Dr. Z Maz Jr. NR Users?

[ksks]

Currently using a 30w Vox Valvetronix and want to move into a true tube amp. I'm leaning toward the Dr. Z Maz Jr. NR 18 watt. Any users please share your experiences. Other recommendations in the $1500 or less range?

Also looked at the Egnater Rebel 20, but finding mixed reviews. Some saying the differences between tube type not that great.

[bootlegger1929]

i would also look into the dr z carmen ghia 1x12 w. a celestion blue..
i'm gonna pull the trigger on either that or a maz jr and i keep going back and forth between the two...

[Mark N]

I have a Maz Jr NR 112 combo...simply the best amp I have ever owned! Nice rich full tones and a highly versatile amp...loves pedals and my tele too...I love mine dearly! I posted some songs in the twanger central forum (under "some tunes from practice") and in them you can hear my tele and Maz together...great combination! Pay no attention to the ****ty playing, but enjoy the tone I got...lol

a crappy pic...but here is my amp and tele...gotta get a better pic taken soon

[detuned]

The Maz is a very versatile amp, but not flexible.

What I mean by that is that you can get many, many great tones out of it, but it doesn't have channel switching. There *is* an fx loop though.

Plenty loud for most applications, & if you add a Shure SM57, loud enough for anything...

You haven't said what kind of music you play, but the Maz can sound good in almost any setting. If you can, play through one & see for yourself.

[Tidepoolbay]

Originally Posted by ksks

Currently using a 30w Vox Valvetronix and want to move into a true tube amp. I'm leaning toward the Dr. Z Maz Jr. NR 18 watt. Any users please share your experiences. Other recommendations in the $1500 or less range?

Also looked at the Egnater Rebel 20, but finding mixed reviews. Some saying the differences between tube type not that great.

I have a Carmen Ghia with a 1X12 cab that pretty good.

[anacephalic]

If i didn't already have a first run Rx i'd have one. Killer amps but very revealing and unforgiving of bad playing. I struggled for over a year with my Rx until i could coax good tone our of it. Now the thing just amazes me. I want a tone (as long as it ain't fender clean) i can find it. An Air brake is mandatory on both the Rx and the Maz. I tried a Ghia and couldn't connect though lots of folks think it is a desert island amp.

[bootlegger1929]

the Maz has a trick you can apply where you plug into the Hi input and then plug a simple on/off footswitch into the Low input and you can switch between the two which will give you about a 3 dB boost and more gain for solos and such..

[DrewB]

The Maz 18 Jr. NR is a killer amp. My jam buddy has one and it's one of those amps that you can set for a great tone with a Les Paul and switch to a Strat or a Tele and have a great sound w/o changing any settings. Another great thing about it is that it sounds like a lot bigger amp than its output spec would indicate. Comparing the Maz to a Rebel 20 is like comparing prime rib to a cow pie.

[gitold]

I beg two differ on the Rebal 20 and the Maz comparason.I 've puchased the Rebel recently and it's a killer sounding amp.After I bought it I decided I wanted something with more headroom I was jonesing for a Carmen Gia also but after trying one out for a hour or so,along with the Maz jr. I settled on the Mesa Boogie 5.50 express.The Carman Gia is a incredible sounding amp but it's like painting in black and white.The Mesa 5.50 costs the same and has all of the colours you could ever need .I have'nt used a distotion pedal since I got it.You could easily play a country gig and a metal gig with this amp with out any pedals.If you play different types of music the Mesa would be the one to get.
I got a little of track as far as the Rebel goes but it really comes alive with a compressor.Try one out for yourself ,don't listen to us guys on the forum .I was all set to buy a Carmen Gia but I bought the Rebel and the 5.50 for what a Maz jr would have cost.

[Ignatius]

I've owned two Maz Jr's over the years. Very toneful but not a lot of clean loud headroom if you need it to do that. You'd definitely want to mic it if you're in a loud band.

[c_stuart75035]

Maz jr and Maz sr are awesome amps. I also have an RxES and a StangRay and they are all good choices, but check out Ceriatone's Matchless lightning clone....WOW!!!!

[mgwhit]

A friend of mine is playing the MAZ Jr NR through a Marshall 4x12. It not only holds its own in his 4-piece rock band, but he says it's the best amp he's ever had.

[hollowman]

I haved owned a JR NR for almost 5 years, mine is a head and I run it thru a Z-Best 2X10

I would agree with a lot of what has been posted above. Very versatile amp, rich harmonics, wonderful tone. A few observations: I think this is a very LOUD 18 watts, and it really cuts through any band mix I have been in, but I just play smaller clubs, parties, outdoor gigs in a 4 piece rock band. It is unforgiving, especially with a tele It will not have fender like headroom, but it has plenty for me. I would consider an attenuator if you really want to get those tubes cookin' without the volume. It does sound great with my keeley modded pedals.

Overall, a fantastic amp, i haven't shopped or considered buying another amp since I got this one. for the $, i think a great value as well when compared with other high dollar boutique amps like top hat or badcat IMO...

[DrewB]

I haven't heard it through a 2x10, but it's incredible with a 2x12 loaded with a Celestion Blue and a G12H-30. The versatility is something else.

[crackpot]

I've been playing Teles and Strats through my Maz Jr NR 1-12 with a Celestion Blue and an extension cabinet with a G12H30 for >8 years. Best amp I've had -- bar none -- in over 40 years.