ZT Amplifiers "Club" - Comprehensive Evaluation

[lpdeluxe]

Originally Posted by ES125er

Oh well, I'm feeling silly now. I'm obviously new to this jazz guitar forum thing, and it shows...

Soundclips? What was I thinking?

No reason to feel silly. We're just inordinately analytic, obsessive and just plain picky. All of us play, and most of us record and are used to putting sound under a microscope.

Whether this is ultimately beneficial to the human race is another matter entirely.

[medblues]

I consider myself part of the race (some of my friends would not agree) and I benefited from this :-)

mr.beaumont, thanks for the info. I think it would also be interesting to run Polytone and Club in stereo. No, the reverb on my MB II is gone since the day the amp arrived. But I never minded it that much.

[bluemood]

Originally Posted by Archie

Good work, guys! If I were in the market for an amp (I'm not) I'd sure consider a ZT Club now, after reading all of the reports. It's very rare to read such objective and scientific reviews.

Where I live, it's not easy to try out very many different kinds of equipment. I was in the market for a small amp, and I'd read glowing but subjective reviews (and scathing dismissals) of two that got me interested: a Marshall Class 5 and a Princeton Reverb reissue. The local shop didn't have either, so I had to wait to try them out until I visited Toronto in December and January. Two completely opposite amps; I hated the sound of the Marshall, but loved the Princeton. When I got back home I ordered one through the local shop.

What was it about the Marshall class 5 that you hated?

[Archie]

The clean tones sounded very muffled and dead to me, compared to the Princeton. The Marshall is made to be cranked. If I wanted to sound like Angus Young, the Class 5 would be perfect, but I'd rather sound like Mark Knopfler.

[ken kantor]

All I can say is: wow. I've been in the audio biz for 3+ decades, and this is the most comprehensive and useful product analysis I have ever experienced. Period. Many thanks.

For those who want to hear a Club on line, FWIW:

https://www.premierguitar.com/Video/...iers_Club.aspx

YouTube - ZT Amplifiers Club Amp with Tele Billy Penn 300guitars.com

YouTube - StoneLake Guitars Presents ZT CLUB amplifier feat. Glenn of STW

-k

ken.kantor@ztamplifiers.com

[amusiathread]

Originally Posted by ken kantor

All I can say is: wow. I've been in the audio biz for 3+ decades, and this is the most comprehensive and useful product analysis I have ever experienced. Period. Many thanks.

For those who want to hear a Club on line, FWIW:


-k

ken.kantor@ztamplifiers.com

On a separate but related note:
Ken, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions from me. I've purchased the Lunchbox Acoustic, it's in the mail on the way, and I can't wait to hear it.

[82Benedetto]

They look to be great amps...but I'm surprised of their warm reception, especially considering the "anti-foreign" sentiment here. You guys do realize these are made in China, right?

[randyc]

Originally Posted by 82Benedetto

They look to be great amps...but I'm surprised of their warm reception, especially considering the "anti-foreign" sentiment here. You guys do realize these are made in China, right?

Yes they are great amplifiers and totally unique. The two products that were reviewed are unobtainable anywhere in the world at ANY price other than from ZT Amplifiers - at a very reasonable price.

They are of interest because of their unique and desirable features, not because of the country in which they might be assembled. The design of these products originated from the creative mind of a highly respected local engineer (with credentials that knowledgeable people view respectfully).

This is a real American company that provides JOBS to Americans. This is not an import business that simply takes profit from being a distributor, contributing nothing of value to the community. ZT Amplifiers has no resemblance to either the Wal-Mart business model or the importer model. Their model, it seems to ME, more closely resembles that of domestic automobile manufacturers.

I hope that I don't sound like a ZT Company Spokesman but there seems to be a consistent attempt to twist every thread - however remote the topic - to the financial advantage of a single individual.

During the process of evaluating the two ZT products, I had occasion to communicate with the president of the company on frequent occasions. I've come to appreciate what ZT Amplifiers is attempting to achieve and what they have brought to their community.

As was famously posted at the campaign headquarters of a former U.S. president: "It's the economy, Stupid". And this particular company is doing something about it !

[riovine]

Originally Posted by 82Benedetto

They look to be great amps...but I'm surprised of their warm reception, especially considering the "anti-foreign" sentiment here. You guys do realize these are made in China, right?

Another self serving troll-bait post by 82, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[82Benedetto]

Originally Posted by riovine

Another self serving troll-bait post by 82, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not quite. Just a genuine curiosity. Have a nice day, antagonist.

[Tom Karol]

I was just thinking (always a risky proposition): If the little one was called, "The Lunchbox," shouldn't they have called the big one, "The Picnic Basket?"

[82Benedetto]

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

I was just thinking (always a risky proposition): If the little one was called, "The Lunchbox," shouldn't they have called the big one, "The Picnic Basket?"

Well, I heard there's a small extension cab for the lunchbox called "The Thermos" Kidding, bad humor

[JohnRosett]

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

I was just thinking (always a risky proposition): If the little one was called, "The Lunchbox," shouldn't they have called the big one, "The Picnic Basket?"

They were going to, but they couldn't work out a licencing agreement with Yogi.

[mangotango]

Well, I just tried the Club and the Lunchbox.

Made the mistake of trying the Club first, and after that, it was barely worth trying the Lunchbox. However, I didn't have my own guitar with me and I've learned that lesson once already, so I will go back after my upcoming holiday, and give it a proper try. My initial thoughts were...

If I can find a second-hand Henriksen, then I will have that and sell the Cube.

If not, then I will happily have a Club and sell the Cube. It may not have the modelling, channel switching, etc, but it has a great, truly clean sound for Jazz. Anything else I can add/change with pedals that I already possess.

I will keep my Vox for Rock or Blues and put up with the weight.

There, that was easy, wasn't it?

Thanks to all for doing the testing/reviewing and giving me the impetus to try out this amp.

[Tom Karol]

I think you're on the right track!
After I got my Henriksen JazzAmp112, I sold my Cube60. The JazzAmp is great for everything, but it needs the VOX ToneLab ST to do Rock. However, I didn't want to trash the Henriksen on Rock gigs, and how can you have only one amp anyway?! So, when I tested the Club I knew I had the solution! (If cost was not an issue, I would have gotten a Henriksen BluesAmp 110 plus a matching extension cabinet to use with the ToneLab for Rock instead of the Club, but that configuration would cost 3 times what the Club sells for.)

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

I think you're on the right track!
After I got my Henriksen JazzAmp112, I sold my Cube60. The JazzAmp is great for everything, but it needs the VOX ToneLab ST to do Rock. However, I didn't want to trash the Henriksen on Rock gigs, and how can you have only one amp anyway?! So, when I tested the Club I knew I had the solution! (If cost was not an issue, I would have gotten a Henriksen BluesAmp 110 plus a matching extension cabinet to use with the ToneLab for Rock instead of the Club, but that configuration would cost 3 times what the Club sells for.)

Yep, absolutely. I don't do that many blues or rock gigs nowadays, but if it happens, I know the set-up that works for me. Which is another reason why I haven't sold the Strat.

But for jazz - I'm in negotiation for a Jazzamp at around $900 at current ROE. A new one will set me back £899 ($1,400). I have a certain amount of guilt already at owning a guitar that's much too good & valuable for my meagre abilities and even more meagre gig schedule, let alone adding the best part of a grand's worth of amp on top. And if I can't convince myself, how much more difficult to get that one by the long-suffering Mrs. Mango? Not to mention the 2 kids I have to get through college sometime soon...

However, £399 ($630) for a Club..now that I can handle.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

You know, I haven't seen Randy here in a while.

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by mangotango

Well, I just tried the Club and the Lunchbox.

Made the mistake of trying the Club first, and after that, it was barely worth trying the Lunchbox. However, I didn't have my own guitar with me and I've learned that lesson once already, so I will go back after my upcoming holiday, and give it a proper try. My initial thoughts were...

If I can find a second-hand Henriksen, then I will have that and sell the Cube.

If not, then I will happily have a Club and sell the Cube. It may not have the modelling, channel switching, etc, but it has a great, truly clean sound for Jazz. Anything else I can add/change with pedals that I already possess.

I will keep my Vox for Rock or Blues and put up with the weight.

There, that was easy, wasn't it?

Thanks to all for doing the testing/reviewing and giving me the impetus to try out this amp.

Well, I did indeed find a second hand Henriksen, £325, great condition, carry bag included. I'm sure that I'd probably have been as happy with the Club, but there you go.

[Tom Karol]

Can't answer your question directly, but I'll tell you this: The Club is noticeably louder than my Cube 60 was, and the Cube 60 was (just barely) able to hang with 3 other guitarists using a Hot Rod Deluxe, Hot Rod Deville, and a Marshall Half-Stack in a backyard barbeque jam a while back.

I've played live outdoors with the Club with a loud drummer, bass, keys, sax, and another guitarist plus vocals, and the Club wasn't even breathing hard.

The Club is probably capable of higher SPL than my Henriksen as well, though in the context in which I use it, I don't push the Henriksen very hard.

Anyway, unless you play at silly (to me) volumes, the Club has more than enough loudness (with headroom) for any situation. And it weighs 22 pounds!

P.S.: I think Randy measured frequency response at the speaker output with a dummy load.

[AZanshin]

Beautiful comprehensive review,

[Tom Karol]

As noted above, I tested the Lunchbox and then the Club; I bought the Club (an early model, for what that's worth - apparently they changed the frequency response and gain structure somewhere around serial number 1600). I only use it with my tele clone (HD V+ pickups). For jazz with a laminated thinline hollowbody I always use my Henriksen JazzAmp 112.

Your findings are interesting, but contrary to my subjective impressions. I found the Lunchbox to have amazing volume for its size but very uppermidrangey in sound. The Club, on the other hand, has too much lower midrange to my ears, but ...

At moderate to high volumes, I always put the Club up on an upside-down plastic milk crate; this seems to smooth out the response and open up the spread. Without a processor my settings are reverb 6, treble 8, bass 2, volume 2, and gain 8 (backing off the guitar's volume and/or tone as required). With a processor (VOX ToneLab ST) at full performance levels, my settings are reverb 0, treble 6, bass 4, volume 3, gain 5.

I do sometimes use it with my 'jazz' guitar at home at low levels (no milk crate). The sound seems dryer and less 3 dimensional than the Henriksen, but it's still very evenly balanced to my ears (the only measurement equipment I own). Settings for this application are reverb 5, treble 6, bass 4, volume 1, gain 5.

One last thing, I don't know how loud it can go and stay clean, but I do know that would be louder than I ever plan to play at this point.

Works for me!