3 questions about Dr z maz 18

[jimi junior]

1. How well do these take pedals? I'm generally not a fan of the way vox amps take pedals, and prefer the 'blank canvas' fender sound for pedals. I know the maz18 isn't strictly a vox style amp, with the front end being something a little more unique. Does it respond well to pedals?

2. How much bottom end does the amp have? I'm putting this in a stereo setup and the other amp, a cornford carrera, has very little bottom end. I want fender levels of bottom end, ideally.

3. What would be a good, affordable, 1x12 cab to partner with the maz18 NO head? (Bearing in mind my request for bottom end)

Thanks in advance

 

[mcdyas]

1. They take pedals very well. IMHO, the M12 does a slightly better job but the Maz does very well also.

2. The EQ is very effective so you can dial in plenty.

3. The Dr. Z convertible open/closed 1x12 is a great cab. Speaker choice will have an effect of course.

 

[stratpaulguy86]

The Maz eats up pedals. The Maz I had reminded me of Vox AC15 meets Fender Deluxe. I remember really liking my OCD and Fulldrive 2 into it.

 

[lostpoet2]

1. Yes, it takes pedals really well.
2. The maz has huge transformers and a Fender esque tone stack on the front end, so it has about as much bass as possible from el84s. The bass isn't super piano-like as you will find in some 6l6 amps, but there is a lot of bass.
3. The most affordable good cabs that are easily sourced would be Egnater and Avatar. I have cabs from J Design, Dr. Z, and a couple of homemade cabs, and they all work well, so I wouldn't get hung up on any particular brand.

 

[jimi junior]

Thanks for the replies,

Does anyone have any experience running a wampler euphoria, wampler pinnacle, or barber burn unut/gain changer /LTD into the maz 18?

Also, what kind of sound do you tend to get out of the amp, with pedals off? I'm aiming for something between a Brad-Paisley style refined country twang and a Stevie Ray little wing type tone. Is that doable with the maz18?

 

[Fendegibs]

As already noted to your original questions, the Maz 18 is a terrific pedal platform and has great low end (the cut control is very useful in helping to achieve this while also reserving some sparkle), and my recommendation for a cab is anything with a Celestion Blue in it.

To your second set of questions, I ran a Euphoria (when it was still the Ecstasy) for quite a while and really loved it. I also have a couple MIAB/Plexi voiced pedals (e.g., JHS Charlie Brown and Bogner Blue) and then do well on the Maz platform, so I would imagine the Pinnacle or Barber pedals would also be great. You can get twang from the amp (see the cut control again).

 

[stratman89]

I'm aiming for something between a Brad-Paisley style refined country twang and a Stevie Ray little wing type tone. Is that doable with the maz18?

You will definitely get there with a Maz18.

As others have said the amp takes pedals very well.

 

[stratpaulguy86]

Thanks for the replies,

Does anyone have any experience running a wampler euphoria, wampler pinnacle, or barber burn unut/gain changer /LTD into the maz 18?

Also, what kind of sound do you tend to get out of the amp, with pedals off? I'm aiming for something between a Brad-Paisley style refined country twang and a Stevie Ray little wing type tone. Is that doable with the maz18?

I think the Maz 38 2x12 ( or 2x10?) might suit your needs better. The Maz 18 did the Paisley stuff well but not deep enough sounding for the SRV. The 38 sounds better to my ear too.

 

[ECHaydo]

1. Very very well. Especially when it's on the hairy edge of breakup.

2. It has plenty of bottom end. I usually have to reign it in a bit when setting up in a new space, but when you get it dialed in it's a very full sounding amp.

2. If you're dead set on a 1x12 configuration look at any cab with a celestion gold or blue. Every time I've played a Z with one or both of those it was a pretty deadly combination. But if you can be swayed I'd encourage you to keep an eye out for something in a 2x10. Me and a buddy both have Maz 18s, his is a 1x12 mine is a 2x10 and I've found that the 2x10 is a little tighter and still very very full.

Cheers

 

[thiscalltoarms]

I know it's counter intuitive, but the biggest sounding MAZ amps usually run the Z 10s. My preference is the convertible Dr Z 2x10 cab in closed back configuration for the tones you are looking for.

Takes pedals incredibly well, lots of bass on tap, and yes- gigantic transformers are part of the sound. Biggest trannies I honk I've ever seen in a <20w amp.

 

[sideman]

Never used pedals with my Max 18 2x10 combo because (1) it's tone controls (including master volume) allow a lot of tone tailoring, and (2) it's only an 18 w amp and overdrives readily at stage volumes. It had lots of lows and girth, due in part to the efficient Ceramic speakers, and because reportedly Z amps are British toned, with ample lows/mids. All my amps are combos - never use separate cabs.