ZT Lunchbox Amps

jonpowl

Does anybody have any experience with ZT amps in Berkeley, CA? They have three models, 200W Lunchbox, 200W Lunchbox Acoustic, 35W Lunchbox JR (battery operated with optional battery pack); and a compact Lunchbox speaker cabinet. They are quite compact and reasonably priced. It looks like Djangobooks.com stocked the line, but perhaps no longer.

Buco

I have and use the acoustic model.

I like for what it is.
Here's the review I left here at djangobooks



Nice box
By: Buco on 02/01/2011 07:59:51 AM
I'd like to share a few of my first impressions with Lunchbox Acoustic. While I'm giving it a full 5 star rating it should be seen in context. Meaning it's great for what it is! I could've compared it to some higher end $700 and up amps and in that world it certainly wouldn't rate 5 stars. While I read and saw many glowing reviews amateur and pro alike I can't say this is a killer amp in all respects. For one I'm still to be convinced of it's power rating and high, clean headroom. It is clean but only to a certain point after which there is a slight but audible distortion. I'm trying to follow ZT recommendations for finding a clean sound and I'm still hopeful that I will find that golden spot. I've used it with solid body electric trying to achieve jazzy sound and oval hole Selmer copy with K&N elements under the floating bridge. And then there is what is at the same time it's biggest strength and one of the weaknesses: this amp represents the sound of your acoustic instrument pretty accurate to my ears. To high end audio purists that could not be a better achievement, however most people, in my opinion want their guitar amp to achieve "magic" and sweeten up the sound of their instrument through some clever EQuing. It seems to me that folks at ZT went the audio purist way and I give them thumbs up for that! The amp got completely different reactions from my friends when I played in public with it for the first time (using Parker fly guitar): from "wow it sounds great, clean but pretty warm" to "too clean, almost piercing". I asked for honest opinions from all of them. This could also be simple matter of seating positions, the guy who was somewhat brittle sat pretty much in amps direct path, others were more off-axis. I think the sound can be dialed in to my satisfaction though, after little more usage and experience if different situations. Bottom line is when you take is consideration it's size, power output and quality of sound I don't know of anything that can touch it. Anything out there that can compare in sound and power will be bigger or with much less power or much pricier. Anything that will flat out beat it with sound will have at least 8-10" speaker or array of smaller drivers and cost twice as much. So that is why it gets 5 stars from me.

Buco

Since this review I've been using only for GJ gigs and it always did the job. It can sound a bit too dry as if all the natural guitar overtones are sort of filtered out but then in our world that's not necessarily bad.
I used it sometimes with Myersco mic and sometimes with Krivo pickups. I like the sound of Krivo way better through my tube amp but portability of lunchbox wins almost every time.
Also interestingly enough one time I borrowed a regular lunchbox for a gig and liked it better than the acoustic model. Seemed more present is what I remember. I always wanted to ask my buddy to take it home for a few days so I can really compare the two but never got around it.
If you can find a used one cheap it's worth getting one for all the reasons I listed in my original review. I got one pretty cheap brand new, I think like $270, Michael at the time had the best price and ZT ran a $100 rebate. Price jumped up since then and I don't think it's worth a brand new price these days which is I think $600. That's what I meant in my original review, it's a great $400 amp but above that you can probably do better.

pickitjohn

I got a regular 200 Watt I'm not using, works great, I'll take $200.00 plus shipping for it.
It got a little mark on the grill from my car set hitting it,
PM me if you want more info or pictures.

thorjensen

I use the regular 200 watt version with my Peche for certain gigs, and I love it. Can't beat a 9 pound amp in New York.

jonpowl

Thanks everybody! I am interested mostly in the Lunchbox Jr., but worried about the 5" speaker. Also interested in the Lunchbox speaker cab to use with my Epiphone 5W Valve Jr. I would certainly consider either the acoustic or regular Lunchboxes at the right price. Right now, I'm not gigging, but have a Blues Jr. and the Epi to use with my new Krivo Nuevo, in case I do. Love the Krivo nuevo, has the nuevo Django sound, but offers a fair acoustic sound as well.

Buco

Judging by acoustic model I am not sure if Jr would cut it for a gig.
It probably won't get much better than what John is offering.

jonpowl

Fishman Loudbox Mini or ZT Lunchbox? Anybody familiar with both?

Buco

Tried the Fishman once and this is a totally unreliable opinion but my recollection is volume wise they are comparable in the sense that they'll both do the job in small to medium sized rooms, ZT of course wins the portability contest, I don't remember much about how the Fishman sounded like, (probably the most important parameter so everything I'm writing isn't worh a strawberry...) except I liked what I heard and features are about the same.