The Wreck Jr. and the case of the never-ending honeymoon..
Mar 28, 2021 7:51:30 GMT -7
DRZ, pcns, and 9 more like this
Post by nightwulf1974 on Mar 28, 2021 7:51:30 GMT -7
Hey all,
**Warning, this is going to be a quite lengthy post, so I apologize in advance**
So I have had the pleasure to both own and play the Z Wreck Jr. for ~ 2 months now. Presently I have the head running into a V Cab 1 x 12 loaded with a 12" Scumback M75 (65w, 8ohm, large dust cap). This has been my first Dr. Z amp purchase. Like many here, I've owned Mesa's, Marshall's, Vox's, Fender's etc. My current amp lineup is the Wreck Jr. and an Allen Amps Accomplice which I built myself.
Anyways, I've put in some good amount of time/hours on this amp at this point and wanted to come back and let everyone know my thoughts in case there is anyone on the fence looking to buy one. I'm an at home player and mainly play classic rock, grunge, early metal and some more modern punk. This includes everything from The Who, Neil young, Sabbath to Alice in Chains, Green Day, and everything in between. I play very little "modern" country with the exception being the likes of Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. No Paisley here, but I envy his extraordinary talent - he's just not my cup of tea. He obviously sounds incredible and has good taste in amps.
The guitars I play now are an Edwards LP, Warmoth Tele, Carvin Bolt and a Precision Guitar Kits LP Jr. These cover a great range as they all have very unique sounds and characteristics. I feel I have a good range of pups to give a solid opinion on their versatility through the Wreck Jr. including humbuckers, P90's and single coils.
Being as I play at home and even though this is a ~15 watt amp, I can rarely ever turn the master up past 10 o'clock. Even at this point, I feel the walls tremble slightly and my kid usually comes running out of his room yelling "Papa, please turn that down!". Haha, kids. Anyways, this is just a point I wanted to make as this amp is VERY loud for a low wattage amp and anyone looking for a "bedroom only" amp may want to take this into consideration. The master volume is phenomenal, but it can only do so much. I feel the amp comes alive right around that 10 o'clock position where I have to hit the brakes sadly.
As far as setting up the amp, it is extremely easy to dial in a good sound and run. Everything at noon (sans master volume for me) and you are off rocking away. Adjust cut, treble and bass to taste. Use your volume knobs on your guitar to adjust gain, you know the drill. I hardly ever turn the volume up past 3 o'clock as that is the sweet spot for me personally. I then just adjust the gain to taste using the guitar as aforementioned. You don't even miss not having a mid knob as you just turn down the bass and treble to push the amp's mid frequency - at least that works for me and I don't own or use an EQ. The amp's OD is smooth as a baby's bum. Just incredible.
Now the for the goods, the TONE. Holy ****ing Moly (pardon my French). If I had to describe the amp's overall tone and character, I would say it is like a Vox AC30 had a baby with an early Marshall JTM 45, but rather than just being a one trick sound for each of those amps strengths, you get them both. You get that lovely chime and bell-like clean to that hairy and greasy Vox/Marshall hybrid gain if that makes sense. It just sounds unbelievable and incredible, always. Notes bloom and feedback at louder volumes/gain levels and just want to keep singing until you decide to stop them. Cleans are wonderfully articulate, full of chime and clarity without ever piercing your ears with icepicks. The amp cleans up like it's the head janitor looking for a raise.
Seriously, I would write more, but I would probably be banned for posting a novel on the board. The honeymoon phase is still alive and I don't anticipate getting to the end of my destination or going back home anytime soon. Every time I flip that standby switch and pick up a guitar it's like a kid in the candy store. I will say, that my favorite guitar to use of the lot that sounds the best to ME has got to be my Warmoth Tele I built which has Bare Knuckle Brown Sugar pups. This amp does love the tele, and I can see why Paisley plays the bigger brother. If you own a Tele style guitar and think it sounds good through the amp you are using now, you better get ready for a LONG apology when it is begging to see sunlight again after being covered up and put away in the storage shed if you buy the Z Wreck Jr. My Allen Accomplice LOVES my Tele and I rarely even turn that thing on now. I actually feel bad for it as it sits next to the Z Wreck Jr, full of jealousy and anger.
OK, I'm done now and for anyone who actually took the time to read this and who took anything away from my dribble, you're welcome. Dr. Z has hit a home run and knocked this amp so far out of the park that nobody can find the ball. If you are someone on the fence and looking at this amp, for the love of God GET ONE. Sell your kidney, your car, your left leg - PLEASE!!
This is the best amp I have EVER owned and played in 20 years EASILY. This is my desert island amp.
~ Nightwulf1974
**Warning, this is going to be a quite lengthy post, so I apologize in advance**
So I have had the pleasure to both own and play the Z Wreck Jr. for ~ 2 months now. Presently I have the head running into a V Cab 1 x 12 loaded with a 12" Scumback M75 (65w, 8ohm, large dust cap). This has been my first Dr. Z amp purchase. Like many here, I've owned Mesa's, Marshall's, Vox's, Fender's etc. My current amp lineup is the Wreck Jr. and an Allen Amps Accomplice which I built myself.
Anyways, I've put in some good amount of time/hours on this amp at this point and wanted to come back and let everyone know my thoughts in case there is anyone on the fence looking to buy one. I'm an at home player and mainly play classic rock, grunge, early metal and some more modern punk. This includes everything from The Who, Neil young, Sabbath to Alice in Chains, Green Day, and everything in between. I play very little "modern" country with the exception being the likes of Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. No Paisley here, but I envy his extraordinary talent - he's just not my cup of tea. He obviously sounds incredible and has good taste in amps.
The guitars I play now are an Edwards LP, Warmoth Tele, Carvin Bolt and a Precision Guitar Kits LP Jr. These cover a great range as they all have very unique sounds and characteristics. I feel I have a good range of pups to give a solid opinion on their versatility through the Wreck Jr. including humbuckers, P90's and single coils.
Being as I play at home and even though this is a ~15 watt amp, I can rarely ever turn the master up past 10 o'clock. Even at this point, I feel the walls tremble slightly and my kid usually comes running out of his room yelling "Papa, please turn that down!". Haha, kids. Anyways, this is just a point I wanted to make as this amp is VERY loud for a low wattage amp and anyone looking for a "bedroom only" amp may want to take this into consideration. The master volume is phenomenal, but it can only do so much. I feel the amp comes alive right around that 10 o'clock position where I have to hit the brakes sadly.
As far as setting up the amp, it is extremely easy to dial in a good sound and run. Everything at noon (sans master volume for me) and you are off rocking away. Adjust cut, treble and bass to taste. Use your volume knobs on your guitar to adjust gain, you know the drill. I hardly ever turn the volume up past 3 o'clock as that is the sweet spot for me personally. I then just adjust the gain to taste using the guitar as aforementioned. You don't even miss not having a mid knob as you just turn down the bass and treble to push the amp's mid frequency - at least that works for me and I don't own or use an EQ. The amp's OD is smooth as a baby's bum. Just incredible.
Now the for the goods, the TONE. Holy ****ing Moly (pardon my French). If I had to describe the amp's overall tone and character, I would say it is like a Vox AC30 had a baby with an early Marshall JTM 45, but rather than just being a one trick sound for each of those amps strengths, you get them both. You get that lovely chime and bell-like clean to that hairy and greasy Vox/Marshall hybrid gain if that makes sense. It just sounds unbelievable and incredible, always. Notes bloom and feedback at louder volumes/gain levels and just want to keep singing until you decide to stop them. Cleans are wonderfully articulate, full of chime and clarity without ever piercing your ears with icepicks. The amp cleans up like it's the head janitor looking for a raise.
Seriously, I would write more, but I would probably be banned for posting a novel on the board. The honeymoon phase is still alive and I don't anticipate getting to the end of my destination or going back home anytime soon. Every time I flip that standby switch and pick up a guitar it's like a kid in the candy store. I will say, that my favorite guitar to use of the lot that sounds the best to ME has got to be my Warmoth Tele I built which has Bare Knuckle Brown Sugar pups. This amp does love the tele, and I can see why Paisley plays the bigger brother. If you own a Tele style guitar and think it sounds good through the amp you are using now, you better get ready for a LONG apology when it is begging to see sunlight again after being covered up and put away in the storage shed if you buy the Z Wreck Jr. My Allen Accomplice LOVES my Tele and I rarely even turn that thing on now. I actually feel bad for it as it sits next to the Z Wreck Jr, full of jealousy and anger.
OK, I'm done now and for anyone who actually took the time to read this and who took anything away from my dribble, you're welcome. Dr. Z has hit a home run and knocked this amp so far out of the park that nobody can find the ball. If you are someone on the fence and looking at this amp, for the love of God GET ONE. Sell your kidney, your car, your left leg - PLEASE!!
This is the best amp I have EVER owned and played in 20 years EASILY. This is my desert island amp.
~ Nightwulf1974