Lyle, I’m really enjoying your videos. I have to give you a lot of credit for getting me into servicing and modding amps. A bunch of Years ago I followed your Marshall class 5 write up (You should do a video on that by the way). Doing those mods gave me the confidence, education and desire to move forward to more extensive amp work. Thank you.
I have one of these with the Mark II mod. It's definitely one of my more often used amps. Not sure if the reverb is as deep as here. I would have to say I never felt like mine needed more verb, but then again, I feel that most Fender reverbs circuits can't be turned past 4. I enjoy these very much, nice breakdown of what the buyers are getting. Honestly, if I had to choose based in past experiences, Dr Z is still a good bang for buck small shop amp. You can certainly do alot worse for alot more money.
Maybe you worked on this one or something, idk but I just got one of these in a couple days ago, and it has no issues. Quiet, lush reverb, good but not great noise floor, nice master volume etc. It was a pretty recent special order by a guy who knows a guy I know, and that's all I know about it so maybe it's been worked on. Or maybe they've addressed some of these issues at the Dr. Z warehouse. These are longtime techs of course, so I could easily imagine them watching your videos and reflexively implementing the fixes you've laid out, idk. But well done, it now sounds as good as mine LOL
Thanks so much!...I was just about to buy a used Maz 38 reverb combo and then saw this before turning in for the night. I will be having a serious rethink. I used to use a blues deluxe reissue with a changed speaker for a workhorse and thought getting one of these hand wired Z’s would be a good and reliable upgrade. After seeing that “boutique” reverb bag ....honestly??...I would have replaced that with a bin liner...it would look much better.
It’s funny. Because I felt like you crapped all over boogies I didn’t want to like you. I worked at Boogie in the 90’s and being from Petaluma everyone had a boogie. After watching a bunch of your videos and subscribing I have really enjoyed your videos and have learned a lot. That said I think I’d get the Non reverb version of this amp if I were getting a Mark I. They’re so cheap on reverb/ebay/CL and reverb pedals sound amazing nowadays.
Wow. This is very interesting. Do you think your "level one" fix for the reverb circuit that you showed how to do would apply to the Maz 38 v1? I have one and it has always been a rather noisy amp. Even with new tubes. I took it to a tech and he said there was nothing wrong with the amp but just having it be quieter even by a little would be awfully nice. Really interesting stuff and thank you.
I haven't had a Maz 38 with reverb on my bench, so I can't say for sure. If they used the same preamp with a larger output section, then yes. And thanks!
I hope you are still responding to comments. I had my Maz 18 model by a guy who watches your videos. Everything pretty looks like he followed what yo did with one exception, the cathode resister. It appears to be a 150 ohm in mine, I see you used a 200 ohm. How critical is that?
Great video as always! Question, Is it true the no reverb sound better I don’t really understand why? but everyone talks about how the non reverb is so so much tonally better, is this just BS or is there truth to it. I have just read this on a lot chat rooms and I think even in Dr Z site mention it. I don’t under stand unless the non reverb is just a different amp? Thoughts
Question...what was the bypass cap value and VDC across the 200-ohm resistor please? Thanks so much for the informative video. Fixing up a suuuper noisy Mk I one right now. Cheers from Texas...Paul @ GREMLIN
Oh man I’d love to do this master volume update to my mark 1 maz sr. Is it at all possible for you to detail where wires go a bit more? Kind of hard to tell from the vid
I have no experience with these personally; is the reverb pan placement in proximity to the PT the problem? Or is it something else that causes the hum? I'd like to think that seeing others err, I can forge a different path...
@@PsionicAudio thanks for your quick reply, Sorry for being a bit vague. I was wanting to find out if the master pot mod works with the MK 1 maz 18 NR ?
I have a Dr. Z MAZ 18 MK II combo that I'm running through a separate cabinet that looks exactly like yours...Celestion Gold in it. Who made your speaker cabinet ?
It’s not a clean machine? What THD percentage is he rating these units at 18 watts? 18 watts at 1% THD is damn loud in my book. Sounds a lot better now! I don’t think I could next to a true 18 watt amp dimed though. You must have tough ears! My Vox AC10C1 dimed would utterly kill me if I sat that close.
I have and love this amp. I had the MKI for many many years and loved it. Hated the reverb, but it served me well. For xmas I sent it to doc for the mkii upgrade and like your demo, a great amp is now even better. Here is my comparison between it and my z wreck jr.: th-cam.com/video/cEGEMleJUGI/w-d-xo.html One day I’ll get a proper recording setup...
Well after watching this and seeing all the faults and simple things that could have been made so much better in the first place methinks the amps are well overpriced.
Thanks for sharing your work and expertise!
Lyle, I’m really enjoying your videos. I have to give you a lot of credit for getting me into servicing and modding amps. A bunch of Years ago I followed your Marshall class 5 write up (You should do a video on that by the way). Doing those mods gave me the confidence, education and desire to move forward to more extensive amp work. Thank you.
I have one of these with the Mark II mod. It's definitely one of my more often used amps. Not sure if the reverb is as deep as here. I would have to say I never felt like mine needed more verb, but then again, I feel that most Fender reverbs circuits can't be turned past 4. I enjoy these very much, nice breakdown of what the buyers are getting. Honestly, if I had to choose based in past experiences, Dr Z is still a good bang for buck small shop amp. You can certainly do alot worse for alot more money.
Maybe you worked on this one or something, idk but I just got one of these in a couple days ago, and it has no issues. Quiet, lush reverb, good but not great noise floor, nice master volume etc. It was a pretty recent special order by a guy who knows a guy I know, and that's all I know about it so maybe it's been worked on. Or maybe they've addressed some of these issues at the Dr. Z warehouse. These are longtime techs of course, so I could easily imagine them watching your videos and reflexively implementing the fixes you've laid out, idk. But well done, it now sounds as good as mine LOL
This one was a Mark I. They implemented the same core changes I did here on the Mark IIs.
Thanks so much!...I was just about to buy a used Maz 38 reverb combo and then saw this before turning in for the night.
I will be having a serious rethink. I used to use a blues deluxe reissue with a changed speaker for a workhorse and thought getting one of these hand wired Z’s would be a good and reliable upgrade. After seeing that “boutique” reverb bag ....honestly??...I would have replaced that with a bin liner...it would look much better.
Get the non reverb version most people say it’s a lot better even dr z says it’s his fav amp
Followed the series, great work Lyle. I have that exact same strap! Nice Floyd, I think we have the same tastes ;-)
Lol. That's what she said. Never gets old.
Aren’t all the pots bussed together by the metal chassis they are secured too? That being said wouldn’t the added ground wires create a ground loop?
Nice job Lyle. Great so hear you play some Pink Floyd :-)
Oh man that sounds great. I don’t think I’ve hear a Z sound like that before. What speakers are you running in your cabinet here???
It’s funny. Because I felt like you crapped all over boogies I didn’t want to like you. I worked at Boogie in the 90’s and being from Petaluma everyone had a boogie. After watching a bunch of your videos and subscribing I have really enjoyed your videos and have learned a lot. That said I think I’d get the Non reverb version of this amp if I were getting a Mark I. They’re so cheap on reverb/ebay/CL and reverb pedals sound amazing nowadays.
Wow. This is very interesting. Do you think your "level one" fix for the reverb circuit that you showed how to do would apply to the Maz 38 v1? I have one and it has always been a rather noisy amp. Even with new tubes. I took it to a tech and he said there was nothing wrong with the amp but just having it be quieter even by a little would be awfully nice. Really interesting stuff and thank you.
I haven't had a Maz 38 with reverb on my bench, so I can't say for sure. If they used the same preamp with a larger output section, then yes.
And thanks!
I hope you are still responding to comments. I had my Maz 18 model by a guy who watches your videos. Everything pretty looks like he followed what yo did with one exception, the cathode resister. It appears to be a 150 ohm in mine, I see you used a 200 ohm. How critical is that?
ET65 is the best sounding speaker for the amp from experience. Position 2 and 4 on a strat rule through this amp.
Great video as always!
Question,
Is it true the no reverb sound better I don’t really understand why? but everyone talks about how the non reverb is so so much tonally better, is this just BS or is there truth to it. I have just read this on a lot chat rooms and I think even in Dr Z site mention it. I don’t under stand unless the non reverb is just a different amp? Thoughts
Thanks! Their reverb implementation isn't great. Adds a lot of hiss. It's better on the MK 2s but it's still not great..
That must be a very early MK1 amp! I have been inside a few.
Question...what was the bypass cap value and VDC across the 200-ohm resistor please? Thanks so much for the informative video. Fixing up a suuuper noisy Mk I one right now. Cheers from Texas...Paul @ GREMLIN
100uF and as for voltage this amp was a year ago or so. I don’t remember.
@@PsionicAudio you rule, thanks. Learning a lot of nice tricks from your vids.
Oh man I’d love to do this master volume update to my mark 1 maz sr. Is it at all possible for you to detail where wires go a bit more? Kind of hard to tell from the vid
I have no experience with these personally; is the reverb pan placement in proximity to the PT the problem? Or is it something else that causes the hum? I'd like to think that seeing others err, I can forge a different path...
OT. See the previous videos on this amp.
That must be why the non reverb model has so much more gain on tap.
does that go for the NR?
The NR is a much better sounding amp.
@@PsionicAudio thanks for your quick reply, Sorry for being a bit vague. I was wanting to find out if the master pot mod works with the MK 1 maz 18 NR ?
Breath, breath in the air ... !
I have a Dr. Z MAZ 18 MK II combo that I'm running through a separate cabinet that looks exactly like yours...Celestion Gold in it. Who made your speaker cabinet ?
That cab is from guitarcabinetsdirect.com/
It’s not a clean machine? What THD percentage is he rating these units at 18 watts? 18 watts at 1% THD is damn loud in my book. Sounds a lot better now! I don’t think I could next to a true 18 watt amp dimed though. You must have tough ears! My Vox AC10C1 dimed would utterly kill me if I sat that close.
Amp sounds very good, but took a lot of attention to get there.
Again no demo of high gain tones on this...
Do you have an email?
info@psionicaudio.com
It's in every video description, but no one reads those...
A shame. I often put good things in them.
@@PsionicAudio yeah I seen it, sorry about that.
"adhesed-up"? Is that a word? I also have mild OCD which makes me nit-picky, sorry...Oh, God. Is "nit-picky" a word? Help!
I have and love this amp. I had the MKI for many many years and loved it. Hated the reverb, but it served me well. For xmas I sent it to doc for the mkii upgrade and like your demo, a great amp is now even better.
Here is my comparison between it and my z wreck jr.:
th-cam.com/video/cEGEMleJUGI/w-d-xo.html
One day I’ll get a proper recording setup...
Well after watching this and seeing all the faults and simple things that could have been made so much better in the first place methinks the amps are well overpriced.