New amp

Luke Duke

PRSlustologist
Well I sold off my Dr. Z Maz Jr. Reverb and picked up a Dr. Z Route 66 with a Z-best cabinet.

What a great amp. Anyone looking for a JTM-45 type of sound that breaks up faster and gets a bit nastier should check one of these out.

The 66 has an EF86 in the front end instead of a 12AX7. This makes for more gain and a unique sonic signature. Your guitar signal goes through the Bass/Treble controls BEFORE the EF86. So the higher you can stand the tone controls the more gain you have. The amp starts breaking up about 8-9 o'clock on the volume with the Treble about 2 o'clock and Bass around 1 o'clock. The signal then goes to a 5751 (or other 12AX7 variant) which pulls phase inverter duties. The 5751 feeds two VERY large KT66s. The amp is also tube rectified.

Like a JTM-45 this thing has a great GREAT clean tone. Very warm, plucky and full. The overdrive is fat and nasty.

The Doc's inspriation was the old JTM-45s with KT66s. He specifically references the Beano album.

The amp is 32 watts and LOUD! Especially with my Z-best. The Z-best has 1 Vintage 30 and one G12H30 (both are 100dB efficient). The cab is Thiele ported at 30Hz. Believe it or not the Z-best is as loud as my 4x12!

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You can see the grill cloth difference in these. I've got to change the grill cloth on the head....but i was thinking about going with hardwood, maybe a transparent plexiglass face that's engraved.

Please excuse the junk in the floor from the amp work and string changing going on. lol

I realize lots of guys aren't familiar with Dr. Zs so I figured I'd try to get clips up in a timely manner. One with the LP one with the strat. The amp is running the GT KT66s, old Wing C EF86, and JJ (IIRC) 12ax7 instead of 5751.

Luke
 
Re: New amp

the 66 is my favorite z. big meaty tones with good detail.
great score luke
 
Re: New amp

tone4days said:
hey bud - enjoy the new amp ... great tone indeed

t4d
Thanks Bill!

the 66 is my favorite z. big meaty tones with good detail.
great score luke

Good description!

Lots of low end grunt too. The Doc. isn't lying when he talks about lows that'll hit you in the gut while staying tight.

Luke
 
Re: New amp

Sounds like it would be fantastic indeed, but I've got most of it's sound covered already with the Edana. If Scott_F wasn't into building amps, the route 66 is definitely what I would have bought though. Nothing in the world sounds like cranked KT-66 tubes. Tight, thick and syrupy sweet. If I could only find a woman like that...
 
Re: New amp

Nice, throaty sound with a deep bottom. Do another LP clip with the drive taken down just a notch. I bet you'll get that classic Cream tone.

- Keith
 
Re: New amp

Nice, throaty sound with a deep bottom. Do another LP clip with the drive taken down just a notch. I bet you'll get that classic Cream tone.

- Keith

It's sooo funny you mention that!

I thought about doing a snippet of Crossroads!

Luke
 
Re: New amp

The Route 66 is my favorite Dr. Z as well. I absolutely love that amp. One thing about Dr. Z amps is that you've got to try before you buy. They all sound good on paper, but some of them sound horrible to my ears. And some, like the Rt 66, sound amazing.

I usually see that amp in black/saltpepper, but yours looks sweet in the cream/oxblood.

One good compliment on the Route 66 is from Mike Fuller of Fulltone. He said something like "it's the only amp made after 1972 that I love."
 
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Re: New amp

Ah Wolfwoode!!
Dats a nice amp!

YES YES!!!

Rid I KNEW you'd get it if no one else did! :friday:


Gearjoneser said:
The Route 66 is my favorite Dr. Z as well. I absolutely love that amp. One thing about Dr. Z amps is that you've got to try before you buy. They all sound good on paper, but some of them sound horrible to my ears. And some, like the Rt 66, sound amazing.

I usually see that amp in black/saltpepper, but yours looks sweet in the cream/oxblood.

One good compliment on the Route 66 is from Mike Fuller of Fulltone. He said something like "it's the only amp made after 1972 that I love."

Which one sounded horrible to you Joe? For me it was between the Rt66, Z28, and Galaxie. The Galaxie is the only one I could see taking the Rt.66's place. I only say that because the concept is so intriguing. Oh, and the Fender style plug-in mounted in the back. :D

One thing about the Rt66 that makes it interesting is that it runs ultralinear. Not the crappy SF ultralinear stereo sound, don't worry. The proof is in the pudding I'd say. I think somehow someway that's where the stupid loud volume comes from.

Mike Fuller's props are definitely something to be proud of, make no mistake.

Luke
 
Re: New amp

What turned you away from the z28? I'm looking for a nice 6v6 amp and that's one that I'm considering, although the reviews seem mixed.

It was just a matter of this one becoming available. The 28 has some great tones. It's also not lacking in the bass department. Christian said it sounded (to him) more akin to a Plexi than the 66. The thing is both amps have VERY similiar architecture and behaviors.

Luke
 
Re: New amp

Ah. Sweet... Very sweet. Very thick and great tones out of that thing!
 
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