|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 5, 2020 19:06:22 GMT -7
I am finally joining the club. I’ve got a Z Plus joining my Therapy and Wreck tomorrow afternoon (with a Celestion Blue) Can’t wait to play through this thing. The Blue was added post purchase by the guy I'm getting it from. He is also throwing in the stock Eminence Z speaker. What are your guys’ thoughts between these two speakers and what kind of ride am I in for?
|
|
|
Post by j4gitr (John) on Aug 5, 2020 23:16:45 GMT -7
Mine contains a Z-12. Wonderful amp. I don’t own a Blue, so I’m no help there. Just a terrific harmonic content at all volumes, but open her up and get ready for some fun. Anxious to hear your opinion after it arrives.
|
|
|
Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Aug 6, 2020 3:54:27 GMT -7
Mine has the blue as stock, but I added an extension Z 1x12 cab with the Z12 in it. Both sound great and together it’s tremendous.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2020 9:08:56 GMT -7
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Z Plus vs the Therapy and Z Wreck when you have time. The Z Wreck was my first Z and now the Therapy is my second. These things are addictive.
|
|
|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 6, 2020 15:27:05 GMT -7
My first impression: how does the Doc come up with so many great designs!? This is a killer amp. I might swap the Blue out for the Z12 just to see why my ears like. Initially, I’m thinking the Blue might be slightly too bright for my tastes. It’s hard to rank the Wreck, Therapy, and Z Plus because they’re all so different. They all three excel at the thing they are trying to do. I don’t know that I’d say that the Therapy or Plus have all that much in common even with both being “American” voiced amps.
One thing is clear: I need to play a lot more with the Plus. I haven’t done much adjusting to the EQ, but what little knob turning I did so showed me how similar the eq section is to the Maz line. Slight movements make huge adjustments.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Aug 6, 2020 15:52:39 GMT -7
My first impression: how does the Doc come up with so many great designs!? This is a killer amp. I might swap the Blue out for the Z12 just to see why my ears like. Initially, I’m thinking the Blue might be slightly too bright for my tastes. It’s hard to rank the Wreck, Therapy, and Z Plus because they’re all so different. They all three excel at the thing they are trying to do. I don’t know that I’d say that the Therapy or Plus have all that much in common even with both being “American” voiced amps. One thing is clear: I need to play a lot more with the Plus. I haven’t done much adjusting to the EQ, but what little knob turning I did so showed me how similar the eq section is to the Maz line. Slight movements make huge adjustments. It's got a lot of voices for sure! I dig mine with the Z-12 speaker, it's the most 'at home' speaker with the spirit of that amp. I tried a few and came back to the stock one like usual...Doc's ear rules.
|
|
|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 7, 2020 10:54:27 GMT -7
I ran the Z Plus through my Z Best this morning (has two Heritage 30s). I liked it far better than the Blue. So then I installed the Z12 and I also like it far better than the Blue with the Z Plus. It’ll be staying like this. I like the amp so much better with ceramic. I actually thought it might not be an amp for me with the Blue installed.
|
|
|
Post by purpletele on Aug 7, 2020 13:57:16 GMT -7
I ran the Z Plus through my Z Best this morning (has two Heritage 30s). I liked it far better than the Blue. So then I installed the Z12 and I also like it far better than the Blue with the Z Plus. It’ll be staying like this. I like the amp so much better with ceramic. I actually thought it might not be an amp for me with the Blue installed. I like mine with a Cream in the amp and a Ruby below, and a KOT. I'm into a tastefully but slightly raunchy blues tone, and those two speakers together are quite nice for my tastes.
|
|
|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 7, 2020 23:00:03 GMT -7
I have a KoT, but I haven’t plugged my board into the Z Plus yet. Anymore, I try and give the amp some room to show me what it does before I plug in. I’ll have to hook up in the next few days though!
|
|
|
Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Aug 8, 2020 3:36:02 GMT -7
I did notice that the stock blue needs to be broken in well - out of the box it can be a bit harsh. Once broken in it smooths out. In a band mix that chimey blue really stands out.
|
|
|
Post by gfreak on Aug 8, 2020 20:53:40 GMT -7
Love, love, love the Z-12 with the Z-Plus (and the Maz-8!)!
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Aug 9, 2020 14:56:35 GMT -7
Love, love, love the Z-12 with the Z-Plus (and the Maz-8!)! It's a great speaker. I've got three of them. Z-Lux, Z-Plus, and Maz 8 V2. Sounds different in all of them but each sound is really good. I love the fact that it's got good treble response but it's not piercing, and when you combine that with great bass response and a sweet midrange you have a fine speaker.
|
|
|
Post by djhblue on Aug 14, 2020 5:44:02 GMT -7
i'm also throwing my support behind the stock Z12 speaker. I bought the amp with the original Z12 speaker and swapped it out immediately because I had a Blue from my VOX AC15 that wasn't being used. I was expecting to be blown away with the Blue, but it didn't do it for me. Based on reviews here, I put the Z12 back in and I'm totally happy with the decision. Love the tone of this amp. And read all the comments regarding EQ settings, pedals, etc. I've put a small pedal board in the front of this amp now ( BOSS DD3T, DanEletro Tremolo, and an older Full Drive 2, and have found this is all I need. Also, the boost pedal is sweet- gives you that bump for solo's when needed. I'll be anxious to hear your comparison after you've had it a while.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Aug 14, 2020 15:45:55 GMT -7
I had my Z-Plus cranked up today, I haven't used it in a few days. Tried some different tone settings with my '68 50th Anniversary Les Paul Custom and it's just so hot dang good! It goes from sweet to filthy and both tones sound great. I cranked it up on half power and it rocks. Love this amp.
|
|
|
Post by Ridgeback on Aug 14, 2020 17:00:20 GMT -7
The Blue never worked for me as a stand alone speaker but I eventually found a couple of 2x12 pairings that worked well with it. Break in did make a night and day difference in the Blue so don't give up on it until you put some serious break in time on it. I was only playing out a couple of times a month at that that point so I ran GDEC loops through mine 24\7 for 5 days changing the loop and bumping up the volume a couple of times a day. Speaker break in was really the only thing that crappy little amp was good for. Glad you are liking your amp.
|
|
|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 14, 2020 17:21:08 GMT -7
Ridgeback I haven’t ever cared Celestion Blues. I had them in an AC30, sold the amp. Traded the Blue in my Z Wreck cab for an Alnico Cream. And traded the blue that came with the Z Plus for an Analogman Mini Chorus last week. I did order a Celestion Ruby that’s coming in next week, but I’ll put it in my convertible to pair with my Therapy.
|
|
|
Post by Ridgeback on Aug 14, 2020 18:51:51 GMT -7
I bought my first Z (MAZ 18 NR) with a factory Blue. Sold it with the Blue. Never missed that speaker. Now the Gold on the other hand, is probably my all time favorite 12"speaker. It has worked well both as a stand alone as well as paired with a variety of other speakers in various 2x12 cabs over the years.
|
|
|
Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on Aug 16, 2020 5:27:14 GMT -7
I absolutely love the Blue in my Z-Plus. I've tried several other speakers in it including a Gold, which is my all time favorite speaker, but the Blue is the one for me.
|
|
|
Post by justjoshinya on Aug 17, 2020 17:23:20 GMT -7
Mine came with a cream back in it, tried it with a few other cabs tue cream does it for me! It kind of ruined me though, I can’t imagine ever finding another amp I like better, and I’ve tried a bunch! The Z-Plus is perfect, the only thing that could have possibly made it better would have been tremolo built in.
|
|
|
Post by ineedtherapy (Stuart) on Aug 25, 2020 19:57:34 GMT -7
Mine came with a cream back in it, tried it with a few other cabs tue cream does it for me! It kind of ruined me though, I can’t imagine ever finding another amp I like better, and I’ve tried a bunch! The Z-Plus is perfect, the only thing that could have possibly made it better would have been tremolo built in. there is sadly a chance that mine will be departing me fairly soon. I love the amp, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve got a buddy it would be a perfect match for and he’s got a guitar that would be much better suited for me than him. We will see in the morning. My time in the club might prove to be short lived. But his guitar better impress me when I play it, cause I actually do like the Z. Plus a lot.
|
|
|
Post by djhblue on Sept 10, 2020 5:20:57 GMT -7
Pulled out the ES-Les Paul this week and have been playing it through the Z-Plus.I had forgotten how sweet hum buckers sound through this amp. Pushing it with the J Rockett Blue Note Pedal or the Full Drive 2 is giving me that sweet creamy overdrive.
|
|