstaile than the 18 (?). Back to the point of the original post, though (welcome, rosskoss!), I don't think the MAZ 8 was ever necessarily regarded as a "quiet" amp. Nor is the Z-Plus, for that matter--yes, they're low-wattage, but that just means earlier breakup and less high-volume headroom. [In my admittedly limited experience with one, I think the Cure with it's Level control will do "quiet" absolutely well.] But I would also say that, in a ballpark way, the Z-Plus pretty much covers anything that the MAZ 8 would've. Probably not coincidental that the MAZ 8 went out of production about the same time the Z-Plus came in. Not 100% overlap, but close enough for government work.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Mar 15, 2020 7:06:53 GMT -7
I agree with Brian in that any of Doc’s PPMV designs are great low volume or bedroom amps. The new Maz MK II series is hard to beat.
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Post by doctorice on Mar 15, 2020 9:26:55 GMT -7
I'm fortunate to have both amps. Both sound great, but different. My thoughts, fwiw: - The Z-Plus has richer harmonic content, not that the MAZ is a slouch in that department.
- The cut control and EL 84 power tubes let the MAZ tilt a little more toward the Voxy Brit sounds; Z-Plus a little more "American" with the 6v6 set up.
- Agree with purpletele regarding gigging: I never took the MAZ 8 to a gig but have used the Z-Plus multiple times. (We don't normally mic the guitars; if we did, the 8 would do OK.)
- I really like the triode mode option the MAZ 8 provides. It cuts the power a little and is great for home playing.
I'm pretty sure that Dr Z did state that the Plus was a replacement for the MAZ 8.
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Post by rosskoss on Mar 15, 2020 10:17:57 GMT -7
Thank you all - this has been educational. For example, I'd not considered the Cure but I checked out some slips and it sounds great!
The problem is how these amps compare to each other tonally - Z Wreck Jr, Cure, Z-Plus and Maz 18 are the ones that I'm considering.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 15, 2020 17:57:24 GMT -7
I love them both, my Maz 8 after the VII mod was a wonderful improvement. I've gigged it, un mic'd, many times and never had a problem being heard. The Z-Plus has more power but they both have GREAT tone. You've got a great 4 amps to pick from, and if you're anything like me you will end up owning more than one of them. Hopefully you've got a dealer nearby to go try them out.
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