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Post by nmz on Sept 30, 2020 17:53:31 GMT -7
I know the early Lux’s did not have the fan but other than that has there been any differences between say a 2015 model and a 2020?
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Post by lowbudget on Sept 30, 2020 19:43:27 GMT -7
My combo is #3 and it has a fan. I’m thinking the early heads might not have had a fan but the combos always did.
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Post by nmz on Oct 1, 2020 3:30:36 GMT -7
My combo is #3 and it has a fan. I’m thinking the early heads might not have had a fan but the combos always did. Ah, ya couldn’t quite remember.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Oct 1, 2020 5:42:49 GMT -7
My combo is #3 and it has a fan. I’m thinking the early heads might not have had a fan but the combos always did. My head is #10 and it DOESN'T have the fan. But I have a clip on fan that I put on the back of my cabinet and it points right at the tubes. It's one extra set up step but it works. Without the fan, I think you could crack an egg into a pan, set it on the head and it would be fried perfectly by the end of the third set!
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Post by DRZ on Oct 1, 2020 8:31:12 GMT -7
All new Z Lux head get a built in fan. Not sure when exactly we started installing them but has been a while. Because the fan is mounted in the front behind the grille it must be very quiet . I did have trouble finding a supplier of extremely quiet fans to use.
Z
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Post by scottunzicker on Oct 1, 2020 11:10:35 GMT -7
All new Z Lux head get a built in fan. Not sure when exactly we started installing them but has been a while. Because the fan is mounted in the front behind the grille it must be very quiet . I did have trouble finding a supplier of extremely quiet fans to use. Z One of the great things about this board is that the Doc, himself, shows up on a regular basis, which is both cool as hell AND an example of how much he cares! (Hope you're doing well, Doc.). I know that the reverb and reverb recovery tube recommendations have changed with various iterations of the amp (see drzamps.com/support/tube-info/ ). Does that mean small circuit tweaks? Probably, but the Doc would know better than I. Cheers!
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Post by DRZ on Oct 1, 2020 11:34:14 GMT -7
All new Z Lux head get a built in fan. Not sure when exactly we started installing them but has been a while. Because the fan is mounted in the front behind the grille it must be very quiet . I did have trouble finding a supplier of extremely quiet fans to use. Z One of the great things about this board is that the Doc, himself, shows up on a regular basis, which is both cool as hell AND an example of how much he cares! (Hope you're doing well, Doc.). I know that the reverb and reverb recovery tube recommendations have changed with various iterations of the amp (see drzamps.com/support/tube-info/ ). Does that mean small circuit tweaks? Probably, but the Doc would know better than I. Cheers! Sorry to say but we are always looking to improve sound and reliability of all are production amps. I know that might be a bit frustrating to some, but it is the only way i know how to run a company, constant improvement. As far as tubes are concerned we must seek out the most reliable as well as replacement for tubes no longer being produced or ones whos quality have degraded with time. As for circuit tweaks we have tweaked voicing via coupling and by pass cap swaps slightly. And we installed a PPIMV in place of the older MV circuit. These changes were instituted Mid 2019. I hope I don't start a fire storm Z
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Post by nmz on Oct 1, 2020 12:38:30 GMT -7
One of the great things about this board is that the Doc, himself, shows up on a regular basis, which is both cool as hell AND an example of how much he cares! (Hope you're doing well, Doc.). I know that the reverb and reverb recovery tube recommendations have changed with various iterations of the amp (see drzamps.com/support/tube-info/ ). Does that mean small circuit tweaks? Probably, but the Doc would know better than I. Cheers! Sorry to say but we are always looking to improve sound and reliability of all are production amps. I know that might be a bit frustrating to some, but it is the only way i know how to run a company, constant improvement. As far as tubes are concerned we must seek out the most reliable as well as replacement for tubes no longer being produced or ones whos quality have degraded with time. As for circuit tweaks we have tweaked voicing via coupling and by pass cap swaps slightly. And we installed a PPIMV in place of the older MV circuit. These changes were instituted Mid 2019. I hope I don't start a fire storm Z Thanks Doc, kind of thought that might be the case.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 1, 2020 14:58:22 GMT -7
One of the great things about this board is that the Doc, himself, shows up on a regular basis, which is both cool as hell AND an example of how much he cares! (Hope you're doing well, Doc.). I know that the reverb and reverb recovery tube recommendations have changed with various iterations of the amp (see drzamps.com/support/tube-info/ ). Does that mean small circuit tweaks? Probably, but the Doc would know better than I. Cheers! Sorry to say but we are always looking to improve sound and reliability of all are production amps. I know that might be a bit frustrating to some, but it is the only way i know how to run a company, constant improvement. As far as tubes are concerned we must seek out the most reliable as well as replacement for tubes no longer being produced or ones whos quality have degraded with time. As for circuit tweaks we have tweaked voicing via coupling and by pass cap swaps slightly. And we installed a PPIMV in place of the older MV circuit. These changes were instituted Mid 2019. I hope I don't start a fire storm Z Hey Doc, is the PPIMV something that can be added to the older Lux?
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Post by DRZ on Oct 1, 2020 16:12:51 GMT -7
Sorry to say but we are always looking to improve sound and reliability of all are production amps. I know that might be a bit frustrating to some, but it is the only way i know how to run a company, constant improvement. As far as tubes are concerned we must seek out the most reliable as well as replacement for tubes no longer being produced or ones whos quality have degraded with time. As for circuit tweaks we have tweaked voicing via coupling and by pass cap swaps slightly. And we installed a PPIMV in place of the older MV circuit. These changes were instituted Mid 2019. I hope I don't start a fire storm Z Hey Doc, is the PPIMV something that can be added to the older Lux? Need to check with Don in repairs about that.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 3, 2020 6:16:27 GMT -7
Need to check with Don in repairs about that. Thanks Doc. I have an RA number and am sending one of my Luxs in for the complete update. Then will compare with the original and report back with my findings. Then determine if I should do the second one or keep it as is. I know I’m gonna love it, but shipping an amp always scares the socks off me for fear of damage. Luckily, I keep a Z head box that I can modify with additional packing material so that I can send just the chassis and tubes, VERY thoughtfully packaged. Then pray. Anyway, super excited and glad that I can get the update as a service.
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Post by JasonM on Oct 3, 2020 10:27:26 GMT -7
Need to check with Don in repairs about that. Thanks Doc. I have an RA number and am sending one of my Luxs in for the complete update. Then will compare with the original and report back with my findings. Then determine if I should do the second one or keep it as is. I know I’m gonna love it, but shipping an amp always scares the socks off me for fear of damage. Luckily, I keep a Z head box that I can modify with additional packing material so that I can send just the chassis and tubes, VERY thoughtfully packaged. Then pray. Anyway, super excited and glad that I can get the update as a service. I will be interested in hearing your opinion about the updates. I love my ZLUX as is but am interested in the current specs of the new ones seeing as if Dr. Z felt the need for the updates then there must something to them. Thanks for jumping in and sending off one of your Luxs! Shipping amps makes me very nervous as well...
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 3, 2020 10:41:15 GMT -7
Shipping amps makes me very nervous as well... I just make a day trip to Cleveland to drop off and pick up when done
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Post by nmz on Oct 3, 2020 14:03:02 GMT -7
Love my Lux, hope this helps with the reverb.
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Post by JasonM on Oct 3, 2020 15:19:01 GMT -7
Shipping amps makes me very nervous as well... I just make a day trip to Cleveland to drop off and pick up when done Must be nice... 20 years ago that would have been an option for me when I lived in your neck of the woods...
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 3, 2020 15:40:04 GMT -7
I just make a day trip to Cleveland to drop off and pick up when done Must be nice... 20 years ago that would have been an option for me when I lived in your neck of the woods... It also can be dangerous!
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Post by JasonM on Oct 5, 2020 14:36:50 GMT -7
Well I made it 2 days since posting about my interest in Chilly G's thoughts on the updates when he got his back... I emailed Don in repairs for the lowdown on what the updates include and he promptly got back to me and I have now decided to send mine in as well. I will still be interested in the side by side comparison though from Chilly Gibbons, I won't have that option.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 5, 2020 16:33:48 GMT -7
Well I made it 2 days since posting about my interest in Chilly G's thoughts on the updates when he got his back... I emailed Don in repairs for the lowdown on what the updates include and he promptly got back to me and I have now decided to send mine in as well. I will still be interested in the side by side comparison though from Chilly Gibbons, I won't have that option. Jason, it wouldn't be the same as having side by side amps, but you could make a recording. That's what I always do when I mod an amp. I make a before and after recording of the amp, being sure to photo the front panel settings and mic positions, etc. It doesn't give the true A/B comparison, but it is good to help note the differences. Hope this helps.
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Post by JasonM on Oct 5, 2020 17:23:52 GMT -7
Well I made it 2 days since posting about my interest in Chilly G's thoughts on the updates when he got his back... I emailed Don in repairs for the lowdown on what the updates include and he promptly got back to me and I have now decided to send mine in as well. I will still be interested in the side by side comparison though from Chilly Gibbons, I won't have that option. Jason, it wouldn't be the same as having side by side amps, but you could make a recording. That's what I always do when I mod an amp. I make a before and after recording of the amp, being sure to photo the front panel settings and mic positions, etc. It doesn't give the true A/B comparison, but it is good to help note the differences. Hope this helps.
Good idea and something I will defiantly do. Thanks! I have never had any real complaints or gripes with my Z-Lux at all but after Don described what some of the small "improvements" would be I could defiantly see them as being something I would be ok with and beneficial to the amp.
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Post by nmz on Oct 15, 2020 12:13:49 GMT -7
Chassis arrived at the mothership. Will update when updated
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 15, 2020 14:06:17 GMT -7
I’m getting mine ready soon...
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Post by JasonM on Oct 16, 2020 6:25:05 GMT -7
I’m getting mine ready soon... I should have time to pack mine up this weekend, I have collected the proper packing materials over the last week...
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 18, 2020 2:20:45 GMT -7
I’m getting mine ready soon... I'm getting mine done too. I dropped my Z-Lux and my Nova off for updates when I picked up my CAZ-45...My Nova is one of the early builds (#2) so it didn't have the Metro Loop installed. Chilly...it'll be great to hear your impression being able to switch between the original and the tweaked Z-Lux.
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Post by JasonM on Oct 21, 2020 10:16:54 GMT -7
My chassis should be arriving at the Z headquarters today. Going off the descriptions from Don regarding the updates I am really looking forward to getting it back and cranking it up... or down with the new master volume... To be honest I had no gripes with the original master volume on mine but I really do like the PPIMV on my Therapy so that should be pretty cool on the Lux as well.
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Post by goodez on Oct 21, 2020 14:27:37 GMT -7
Might come off as cheesy but what I thought was neat was the updated manufactured date on the back.
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Post by nmz on Nov 9, 2020 15:26:15 GMT -7
Updated and on the way back! Super excited, first time I sent an amp back to the mothership. Should have it mid to end of the week. Will update.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 9, 2020 16:46:34 GMT -7
Please do. I have an RA for one of mine but have cold feet about shipping it. I’ve done it before with a MAZ 18 update, but this is a Lux...
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Post by goodez on Nov 10, 2020 11:26:55 GMT -7
If you have the time, I personally dropped mine off and got a small tour of the shop which was pretty cool. It just happened to work out for me that I was passing by so I took advantage of it. I did however have the head shipped back to me once it was finished.
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Post by nmz on Nov 13, 2020 14:56:29 GMT -7
Got it back, first impressions. First I love the Lux but the noise from the verb/trem pedal bugged me enough to not use the pedal. Not too big a deal didn’t use it but missed the wonderful trem. All of that is GONE, dead silent, even at full verb. The PPIMV was definitely a change, not bad (totally awesome). Just after gigging this amp for the last several years it took me a minute to adjust. Transparent as it can be and I enjoy the 20w a more than before (usually I run full bore). Now the new thing, Don added a black/silver switch, OMG! It is just what you think it would do. Silver is akin to the original Lux voicing. Black is a little looser and knocks off the treble a little. Maybe like a speed/comfort switch on a Zwreck if that helps at all. Gain on the black setting is smoooth. Can’t decide which I like better. I’ll leave the choice to what guitar I use for now. So, positive all in all. Reminded me of the MKi vs MKii versions of the Maz series. This was my first time sending an amp back to the the mothership. I’ve owned most of the Zline and never had a hint of an issue that needed to be addressed. I have to say the service was second to none, top notch. Don’s communication was excellent through and through. Don and the service team deserve raises !
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Nov 13, 2020 16:02:03 GMT -7
Wow, great info. Is the switch part of the standard mod or is that an extra feature? Just spent some time with my combo and love everything about it, can barely imagine it getting better, but sounds like it is possible.
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