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Post by chemic on Aug 4, 2020 11:24:21 GMT -7
So i picked up a Maz 38 last month (used) mostly due to the descriptions in this forum. I was looking for a high headroom pedal platform with stiff low end. What I got has great tone, but i wouldn't call it high headroom. I can get full breakup by itself with a tele just by goosing the volume against the master volume. I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with mine? I play one of the korg-era AC30's and was looking for something with slightly more headroom and this Maz has far far less.
For context, this is one of the models with a presence knob so i'm guess it's an earlier model? and it has reverb - but to my ears this sounds nothing like an amp that should be operating at 38 watts - it's crunchy like a princeton or deluxe. It's got a quad matched pair of JJ EL84's with 10 hours on them.
Any ideas??
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Post by "Z" Steve on Aug 4, 2020 12:59:52 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum! The 38 was my 1st Z amp - and it is loud and can be clean as needed. I would start with the tubes - maybe start with the preamp section 1st since you say the EL84's are new (that doesn't rule them out though). Replace them one at a time to see what, if any, change to the sound does. If there is no change I would replace the power amp section. I would also recommend get a matched quad from a dealer who tests them before shipping along with a guarantee. One more thing, when removing and inserting another tube it is always best to spray a bit of contact cleaner on the pins as well as into the socket. That will also rule out oxidation or bad contact issues. watch this: NOTE: Do not start by getting NOS tubes - that will drain your bank pretty quick. Read the reviews on whatever tube you will be buying and use that as a referrence. Start here as well by seeing what other 38 users have found works best for them. Also, are you going straight into the amp or is there a pedal board involved? You may want to check the speaker as well just to rule that out. Check back and let us know what you discover! here are a few suppliers: www.dougstubes.com/www.thetubestore.com/www.kcanostubes.com/
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Post by chemic on Aug 4, 2020 16:01:23 GMT -7
Cool! Appreciate the response. The el84’s were a matched quad with burn-in from tube depot. I’ve swapped the preamp tubes one at a time and then loaded the front end with 5751’s. Definitely got quieter but didn’t raise the ceiling of headroom.
I’ve got a spare quad that I’ll swap with tomorrow to rule out but I suspect the issue isn’t faulty tubes. I’m getting reliable touch response and have a low noise floor at idle.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Aug 4, 2020 16:16:39 GMT -7
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Post by purpletele on Aug 4, 2020 21:09:05 GMT -7
So i picked up a Maz 38 last month (used) mostly due to the descriptions in this forum. I was looking for a high headroom pedal platform with stiff low end. What I got has great tone, but i wouldn't call it high headroom. I can get full breakup by itself with a tele just by goosing the volume against the master volume. I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with mine? I play one of the korg-era AC30's and was looking for something with slightly more headroom and this Maz has far far less.
For context, this is one of the models with a presence knob so i'm guess it's an earlier model? and it has reverb - but to my ears this sounds nothing like an amp that should be operating at 38 watts - it's crunchy like a princeton or deluxe. It's got a quad matched pair of JJ EL84's with 10 hours on them.
Any ideas??
Chemic, I am pretty sure that on an original Maz 38 the MV has to be cranked in order to open up the headroom. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I think the use of an attenuator is recommended due to the fact that the MV is on 7 or 8 which makes that amp really loud.
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Post by perryr on Aug 4, 2020 22:33:58 GMT -7
True, for max headroom turn the Master Volume control wide open. With master wide open and connected to a celestion loaded cab you should be rattling the walls well before the input volume reaches noon. Though the 5751’s might need a bit more input volume. Those early MAZ 38’s were a bit cleaner , i would think one should have no troubles staying plenty clean with 12ax7’s, just keep that master cranked.
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Post by frankie on Aug 5, 2020 21:18:44 GMT -7
So i picked up a Maz 38 last month (used) mostly due to the descriptions in this forum. I was looking for a high headroom pedal platform with stiff low end. What I got has great tone, but i wouldn't call it high headroom. I can get full breakup by itself with a tele just by goosing the volume against the master volume. I'm starting to wonder if something is wrong with mine? I play one of the korg-era AC30's and was looking for something with slightly more headroom and this Maz has far far less.
For context, this is one of the models with a presence knob so i'm guess it's an earlier model? and it has reverb - but to my ears this sounds nothing like an amp that should be operating at 38 watts - it's crunchy like a princeton or deluxe. It's got a quad matched pair of JJ EL84's with 10 hours on them.
Any ideas??
Really hard to say what's going on with a used amp that is that old, a very early MAZ 38 that could be 20 years old and who knows what it's been though. But yes, with the master full open it should be extremely loud and extremely clean till nearly noon on the input gain. Though, might be due for a check up. It does have a different circuit from the later MAZ with Cut (MK I) and the MKII models now.
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Post by chemic on Aug 6, 2020 5:56:24 GMT -7
Master wide open was plenty loud, i just didn't think to run the amp that way until now. I was getting some more dirt way before the volume knob was at 12, but that could be due some hot pickups (rickenbacker toasters). Anyways - thanks for the feedback here!
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Post by zpilot on Aug 7, 2020 8:12:41 GMT -7
That 5751 in V1 should have helped but also for max headroom you should try playing into the LO sensitivity input.
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