New ZT Bass amp - very small 12" combo

pasta4lnch · #1 01-20-2011, 07:55 AM

I've been following this company for a while - they make these killer small guitar amps, I mean REALLY small. And now they have a bass amp - single 12" speaker and 2 tweets (not sure how that's gonna work out) . . . anyone know anymore dirt?

I played their guitar amp at a local Sam Ash and it was amazing and soo small. I'm probably going to get the acoustic amp any day ...

laklandplayer · #2 01-20-2011, 09:33 AM

My brother has one of their amps that he uses with pedal steel and he loves it. I also work in a band with a guy who uses it with guitar, tenor banjo and a vocal mic. It sounds great.
I can't wait to check these out too.

laklandplayer · #3 01-20-2011, 09:43 AM

I found this caption on the web:
"ZT Amps Bass Amp prototype 400 watts, 12" woofer, two paper cone tweeters, about 45lbs, $899, available in June"
They'll have to come off of the with weight and the price somewhat to be competitive with all of the cool stuff out there now.

jeff7bass · #4 01-20-2011, 09:44 AM

It looks solid although the dual tweeters seem a bit much. If they have attenuators on them, it’s sounds good and the price is right, why not?
Hopefully Guitar Center will carry these someday because there’s one right across the parking lot here at work and I’d like to give it a run.
Tough competition in that segment though as GK + Carvin have high-powered Micro Bass amps that really perform for not much coin.

BurningSkies · #5 01-20-2011, 09:45 AM

Yeah, and I'd have some reservations about what look like about 1.5 cubic feet of cabinet interior. I'm guessing they're not aiming for 'low'.

jeff7bass · #6 01-20-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laklandplayer

I found this caption on the web:
"ZT Amps Bass Amp prototype 400 watts, 12" woofer, two paper cone tweeters, about 45lbs, $899, available in June"
They'll have to come off of the with weight and the price somewhat to be competitive with all of the cool stuff out there now.

You beat me to my post! Well this amp is clearly looking to create its own niche because of the power (400w) and the price ($$$).
The GK and the Carvin amps are 200w standalone, with the Carvin going to 250w with an extension.
This amp has them beat but it would require a very good speaker + cab design to handle all that power, especially if all 400 watts are going into the internal speaker.
It might be like 250w and 400w with an extension. Even then it would be unique.
An extension that’s dimensionally similar to the combo would be very cool.

JimmyM · #7 01-20-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

You beat me to my post! Well this amp is clearly looking to create its own niche because of the power (400w) and the price ($$$).
The GK and the Carvin amps are 200w standalone, with the Carvin going to 250w with an extension.
This amp has them beat but it would require a very good speaker + cab design to handle all that power, especially if all 400 watts are going into the internal speaker.

in that small a cab, i can't see how there's any way it could handle 400w.

pasta4lnch · #8 01-20-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

You beat me to my post! Well this amp is clearly looking to create its own niche because of the power (400w) and the price ($$$).
The GK and the Carvin amps are 200w standalone, with the Carvin going to 250w with an extension.
This amp has them beat but it would require a very good speaker + cab design to handle all that power, especially if all 400 watts are going into the internal speaker.
It might be like 250w and 400w with an extension. Even then it would be unique.
An extension that’s dimensionally similar to the combo would be very cool.

I thought the same thing when I first saw the guitar amps ... never seen/heard one at anything other than low volume.

bummer on the $$, I thought it would be south of $500 like the rest of their stuff.

still want to see how it plays out though

Bassflute · #9 01-20-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

in that small a cab, i can't see how there's any way it could handle 400w.

12" voice coil...

Don't you know ANYTHING?

Cheers,
Cameron

JimmyM · #10 01-20-2011, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassflute

12" voice coil...

Don't you know ANYTHING?

Cheers,
Cameron

ah, it's all voice coil and no cone...makes perfect sense!

tombowlus · #11 01-20-2011, 01:47 PM

I played that combo at NAMM. It was a little boxy sounding without EQ, but you could dial in some lows and highs and then it sounded pretty good. It was not hella loud, though. When I commented on this, they told me that they were looking into a special 2-ohm driver, as their amp would drive a 2-ohm load. I questioned them to be sure that they meant a single 2-ohm driver (and not driving two 4-ohm cabs) and they said "yes." Then I questioned them several times if they were sure that their amp could drive a 2-ohm load, and they again said "yes." That would be very unique in the bass amp world (2-ohm driver and 2-ohm amp), much less the micro bass amp world. But we'll see...

It is cool to have a bass lunch box, though.

Tim1 · #12 01-20-2011, 06:37 PM

I have had a ZT lunchbox for about a year now - 200 watts into a 6.5" speaker. I use it for practising with my tele but don't let the small size fool you, this little amp has oodles of clean volume and has astounded a few of my guitar playing friends. I have also at times comfortably played my acoustic bass into it at acoustic practices, and it didn't seem to mind at all. There is a video around somewhere of Billy Gibbons using a couple of these with ZZ Top on a tv show. I was initially very sceptical that they could put 200 watts into a 6.5" speaker and comfortably crank it loud - they did it and the price is extremely cheap I reckon. It is not light for its size, which make sme think that there must indeed be a large voice coil and a strong cone. They seem to be expanding the parameters of accepted wisdom, so I for one am looking forward to a bass version.

vin*tone · #13 01-20-2011, 06:44 PM

2 ohm driver? that makes no sense. Are they saying they're going to pull MORE than 400 watts out of that thing? As Jimmy pointed out - the size of the box itself will be the limiting factor (me knowing next to sweet F.A about cab design) which is surely going to fart out before 400?

Jeff Scott · #14 01-20-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim1

I have had a ZT lunchbox for about a year now - 200 watts into a 6.5" speaker. I use it for practising with my tele but don't let the small size fool you, this little amp has oodles of clean volume and has astounded a few of my guitar playing friends.

So, you're saying this thing...............

BOOGIES?

Jeff Scott · #15 01-20-2011, 07:16 PM

I did check ZT out at NAMM 2010, very cool amps.

Tim1 · #16 01-20-2011, 08:09 PM

All I am saying is that ZT seem to be on to something, other small guitar amps I have played sound small - this does not. This boutique manufacturer seems to be on to something, and if they can beat the laws of physics that's great. Let's wait until the final product appears before we say it can't be done.

BurningSkies · #17 01-20-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim1

All I am saying is that ZT seem to be on to something, other small guitar amps I have played sound small - this does not. This boutique manufacturer seems to be on to something, and if they can beat the laws of physics that's great. Let's wait until the final product appears before we say it can't be done.

Tim1 · #18 01-20-2011, 08:32 PM

Maybe I am getting a little carried away - currently riding a cloud of brandy alexander induced optimism

Chrisk-K · #19 01-20-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

ZT Amps Bass Amp prototype 400 watts, 12" woofer, two paper cone tweeters, about 45lbs, $899, available in June"

It'll be a tough sell IMHO. You can spend less and get a GB, Promethean or GK combo which is much lighter. With $$ left, you could get a pedal or two. Or, spend $50 more and you can a Markbass combo.

tombowlus · #20 01-20-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

2 ohm driver? that makes no sense. Are they saying they're going to pull MORE than 400 watts out of that thing? As Jimmy pointed out - the size of the box itself will be the limiting factor (me knowing next to sweet F.A about cab design) which is surely going to fart out before 400?

Yeah, that's why I kept saying things like, "Really? A 2-ohm driver? Don't you mean it's a 4-ohm driver but it can drive a second 4-ohm cab?" And they said, "No, we do not want to use an extension cab. We want to get all the watts possible out of the amp and we're having a custom 2-ohm driver made."

Like I said... interesting...