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Post by tfunster on Nov 18, 2023 19:39:35 GMT -7
Hi all - I currently have a Maz 18 MK II (with reverb and a G12H30) that's been my main gigging amp for the last 3 years. It's a fantastic amp, but the Z-28 MK II has got me really curious.
I'm more of an American/Fender-y guy at heart, and while the Maz 18 can certainly be sculpted for different tones, to my ears, it skews towards the British sound and has a high-mid/upper range clarity that's certainly addicting addicting, but I sometimes find myself wanting a bit "warmer" and more "American" style tone.
For the folks that have played both amps, was wondering if the Z-28 is maybe a step towards the direction I'm looking to go?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
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Post by nick0 on Nov 18, 2023 22:38:40 GMT -7
Welcome!
Short answer is yes. I would say so. That said, the Z28mkII is a really unique sounding amp and does its own thing. It is really impressive! Don't let the controls fool you. You can cover a lot of ground!
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Zed
Full Member
Posts: 183
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Post by Zed on Nov 19, 2023 7:59:11 GMT -7
I have both. Maz is tighter, punchier, more gain and chime at times. Definitely dials up a fender “ish” sound but is tighter, punchier fender. 28 is fender all day long on It’s own but can do pretty much anything with the right pedal. Bigger sound, “3D” room filling and sits well in a mix. Both are great. I like running both together for really great sounds!
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Post by Stephen on Nov 19, 2023 10:20:17 GMT -7
I have both too. I like the Maz better with a Stratocaster. I like the Z-28 MKII combo with a Gibson. And I get more compliments when I use the Z-28.
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Zed
Full Member
Posts: 183
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Post by Zed on Nov 19, 2023 12:09:53 GMT -7
I have both too. I like the Maz better with a Stratocaster. I like the Z-28 MKII combo with a Gibson. And I get more compliments when I use the Z-28. I second this. I REALLY like p-90’s I go this amp. I have a 54 les Paul jr and the pickup just sounds the best into this amp….
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Post by tfunster on Nov 19, 2023 17:43:46 GMT -7
I have both too. I like the Maz better with a Stratocaster. I like the Z-28 MKII combo with a Gibson. And I get more compliments when I use the Z-28. My main guitar is a Strat style. Would you be able to go into more detail on why you prefer your Strat with the Maz over the Z-28? Thanks!
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on Nov 19, 2023 18:31:15 GMT -7
I have both too. I like the Maz better with a Stratocaster. I like the Z-28 MKII combo with a Gibson. And I get more compliments when I use the Z-28. My main guitar is a Strat style. Would you be able to go into more detail on why you prefer your Strat with the Maz over the Z-28? Thanks! My Strats absolutely love my 2 Z-28 MKII's.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 19, 2023 19:21:34 GMT -7
I have both too. I like the Maz better with a Stratocaster. I like the Z-28 MKII combo with a Gibson. And I get more compliments when I use the Z-28. My main guitar is a Strat style. Would you be able to go into more detail on why you prefer your Strat with the Maz over the Z-28? Thanks! The best tone I ever had was a SG and a Z-28. I just hear that in my head and try to re-create it. I’ll have to give my Stratocaster another shot with my Z-28 MKII!
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Post by nick0 on Nov 19, 2023 21:21:56 GMT -7
The Z28mkII can sound a little on the American side running clean. Gain it up and it'll sound a little more British. But it has a unique sound. I can't really say it does this sound or that sound because it is really unique. It has a huge sound stage. It can cover a lot of ground. It can handle pedals really well. It stays tight and defined no matter what you throw in front of it.
Are you after a specific tone, or you just want to know if the Z28mkII is more American sounding than the Maz18mkII? Because I think either of them set clean with a Strat can vibe fender no problem, especially depending on speaker choice.
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Post by CanadianBacon on Dec 23, 2023 9:37:40 GMT -7
I own both the Maz 18 NR Mk2 and the Z28 Mk2 combo. The maz definitely leans on the british side of things in regards to tones. More chime, edgier and more bite in the mids, etc. The Z28 is an overall more rounded tone. Definitely very fender-y when clean, but when you start pushing it some british chime starts creeping in. Not the same kind as the maz, more tamed and rounded chime...kind of jangly. The Z28 has its own thing going on vs a deluxe reverb or other fender amps, and I much prefer it to the fender amps.
Takes any pedal that you throw at it and sounds great. The I have a tele, strat & Es335 and it sounds great with all of those guitars.
There is definitely some overlap in tones with the two amps, but to dumb it down I'd say the maz is 80% british and 20% fender, while the Z28 is the opposite. They pair well together in a stereo setup.
You won't be disappointed with it.
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Post by helmi on Dec 23, 2023 10:06:40 GMT -7
No sarcasm intended, but when one says a “Fendery” sound, which Fender sound in particular are we speaking of? most tweeds, brownface’s, and blackface’s have quite different tones from each other. I love when people say something has a “Marshall” sound. well there’s a dozen different “Marshall” sounds!
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Post by CanadianBacon on Dec 23, 2023 12:35:47 GMT -7
Should have specified - when I said blackface fenders in particular the deluxe reverb
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Post by hardxray on Jan 15, 2024 9:54:18 GMT -7
Adding to this thread:
Love my Z28 MK II with humbuckers, and initially was not satisfied with my Strat tone. Refusing to accept that, I was determined to find settings to make my strat "happy" through it. Long story short, it wasn't the amp. It was my pickup height for my start pickups.
After fiddling for about 2 hours, slightly tuning the pickup height - bass and treble side, for each pickup, I hit "eureka" where very string and every fretted note had this literally alive/open (no blanket on amp, dull dead sounding notes) feeling under the finger.
The end result is that my strat pickups are raised "higher" than I have ever played it, and each pickup is unique in height, - before there seemed to be a uniformity in height from neck, middle to bridge, but all were generally lower than now (this sounded great with other amps). All three are a bit different now, but the guitar is "tuned" to the amp.
Now like the humbuckers, the Strat sounds great in many settings on the amp controls.
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