6 months with the Z28 MK II: a masterpiece!
Jul 6, 2023 18:38:02 GMT -7
DRZ, doctorice, and 10 more like this
Post by internetuser on Jul 6, 2023 18:38:02 GMT -7
Years ago I used to spend more time reading about gear and listening to clips than actually playing, which is weird and bad. But I feel like this amp is so special I needed to log on to Z-Talk and share my thoughts.
Some people like the great Roger Mayer have talked about how there are some real significant flaws/downsides with tube amplification than we'd like to admit. I think they're half right, but I don't blame tubes as a technology, I blame the 12AX7. I know depending on the gear and playing style, some players won't run into the limitations of the 12AX7, but most DO run into it, and the problem is we've all just gotten used to the unpleasant 12AX7 sound! But since I've gotten used to the Z28 MK II in the past 6 months (I've been playing it exclusively), when I tried my Z-Plus and my little Swart the other day, it sounded like there's just something kinda wrong with them... There's nothing wrong with them in the technical sense, I have lots of different types of 12AX7's to swap. It's just a flawed tube for most players! The Z28 MK II and Docs other EF86 amps basically fix a fundamental flaw of tube guitar amps. I almost see the Z28 as a "reference" guitar amp for actual music. This is how your guitar really sounds, this is how that pedal actually sounds. It's so clear and detailed yet pleasing and musical. There's a sweetness to it that reminds me of a 6V6 amp. It sounds beautiful with any guitar, any cab, any pedal. It's turning me into a pedal guy and I was never a pedal guy! Is the Z28 MKII a gateway drug for becoming a pedal guy? It looks that way 😂 I have this Swart fuzzy boost I love and it just sounds so much better... I could go on and on but I'll wrap it up.
If you told me 10 or 15 years ago that in 2022, truly new, original sounding tube amps would be coming out that have improved upon the old greats, I would have laughed at you. I would say the Z28 MK II is in the same league as Trainwrecks and Dumbles. Not enough people are talking about this amp! Doc, thank you for making this amp.
Some people like the great Roger Mayer have talked about how there are some real significant flaws/downsides with tube amplification than we'd like to admit. I think they're half right, but I don't blame tubes as a technology, I blame the 12AX7. I know depending on the gear and playing style, some players won't run into the limitations of the 12AX7, but most DO run into it, and the problem is we've all just gotten used to the unpleasant 12AX7 sound! But since I've gotten used to the Z28 MK II in the past 6 months (I've been playing it exclusively), when I tried my Z-Plus and my little Swart the other day, it sounded like there's just something kinda wrong with them... There's nothing wrong with them in the technical sense, I have lots of different types of 12AX7's to swap. It's just a flawed tube for most players! The Z28 MK II and Docs other EF86 amps basically fix a fundamental flaw of tube guitar amps. I almost see the Z28 as a "reference" guitar amp for actual music. This is how your guitar really sounds, this is how that pedal actually sounds. It's so clear and detailed yet pleasing and musical. There's a sweetness to it that reminds me of a 6V6 amp. It sounds beautiful with any guitar, any cab, any pedal. It's turning me into a pedal guy and I was never a pedal guy! Is the Z28 MKII a gateway drug for becoming a pedal guy? It looks that way 😂 I have this Swart fuzzy boost I love and it just sounds so much better... I could go on and on but I'll wrap it up.
If you told me 10 or 15 years ago that in 2022, truly new, original sounding tube amps would be coming out that have improved upon the old greats, I would have laughed at you. I would say the Z28 MK II is in the same league as Trainwrecks and Dumbles. Not enough people are talking about this amp! Doc, thank you for making this amp.