Teahead Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I got a Z Vex Nano Amp yesterday and I'm knocked out! I plugged it into the two Celestion Blues in my AC30 and was able to dial in a pretty convincing cranked Vox-ish tone very quickly. Dare I say it's capable of a more convincing "Brian May" than my AC30 manages? The controls are simple. There's "Fat Guy" which gives maximum preamp boost and saturation, "Middle Guy" and "Skinny Guy" reduce the preamp "thump" accordingly and allow crunch and jangle to be dialed in. There's also a Fender Style "Bright" switch. There's a three way "EQ" switch to achieve the best balance between your chosen setting and guitar. I was able to dial in a full Marshall roar and a cranked Fender spank to go with the Vox sounds I found first. There really isn't any clean headroom, but I wasn't expecting any. What there is? Astonishing "edge of break up" and "verge of insanity" tones, at volume that don't hurt! No need to say, "Just like a cranked tube amp" because it is a cranked tube amp! You can feel it instantly when you plug in. The way it compresses as you wind up to the top third of the volume dial, the thick, creamy overdrive and sustain, the same great tone when you roll back the guitar volume, it's all there! Hopefully I'll get some clips together, maybe even pull up a chair for guitplayers jam track and put the Nano to use. The volume when maxed is probably just too loud for those with neighbours on the other side of the wall...although mine haven't complained yet and I've done some serious cranking! Fully opened up and heavily saturated, it's comparative to the volume of a 30-50w tube amp set between 1 and 2. If someone played rhythm pretty hard on a decent full sized acoustic? Again the Nano would probably just be too much when fully cranked. I don't know if it's loud enough to keep up with a drummer yet, I'll be sure to find out though! I also want to use it as a preamp, via my Hotplate and into the AC30 to see how it sounds. If you get the chance, check one out! Huge tone, from such a tiny little box, much more versatile than I was expecting too. I think just about every player would appreciate the benefits of having a tube amp that gives plenty of natural overdrive at reasonable, recordable volume levels. Nano, Nano! Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darklava Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 You lucky dog.Until we can catch up you've been cut off from any new gear. The story of life is quicker then the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 What did the little jewel cost? Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teahead Posted October 7, 2004 Author Share Posted October 7, 2004 $420, plus $30 Shipping. It would have cost $650 from a UK dealer! I had to sell a couple of pedals to fund the investment, but I had too many of them lying around anyway. The exchange rate is very favourable to us Europeans at the moment, so I get to try cool gear, without losing anything on resale value should the gear fail to impress. The Nano is a total keeper. Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Congrats on a most excellent aquisition. I wonder how loud it is through a 4x12. How would this be for a travel setup?: -Steinberger GT-Pro -Zvex Nano Head -Celestion Century in a super-shallow closed back cab. Maybe the speaker and amp could be built into a briefcase. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teahead Posted October 7, 2004 Author Share Posted October 7, 2004 So long as you don't mind constant crunch, I'd imagine a good 4 x 12 cab would allow the Nano to sit with most drummers...monsters excluded(!) Not to mention adding a booster pedal or two when required for leads or solos. It will not give any clean headroom at all, but it doesn't seem to matter when you've got such a cooking overdrive happening. Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 clips, clips, clips??? toss up a microphone, please! Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teahead Posted October 7, 2004 Author Share Posted October 7, 2004 Go here for some clips from Zachs site. They're a perfect example of what I've been hearing. It works great with the single coils on my Tele, most of the clips are humbuckers I think. It's 9pm here Billster, a little late even for Nano recording. I promise I'll definitely get some clips done, check out the video on the Z Vex site too, some great tones. Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 sounds like a must have for the home studio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 SWEET!!!! http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werewolf by Night Posted October 8, 2004 Share Posted October 8, 2004 Too cool! I can imagine someone gigging with what appears to be just a pedal-board- with the Nano-Head last in line- and a speaker-cab... that could confuse the gear-geeks in the front row, huh? By the way, what pedals did you part with? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werewolf by Night Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 ? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Tea, glad to hear about your latest GAS relief I don't have any money (for guitar gear that is) so I have to live vicariously (that will be 25 cents please ) through others Sounds like a great deal. I'm all set for amps right now; 1980's Roland Jazz Chorus 55W and 1993 Randall Tube Pro II My next big planned purchase (except for the guitars that I can't afford to do) is a modeling / mult-efx box. But that's another thread Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teahead Posted October 10, 2004 Author Share Posted October 10, 2004 Originally posted by Dances With Werewolves: ? Apologies K! I missed that one...been working straight twelve hour shifts. Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowbell Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Mr. Z Vex himself graced us with his presence when this amp first came to NAMM. However I do believe he was driven away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werewolf by Night Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Originally posted by Cowbell: "Mr. Z Vex himself graced us with his presence when this amp first came to NAMM. However I do believe he was driven away."Hmmmn, care to elaborate and expound upon that, Cowbell? Y'gots me curious! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowbell Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Yep. He posted over in the SSS a year or two ago. His first post was saying to come by his booth and check out his new amp at NAMM the next week. A couple people told his spamming on the first post isn't very nice, and he started to get a little mean about it. I'll see if I can dig the thread up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowbell Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 NAMM Spam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowbell Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Yikes, sorry. Edit: I would like to add I was a little crazy 2 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zachary vex Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 Originally posted by Teaheadless Horseman: I got a Z Vex Nano Amp yesterday and I'm knocked out! ... Nano, Nano! thanks! enjoy! 8^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolead Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 Originally posted by zachary vex: Originally posted by Teaheadless Horseman: I got a Z Vex Nano Amp yesterday and I'm knocked out! ... Nano, Nano! thanks! enjoy! 8^)Wow, you did come back, even after all that crap everyone gave you. I wasn't around then, but I do wish you would stay and be a guitar geek with the rest of us. It would be nice to have a real electronics expert of the forums. Please? Shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 come by more often Zachary, we are not as brutal as the sss guys. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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