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Post by zed on Feb 16, 2006 11:01:46 GMT -7
I just read this about a Carmen Ghia:
"Dr. Z also told me that he only put the green jewel lights on the ones that sounded extra special to him..."
Is this true?
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Post by bluzsteel on Feb 16, 2006 11:30:56 GMT -7
dont know. I do know mine came with green jewel and does sound good
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Post by squeallydan on Feb 16, 2006 12:35:55 GMT -7
Where did you hear that? Maybe the doc. can verify. I have a hard time believing that is the case. I think I'll call a Z dealer and see if I can request one of the crappy Carmen Ghias.
Mine has a green one and it sounds good, but I assume they all sound good.
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Post by Lefty on Feb 16, 2006 12:37:24 GMT -7
There's a thread on this somewhere here...something like green jewels=period made. I'll do some searching.
Found it!...from the Dr.
OK , here's the skiny on the Green Jewels. When I started making Ghia's in the early 90's I used Hammond Reverb Amp Chassis. I modified them to be guitar amps and would sell them at Guitar Shows. Did very well with them BTW. After a few years I ran out of supplies of the Hamond Chassis, so I dup'd the Trannies and fabricated my own chassis. I started selling that way , they were $450.00 BTW in year 1994. I think I still have an old add from Vintage Guitar.
So I recieved a call from an old Hammond repair guy I bought chassis from, and he told me he found a bunch og old tube sets for that amp. I bought them, they were old Amperex lableled Hamomond in red.
As you guy's know NOS tubes can be great, or can be nuts, so to mark theses amps for warranty purposes I used Green Jewels on them. If a guy called with a tube problem on a new amp I would ask the color Jewel and know they were NOS.
So as time passed a dealer found out about the Green Jewels ( Stu @ Fat Sound ) and posted about the great sounding Ghis's with Green jewels, the rest is internet history.
DR.Z
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Post by Curt on Feb 16, 2006 14:13:07 GMT -7
THANKS Lefty !!!! I had missed that thread, My Ghia is a "flea bay" purchase, it has a green jewel but had ALL Boogie tubes when she arrived (sounded terrible BTW), Mike Z, Myles and KCNOS Mike hooked me up and she's been killer ever since....Just nice to know a lil history, unless someone just changed the Jewel
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Feb 16, 2006 15:18:54 GMT -7
Lefty's correct. Part II of the story is that once the word got out about the green jewels, some dealers were finding that they couldn't sell the "ordinary" ones with the red jewels. Everyone wanted the "magic" green ones. So some dealers started changing the jewels to green themselves!
PDW
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Post by zdogma on Feb 17, 2006 5:42:41 GMT -7
mine's a "natural" green, direct from the dr
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Post by bluzsteel on Feb 17, 2006 8:03:19 GMT -7
mine's a "natural" green, direct from the dr same here , just not a natural Blonde
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Post by jvdunne on Feb 17, 2006 12:17:13 GMT -7
Yes, everything you've read about the green light is true: they have magical powers, don't need electricity to run, can cure the common cold, enable anyone to play the opening riff to "Sweet Child 'o Mine" while getting head, and never, ever need new tubes. C'mon gang, these are jewel light we are talking about here, that's all. While, as someone who has too many guitars and too many amps (one of which is a CG, thank you very much), I can sympathize with gear related obsessing, get a friggin life-who cares, stop the insanity, and just play your guitar!!!!! OK, thanks, I feel much better now. May the Picks be with you.
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Post by zdogma on Feb 17, 2006 13:55:15 GMT -7
I think someone wishes his ghia was a natural green
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Post by jvdunne on Feb 17, 2006 14:14:39 GMT -7
Actually, my 2004 CG head jewel light IS green. Through the 2x10 cab, sounds from heaven eminate. My point is some people spend , IMHO, too much time searching for the Holy Grail , (not the one from EH).
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Post by pickupcentral on Feb 17, 2006 14:28:29 GMT -7
Actually, I don't think it's the jewel color that is the determining factor. Everyone knows the red tolex makes 'em sound better.
-Phil
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Post by niversen on Feb 19, 2006 19:17:12 GMT -7
Yup, that's it - I've got the red tolex/green jewel myself. Stunning, if I do say so, myself!
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Feb 20, 2006 7:09:42 GMT -7
I think I was one of the first people to propogate those rumors when I first got this Ghia 8 years ago: I bought it from a guy named Waddy, and I think he was the one that passed that rumor on to me when I was buying it from him... He told me he had a blonde Ghia for sale, and this green Ghia for sale, but that the green one sounded somehow "better" to his ears, so that was the one I went for. It really is a great sounding amp... Better than other Ghia's? Nah... but it's a fun rumor! I'm guessing given the green tolex that it probably came from the Z shop with a matching green jewel (purely speculating), but it didn't show up with any amperex tubes in it! It had an Ei grey plate in V1 (which I actually still have, and it's not microphonic, and sounds SPECTACULAR), a NOS JAN 5751 in V2, a set of Ei EL84's, and a NOS GE 5Y3. So while it's just a rumor, I can't agree to agree with ya jvdunne --- the insanity is part of the fun and part of the reason we all play the guitar, so why stop it?!!
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Post by groovergeorge on Feb 20, 2006 7:17:19 GMT -7
For what it's worth,G'OlPeachfans green tolexed ghia looks an abbsolute killer,even if it isn't original. I think it's what is under the hood that really matters guys/gals! Some N.O.S valves mated with a good speaker and I think all his Ghias are great amps,period!!!
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by groovergeorge on Feb 20, 2006 7:23:56 GMT -7
;DHey Peach,what deja vu. I'm writing this thread and just posted it and you must have beaten me of the blocks and posted seconds before...........great looking amp dude! Running low on funds for the java boost after having to pay a little import duties on my new ghia that I just bought off the bay'. If it's still for sale in a month or so I'll let you know if I am still keen, otherwise good luck in selling it,it looks in perfect condition and the price you were asking was very reasonable.
Peace
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Feb 20, 2006 9:33:35 GMT -7
george -- thanks man. The green tolex on the amp is from the factory, it's just the front faceplate that I re-did to match the rest of the amp. The original faceplate was salt n' pepper grillcloth!
And you're absolutely right -- it's what's under the hood that truly counts!
No problem on the Java Boost... If I still have it when you're ready to buy, my offered selling price is still good for you!
Peach
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Post by squeallydan on Feb 20, 2006 10:13:44 GMT -7
Green tolex with a green light. Too cool!
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 20, 2006 11:13:30 GMT -7
I have green vinyl on my Evans amp. I really like that color a lot.
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Post by steveinnashville on Feb 22, 2006 12:03:46 GMT -7
My ghia is blond/oxblood with a purple jewel. It's purple because it was the last one made in 1999.
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