Dr.z Maz 18 or Tophat Club Royale

[ivan1892]

I am in want of a new amp now a days and have had my eyes on these two amps.... I've played both and am leaning towards the tophat due to some experience, the Dr.Z i have played a few times at a church but haven't had the liberty to mess with the knobs a bunch due to sound tech's complaining about their eq's (That's why they have a degree... to adjust) anyways.... I'd like some feed back from more experienced players over these two amps. Thank You guys.

[tele_jas]

I've had TopHats and Z's... I'd go with the Z if it were my decision.

[belair]

Originally Posted by tele_jas

I've had TopHats and Z's... I'd go with the Z if it were my decision.

Yep, I totally concur. JMO of course, but I'm not sure there is anything closer to a "do-everything" amp than the Jr. And the build quality is extremely high to boot, not to mention the value for the dollar.

Plus, if for some reason you don't dig it, the resale market is very strong.

[riffmeister]

Tophat = richer, juicier, more complex
Dr Z = cleaner, leaner, spankier

[harryjmic]

Originally Posted by riffmeister

Tophat = richer, juicier, more complex
Dr Z = cleaner, leaner, spankier

From what people I know have said is the TH actually sounds like a British amp the Z not quite. I think they both are excellent, just different things.

[blanche]

is there any significant tonal difference between the club and the king royale?

[riffmeister]

Originally Posted by harryjmic

From what people I know have said is the TH actually sounds like a British amp the Z not quite.

Yes, the CR is a Vox AC30 front end married to an 18W Marshall back end, so it is Brit through and through. The Maz 18 sounds more like a cross between Fender and Vox. I've owned them both (and at the same time). The CR is a great guitar -> cable -> amp type of amp, the Maz 18 is cleaner and leaner and does very well with OD's.

[ahab]

Ivan, I started a thread titled "ten things I love about my Club Royale" and there are many responses there. You might want to look there for responses regarding the CR.
For what it's worth, I compared these two amps and I think that Club Royale buries the Maz 18.

Blanche, yes, there are significant differences between the Club and King. The difference in watts makes for a difference in feel, perceived volume, and headroom. The King, in my opinion, is stiffer, has a wider, punchier, more direct and immediate sound. The Club is softer, more compressed, has less headroom, and (as Riff said) is juicier.

I preferred the Club when I was looking for the perfect gig/recording amp for blues, americana, and roots rock. I also tried a Matchless Lightning, a Bad Cat Cub, a Victoria 20112, a Maz 18, a Z-28, and a Bacino. All were fine amps, but really the only one that was a close call for me was the Matchless. I went with the Club Royale 2x12 combo because the feel of this amp is absolutely incredible. It's really unlike any other amp I have played. And, in my 20+ years of gigging this is the most stage friendly, no compromises amp I have found--the tone is such a fantastic blend of Vox and Marshall it really needs to be heard.

[joek86]

Tophat if you want to lean Brit, Z if you want to lean Fender.

I just got a TH Super Deluxe and am thrilled with the quality! I have owned the Club Royle and liked that allot too.

~Joe

[Mr.Hanky]

Ya can't go wrong with either. I've had my CR since 99 and it isn't going anywhere.

[ivan1892]

Sweeet. I've read Ten Things I love About my CLub Royale and it's all i need to insure my next purchase. Now one more thing.... SS. Rec or EZ81 Rec. What's the difference.

[joek86]

Personally, I like the feel of the tube recto, it is a little spongier that the SS. People usually refer to it as sag.

The CR that I owned had a SS reco and that sounded great too!

~Joe

[jimmyj]

Originally Posted by ivan1892

Sweeet. I've read Ten Things I love About my CLub Royale and it's all i need to insure my next purchase. Now one more thing.... SS. Rec or EZ81 Rec. What's the difference.

Originally Posted by joek86

Personally, I like the feel of the tube recto, it is a little spongier that the SS. People usually refer to it as sag.

The CR that I owned had a SS reco and that sounded great too!

~Joe

+1

I had a Club Deluxe with SS recto and my current amp is a Club Royale w EZ81 rectifier. From what I had researched back when I got my CR right after Top Hat switched to the EZ81 and bigger transformers was that it would keep up a little better on a bigger stage than the previous incarnations. I love how my CR sounds on a big stage when I can really open it up.

[Ryan]

I had a CR, hated it. I think I'm the only one that doesn't like that amp, though. Liked my Maz18NR that I had right after it much better, but I like my Carmen Ghia even more.

[Guitarplayerdan]

top hats are freaking amazing. Buy it and keep it.