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the ZT3 is really good. However, there are several things that can be not appropriate for some guys.
My cons are:
1. The neck is wider than usual. It's smooth and handy to play but some folks may be irritated to feel the unusual width.
2.
The amplitude of the TT3 is considerably shallower than that of the
TT2; you cannot make impressive dives, etc. However, I have to quote
myself here from the Stein forum about one issue:
"The thing is
(at least it was in my case) that after changing the gauge from factory
set 0,010 to 0,009, and adjusting spring tension the TT spring was sort
of 'not where it was supposed to be'. After winding it up 'blindly'
somewhere to the centre of it's operational bay I solved the problem.
This thing sort of 'floats' in a sense... I mean, when the spring is in
wrong tension, you may have your tuning locked in a wrong 'slot' and
therefore make wrong tuning to counter the whole thing. You may have a
well tuned guitar in wrong position TT-wise. That's why you may have
only a half-step down (and whole-and-a-half step up!!!. I guess, the
vice versa might also be possible). Exactly what happened to me after
changing strings to a lighter gauge.
On the other hand, one could
benefit from this and Steinberger could mention such possibility in TT
adjusting as a bonus... I mean, if you never really bend the trem up or
you only need a half step up, you can have whole four or three
semitones down."
Actually I never bend it up (at least that up to
be semitone), always down. And I am really happy with the TT2 where you
can dive so deep. But, as I said, you probably can have more room down
with the TT3 stealing it from the upper range...
3. HB+HB set,
even having coil split and offering 8 positions, is not that flexible
as HB SC HB with coil split. I am a big fan of that fenderish bridge
SC+mid SC which can't be done with the ZT3.
4. the output jack
socket is not a very good idea if you use those convenient 'r' shaped
Neutric jacks. (And it's OK, of course, with conventional ones.)
5.
the trem arm is designed so that you always have to keep your eye (or a
hex) on the two hex screws that tighten it: both tend to loose
permanently (maybe it's only in my ZT3). I prefer the arm being a bit
tight. You have to bear in mind that the locking in the TT3 works
absolutely differently than that of the TT2 or 1, so you want it to be
a bit tight, not loose as a pendulum (which is ok with the TT2).
My pros:
1. I find the new tuners placed more conveniently and working better.
2. the Combo Headpiece is a really good invention. Of course, you lose the TT feature in such a case.
3. I like the leg rest, even tho it could seem useless in a strat type body... I always unfold it, it's great.
4. absolutely great appearance, one must admit it.
5. the hex keys compartment is nice.
The pick ups is another issue.
I
do like my gm7TA's EMG 89's even if some folks whine about their weaker
gain compared to the EMG 81's. One must understand this simple thing -
the more rounds of wire on coils, the more gain and less freq.
response. I think the EMG 89's are just perfect. And I am not into HM
very much...
The ZT3 has the new (?) USA 90 R (neck) and USA 91 T (bridge) pick ups.
What
are they? They sound quite different compared to my gm 7TA with EMG
89's, neck-neck , bridge - bridge, HB-HB, SC-SC configurations,
respectively.
I can't say which sound is better. And I think it would be bullshit in any case. They are different, and that's all.
But there's one thing. The ZT3 has considerably more gain, that's for sure.
So,
if you use on stage an active EMG 89's with the ZT3 as a backup, you
have to know that the loudness ratios between clean and distorted will
be different.
I mean, if you have adjusted your processor with a
gm7TA to have proper outputs for clean and distorted, you will always
have louder clean when you switch to the ZT3. Much louder.
Summary:
I
do love the ZT3, I am glad I bought it. But it's my secondary guitar,
the primary being the gm7TA. The latter is simply the best. For me, of
course.
Cheers
Complete ZT3 Rating found on Algis's Profile
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