Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

matt99camero

matt99camero

New member
I've been listening to clips of Dr. Zs, Matchless, Bogner, Badcats, etc... over and over and I am really digging the Dr. Z amps. All of them are great at what they do but the do but the Z keeps calling. I just want to hear about your experience with Dr. Z amps. What did you like, what didn't you like, which models did you like better than others. I'm looking to go with a combo, maybe the 2x10. Is an amp like the MAZ38 with 38 watts gonna be about the same volume wise as a 40 watt HRDx? I've never played through a hand wired class A amp so I'm don't know? I was thinking of maybe a lowered powered Z like the MAZ18 to get earlier breakup. I'm not looking for an extreme ammount of head room, I'd actually like it to break up pretty early. If I need sparkley clean I've got the HRDx. The tones I'm really looking for are from Brad Pasley to Keith Urban but I'd like it to be able to cover some classic rock stuff also. So one of their more versitile amps I guess. It's a 4 hour round trip but I am going to go to the only Z dealer in Oklahoma and play them to get first hand experience. They are also a Badcat dealer so I'll check those out as well. But I just wanted to get your thoughts on the Dr. Z line of amps.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I had a Route 66 and it was LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUDDDDDDDD!

I mean, ear bleedin' loud.

I played a Maz 38 one time and found it rather thin for some reason. It might have been due to the speaker cab.

Z makes some nice stuff, affordable in the world of boutique. I'd like to try a Carmen Ghia. It looks like an 18 watt Marshall type tone on paper. Never played one though.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I have tried a DR. Z Route 66 for a few days and as Scott F is saying, it IS loud. I just did not manage to get a good sound out of it at "normal" level, but when turned up, it is a mighty good amp. Very simplistic layout, but a ton of great tones inside. Havent tried any of their other models, though.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I'm sure he'll add some about it, but Luke Duke has a MAZ Jr. I don't think he has a single complaint about it. It too is very loud. It sounds very good on its own, and takes pedals well. It's easy to dial in the tone you're looking for for a variety of styles and tastes. From my experience hearing it and the little bit I've played through it, I'd reccommend it. They're great amps.

And he traded a Gibson LP Custom for it, if that tells you how well he liked it.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

Hey Matt!

First let me say that if you don't want to have a SERIOUS case of GAS don't drive out there! If you are close to the AR border just drive to Little Rock and give mine a go. (My apologies for not knowing where Duncan is)

D!ck is right, I don't have a complaint about my Z. It's a Maz Jr. 2X10 and as he said it is ear bleeding loud. The 10's just do a fantastic job of fitting in the mix and not creating the low end mud that you can get from the bass/guitar interaction. I've got some hotter tubes in it so my headroom is reduced from stock as well.

The layout is pretty easy Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, Master, Cut Reverb. The controls interact in a very unique manner. So it takes a bit of practice to get used to the controls, but once you are you can make the amp scream, growl, or howl. I could give you some suggestions, or you could just start with all the EQ at 12:00.

As was said earlier these amps sound good when driven hard. However most Apt. complexes don't like that too much. In front of mine I'm using my pup booster, and a SD-1. At low volumes I'll use both at once to get a really thick overdriven sound. The amp is somewhere in between a Vox and Marshall tonally. That heavy handed mid slap of a Vox, coupled with a Marshall bite.

Being a Class A amp it also takes pedals well (as I'm sure you've gathered) if you want some more customisation you can send it back in for an FX loop, or more gain (if you have the no reverb model).

As far as the Maz Sr. sounding thin, or weak I'll volunteer 2 reasons, A. The crazy EQ wasn't really dialed in for the cab, B. They used to have a presence knob, but they re-engineered it for the cut knob b/c it had much better results.

Fire away any questions you might have.

Luke
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I don't want something that is loud. My HRDx is actually a little too much volume wise. I'm not a every weekend giger(yet) but we play a couple times a semester at school. The highest I've ever needed to turn up at a gig was to a 3 on the volume. I'm wanting something I can get turned up a bit more, get the tubes cooking.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

Don't get me wrong the amp is very useable at ANY volume, but I felt the need to clarify that this doesn't sound like a regular 20 watt amp.

Depending how much gain you are using, and your signal chain you might find that you can get your tubes cooking perfectly at whisper levels.

Luke
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

If the dealer you visit has a Bad Cat Cub (with or without reverb), then be sure to give it a spin, too. I love mine. The active and interactive tone stack takes some experimenting, but works extremely well and can always be disabled with a flip of a switch. Likewise, the master volume works well and can be disabled. The tones can range from voxy chime to thick grind, and it has the biggest low end of any 15 watter I've heard (mineis a 1 x 12 reverb version). I think that if you can compare it side-by-side with a Dr. Z Maz Jr and/or Carmen Ghia, then you'll find one or the other will probably deliver what you want in a good 15-20 watter to last a life time.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

luke said pretty much everything i can think of, i have a route 66 and also a kt45 (trying to sell this one though) i love them both but the kt 45 isn't quite the right sound for me. i like the kt66's in the route 66.

You can get great tones out of both of my amps without turning them up and i can get them both to twang pretty well with my tele. but, also like scott and luke said these amps can get loud. don't want to scare you away from them at all. they are well worth the price and the tone controls act as seperate gain stages so you can get some really cool sounds by messing with those.

as a testament to z's amps i had one stolen and it took me all of two weeks to go buy another even though i couldn't really afford it.
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I know even the MAZ Jr is not going to be a bedroom quiet amp. How much head room does a MAZ Jr. have? In a small/medium size bar gig are you able to turn it up loud enough to get it to break up? Or am I underestimating the Z power? Is it going to be as loud as my HRDx? But maybe like you said you can get it to sound great a lower volumes also. I'm just going by the amps I've played, which are nothing like a Z. I'm just gonna have to play them for myself, but thanks for the suggestions and help. Luke I just went through Little Rock about 2 months ago, it's quite a drive from here, I'm an hour and a half south of Oklahoma City but thanks for
 
Last edited:
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

It has good headroom, but it was too much for my taste. I had to dime the gain, and set the master about 9-10 o'clock. But true to form, the higher the master goes, the thicker and more overdriven the sound. I've had great results with my pup booster though. It doesn't change the OD character it just breaks it up sooner.

I'd honestly say that when cranked it's louder than a HRDx. Of course mine has 2X10s, but a dealer told me that the 10's sound better than the same head with a twelve. I'm eventually going to get a closed back 1X12, so I can have a mini stack.

Luke
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

+1 on the Carmen Ghia.....very intriguing little 18w Marshall vibe.

Go to the Dr Z site & play the video at the bottom of the Carmen Ghia page........super tasty !!!!! :32:
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

Howdy,

Test drove a Carmen Ghia with an ES-335 once a few years ago. The Dr.Z cab had a single Weber AlNico 12-inch speaker. This amp put a big smile on my face; very touch sensitive. Loved it!

Eggman
 
Last edited:
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I've got a Dr. Z Maz 18 through a Z-Best 2x12 and that thing is a blast! It's one of my keeping for a lifetime amp. I can do anything I wanna do with that amp and 18 watts with a master volume (one of the best master volumes I've ever heard) is perfect for every situation.

Dr. Z Amps Forum
 
Re: Dr. Z amps, your experience with them?

I had a MAZ 38, 2 x12" combo that was loaded with the Celestion Alnico Blue speakers. It was a great sounding amp, and it likes to be loud! I only play at home so it was too much for the house. I traded my MAZ 38 for a pair of G&L, Asat's. I miss my Z, and will probably get either a Mini Z or one of the 18 watt models to replace it.

114_1410.jpg


Sprinter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

uOpt
What strings and picks are y'all using?
2 3 4
Replies
74
Views
3K
Solarflares
S
C
Check out this hot piece of ash
2
Replies
36
Views
575
ehdwuld
ehdwuld
S
Your Favorite Tubes
2 3
Replies
59
Views
2K
JMP/HBE
JMP/HBE
blakejcan
help with this strat serial number
Replies
6
Views
172
Artie
Artie
Rex_Rocker
String gauge to try Drop Bb out?
Replies
6
Views
378
Seashore
S
Back
Top