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Post by John H on Dec 30, 2023 13:04:01 GMT -7
Hello, gentlemen. I have an absolutely mint 2008 anniversary Z28 MK1 head and 12" cab for my office amp. It's gorgeous all around, but I have another all black Z28 head in my rehearsal room. I am really wanting to try out a Stang Ray. I know they're different animals, but are they worlds apart? I don't use any gain with my amps.. Purely clean pedal platforms. For the record, I'm a major Steve Miller nut.
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 30, 2023 15:00:25 GMT -7
I've owned both and they are different animals altogether. I still have the Z-28 MKI and it's my favorite Z model of the ones I've owned or played. The SR had the best non-Fenderish cleans of any amp I owned. It fell victim to my vintage Fender amp phase or I might still own it. Never used it with pedals. It's the only EL-84 amp I'd ever consider owning again. I'm sure others will have more recent\relevant input.
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Post by John on Dec 30, 2023 17:07:39 GMT -7
I've owned both.
Yes, they are about as far apart in tone as you can get. The only thing they have in common is the ef86 preamp tube, and both amps benefit from it's incredible dynamic input.
The Z-28 is very midrange dominant. Not a lot of deep/firm bass and not an amp with crispy highs. The Stangray is the opposite. It has very scooped mids. Deep firm bass and sparkling highs.
And both amps had opposite experiences with alone vs band:
I really didn't care for the Z-28 tone when playing alone in the basement. But playing with a band, it was awesome. Never in a million years would I have thought it was the same amp. I can't explain it. The Stangray was the opposite: It sounded great playing alone, but I didn't care for it as much when playing in a band. Probably due to the scooped mids...not something I normally like.
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Post by Ridgeback on Dec 30, 2023 19:31:56 GMT -7
John, this was my experience as well, except I like the Z-28 for home play. The Z-28 is defiantly in the mid heavy, small bottle Fender brownface camp (e.g. Brown Princeton on steroids).
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