NAD: The $245 Rig

Iron1

AmbassaDOOM of Red VVinter
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@Headache got me GASing for one of these Joyo ZoMBie amps a few weeks ago, then @LiveeviL2000 made it worse with his videos of the Joyo amps he got last week. So, I went hunting. In a strange turn of events, during my hunt, I came across 3 deals that cost me a grand total of $245 and produced a great little traveller rig.

First off, I landed a deal on a Joyo ZoMBie that came with an Orange 108 cab, loaded with a Celestion Eight 15. After a little haggling, I got the pair for the same price as a brand new ZoMBie all by itself.

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(Don't mind the scooped EQ on the DSL1, I was messing around with different sounds on Sunday trying to approximate where my JCM900 used to sit and didn't dial it back to where I normally keep it)
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(Got this little Ibanez bass amp in a flip deal with a bass a few weeks ago - sold the bass the next day for more than I paid for both and kept the amp, though I've only used it long enough to verify it works...)

When I knew I had the ZoMBie and cab coming, I figured I needed another OD and EQ to go with 'em. While hunting for another MXR M108, my go-to EQ pedal, I came across this Donner EQ Seeker. It was $45 brand new on Amazon and I figured since I could return it if it sucked, what was there to lose?

Then, two days later a local cat posted this Ibanez Mini Tube Screamer and we settled on $50 for it, so I went and grabbed it.

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The amp & cab weren't scheduled to show up until this coming Thursday, so after work yesterday, I spent some time plunking on my new Alvarez, then went upstairs to grab a drink and saw the amp & cab sitting on the front porch.

Brought em in from the cold, let them warm up for a bit (it was 20* outside) and then plugged it all up. I had no intentions of keeping the Orange cab, as I'd tried a stock one a few years back and it was just plain awful. But, the Celestion made a big difference. While it certainly doesn't hold a candle to my Mesa or Marshall cabs, it was surprisingly better than I expected. Would probably be great as a cab to pair with the Alvarez. But, I still intend on selling it.

I then hooked the ZoMBie into my Mesa Lonestar and BOOM can this little amp get after it. Haven't been able to turn it up past about 4 yet, but it really ripped at that volume.


Now, I have a JCA50 for the Soldano flavor, a 6505mh for that 5150 feel, a DSL1 for the JCM vibe and this ZoMBie for Mesa goodness.

Time to get busy songwriting.
 
Congrats.
Those are great deals!
I’m glad to have been a part of relieving you of your GAS.
I think @Headache and myself should get a kickback from Joyo. Just sayin’.
Definitely. I'd never even heard of these little things a month ago and now I'm singing their praises. I hope they bring out new models soon. Would love to hear their take on a Soldano, a Randall and a few others.
You are certainly having fun lately! Nice setup!
Yes - since I sold the Apocalypse that was my Christmas present, using that money to buy more toys is like Christmas all over again.
 
Definitely. I'd never even heard of these little things a month ago and now I'm singing their praises. I hope they bring out new models soon. Would love to hear their take on a Soldano, a Randall and a few others.
I think there are 7 or 8 different models out now. I really want to collect them all, I think they would look cool lined up on a shelf in the jam room.
Yes - since I sold the Apocalypse that was my Christmas present, using that money to buy more toys is like Christmas all over again.
That's basically what I did. Instead of buying the Jackson V, I used that money to go on a shopping spree. It felt good to get stuff mailed in everyday, like you said Christmas!
 
Just had a chance to turn it all the way up. It definitely gets loud. I don't think it could really compete with a metal drummer, but could certainly hang with some of the limp wristed fools I've seen playing drums in bar bands over the years. You know, the kind who forgot drums were a percussion instrument. :ROFLMAO:

Wonder if you had a smaller power amp to fuel it...

And, it definitely sounds less full/meaty the louder it got. This is definitely not the case with my 6505mh at the same volume. But, this is a dime store amp, so I don't expect it to compete with a 6505.

Where it really shines for me is that bedroom to just over speaking level volume. It really grinds and grinds in that range. Love it.
 
Nice color palette.
Let us know how you like it.
I think we started something here ...
Nice! Looks like you need an Orange 108 cab loaded with a Celestion to add to that color spectrum. :ROFLMAO:
Just got delivered late yesterday. I’ll be cranking it up later tomorrow as the wife will be gone for a few days for a charity event. I got it for $102 from Reverb used.

Maybe I’ll try it through this color coordinated cab :pound-hand:


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