I'm on a roll...(Dr Z content of course)

[Madison]

A month ago or less I was on a Z high, having the newly tweaked Ghia sitting on the 4x10 doing some amazing things...things not experienced or felt in 25 years of playing guitar, and was here writing about it.

And then I mentioned I had a Z28 on order, was trading in the Jr and Sr and doing a complete turnaround ampwise although staying in the Z camp. Somebody here (Big Mike, G'Peach, not sure) wrote 'if you like the Ghia, just wait until you crank the 28!"

So I've spent the last 4 nights doing just that, through the RC & AC Booster, into the V30 loaded open back cabinet...and I have acheived yet a new high on my ever challenging road to tonal bliss!:D The 22 watts appears to be at just the right power level for what I'm doing, that is playing small 150 seat clubs for the most part. It loves pedals more than any amp I've had the pleasure of owning, and is flat out righteous with the volume at 3:00, bass 1:00, treble 3:00, and RC gain at noon!

Throughout all of this mayhem the amp still has beautiful sparkle and clarity present in the high notes, along with a surprisingly strong bottom. True to the Z design it's just a roll back on the guitar volume knob to bring everything back into "Easyville" once again, just the way it should be.

Okay I'm done, that's all...enough gushing for a few days!



Z28




:dude

[papa taco]

I've got one of them. Yeah, it's ok.

























:dude

[big mike]

<cough...clear throat>


TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

:D:D:D

Glad you're digging it. I love the Ghia, but the Z28 is magic.

[tuna]

Bill, I told you the Z-28 was a great sounding amp. Talk to Big Mike about a PI tube change. Not sure what he does, but more than one person has tried it and like it. He is the man on this amp!

Come on Mike preach some on this amp!! :D

[big mike]

GT12ax7M for earliier breakup.

Thanks bro.

[Madison]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a try:)

[mrfjones]

i liked that gt12ax7m in my rt 66 also. nice sounding tube.

one of these days once i get my guitar collection back up where i want it i will work on getting a z28 to add to my rt 66. I am glad you like yours.

[papa taco]

I was REALLY into the 12ax7 pi in my Z28 for quite sometime, but I've recently gone back to the stock GE 5751. It's a bit more open sounding and cleaner, less upper mids too. Running the Z28 for a dirty clean/mild overdrive into a pair of alnico blue dogs in an open back cab is heaven right now. Thick, sparkly and swirly. I'm very happy with this set up.

taco

[myles111]

Happy playing!

If you send me a pix and a little blurb I'd be happy to put it here:

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/doctorzplayers.html

[big mike]

Yeah, it's great both ways! I've been tempted to grab another and run it that way through more efficient speakers for Cleans or a cleaner Edge of dirt thing than 12AX7 and Greenbacks.

Going to get a hold of some other EF86's to play with in the front end, but the stock Winged C has been great. Haven't touched it, or the power or recto tubes. I tend to change cabinets for different tones if needed. (Rarely).

[Madison]

Going to get a hold of some other EF86's to play with in the front end, but the stock Winged C has been great. I had Z put a "select" Dario miniwatt EF86 in...sounds great, but of course I can't compare to anything else. I just have to go on the assumption that it's a tonal upgrade.

[myles111]

Originally posted by Madison
I had Z put a "select" Dario miniwatt EF86 in...sounds great, but of course I can't compare to anything else. I just have to go on the assumption that it's a tonal upgrade.

It is not just a "tonal" upgrade ... it is a total upgrade.

The Dario will last a decade .... the new EF86's last about 10-15 turn on and cool down cycles before going microphonic ... and they do not do the amp justice although the Z amps are one of the few EF86 amps that can make a new EF86 sound pretty darn good.

[big mike]

INteresting. I've heard of the GEC's in there, a friend is trying to get a hold of a few "pulls" for me, so I'll see what they are. Mentioned Mullard maybe.

[Madison]

It is not just a "tonal" upgrade ... it is a total upgrade. Darn typos! :D

[rpavich]

I just bought a Z28 head and I'm loving this thread! I also bought a Dario Miniwatt EF86 and I just bought a GT12AX7M for P1....great to hear that these were good choices!:dude

[riffmeister]

THe Z28 is a cool amp! I've owned a Maz 18 and Z28. While both were good amps, I like the more raw, open sound of the Z28 better. And it did a Vulcan Mind Meld with my FD2 pedal.

[rpavich]

I've been inspired by Big Mike and his combo of Ghia and Z28...I'd like a Ghia now....

Can anyone help me for about 650.00?

bob

[big mike]

Originally posted by rpavich
I've been inspired by Big Mike and his combo of Ghia and Z28...I'd like a Ghia now....

Can anyone help me for about 650.00?

bob

They turn up in the emporium for that from time to time.

It's a great pair of amps to own.

I use the Dario in the EF86 now, and it's great with the Z28, but I went back to a 5751 for more headroom in the PI. (JAN w/ balanced triodes)

[rpavich]

Big Mike,
I just ordered a biasrite for my Z28. I got the 2 hookup one with the V1 option...

Have you used this?

Anyone had experience?

Bob

[rpavich]

Ok, Here is the report....

After playing my new Z28 here is my impression:

Stock Winged C tube was good.
Dario Miniwatt was more open; very nice.
12ax7 in pi position wasn't as nice as stock 5751 jan; it was "darker?" I like the spankiness of the 5751.

I was very impressed with this amps ability to change character with knob twisting...amazing...I can't wait to crank it hard...it loved my AC booster and RC booster...

I'm liking the character of this amp better than my MAZ..it's more "fenderlike" for lack of a better word...it works well with my cheapo strat..I haven't tried it with my Af-120 semi-hollow.

Mike Zaite said that putting a 5Y3 recto tube would make it more flabby; I don't like flabby low end...does anyone have experience with this tube in this amp?

I'm really jonsing for a Ghia to round out the collection; then I'll have my tonal bases covered.

bob

[tacorivers]

I just put a Dario EF86 in the Route 66 (courtesy of KCA NOS), and it does sound good.

[papa taco]

I had a Mullard EF86 in my Z28, but eventually found it a bit too bright and hard sounding so went back to the stock Svetlana. I want to try a Dario out.

I'm considering putting the London Power Power Scaling kit in my Z28 too.

As for PI, I seem to like the GE 7571 that came with it best.

I'm also thinking about getting a 1x12 combo cab from Dr Z and dropping it in there. I would probably go with a G12H boutique clone with it.

taco

[Laroosco!]

Originally posted by Madison


Somebody here (Big Mike, G'Peach, not sure) wrote 'if you like the Ghia, just wait until you crank the 28!"



That was me.

Your welcome:D

The Z28 kicks serious ass. Enjoy it.

[Madison]

The Z28 kicks serious ass. Enjoy it.
Yes it does, my second favorite amp of all time. Now go read my thread on the RxES that slays the Z28:D

[rpavich]

Big Mike,
Thanks for putting the final nail in the Z28 coffin....I'm so glad I got one...yikes...whatta sound...

I tried to sell my Maz for so many weeks on Ebay to get this (had to list it 3 times and drop the price to less than I wanted) and finally after it sells...I got people breaking my door down to buy it..


I'm trying to be patient for that Ghia deal that's coming...:D :D :D

[Madison]

Fine combo of amps, the Ghia and 28. You'll most likely find the 28 overshadows the Ghia in a head to head contest...but the little one is such fun to plug straight in and crank. Simplicity at it's best!

[Telecaster]

Originally posted by Laroosco!
That was me.

Your welcome:D

The Z28 kicks serious ass. Enjoy it.

Yep, fantastic amp. My favorite ! :cool:

[big mike]

Originally posted by papa taco

I'm also thinking about getting a 1x12 combo cab from Dr Z and dropping it in there. I would probably go with a G12H boutique clone with it.

taco

If you do that, do yourself a favor and try the scumback. Just a KILLER speaker.

Congrats to the new Z owners!!!

[myles111]

Originally posted by big mike
They turn up in the emporium for that from time to time.

It's a great pair of amps to own.

I use the Dario in the EF86 now, and it's great with the Z28, but I went back to a 5751 for more headroom in the PI. (JAN w/ balanced triodes)


Have you looked in the for sale gear area on the Z Forum at http://drzamplifiers.proboards41.com ?

[rpavich]

Myles,
I just pulled the trigger on a great Mint cond blond carmen ghia!!! yay!!

bob

[JES1680]

Z28 is my new fave as well. It's a GREAT 1x12 combo.

I Put a 30 watt Alnico Blue Dog in, Dario, and using an EI 12AX7 which seems to make it a bit brighter. I'm floored by the tightness of this amp. Not sure who said it, but 3,1,3 is THE setting for this amp! With P90's it's insanely good.

They seem a bit dry? at moderate volume levels, but crank them and they are a whole new beast.

[clintondavid]

rpavich- did you grab the one on ebay yesterday? The one that also had a cab sold seperately.

[rpavich]

Clintondavid,
Yes, the blond one....it was a little expensive but I was having a hard time finding one and getting desperate...lol..


bob

[clintondavid]

Yeah I would have jumped on it but I already have a blonde deluxe reverb and a blonde strat I just bought. My wife says that's too many blonde's in the house.

[papa taco]

Originally posted by clintondavid
Yeah I would have jumped on it but I already have a blonde deluxe reverb and a blonde strat I just bought. My wife says that's too many blonde's in the house.

My Z28 is a red head. And she's hot!
;)

[papa taco]

Originally posted by JES1680
Z28 is my new fave as well. It's a GREAT 1x12 combo.

I Put a 30 watt Alnico Blue Dog in, Dario, and using an EI 12AX7 which seems to make it a bit brighter. I'm floored by the tightness of this amp. Not sure who said it, but 3,1,3 is THE setting for this amp! With P90's it's insanely good.

They seem a bit dry? at moderate volume levels, but crank them and they are a whole new beast.

I have a Z28 that I run into a 2x12 stereo cab with 30 watt Alnico Blue Dogs. I find that most of the time, I run only one speaker. I just love a single Blue Dog with the Z28. If I could do it all over again I'd get a 1x12 combo and a Custom Audio Electronics 1x12 (Bogner Cube) cab, put Alnico Blue Dogs in both and then use both or one at a time and have the choice between open and closed back.

That said, my 2x12 cab is really nice. It's a Kingsley with a removeable back panel, 13 ply birch.

taco

[big mike]

Originally posted by papa taco
My Z28 is a red head. And she's hot!
;)

Oh yeah! They always sound better in red my friend!!:dude

[G'OlPeachPhan]

As has already been mentioned, it wasn't me that said it, but I'm really glad you're digging your Z-28!

I'm a diehard Ghia fan when it all comes down to it. The Z-28 is a very cool amp, but I actually prefer the EL84 tones the Ghia yields.

It IS a true statement that all other things being equal, the Z-28 overpowers the Ghia a bit. The difference is not huge though, and can be made up using more efficient speakers in the Ghia. Just adding that as a tip for anyone who might be trying to balance volumes between a Ghia and a Z-28 in an a/b or stereo rig.

Madison - VERY cool you've found the Z's that work so well for you!

[papa taco]

Originally posted by G'OlPeachPhan
The difference is not huge though, and can be made up using more efficient speakers in the Ghia. Just adding that as a tip for anyone who might be trying to balance volumes between a Ghia and a Z-28 in an a/b or stereo rig.


Yeah, I'll bet a pair of 1x12 combos with a Weber 15 watt alnico blue dog in the Carmen Ghia and a 30 watt version in the Z28 would kick ass. (The 15 watt is more sensitive and therefore more efficient than the 30).

drooool.

taco

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Originally posted by papa taco
Yeah, I'll bet a pair of 1x12 combos with a Weber 15 watt alnico blue dog in the Carmen Ghia and a 30 watt version in the Z28 would kick ass. (The 15 watt is more sensitive and therefore more efficient than the 30).

drooool.

taco

I'm ordering a 15 watt alnico blue dog to pair with a scumback h30 in an open back cab... Can't wait to hear how that sounds with the Ghia! I'll make sure to report back.

[papa taco]

Originally posted by G'OlPeachPhan
I'm ordering a 15 watt alnico blue dog to pair with a scumback h30 in an open back cab... Can't wait to hear how that sounds with the Ghia! I'll make sure to report back.

I think you'll like it a lot. I sometimes pair a G12H30 with a 30 watt alnico blue dog in my 2x12 cab and they sound very nice together. But the G12H dominates a bit as it's more efficient than the 30 watt blue dog (but the blue dog has more mids so it works well). I think you'll find the 15 watt even better.

taco

[myles111]

Originally posted by G'OlPeachPhan
As has already been mentioned, it wasn't me that said it, but I'm really glad you're digging your Z-28!

I'm a diehard Ghia fan when it all comes down to it. The Z-28 is a very cool amp, but I actually prefer the EL84 tones the Ghia yields.

It IS a true statement that all other things being equal, the Z-28 overpowers the Ghia a bit. The difference is not huge though, and can be made up using more efficient speakers in the Ghia. Just adding that as a tip for anyone who might be trying to balance volumes between a Ghia and a Z-28 in an a/b or stereo rig.

Madison - VERY cool you've found the Z's that work so well for you!


Peach,

I find the Ghia and Z-28 with an A/B switch one of the great "channel switching" rigs of all time. I have no trouble with balance live .... run the Ghia at 10-11 o'clock and the Z-28 at 2:00-3:00 with the tone controls at about 11:00 (a lot of clean headroom that way on the Z-28). This is for club use where things are not mic'd.

For larger venues where things are mic'd it's a piece of cake as each amp runs to it's own channel and with tens of thousands of watts of house power behind you even the Ghia set below 9:00 can be a giant clean amp when run thorugh the house system. Set either amp any way you like it.

[G'OlPeachPhan]

good info myles - thank you!

papa taco -
cool. that really pumps me up about this combo.

it'll be the weber 15 watt (conservative rating I've heard) light doped alinico blue dog wired in parallel with the scumback to make a 30 watt cab, which should be the perfect power rating for maximum safe speaker interaction with the dual EL84 Ghia.

I've got both the 55hz scumback and the 75hz scumback to try with the blue dog, so it'll be interesting to see which pairing sounds better to my ears.

[myles111]

Peach and Taco .... just a quick "hello"

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Right on Myles! Hello right back at you! What's new?

As an on-topic aside, my other personal experiments elsewhere in Z land didn't go quite as well as yours Madison. The KT-45 was just too much amp, but the positive is it made me realize my Ghia is JUST right.

[papa taco]

Originally posted by myles111
Peach and Taco .... just a quick "hello"

hi

[Madison]

I find that most of the time, I run only one speaker. I just love a single Blue Dog with the Z28. If I could do it all over again I'd get a 1x12 combo and a Custom Audio Electronics 1x12 (Bogner Cube) cab, put Alnico Blue Dogs in both and then use both or one at a time and have the choice between open and closed back. The 1x12 works fine for me too. Earlier today I emailed Ted and ordered an AlNiCO Blue Dog 50w to use mainly with the RxES. I have a Swamp Thang in now that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE...the Blue has its work cut out when it shows up!

Peach, good luck on selling your KT 45...remember, price is everything :D This business we're in, buying and selling all this gear, usually does not equate to good return on capital!

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Originally posted by Madison
The 1x12 works fine for me too. Earlier today I emailed Ted and ordered an AlNiCO Blue Dog 50w to use mainly with the RxES. I have a Swamp Thang in now that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE...the Blue has its work cut out when it shows up!

Peach, good luck on selling your KT 45...remember, price is everything :D This business we're in, buying and selling all this gear, usually does not equate to good return on capital!

I sold it man, and OUCH, did I take a hit. Went for $1,125 shipped insured. $57 on shipping, plus the paypal fees nailing me. Really hurts to buy new amps. I will not be doing that any more. Used amps for me from now on. It wasn't the sound, feel, or power level I was hoping for, and I lost money, so you're right -- negative ROC.

Still makes me appreciate what I love about my Ghia that much more though. Just guitar plugged into amp for a sweet sweet OD tone that just sings!

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Not trying to slag Z here either by the way. It wasn't his fault I bought a brand new amp without playing one first. I don't buy new cars any more for the same reasons. Even if I hang onto one for it's useful service life, the depreciation still keeps me awake at night knowing my shiny brand new car is plummeting in value while I lay restlessly in bed.

That said, taking a 35% loss on an amp that's absolutely brand new (4 months old) dead mint (never left my studio) is still tough to swallow. Somebody got a great amp at a great price, and for that I'm happy. OK, I'm done complaining. :o

[Madison]

Originally posted by G'OlPeachPhan
Not trying to slag Z here either by the way. It wasn't his fault I bought a brand new amp without playing one first. I don't buy new cars any more for the same reasons. Even if I hang onto one for it's useful service life, the depreciation still keeps me awake at night knowing my shiny brand new car is plummeting in value while I lay restlessly in bed.

That said, taking a 35% loss on an amp that's absolutely brand new (4 months old) dead mint (never left my studio) is still tough to swallow. Somebody got a great amp at a great price, and for that I'm happy. OK, I'm done complaining. :o I feel your pain. My 6 month old mint condition Maz Sr went for $1050.00, before shipping and packing...OUCH. A grand +- seems to be about the magic number on buying any used Dr Z amp, other than a used Ghia which can be had for 6- 7 bills. Not nearly as bad a hit when selling my 00 Maz Jr and 97 Ghia.

[JES1680]

I hear ya, my 66 is in the emporium now at $1k and no takers. I bought it new about 4 months ago.:mad:

[rpavich]

I'm in the losers club too....MAZ-18 bought new 6 months ago 1399.00 sold last week for 950 shipped....ouch....

bob:mad:

[G'OlPeachPhan]

I didn't figure I was the only one. That really sucks.

Why do the Z amps take an almost instant 30%+ hit on value? They seem so reasonably priced to begin with that I just assumed they'd hold their value a little better than some of the other boutique amps out there.

[rpavich]

'Peachphan,
I don't know about why the resale is like that...but I can say that I didn't get the Ghia for the 650.00 I had planned so SOMEONE is making a killing on Dr. Z amps when they sell them!

bob

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Yeah, and Ghia's seem to hold their value a little better. Heck, I paid $450 for mine (years ago), so I'd make money on it. Problem is it'd have to be pryed from my charleton hestonized cold dead hands. Don't get any ideas fellas ;)