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Post by Cola (Jon) on Jun 24, 2020 17:34:22 GMT -7
Hello Z-Talk,
I'm now the proud owner of #27 of the Limited SRZ 65 run. I can't say enough about how great this amp is. I haven't heard a bad tone come through it yet. Dr. Z should be very proud of this design!
I run this with a JHS Moonshine in front, an overdrive that doesn't cut out the low end as much as other tube screamers. A fantastic combo IMO.
I play mostly punk rock, with a lot of palm muting/power chords, and I'm looking for a little more tightness in the low end, along with a little more punch. I have done a TON of research on this forum and anywhere else I could find info on Z's amps, and only found a few articles about replacing the 5AR4 with a solid state plug in replacement. I just want to make sure that I can place a solid state rectifier in this amp without harming any of the components. I am aware that I will need to have someone bias the amp after the swap, but is there anything else I may need to do?
Also, the tubes that were in here when I received it are as follows: V1: GT 12ax7LP V2 and V3: Sovtek 12ax7 V4 and V5: JJ E43L V6: TAD 5AR4
I have swapped the V1 with a JJ ecc83s that I already had. I moved the GT to the V3 slot and it's sounding pretty great. I plan to replace the first 3 slots with the original SRZ tubes listed on the Dr. Z website. Do any of you have any suggestions on current production tubes for the preamp section?
I'm planning on picking up some Genelex Gold Lion kt77s for the power section, as I have seen many posts on this forum from people who seem to favor kt77s over el34s for this amp.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you all, and I'm excited to be playing such an amazing amp.
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Jun 24, 2020 20:13:53 GMT -7
Well you have an outstanding amp that’s for sure. The SS rectifier will not hurt the amp, you will need to adjust the bias due to the change. I assume you are using a sealed enclosure, but if not I would consider it given what you want to achieve. As far as preamp tubes I have the Sovtek 12ax7lps in the v3 inverter position, a JJ 803s in v2, and a GE 12ax7lps in V1. But hey, they could be anything you like on any given day! As soon as they make tubes that sound like Mullards it will make things all bettter if you know what I mean.
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Post by Cola (Jon) on Jun 24, 2020 23:01:40 GMT -7
Does the long plate in V1 cause any extra noise? I'm in the learning stage still when it comes to tubes, so I haven't been able to decide for sure what would work best for the sound I want.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jun 25, 2020 6:09:48 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum - a lot of great people and information here. Congrats on a great sounding amp!
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Jun 25, 2020 8:01:11 GMT -7
Does the long plate in V1 cause any extra noise? I'm in the learning stage still when it comes to tubes, so I haven't been able to decide for sure what would work best for the sound I want. Sorry that was a mistake caused by the fill in the blank machine! It's just an old generation regular GE 12ax7a.
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Post by Cola (Jon) on Jun 25, 2020 13:59:32 GMT -7
Does the long plate in V1 cause any extra noise? I'm in the learning stage still when it comes to tubes, so I haven't been able to decide for sure what would work best for the sound I want. Sorry that was a mistake caused by the fill in the blank machine! It's just an old generation regular GE 12ax7a. No worries! I'm going to try to stick with current production tubes as of right now, but I would like to try some NOS one of these days. I've heard Brimar 12ax7s sound great in the SRZs
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Post by Cola (Jon) on Jun 26, 2020 16:59:23 GMT -7
I think I've decided to stick with a tube rectifier. After further research, I've heard that a solid state rectifier adds to the brightness, and this amp has a balanced amount of brightness IMO. I think the overdrive is doing a good job of tightening the sound already.
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billt
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by billt on Jun 8, 2023 20:48:22 GMT -7
Hello Z-Talk (and Cola),
Well, now I am the proud owner of #27 of the Limited SRZ 65 run. Purchased just a few days ago, I’m using a Mojotone British-style 2x12 cab with a pair of Celestion G12M-67 speakers. They are the best speakers I’ve ever had, and sound great with the SRZ. They have an airy, “papery,” transparent quality that clearly translate the qualities of whatever amp is pushing them. What a wonderful amp & cab!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jun 9, 2023 18:09:42 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum Bill! You've chosen a great "first" Z - I know how addictive they can be. I'm the proud owner of #8 - it's not going anywhere! A lot of good people and information here.
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billt
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by billt on Jun 18, 2023 11:49:15 GMT -7
Welcome to the Forum Bill! You've chosen a great "first" Z - I know how addictive they can be. I'm the proud owner of #8 - it's not going anywhere! A lot of good people and information here. Hey Mike, thanks! Actually, I was a member here years ago, and at that time owned four Dr Z amps: a Route 66 (my first Dr Z amp), a KT45, a Delta 88, and a 6545. Then I got the itch for some pricey Gibson Custom Shop Les Pauls, and sold or traded all four. The SRZ65 I just bought is a fantastic amp, a great “first” Z (reprise), indeed. It had a solid state rectifier in it, so I got a tube rectifier and now it sounds much better. I’m running it through the best cabinet I’ve ever owned: a ‘60s Marshall-style Mojotone closed-back 2x12 (birch ply all the way around) with a pair of Celestion G12M-67 speakers. Those speakers have a wonderful, bright, papery transparency that create a punchy clarity that makes everything sound great. The only pedals I consistently use are an Analogman-modded Maxon AD-9 analog delay, and an Analogman Beano Boost with an NOS Mullard OC44. The surprise here? I’m using a Dave’s Guitar Shop Fender Stratocaster with vintage-style pickups, which I thought would sound thin and overly bright. Instead, this guitar just kills through this amp setup, even on the bridge pickup, which is where I spend most of my time. Probably the best tone I’ve ever had. I’m on the verge of adding an Antidote, or a Maz 8 (or maybe both!) if I can make that work, financially. Anyway, thanks for the welcome to my second time around on this forum.
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billt
New Member
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Post by billt on Jun 18, 2023 12:03:37 GMT -7
Oops, didn’t notice that I mentioned my cab in my first post, so redundant stuff in my last one.
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