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Topic: another new rig Dr Z Maz 38 |
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 9 Apr 2019 11:50 pm |
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well , sold a couple of amps to make way for this baby, Dr Z Maz 38 Sr with reverb . I recently did a show with a Maz 18 which really impressed me so it got me to thinking. Grab a 38 with much extended headroom . Simply a cathode biased 4 x El84 with a tube rectifier . The 38 is very clean with the Steel, lots of headroom with excellent EQ control. For the Tele it's a no brainer but double duty is always a mandate. I think this amp is gonna do quite well . I have 3 or 4 different cabs, not sure which one will be the best fit, so far they all sound pretty good, 12 or 15.
I have several outdoor festival shows coming up this Spring and Summer where I am on Tele only, this amp should easily fit the bill which is actually why I acquired it.
The amps I sold are not the amps I use on a regular basis for gigs, I still have the DV Mark 50 for backup and the excellent Carvin Nomad, 1 x 12 / 50 watter . I recommend THIS Carvin to anyone if you can find one. Its also a 4 x EL84 amp with 12AX7's front end. Covers double duty on small to medium rooms no issues. Over the last year or so it has become the go to amp.
The Z comes out this week for it's first gig journey , double duty. Should be fun.
* I see a red tolex speaker cab build in the near future !
yeah I know gear freak... wait till you see the one currently being restored, a 1964 Rickenbacker B16A Supersonic, 4x10, 45 watter, just like a Super Reverb with no reverb. Its rumored and probably true that Leo built these amps for Rickenbacker as they look identical !
The Red Z...
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
Last edited by Tony Prior on 1 May 2019 12:09 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 7:03 am
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Tony: "Simply a class A single ended 4 x El84......."
I scoured the DR Z web site as well as the internet and could not find confirmation of this.
I always thought that it was a cathode biased push pull configuration.
Not a single ended nor a Class A.
Do you have some other source that sheds some light on this? |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 7:29 am
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If it is class A then the tube rectifier sag effect/compression would not exist because the power supply load would be relatively constant. Seems like a waste of a rectifier tube.
This chart:
https://drzamps.com/info/amp-comparison-chart/
only lists the Z-Plus as class A but maybe it's incomplete.
It is possible to put output tubes in class A parallel instead of push-pull and that seems to be a Dr Z specialty. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 9:08 am
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Dr. Z Amplification | Amp Comparison Chart
https://drzamps.com/info/amp-comparison-chart/
MAZ 38 NR Mk.II, 38/18 Watts, 4 – EL84 (cathode biased) ... speaker, Hi/Lo sensitivity input, half power switch, true Class A, single-ended operation, 4/8/16 Ohm.
Its on the the internet it must be true
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 10:00 am
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"only lists the Z-Plus as class A but maybe it's incomplete"
plus it's from the horse's mouth, Dr Z's own web site! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 12:34 pm
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this is also from the website,
ttps://drzamps.com/info/amp-comparison-chart/
MAZ 38 NR Mk.II, 38/18 Watts, 4 – EL84 (cathode biased) ... speaker, Hi/Lo sensitivity input, half power switch, true Class A, single-ended operation, 4/8/16 Ohm.
why does it matter Ignore my post.
Seems we challenge everything these days, it's not that important to me. I'm not selling it, I don't much care ! I can only go by what I read.
Its a great amp well worth the cost . Its a 38 watt hand wired Cathode Biased amp. Don't buy one . 
Everyone can be happy now and we can go back to what strings are best or did Emmons Steels lose their grip. 
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Richard Lotspeich
From:
North Georgia
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 4:16 pm Dr z
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Seems to be the new thing now to go looking at other peoples posts now days,and "correct" info through out the posts. Sometimes they know what they're talking about,,sometimes Not. I try and take it with a grain.
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Dick Lotspeich |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 10 Apr 2019 4:45 pm
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| This is a steel guitar FORUM. I think it's interesting that it has more than one output tube and somehow still class A. Not correcting anything, but wondering, sure it's class A? and how can it be? Very interesting amp. Lot's of people comment on different aspects of a thread. I guess my ears perked up when I saw class A. I didn't pretend to know what I was talking about Richard. But I'm still interested in the amp's design. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Apr 2019 12:31 am
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A good read.
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/17116-how-tube-amps-work?page=5
"Similarly, amps with more than one power tube can still achieve single-ended, class-A operation by wiring two tubes in parallel. This allows them to essentially act as a single, more-powerful tube"
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Apparently the 4-EL84 / Z's are wired two tubes class A in parallel , with two sets in a push pull configuration. This appears to be fairly common in a few brands these days with 4 x EI84's .
The TUBE rectifier is on purpose to create sag ( slight compression ) when pushed . A solid state design recovers much faster, Tube rectifiers are slower in recovery response when the amp is pushed. ( milliseconds matter)
It all doesn't much matter, Mike Zaite came up with a design platform which created quite a bit of attention and continued success.
This amp is extremely clean all the way up the knob ( master full up ) but yet can be placed in the drive mode ( gain full up ) if desired. The 38 watt rating doesn't mean it screams volume, it's not twice as loud as an 18, it provides additional clean headroom over the 18's. But it is friggin loud, compared to a standard 40 watt Fender 2x6L6 design it's not to be compared. Even though they are +/- the same rating.
The EQ is totally different and very impressive, the CUT control is not like a typical presence control, it actually boosts or lowers the entire spectrum , interactive with each of the tone control settings. a very powerful feature in my opinion.
These amps may not be for everyone and may not even be considered good Steel amps, especially the lower wattage rated amps. They carry a fairly hefty price tag in comparison to others , new and used.
For me personally, the Push Pull ( which apparently has lost its grip) sounds great with this amp and a single 12.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2019 4:15 am
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Thanks Tony! There's a hand drawing of a DRZ amp schematic out on Google images and it shows the two output tubes as one unit with the cathodes, plates and screen grids wired in parallel. I have a couple of the Allen tube amps and they also have some unique circuitry in the tone stacks and are not cheap either!
I seem to remember seeing Dr Z amps on stage with Brad Paisley so he must be pretty impressed with them.
oops, here's a nice DR Z video with Brad Paisley:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MAZ38--dr-z-maz-38-mkii-38-watt-tube-head-with-reverb |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 12 Apr 2019 7:52 am
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No issues with the Steel regarding clean headroom. Gobs to spare. The CUT control is a homerun, it actually does something !
I doubt I will use this on my bi -monthly shows as it is over-kill for a small room. Plus I don't want to carry more than I need, a simple small combo does the trick . For the outdoor festivals this amp is "perfecto"
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
Last edited by Tony Prior on 14 Apr 2019 1:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 13 Apr 2019 9:06 am
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It's the standard cathode-biased power amp section that you find in Dr Z, Matchless, and other amps that are derived from the Vox AC-30. The Cut control is actually a high frequency roll-off control that is situated in the power amp section, along with the Master Volume.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 14 Apr 2019 1:33 am
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yes the CUT is in the power section rather than the preamp section, in the real world it is very effective. To the right it accentuates the high end, to the left it FEELS like it has accentuated the lo end while cutting the hi end . Unlike a typical Presence control .
While it is indeed passive, it FEELS and performs like it is active.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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