barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 Not that I could afford one.... but WHOA! I just played a very good sim of one.... and did some research on these. I must have played a set\'s worth of oldies tunes straight with no break and it felt like 5 minutes had passed. I was played with enough intensity to sweat! When something sounds THAT good... 1800 for the head and 800 for the cab doesn\'t sound so bad.
mtpatty Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 all Dr. Z Amps sound great- I really like the Z-28 and the Monza...
lachiron Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 Josh plays a RetroKing Bluesbreaker Combo w KT66 tubes. He loves those tubes, sometimes when he plays Reeling in the Years by Steely Dan sounds exactly like Elliott Randall on the 70's Marshall Studio amps that Clapton made famous. RetroKing amps are around $1600 inclusive for a 45 w combo w 2/12" speakers. Marshall also makes a Bluesbreaker RI for around 2K w KT66 tubes and Divided by 13 also has a combo w KT66 tubes. Chuck at RetroKing is really a cool guy too and makes the amp custom outfitted with all of the vintage tubes, caps, etc. You could always come by in Atlanta to hear it. Len
lachiron Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 Josh plays a RetroKing Bluesbreaker Combo w KT66 tubes. He loves those tubes, sometimes when he plays Reeling in the Years by Steely Dan sounds exactly like Elliott Randall on the 70's Marshall Studio amps that Clapton made famous. RetroKing amps are around $1600 inclusive for a 45 w combo w 2/12" speakers. Marshall also makes a Bluesbreaker RI for around 2K w KT66 tubes and Divided by 13 also has a combo w KT66 tubes. Chuck at RetroKing is really a cool guy too and makes the amp custom outfitted with all of the vintage tubes, caps, etc. You could always come by in Atlanta to hear it. Len
byrdland Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 DR Z amps are great amps. However, from what I've read on the Dr Z owner's website, it's hard to find good KT66 tubes these days.
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 That's a real shame. Sorta the problem plaguing tube amps these days. Some tubes are just getting tougher and tougher to find of decent quality. The RetroKing sounds very nice too. Very different that the Route 66 though. The Route 66 just has IT for me tone wise. The breakup is JUST right. The tone stack is JUST right. I mean... wow. I don't care how it is built: tube, solid state or digital. So long as it sounds good. REALLY hate to hear that KT66 tubes of decent quality are getting tough to find. Certainly makes it less appealing to get one for sure if the amp might be rendered obsolete by the tube being tough to replace with regards to quality. That's ok though, there was no immediate danger of me purchasing one. I was looking a year out though of maybe getting one. The good news is.... I am not hard on tubes. I don't play out really so.... I wouldn't be tearing through tubes left and right. It might be YEARS before I'd need a replacement.
kbp810 Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 DR Z amps are great amps. However, from what I've read on the Dr Z owner's website, it's hard to find good KT66 tubes these days. Great amps indeed! They don't call him the Dr. for nothing! I think the TungSol KT66 reissue is a solid tube, I'd imagine that the Gold Lion KT66 is decent as well - I've only used KT88 Gold Lion in a single ended amp, and can say it was a damn good sounding tube (leaps and bounds over it's JJ and Sino equivalents, in that amp)
212Mavguy Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 Spam alert... Barry, I/ve got a Siegmund Midnight Blues Breaker. Single Channel Blues Breaker head, has tube buffered fx loop and bypassable master volume. It's not getting enough use. (hint) Tubed with a secret lower wattage baby bluesbreaker tone maker tube, the 6f6g, same power as 6v6's. I have a couple pairs of Brit KT66's, but to be absolutely true to the historical circuit the correct tube is 5881 for a JTM 45. The bluesbreaker thang happened later when EC ran kt66's in his. I prefer the sound of the amp with 5881's. Have a pair of vintage Tung Sol's very tightly matched. I know that you're not in the market for a spendy amp, but it needs to be played, it is an amazing amp to play out through. Maybe somebody can give it a home, it's a virtuoso performer's amp at home for smaller room bass, jazzbox, rhythm and lead electric guitar with a great, singing, tone for electric guitar, and I have used it for acoustic with good results as well. The Midnight Blues won amp of the year for Guitar Player Magazine in 2005. wonderful build quality and parts used, like paper in oil caps normally used in HIFI, very smooth, rich tone.
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 Spam alert... Barry, I/ve got a Siegmund Midnight Blues Breaker. Single Channel Blues Breaker head, has tube buffered fx loop and bypassable master volume. It's not getting enough use. (hint) Tubed with a secret lower wattage baby bluesbreaker tone maker tube, the 6f6g, same power as 6v6's. I have a couple pairs of Brit KT66's, but to be absolutely true to the historical circuit the correct tube is 5881 for a JTM 45. The bluesbreaker thang happened later when EC ran kt66's in his. I prefer the sound of the amp with 5881's. Have a pair of vintage Tung Sol's very tightly matched. I know that you're not in the market for a spendy amp, but it needs to be played, it is an amazing amp to play out through. Maybe somebody can give it a home, it's a virtuoso performer's amp at home for smaller room bass, jazzbox, rhythm and lead electric guitar with a great, singing, tone for electric guitar, and I have used it for acoustic with good results as well. The Midnight Blues won amp of the year for Guitar Player Magazine in 2005. wonderful build quality and parts used, like paper in oil caps normally used in HIFI, very smooth, rich tone. I appreciate it. As mentioned, though, I am in no danger of being able to afford one. I am not even in danger of affording much of anything at the moment to be honest. Just stunned by how that amp sounded. It is like the guy who designed it could read my thoughts without me being able to truly articulate what I was looking for.
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 Josh plays a RetroKing Bluesbreaker Combo w KT66 tubes. He loves those tubes, sometimes when he plays Reeling in the Years by Steely Dan sounds exactly like Elliott Randall on the 70's Marshall Studio amps that Clapton made famous. RetroKing amps are around $1600 inclusive for a 45 w combo w 2/12" speakers. Marshall also makes a Bluesbreaker RI for around 2K w KT66 tubes and Divided by 13 also has a combo w KT66 tubes. Chuck at RetroKing is really a cool guy too and makes the amp custom outfitted with all of the vintage tubes, caps, etc. You could always come by in Atlanta to hear it. Len I checked the website, very cool amps! Did you get his at a dealer in Atlanta? Would love to hear one.
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 I checked the website, very cool amps! Did you get his at a dealer in Atlanta? Would love to hear one. Sounds good don't it! I had heard of RetroKings but, like the Dr Z, never even heard a video demo of one.
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 all Dr. Z Amps sound great- I really like the Z-28 and the Monza... That Monza (on demo videos) has a GREAT rock tone! Who knows, maybe the Monza will be on tap after the Route 66 and Z-Best cab. Since I have pretty well settled into the notion that I am not going to be playing for anyone's pleasure but my own, I want to have nice stuff even if it takes me forever. I have my software models which will serve me just fine but... just for me.... the Route 66, Z-Best, Heritage, Gretsch and G&L. If I get the Monza, I'd just HAVE to get an H150 and SG. But... that is WAY down the road. I still have the Route 66, Z-Best, Heritage H535 and G&L ASAT Bluesboy to get first. Yeah..... this should take awhile. haha.
GuitArtMan Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 I've been a Dr. Z fan since I bought my first Carmen Ghia 12+ years ago or so. The Route 66 has intrigued me since day one, but I also realize it would be impractical for me as to get that tone the thing has got to be turned up and it's gonna be LOUD! The Z-Best is a killer 2x12, possiblay my favorite, and I've owned more that a few (Z-best, THD, Mesa Veritcal and Horizontal Recto, Jenkins Highway 61, Marshal 1966a, Mather 1966a repro). The port on it gives it a wider dispersion and frequency range than you would normally get on a closed back 2x12 and the V30/G12H30 combo works well to cover a wide variety of styles. It's an added plus that the Dr. designs it to be run either vertical or horizontal. I've yet to try the Z28 - the other Dr. Z amp that really intrigues me, but there will always be a Carmen Ghia in my collection. So simple and so good sounding.
tulk1 Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 I had a Carmen Ghia for a while. Like GaM mentions ... they have to be loud to sound their best. And lordy, those 18w get LOUD!! Mass Street in Lawrence KS is a Z dealer. I've spent way too much time up there playing every Z thats come out. The good Dr know hows to wire an amp. And the cabs are massive strong - very much like the Mesa cabs: thick and heavy. I never did get along that well with the Carmen G. Traded it straight across for my current amp set up. But plenty of the country guys in KC are using the Jrs, etc. Nice stuff.
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 I've been a Dr. Z fan since I bought my first Carmen Ghia 12+ years ago or so. The Route 66 has intrigued me since day one, but I also realize it would be impractical for me as to get that tone the thing has got to be turned up and it's gonna be LOUD! The Z-Best is a killer 2x12, possiblay my favorite, and I've owned more that a few (Z-best, THD, Mesa Veritcal and Horizontal Recto, Jenkins Highway 61, Marshal 1966a, Mather 1966a repro). The port on it gives it a wider dispersion and frequency range than you would normally get on a closed back 2x12 and the V30/G12H30 combo works well to cover a wide variety of styles. It's an added plus that the Dr. designs it to be run either vertical or horizontal. I've yet to try the Z28 - the other Dr. Z amp that really intrigues me, but there will always be a Carmen Ghia in my collection. So simple and so good sounding. yeah. I figured I'd have to get a power soak. 32w with KT66 is a lot of clean head room. You'd really be rattling windows with that thing! Luckily... the EF86s don't take much to coax some dirt out of. With the oldies stuff, I may not need to drive it too much. Either way, I may end up near half on the volume dial. ....yeah. Power soak. haha.
bolero Posted May 15, 2012 Posted May 15, 2012 if I were in the market for a KT66 amp I would talk to Louis Rosano http://www.louisamps.com/page1/page1.html he makes a killer bluesbreaker combo, plus some other cool amps
barrymclark Posted May 15, 2012 Author Posted May 15, 2012 if I were in the market for a KT66 amp I would talk to Louis Rosano http://www.louisamps.com/page1/page1.html he makes a killer bluesbreaker combo' date=' plus some other cool amps[/quote'] Very cool. Thing is, I want it to sound JUST like the Route 66. I dig the RetroKing 45 too for the Bluesbreaker thing.
mtpatty Posted May 16, 2012 Posted May 16, 2012 That Monza (on demo videos) has a GREAT rock tone! Who knows, maybe the Monza will be on tap after the Route 66 and Z-Best cab. Since I have pretty well settled into the notion that I am not going to be playing for anyone's pleasure but my own, I want to have nice stuff even if it takes me forever. I have my software models which will serve me just fine but... just for me.... the Route 66, Z-Best, Heritage, Gretsch and G&L. If I get the Monza, I'd just HAVE to get an H150 and SG. But... that is WAY down the road. I still have the Route 66, Z-Best, Heritage H535 and G&L ASAT Bluesboy to get first. Yeah..... this should take awhile. haha. Funny you mention that- i have the SG and H150's
barrymclark Posted May 17, 2012 Author Posted May 17, 2012 Funny you mention that- i have the SG and H150\'s That\'s exactly the guitar types I imagine sound AMAZING through the Monza!
rjsanders Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 great amps & worth the money. i've had 3 of these things, the 3rd being a little better sounding and feeling than the others. used you can find these around $1100 (head) & $550 (cab). i asked Dan Boul about current EF86s for reliability and noise. he said reliability's getting much better & noise is "just the nature of the beast". you'll only hear it playing by yourself & it's no worse than single-coil pickup hum. (for my Bluesbreaker/Bassman tones, i use my Colonial with 5881s & a 5u4 rectifier tube, MOOD about 1 o'clock)
barrymclark Posted May 18, 2012 Author Posted May 18, 2012 Well, I have a Z-Best cab and Brake-Lite coming in mint condition for $550. Should be here by end of this upcoming week. Couldn\'t pass that up. Next, I am saving for the Route 66 and El Capistan.
DetroitBlues Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 Not that I could afford one.... but WHOA! I just played a very good sim of one.... and did some research on these. I must have played a set\'s worth of oldies tunes straight with no break and it felt like 5 minutes had passed. I was played with enough intensity to sweat! When something sounds THAT good... 1800 for the head and 800 for the cab doesn\'t sound so bad. I didn't think to tell you as I assumed you'd be back into completing the Starlite instead of buying another amp...
barrymclark Posted May 24, 2012 Author Posted May 24, 2012 I didn't think to tell you as I assumed you'd be back into completing the Starlite instead of buying another amp... If I hadn't come across this amp, that is exactly what I'd be doing. Know vs unknown quantity. That is still on my list though.
DetroitBlues Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 This Route 66 doesn't seem to be too expensive... I've heard a lot of good things about it.
barrymclark Posted May 24, 2012 Author Posted May 24, 2012 This Route 66 doesn't seem to be too expensive... I've heard a lot of good things about it. HAHA. If only that were the case!
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