NAD Review. (Yes, a rave, of course.)
May 2, 2022 10:10:00 GMT -7
DRZ, doctorice, and 5 more like this
Post by gotmojo on May 2, 2022 10:10:00 GMT -7
Ok, ok, ok. So ….. unrealistic and naive expectations aside ….. what a great freaking amp! This Plus is SO different than my other Z’s as to, once again, be amazing. Good Doctor, you’ve done it again. Which is, of course, only to parrot other reviewers, as this amp has been out for some time and it’s taken me this long to get ahold of one, but I am astounded at the sound of this thing. As with all the Doc’s amps that have smitten me thus far, you play this amp. You don’t just play your guitar through it, you play the amp. To my thinking and my style of playing (ha, if you can call it that!), the amp is just as important as the guitar, and this one is a paintbrush I can work with to super-satisfying effect. Killer.
Had unrealistic expectations, and the reason really that I pulled the trigger on this amp harps back to a recent post that I made about a desire for low powered amps for us oldsters out here. I bought it thinking I could show up at gigs and play the Plus on the 7 watt setting and be happy as a clam. My naïveté/lack-of-experience in such a setting being totally foolish. This amp at half power, 7 watts, is still LOUD! But popping a Brakelite into the mix results in tight-yet-creamy tones that are just a natural for me to play around with all night long on any kinda tune, anywhere on my guitar volume dial, at the volumes I’m looking for! (It’s becoming clear to me that the changes in tone and feel that the doctors brakes impart to amps is simply a thing that I totally dig, pulling down some highs (which is usually needed anyway) and adding a compression factor that I LOVE.) And this amp does that in a way that reminds me of the bigger American tweed amps, and with or without just a hair of reverb it becomes so satisfying that it’s hard to put that Tele down. Backing off the guitar volume yields a tight tweedy rhythm tone that’s to die for, and with the Master dimed and the Volume knob up at 3:30 (nearly dimed), the dimed Tele solo tone is just sweeeeet. I think that rhythm tone is maybe tighter than any of my other Z’s, yet the solo tone and distortion is just as gloriously smooth as any! Tons of touch sensitivity! Holy moly!
Nuff said.
jj
which still begs the question: just how low wattage an amp do I really need? like 3 watts? is 5 watts still too loud? i’m on the lookout for a Mini Z with the attenuator built in to further research this incredibly interesting topic. here’s what i need: a totally toney 3-5 watter with reverb and tremolo in ultra lite full sized cab with 1-12” blue and bass/treble/mid/presence controls and a built in attenuator (knob on panel). IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!!!!
Had unrealistic expectations, and the reason really that I pulled the trigger on this amp harps back to a recent post that I made about a desire for low powered amps for us oldsters out here. I bought it thinking I could show up at gigs and play the Plus on the 7 watt setting and be happy as a clam. My naïveté/lack-of-experience in such a setting being totally foolish. This amp at half power, 7 watts, is still LOUD! But popping a Brakelite into the mix results in tight-yet-creamy tones that are just a natural for me to play around with all night long on any kinda tune, anywhere on my guitar volume dial, at the volumes I’m looking for! (It’s becoming clear to me that the changes in tone and feel that the doctors brakes impart to amps is simply a thing that I totally dig, pulling down some highs (which is usually needed anyway) and adding a compression factor that I LOVE.) And this amp does that in a way that reminds me of the bigger American tweed amps, and with or without just a hair of reverb it becomes so satisfying that it’s hard to put that Tele down. Backing off the guitar volume yields a tight tweedy rhythm tone that’s to die for, and with the Master dimed and the Volume knob up at 3:30 (nearly dimed), the dimed Tele solo tone is just sweeeeet. I think that rhythm tone is maybe tighter than any of my other Z’s, yet the solo tone and distortion is just as gloriously smooth as any! Tons of touch sensitivity! Holy moly!
Nuff said.
jj
which still begs the question: just how low wattage an amp do I really need? like 3 watts? is 5 watts still too loud? i’m on the lookout for a Mini Z with the attenuator built in to further research this incredibly interesting topic. here’s what i need: a totally toney 3-5 watter with reverb and tremolo in ultra lite full sized cab with 1-12” blue and bass/treble/mid/presence controls and a built in attenuator (knob on panel). IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!!!!