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Post by adam on Feb 11, 2021 18:49:22 GMT -7
Just wanted to say a nice shiny new EMS showed up a few days ago and I'm just floored with it. Everything I could ever ask for in an amp. The cleans are stunning, the in-between sounds offer tons of flexibility with the guitar volume and particularly with some kind of boost pedal. It's like having a 3 channel amp with one foot-swtich. And pedals in general, it just east them up. All the pedals I had lying around that I didn't really care for, they just seems to shine with this amp like they were built for it.
My 2 cents for anyone who thinks they might be interested in this amp would be that if you gravitate towards old plexi rock sounds in general, just get it. From my limited experience with it so far, it does the clean Hendrix thing in spades and then notching it up think zep, then keep going and it's more of that 80's 800 thing. Next is kind of shaping it with pedals and there, say a Klon type, or lighter "overdrive" type pedals, you unearth a whole world of other killer tones that just kind of sound "Marshall" and not pedal. It's pretty uncanny, and I don't know why it works so well.
Rating 10+ and I think for once, I'm really done chasing sounds.
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Post by djcakadave on Feb 11, 2021 20:25:40 GMT -7
Adam tell me you will make a video of this amp? Please
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Post by Norrin Radd on Feb 12, 2021 7:35:35 GMT -7
Adam - you should hear what this thing sounds like when you push it with the Z Drive! With just that one pedal youāve got everything in that amp from really nice cleans to early 80s metal in spades. It truly is a wonderful amp and I find myself loving it more and more every day. One nice thing about it that some people may not know, is that with that āmasterā volume control you can play the amp at a reasonable level as well. So much so, that I can practice and not bother the rest of my family all that much. And then, if you get the chance, be sure to push that volume past noon - thatās when the amp really starts breathing fire! And I totally agree about your assessment with how this amp takes pedals. Because of that, it has become my number one choice of my amps, replacing my Orange Rockerverb 50 in that number one spot because of how I can so easily sculpt different tones just by swapping pedals in and out. Truly an amazing amplifier that is way under appreciated. Congrats! Enjoy it for a long long long long time.
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Post by adam on Feb 12, 2021 11:08:00 GMT -7
Adam - you should hear what this thing sounds like when you push it with the Z Drive! ... how I can so easily sculpt different tones just by swapping pedals in and out. Truly an amazing amplifier that is way under appreciated. Congrats! Enjoy it for a long long long long time. Thanks Greg! I'm getting it! First I was like a kid that robbed the bank, then I started literally just fooling with pedals to see what they sounded like and now I'm like a kid in a candy store. Z drive is kind of a no brainer, that will work with anything. I'm more intrigued by the ones I've never cared for. Some of the experimentation here for fun.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Feb 12, 2021 11:34:46 GMT -7
Adam - you should hear what this thing sounds like when you push it with the Z Drive! ... how I can so easily sculpt different tones just by swapping pedals in and out. Truly an amazing amplifier that is way under appreciated. Congrats! Enjoy it for a long long long long time. Thanks Greg! I'm getting it! First I was like a kid that robbed the bank, then I started literally just fooling with pedals to see what they sounded like and now I'm like a kid in a candy store. Z drive is kind of a no brainer, that will work with anything. I'm more intrigued by the ones I've never cared for. Some of the experimentation here for fun. Wow! Absolute killer tones with both of those boosts going. Iām going to have to start looking into some boost pedals...
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Post by pcns on Feb 12, 2021 15:22:58 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house.
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Post by KeithA on Feb 12, 2021 15:55:24 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house. Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š
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Post by Russell B on Feb 12, 2021 15:59:53 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house. Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š lol Yep! Thatās you!
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Post by doctorice on Feb 12, 2021 16:07:06 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house. Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š Hmmm, "red run" is pretty close to "red rum" -- here's Johnny!
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Post by adam on Feb 12, 2021 16:09:55 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house. Still waiting for the limited edition red run š You just keep waiting while the rest of us play this amp more than other ones. You could literally add the "black sheep" of the family to your arsenal. And the wife could identify it too "that sinister looking black one with the gold light". Then one day you'll say the family consists of a black sheep and a whole bunch of red-headed step children and you'll wind up in counseling. (ducking)
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Post by KeithA on Feb 12, 2021 16:23:48 GMT -7
Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š lol Yep! Thatās you! Lol....Iām kidding. However, Iād be intrigued with a Carol Ann/Dr Z colab amp where itās a 2-channel amp with Channel 1 being one of the EMS voices and channel 2 being a higher gain modded-M-style voice š
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Post by KeithA on Feb 12, 2021 16:32:32 GMT -7
Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š Hmmm, "red run" is pretty close to "red rum" -- here's Johnny! If we are going Johnnie, we have to go Blue š
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Post by adam on Feb 12, 2021 16:55:05 GMT -7
The EMS is the most played amp in my house. It will be in mine too, and I knew it in like 2 seconds. All the amps are great, it's just which one speaks to that neurotic guitar player guy in your head. Speaking to "what get's played", if I'm just sitting around and want to play a guitar solo, I really just want a super clean, great sounding amp. To that end, I've been looking for an EZG for a while and spotted one pretty cheap knowing that the thing was probably hosed and I'd have to send it in. Played it for a few minutes, sounded great, then it really funked out which was about what I expected so no big deal and what I expected anyway. I guess the point there was I was happy to take a chance on something like that knowing I could send it to the experts to make it right. What I kind of expected was they'd fix it and get it back to spec (turns out it was modified) and send it back out. Knowing the company would have my back was critical to the purchase in the first place. What I didn't expect from that process was Don reaching out to me every few days and saying stuff like "I got your amp working and sounding good and installed blah blah blah and did this and that, but I'm not quite sure and want to try a couple different cap values on the blah blah blah (above me head stuff)" and see how that sounds. I'm like wow... he's basically tuning the thing by ear ala Ken Fisher. Tell me, where in the world is this kind of attention to detail and customer support going to be put into a product that was produced originally produced 13 years or something... just amazing. Obviously not the most cost efficient way to run a business, but boy are we blessed as consumers to have a company like this in this day and age. BUT - then I got the EMS and holy crap if that amp isn't exactly that clean amp I was looking for plus everything else I really bought it for. Someday we'll be more back to normal and I'll have some jam with decades old bandmates and they are just going to adore that amp. My drummer friends in particular, they are just so keen and acute on guitar tones and kind of have more appreciation for that stuff than the other general members in the band. Anyway, looking forward to those days where we kind of relive the glory of the past having the wisdom of today.
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Post by adam on Feb 12, 2021 17:34:24 GMT -7
Wow! Absolute killer tones with both of those boosts going. Iām going to have to start looking into some boost pedals... I thought it was kind of neat how that came about and really it's just blindly experimenting and not caring where dials are set or what seems right or wrong in general, just kind of using your ears as a guide. I have let's say I have 20 boost or distortion pedals, and there's been many times where I try everyone through something like a reissue Fender Deluxe and every one of them sounds like absolute crap. What I'm trying to say in general is the amp in general is the most key component to how the pedal sounds, or what you can get out of it. Having said that, there are some pedals that generally can be made to work or at least help a situation. My first choice would be something that just boosts volume, has a lot cut filter, and some control of the eq. You can get a ton of mileage out of these things. I have 2 meeting that criteria, the Friedman buxom boost and the Z-drive. The Friedman is just honest clean volume and a couple eq controls, but in general you just boost and if it's flabby, cut the lows. Then you can boost even more and take an into really new places. It would be cool if an amp had that built in as a concept. I almost never use the eq on that one (aside from this video) but I'm glad it's there. You can boost bass and mids, and cut/boost highs. Being that simple is really helpful, but again, I just really use the low cut and volume boost. The Z-drive is similar except you lose the option of the variable high pass filter, but you also gain 2 completely different shades of gain and color with the germanium and mosfet sides. And you still have a three band eq to play with. If you want one overdrive type pedal, try the z boost. The Friedman one I always go to first because it's simpler... just no color at all and is simpler (and less flexible) by design. The TC Electronic Spark can work too which is pretty much volume boost with bass and treble controls, and a couple options to fine tune the gain type a little. BUT, that could be just the ticket for your guitar and amp. Next up, I'd say maybe look at the klon type things. The Wampler Tumnus is simple and just kind of always works, as does the Archer. You have to have a tone going on the amp first, but they can just kind of kick it in a nice way. The JHS Morning Glory is really cool. You can take say a really clean fender type sound and just give it a little grit and still be clean, and kick an amp a little and for some reason, it always seems to be able to make sound good. The next stage is kind of distortion or amp in the box and those are completely hit or miss and 99% of the time miss to me. In general, they have no dynamics at all and are just frustrating to play even if they sound ok. Modeling stuff generally falls in that category for me. My main point is don't expect wonders from the pedals. The guitar has to work and the amp has to work and pedals just kind of shape the sound if the first 2 points are in order.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 12, 2021 18:20:43 GMT -7
One word for your next amp to try out - Antidote! Jus' saying!
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Post by adam on Feb 12, 2021 20:06:47 GMT -7
One word for your next amp to try out - Antidote! Jus' saying! You are a really bad influence. Noted though.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 12, 2021 21:30:22 GMT -7
One word for your next amp to try out - Antidote! Jus' saying! You are a really bad influence. Noted though. When all this covid foolishness is over you are welcome to come to the MuZum and try out all the different Zs! (see my avatar for a pic of a part of the collection).
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Post by adam on Feb 13, 2021 4:54:46 GMT -7
When all this covid foolishness is over you are welcome to come to the MuZum and try out all the different Zs! (see my avatar for a pic of a part of the collection). Thanks, and really appreciated! I'm kind of scared to find out what else it out there at this point though.
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Post by KeithA on Feb 13, 2021 4:57:32 GMT -7
Still waiting for the limited edition red run š āducking nowā š lol Yep! Thatās you! Lol, if I was interested in an EMS Iād certainly try to find a way to get this poor, lonely soul into Canada. The size of it wouldnāt matter as once it gets into the basement as itās not coming out again. This is a mean looking amp (Lol, and not because itās red!).
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Post by helmi on Feb 13, 2021 5:08:08 GMT -7
However, Iād be intrigued with a Carol Ann/Dr Z colab amp where itās a 2-channel amp with Channel 1 being one of the EMS voices and channel 2 being a higher gain modded-M-style voice š Iām sure this will happen right after cancer is cured and world peace is acquired. is there anything else youād like Doc to concoct for you while you have your thinking cap on? Jeez your a āwantingā fella! lol
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Post by KeithA on Feb 13, 2021 5:17:52 GMT -7
However, Iād be intrigued with a Carol Ann/Dr Z colab amp where itās a 2-channel amp with Channel 1 being one of the EMS voices and channel 2 being a higher gain modded-M-style voice š Iām sure this will happen right after cancer is cured and world peace is acquired. is there anything else youād like Doc to concoct for you while you have your thinking cap on? Jeez your a āwantingā fella! lol Lol, Iām high maintenance. Canadians ! š
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Post by KeithA on Feb 13, 2021 5:24:02 GMT -7
On a positive note, though, the EMS (on its own) sounds like a great rock crunch amp. It sounds like āNeil Geraldo In A Boxā to me....and thatās a great thing.
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Post by doctorice on Feb 13, 2021 8:04:00 GMT -7
Hmmm, "red run" is pretty close to "red rum" -- here's Johnny! If we are going Johnnie, we have to go Blue š We could go blue with Bruichladdich also.
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Post by KeithA on Feb 13, 2021 8:37:50 GMT -7
If we are going Johnnie, we have to go Blue š We could go blue with Bruichladdich also. Now you are going down my path !
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Post by adam on Feb 14, 2021 7:48:46 GMT -7
(post moved). Nothing special here, just another part of me fooling around with the EMS and gain pedals from the other day. Beginning is that Beano Boost (treble booster) again, then some stuff with a compressor and or JHS morning glory ( Marshall blues breaker thing), over the top chorus from the boss ce2w, end is plexi side with a Wampler Tumnus then Archer something (both Klon types). Keep in mind the amp is really quite quiet, measured 82db peak right in front of it chugging on the lows strings.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 14, 2021 9:33:52 GMT -7
Nice work Adam!! Thanks for sharing!
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Post by eeyore on Mar 14, 2021 5:05:34 GMT -7
I could listen to the chugging all day long
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Post by helmi on Mar 14, 2021 7:14:37 GMT -7
It sounds like āNeil Geraldo In A Boxā to me....and thatās a great thing. Only if you throw a late 70's BC Rich eagle into the mix. THEN, it's Neil!
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