I have seen the Fatness, and it is Z-28!

[axpro]

All I can say is WOW! I just finished another round of testing with my New-to-me Z-28 (thanks again RacerTippy!) and It is pretty much everything ih ave wanted from a fat-fender type of tone... all the things i loved about the Deluxe (snappy response, great cleans) with a POWERFUL ef86 preamp section and a far more responsive tone circuit... All in a head! I have yet to try my Z-vex Super-Duper into it, but I need to tone it down for the evening!

THe only thing that will make it better is that John from Stone-Age custom cabinets is working out a 1x15 cabinet for it in a matching cream tolex with salt&pepper grillcloth! once we work it out and i receive the cabinet, I think i will be sickeningly happy! for a little 20 watt head, it;s got a TONNE of clean bass!

ANd of course, a free plug for John (been VERY helpful in figuring out what i wanted!)
www.StoneAgeCustomCabinets.com

 

[Laroosco!]

The Z28 is a killer amp!!! I just traded away my 3rd one.

Greaat cleans, and if you get to crank it watch out!!! I just seem to prefer a more British tones especially EL34's

Have fun with thatr amp..it's a great one! :AOK

 

[mrfjones]

Enjoy your new toy. It will love the super duper too, I use a SHO with my Z, along with a few other pedals.

I have a route 66 right now and i love it. Sounds like a better Bassman. but i would love to add a z28 to my rig sometime in the future. I think i will try a 2x10 cab with the z28.

 

[E-Rock]

ah, your killing me! My z-28 is on order and won't be here until the middle of January!!!!

 

[The Whiz]

Loving my Z28. I've got a 12ax7 in the pi instead of the stock 5751 and am running it through Weber Alnico Blue Dogs. Sweeeet.

My ZVex Super Duper definitely sounds great with this amp. I also really like Si and Ge Fuzz Face clones with it. I'm thinking an Analogman Sunlion (which has the Beano Boost and Sunface in one pedal) would absolutely kill with the Z28.

I generally run my Z28 on the edge of distortion/dirty clean and get more dirt via boosts or fuzz. I like Analog delay with it too. I'm a happy camper.
taco

 

[axpro]

Played a little more when i got in from work today... MAN!!! this thing really loves pedals! pretty much the best fat fender clean i have ever heard!

 

[Bx3]

I had a 28 for a year and at one jam, it actually sold TWO Dr Z's! No kidding, it into a single Vintage 30 cab and RC Booster...a few months later two guys from the jam bought Z's based on hearing the Z28 that day. At least that's what they told me!

 

[Chadley]

I have owned many Dr Z amps (two Carmen Ghias, MAZ-18, Route 66, Z28) and I couldn't be any more pleased with my Z28 that I have right now (blonde head with matching 1x12 Z open back cab).

It is just about the fattest sounding Fender style clean you will ever hear. But what I love the most about it is the EF86 front end. You can throw just about anything at it and it won't quit on you. Very very responisive.

 

[Jollyb]

DR. Z makes some of the best affordable boutique amps on the market........really a great great product.


Enjoy the $hit out of that Z28! :AOK

 

[crazy4blues]

The Doctor makes some nice products. I have been loving my Maz 18 jr. (should be called a "24 Jr" because that's how many actual watts).

Anyway, I'm really thinking about my choice for a 6v6 amp, and given my great experience with my Maz, I am looking hard at the z-28. It will be that or a SFDR. Or I'll just mod my '71 Princeton!

Anyway, enjoy that Z!

 

[Telecaster]

If I could keep only one amp it would be my Z28. Sounds great for Classic Rock, Blues, Country and Rockabilly.

 

[beachwail]

I'm starting to disagree about the versatility aspect of the Z-28.

Mine is a 4x10 combo, and it has a thick, round tone but cant do sparkle
or jangle very well. Also I'm realizing the 22 watts get saturated pretty
quickly in a rock n roll band. When I get a great rhythm tone I can't get
any boost for leads, and when I've got a good lead tone the rhyhm tones
sound a bit sickly and thin.

Overall, however it is a great sounding amp... just not really versatile
as some have claimed. You have to keep the volume and tone below
Noon to be able to retain much of the character of your pedals.

My TBIAC and Hellbilly sound really good through this, fwiw.

 

[Laroosco!]

I'm starting to disagree about the versatility aspect of the Z-28.

Mine is a 4x10 combo, and it has a thick, round tone but cant do sparkle
or jangle very well. Also I'm realizing the 22 watts get saturated pretty
quickly in a rock n roll band. When I get a great rhythm tone I can't get
any boost for leads, and when I've got a good lead tone the rhyhm tones
sound a bit sickly and thin.

Overall, however it is a great sounding amp... just not really versatile
as some have claimed. You have to keep the volume and tone below
Noon to be able to retain much of the character of your pedals.

My TBIAC and Hellbilly sound really good through this, fwiw.

This is the problem that I ran into with the Z28. THis is wwhy I prefer the Route 66.

 

[The Whiz]

I'm starting to disagree about the versatility aspect of the Z-28.

Mine is a 4x10 combo, and it has a thick, round tone but cant do sparkle
or jangle very well. Also I'm realizing the 22 watts get saturated pretty
quickly in a rock n roll band. When I get a great rhythm tone I can't get
any boost for leads, and when I've got a good lead tone the rhyhm tones
sound a bit sickly and thin.

Overall, however it is a great sounding amp... just not really versatile
as some have claimed. You have to keep the volume and tone below
Noon to be able to retain much of the character of your pedals.

My TBIAC and Hellbilly sound really good through this, fwiw.

I would recommend trying a different EF86. Fairly dramatic tonal differences and gain differences can be had. For example, I don't care much for Mullard EF86's as they were bright enough that I couldn't handle having the treble knob above noon (and therefore couldn't get much EF86 gain). A Dario is thicker and warmer and I can crank up the treble knob for some nice grind without getting ice pick.

I'm not familiar with the Z speakers in your 4x10, but I can assure you I get some very nice sparkle with Alnico Weber Blue Dog 12" speakers. Maybe some Blue Pups would help.

That said, it sounds like the Z28 doesn't have enough headroom for your needs.

taco