|
Post by rossman on Sept 22, 2021 14:55:10 GMT -7
Hello all!
I recently purchased a Maz 8 made in September of 2017. I believe this is the most recent version made. Has anyone done a Mark ll upgrade on a Maz 8?
I did the Mark ll upgrade to a Maz 18NR and was pleased with the results.
Thanks in advance for your insight.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 22, 2021 16:28:52 GMT -7
I have, and it turned a great amp into a legendary one. You may already have the upgrades done, I'm not sure of the cutoff date for that version. The tipoff will be the master volume, my MKII is a HUGE improvement...it's one of the best master volumes I've got. Right up there with the Cure's Level control.
|
|
|
Post by lowbudget on Sept 22, 2021 20:20:30 GMT -7
Hello all! I recently purchased a Maz 8 made in September of 2017. I believe this is the most recent version made. Has anyone done a Mark ll upgrade on a Maz 8? I did the Mark ll upgrade to a Maz 18NR and was pleased with the results. Thanks in advance for your insight. OK, I’m confused. If yours is the most recent version made then it would already have the upgrades, right? Production stopped in early 2018 but the upgrades started in 2016, so everything in between would have the upgrades. They don’t say “MKII” on them like their big brothers.
|
|
|
Post by rossman on Sept 23, 2021 3:42:24 GMT -7
Good question. I thought it was the latest version but I contacted Don at Dr. Z and he said it wasn't the latest version and it could be upgraded. I guess I will email him the serial number for confirmation.
|
|
|
Post by gfreak on Sept 23, 2021 9:12:22 GMT -7
That is very confusing. Just looked at the Maz 8 page on Legacy section on the website and it has "Updated for 2016!" in big bold letters. Mine has a born on date of 8/17. I had a Maz 18 MKI at one point and the first thing I noticed with the Maz 8 was how much better the master volume worked. I wonder what the deal is with mine?!?
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 23, 2021 10:25:40 GMT -7
That is very confusing. Just looked at the Maz 8 page on Legacy section on the website and it has "Updated for 2016!" in big bold letters. Mine has a born on date of 8/17. I had a Maz 18 MKI at one point and the first thing I noticed with the Maz 8 was how much better the master volume worked. I wonder what the deal is with mine?!? If I understand correctly, it sounds like your Maz 8 is the MKII version. The master volume on my original MKI Maz 8 was why I considered selling it. With the MKII improvement, I love that amp.
|
|
|
Post by dcarver on Sept 23, 2021 13:33:13 GMT -7
I have a 2016 Maz 8. It has a very good master volume, plenty of reverb on tap and the variable boost foot switch with the knob on the side. Not the latest model from Earthquaker Devices with the on-off light and the knob on the top. As far as I know, these are the "upgrades".
My understanding is, the so called MkII upgrades were just "upgrades" when they were done to the Maz 8 sometime in 2016. The "MkII" label was what the upgrades were called when done to other amps, like the Maz 18, 38, etc.
Your 2017 has all the upgrades from the factory. Did Don say specifically what changes are available for a 2017 Maz 8 ??
|
|
|
Post by lowbudget on Sept 23, 2021 13:59:31 GMT -7
You’re correct, they weren’t called “MKII” but just referred to as upgrades.
As I recall, the upgrades consisted of better MV, reverb improvement and a 6N14N power tube. There may have been foot switch changes but mine is still in it’s box so I’m not sure. And I wouldn’t be shocked if there were other circuit tweaks as well but who knows?
I’m not exactly sure what the confusion is about. If you have a Maz 8 built in 2016 through the end of production in early 2018 you have the upgraded version.
|
|
|
Post by rossman on Sept 23, 2021 15:35:03 GMT -7
I have a 2016 Maz 8. It has a very good master volume, plenty of reverb on tap and the variable boost foot switch with the knob on the side. Not the latest model from Earthquaker Devices with the on-off light and the knob on the top. As far as I know, these are the "upgrades". My understanding is, the so called MkII upgrades were just "upgrades" when they were done to the Maz 8 sometime in 2016. The "MkII" label was what the upgrades were called when done to other amps, like the Maz 18, 38, etc. Your 2017 has all the upgrades from the factory. Did Don say specifically what changes are available for a 2017 Maz 8 ?? My email to Don: Hello there! I recently purchased a used MAZ 8 combo made in September of 2017. It has the variable footswitch. I believe this was the newest version manufactured at the time. Is the MARK ll upgrade something that is advisable for this amp or is what I already have the most current upgrade available? His response: Ross, The MAZ 8 you’ve got is not the latest version, but can be updated. The update will give it a fuller, cleaner sound, improved FX loop and further reduced noise level. Thanks Don Depew Now I'm very confused!
|
|
|
Post by lowbudget on Sept 23, 2021 20:08:29 GMT -7
I have a 2016 Maz 8. It has a very good master volume, plenty of reverb on tap and the variable boost foot switch with the knob on the side. Not the latest model from Earthquaker Devices with the on-off light and the knob on the top. As far as I know, these are the "upgrades". My understanding is, the so called MkII upgrades were just "upgrades" when they were done to the Maz 8 sometime in 2016. The "MkII" label was what the upgrades were called when done to other amps, like the Maz 18, 38, etc. Your 2017 has all the upgrades from the factory. Did Don say specifically what changes are available for a 2017 Maz 8 ?? My email to Don: Hello there! I recently purchased a used MAZ 8 combo made in September of 2017. It has the variable footswitch. I believe this was the newest version manufactured at the time. Is the MARK ll upgrade something that is advisable for this amp or is what I already have the most current upgrade available? His response: Ross, The MAZ 8 you’ve got is not the latest version, but can be updated. The update will give it a fuller, cleaner sound, improved FX loop and further reduced noise level. Thanks Don Depew Now I'm very confused! I can see why!! This contradicts everything that has been officially said or advertised about the 8 upgrades. If one built in Sept 2017 was NOT upgraded, when did the upgrades start for an amp they discontinued in Feb 2018? Why would they bother to upgrade for just a few weeks production? This needs some clarification. Have a look at this thread. Something ain’t right. ztalk.proboards.com/thread/72536/demo-dave-baker-updates-2016
|
|
|
Post by gfreak on Sept 23, 2021 21:43:00 GMT -7
So dazed and confused!!
|
|
|
Post by dcarver on Sept 23, 2021 23:03:03 GMT -7
Hummm very interesting.
Seems like tweaks, improvements, upgrades, ... whatever you want to call them for various amps in the product line have become available. Kind of like a custom shop service. Very cool.
RE: the Maz 8, this is really interesting. Wonder what the changes are to the effects loop? Mine is working pretty good. I'd be interested to know how it can be improved. Lowering the noise floor ... cool. It's not really a problem on my amp, but a further reduction would be great.
More info and a demo of the improved version would be helpful. I wonder if the Maz 8 head that was up for auction has these improvements ?
Lowbudget, you really should try out that footswitch. When you get it set right, the amp will give you a better overdrive tone than a pedal. You can also use it as an always on thing and get a whole different range of tones out of the amp. It really adds a lot to what the amp can do.
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Sept 24, 2021 3:02:54 GMT -7
Hummm very interesting. Seems like tweaks, improvements, upgrades, ... whatever you want to call them for various amps in the product line have become available That’s the way I read it too. I’m sure the 2017 model has all of the upgrades as of that date but there have since been some minor tweaks, component value tweaks, etc.
|
|
|
Post by lowbudget on Sept 24, 2021 5:19:12 GMT -7
Hummm very interesting. Seems like tweaks, improvements, upgrades, ... whatever you want to call them for various amps in the product line have become available That’s the way I read it too. I’m sure the 2017 model has all of the upgrades as of that date but there have since been some minor tweaks, component value tweaks, etc. But why would they have made changes in 2016 that were enough of an upgrade to be announced and touted as such (in a thread, new demo and on the official webpage), continued this new configuration through 2017 then made more unannounced changes on the 2017 model that were apparently upgrade worthy to an amp that was discontinued in Feb 2018? I think both Don, Frankie and maybe the Doc have said that small changes get made from time to time to accommodate parts availability, etc. but I didn’t think they constituted anything major. Don’s email to Ross indicates that whatever they may have been are enough to send the already “upgraded” 2017 in for. I have a 3/17 born on date Maz 8 that I too thought was the latest iteration. Now it would appear not so much?
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Sept 24, 2021 5:57:30 GMT -7
That’s the way I read it too. I’m sure the 2017 model has all of the upgrades as of that date but there have since been some minor tweaks, component value tweaks, etc. But why would they have made changes in 2016 that were enough of an upgrade to be announced and touted as such (in a thread, new demo and on the official webpage), continued this new configuration through 2017 then made more unannounced changes on the 2017 model that were apparently upgrade worthy to an amp that was discontinued in Feb 2018? I think both Don, Frankie and maybe the Doc have said that small changes get made from time to time to accommodate parts availability, etc. but I didn’t think they constituted anything major. Don’s email to Ross indicates that whatever they may have been are enough to send the already “upgraded” 2017 in for. I have a 3/17 born on date Maz 8 that I too thought was the latest iteration. Now it would appear not so much? Lowbudget, I don't know the answer nor would I care However, who says that any of the incremental improvements to noise levels, loops, etc. were developed on the Maz 8? Couldn't it be the case that any improvemnets developed on the Maz 18 & 38 MkII's could trickle down to the Maz 8, if applicable? You may be right. However, I don't think there is enough info here in this thread to jump to any conclusions. As well, I think that Don's response is vague and simply states that it's not the most recent version. That difference could be a few component changes. etc. Who are we to assume that a couple small changes aren't big enough for a certain individual to send it in? In addition, if the upgrade to a 2017 amp is only a few minor tweaks who says it would be the full listed Maz 8 upgrade price? I wouldn't be surprised if the shop upgraded any minor components tweaks in the price of a check-up service, who knows. I'm sure someone will clarify what this is all about but I also don't think copying Don's email response in the body of this thread helps unless it was fully clarified. The fact that Don's response doesn't mention the better MV, the improved reverb, etc, which were the biggest changes in the 2016 update (if I recall) makes me think those are all in the amp and any improvements are minor. But hey, I've been wrong before and could be wrong again
|
|
|
Post by lowbudget on Sept 24, 2021 6:17:24 GMT -7
But why would they have made changes in 2016 that were enough of an upgrade to be announced and touted as such (in a thread, new demo and on the official webpage), continued this new configuration through 2017 then made more unannounced changes on the 2017 model that were apparently upgrade worthy to an amp that was discontinued in Feb 2018? I think both Don, Frankie and maybe the Doc have said that small changes get made from time to time to accommodate parts availability, etc. but I didn’t think they constituted anything major. Don’s email to Ross indicates that whatever they may have been are enough to send the already “upgraded” 2017 in for. I have a 3/17 born on date Maz 8 that I too thought was the latest iteration. Now it would appear not so much? Lowbudget, I don't know the answer nor would I care However, who says that any of the incremental improvements to noise levels, loops, etc. were developed on the Maz 8? Couldn't it be the case that any improvemnets developed on the Maz 18 & 38 MkII's could trickle down to the Maz 8, if applicable? You may be right. However, I don't think there is enough info here in this thread to jump to any conclusions. As well, I think that Don's response is vague and simply states that it's not the most recent version. That difference could be a few component changes. etc. Who are we to assume that a couple small changes aren't big enough for a certain individual to send it in? In addition, if the upgrade to a 2017 amp is only a few minor tweaks who says it would be the full listed Maz 8 upgrade price? I wouldn't be surprised if the shop upgraded any minor components tweaks in the price of a check-up service, who knows. I'm sure someone will clarify what this is all about but I also don't think copying Don's email response in the body of this thread helps unless it was fully clarified. The fact that Don's response doesn't mention the better MV, the improved reverb, etc, which were the biggest changes in the 2016 update (if I recall) makes me think those are all in the amp and any improvements are minor. But hey, I've been wrong before and could be wrong again Keith, all fair points to be sure. But Don’s email back to Ross seemed pretty clear to me: send your already supposedly upgraded 2017 in for previously unannounced upgrades and it’ll sound better. You know how those psychoacoustics work!😀
|
|
|
Post by gfreak on Sept 24, 2021 9:39:42 GMT -7
Looked over the Legacy page for the Maz 8 and noticed at the bottom this line: "Disclaimer: while the information contained on this page is correct at the time of publication, due to our policy of constant improvement and development, Dr. Z Amplification reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice."
|
|
|
Post by davebo on Sept 24, 2021 9:55:07 GMT -7
Interested to learn your resolution
|
|
|
Post by dcarver on Sept 24, 2021 12:33:02 GMT -7
If I remember correctly, there were a couple threads regarding the Maz 8 head, and how it tended to have a bit more hum than the studio combo. Maybe the noise floor reduction is aimed primarily at the head config. As Doc has stated, single ended amps don't have the noise cancelling characteristics of a phase inverted push - pull design. I can make my combo hum pretty good if I dime the volumes and the cut control. But I can't play that loud at home, so hum isn't really a problem for me. RE: the effects loop, my understanding is, the Z Plus pre amp section is pretty much the same as the Maz models. But the Z Plus has a tube buffered effects loop. Maybe the Z Plus effects loop can be retrofitted to the Maz 8. Just speculating. Hopefully we can get enough info to decide whether or not to send an already great sounding amp in for changes. RE: fuller, cleaner sound, there is a way to get more headroom out of a Maz 8 with an output tube change. Get ahold of Perry R ( reverb.com/shop/rogue-8) and pick up a 6n14n with a Transconductance of 25 or higher. I tried one in my amp, and what it does is, you can turn the master volume pretty much all the way up without the tube breaking up. The amp still sounds great, but you get more headroom. My amp also got fuller and cleaner when I put in a NOS 5AR4 rectifier.
|
|
|
Post by rossman on Sept 24, 2021 15:51:08 GMT -7
Interested to learn your resolution Ok, I have an update.
On the same day I first posted on this subject, I sent a follow up email to Don. This email included a photo of the date of manufacture and serial number of my Maz 8. My email basically said can you verify by the serial number that my Maz 8 is a good candidate for the Mark ll upgrade before I go through the time and effort to send the amp back to him. He responded today. Here is his response: Ross, I think probably your best bet is save your money and enjoy the MAZ 8 as is.Thanks Don Depew
So, I'm not sure if my original email and manufactured date was possibly misread? Did I step on some toes by starting this thread? That was certainly not my intention. I know Dr. Z employees monitor and post on this forum. I just thought if I could make my Maz 8 even better it was worth it. Thanks again for all the replies! A great group of forum members!
|
|
|
Post by purpletele on Sept 24, 2021 19:36:55 GMT -7
Interested to learn your resolution Ok, I have an update.
On the same day I first posted on this subject, I sent a follow up email to Don. This email included a photo of the date of manufacture and serial number of my Maz 8. My email basically said can you verify by the serial number that my Maz 8 is a good candidate for the Mark ll upgrade before I go through the time and effort to send the amp back to him. He responded today. Here is his response: Ross, I think probably your best bet is save your money and enjoy the MAZ 8 as is.Thanks Don Depew
So, I'm not sure if my original email and manufactured date was possibly misread? Did I step on some toes by starting this thread? That was certainly not my intention. I know Dr. Z employees monitor and post on this forum. I just thought if I could make my Maz 8 even better it was worth it. Thanks again for all the replies! A great group of forum members! I would interpret that note as it reads. I believe you have a 2017 and it should have the latest, but there might be a components tweak available. I would guess Don is trying to say it may not be worth it to spend $100 for shipping and $150 for a slight tweak of a resistor and capacitor value change. I wouldn't interpret his note any other way.
|
|