NAD: Dr. Z Z-Plus Ultra-Lite. Truly something special.
Feb 16, 2022 7:43:54 GMT -7
DRZ, G'OlPeachPhan, and 8 more like this
Post by gearmana on Feb 16, 2022 7:43:54 GMT -7
Well, after taking a few months away from the gear game, rollyfoster not only sold me a Sonic Blue Classic S, he also convinced me that the Z-Plus was everything I loved about the Carr Sportsman, and then some. He hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I committed.
This was the last one that Sweetwater had, so I figured hey, it's a sign.
I got the amp early yesterday and spent the better part of the day playing it - pedals, no pedals, loop, no loop, stand, no stand - just putting it through its paces.
The loop is one of the most transparent I've tried - it's up there with the Suhrs and Friedmans I've owned. Just perfect. I understand the return is buffered but not the send. I don't know how this affects it, but I do know that I have two buffered pedals in the loop. *shrugs
The cleans on this amp are really, really good. It's definitely in the American camp. The amp manages to balance this immediate feel while still having an addictive amount of sag. There is a balance to the feel of the amp that makes it really, REALLY fun to play. It really does remind me of the Sportsman, but just overall more pleasing. The EQ is powerful, and the 'Cut' knob all by itself can really transform the amp.
One thing I forgot about initially was that it comes with a variable EQ bypass controlled by a pedal. I played with that some, and man, that throws the amp into pissed off Tweed territory in a really, really AWESOME way, and it cleans up with the volume knob on my guitar in this mode brilliantly.
My pedals all sound wonderful through this. I'd say it actually handles pedals better than my Sportsman did, although not by a wide margin.
My muff, though, sounds particularly good through it. WAY better than it has through anything else I've ran it into.
Obviously I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but it really is an amazing amp, and I look forward to abusing it more today.
DRZ - huge thanks to you and your team, as always. I've been through a number of your amps at this point, and each one has always had something truly special. I love the approach of finding inspiration from some of the greats, while always making it very much your own thing. Much, much appreciated.
This was the last one that Sweetwater had, so I figured hey, it's a sign.
I got the amp early yesterday and spent the better part of the day playing it - pedals, no pedals, loop, no loop, stand, no stand - just putting it through its paces.
The loop is one of the most transparent I've tried - it's up there with the Suhrs and Friedmans I've owned. Just perfect. I understand the return is buffered but not the send. I don't know how this affects it, but I do know that I have two buffered pedals in the loop. *shrugs
The cleans on this amp are really, really good. It's definitely in the American camp. The amp manages to balance this immediate feel while still having an addictive amount of sag. There is a balance to the feel of the amp that makes it really, REALLY fun to play. It really does remind me of the Sportsman, but just overall more pleasing. The EQ is powerful, and the 'Cut' knob all by itself can really transform the amp.
One thing I forgot about initially was that it comes with a variable EQ bypass controlled by a pedal. I played with that some, and man, that throws the amp into pissed off Tweed territory in a really, really AWESOME way, and it cleans up with the volume knob on my guitar in this mode brilliantly.
My pedals all sound wonderful through this. I'd say it actually handles pedals better than my Sportsman did, although not by a wide margin.
My muff, though, sounds particularly good through it. WAY better than it has through anything else I've ran it into.
Obviously I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but it really is an amazing amp, and I look forward to abusing it more today.
DRZ - huge thanks to you and your team, as always. I've been through a number of your amps at this point, and each one has always had something truly special. I love the approach of finding inspiration from some of the greats, while always making it very much your own thing. Much, much appreciated.