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Post by Ridgeback on Oct 12, 2022 11:18:31 GMT -7
Finally sent my 08 Anniversary EZG (#021) in yesterday for the MKII updates. Don was great to work with. I won't have it back for a while but I'm looking forward to hearing the difference. I expect these mods will open up some new tonal options for this amp.
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Post by nick0 on Oct 12, 2022 14:43:50 GMT -7
Don does a killer job with everything. He really knows how to make those EZGs come alive. You'll be pleased with it!
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Post by mjm123 on Oct 13, 2022 8:19:10 GMT -7
I agree 100%. Well worth the effort once you get your amp back
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Post by bubs42 on Oct 30, 2022 7:14:42 GMT -7
I’m definelty intrigued enough that I may look into getting a EZG50 at some point. Sounds like a great stripped down, bare bones, nothing but tone amp.
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Post by Telebwoi on Nov 25, 2022 11:31:00 GMT -7
Thinking of purchasing an EZG 50. I see it has 6L6 output tubes. Is it more American clean type amp? That’s the sound I’m looking for. I appreciate you.
Alan in Alabama
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Post by KeithA on Nov 25, 2022 11:47:26 GMT -7
Thinking of purchasing an EZG 50. I see it has 6L6 output tubes. Is it more American clean type amp? That’s the sound I’m looking for. I appreciate you. Alan in Alabama Here's the quote from the Dr Z web page.... With 50 watts of clean power, 2-knob reverb, and a tube rectifier, the EZG-50 is the blackface head that never was…a’la Dr Z!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 7, 2022 11:57:59 GMT -7
Did you get it back yet? Looking forward to your comments when you've played it a little while!
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Post by djcakadave on Dec 7, 2022 12:20:04 GMT -7
Did you get it back yet? Looking forward to your comments when you've played it a little while! I too am interested as I have a EZG-50 and contemplating this mod?!?
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 13, 2022 16:37:05 GMT -7
The amp arrived today packed like Fort Knox. I spent about ten minutes playing with knobs and noodling. Everything seems to be working fine. The voicing is definitely different but I will wait a while before trying to describe what I'm hearing.
I have two cabs, a 2x12 with a Gold + Tone Tubby Red alnico and a Z 2x10 with C-Rex's. My only pedal is a Flint. I normally play at a comfortable basement level of 65-75 db. I can already tell that the PPIMV will allow me to more fully explore the pre\post sweeps where I was pretty limited before due to the volume. This is going to be fun. I'll post again in a few weeks.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 14, 2022 9:02:29 GMT -7
It's great, with the Pre/Post plus the MV Level. Lots of options there!
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 15, 2022 13:08:30 GMT -7
I was going to wait a while longer to post my initial impressions but after a 2.5 hour session with it this AM, I think I can provide my thoughts now.
1) I really like the voicing changes. It took the amp from "the BF that never was" to "Doc's take on the BF amps that were". Pre-mod, I always thought it most resembled my 66 Pro Reverb which I considered a bit of an outlier as far as traditional BF tone. On the Black setting, it now has the feel of my previous big bottle vintage BF's such as the 64 Bandmaster, 65 Super Reverb, and 65 Bassman. Less round and warm and more present if that makes any sense. I like the change. Some of this may have to do with the new set of tubes but I suspect it's mostly Don's tweaking of the guts.
2) The Black\Silver switch. It is a subtle difference and seems mostly to impact pick attack and harmonics to my ear. The Black setting feels like home for now but the Silver setting may grow on me after a while. edited to add that after 6-8 more hours of experimenting, I still can't put my finger on the difference I'm hearing on the Silver setting. There is a difference, but I can't describe it.
3) The master volume. As expected, it really allows more flexibility with the Pre\Post control settings given the volumes I play. A bit weird to adjust the volume from the back of the amp but the pointer knob allows for easy adjustments by feel.
4) Finally, I have to thank Don again for working with me above and beyond the call of duty in a friendly and professional manner.
I'll post again if I come up with something that I think might be useful to others down the road.
Edited to add that the reverb also seems stronger but I assume that is due to the new tubes.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 15, 2022 16:39:31 GMT -7
Great review. Do you think it has more preamp drive than before?
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 15, 2022 17:13:39 GMT -7
Great review. Do you think it has more preamp drive than before? Sorry Dave, I don't know. I only play clean and I have a 12AY7 in V1 to keep the preamp cleaner farther up the dial.
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Post by nick0 on Dec 16, 2022 3:58:42 GMT -7
Great review. Do you think it has more preamp drive than before? After the mods, I can get more drive due to the master volume. Before the mods, it just was too loud when you push the pre and post. The drive tone is nice and I do think there's a little more on tap. I like the pre low and the post up high. Get some slight break up with a nice glassy top. The low end is so full and clean. I've really been digging higher wattage amps lately (jetta, ezg, ems, and of course z28 mkii). You can maintain such a clear and clean bottom end with huge authority that's percussive and not woofy. This amp paired with the celestion rola g12-65 is a great match (per Don's suggestion).
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 16, 2022 6:15:45 GMT -7
Great review. Do you think it has more preamp drive than before? After the mods, I can get more drive due to the master volume. Before the mods, it just was too loud when you push the pre and post. The drive tone is nice and I do think there's a little more on tap. I like the pre low and the post up high. Get some slight break up with a nice glassy top. The low end is so full and clean. I've really been digging higher wattage amps lately (jetta, ezg, ems, and of course z28 mkii). You can maintain such a clear and clean bottom end with huge authority that's percussive and not woofy. This amp paired with the celestion rola g12-65 is a great match (per Don's suggestion). I think mine has more drive too. For sure, the MV makes it possible, since this amp gets real loud quickly without it. I've got my pre and post right up around noon with the MV dialed way back, and it sounds great through a 2x10 open back loaded with Doc's Z-10 speakers.
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 30, 2022 14:07:29 GMT -7
After another 20 hours or so of play time through five different guitars, back and forth through both cabs and the Black\Silver settings, I think I can finish off my review of the MKII mods.
1) I have found my sweet spot on the pre\post settings and I may not do much tweaking with them going forward. About noon on the Pre (with a 12AY7 in V-1) and about 3:00 on the Post. Big, juicy vintage BF cleans. These settings would never have been possible without the Master Volume. I really like the audio taper of the MV pot. It can go up to around 1:00, depending on the guitar and cab, before starting to get louder than I play. I'm usually between 10:00 and 1:00. After that, it starts to show off it's big iron 50 watts and gets loud fast.
2) The tonal light bulb finally came on for me with the Black\Silver switch. It's a lot like the Presence control on my 61 Super and now I'm using it the same way. The Black is like the Presence on 3-4 and the Silver like 8-9 (not clock face settings). I have no idea if they are any way similar electrically, but that's what I'm hearing.
Finally, I hadn't visited this thread for a while and was pretty surprised at the number of views on the thread related to a mod package for an amp that had been discontinued for several years. Maybe it represents enough interest out there for the Doc to produce a limited edition of the EZG-50 MKII with all of Don's pixie dust inside. Just saying. Happy New Year everyone.
Edited to add: Maybe bring back the oval front cab in green? (or something special) tolex with a MKII front panel designation. Probably too expensive to do, but it would be cool for a limited release.
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Post by djcakadave on Dec 30, 2022 16:30:52 GMT -7
After another 20 hours or so of play time through five different guitars, back and forth through both cabs and the Black\Silver settings, I think I can finish off my review of the MKII mods. 1) I have found my sweet spot on the pre\post settings and I may not do much tweaking with them going forward. About noon on the Pre (with a 12AY7 in V-1) and about 3:00 on the Post. Big, juicy vintage BF cleans. These settings would never have been possible without the Master Volume. I really like the audio taper of the MV pot. It can go up to around 1:00, depending on the guitar and cab, before starting to get louder than I play. I'm usually between 10:00 and 1:00. After that, it starts to show off it's big iron 50 watts and gets loud fast. 2) The tonal light bulb finally came on for me with the Black\Silver switch. It's a lot like the Presence control on my 61 Super and now I'm using it the same way. The Black is like the Presence on 3-4 and the Silver like 8-9 (not clock face settings). I have no idea if they are any way similar electrically, but that's what I'm hearing. Finally, I hadn't visited this thread for a while and was pretty surprised at the number of views on the thread related to a mod package for an amp that had been discontinued for several years. Maybe it represents enough interest out there for the Doc to produce a limited edition of the EZG-50 MKII with all of Don's pixie dust inside. Just saying. Happy New Year everyone. I totally agree with the MKII idea! I may still get the mods done anyway with the EZG that I already have! It's a Great amp as is but the mods sound like just what I'm looking for!
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Post by arafel on Jan 23, 2023 15:16:08 GMT -7
I'm thinking of getting these mods on my V1 EZG. Does anyone who has done it think the MV means you don't need an Air Brake anymore? Does the MV remain transparent, or does it throttle the tone at all?
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Post by nick0 on Jan 23, 2023 16:25:56 GMT -7
I'm thinking of getting these mods on my V1 EZG. Does anyone who has done it think the MV means you don't need an Air Brake anymore? Does the MV remain transparent, or does it throttle the tone at all? MV works great! Just like the level control on my Cure. I don't feel the need for an attenuator with mine.
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