ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Kevincharles

Kevincharles

New member
ive heard a little talk about these monster solid state amps. anyone thinking about getting it? its under 300 dollars, puts out 121 Db, is 9 lbs, and the size of a lunchbox. theres only two youtube videos on it as of right now, neither show how much distortion is can handle.


i have a 15 watt THD univalve and i want to run another head with it that has more power...this might be it! plus theyre both really small so i could set them side by side atop my 4x12 :D


opinions?
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

i have never heard a solid state guitar amp that sounds good...what makes this one any different?
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

for nearly 3 bones, I need more than a 6.5" speaker and a "tone" knob.
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

My understanding is that you want to add some power to the univalve/4x12 rig?

Option #1
Sell the univalve.
Buy a Bivalve.

Option #2
Buy a solidstate power amp
Rewire the 4x12 to be in stereo
Slave the bivalve into the power amp.
Each amps output to 2x12
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Kevincharles said:
ive heard a little talk about these monster solid state amps. anyone thinking about getting it? its under 300 dollars, puts out 121 Db, is 9 lbs, and the size of a lunchbox. theres only two youtube videos on it as of right now, neither show how much distortion is can handle.


i have a 15 watt THD univalve and i want to run another head with it that has more power...this might be it! plus theyre both really small so i could set them side by side atop my 4x12 :D


opinions?
Click to expand...


Hi Kevin, this is Ken from ZT Amplifiers. I appreciate your thoughts here, and others on the thread. The people at ZT are hardcore tone quest slaves. We are also dedicated to using all the science and tech availabe to use to get the sounds we want from smaller and more affordable packages.

So here's and idea that would help me, help you and help the others on the board, if you are up for it.

I'll send you a Lunchbox to try for a month+. Put it through its paces, judge it to any standard you feel is relevant. You like enough, I'll give it to you for really cheap, like $150 dealer cost. You don't like it, send it back, free of charge.

The only thing is that I would ask you to do is write some fair comments here about how the Lunchbox did or didn't work, so I can learn from them. Up for it?

-K. Kantor

ken.kantor@ztamplifiers.com
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Thats some marketing tactic.

Someone should take the gentleman up on it?
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

As have probably all of us...haha.. Im anxious to hear it.. Ive tried alot of practice amps . I have a smokey which is better than I imagined, but it really needs a volume control so you can get gain at volume. Ive had the mini fender twins. I currently use a Hughes and Kettner blue 30 and pv classic 30. the classic is too much for practice really, considering my play time is the wee hours when spouse and kids are sleeping..
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Ken,

I'm so excited to try this guy out! Should be here on Tuesday. I'll chime in with my thoughts after putting it through it's paces a few different ways.

I just found out that I'll be playing right before a Mr. Phil Keaggy at a festival in three weeks. Hopefully he'll get an earful of the Lunchbox, provided I don't melt and cry like a little girl knowing that HE is hearing my playing.

Reporting back soon......

Thanks again!!

Paul
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Ken Kantor said:
Hi Kevin, this is Ken from ZT Amplifiers. I appreciate your thoughts here, and others on the thread. The people at ZT are hardcore tone quest slaves. We are also dedicated to using all the science and tech availabe to use to get the sounds we want from smaller and more affordable packages.

So here's and idea that would help me, help you and help the others on the board, if you are up for it.

I'll send you a Lunchbox to try for a month+. Put it through its paces, judge it to any standard you feel is relevant. You like enough, I'll give it to you for really cheap, like $150 dealer cost. You don't like it, send it back, free of charge.

The only thing is that I would ask you to do is write some fair comments here about how the Lunchbox did or didn't work, so I can learn from them. Up for it?

-K. Kantor

ken.kantor@ztamplifiers.com
Click to expand...
where do i sign? im very interested
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Alright-- My Lunchbox arrived today (thanks Ken) and I've just finished playing it for awhile and wanted to write down some initial, fresh thoughts.

First, some reference points: I've been playing for 17 years and have owned many quality amps such as: Dr. Z Maz18 and Ghia, Marshall 73 handwired Plexi, '64 Fender Deluxe Reverb, Swart 6v6se, Vox AC15, Blues Junior, Winfield Cyclone, etc, etc... I like to think I know what good tone is.

To test out the Lunchbox, here was the relatively simple chain:
US Tele B-Bender w/ Kinman Moiseless Broadcaster pickups--> Analogman TS808-->Zvex Box of Rock-->Boss Tuner-->Boss Trem-->Boss DD7 Delay-->Lunchbox

I opened the package and couldn't believe how small this amp is. Picking it up and twiddling a few knobs and switches, it feels very sturdy and well built.

Plugged it in and --WOW-- this little monster can get loud. But I really wouldn't care how loud it was if it sounded bad. Who wants bad sound to be louder, right? Well that is not the case here at all. This thing sounds GOOD. As has been noted, it doesn't put out much bass and has a healthy share of mids, but the tone is very pleasing and the folks at ZT have managed to make this thing sound very tube-like to my ears. Played clean and with the aforementioned drive pedals, the notes have a nice sag to them when you dig in hard, especially up around the twelfth fret (check the Echo and the Bunnymen live performance off the ZT site to hear what I mean). That in itself is very uncommon among solid state amps and is something I've only gotten out of my tube gear. It took the pedals amazingly well which will make this a sweet little gigging package.

Those are a few thoughts off the top, but I am pretty impressed with this amp so far. Count me a fan. I'll give my ears a rest (they're ringing--I know better than that), and come back to it in a while, maybe with some different guitars, and see what else it can do.
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Ahh, ya beat me to it! I too got one today. Let me tell you, these things are for REAL!! Build quality is very good, sound is excellent and the volume is un believable! The volume half way up, I hit a power chord on the V and my 11 year old daughter about jumped out of her skin!! My 9 year old was outside talking to a friend on the phone and could hear me..
I have to get dinner, but will give a detailed breakdown in a bit.. But Im WAY impressed! No toy and No FARTINESS!!!!
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Wow, very cool for ZT to send out one on a trial. I'd be interested to hear more with other guitars.
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Ok.. Here is the skinny..
First, I'll give you some background.. I have a couple of big tube heads and a 4x12. I use a PV Classic 30 for practice when I can, but I mainly play with headphones so I use a Hughes and Kettner Blue 30. Ive played many little amps and also own a Smokey..
So.. I prefer tube amps, I need headphone capability. Most of my practice is done on my dinner hour at work, so I will take it to work and Late at night when family is sleeping.. I see this amp advertise and I think hmmmm.. cool.. But Im skeptical cuz I figure the small amp is gonna get farty or have limitations.
I try it anyhow because I know business and all and for Mr Kantor to basically make the offer he did here, I thought, they Believe in this amp...

So... It arrived.. Well packaged and Well built. More metal in the construction than I normally see. Plus, it is small and lite and attractive enought that the Mrs wont squawk about it sitting out in the house..

Now. I am impressed with this amp.. Bottom line. I am gonna start by saying the things I LEAST like about it.. That way the rest doesnt sound like a paid endorsement or like Im kissing up.. haha

I love reverb. The reverb on this amp is not real lush. It basically adds openness to the sound. Now, to ZT's credit, there was a tag ON the reverb knob that stated that it would be better labeled " Ambience". So, I give them respect for being forward about that. It is usable, and some amps dont even have any, so there you go..

Next, it can get hot. Mine got pretty hot on the back and gave me a suprise when I was packing up after playing. Would recommend caution if buying for a child. (not as hot as tubes.)


This is a nit pick as this would kinda defeat the Lunchbox purpose, but Id like to see a 8 or 10 inch speaker. Maybe it wouldnt be as effective even, Im not an engineer, but ideally, Id want fatter lows.. Again, this is NOT a complaint against the amp, but rather what would make it almost perfect for me... haha

Now, The likes!!!:
First, well built!
Second, the friggin thing is LOUD!! And it isnt noise loud. It sounds HUGE for what it is..
I kid you not, I could have used this amp when I played with the youth group at my church.. Yeah, really... Even just as is, but Im betting with an eternal speaker, it would be perfect.

Ok, its got the power, but how does it sound???

Very nice! It only starts to lose composure when being driven ridiculously. And even then, its not farting or mush..

The most impressive things to me is that the tone has a tube like vibe to it. If you just hit a note, you can hear like a mild clip.
The biggest suprise it that it is touch sensitive.. I dialed up the gain and was expecting normal solid state sizzle/fizzy type of overdrive.. NOPE! Actually, I was almost dissappointed (At first) that it didnt seem like there was that much dirt.. However, when I started playing, it was really rocking.. Low and behold, it is touch sensitive. Hit em hard and it breaks up nicely. NO gain probs at all. Also, roll back the volume and it cleans up nicely too.

As far as cleans.. The gain knob is kinda your volume knob and the Volume knob is like the master.. So you have to have some gain on to get sound.
The good thing is that if you have the gain just cracked open, you get a nice warm clean.. Not sterile and brittle.

Oh, there is no Eq per se, but there is a tone knob that rolls from bass to treble. Simple, yet functional

Cool features are:
a switch on the back to turn the speaker off/on. So you can run phones and speaker.
There is a separate volume knob for the headphone level.

There is a speaker out jack. 1/4"
There is also 1/8" input for an MP3 player.
Plus, there is an actual power cord. No wall wart adapter.

And lastly, you get decent printed instructions. Small detail, but worth a mention.

To me, this is a remarkable tool! Anyone that had interest in Crate's powerblock, this is a one up from that. This beasty has 200 watts and can be used as is. Or to drive a cab.
Im gonna run my 4X12 with it tommorrow and see how it is.

If you need a headphone amp, practice amp, small gig amp and or a solid state back up, this is it.. Simple controls, but does what it needs.
Dynamite comes in small packages..
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Those of you who own or have tried one, do you think it would work well with a TonelabLE or Digitech RP500 run into it? Thinking it has some warmth to it, seems to love pedals, and should be somewhat transparent when used with a modeler... Any thoughts?
 
Re: ZT Lunchbox: 200 watts on a 6.5" speaker??

Played one today through a bogner oversized 2x12. It's a cool, totally useable little amp. A great gig backup or small gig amp that sounds very much like a real tube amp. it'd also be a killer practice rig.
 
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