NAD: Dr. Z Monza!

[Don]

This just followed me home! It's a 2011 Monza 1x10" combo with a master volume control on the back.


I had played a Monza when it came out and found the volume to be uncontrollable. Since my more recent experience with the Cure, Nova, and Z Wreck Jr, I wanted to check out a Monza with a master.


This one showed up locally at a great price! It's in very good shape and sounds awesome! My first impression was that it was a very dark amp. Then I realized that the tone control on my guitar had been bumped low. The "Billy in a Box" comment is accurate, but doesn't reflect the amp's nice clean sound and even dirtier sounds. I'm very impressed with how it cleans up from the guitar (and I've owned a Z Wreck jr).
As a blues/rock player and this amp should fit the bill!

 

[MikeSlub]

I had one of those once. Flame thrower! I had an early one and I found it to be dark and too loud. But didn’t follow them afterward with the master volume! Congratulations!

 

[Don]

I had one of those once. Flame thrower! I had an early one and I found it to be dark and too loud. But didn’t follow them afterward with the master volume! Congratulations!

Hi Mike-

This amp is an early model with no changes besides a LarMar type master being added at the factory. It's fat, but not dark. I wonder if turning down the master allows other settings to be adjusted to the point that the amp is no longer dark sounding. I haven't cranked the master all the way up for very long- it's pretty fatiguing with the super efficient Red Fang speaker.- though it's not dark when set that way, either. I'd say it's pretty similar to the Budda Twinmaster that I used to own.

This is a weird little amp! There is no traditional tone control. The control labeled "Tone" is a Vox style Cut control with a larger cap. It attenuates highs after the phase inverter, before the power tubes.