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Post subject: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:47 pm
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Hi guys, I'm going to check out this 68 Super tomorrow and I may bring it on home with me. I was intending on using my DR Z Airbrake with it. I thought you can use this Airbrake with any impedance. I have seen some info that states 4,8, or 16 ohms only. The super is 2 ohms. I was going to call DR Z tomorrow to ask if this will attenuate a 2 ohm load, but I thought you guys may know the answer. I've been playing tube amps for almost 30 years but I really don't know much about impedance, just enough to match up cabs & amps. I may not want this amp if I can't use my Air brake to shave a few EB's off when it's overdriven for around the house.


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:31 pm
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Disregard as this amp sounds so good turned up!


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:40 pm
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WE......NEED......PICS......!

:mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:39 am
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You know, I'm sure those Air-Brakes are fine. But, for whatever reason, it reminds me of using very thick, cheap rubbers. If you catch my drift. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:59 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
You know, I'm sure those Air-Brakes are fine. But, for whatever reason, it reminds me of using very thick, cheap rubbers. If you catch my drift. :lol:


+1

Like lashing a 1970 Hemi Cuda down on a chassis dyno and revving it to the 6500 RPM redline.

Sure, it's making a lot of noise......

But the car isn't going anywhere.

And that's the whole concept behind an automobile.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 1:23 pm
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Actually you guys may be surprised if you try one out with the right amp. I have a Marshall that sounds great through it. Much better with it than if you had the amp on like 5 or less without it. If you dime the volume and use the air brake you get a great tone and it's tolerable in the volume department. I have used hot plates and the Marshall power brake, and I thought they sounded pretty bad, but this one doesn't kill the tone like those did.
This super doesn't need it as it really isn't that loud, which is a good thing for me.


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:16 pm
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How does the Air-Brakes sound versus just cranking the GAIN of that Marshall? A Marshall that isn't loud kinda goes against what I'm used to. Those EL34 amps are LOUD. Esp with Celestion Greenbacks in the cab.

Thanks! Enjoy the amp. I crank the heck outta my SR. Tone is great, as is. IMHO, of course.


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:28 pm
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Well, as far as the pre amp gain question, you can get a little fizz with too much pre amp gain, and I find all the sizzle, and fat fatness really come on strong with the EL34's full out. I have also tried some different power tubes, JJ's & EH's and SED. The SED's just kill the other tubes IMO. Dynamics, harmonics, and touch sensitivity, and great musical feedback are what you get with the master all the way up, and bring the pre amp gain up till you where you need to be. This is usually around 4-5 on the gain. Don't get me wrong, it's not at all "un loud" but it's significantly less loud than without the AB. The cabinet I use is an old 1960 B cab, from about 1980. It has 4 G12m-65's in it and it's the bast cab I've ever used for the classic OD amp tones.
I'm not saying that the Air brake doesn't change the tone, just that the change is very slight and almost pleasant. The funny thing is I have an Orange, and that amp just sounds wrong through the AB, so I think different amps respond differently to it.


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:22 pm
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Actually you guys may be surprised if you try one out with the right amp.


+1 Nedster

I have one and its great in the right applications. It can add a lot of compression and doesn't suck tone much IMO.


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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:10 pm
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On a non-master Fender, it can be helpful in getting power tube distortion at lower volume levels. Is it better than being able to crank a Bandmaster or Super Reverb to get those 6L6's cooking? Of course not. But there are gigs where you don't have that option (if you can constantly play with a cranked SR, congrats - I want those gigs!), the Air Brake can be helpful.

It's also easy enough to turn off or reduce the amount of attenuation during the show, so as people come in, you can dial it out for more volume.

It's also not for any amp. I tried it with my Princeton Reverb, and it's not a good match at all. With my Bandmaster combo, it works well. I have the Brake Lite, which is good up to 50 watts.

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Post subject: Re: DR. Z Air Brake with a SR?
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:30 am
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I use a Weber Mini Mass (50w) with a '65 Bandmaster.
I, too, don't always have gigs where I can let 'er crank.
On the clock dial, my Weber looks like 2:00, Bandmaster
volume 7-8, Guitar in hand always a notch or two down in volume
(gives you lead volume at the touch)

Good to go!


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