BoogieMKIIA

In Cleveland this week. I emailed Dr. Z support asking if I could visit and they said sure! Frank in Customer Service gave a tour, answered tons of questions and let me test drive a number of amps. My favorites were the Z Wreck, Z Wreck Jr and Z Lux. So nice and accommodating. The shop is not large but loaded with cool stuff for an enginerd like me. Here are some shots. Dr. Z at his bench, Frank, etc.

Nice. I don't have an amp-less set up, would be a big change to my current pedal board. New devices, rewiring, etc. Trying to not spend much this year. I assume you are pleased with the Boss IR? I considered a TC Plethora to consolidate time and modulation effects, didn't pull the trigger. An IR device would let me go direct without a big tear up, but I'm fine with a mic on my amp for gigs. Curious if getting sustain and feedback amp-less is possible.

One of the first concerts I saw. Such harmonies. Michael Alsip had great fuzz tones and a Leslie.

Yes, the past few days

I have a Loudbox Mini that I bought used around 12 years ago. Started having times the output would drop out of nowhere in 2025. The fix per Fishman support and web searches is to blow out the pots with compressed air. I did this twice using canned air but it would start up again. Fishman said I needed real compressed air, more force than canned air. The fix really doesn't make sense to me as the PCBAs and pots look really clean and hardly any gaps on the pots. So, sent the amp head back as suggested for them to blow it out again or otherwise repair. Got notice it was done and getting shipped back. They replaced the preampIMG_1013-compressed.heic and power amp PCBAs for $50, the standard repair cost, and shipping back is $11 (MA to KY). That's a great deal, how many techs would just open it up for $50? Hoping it will keep working for another decade. Such a great piece of gear for solo and small groups. Plenty loud and sweet sounding, DI out if you need it.

Looks brand new. Do you know which store in KY?

Understood, even if the recone makes it equivalent to a mint E-120. Likely to be too bright for my taste. Brad Sarno told me it will need a lot of break-in and the best tone is when it gets driven a bit (very loud). Worth it to me to find out and own this iconic speaker. You are around Morehead, KY? Our band will be at Frankie’s Plaza on February 21 starting around 9pm. I understand it is not a place for everyone! We always have a good time and their sound person does a good job with the mix.

That looks like a great buy. It even has the Altec speaker.

Lovepedal email just arrived. He is doing a special tweak of the Dover Drive for $138. The SNS seems to have vanished. Will see if this is one of several drops or a one-off.

I’ve always wanted a JBL because it’s a JBL, because of the players that used them at some point. I have a variety of lighter weight speakers and cabinets to use. I’m playing my MarkIIA (60W) combo almost exclusively with a Tone Tubby red, slightly lower rating than the amp. If the JBL really sounds that great with it, I might manage to haul it around despite the weight. If I want to go bigger, I have a pine 2x12 open back cab built my Peter Mather. Put the Marshall 50W on top and break windows! Might could find a gig where I could use it, will be fun knowing I have it. The speakers were free, I should be able to at least break even should I decide to sell one or both. Or trade for something.

I reached out to Brad Sarno and got referred to a Dan Jamison. I’ll make a choice for recone and report back. I may do one to start and see the results. Besides, I don’t want to lug a 2x12 that weighs around 50 lbs! I have my original Boogie combo cab to use as a 1x12 cab and check it out. If it is that good, my hardwood combo will become super heavy.

Here they are. The voice coils measured open but can't tell if the tinzel wire is broken. Heavy as all getout

I’ve looked/asked in the Grateful Dead forum and found mixed reviews on Weber. @DaveH have you used them? @Saul Goodman a friend recommended The Speaker Exchange as did Tone Tubby - said I should do it myself to save money, especially shipping. I have seen supposed OEM recone kits for $275! Can get a used speaker for that. Weber, The Speaker Exchange and others have non-JBL kits. Wonder how close they come to the real deal tone-wise?

Facebook link, also on Instagram. Haven’t see a different link. https://fb.watch/EDROl8QLnx/?

Awesomeness

I have two JBL E120s that our other guitar player was ditching. The cones are no good so at least a recone is needed. I’ll ohm the terminals as a check on the voice coils. Are there any other checks I should do? Any recommendations for where to get it re-coned? Especially if the could check magnet strength? Ball-park cost for a recone? I’m sure shipping is expensive due to weight.

They need to do a cover of “I Cheat the Hangman”

I saw them in high school the time Second Helping came out. The three vintage guitars and righteous playing stoked the fires even more. We learned Sweet Home, I Need You and The Needle and the Spoon right away. An Explorer and Firebird have yet to make it into my hands. Already had my Les Paul because of the Allman Brothers. Saw Gary’s Les Paul at the RRHF last year.

I waited for years to have my 1973 Les Paul refretted, knowing keeping the nibs would be difficult and expensive. I finally went for it, without keeping the nibs. Absolutely no regrets as the playability was not impacted, maybe better with the smooth, rounded fret ends. Visually, it was not a big deal at all. This guitar has been played regularly since it was new and shows it. No incentive to make it look like new. Nibs look good on a new guitar but I would go for frets over binding if I ever spec’s a new, custom guitar. The benefit is playability and future re-frets.

Always check phone location. It is a specific noise, unlike the typical buzz

Yes, it’s real

$495 for a one trick pony seems steep. Anyone have an old one and can comment? It does look cool.

My end of year Hamer count is the same as the past several years, one Studio Custom. Nothing out or in. I’m using funds to maintain and repair what I have. Neck resets on a Taylor 12 String and Martin HD28, frets dressed on a Tele. Still need to take the Studio Custom in to have the nut and frets checked.

I played for a song at church Sunday and used my Studio Custom because the Tele had some buzz at rehearsal on Wednesday. It wasn’t terrible but not great, depending on my orientation. Guitar straight into the amp, no pedals. There was a faint buzz with humbuckers that was minimized by using the middle position. Maybe the dimmers were the cause. Not sure regarding which AC circuit feed what outlets. The PA is clean. Might try the EHX device, or try my Radial line conditioner. If the noise is radiated (by it being positional), they may not improve things.

My compressor is just past my tuner, before all the distortion pedals. Of course, the distortion pedals boost the previous noise with single coil pickups being noisier than humbuckers.