Does the Dr Z Z28 have a BIG sound?

[Senor Forum]

I know the cleans on it rock, but does it have a big sound?

I'm sure you guys know what I mean.

I've played a few lower watt amps that had a huge freaking sound. The Tone King Imperial, the Carr Rambler, and the Budda SD18 to name a few.

What do you guys think about this amp?

 

[brittwin]

Without a doubt. I ran the one I had through a 2x12 cab...

 

[Bx3]

You'll obviously get a lot of opinions, but my .02 is it does sound big...of course 'big' is very subjective. I had a head w/ a 4x10 cab (BIG tone), and also a 1x12 combo. Out of the dozen or so Z's I had, the 28 was my favorite. I've now moved on to Matchless, but will always have a place for Z amps. Here's a clip I made of my 28 1x12 a couple years ago, hard to tell, but it's a loud sucker:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=346841&content=songinfo&songID=6500630

 

[Senor Forum]

You'll obviously get a lot of opinions, but my .02 is it does sound big...of course 'big' is very subjective. I had a head w/ a 4x10 cab (BIG tone), and also a 1x12 combo. Out of the dozen or so Z's I had, the 28 was my favorite. I've now moved on to Matchless, but will always have a place for Z amps. Here's a clip I made of my 28 1x12 a couple years ago, hard to tell, but it's a loud sucker:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=346841&content=songinfo&songID=6500630

Holy crap, dude.

That sounds freaking fantastic.

Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Senor Forum]

Madison, what type of tele is that? What pickups?

I'm seriously hooked on this tone.

 

[Rhynobyte]

Stopped in then took a listen. Great playing and Great tone Madison.

 

[Senor Forum]

Stopped in then took a listen. Great playing and Great tone Madison.

+302352354324

That clip is so bad ass.

 

[gtrs]

Madison has always sounded good.
I remember listening to a few of his clips and reading many of his posts when I was a member of the Z Forum. Great playing man!

The Z-28 might be my favorite Z that I've owned, which is about half his line. In fact, I tried a Z-28 immediately after demoing a Maz Sr. and I ordered them both. I still think those 2 amps might be Z's best ever.

 

[Bx3]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

Senor I'm pretty sure the Tele had Kinman 60's in for that clip. It now has Fralin VH's. Doesn't really matter, just about any Tele on the neck through a 28 will sound like that. I'm sure there was a light OD in front as well.

 

[Senor Forum]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

Senor I'm pretty sure the Tele had Kinman 60's in for that clip. It now has Fralin VH's. Doesn't really matter, just about any Tele on the neck through a 28 will sound like that. I'm sure there was a light OD in front as well.

Sounds great, man.

Truth be told, I've never really spent any time with a tele. I've always been a strat guy.

Lately I'm starting to think I should try one out.

I've been a bit narrow minded in my thinking that teles are only for country twang.

 

[riffmeister]

I had a Z28 1x12 for a while. Very nice amp for clean-to-crunch tones. Takes pedals extremely well.

For 'big', tho, nothing beats my Meteor.

 

[gls500]

The Z28 also responds extremely well with a clean boost slamming the front end. That EF86 just fattens up and smooths out.

 

[Senor Forum]

This thread is killing me, and I made it!

 

[ripple]

Holy crap, dude.

That sounds freaking fantastic.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Yeah Senor Forum, you're preachin' to the choir! Bill (Madison) lives near me and I've gotten to hear his tasty chops first hand with NUMEROUS killer amps over the years, and one of my fav rigs was his old Z28. As a matter of fact, this very soundclip of his caused me to buy one last year, as the GAS was overwhelming after I heard it. Then again, Madison is famous around these parts for giving the local pickers GAS. (as an aside, you should hear him with his new PRS DGT and Matchless SC30 rig - holy CRAP!!!)

And, to return to the OP's original inquiry, YES. Z28 can sound very big with the right cab. I have a Z28 head and match it with various external cabs (1x12, 2x10, and 2x12) for variety, and it sounds great with all, but pretty damn huge with the 2x12.

 

[Senor Forum]

Yeah Senor Forum, you're preachin' to the choir! Bill (Madison) lives near me and I've gotten to hear his tasty chops first hand with NUMEROUS killer amps over the years, and one of my fav rigs was his old Z28. As a matter of fact, this very soundclip of his caused me to buy one last year, as the GAS was overwhelming after I heard it. Then again, Madison is famous around these parts for giving the local pickers GAS. (as an aside, you should hear him with his new PRS DGT and Matchless SC30 rig - holy CRAP!!!)

And, to return to the OP's original inquiry, YES. Z28 can sound very big with the right cab. I have a Z28 head and match it with various external cabs (1x12, 2x10, and 2x12) for variety, and it sounds great with all, but pretty damn huge with the 2x12.

Dude, that's awesome. It must be a real pleasure getting to hear Bill in person.



This is probably going to be my next amp. I'm think about a head with a Z-Best cab.

Any particular speakers you prefer?

-Alex

 

[ripple]

Dude, that's awesome. It must be a real pleasure getting to hear Bill in person.



This is probably going to be my next amp. I'm think about a head with a Z-Best cab.

Any particular speakers you prefer?

-Alex

Yeah, not only can Bill play his butt off, but he's just as nice a guy as you will meet also.

RE:Spkr for the Z28
A popular choice (at least on the Z forum) is a Greenback, as its low efficiency helps tame the overall volume a bit, making the amp more club friendly. In one of my 2x12s, I have a Greenback and a Cannabis Rex, which really mate up well with the Z28. Fat, juicy strat tones and classic 70's Les Paul crunch.

Hendrix to Kossoff and almost all points in between.

My other 2x12 cab is loaded w/a Celestion V30 and G12H30, but doesn't turn me on quite as much. When I drive the 2x10s from my DrZ Maz 18 combo, the Z28 tone becomes much more punchy, tight & focused, and it gives great modern Nashville spank with a tele. Killer funk rig also. No suprise there, as Dr Z's 10" speakers are known to be high-efficiency little monsters, that can get real loud and take anything you can dish out without caving in. Conversely, my old 2x10 closed back cab with 30 year old Fanes in it, is loose and spongey and deliciously old school rock sounding.

It's a simple, yet versatile beast and is very responsive to effects as well as different speakers. If I didn't have a Dr Z Route 66, the Z28 would be my go-to amp, hands down.

I'd recommend a head if you have a couple different external cabs to experiment with. That's where the real fun begins! ;^)

Good luck!!!

 

[frankiestarr]

yes ! They are great amps !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFfp7M6Tn0 here's me on my 1-10 Z28 combo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR5qaahJTLo a real cool Z28 vid fro the Z forum

 

[Bx3]

Ripple, you are too kind my friend...I only wish I were up to what you say!

Senor, you mentioned a ZBest 2x12, there is no doubt that would deliver BIG tone. I used one with a Maz Sr head for about a year, but knowing what I know now, would have preferred a 28 sitting on top.

 

[dlguitar64]

I had a 112 combo and preferred a vet 30 to the stock greenback for a big sound.

 

[jmb27]

Z-28? Big sound?

Yes. I like to run mine with a 112 cab and 210 cab (both 8 ohm cabs) - y-cable from the 4 ohm plug jack - amp has option of 4 or 8 ohm. With a PRS 245 or Music Man Super Sport and maybe a pedal or two it is a great sound

cheers always, eh

Joel