NAD x2 - Handwired Goodness!

[Al Chapo]

I started the year telling myself I'm mostly set except for a cab w/ blackbacks for my '80 2203. You know how it goes, 20+ purchases, sales and trades later.... Anyway, my taste in guitars has pretty much settled on just Gretsch and Teles, with a (un?)healthy appreciation for Gibson. So I'm naturally acquiring way too many amps and pedals to compensate.

I've been holding out for a JTM or Dirty Shirley for a bit, then looking for a 2466 or an EF86 Vox to no avail. I got back into some Dr Z stuff after a few years away from it and this Route 66 popped up locally with KT66 and an EF86 so I jumped on it. Man, this thing is simple and vicious boosted. My only gripe is there's no reverb or fx loop so I'm half assing the psychobilly stuff, or it would be an all around weapon. ... I guess I need to re-acquire a Fryette PS! Anyway, it scratches all kinds of itches. I don't get much time to play out loud lately between work and the family being around, but I got to blast it for a solid hour today, and it's definitely coming to the next rehearsal.

And speaking of not being able to play out loud much, I landed a Vox AC4HW so I have something half manageable to play without headphones. I'm pretty damn impressed with it. It won't replace my AC30 any time soon, but it definitely gets me in the ballpark.

 

[chumbucket]

Seeing that Route 66 makes me want to grab a P90 Gibson, plug in and crank it up. Looks like a stripped down rock and roll machine.

 

[VonBonfire]

And speaking of not being able to play out loud much, I landed a Vox AC4HW so I have something half manageable to play without headphones. I'm pretty damn impressed with it. It won't replace my AC30 any time soon, but it definitely gets me in the ballpark.

I borrowed an AC4 (not the HW) for a radio show last year instead of being forced to play acoustic. I didn't find the the half and quarter power (IIRC) settings very good at all. The full power setting was much better even keeping it dialed down vs trying to cut power. The tone that way was good, though the low end was a bit flubby the further you got into the volume. Not sure if your version has those cut power settings or not. I didn't know they were doing a HW version of that. Makes for a pretty nice low volume home practice amp! Congrats on your scores Al.

 

[DanTravis62]

Seeing that Route 66 makes me want to grab a P90 Gibson, plug in and crank it up. Looks like a stripped down rock and roll machine.

Yep my thoughts exactly

I seriously need like a jr or special, and that thing cranked up, then bang out some power chords

 

[RaceU4her]

I started the year telling myself I'm mostly set except for a cab w/ blackbacks for my '80 2203. You know how it goes, 20+ purchases, sales and trades later....

HAHA. yup, i know how it goes! nice scores

 

[Music&Chaos]

I started the year telling myself I'm mostly set except for a cab w/ blackbacks for my '80 2203. You know how it goes, 20+ purchases, sales and trades later.... Anyway, my taste in guitars has pretty much settled on just Gretsch and Teles, with a (un?)healthy appreciation for Gibson. So I'm naturally acquiring way too many amps and pedals to compensate.

I've been holding out for a JTM or Dirty Shirley for a bit, then looking for a 2466 or an EF86 Vox to no avail. I got back into some Dr Z stuff after a few years away from it and this Route 66 popped up locally with KT66 and an EF86 so I jumped on it. Man, this thing is simple and vicious boosted. My only gripe is there's no reverb or fx loop so I'm half assing the psychobilly stuff, or it would be an all around weapon. ... I guess I need to re-acquire a Fryette PS! Anyway, it scratches all kinds of itches. I don't get much time to play out loud lately between work and the family being around, but I got to blast it for a solid hour today, and it's definitely coming to the next rehearsal.

And speaking of not being able to play out loud much, I landed a Vox AC4HW so I have something half manageable to play without headphones. I'm pretty damn impressed with it. It won't replace my AC30 any time soon, but it definitely gets me in the ballpark.

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Please put some NOS tubes in that little Vox so it can really sing.

Sounds funny but if you run a Mullard up front with Sylvania in the output- everything you play sounds like it has a speech bubble around it like in a comic book. Very funny description but if you play it, you will know exactly what I mean. I went with Mullard up front and RCA in the back for my little 4w Vox, slightly different model

 

[DanTravis62]

Please put some NOS tubes in that little Vox so it can really sing.

Sounds funny but if you run a Mullard up front with Sylvania in the output- everything you play sounds like it has a speech bubble around it like in a comic book. Very funny description but if you play it, you will know exactly what I mean. I went with Mullard up front and RCA in the back for my little 4w Vox, slightly different model

All vintage circuits are much, much more sensitive to tube type and quality than modern amps

And since it's a 4W and hes ostensibly going to be cranking it for some power breakup, it makes that much more of a difference beyond the normal

 

[stephen sawall]

Route 66 is my favorite Dr Z. Congratulations

 

[Music&Chaos]

All vintage circuits are much, much more sensitive to tube type and quality than modern amps

And since it's a 4W and hes ostensibly going to be cranking it for some power breakup, it makes that much more of a difference beyond the normal

Totally agree!

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I started the year telling myself I'm mostly set except for a cab w/ blackbacks for my '80 2203. You know how it goes, 20+ purchases, sales and trades later.... Anyway, my taste in guitars has pretty much settled on just Gretsch and Teles, with a (un?)healthy appreciation for Gibson. So I'm naturally acquiring way too many amps and pedals to compensate.

I've been holding out for a JTM or Dirty Shirley for a bit, then looking for a 2466 or an EF86 Vox to no avail. I got back into some Dr Z stuff after a few years away from it and this Route 66 popped up locally with KT66 and an EF86 so I jumped on it. Man, this thing is simple and vicious boosted. My only gripe is there's no reverb or fx loop so I'm half assing the psychobilly stuff, or it would be an all around weapon. ... I guess I need to re-acquire a Fryette PS! Anyway, it scratches all kinds of itches. I don't get much time to play out loud lately between work and the family being around, but I got to blast it for a solid hour today, and it's definitely coming to the next rehearsal.

And speaking of not being able to play out loud much, I landed a Vox AC4HW so I have something half manageable to play without headphones. I'm pretty damn impressed with it. It won't replace my AC30 any time soon, but it definitely gets me in the ballpark.

View attachment 457862View attachment 457863View attachment 457864View attachment 457865

I had a Rt 66 for a hot minute. Even with a tube reverb unit in front of it it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice for pyschobilly, but for jazz to bluesy rock n roll it was amazing. It's just got too much delicious milkshake thick midrange for that sound. It's a really fat sounding amp, there's no scooping out those mids. And yeah I had a Z-Verb unit going into it. Sounded freaking amazing with my P90 and Dynasonic loaded hollow-bodies.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Welcome to the Dr Z family. And I second the opinion of throwing a jr at it

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Welcome to the Dr Z family. And I second the opinion of throwing a jr at it

View attachment 457888

That amp loves P90's. It's such a killer rock sound.

 

[Al Chapo]

I borrowed an AC4 (not the HW) for a radio show last year instead of being forced to play acoustic. I didn't find the the half and quarter power (IIRC) settings very good at all. The full power setting was much better even keeping it dialed down vs trying to cut power. The tone that way was good, though the low end was a bit flubby the further you got into the volume. Not sure if your version has those cut power settings or not. I didn't know they were doing a HW version of that. Makes for a pretty nice low volume home practice amp! Congrats on your scores Al.

This one has a db +/- switch, I'm not sure if it operates the same (probably?). When the kids go to bed I knock it down, and play at a volume that just isn't giving the goods without pedals, so I can't offer much of an opinion on that setting. Cranked in the + it sounds great but definitely loosens/bloats up more than "the vox sound" I'm used to. I'm hoping it records well, but I cherish my opportunity to play aloud too much to mess around when I have it lol. Thanks, lad!

Please put some NOS tubes in that little Vox so it can really sing.

Sounds funny but if you run a Mullard up front with Sylvania in the output- everything you play sounds like it has a speech bubble around it like in a comic book. Very funny description but if you play it, you will know exactly what I mean. I went with Mullard up front and RCA in the back for my little 4w Vox, slightly different model

I've pretty much always had a vox in rotation, but I don't think I have any noteworthy el84s left tbh. I'm eyeing some valvo and amperex now, hard not to with only 1 tube lol. I have a GE Jan 5751 and some Phillips and rca 12ax7 I'm swapping in and out but it's just not the same through a ruby tube!

I had a Rt 66 for a hot minute. Even with a tube reverb unit in front of it it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice for pyschobilly, but for jazz to bluesy rock n roll it was amazing. It's just got too much delicious milkshake thick midrange for that sound. It's a really fat sounding amp, there's no scooping out those mids. And yeah I had a Z-Verb unit going into it. Sounded freaking amazing with my P90 and Dynasonic loaded hollow-bodies.

I'm boosting it with a combination of mxr 401 and sparkle drive which gets me right to the tone I want, the reverb out front doesn't like it though lol. The tr-2 is still passable, but not ideal. Straight in, yeah - she thicc. I slam the front with a zeqd (ef86 boost) and the filter'trons take me right to vintage Sabbath. I haven't plugged either Dyna/T-armond into it yet tbh, I couldn't bring myself to unplug the 6120 any of the times I've played so far. It sounds like a great tomorrow job!

 

[Al Chapo]

Welcome to the Dr Z family. And I second the opinion of throwing a jr at it

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I love the Maz, it trumps the AC30 at a lot of it's own game and it gets plenty dirty. I passed on a Z Lux for 1800cdn(!!!) to land this guy. The Gretsch amp covers enough of that sound I won't lose sleep lol. If I wasn't opposed to imminent divorce, I'd be lining up a Z Wreck next. After my last interaction with them for some tech support, it's probably the only brand I'll consider buying new in the future.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I love the Maz, it trumps the AC30 at a lot of it's own game and it gets plenty dirty. I passed on a Z Lux for 1800cdn(!!!) to land this guy. The Gretsch amp covers enough of that sound I won't lose sleep lol. If I wasn't opposed to imminent divorce, I'd be lining up a Z Wreck next. After my last interaction with them for some tech support, it's probably the only brand I'll consider buying new in the future.

I would like to try all his amps after the maz. But the z wreck is definitely the next on the list

 

[VonBonfire]

This one has a db +/- switch, I'm not sure if it operates the same (probably?). When the kids go to bed I knock it down, and play at a volume that just isn't giving the goods without pedals, so I can't offer much of an opinion on that setting. Cranked in the + it sounds great but definitely loosens/bloats up more than "the vox sound" I'm used to. I'm hoping it records well, but I cherish my opportunity to play aloud too much to mess around when I have it lol. Thanks, lad!

I just looked and cheaper PCB AC4 I mentioned has a rotary 4 watt, 1 watt, and 1/4 watt settings so you def have the better set up there asides the hand wired factor. Both me and the guy who lended it to me didn't find anything beyond the 4 watt setting really worthwhile unless you just needed some gain minus any legitimately decent tone at extremely low settings for extra quiet practice. It still worked great for a solo radio show and sounds pretty good if you can get halfway up the volume dial. I'm sure the HW model is going to do you good for your recordings.