Big Batch o' Clips! Dr. Z, Trace Elliot, & Koch amps!!!

[Draelyc]

Okay, so I'm trying to get a definitive comparison of my three current amps. Here's what I came up with...

First, I compared all three heads through the same speaker cab: a Crate Blue Voodoo closed back, ported 1x12 loaded with a Vintage 30, using the same mic position, and at about the same room volume.

Each clip begins on the guitar's* neck single-coil & moves to the bridge humbucker about halfway through. On each pickup, I'm rolling up & down on the guitar's volume to demo each amp's dynamic response & ability to clean up.

*Guitar is a Hamer USA Mirage Koa Top with a Duncan Cool Rails in the neck & a Custom Custom at the bridge.


Please dig in & lemme know whatchoo think!

P.S. Standard caveat about crappy-arsed playing... :facepalm:

Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr. NR


Trace Elliot Speed Twin H50


Koch Studiotone 20


Comments & opinions?




Next, I played the same couple of licks through each amp, but I also ran each amp through a different cab, so essentially, these clips are comparing three different *rigs* (rather than just comparing amps).

(P.S. Please continue to overlook the crappy-arsed playing... )

Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr. NR --> Crate closed back, ported 1x12 w/ V30


Trace Elliot Speed Twin H50 --> Avatar closed back 2x12 w/ Greenbacks


Koch Studiotone 20 head --> Avatar Vintage style closed back 1x12 w/ CL80


Comments & opinions welcome here, too!


And last but not least, I thought I'd demo the Swart Night Light attenuator I've been using with the Dr. Z:

Clip starts out un-attenuated, then clicks through each level of attenuation so you can hear how much quieter it gets. The final bit is the most-attenuated clip, but with the volume bumped back up on the recorder so you can compare it to the un-attenuated tone.

Diggit:

Dr. Z Maz + Swart attenuator demo

 

[Draelyc]

Biddly-biddly-BOMP!

 

[fek]

I could gig with any of those. I expected to like the Dr Z the best but to be honest, I didn't really hear a huge difference between any of the three.

 

[redrol]

Ah, well I didn't hear much differences. The Dr-Z's clean tones were slightly less flat and lifeless than the other 2 amps but uh, man I didn't like those tones. Good thing you get along with those amps.. I would not.

 

[Draelyc]

Ah, well I didn't hear much differences. The Dr-Z's clean tones were slightly less flat and lifeless than the other 2 amps but uh, man I didn't like those tones. Good thing you get along with those amps.. I would not.

What in particular did you not dig? I'm genuinely curious...

 

[redrol]

Ah, well I didn't hear much differences. The Dr-Z's clean tones were slightly less flat and lifeless than the other 2 amps but uh, man I didn't like those tones. Good thing you get along with those amps.. I would not.

What in particular did you not dig? I'm genuinely curious...

Well.. I think the clean tones were really flat and lifeless. Just nothing inspiring for me. Im sure in a band mix it would be a bit better but not my taste. The OD tones were REALLY dark, like to the point where I would consider them muddy. To give you some perspective I like my OD tones Marshall style, cranked. Those tones sort have more high mids and more feedback/sustain. I guess I expected the low wattage amps you have to do more of that sort of thing but instead they sounded more Mesa'ish.

It wasn't bad tone though, just not at all my taste.

 

[Draelyc]

Ah, well I didn't hear much differences. The Dr-Z's clean tones were slightly less flat and lifeless than the other 2 amps but uh, man I didn't like those tones. Good thing you get along with those amps.. I would not.

What in particular did you not dig? I'm genuinely curious...

Well.. I think the clean tones were really flat and lifeless. Just nothing inspiring for me. Im sure in a band mix it would be a bit better but not my taste. The OD tones were REALLY dark, like to the point where I would consider them muddy. To give you some perspective I like my OD tones Marshall style, cranked. Those tones sort have more high mids and more feedback/sustain. I guess I expected the low wattage amps you have to do more of that sort of thing but instead they sounded more Mesa'ish.

Thanks for taking the time to break that down, mang. Wow, just goes to show how different ears/perceptions can be, and how subjective tone is. There are several moments in those clips ~ particularly running the Trace through the Greenbacks and the Koch through the CL80 ~ that make me cringe a bit at what (to me) is excessive brightness. I tend to prefer really thick mids . . . although, and this seems so funny to me, I've always thought of myself as leaning much more towards the Marshall camp than the Mesa.

It's really cool to get feedback like this. I'm always amazed to discover differences in perception like this. Much appreciated!

It wasn't bad tone though, just not at all my taste.

That's how I took your initial post ~ didn't read anything negative into it, just that, like you said, it wasn't your preference. Again, I really appreciate your taking the time to discuss a bit further ~ thanks!

 

[Draelyc]

TTT for the lunchtime crowd.

 

[Draelyc]

Latenitebomp

 

[Draelyc]

Page 3 bomp -- any other comments/opinions?

 

[Audioholic]

The cleans were pretty close, as well as the texture of the drive. I think I preferred the drive on the Trace Elliot Speed Twin H50
followed by Maz.

 

[Draelyc]

The cleans were pretty close, as well as the texture of the drive. I think I preferred the drive on the Trace Elliot Speed Twin H50
followed by Maz.

Dig. I did have 'em all dialed in fairly similarly. Thanks for the feedback!

Anybody else?

 

[Draelyc]

Anybody else?

 

[duodecim]

Anybody else?

I guess there's not enough gain involved to get a bunch of comments... or Van Halen, or 80's hair metal.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

i just listened to the first set of clips. liked the DR Z then the Koch, and wasn't digging the Trace.

 

[Draelyc]

Anybody else?

I guess there's not enough gain involved to get a bunch of comments... or Van Halen, or 80's hair metal.

Lol, you may be onto something...

 

[Draelyc]

i just listened to the first set of clips. liked the DR Z then the Koch, and wasn't digging the Trace.

Thanks for listening & commenting -- much appreciated.