Mezzabarba ?

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splatter

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how many of you have experience with them ? I hear clips that sound amazing and I keep hearing people say they sound a lot like an SLO.
I played a MZERO 100w in a music store where I couldn't turn it up and it sounded horrible couldn't get any gain out of it at a low volume. The one I played didn't have a master volume,Master volume is an option that you can have added on these models.
SO I'm wondering if it had a master could I get it to sound like the clips. I'm also wondering if the 30 watt skill suffers from the same thing. Am I gonna have to crank the 30 watter to get the tone I want ?

Now for those of you that say a 100w head has to be cranked to sound good I say no it doesn't . I have had many that sounded great at bedroom volume. Including the VH4 I currently own.
 
Are you sure it was the M-Zero? As far as I understand it always has a master volume, so maybe it was the Z35 or 101-Z where the master is an option? There really isn´t a way to get that level of high gain in a non-master amp, so all the models with optional masters are more of the punchy classic rock variety.

But anyway, master volumes aside it could have been the M-Zero Standard, which doesn´t have SLO-ish lead channel of the M-Zero Overdrive.
 
I had an Mzero Overdrive and it was great. Imagine a darker, more evil, pissed off sounding SLO that also sounds bigger and a bit more more in the Marshall direction

I still sold it because I preferred the Cameron Atomica modded Marshall I had at the time, which dethroned the Mzero for me, but still a very good amp, especially as far as recent made amps go.

To be nit picky, some things that didn’t do it for me were the following: palm mutes could’ve been tighter for my taste, other amps of mine like my Marshall’s just had still a more aggressive and complete growl on power chords while the Mzero was smoother, leads weren’t as liquidy or vocal as other amps I had like the Atomica again and my iic+. It still sounded great overall and the things that impressed me most were how big it sounded and that it was quite organic sounding for a modern made amp, but still not as much as vintage amps
 
I have it with dual master. With the master at 10 is really loud, even with the volume at 1. If you want know if it sound the same at any master level, the answer is no. I like the master volume how it is, because influence the tone, and can be useful to find many different sounds and feeling. It have more sag with the master at 3, and is more crunchy and in your face at 7.
 
I had an Mzero briefly and just got a Trinity that arrived a couple days ago. The Trinity has channel volumes and dual masters. However like most tube amps its not gonna sound its best at low volume. These amps are beasts. I would imagine if you want low volume the Skill is 30w and would prob do a better job. The Mezza amps also take a little getting used too to dial in the best tones that suits your guitar/ cab / etc,... the feedback control is super responsive. Great sounding amps though.
 
I had an MZERO Overdrive, master worked just fine and the amp had boatloads of gain.
 
Dave L":1e2eil0x said:
Are you sure it was the M-Zero? As far as I understand it always has a master volume, so maybe it was the Z35 or 101-Z where the master is an option? There really isn´t a way to get that level of high gain in a non-master amp, so all the models with optional masters are more of the punchy classic rock variety.

But anyway, master volumes aside it could have been the M-Zero Standard, which doesn´t have SLO-ish lead channel of the M-Zero Overdrive.
Click to expand...

it was an Mzero overdrive , the 2 channel amp, they had a 101 but I didn't look at it.

check the pic at this link , no master, the drive and the OD knobs aren't volumes

https://www.mezzabarba.com/mzero-overdrive/
 
Looks like an SLO clone with a few tweaks to me. Appears to be built well.

081_gpr0818_ga_mezzabarba-1.jpg
 
the4thlast1":1dyzuq8b said:
I had an Mzero briefly and just got a Trinity that arrived a couple days ago. The Trinity has channel volumes and dual masters. However like most tube amps its not gonna sound its best at low volume. These amps are beasts. I would imagine if you want low volume the Skill is 30w and would prob do a better job. The Mezza amps also take a little getting used too to dial in the best tones that suits your guitar/ cab / etc,... the feedback control is super responsive. Great sounding amps though.
Click to expand...

yea I realize that, but I'm the kind of guy that needs to play my expensive amp a lot not just when I'm at rehearsal. I try to be considerate and keep it down so the rest of the family can still function. My Diezel definitely sounds better cranked but it also sounds good in the bedroom.
The 30w skill is actually what I'm looking at but we all know a 30w amp is no bedroom amp. The skill has the power attenuator on it so that should eliminate any volume worries. I was asking because there was a skill in the classifieds section that had the feedback adjustment instead of the power attenuator. I didn't want to get an amp that I couldn't return that I couldn't play at low volumes. If it was anything like the one I played at the music store I would have hated it.
Its sold now so I'm looking at getting a new one. Or I may just wait and get the Bogner 3534.
 
splatter":1sfc29ip said:
Dave L":1sfc29ip said:
Are you sure it was the M-Zero? As far as I understand it always has a master volume, so maybe it was the Z35 or 101-Z where the master is an option? There really isn´t a way to get that level of high gain in a non-master amp, so all the models with optional masters are more of the punchy classic rock variety.

But anyway, master volumes aside it could have been the M-Zero Standard, which doesn´t have SLO-ish lead channel of the M-Zero Overdrive.
Click to expand...

it was an Mzero overdrive , the 2 channel amp, they had a 101 but I didn't look at it.

check the pic at this link , no master, the drive and the OD knobs aren't volumes

https://www.mezzabarba.com/mzero-overdrive/
Click to expand...

... and the "Volumes" aren't volumes either? :confused: But I guess if we're really getting into details there isn't a true master volume for the entire amp, since the channels have their own level control like that.
 
I have one of the very earliest M-Zero Overdrives from when these first came out. It's one of my favorite amps I own and usually get the nod for gigs whether it's a local bar our outdoor fest. No master volumes. 2 channels. Same as the one you probably tried. Here's a possible scenario on what could have gone down when you tried it out. First, was there a Footswitch with this amp? If not, there is a 99% chance that you were only playing thru channel 1; the cleaner/'drive' channel. There is no way to change channels on the earlier versions of the MZero-Overdrive without the Footswitch. Kinda of a design flaw in my book. Also, there are no lights or indicators on the front of the amp to indicate what channel your on.
Be at that you must have turned up Volume 1 or Volume 2 on the amp at some point, it's the only way to determine what channel your on without the Footswitch. On my amp, the volume knobs for both channels is so damn sensitive, moving it from 0 to 1 increases volume like 50db! It's the touchiest volume knob I've ever seen on any amp in my life. I think the loudest I've ever had either channel for a live gig was about 2 1/2 !!!
Regarding the channels, I do EVERYTHING on this amp thru Channel 1. May sound weird but I set channel 1 up for as much gain as it can get. This includes the 'DRIVE' toggle switch engaged, the Drive knob dimmed. At this point clean to crunch can be achieved wonderfully thru your guitars volume knob. You get a level of gain that is between Ac/Dc and first album VH, but ithe channel is 'Alive' with tone and punch. It's amazing. What about going into heavier territory. Enter the overdrive pedal of your choice to slam it up front and WOW! Channel 1 takes boost and overdrive pedals better than any amp I have. Tweak the Feedback and Depth knobs to taste and you'll be blowing the crowds eyebrows off! I use either my Cusak V2 screamer up front or my new favorite, a Menatone Red Snapper overdrive. Both of these are set around 3oclock on Volume and just shy of noon on gain. Pushes Channel 1 into absolutely fantastic high gain tones while still retaining the clear note separation and punch that is the DNA of this channel.
As for the Overdrive channel 2, it's cool, but I'm so sold on running this amp thru Channel 1 this way and can cover so much ground there, channel 2 rarely gets called if at all.
Anyways, that's my take on this amp. Btw, very happy with the loop on this amp too.
Len
 
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