Oh my...

[Cranium]

I just went to a Dr.Z amps website and heard some clip..............I was left speechless, it sounded so good I almost fell off my chair, the little mini z 5 watt amp sounded like a half stack, its so pleasing I can't stop listening to the clips, although the 5 watt mini z is like $700 I would buy it any day if I had the money. Exept the little mini z, their cheapest amp is over $1000 which is kinda expensive, but it sounds so good I felt the pressure in my throat, kinda like when you feel really sad about something (remembers Freddie Mercury ).

Does anyone own one, I really want to hear it from one of you, also you guys got to hear this one http://www.drzamps.com/sounds/miniz/...Track%2013.mp3 its from the 5 watt one, reminds me of something I heard a long time ago, its so great.

[Bloozcat]

Don't own any, but I once got to play through a Maz Jr. They are great boutique amps. Warm, sweet tone that practically brings tears to your eyes when you play through one. Ultimate blues/classic rock toned amps.

It's because of that Maz Jr. that I love EL84 tone so much. 18 watt Marshalls and clones thereof have that same kind of warm sweet OD tone. Since I'm not quite ready to fork out $1000.00 + for an amp right now, I just get by with my EL84 loaded Vintage Club 30, VC 20, and my Epi Valve jr.

[Cranium]

Tears is exactly right but $1000+ is pretty steep so if I will plan to get a $600-700 amp I will either get a used one (If I actualy find a used one) or a mini z for around $700, Im not 100% sure of the price since its not the same in all the places. Is there any other company that makes low wattage amps that sound similar but maybe with a little lower prices?

[Nelskie]

Is there any other company that makes low wattage amps that sound similar but maybe with a little lower prices?

Well, I don't know if the tone is similar or not, but I do know that the Epiphone Valve Jr. is a low-watt, tube-powered dynamo that just begs to be hot-rodded. Yeah, maybe not in the same league as a Dr. Z, but at $139, there's plenty of sheepskins left over to push it in whatever direction you want, and probably leave you enough left over for a new guitar (or two!) Check out the Voodooman's killer Valve Jr. mod thread & clips in the amp section of the forum. You can call me a believer.

Choice #2 is the venerable Fender Champ, which if you can procure yourself a vintage-era model (check Ebay), there's tone galore to be had. I believe our FN brother 69SL has several posts in the amp section about his Champ, all of which are glowing. The Champ's cousin, the Blues Junior, is also very popular amongst the low-watt tube crowd.

Lastly, the Peavey Classic 20. Like its big brothers, the Classic 30 / 50 models, this little rocket has enough cahones to push brown, tweedy, vintage tones through a 4 x 12 cab. Add some juicy NOS tubes, a Tone Tubby or a Weber Alnico, and you're ready for action.

As you can see, there are a lot of neighborhoods to explore before you head on up to the big house on the hill. But if your heart's set on it, then all I can say is . . . bring your wallet. Good luck!

[Cranium]

Yea alot of Dr.z amps come with Weber speakers, maybe that will give me similar tone, also how much are good tubes, I never actualy had the pleasure of buying or replacing any.

[warren0728]

+1 on the valve jr and the peavey classic 20...i have both and they both are great....completely different from each other but both have great tone.

[Robert****]

Well, sorry for being blunt here, but this is my experience. If you have played a Dr.Z amp, the Valve Jr and Peavey Classic completely fade in comparison. The doctor's amps are pure heaven to play. They do cost quite a bit more though!

[warren0728]

Well, sorry for being blunt here, but this is my experience. If you have played a Dr.Z amp, the Valve Jr and Peavey Classic completely fade in comparison. The doctor's amps are pure heaven to play. They do cost quite a bit more though!

you could buy both of the "inferior amps" retube them and upgrade speakers and have two killer sounding amps with money left over for a new guitar.

Then put 20 people (not pro musicians although they might have trouble too) in a room and have someone play the same guitar setup through all 3 amps and see how many can pick the boutique amp...would be interesting...

ww

[Nelskie]

Well, sorry for being blunt here, but this is my experience. If you have played a Dr.Z amp, the Valve Jr and Peavey Classic completely fade in comparison. The doctor's amps are pure heaven to play. They do cost quite a bit more though!

Sorry for being blunt in return, but I don't think I was saying that those amps were comparable to a Dr. Z. - - -

As you can see, there are a lot of neighborhoods to explore before you head on up to the big house on the hill.

Certainly, I will give credit where credit is due. Some of these high-end boutique amps do sound incredible. And yes, I do understand that its a personal observation. But to say that they completely fade in comparision - well . . . I think that statement is somewhat pretentious.

For the sake of discussion, here is my personal experience: I have guys coming up to me on a regular basis telling me how incredible my Classic 30 sounds - and many of those same guys own high-end amps. Better yet, several of those same guys now own Peavey Classic / Delta amps. And lest we forget some other key elements of that great tone equation: guitar; p'ups, and perhaps most important of all - - the player!

Personally, I haven't had the good fortune of ever playing a Dr. Z amp. But I have played my share of high $$ amps (Chicago Blues Box, Harry Joyce, Rivera, Matchless, etc.), as well as some killer vintage & custom-built numbers. While most did live up to their reputation tone-wise, I can say with complete honesty that I never once went back to my house, plugged into my Peavey, and thought, "gee, my amp completely fades in comparison to the such-and-such I played the other day." If anything, it's been the exact opposite, as in "wow, my Peavey sounds pretty damn good." And now, with the Tonebone pedal in the mix, there's an exclamation point at the end of that sentence.

I don't mean to play the devil's advocate here. It just seems to me that a lot of players fawn endlessly over high $$ gear, and why that is, I cannot say. When I go out to see bands in my home town, I don't see Dr. Z's, or any other high-end gear behind the guitar players. And when I say bands, I'm not talkin' about schmoes or thrash metal outfits either. I'm talking about bands that are doing Dire Straits, Steely Dan, SRV, Pink Floyd, and other stuff that requires good tone. And what do I see? These guys are rippin' it to pieces with totally blue-collar rigs, most of which would rarely filter into conversation about incredible tone. So, is it just me wondering why this is? Probably not. It's reality, though - - just go out and see for yourself.

[Spudman***]

The cheaper the better is what I say. That way you can buy MORE of them.

Speaking of cheap... Ty Tabor from King's X has used for many years and many recordings an old Lab Series L5. Remember those? Nobody ever claimed those had the holy grail of tone yet listen to any King's X album up to their latest "Ogre Tones". The boy has tone just dripping off of every cut and he did it with some cheap old SOLID STATE amp. Go figure, no tubes.

I don't buy the whole boutique amp thing either. It all comes from the player.
I've heard Roine Stolt from The Flower Kings through a Bruno (high $$ boutique amp) and through an old Fender Dual Showman, a fender Bassman and a 45 watt Marshall and he sounds exactly the same through either amp. But does he own a Bruno or Dr. Z? Nope. Cheap old Fenders and a Marshall.

I'm not advocating buying cheap, as in crappy amps, in any way. I just don't believe you have to spend wads of $ to get good tone. A well tubed and tuned cheap tube amp will floor you just as easily as a high $ amp (IMHO). Just like Nelskie says.

So save your money for candy, beer and MORE GUITARS.

[Cranium]

Obviously its not even a fair comparison, the only thing I can do is buy a cheaper tube amp and replace the speaker and tubes to sound closer but it will never be the same, its too bad they took the mini z out of production, it was so nice and less pricy too comparing with other Dr.Z amps.

[Robert****]

You are right Warren, it might be hard to pick out the boutique amp. But as a player, I could tell in 1 second if I got to play them all. The Dr. Z amps feel different to play. They have dynamics and life like no other amp I've played. Just my personal experience, others may feel differently.

[warren0728]

i'm sure you are right.....my point was that i think we probably spend more time and money than necessary chasing tone that most people can't hear or recognize. That isn't necessarily a bad thing....but interesting to think about...

ww

[Robert****]

I know what you mean, but for me, it's the joy of playing the stuff that matters the most. If others don't think I have a great tone, too bad - if I like it, I'm happy.

So, with my current amps, I'm 90% where I wanna be. With a Dr. Z I might be 98% there, but I'd have to cough up a lot of dough. So right now, I'm staying where I am amp wise until I get some really good paying gigs that can buy me a Dr. Z! Some day I want to get one of those, just for my own satisfaction. Yes I know, after a while I'll be looking at something else - CAE, Bad Cat, Dumble..., etc! It's the mind of a guitar player, I just need to admit it. When GAS hits, wise decisions may just go out the window! haha

[warren0728]

i know what you mean....kinda like me buying a gibson les paul when i could have been ok with a cheaper guitar....and i don't even play out!! I just wanted a gibson!!

ww

[Cranium]

Robert do you know any amps very simillar to Dr.Z amps in quality and tone?

[Mark]

Robert do you know any amps very simillar to Dr.Z amps in quality and tone?

There's Swart amps they make a little 5 watt amp along the lines of the Mini Z which has a bit more clean to it but can get the same growl. Plus it comes with a tone control and is a beautiful sounding and looking amph. It is a hundred more than the Mini Z but it is one amazing little amph, and I really would like to own one, and I would really lke to own one...oops did I say that twice. I recently got to play one and cant get the little fokker outta my head. Musictoyz even has em in stock.....hmmmmmmm

http://www.swartamps.com/

[Robert****]

No, not really. I am sure Bad Cat and other high end expensive ones would come close, but I haven't tried any of those.

[Robert****]

I have heard some clips of the Swart amps. Fantastic amps, that's for sure. But these days, it seems there's a million small builders who create great amps. What they all seem to have in commons is a high price tag (and good tone I suppose).