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Post by JeffG on Jan 1, 2021 12:29:48 GMT -7
I’m the proud new owner of a blonde Stang Ray head and have been loving it so far. I was looking for something that had a different flavor than my Fender-style amp and I’d narrowed it down to a Maz 38 and the Ray. I wanted something with higher headroom because I get my dirt from my pedals so I was worried the Maz Jr, Ghia, and Wreck Jr. (all of which I got the chance to play) just wouldn’t have the headroom. They are tremendous amps though – for sure! So my decision was made when I found a great deal on this Ray. I read a lot of the threads about the Ray and it seemed like all of the things people had issues with (volume, headroom, and top end) were things that I was looking for. I play humbuckers most of the time so having a little more top end would be good. Plus, I think with the right speaker(s), I should be fine. Right now I’m running it in a 1x12 with a WGS Invader (their version of a Greenback). I’ve got a Creamback on the way that I’ll put in the matching cab. Word on the Z street is that those speakers work well with the Ray. But if those don’t quite do it for me, I can always try an alnico or two. I haven’t had a chance to turn it up much at all so I’ll report back here after I’ve played it at band practice where I’ll be able to turn up a tad. But what I have heard, I've really liked. So rich and full. The lows are just incredible and the top end is so nice. These cleans are blowing me away! And it takes my pedals quite well too! Happy to be back in the Z family! With the cab with the WGS Invader: Empty cab waiting for the Creamback:
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Post by bubs42 on Jan 1, 2021 13:42:59 GMT -7
Looks fantastic!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jan 1, 2021 14:44:07 GMT -7
Congrats on a great amp! You're going to love it! Here is a pic of mine (along with a couple of friends). It is #001 and belonged to Brad Paisley.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Jan 1, 2021 16:23:36 GMT -7
Congrats, blondes have more fun. You made the right choice.
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Post by bigboki on Jan 1, 2021 21:25:51 GMT -7
I love StangRay. You described perfectly how I feel about the low end and top end. You can't get bad sound out of it!
Rock ON and have fun!
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Post by captainron (Ron) on Jan 2, 2021 15:42:13 GMT -7
Congrats on a superior amp!!! The Ray is my favorite amp of ALL time!! I've tried a few speakers with the Ray and ended with a Z 1x12 cab with a Gold. It does sound great with two Blues in a 2x12 cab or the standard V30/70th Ann. The Cream 65 is a great choice too!
Ron.
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Post by JeffG on Jan 12, 2021 12:42:11 GMT -7
I had my first band practice with Ray this weekend and am still just blown away. I ran it through a 1x12 with a Celestion Gold I got off Craigslist. I'm not sure how broken in the speaker is, but all the sounds I was getting were just sublime. We were at a modest practice volume, so the amp was still basically a Ferrari on residential streets. But even then, it was sounding amazing.
I understand what people mean about the clarity of the amp. I don't think I've ever played an amp with such detail and note separation. But it's more than that I think. None of the notes were getting lost - I could hear single notes just as well as chords (and notes in those chords).
Most of the time I was running it with just a slight clean boost from a Prince of Tone or with a medium gain sound from a Timmy. Both were excellent and sounded spectacular.
I wish I could do a better job describing what I was hearing, but I was just too happy with the sound at the time to analyze much of anything. I can't wait for this weekend's practice so I can get in there and play it again.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Jan 17, 2021 21:37:44 GMT -7
I had my first band practice with Ray this weekend and am still just blown away. I ran it through a 1x12 with a Celestion Gold I got off Craigslist. I'm not sure how broken in the speaker is, but all the sounds I was getting were just sublime. We were at a modest practice volume, so the amp was still basically a Ferrari on residential streets. But even then, it was sounding amazing. I understand what people mean about the clarity of the amp. I don't think I've ever played an amp with such detail and note separation. But it's more than that I think. None of the notes were getting lost - I could hear single notes just as well as chords (and notes in those chords). Most of the time I was running it with just a slight clean boost from a Prince of Tone or with a medium gain sound from a Timmy. Both were excellent and sounded spectacular. I wish I could do a better job describing what I was hearing, but I was just too happy with the sound at the time to analyze much of anything. I can't wait for this weekend's practice so I can get in there and play it again. That sounds amazing! For the 1st time in over a year I am going to get a chance to open up my Ray on Tuesday. I got a 10 minute preview the other day when my whole family all happened to be gone from the house at the same time (around here that’s a small miracle in AC (after Covid). Really excited to let her rip!
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Post by feifongwong on Feb 5, 2021 14:39:49 GMT -7
Congrats on a great amp! You're going to love it! Here is a pic of mine (along with a couple of friends). It is #001 and belonged to Brad Paisley. Man that it awesome!
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Post by SRZ65LE#31 on Apr 11, 2021 11:22:50 GMT -7
ACongratulations on your new (to you) Stang Ray. I’ve had one for years but, after a long rotation through a number of other amps, I hooked up the Stang Ray for a new go-around/listen. This time, all the wonderful clean sounds are still right there. Incredible fidelity across the spectrum, with amazing immediacy and punch (it sounds/feels like I’m playing through a compressor). It’s still my absolutely favorite amp for a Stratocaster. Bucket List Tone! (I started decades ago with a Stratocaster and it’s the sound I always return to). Plus, for drive sounds, I tried stacking an Xotic “Soul Driven” into my trusty old Fulltone OCD. What a great rhythm slightly driven sound from the OCD, and the Xotic Soul Driven provides a great range of slightly more driven “lead tone” when needed. You know an amp is great when you come back to it after a spell and enjoy it even more.
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Post by JeffG on Apr 13, 2021 12:49:05 GMT -7
Here's the board I'm using with the Ray. Most of the time it's just my LP into the Timmy into the Ray (with a touch of reverb). Sounds so good!
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Post by Norrin Radd on Apr 13, 2021 20:14:43 GMT -7
Here's the board I'm using with the Ray. Most of the time it's just my LP into the Timmy into the Ray (with a touch of reverb). Sounds so good! Nice looking board, Jeff. I have a Ray as well so I totally get the slightly mid-humped EQ. Never heard of the Woodsman or Monument pedals though. What can you tell me about them?
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Post by JeffG on Apr 14, 2021 6:16:35 GMT -7
Here's the board I'm using with the Ray. Most of the time it's just my LP into the Timmy into the Ray (with a touch of reverb). Sounds so good! Nice looking board, Jeff. I have a Ray as well so I totally get the slightly mid-humped EQ. Never heard of the Woodsman or Monument pedals though. What can you tell me about them? Thanks Greg! I'm actually pretty happy with the mids I get from the LP with my drive pedals. I only use the EQ pedal as a solo boost to give the mids a little extra push. The Woodsman is a pedal from DCW that I won in a TGP contest. I wasn't expecting much but I think it sounds pretty good. I use it for 80s rock stuff that needs higher-gain (i.e., not modern high gain). The Monument is a tremolo pedal from Walrus. I liked that it was analog, small, had tap tempo, and had the option for harmonic trem. I'm no trem pedal connoisseur, but it sounds pretty good to me.
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Apr 14, 2021 10:59:30 GMT -7
The ray is a great amp. Wish I still had mine.
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