Opinions on the Dr. Z Z28 4x10 combo or other tweedish 4x10s???

[dewman]

Looking at a low wattage tweedish amp and have been considering a Dr. Z 4x10 combo Z28 amp.

Anyone have any Z-28 4x10 experiences? I intend to use humbucking guitars generally (Les Pauls and LP Deluxe) and will be playing blues and blues rock.

[katuna]

I gigged with a Z-28 4x10 quite a bit in the tail end of my last band's existence. It was really good; I liked it a lot. Very tweedish sound, but with a bit of later Fender amp "bounciness". Not a quiet amp - those 10's are efficient. Kept up fine with my other guitar player using a Reissue twin and we played loud. Sounded great with a Les Paul Jr. Took pedals great like all the EF86 dz's do.

Did not like the amp with attenuators very much though; not sure why that is. A lot to lug around (though not especially heavy and the side handles help). A cool amp; this is one I kinda miss sometimes; If I had it now, I'd probably be using it, but I have a Carr Imperial (which I like more than the Z, but I'm going more for a Dylan, circa 66 vibe).

[dewman]

Katuna, thanks for the info- so you'd say more bassman crossed with blackface??

What's a competitive price used?

[katuna]

Hi,

I guess it's tweedish, brownfaceish, a bit of early Marshall and then just a hint of blackface bounce (that part is just a taste, not very omnipresent at all).

I got mine on ebay for $1,200 or less I believe. I don't know how many 4X10 combos exist, though, so I don't know how often they show up.

BTW, 4x10 is the way to go with that amp; I didn't care for it nearly as much with one 12 or two twelves. a head and a 4x12 would be cool though, I bet.

[dewman]

better than a Vicky 45410??

what about volume levels and the place on the dial where it starts to break up with humbucker guitars?

Is it an am that sounds best with singles, P90s or humbuckers of can it do well with all three?

[katuna]

Hi,

I've never played a Vicky 4510, but had a Vicky Low Power twin. The Z28 was similar, but a little more sonically interesting sounding to me than the Low Power twin. It broke up a lot faster than the twin. With Humbuckers and P-90's the Z broke up at Noon on the volume, with a tele, at about 1-2 O'clcock. It's been awhile, so I may not be remembering that well. I thought it did fine with all three types of the pickups you mentioned, but I am not a huge fan of humbuckers when they are in my own hands (other than Filtertrons), so I may not be the best judge of their sounds. I did have a Les Paul when I had the Z and liked how it sounded - the 10 inch speakers probably helped in that regard.

[dewman]

what's the volume level compared to a Maz18, about the same? I know Dr. Z watts are like old Marshall watts...so loud you walk around going what????what????, but at 22 watts into a 4x10 of Z's speakers I am concerned it would be louder than a 4x10 Vicky, which is sort of on the high end of what I was looking for for practice. I have a 6V6 Germino runing 25 watts and it is probably the right volume, and I was looing for a Fenderish tweed type amp in that wattage range for some contrast and for more old school blues tones. I didnt know if the Z could hang. If it is loud, early breakup is a plus. I wasnt a fan of the Z28 in the 1x12 combo version, no low end. But the amp as I remember had a nice tone.

Anyone else care to chime in on the Z28??

[katuna]

I think your concerns are valid. As I said, it hung with a Twin Reverb; it's a loud amp. It might not be louder than a bassman, but it's not going to be noticibly less loud than one. Never played a Maz 18.

[Jim Fairbairn]

Dewman,

It'll be quite loud, louder than a Maz jr., although voiced differently. The Z 10's are quite efficient........101db. Check out this thread for verification. The 4x10 combo is quite awkward and heavy. You might consider a head and 4x10 cab.

http://drzamplifiers.proboards41.com...ad=5386&page=1

[gtrs]

You should think about a head and his new convertable 2x10 cab. Won't be as loud as the 4x10 and if you need more punch you could use the cab as a closed back. That will allow you to turn the amp up more and get more grind as it's pretty loud when cranked up. JMO as volume is VERY subjective.

I loved my Z-28 when I had it, sounded great through the smaller 2x10 Z cab that I had at the time. The newer cabs are bigger so I'm willing to bet your gonna get a bit more low end from it.

Z-28 is hard to beat, a bit warmer to my ears than the the Vicky 35210 I played. But I loved that amp too, still got the goose bumps to prove it! LOL

[Chadley]

I've been a Z28 user for several years now (which is a long time for this gear whore). I use it through a 2x12 cab though. When opened up, it is the most chill inducing amp I have ever played. Very harmonically rich clean tone that transitions almost seamlessly into an equally beautiful overdrive as your turn the volume dial. I have found it to sound great with both single coils and humbuckers. It loves pedals (EF86 front end). Sometimes I wish it had a little more clean headroom, but that is part of the charm of the amp. I have always thought a 44 watt version (with 4 6v6's) with reverb would sound insane.

What I love most about the amp though, is its unique voice. It really doesn't sound like anything else. I feel that it has helped to define my sound. Not that "my sound" is anything special to anyone else, but I am able to create the sounds that I hear in my head. That is a pretty cool thing.

I have owned several different Dr. Z amps (MAZ 18, Carmen Ghia, Route 66) and this is my favorite so far. I still want to try the Stangray but I won't ever be selling my Z28 to fund another amp. It is a total keeper.

[jumpnblues]

This is the first time I've heard the Z-28 referred to as "tweedish". I was under the impression it leaned much more toward blackface territory. But what do I know? Having said that it's an amp I've wanted to play through since it was introduced, but haven't had the opportunity. If it's like all the other Dr.Z amps I've played through it will ooze great tone. I'm sure you would not be disappointed with the Z-28. Mike Zaite builds great amps.


Tom

[Millo 3.1]

If I were to buy this amp, those of you who have tried it wouldn't recommend using it in a 1x12 configuration. Some of you didn't like it w/ a 2x12--what did you find? What speakers did you use it through? What speakers would you recommend if a 2x12 were the only option?

[Chadley]

I use it with a 2x12 Avatar loaded with a Weber 12a125 and a Vintage 30. I mike the Weber. I feel the Weber is a great match for the amp. It brings a little bit of the sparkle that can be missing at times with the 12's. From my experience with the Dr. Z 10's (not with my Z28 but some of the other Z's I have owned), they would probably sound a lot more sparkly than 12's would. The 10's that Dr. Z makes are excellent speakers. Four 10's with the Z28 would kill.

I am not terribly found of this amp with one 12. I feel it lacks low end and sounds way to mid-rangy for me. I would probably go the two 10 route instead.

[katuna]

Originally Posted by jumpnblues

This is the first time I've heard the Z-28 referred to as "tweedish". I was under the impression it leaned much more toward blackface territory. But what do I know? Having said that it's an amp I've wanted to play through since it was introduced, but haven't had the opportunity. If it's like all the other Dr.Z amps I've played through it will ooze great tone. I'm sure you would not be disappointed with the Z-28. Mike Zaite builds great amps.


Tom

it's hardly blackfaceish at all really...