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Post by driventone on Feb 19, 2023 14:32:13 GMT -7
I’m looking into another Z amp, and I’m leaning toward the Cure. Hoping to get some advice.
I only play at home at mostly low volumes, or the occasional jam here and there. After years of chasing the Monza, I finally picked one up about a year ago and had it updated at Z’s shop with the master volume mod.
In the past, I was never a fan of pedals, especially for distortion. However, around the same time I picked up the Monza, I started my first pedal board - I’ve got an OCD, JHS Bonsai (multi-tube screamer circuits), a Wampler Plexi Drive, a reverb, an MXR Carbon Copy, an octave pedal and a looper.
I love the Monza for what it does. It hd the best sounding mid to high-gain pure tube distortion of any amp I’ve played. However, when I back it off to try and get it clean, I haven’t found that it really likes my pedals, especially reverb, since there’s always a bit of dirt in the sound. The Monza is staying with me, but I’d like to add a Z amp that plays well with pedals.
The amp I have now that takes my pedals best is a black face Fender Vibro Champ with a Weber G8C speaker. It has sparkly cleans, and sounds really good with the Plexi Drive got mid-gain and the OCD for high gain. I’d like to take it easy on that amp though due to its age - I don’t want to play it every day.
Ideally, I’d like to get cleans somewhere int he neighborhood of a black face Fender, and use the pedals for drive. I have narrowed things down to either a master volume Carmen Ghia, or a Cure. Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to play either, because because of the lack of Dr. Z Dealers in Southern California.
From my research, I am leaning toward the Cure. I especially like that there’s an effects loop, in case I want to use the drive in the amp with my reverb or delay pedals. But, am I overlooking the Ghia? The cleans I hear in videos are beautiful, and it also seems to play well with pedals.
Do any of you have an idea which one might be closer to the cleans I’m looking for? Any other input? Thank you for your help.
Ryan
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Post by "Z" Steve on Feb 19, 2023 14:50:07 GMT -7
I have a Cure and love it. Though I do not use the effects loop, I do play here at the house but also at church (at about 98 Db's at times) and in a cover band (loud 4 piece). The Cure has such a great Line level knob that allows for Master all the way up with Volume turned down for great cleans, or Volume turn up with Master down to get the non-pedal crunch desired. The Cure has been a great pedal platform with my Tim, Timmy, J Rockett Animal and GTO, and Jetter Gold. I have a Cannabis Rex speaker in my Cure to bring the highs down a bit, but YMMV. In full disclosure the Ghia is a Z amp I have never had but it's hard to argue with it's sales and it's reviews, but the Cure may be a better fit for your application.
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Post by Don A on Feb 19, 2023 15:22:55 GMT -7
I have a Cure and love it, though I think the Jetta, with its punchy clean tone, headroom, and Metro Zero Loss effects loop, would be a better choice as a pedal platform.
I use my Cure for more of a gritty sound (not as dirty as my Monza) with a Flint in the loop for reverb and tremolo.
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Post by nick0 on Feb 19, 2023 20:50:01 GMT -7
You looking for fender cleans in a small watt amp that plays well with pedals, it'd be foolish to get anything other than a Cure. I have Cure, Ghia (mv mod), Jetta, z plus, etc, etc... I love them all. However, for what you want, it's a Cure. Z plus would be a very close second choice. Good luck!
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Post by Russell B on Feb 19, 2023 21:12:24 GMT -7
The Cure all the way! It is my main amp and I run it pretty clean with all the pedals in front. Its a great sounding amp!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 20, 2023 7:33:47 GMT -7
Don't forget about the M12 - it was designed as a pedal platform. Clean without pedals and a monster with them.
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Post by LT on Feb 20, 2023 7:47:04 GMT -7
Cure is my main gig amp and I use it just as you describe. I do not use the loop though, so I can't comment on using verb/delay that way.
I had a Ghia and it is a fine amp, but the Cure leans more "American/BF" IMO.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Feb 20, 2023 8:38:07 GMT -7
I've had both. I like the Ghia better for the overall tone, but struggled with it as a play at home amp (although there is a 35th Anni in the works that will have a MV). As others have said, the Vol, Master Vol, and Level, controls gives the Cure a ton of flexibility. You will likely get what you need from it.
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Post by driventone on Feb 20, 2023 9:58:53 GMT -7
Thanks everyone, this was just what I wanted to hear about the Cure. As mentioned above, there’s a 35th Anniversary Ghia with a master in the works, and it may be a 1x10 (which my Monza is and I love). That was the main driver behind me considering the Ghia along with the Cure.
Don, thanks for suggesting the Jetta. The Metro Effects Loop definitely had me intrigued. But, I think that amp is a bit much for my needs.
I ordered a new Cure this morning! They couldn’t confirm whether it had 6V6’s or 5881’s, but they said it’s been in the warehouse since 4/2022. It looks like the 5881 changeover happened in about 11/2021, so that makes me think it probably has 5881’s in it. I’m guessing if it hit the warehouse in April, it had to be built in or after January 2022. I searched the forum and I couldn’t find posts about build dates and tube complements in the Cure - does anyone know by chance?
I’m happy either way!
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Post by nick0 on Feb 20, 2023 10:26:15 GMT -7
Congratulations! I've got an early 2017 model Cure I got new from a local dealer. It has the 6v6 and it sounds mega. Great with pedals. I've been told the 5881s will have more headroom and take pedals even better. So either way, your getting a killer amp. Let us know what you think!
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Post by Don A on Feb 20, 2023 13:22:07 GMT -7
Thanks everyone, this was just what I wanted to hear about the Cure. As mentioned above, there’s a 35th Anniversary Ghia with a master in the works, and it may be a 1x10 (which my Monza is and I love). That was the main driver behind me considering the Ghia along with the Cure. Don, thanks for suggesting the Jetta. The Metro Effects Loop definitely had me intrigued. But, I think that amp is a bit much for my needs. I ordered a new Cure this morning! They couldn’t confirm whether it had 6V6’s or 5881’s, but they said it’s been in the warehouse since 4/2022. It looks like the 5881 changeover happened in about 11/2021, so that makes me think it probably has 5881’s in it. I’m guessing if it hit the warehouse in April, it had to be built in or after January 2022. I searched the forum and I couldn’t find posts about build dates and tube complements in the Cure - does anyone know by chance? I’m happy either way! I assume that'll have 5881s in it. If you search the Cure area of the forum you might be able to narrow down the actual date- there were discussions here at the time.
Like yours, my Monza is also a 1x10 and I love it!
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Post by adam on Feb 21, 2023 16:55:56 GMT -7
I ordered a new Cure this morning! Congrats on the new Cure! Please let us know how you get on with it. Another Z I've never tried. This is probably pretty useless at this point, and I've probably posted this before and you may have seen it (apologies), but it's a demo with the Ghia and a quite a few pedals. Bottom line is all the Z amps work really well with pedals so I wouldn't worry about that for a second. As far as playing at a really low volume and having a pleasing, full sound, with no pedals, the Ghia is fantastic at that for me. It's also really fun to run it into a pretty loud 4x12, which can get pretty loud, but it's not that "holy **** this amps is way to loud" type of thing.
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Post by driventone on Feb 21, 2023 20:39:36 GMT -7
I ordered a new Cure this morning! Congrats on the new Cure! Please let us know how you get on with it. Another Z I've never tried. This is probably pretty useless at this point, and I've probably posted this before and you may have seen it (apologies), but it's a demo with the Ghia and a quite a few pedals. Bottom line is all the Z amps work really well with pedals so I wouldn't worry about that for a second. As far as playing at a really low volume and having a pleasing, full sound, with no pedals, the Ghia is fantastic at that for me. It's also really fun to run it into a pretty loud 4x12, which can get pretty loud, but it's not that "holy **** this amps is way to loud" type of thing. Hey Adam! Thanks for sharing! I also watched your other Ghia video, the 55 minute demo one. Great playing, very well done on both videos. And boy, the Ghia also takes pedals well. I definitely think I will own a Ghia at some point. Beautiful sounding amp. Hopefully I get the chance to try one sometime. Tough to come by here in California.
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Post by simpleton on Feb 22, 2023 0:10:59 GMT -7
I am here to late, but for the record…I think the Ghia and MONZA make one of the greatest 2 amp pairing possible. Ghia for cleans and pedals, MONZA for the drive sound that only it can seem to make.
The Cure will be a bit quieter than a Ghia and more in the Fender camp….but if you ever want a 2 amp set up with the MONZA- grab a Ghia!
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Post by driventone on Feb 23, 2023 22:33:30 GMT -7
New amp day! The Cure is here!
Build date 3/22, with 5881’s. I also got a Milkman F Stop from the same store to replace my cheap reverb pedal.
I was really busy with work so I didn’t get a lot of time to play but I really like the amp a lot so far. I plugged in a Les Paul with burstbuckers, and then another with P90’s. I had no trouble dialing in the tone that I was looking for, and then some. Beautiful cleans with a rich full low end (treble at 11 o’clock, mids at noon, and bass at about 3 o’clock, volume at 8:30, master on full). Honestly though, moving away from those settings still sounded good. I’m going to have to see what other tones are in there as I get to know it. I particularly loved the tones I got with the P90’s.
I ran three different drive pedals into it, and it took all of them very well. I really couldn’t believe how easily I could go from sparkly clean to a perfectly dialed heavy gain with my OCD or nice crunch with the Plexi Drive, and snap back and forth between clean and drive. With all the amps I’ve tried my board through before, I generally have to try and compensate and fiddle with knobs quite a bit to find a happy medium between the perfect clean and perfect drive, and I never get both where they’re perfect. But with the Cure, it was pretty easy.
Lastly, I opened the Milkman F Stop reverb and tremolo and plugged that in. Loved it. I sat and noodled for like a half hour - the reverb sounded beautiful through that amp. It reminded me of my dad - he collected black and silver face Fenders, and had a surf band.
I’m very happy with the Cure. This was exactly what I was looking for, at home volumes (even with the 5881’s), and I know it can get plenty loud too! Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
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Post by driventone on Feb 23, 2023 22:43:46 GMT -7
I forgot to mention - I completely forgot about the boost/tone stack bypass foot switch! Can’t wait to try that.
Interestingly, it came in an EarthQuaker Devices box, but no model number or anything on the box. I know they partnered with Dr. Z on the Z Drive - do they also make the foot switch for the Cure?
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Post by DRZ on Feb 24, 2023 1:57:01 GMT -7
I forgot to mention - I completely forgot about the boost/tone stack bypass foot switch! Can’t wait to try that. Interestingly, it came in an EarthQuaker Devices box, but no model number or anything on the box. I know they partnered with Dr. Z on the Z Drive - do they also make the foot switch for the Cure? Yes the LED variable FS is made by EQ for us. Z
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Post by nick0 on Feb 24, 2023 4:11:18 GMT -7
You're gonna love that amp even more as you get to spend more time with it! Glad you’re digging it!
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Post by Don A on Feb 24, 2023 7:41:29 GMT -7
I forgot to mention - I completely forgot about the boost/tone stack bypass foot switch! Can’t wait to try that. Interestingly, it came in an EarthQuaker Devices box, but no model number or anything on the box. I know they partnered with Dr. Z on the Z Drive - do they also make the foot switch for the Cure? When I demoed my Cure in the store before buying it, I didn't try the bypass footswitch. It's a great feature that can add grit or volume boost depending on the settings of the Volume and Master. -If the amp's Volume and Master are set low, the footswitch provides a noticeable increase in volume without getting much dirtier. -If the amp's Volume and Master are set higher, the footswitch provides a lot of dirt without as much of a perceivable increase in volume (that's how mine is set up). My Cure came with the old style footswitch with no LED. I bought the LED version a while ago.
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Post by driventone on Feb 26, 2023 22:38:58 GMT -7
I forgot to mention - I completely forgot about the boost/tone stack bypass foot switch! Can’t wait to try that. Interestingly, it came in an EarthQuaker Devices box, but no model number or anything on the box. I know they partnered with Dr. Z on the Z Drive - do they also make the foot switch for the Cure? Yes the LED variable FS is made by EQ for us. Z Thank you Doc! The foot switch is solid and beautifully made, just like the amp. I got a chance to try it out and I really like it. I had already gotten to know the amp without the tone stack bypass boost, and when I tried the pedal, I wasn’t expecting as much extra gain as it provided. Sounded great.
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Post by driventone on Feb 26, 2023 22:45:52 GMT -7
I forgot to mention - I completely forgot about the boost/tone stack bypass foot switch! Can’t wait to try that. -If the amp's Volume and Master are set higher, the footswitch provides a lot of dirt without as much of a perceivable increase in volume (that's how mine is set up). Thanks for the tip! I tried it with the Volume and Master set higher. I know I got the Cure because I was looking for nice cleans, but the higher gain sounds are fantastic too.
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Post by Don A on Feb 27, 2023 10:34:43 GMT -7
-If the amp's Volume and Master are set higher, the footswitch provides a lot of dirt without as much of a perceivable increase in volume (that's how mine is set up). Thanks for the tip! I tried it with the Volume and Master set higher. I know I got the Cure because I was looking for nice cleans, but the higher gain sounds are fantastic too. I don't set mine overly dirty, but not clean. Kinda edgy. I use the Cure how I used my 5E3 tweed Deluxe clone and would use a 6G3 brown Deluxe. The volume is set between around 11:00 with humbuckers and 1:00 with a Strat.
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Post by richiez on Jul 23, 2023 19:01:43 GMT -7
I have a Cure and love it. Though I do not use the effects loop, I do play here at the house but also at church (at about 98 Db's at times) and in a cover band (loud 4 piece). The Cure has such a great Line level knob that allows for Master all the way up with Volume turned down for great cleans, or Volume turn up with Master down to get the non-pedal crunch desired. The Cure has been a great pedal platform with my Tim, Timmy, J Rockett Animal and GTO, and Jetter Gold. I have a Cannabis Rex speaker in my Cure to bring the highs down a bit, but YMMV. In full disclosure the Ghia is a Z amp I have never had but it's hard to argue with its sales and its reviews, but the Cure may be a better fit for your application. Hi Steve!! I have a 6v6 Cure and was considering swapping the Z speaker for Cannabis Rex. Only had it a few days and have dialed it and may guitars in so the highs are not an issue as much as at first, and getting better every day. But rounding them off a little more would be nice. How much difference between the two speakers did you notice? I especially notice the harsh highs with the bypass engaged, as there's no cut knob like my MAZ 8 had. Thanks for any info you can provide.
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Post by stringbender1125 on Oct 22, 2023 20:27:27 GMT -7
This is the Cure being pushed by an Xotic RC Booster into a Nordland ODR-C (same builder of original Nobels). These little amps take pedals like a champ!
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Post by stringbender1125 on Oct 22, 2023 20:31:19 GMT -7
I’m looking into another Z amp, and I’m leaning toward the Cure. Hoping to get some advice. I only play at home at mostly low volumes, or the occasional jam here and there. After years of chasing the Monza, I finally picked one up about a year ago and had it updated at Z’s shop with the master volume mod. In the past, I was never a fan of pedals, especially for distortion. However, around the same time I picked up the Monza, I started my first pedal board - I’ve got an OCD, JHS Bonsai (multi-tube screamer circuits), a Wampler Plexi Drive, a reverb, an MXR Carbon Copy, an octave pedal and a looper. I love the Monza for what it does. It hd the best sounding mid to high-gain pure tube distortion of any amp I’ve played. However, when I back it off to try and get it clean, I haven’t found that it really likes my pedals, especially reverb, since there’s always a bit of dirt in the sound. The Monza is staying with me, but I’d like to add a Z amp that plays well with pedals. The amp I have now that takes my pedals best is a black face Fender Vibro Champ with a Weber G8C speaker. It has sparkly cleans, and sounds really good with the Plexi Drive got mid-gain and the OCD for high gain. I’d like to take it easy on that amp though due to its age - I don’t want to play it every day. Ideally, I’d like to get cleans somewhere int he neighborhood of a black face Fender, and use the pedals for drive. I have narrowed things down to either a master volume Carmen Ghia, or a Cure. Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to play either, because because of the lack of Dr. Z Dealers in Southern California. From my research, I am leaning toward the Cure. I especially like that there’s an effects loop, in case I want to use the drive in the amp with my reverb or delay pedals. But, am I overlooking the Ghia? The cleans I hear in videos are beautiful, and it also seems to play well with pedals. Do any of you have an idea which one might be closer to the cleans I’m looking for? Any other input? Thank you for your help. Ryan See the clip above! They love drive pedals, fuzz pedals, delay pedals, all pedals that I’ve hit it with sound fantastic!!
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Post by driventone on Oct 23, 2023 22:05:19 GMT -7
See the clip above! They love drive pedals, fuzz pedals, delay pedals, all pedals that I’ve hit it with sound fantastic!! I’ve had my Cure for 8 months now, and I concur! It gets along with every pedal I’ve used with it. And it also sounds great without pedals too. Excellent amp, I’m very happy with it. Thanks again everyone!
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