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Post by arrestedxdev on Dec 10, 2022 16:32:27 GMT -7
Hello everyone. I've been casually observing and researching DrZ amps for awhile. Started getting pretty excited about a Maz18 mkII. But recently learned more about the Z Plus, and I am hoping this is a great match for me. I've been wanting a smaller watt very clean amp in 12" combo format. This will supplement my original '87 Silver Jubilee. I realized I have all the crunch and gain I'll ever need from the Marshall. So I want to enjoy some sparkling cleans with magic in amp reverb from something else.
Found a nice deal on a 2021 Z Plus Studio Combo with the Z12 speaker. Being shipped from CA. Cautiously optimistic it will get here safely.
Wonder if I should go ahead and order a full set of tubes as back up/ just in case. With the cathode bias, I assume they are just plug and play.
Anyway, looking forward to it. And I'll share my experience. Scheduled to arrive Tuesday 12/13.
Keith
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Post by purpletele on Dec 10, 2022 17:08:22 GMT -7
Hello everyone. I've been casually observing and researching DrZ amps for awhile. Started getting pretty excited about a Maz18 mkII. But recently learned more about the Z Plus, and I am hoping this is a great match for me. I've been wanting a smaller watt very clean amp in 12" combo format. This will supplement my original '87 Silver Jubilee. I realized I have all the crunch and gain I'll ever need from the Marshall. So I want to enjoy some sparkling cleans with magic in amp reverb from something else. Found a nice deal on a 2021 Z Plus Studio Combo with the Z12 speaker. Being shipped from CA. Cautiously optimistic it will get here safely. Wonder if I should go ahead and order a full set of tubes as back up/ just in case. With the cathode bias, I assume they are just plug and play. Anyway, looking forward to it. And I'll share my experience. Scheduled to arrive Tuesday 12/13. Keith Keith, That is a great amp! A new set of tubes is good insurance. I would recommend purchasing a nice NOS rectifier or the Shugang that is recommended to have on hand. I am going to buy an NOS Ax7 and an NOS At7 for V1 and V3, as recommended by another member a couple of days ago.
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Post by arrestedxdev on Dec 10, 2022 18:36:06 GMT -7
Hello everyone. I've been casually observing and researching DrZ amps for awhile. Started getting pretty excited about a Maz18 mkII. But recently learned more about the Z Plus, and I am hoping this is a great match for me. I've been wanting a smaller watt very clean amp in 12" combo format. This will supplement my original '87 Silver Jubilee. I realized I have all the crunch and gain I'll ever need from the Marshall. So I want to enjoy some sparkling cleans with magic in amp reverb from something else. Found a nice deal on a 2021 Z Plus Studio Combo with the Z12 speaker. Being shipped from CA. Cautiously optimistic it will get here safely. Wonder if I should go ahead and order a full set of tubes as back up/ just in case. With the cathode bias, I assume they are just plug and play. Anyway, looking forward to it. And I'll share my experience. Scheduled to arrive Tuesday 12/13. Keith Keith, That is a great amp! A new set of tubes is good insurance. I would recommend purchasing a nice NOS rectifier or the Shugang that is recommended to have on hand. I am going to buy an NOS Ax7 and an NOS At7 for V1 and V3, as recommended by another member a couple of days ago. Thx! What would be examples of NOS rectifier and preamp tubes that folks often consider and like?
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Post by RickJames on Dec 10, 2022 18:41:34 GMT -7
Hello everyone. I've been casually observing and researching DrZ amps for awhile. Started getting pretty excited about a Maz18 mkII. But recently learned more about the Z Plus, and I am hoping this is a great match for me. I've been wanting a smaller watt very clean amp in 12" combo format. This will supplement my original '87 Silver Jubilee. I realized I have all the crunch and gain I'll ever need from the Marshall. So I want to enjoy some sparkling cleans with magic in amp reverb from something else. Found a nice deal on a 2021 Z Plus Studio Combo with the Z12 speaker. Being shipped from CA. Cautiously optimistic it will get here safely. Wonder if I should go ahead and order a full set of tubes as back up/ just in case. With the cathode bias, I assume they are just plug and play. Anyway, looking forward to it. And I'll share my experience. Scheduled to arrive Tuesday 12/13. Keith Best of luck, welcome to Z-Talk, great people, great place…….. also the Jetta could be a great option as well!
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Dec 10, 2022 22:11:24 GMT -7
Great amp. Just gigged mine last night. You might as well start planning on your next potato chip, I mean Z-amp. They’re addicting.
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Post by purpletele on Dec 11, 2022 8:22:52 GMT -7
Keith, That is a great amp! A new set of tubes is good insurance. I would recommend purchasing a nice NOS rectifier or the Shugang that is recommended to have on hand. I am going to buy an NOS Ax7 and an NOS At7 for V1 and V3, as recommended by another member a couple of days ago. Thx! What would be examples of NOS rectifier and preamp tubes that folks often consider and like? I have a General Electric rectifier that my tube guy found for me. Not sure of the year or specific model number.
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Post by dcarver on Dec 11, 2022 14:05:46 GMT -7
Hi Keith. Welcome to the forum. I think I saw the Z-Plus you are referring to on Reverb. There was one in San Marcos Cal. for $1500 shipped that I would have jumped on had I not just picked up a minty Z-Plus from another forum member. $1500 shipped is as low as I've seen a Z-Plus go for in quite a while. Smokin Deal !
I really don't think you will need a full set of tubes. Pre amp tubes last a long time typically. Play the amp first and see if any of them are microphonic, or need replacing. A spare set of matched 6V6 output tubes would be good to have on hand though.
NOS 5AR4's are getting really rare unless you can spend $200 and up. However, you'll probably never need to buy another rectifier. They last for years (usually).
In Case you missed it, here's a great AMA on the Z-Plus when she first came out. Cheers
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 11, 2022 17:30:31 GMT -7
Good choice, I love my Z Plus. Welcome to the forum!
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Post by arrestedxdev on Dec 11, 2022 19:34:19 GMT -7
Hi Keith. Welcome to the forum. I think I saw the Z-Plus you are referring to on Reverb. There was one in San Marcos Cal. for $1500 shipped that I would have jumped on had I not just picked up a minty Z-Plus from another forum member. $1500 shipped is as low as I've seen a Z-Plus go for in quite a while. Smokin Deal ! I really don't think you will need a full set of tubes. Pre amp tubes last a long time typically. Play the amp first and see if any of them are microphonic, or need replacing. A spare set of matched 6V6 output tubes would be good to have on hand though. NOS 5AR4's are getting really rare unless you can spend $200 and up. However, you'll probably never need to buy another rectifier. They last for years (usually). In Case you missed it, here's a great AMA on the Z-Plus when she first came out. Cheers Yes, that is indeed the one I got (minus $100) - so I do feel lucky to score a REALLY good deal. The seller is trying to cover the expense of a vintage 65 DR apparently. Anyway, he was very nice thru Reverb comms. I'll keep my fingers crossed she gets here smoothly. Thanks for the advice on the tubes. I'll definitely just check things out and make sure the amp is sounding fine before throwing anything else at it. 2 days to go...
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Post by arrestedxdev on Dec 12, 2022 12:00:07 GMT -7
So much good news! UPS delivered 1 day earlier than originally scheduled. Then, UPS delivered 4 hours earlier than earliest estimated time (which is great, because no one else is home!!!).
I think I'm in love. But there's a problem... I can't find any settings that I don't like it. I'm not used to failing, but in this regard, I'm a failure! :-)
Seriously this Z-Plus is making me so happy right now. I feel like I've tried out a lot, already in a short amount of time. Volume low, Master up (full power) so much clean headroom. Raise Volume, reduce Master a bit starts to get grindy, especially with fine-tuning Middle and Cut. Get all the same with Half Power... but if I start to really move the Volume up, it's gets even more "sing-y". Then..... engage the EQ Bypass.... weeeeeee. And, I can do basically all of this at all volume levels. This is just what I wanted: something that is engaging and inspiring while clean then gives room (available to do just with guitar volume depending on all other settings) to get to that creamy lead. Tried OD pedal for light boost, check! Tried Phaser both in loop and in front, check! Do I need to buy a Trem pedal just to have with this Z-Plus??
Hope this wasn't too many cliches and guitar/gear words.
And, I hope maybe this thread can help anyone else that is even considering this particular amp!
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 12, 2022 12:14:48 GMT -7
Congratulations on your new Z and welcome to the forum.
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Post by dcarver on Dec 12, 2022 12:24:26 GMT -7
First you find a smokin deal, then it gets there early, and NOBODY IS HOME so you can crank it ! Wow! That's a 3-way parlay. You must be living right. Seriously though, congrats on a great amp. I think the Z-Plus is a unique and special amp. Nothing else on the market quite like it. It does so many things really well. And yes, you need more pedals.
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Post by RickJames on Dec 12, 2022 12:29:00 GMT -7
Congrats!!
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