|
|
Post by The Fifth Column on Sept 30, 2023 11:50:11 GMT -7
Hi all, hope everyone is doing well.
I definitely don't need any more amps, but from what I've heard about the Z80, it's really got my interest piqued and I'm thinking I'm gonna have to get one. Do we have final production specs? How about a release date? I don't know too much about the Vox it's based on. Is it an EF86 amp or normal 12AX7? The EF86 Z amps are my favorites but that's not a requirement.
Also I heard that it's going to be 4 individually cathode biased EL34s. This means the Z80 won't require matched quads right? In fact, couldn't it even take say a pair of Tung Sol EL34s and a pair of JJ EL34s? What about something like a pair of EL34s and a pair of 6CA7s? I have a weird thing for amps that aren't super picky with tubes and have some variety in terms of what they can use so this is pretty appealing to me. I can see some interesting experiments that would be fun to try out.
Just curious to wrap my head around this one so I know if need to start putting aside some funds. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Oct 1, 2023 4:52:01 GMT -7
The Z-80’s inspiration comes from the Vox AC100 MKI. Years back Doc built an early version for Brad Paisley to see if he could make a version that had the tone DNA but also to fix some of the shortfalls of the Vox design (by shortfalls I mean things that gave it a reputation for not being reliable operationally). The new version of the Z-80 has some tweaks over the original with the main thing that’s noticeable on the front panel being a mid control. I can’t answer the bias/matched quad query. Here’s a link to some info on the Vox amp for some basic info on the circuit the Z-80 was derived (and improved) from. www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac100mkI_hood_215.html |
|
|
|
Z80
Oct 1, 2023 6:23:10 GMT -7
Post by The Fifth Column on Oct 1, 2023 6:23:10 GMT -7
Thanks for the follow up and linking that; pretty interesting read. I don't recall another amp off hand having a 12AU7 in the PI, but I'm no expert. A mid control and better reliability both sound like nice improvements though, along with the Doc's normal tone magic of course.
I saw some of the clips of BP playing that early version I think. Was one of the things that got me interested. Plus I don't really have an amp with that Vox kind of voice and I think I'd prefer the Z80 to the upcoming X-Ray just because I tend to prefer EL34s to EL84s broadly speaking.
Still I'm sure both will sound great. I'll cross my fingers it's coming out soon. Always exciting to see new Z designs.
|
|
|
|
Z80
Oct 24, 2023 6:40:46 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by DocMartin on Oct 24, 2023 6:40:46 GMT -7
Any idea when we will be seeing these at dealers for sale? I keep looking but haven’t seen one yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by DRZ on Oct 24, 2023 10:17:32 GMT -7
Any idea when we will be seeing these at dealers for sale? I keep looking but haven’t seen one yet. Hopefully by mid November. I'm building as fast as I can. Have two on bench right now that I should get back to and get off the internet ! Z |
|
|
|
Z80
Oct 24, 2023 13:18:21 GMT -7
via mobile
Fabio likes this
Post by DocMartin on Oct 24, 2023 13:18:21 GMT -7
Any idea when we will be seeing these at dealers for sale? I keep looking but haven’t seen one yet. Hopefully by mid November. I'm building as fast as I can. Have two on bench right now that I should get back to and get off the internet ! Z Awesome, thank you for the update! I’m looking forward to this one. |
|
|
|
Z80
Nov 3, 2023 7:03:21 GMT -7
Post by texaspicker11 on Nov 3, 2023 7:03:21 GMT -7
It's ALIVE!
|
|
|
|
Z80
Nov 9, 2023 11:13:39 GMT -7
Post by reverendkansas on Nov 9, 2023 11:13:39 GMT -7
Hmm.. what should I sell to make this happen?  |
|
|
|
Z80
Nov 9, 2023 13:42:02 GMT -7
Post by texaspicker11 on Nov 9, 2023 13:42:02 GMT -7
Can anyone tell me the difference between "individually cathode biased" and "parallel single ended"
|
|
|
|
Post by frankie on Nov 9, 2023 13:51:33 GMT -7
Can anyone tell me the difference between "individually cathode biased" and "parallel single ended" Parallel single ended is two output tubes (or more) that are outputting the entire signal in parallel. The waveform is handled by one single tube, then another is added in a parallel signal path, which increases the power. Individually cathode biased means there is a resistor for each tube. In many cathode based designs, tubes share cathode resistors. In this amp, each tube has it's own cathode for it's bias. This makes the amp more stable in terms of output (more output), which imparts a different response and harmonic character. It's closer to a fixed bias feel, but not entirely fixed bias, as it retains some of the qualities of cathode bias (the harmonic richness and compression of the output stage). So the former relates to bias, and the latter relates to output. The Z-80 is individually cathode biased and it's output section is Class A/B Push/Pull. |
|
|
|
Post by DRZ on Nov 9, 2023 13:54:54 GMT -7
Can anyone tell me the difference between "individually cathode biased" and "parallel single ended" Individual Cathode Biased = each tube has it's own separate cathode Bias resistor , as in the Z 80 there are four cathode bias resistors one for each EL 34 . Parallel single ended = two output tubes wired in parallel , connected in single ended true Class A configuration. Z |
|
|
|
Z80
Nov 9, 2023 14:16:04 GMT -7
Post by texaspicker11 on Nov 9, 2023 14:16:04 GMT -7
Can anyone tell me the difference between "individually cathode biased" and "parallel single ended" Parallel single ended is two output tubes (or more) that are outputting the entire signal in parallel. The waveform is handled by one single tube, then another is added in a parallel signal path, which increases the power. Individually cathode biased means there is a resistor for each tube. In many cathode based designs, tubes share cathode resistors. In this amp, each tube has it's own cathode for it's bias. This makes the amp more stable in terms of output (more output), which imparts a different response and harmonic character. It's closer to a fixed bias feel, but not entirely fixed bias, as it retains some of the qualities of cathode bias (the harmonic richness and compression of the output stage). So the former relates to bias, and the latter relates to output. The Z-80 is individually cathode biased and it's output section is Class A/B Push/Pull. Thank you! |
|
|
|
Z80
Nov 9, 2023 14:16:17 GMT -7
Post by texaspicker11 on Nov 9, 2023 14:16:17 GMT -7
Can anyone tell me the difference between "individually cathode biased" and "parallel single ended" Individual Cathode Biased = each tube has it's own separate cathode Bias resistor , as in the Z 80 there are four cathode bias resistors one for each EL 34 . Parallel single ended = two output tubes wired in parallel , connected in single ended true Class A configuration. Z Thank you sir! |
|
|
|
Post by The Fifth Column on Nov 9, 2023 18:10:10 GMT -7
Welp I just put down my down payment on one. Everything I've heard so far sounds awesome, so I'm excited.
|
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Nov 9, 2023 19:34:26 GMT -7
|
|
