I have a really vivid memory of boys are back in town... rode my bicycle to a 7-11 to get a slurpy on a hot summer night, and that song was blaring on the radio behind the counter. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. That was a couple years before I started playing, but I was just enamored with that sound. 🙏
Badass is 100% correct. Good choice, Boys are Back was one of the first covers I learned back in the '70s. Nailed it. Thank You Adam, I needed this today. As for the EMS, much nicer layout than and physical design. A close friend was a Dr. Z Distributor back in the early 2000s, we drove down to Clevland and spent the day with Mike showing us around.
You just had to go and play the Lizzy stuff. Now my wife is going to hate me because of this video. Sounds amazing! Robbo, Scott and Phil would be proud!
@@patmcwilliamsmusic Cool and thanks! To me, he makes great, kind of "old school" amps with lots of character and vibe. And hey, listened to the songs on your channel and they are fantastic! Really like them. Cheers!
I've been watching your videos for the past few days so I felt subscribing was in order! Honestly do to your Lizzy clips, im most likely going to be picking up the Z-EMS! Im a sucker for the modded plexi sound. Thanks for posting good music, im glad I found your channel bro! 🤘✌🤙
Thank you! I played though a few Marshall type amps today for fun, the WMS, a Splawn, and an Egnator SW45. All somewhere in that Marshall territory, and all good. Pulling up this comment and listening again, that's just what the EMS sounds like, but note that it's quite loud at those settings without the attenuator. The Splawn is like that too in that it needs some volume to start doing what it does. That attenuator works fantastic with the Splawn for what it's worth too. Cheers!
Keep it! Whenever I got rid of one in the past, I always missed it and it took me forever to get around to replacing them. Nothing else sounds like a Les Paul.
Sounds great. Do you know how many bands I played different TL tunes in (most all of what you played here) and they all played them like total shit. And here you are nailing them note for note. Damn, Adam I'm lucky to ever have jammed with you. Fantastic attention to detail and pure talent. Fun listen . . .
Thanks Rick, really really appreciate it. I didn't practice these things and just wung it and you the timing of that shows, but I think the point gets across. Not like making a record or whatever. Regarding a tune sounding decent, really every little part has to be good or just the whole thing sucks. I've done enough now where I know if say the drums aren't happening, the whole tune sucks. Same goes for bass, and I don't think people really understand how important that is to the tune as a whole. I was mixing something with Dennis one day and I pulled out the bass as an example, and it's like, hey, 1/2 of the song is just gone.
@@AdamGotheridge Yeah. All the parts need to be there. But so many bands just bar chord those tunes. No dynamics at all. It always felt like the air was sucked out of them and didn't even feel like the same songs. That's what is really great about TL tunes. They sound hard rocking but they have great subtlety in the guitar parts. And you nailed em' ;).
@@rickhill3071 Thanks again. BTW, I dug out the old tracks we did with the horn band to see if I could use some of that stuff. That was a really fun band and and we played really fun tunes. :) It sounded better than I remember except the drums could have sounded better. I wish we doubled the horns too, but it still sounds really cool and brought back a lot of great memories. The horns totally made that band, and their personalities too.
@@AdamGotheridge Oh yeah that was a fun project. That's where I met you. I always have loved the horn and fusion styles. My first paying gig (musicians union - does anybody remember musicians unions? Lol) was in a horn band when I was 17.
Great playing and great tone.... Funny I went through 30-40 amps through the years now I'm right back playing what I started on, an old plexi. I sure wasted a lot of money trying to find an amp that would cover my mistakes instead of more time with my guitar getting good. Once I spent some time and devoted myself to the instrument everything flip flopped because I needed lower gain more dynamics and note definition without getting thin and brittle. This amp is now on my radar.
I hear you, we all search and search for something in our head that we want out of an amp. This one would probably fill some holes around your plexi, just more Wonderfull Marshall tone options. I stumbled on this amp setting with a strat, low gain on 800 side of the amp, and I just didn't want to touch it, so used that tube driver thing to get a little more. With the Strat and those settings, it's so close to some of that old Hendrix stuff, like beautiful clean played lightly and then just this wonderful crunchier, thicker sound when hit harder. There's also a really cool compression going there that allows that clean stuff to pop out and not be quiet. I've never found that in say my other 30 amps over the years. The amp also has crazy good straight on clean tone if you want it. I was just so jazzed about it that I wanted to share it somehow. Have a great day, and thanks for watching!
Good call ive had my 68 50w smallbox plxi for 40 years it really is a great little monster takes pedals like a dream . i have 4 newer type marshalls 800 900 2000 but the plexi just rocks cheers . jerry old rocket
@AdamGotheridge I see by your T shirt your also a Doug and Pat viewer. They just put out a new video the other day for the first time in a great while..FYI Peace
Dr Z - Model EMS “Essential Marshall Sounds” 50 Watts The 3 Essential Marshall Sounds (Amps) settings for the adjustable circuit are detailed below: 1960s: JTM-50 Rear Setting=Tube Sensitivity Switch=Low Touch Switch=Down 1970s: JMP-45 “Small Box” Rear Setting=Solid State Sensitivity Switch=Low or High Touch Switch=Down 1980s: JCM-800 (50 Watt) Rear Setting=Solid State Sensitivity Switch=High Touch Switch=Up I am one the lucky few who own one. It is my #1a, I purchased in February 2021 from Humbuckers. I also have the exact same setup; Dr Z EMS Head atop a Marshall Model 1960AX Cabinet. It is simply an example of excellence. My #1b that I have owned/played since 2014 (bought mint used) is a Dr Z Route 66, atop a Marshall Model 1960A Cabinet. Finally, when friends or my band 2nd guitarist come over for jam/practice they can play the Route 66. The EMS will be some time before I offer another guitarist a romp... Both of these setups, EMS & Route 66, love pedals. Great songs and excellent playing renditions.
Thanks so much! I thought you had just disappeared due to all these dumb amp videos. 😜Hope all is well in (mostly) sunny CA. And where they hell is my (mostly) famous, super talented buddy? 😟
@@AdamGotheridge You're very welcome, my super talented friend!👌Haha... I like your demo videos, Adam, although I miss Monica singing I'm secretly hoping she will surprise us with some cool cover soon. Doing great, working and enjoying life! 🤗💖
Thanks! Not scheduled, but I get the dilemma. Figure the EMS is more like clean or dirty old school Marshall, and the CAZ is trainwreck (for lack of a better description). I think they both sound great, and both have their advantages. I'm really trying to be helpful here. Let's say CAZ is better at all kinds of ranges of gain and has a unique touch to your playing dynamics. The EMS is more raw, and you could say harder to play. Both totally rewarding and fun, but totally different.
@@AdamGotheridge thanks for taking the time to give that thought out reply. Totally understand what you mean. I really appreciate it. Ive had a chance to try the ems and have been really curios about the caz45.
@@HDM3 Either one could be the right one for you. The demo videos just kind of give you a good educated guess. I try to be as honest and as straightforward as I can with them, but even just player to player can sound a lot different with the same gear.
@@MAC100PROOF You could probably get mojotone or someone to build you a cab and then maybe explain what you are trying to do to Z and I'm sure they could get you a logo. Then everyone will wonder where you got it. 😀
Adam - I know this vid is months old now - but since you also have/had a Splawn (me too). is this better for that marshall sound, or am I safe with the Splawn - i also have a purple splawn, but I have the 100 watt pro-stock (just the OD no clean)
I think if you like the Splawn, stick with it. They are both great. Splawn being that modded 800 thing in spades, EMS is more old school or vintage based. You aren't going to be able to make either amp sound like the other. I like them both. EMS a lot better on clean/low/medium gain sounds, Splawn for higher gain.
@@AdamGotheridge I picked up the EMS, sounds great, but needs more high end - overall darker than I thought itd be. Still have to put more time into it. But I am glad you post your settings, so thank you for that.
@@edwardgrassel872 A couple thoughts - don't worry about where the controls are, the speakers, guitar, and how it's mic'd have a lot to do with everything. In general, it's a pretty thick and warmish sounding amp, but don't be afraid to say put the treble and presence really high and bass down real low of even off. More than a few famous people with Marshalls put the treble on 0 and presence almost on 0 and get a good sound out of them. A celestion g12h30 has a ton of bite in the high end. I'm bummed you feel the amp isn't really working for you. to me, it's a really thick amp, like lots of low midrange and not as much "crang" as you might expect from a Marshall. Besides speakers, maybe try a brighter 12ax7 in v1, like I think it came with JJ's which are pretty dark. Maybe try an EH 12ax7, they are quite a bit brighter to me. If at the end of the day the EMS isn't what you are looking for, maybe try a Friedman pink taco v2. That has a lot of high end, sounds really good, and maybe is closer to what you are looking for. The high end can be a little fatiguing in that amp, but it has that krang to it and overall sounds very good. Just a thought. Wish you the best, and thanks giving me your feedback on your experience. Maybe also try the 800 side with the gain pretty low, like 9pm or a hair higher. To me, that's a fantastic sound that is quite bright, cleans up pretty good from the volume control, and you have room to hit it with a pedal and shape it a little for more gain. Best of luck!
Not sure. All the Z amps are basically made to order, so a dealer would have to order one, or the customer through the dealer. I know that doesn't really help. Good luck!
If this was supposed to be a demo of the amp, it was pitiful. You only had one sound for 15 minutes. It was a good sound, but still only one sound. With a Les Paul , and a “Marshall” type amp, you should be able to produce anything from Allman Bros., to B.B. King, to Robben Ford type sounds.
Brought back memories growing up, long road trips and great music.
I have a really vivid memory of boys are back in town... rode my bicycle to a 7-11 to get a slurpy on a hot summer night, and that song was blaring on the radio behind the counter. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. That was a couple years before I started playing, but I was just enamored with that sound. 🙏
Love my EMS! Nice shirt, Doug n Pat, Thanks to them I found 3 great pickup winders great song choices to btw.
Badass is 100% correct. Good choice, Boys are Back was one of the first covers I learned back in the '70s.
Nailed it.
Thank You Adam, I needed this today.
As for the EMS, much nicer layout than and physical design. A close friend was a Dr. Z Distributor back in the early 2000s, we drove down to Clevland and spent the day with Mike showing us around.
Thanks Hk. Love this amp. Mike's a great guy and I really appreciate what he does and am very grateful for what he does.
You just had to go and play the Lizzy stuff. Now my wife is going to hate me because of this video. Sounds amazing! Robbo, Scott and Phil would be proud!
No, the wife will love you! ;) Thanks 🙏
Sounds fantastic!! Inspired me to plug in my 78 JMP and old school Catlinbread RAH I just got from my pal w/ my 01 R8 Lemonburst!😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥
Cool and thanks. Also, I just saw this because it was blocked for some bad word or something. No idea what that might have been.
@@AdamGotheridge Weird!!! I didn’t cuss lol
I love this amp. amazing sound !!!
I love it too! 🤘
Why on earth would Dr Z stop making this amp??
Such a great amp and not harsh when you turn it up. Another great video 🔥🔥🔥
They had problem sourcing the parts. And thanks! 🙏
@@AdamGotheridge So glad I found this one then, my absolute favourite amp. Great playing
@@patmcwilliamsmusic Cool and thanks! To me, he makes great, kind of "old school" amps with lots of character and vibe.
And hey, listened to the songs on your channel and they are fantastic! Really like them. Cheers!
@@AdamGotheridge Thanks Adam, really appreciate that, Cheers!
@@patmcwilliamsmusic I played your tunes for my wife, she loved them. Just killer stuff!
Breaks into Jailbreak - I'm in. 😁 Great playing Adam!
Felt like that to play it too, really fun. Thank you! 🤘
Sounds great!
Great video Adam, great sounds and paying. Pure rock as it should be. Thank you so much for sharing
Oh my gosh, most welcome! I kind of live for this stuff, just guitar sounds.
I've been watching your videos for the past few days so I felt subscribing was in order!
Honestly do to your Lizzy clips, im most likely going to be picking up the Z-EMS! Im a sucker for the modded plexi sound. Thanks for posting good music, im glad I found your channel bro! 🤘✌🤙
Thank you! I played though a few Marshall type amps today for fun, the WMS, a Splawn, and an Egnator SW45. All somewhere in that Marshall territory, and all good. Pulling up this comment and listening again, that's just what the EMS sounds like, but note that it's quite loud at those settings without the attenuator. The Splawn is like that too in that it needs some volume to start doing what it does. That attenuator works fantastic with the Splawn for what it's worth too. Cheers!
Gotta love some Thin Lizzy! Good stuff bro:-)
Awesome job!
Thanks Johnny! Much appreciated. 🙏🙏
Wow I love listening to you. Amazing I'm a fan now Bro !!
Thanks, very kind of you! I'm probably just a music/guitar fan like you. 🙏
Wow Adam! Great video!
Thanks!
I was going to sell my 1980 Les Paul, but now you got me thinking...
Keep it! Whenever I got rid of one in the past, I always missed it and it took me forever to get around to replacing them. Nothing else sounds like a Les Paul.
Sounds great. Do you know how many bands I played different TL tunes in (most all of what you played here) and they all played them like total shit. And here you are nailing them note for note. Damn, Adam I'm lucky to ever have jammed with you. Fantastic attention to detail and pure talent. Fun listen . . .
Thanks Rick, really really appreciate it. I didn't practice these things and just wung it and you the timing of that shows, but I think the point gets across. Not like making a record or whatever. Regarding a tune sounding decent, really every little part has to be good or just the whole thing sucks. I've done enough now where I know if say the drums aren't happening, the whole tune sucks. Same goes for bass, and I don't think people really understand how important that is to the tune as a whole. I was mixing something with Dennis one day and I pulled out the bass as an example, and it's like, hey, 1/2 of the song is just gone.
@@AdamGotheridge Yeah. All the parts need to be there. But so many bands just bar chord those tunes. No dynamics at all. It always felt like the air was sucked out of them and didn't even feel like the same songs. That's what is really great about TL tunes. They sound hard rocking but they have great subtlety in the guitar parts. And you nailed em' ;).
@@rickhill3071 Thanks again. BTW, I dug out the old tracks we did with the horn band to see if I could use some of that stuff. That was a really fun band and and we played really fun tunes. :) It sounded better than I remember except the drums could have sounded better. I wish we doubled the horns too, but it still sounds really cool and brought back a lot of great memories. The horns totally made that band, and their personalities too.
@@AdamGotheridge Oh yeah that was a fun project. That's where I met you. I always have loved the horn and fusion styles. My first paying gig (musicians union - does anybody remember musicians unions? Lol) was in a horn band when I was 17.
You should compare it with a quickrod!
Thanks for the idea! They are pretty different, say QuickRod modded 800, EMS more traditional old 800.
Great playing and great tone....
Funny I went through 30-40 amps through the years now I'm right back playing what I started on, an old plexi. I sure wasted a lot of money trying to find an amp that would cover my mistakes instead of more time with my guitar getting good. Once I spent some time and devoted myself to the instrument everything flip flopped because I needed lower gain more dynamics and note definition without getting thin and brittle.
This amp is now on my radar.
I hear you, we all search and search for something in our head that we want out of an amp. This one would probably fill some holes around your plexi, just more Wonderfull Marshall tone options. I stumbled on this amp setting with a strat, low gain on 800 side of the amp, and I just didn't want to touch it, so used that tube driver thing to get a little more. With the Strat and those settings, it's so close to some of that old Hendrix stuff, like beautiful clean played lightly and then just this wonderful crunchier, thicker sound when hit harder. There's also a really cool compression going there that allows that clean stuff to pop out and not be quiet. I've never found that in say my other 30 amps over the years. The amp also has crazy good straight on clean tone if you want it. I was just so jazzed about it that I wanted to share it somehow. Have a great day, and thanks for watching!
@@AdamGotheridge That is exactly what I'm looking for. This will be my Christmas present to myself this year. Love your videos keep um coming...
Good call ive had my 68 50w smallbox plxi for 40 years it really is a great little monster takes pedals like a dream . i have 4 newer type marshalls 800 900 2000 but the plexi just rocks cheers . jerry old rocket
@AdamGotheridge I see by your T shirt your also a Doug and Pat viewer. They just put out a new video the other day for the first time in a great while..FYI Peace
I saw it! They are fun and am glad they are back.
Dr Z - Model EMS
“Essential Marshall Sounds”
50 Watts
The 3 Essential Marshall Sounds (Amps) settings for the adjustable circuit are detailed below:
1960s: JTM-50
Rear Setting=Tube
Sensitivity Switch=Low
Touch Switch=Down
1970s: JMP-45 “Small Box”
Rear Setting=Solid State
Sensitivity Switch=Low or High
Touch Switch=Down
1980s: JCM-800 (50 Watt)
Rear Setting=Solid State
Sensitivity Switch=High
Touch Switch=Up
I am one the lucky few who own one. It is my #1a, I purchased in February 2021 from Humbuckers. I also have the exact same setup; Dr Z EMS Head atop a Marshall Model 1960AX Cabinet. It is simply an example of excellence.
My #1b that I have owned/played since 2014 (bought mint used) is a Dr Z Route 66, atop a Marshall Model 1960A Cabinet. Finally, when friends or my band 2nd guitarist come over for jam/practice they can play the Route 66. The EMS will be some time before I offer another guitarist a romp...
Both of these setups, EMS & Route 66, love pedals.
Great songs and excellent playing renditions.
Sounds great! Love it! 🤘😎🎸💖🤘
Thanks so much! I thought you had just disappeared due to all these dumb amp videos. 😜Hope all is well in (mostly) sunny CA.
And where they hell is my (mostly) famous, super talented buddy? 😟
@@AdamGotheridge You're very welcome, my super talented friend!👌Haha... I like your demo videos, Adam, although I miss Monica singing I'm secretly hoping she will surprise us with some cool cover soon. Doing great, working and enjoying life! 🤗💖
Amazing playing in all your demos. I've been debation on the caz-45 vs ems. Any chance you have a video scheduledof a head to head of those two amps?
Thanks! Not scheduled, but I get the dilemma. Figure the EMS is more like clean or dirty old school Marshall, and the CAZ is trainwreck (for lack of a better description). I think they both sound great, and both have their advantages. I'm really trying to be helpful here. Let's say CAZ is better at all kinds of ranges of gain and has a unique touch to your playing dynamics. The EMS is more raw, and you could say harder to play. Both totally rewarding and fun, but totally different.
@@AdamGotheridge thanks for taking the time to give that thought out reply. Totally understand what you mean. I really appreciate it. Ive had a chance to try the ems and have been really curios about the caz45.
@@HDM3 Either one could be the right one for you. The demo videos just kind of give you a good educated guess. I try to be as honest and as straightforward as I can with them, but even just player to player can sound a lot different with the same gear.
Great tones, again!! Harvest tones?
Thanks, but I don't know what that means?
@@AdamGotheridge Tones influenced by the Season of Harvest, that's all. Sorry, that was a cryptic note.
I really wish Dr Z would make a 4x12 cabinet.
Guessing he figured the market already has enough of those.
@@AdamGotheridge I understand that but, I just want a matching cab for my amps. Kills me.
@@MAC100PROOF You could probably get mojotone or someone to build you a cab and then maybe explain what you are trying to do to Z and I'm sure they could get you a logo. Then everyone will wonder where you got it. 😀
I have seen picts of ems on dr z 4 12 cabs some place i think he makes them allready
@@mariannwatt2678 negative. You've either seen a Dr Z 2x12 cab or, someone else's 4x12 with a dr Z logo stuck to it. Dr Z doesn't make one.
Adam - I know this vid is months old now - but since you also have/had a Splawn (me too). is this better for that marshall sound, or am I safe with the Splawn - i also have a purple splawn, but I have the 100 watt pro-stock (just the OD no clean)
I think if you like the Splawn, stick with it. They are both great. Splawn being that modded 800 thing in spades, EMS is more old school or vintage based. You aren't going to be able to make either amp sound like the other. I like them both. EMS a lot better on clean/low/medium gain sounds, Splawn for higher gain.
@@AdamGotheridge I picked up the EMS, sounds great, but needs more high end - overall darker than I thought itd be. Still have to put more time into it. But I am glad you post your settings, so thank you for that.
@@edwardgrassel872 A couple thoughts - don't worry about where the controls are, the speakers, guitar, and how it's mic'd have a lot to do with everything. In general, it's a pretty thick and warmish sounding amp, but don't be afraid to say put the treble and presence really high and bass down real low of even off. More than a few famous people with Marshalls put the treble on 0 and presence almost on 0 and get a good sound out of them. A celestion g12h30 has a ton of bite in the high end.
I'm bummed you feel the amp isn't really working for you. to me, it's a really thick amp, like lots of low midrange and not as much "crang" as you might expect from a Marshall. Besides speakers, maybe try a brighter 12ax7 in v1, like I think it came with JJ's which are pretty dark. Maybe try an EH 12ax7, they are quite a bit brighter to me. If at the end of the day the EMS isn't what you are looking for, maybe try a Friedman pink taco v2. That has a lot of high end, sounds really good, and maybe is closer to what you are looking for. The high end can be a little fatiguing in that amp, but it has that krang to it and overall sounds very good. Just a thought. Wish you the best, and thanks giving me your feedback on your experience.
Maybe also try the 800 side with the gain pretty low, like 9pm or a hair higher. To me, that's a fantastic sound that is quite bright, cleans up pretty good from the volume control, and you have room to hit it with a pedal and shape it a little for more gain. Best of luck!
@@AdamGotheridge thank you for your considerate reply. I appreciate it
Trying to find a ems to try out in los angeles all the stores have is the dr z combo amps any ideas anybody
Not sure. All the Z amps are basically made to order, so a dealer would have to order one, or the customer through the dealer. I know that doesn't really help. Good luck!
hmmm, sounds like you double tracked the guitars!
Yes, played as shown.
If this was supposed to be a demo of the amp, it was pitiful. You only had one sound for 15 minutes. It was a good sound, but still only one sound. With a Les Paul , and a “Marshall” type amp, you should be able to produce anything from Allman Bros., to B.B. King, to Robben Ford type sounds.