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Post by jsdirt on Apr 2, 2020 7:17:09 GMT -7
Hi All,
I've really enjoyed reading everyone's first impressions of the new wreck jr! I recently got my first Z, a Maz 18 Jr MKII head and have really been enjoying it. By far the best amp I've ever owned. I've been using it with a UA ox box and it sounds great through every cab type. I play mostly driven country and classic rock and have always been infatuated with semi-driven, tele tones, ie Brad Paisley as I'm sure many here are. When I was deciding on a Z, I was looking at the Z-wreck and Maz 18 but really didn't need the higher power of the Z-wreck so I went with the Maz. It really does a great job on the classic rock stuff. I have also gotten some paisley-like tones with it slightly driven and a Keeley compressor in front. I have no complaints about the Maz but I'm just curious how different it is compared to the new wreck. Would the new wreck get me closer to those organic, thick, tele tones? Thanks in advance for your opinions!
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Post by jsdirt on Apr 7, 2020 6:51:35 GMT -7
Maybe I wasn't very clear in my original post. I'm just curious how the wreck jr compares to the maz 18 from a tone and feel perspective. Considering they have fairly similar specs, would it be worth upgrading to the wreck jr? Would this post be better suited in the Maz 18 forum? Thanks in advance.
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Post by Russell B on Apr 7, 2020 12:32:17 GMT -7
I don't have a MKII, but I have 3 original MAZ Jrs and I would say that they are pretty different. I would say that the EQ section of the MAZ is more American (Fender) and the Z Wreck Jr is more British (Vox). The MIDs are voiced differently on each amp. To me, the cut controls land a little differently on each amp. They both push into great overdrive, but the Wreck Jr is smoother. I would also say that the Wreck Jr has more gain too. Both do a great job of "in between" clean and overdrive. They both sound great, but they are different.
The Wreck Jr has a different feel to it as it is much more dynamic. Also, to me, the Wreck Jr handles humbuckers better than the MAZ Jr does, but that just me!
If the MAZ is doing it for you, stay with it. It's a great amp. If you want some variety, try a Wreck Jr. My 2 cents.
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Post by jsdirt on Apr 8, 2020 6:58:55 GMT -7
Thanks for the feedback Russell, I appreciate it. I am still pretty new to the Z world and am just trying to understand the differences in the different styles of amps. The Maz is the only Z amp I've really gotten to try. I tried a DB4 a while back but didn't really get to push it. I always thought the Maz was supposed to be a Vox style EQ so that's good to know. When you say the wreck jr is more dynamic, does it just feel more natural? Do you feel like it compresses much at lower volumes? I feel like on the Maz you don't get much for natural compression until you start pushing the master a fair amount. That's interesting that you think the wreck jr handles humbuckers better though. I thought it was more tailored towards single coils. Are you playing through the combo with the greenback? Maybe that helps the humbucker tones as well. I do like the Maz but I'm interested in the simplicity of the wreck jr. Don't really need the effects loop like I thought I would. Thanks again.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 8, 2020 7:05:28 GMT -7
I'm gonna follow this post, because the subject line pretty much sums up my intended post-coronavirus amp purchase (if I can sell a non Z-amp that hadn't sold yet).
MAZ = classic versatile Z. Always in fashion. 'Wreck Jr = a "suitable for me" version of his greatest amp?
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Post by Russell B on Apr 8, 2020 18:09:24 GMT -7
I have the combo with the Greenback. What I mean by dynamic is this: I can turn the volume up to 12:00. When I pick somewhat lightly, the amp is clean. When I hit strings a little harder, it jumps into overdrive. It does that better than any amp I've ever had. To me, the Wreck Jr handles Humbuckers better than the MAZ does. When I got my humbucker Les Paul in 2017, I really didn't like it with any of my amps until I got my Therapy. Now, it likes the Wreck Jr. too. It sounds good with everything I've thrown at it. I really love it with my Les Paul Gold Top with P90s. The overdrive is so smooth too. It's an incredible amp.
I just got a Heritage H-535 a few weeks ago and it seems to make the amp MORE dynamic! That might have something to do with it being semi-hollow. Don't know, but it's great!
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Post by redzsrock on Apr 9, 2020 6:07:32 GMT -7
I have the combo with the Greenback. What I mean by dynamic is this: I can turn the volume up to 12:00. When I pick somewhat lightly, the amp is clean. When I hit strings a little harder, it jumps into overdrive. It does that better than any amp I've ever had. To me, the Wreck Jr handles Humbuckers better than the MAZ does. When I got my humbucker Les Paul in 2017, I really didn't like it with any of my amps until I got my Therapy. Now, it likes the Wreck Jr. too. It sounds good with everything I've thrown at it. I really love it with my Les Paul Gold Top with P90s. The overdrive is so smooth too. It's an incredible amp. I just got a Heritage H-535 a few weeks ago and it seems to make the amp MORE dynamic! That might have something to do with it being semi-hollow. Don't know, but it's great! I really didn't need to see this! You had me at "Gold Top with P90s".
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Post by Russell B on Apr 9, 2020 7:37:56 GMT -7
I have the combo with the Greenback. What I mean by dynamic is this: I can turn the volume up to 12:00. When I pick somewhat lightly, the amp is clean. When I hit strings a little harder, it jumps into overdrive. It does that better than any amp I've ever had. To me, the Wreck Jr handles Humbuckers better than the MAZ does. When I got my humbucker Les Paul in 2017, I really didn't like it with any of my amps until I got my Therapy. Now, it likes the Wreck Jr. too. It sounds good with everything I've thrown at it. I really love it with my Les Paul Gold Top with P90s. The overdrive is so smooth too. It's an incredible amp. I just got a Heritage H-535 a few weeks ago and it seems to make the amp MORE dynamic! That might have something to do with it being semi-hollow. Don't know, but it's great! I really didn't need to see this! You had me at "Gold Top with P90s". I've gotten a lot of compliments about the tone of that Gold Top with both my Cure, Therapy, and Z Wreck Jr!
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Post by redzsrock on Apr 9, 2020 8:38:37 GMT -7
I really didn't need to see this! You had me at "Gold Top with P90s". I've gotten a lot of compliments about the tone of that Gold Top with both my Cure, Therapy, and Z Wreck Jr! I'm currently saving up for a replacement for my beloved Gold Top w/P90's (someone broke the neck badly). I'm currently using my Maz 18 as my "A" amp, but also folding in some sweetness from the Lux and my Stangray. Still trying to fine tune the Stangray with humbuckers, but I'll get there.
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Post by jsdirt on Apr 9, 2020 11:37:03 GMT -7
Sounds like a perfect match with the Gold Top and wreck jr. Out of your Cure, Therapy, and wreck jr, do you have a favorite for single coils?
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Post by Russell B on Apr 9, 2020 11:56:46 GMT -7
Sounds like a perfect match with the Gold Top and wreck jr. Out of your Cure, Therapy, and wreck jr, do you have a favorite for single coils? Well, the Gold Top has P90's which are single coils, but my tele’s sound great through the Wreck Jr too. Strats too. Both the Wreck and the Cure are great with single coils. I like humbuckers or P90s with the Therapy.
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Post by jsdirt on Apr 9, 2020 12:59:01 GMT -7
Oh right, I was automatically thinking humbucker mode with the gold top. I am mostly playing a vintera tele (essentially a remake of the baja tele) which has some really good bite to it. I also have a tribute Les Paul and the Maz 18 makes them both sound really good.
My main question is, would I gain (no pun intended) much going from the Maz to the wreck jr with them having such similar specs? Granted, I know specs aren't everything and there is more going on under the hood. Do you feel like you have to crank the master volume on the wreck jr to get things to open up? Also, do you lose anything with the master volume compared to say the original wreck or other non-master volume models like the Stangray?
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Post by Russell B on Apr 9, 2020 13:24:32 GMT -7
It sounds good with the Master down low. It sounds better once you get the Master up to at least 10:00. That’s probably due to more sound hitting the speaker.
You have a great amp in the MAZ Jr. I think the Wreck Jr is completely different in sound, but that’s me. If your MAZ is making you happy and you dig it, just run with it! If you want some more variety, get the Wreck to compliment your MAZ. Don’t get rid of the MAZ to get the Wreck. You would just be giving one great amp for another.
You really can’t go wrong either way.
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Post by jsdirt on Apr 10, 2020 7:13:19 GMT -7
Sounds very interesting. Maybe I will get a chance to try a wreck jr out some day. It's kind of tough to get my hands on any of the Z's though without buying, as there are no dealers in Iowa. Thanks again for the advice.
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Post by frankie on Apr 10, 2020 23:39:25 GMT -7
Oh right, I was automatically thinking humbucker mode with the gold top. I am mostly playing a vintera tele (essentially a remake of the baja tele) which has some really good bite to it. I also have a tribute Les Paul and the Maz 18 makes them both sound really good. My main question is, would I gain (no pun intended) much going from the Maz to the wreck jr with them having such similar specs? Granted, I know specs aren't everything and there is more going on under the hood. Do you feel like you have to crank the master volume on the wreck jr to get things to open up? Also, do you lose anything with the master volume compared to say the original wreck or other non-master volume models like the Stangray? The Z Wreck Jr has more compression than the Maz amps do. The MAZ amps are more percussive and biting, and the Z Wreck Jr is more compressed and smooth. The more the gain is turned up, the more compressed it gets. Despite this, its not a limiter style of compression, like a high gain amp, it's like a sensitivity difference. The amps both have relatively the same amount of gain, the Z Wreck Jr just feels more "saturated" at higher gain levels, which makes one feel as if there is more distortion. The EQs are also way different, with the MAZ being more sculpting and surgical, whereas the Z Wreck Jr is more massaging the frequencies. The Cut controls work the same way. The master volumes do as well (MK II Maz). The Z Wreck Jr and Maz 18 have smaller output transformers than the Z Wreck, MAZ 38, and Stangray. The Stangray has almost no compression due to its very high headroom design. A larger transformer equals more bandwidth, so more highs and more lows, which is the main difference between the 18/38 and the ZW/ZW JR. Hope this answers you questions.
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Post by redzsrock on Apr 11, 2020 7:06:03 GMT -7
Frankie,
That is the BEST description of the Wreck Jr I have heard yet! Definitely answers my questions. Thanks so much!
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