My new ride: Dr. Z RxES

[swleamon]

Pulled the trigger on this 45 watt monster of an amp a few days ago. Boy is it loud!! At its clean sweet spot it is like an AC-30 TB on steroids. Start cranking it and it transforms into a Marshall/Vox hybrid. SO responsive - punchy, chimmy. It nails that Time Well Wasted Paisley tone.

It has some issues with the EF86 circuit. I acknowledged this at the time of purchase (it was a sweet deal) and immediately too her to the shop for a tune up.

Appears to be one of the transitional models between the original RX and the RxES.

Anyone have any more info about these? I find it curious that it has been floating between owners here in the Nashville area and the RxEs was a collaborative redesign between the Doc and Paisley. Hmmm!

[Tonemonkey]

Sweet ............ I'm a Lightning man myself, but must admit to being intrigued by Dr Z.

[guitar dan]

Nice!!!!!!

I'll be joining the club (hopefully) next week..... Maz 38 or 18. Until then, a friend loaned me his Maz 38 that I will use tonight at a gig.

[twangplank]

I've been playing vintage fender forever but I'm looking at those amps pretty hard.

[HC]

Congrats! I have the original Prescription model and really love it! Loud? Sure. But good loud!

[jmiles]

I have an oldy with Blues. It's loud! Can't imagine a 45 watter!.
Dano, if you get a Jr, you'll be getting an amp that was tuned to me playing my old '57 Strat. Doc called me in one Saturday to play whilst he tweaked the prototype. I didn't do squat! Just played. But I think it's pretty cool. I felt, and still do feel, honored that Doc asked me to plunk away.

[uriah1]

I heard one of those the other night..freaking awsome..through some greenbacks..

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by Tonemonkey

Sweet ............ I'm a Lightning man myself, but must admit to being intrigued by Dr Z.

Also love me some Matchless, yet a guy I'm working with has 3 Z's and now I'm hooked. For the money, it doesn't get much better. Find a dealer that has a nice array if Z amps. The diversity of the product line is impressive itself.

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by danocaster

Nice!!!!!!

I'll be joining the club (hopefully) next week..... Maz 38 or 18. Until then, a friend loaned me his Maz 38 that I will use tonight at a gig.

Good deal!!

Have you tried others? I love the Maz for its versatility. But if all the Z amps I think it has the least character. Likely because it can cover so much ground. But that's it's charm!

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by twangplank

I've been playing vintage fender forever but I'm looking at those amps pretty hard.

Same here. I couldn't see the world too far outside of my Deluxe Reverb. But I find Z amps to be the perfect yin to the yang of Fenders. Especially if you want a nice pallet of British tones to compliment the American.

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by HC

Congrats! I have the original Prescription model and really love it! Loud? Sure. But good loud!

Thank ya sir! The original RX is considered the Doc's "best ever"! Hold on to that!!

Are you using an attenuator with it? I'll eventually get one just to have the option.

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by uriah1

I heard one of those the other night..freaking awsome..through some greenbacks..

Yes! This is also loaded with greenbacks. I may try a greenback and a gold alnico and see how that sounds.

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by jmiles

I have an oldy with Blues. It's loud! Can't imagine a 45 watter!.
Dano, if you get a Jr, you'll be getting an amp that was tuned to me playing my old '57 Strat. Doc called me in one Saturday to play whilst he tweaked the prototype. I didn't do squat! Just played. But I think it's pretty cool. I felt, and still do feel, honored that Doc asked me to plunk away.

That's very cool! So you are close to the Z headquarters?

[uriah1]

Wasnt that Z first amp.
Anyway, dude was running on the 86 all night..

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by uriah1

Wasnt that Z first amp.
Anyway, dude was running on the 86 all night..

I do believe the RX was his first amp. What a way to come out of the gate, eh?

[jmiles]

Doc's first amp, as far as I know, was the Carman Ghia. They were built using Hammond reverb amp chassis. About the size of a lunchbox! I'm less than 15 minutes from his shop. We met at Wilbert's. I was selling Nashville Cat, George Bradfute, my Ric Transonic amp. I got on stage and played Highlander Boogie.(Edited to ad; I don't think it could've been "Highlander", probably something Gatton). Doc had his amps as the backline. Doc came up to me and asked me what kind of amp I was using. I told him, "'64 Vibroverb." He said, "Nice amp." He was only selling to Rock guys at that time. I told him he had to get this amp to Nashville. I went to the Cleveland Guitar Show a few weeks later, and Doc was set up in a corner with a Script. I sat down and played his Strat for about a half hour. Brought my '57 down the next day, and played for about an hour. The amp was amazing! Perfect for my Country/Blues finger-picking style of playing.
I knew I had to get one. Turned my buddy Neil Zaza onto them. He ordered one with Blues, and when I heard his, I knew I had to save a bit more to have those speakers.
I played pedal steel and lap steel on Neil's cd "Staring at The Sun,"
http://www.neilzaza.com/
Neil hit a short tight spot, and sold his. Now mine is in his Akron studio, and I can't seem to get it back! Sheesh! I owe Doc lunch! My Jr is probably the second one made. The proto was two 10s. Mine is a single 12" Blue. Awesome amp!

[timmytVA]

Originally Posted by jmiles

Doc's first amp, as far as I know, was the Carman Ghia. They were built using Hammond reverb amp chassis. About the size of a lunchbox! I'm less than 15 minutes from his shop. We met at Wilbert's. I was selling Nashville Cat, George Bradfute, my Ric Transonic amp. I got on stage and played Highlander Boogie.(Edited to ad; I don't think it could've been "Highlander", probably something Gatton). Doc had his amps as the backline. Doc came up to me and asked me what kind of amp I was using. I told him, "'64 Vibroverb." He said, "Nice amp." He was only selling to Rock guys at that time. I told him he had to get this amp to Nashville. I went to the Cleveland Guitar Show a few weeks later, and Doc was set up in a corner with a Script. I sat down and played his Strat for about a half hour. Brought my '57 down the next day, and played for about an hour. The amp was amazing! Perfect for my Country/Blues finger-picking style of playing.
I knew I had to get one. Turned my buddy Neil Zaza onto them. He ordered one with Blues, and when I heard his, I knew I had to save a bit more to have those speakers.
I played pedal steel and lap steel on Neil's cd "Staring at The Sun,"
http://www.neilzaza.com/
Neil hit a short tight spot, and sold his. Now mine is in his Akron studio, and I can't seem to get it back! Sheesh! I owe Doc lunch! My Jr is probably the second one made. The proto was two 10s. Mine is a single 12" Blue. Awesome amp!

Cool story! George "The Tone Chaperone" Bradfute, huh? I saw him numerous times playing guitar for Webb Wilder in the 1990s. Super tight band that always had interesting guitars and great tones.

Tim

[studio1087]

Congratulations! Nice.

[gitold]

Great amp , have fun with that baby.

[jmiles]

"George "The Tone Chaperone" Bradfute, huh? I saw him numerous times playing guitar for Webb Wilder in the 1990s."

Yup! He was playing for Webb when I sold him my Transonic. Great band!