ZT Lunchbox Amplifier

[jrmy]

I would certainly support Metalmariachi being the designated I Love Fuzz amp tester - he's definitely proven to be experienced and trustworthy (heck - he's one of the two user admins for the site!). And he's definitely got enough serious gear that he can test out the amp from a number of angles.

[masked elwood]

So talk to me...

Where did you try one, and what could we have done better/different?

-ken kantor

http://www.ztamplifiers.com

ken-

just so you have a reference of what i'm used to. normally i use is a 65 Selmer Bass and Treble 50, 62 Fender Bassman, or an Marshall SLP 100 reissue. when i go SS. it's usually a Acoustic 150 or Vox Royal Guardsman. although i use anything/everything, those are my "go to" amps. i like low-medium gain amps with no master volume.

I cannot speak for others as i have my own needs and do my own thing. the reason i tried the amp was for use on my guitar workbench, to test instruments after building, set ups, or repairs. for that use, it works wonderfully and i bought it. however for use in rehearsal it just doesn't work for me. it was loud enuff but not smooth enuff.

the reverb was useless as a "reverb" (i liked the doinky sound it made but i wouldn't call it reverb).
it needs separate bass and treble controls. even with control tilted to all bass/no treble, it was still too trebley.
i didn't like to overdriven sound as i found it too harsh (again a treble issue) and the sound didn't breathe enuff for me. there was no airy quality to the sound.
no harmonic sweetness when driven.

i didn't test it with effects as i didn't like to sound enuff to bother. if i have treble problem with the amp before effects, then by adding them it'll only get worse.

but that is only me and i by no means think that i know what others need in an amp. i only speak for myself.
for my workbench, it's great.

elwd

[Roseweave]

I found it too trebley from the clips too, and normally I like a lot of trebley distortion(I listen to Bauhaus). There's just something a bit off about the voicing in general.

[ken kantor]

Excellent...

Contact me at ken.kantor@ztamplifiers.com, and i'll get a couple of amps out. In the event that you have trouble with email, my direct personal email is kkantor@gmail.com. Thanks!

-k

www.ztamplifiers.com

[Roseweave]

Ken, you probably thought I was being a bit harsh I'm actually very interested in how the Lunchbox develops and pans out, portability is a big issue for me and I like to see SS amps develop. I would love to see a version with an effects loop or built delay and maybe more options for voicing(as I said the high end puts me off on higher gain settings).

Can I email you the names/addresses of some stores that might want to try getting one of your amps in?

[metalmariachi]

Ken;

email sent.

Lets see if PumpkinPieces will get involved too.

MM

[jrmy]

If ZT makes a bass model, I'd be more than happy to sign up as a tester!

[randel_07]

o my goodness!
i just noticed that your guys' headquarters is berkeley...
i live in the bay area, so maybe one of these days i can go try it out too!!!

[dorfmeister]

I'm wondering how it takes pedals?

I bet this would be great with my Retroman Dumbox and Coopersonic Tube Overdrive in front of it.

[Roseweave]

Man I've been reading up about Ken and he seems like a really amazing guy.

http://www.kenkantor.com/about.html

If I could make pedals, I would make one and all it THE SONIC SAVIOUR, a pedal that will be used for testing loud speakers and DSP technology.

[metalmariachi]

I've exchanged Emails with both Ken and Sara (the lunch box lady).
So we will see what develops.

Trust me I'll test it out with a number of pedals too.

Plan on first running it into my EV-M equipped cab which will allow the sound of the amp through without any speaker coloration.
After that I have a few other things to run it through just to see how it responds and sounds.

You'll know more when I do.

MM

[pfrench1313]

I just wanted to jump in on the ZT Lunchbox discussion. I bought one a month or so ago, and I'm really liking this amp. I've been playing and teaching and working in music stores for 20 plus years. Yes, it's plenty loud enough to gig with, even with a loud drummer. I did, and still do find it hard to believe. I run it clean, and use a pedal board for distortion and effects. I added a Holy Grail reverb pedal to my board, and that really opened up the sound of the amp.

On my last gig I kept turning around in disbelief, even though I knew where the sound was coming from. The tone really blends well with the rest of the band.I thought it sounded kind of thin on it's own, but with the band I didn't miss the low end at all. I have plugged it into an extension cab, and it was really almost scary loud, and the tone was huge. So far I've only needed the internal speaker for gigs. I bought a second one for backup, and I'll probably start running in stereo.

These amps are for real. Plug in your pedals. Try it on a gig. Enjoy the load in/out.

[Roseweave]

Man I like the sound of the Lunchbox the more I hear. I like the dirt on it though, insane amount of bite, so if it had an F/X loop and more effective tone knob it'd be perfect.

And yes you are right, that lower end isn't necessary if you have a bassist. I'd run it into a cab otherwise though.

[pfrench1313]

I like the sound of the Lunchbox with the gain cranked also. It reminds me of my JCM 800 50w combo; not tons of modern Recto distortion, but a great sound.
I've also found that the controls on the ZT seem to affect the sound in a subtle way. Small changes in the gain and tone knobs seem to go a long way to getting the sound and tone "right". What's "right" changes from room to room, and it's pretty easy, so far, to get it fixed up. Try one on a gig or with a band at rehearsal if you can. That's the best way to fully appreciate what these amps can do.

[Ghost Hip]

Mine just arrived, I'm impressed. Works well with pedals, and I even got a decent sound out of my bass too in combo with the box of rock. Can't wait to plug it through a cabinet.