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Post by groovergeorge on Feb 24, 2006 4:13:50 GMT -7
"This post is actually a follow up to a previous thread I wrote about being dissapointed with the Tone Tubby paired with a Maz sr/Invasion." The amp just arrived...... I couldn't get it out of the box quicker. It's been a couple of weeks since I bought it, but it did arrive in 1 piece albeit with a loose chasis screw about to fall out and a missing washer. After close inspection and noticing a transformer sitting on a funky angle and a couple of other minor glitches you get when you buy 2nd hand stuff, I ripped on around to my buddies place to put it through it's paces on his real October 63' Olympic white strat. I plugged in and proceeded to play. I had my reservations after being dissapointed with the Maz into the 1x12 closed back loaded with the Tone Tubby but it had just arrived, the speaker in a Peavey Bandit would have done, hey I just wanted to play this thing through anything. I had previously just wriiten an article expressing my dissapointment at the Tubby with an even more powerful rig and couldn't see it working with a low powered head but nonetheless i gave it a wirl. The amp was loaded with a very crappy sovtek 5y3GT,2 Ruby EL84's and 2 sovtek 12ax7's. Nothing to get too excited about, just the type of stuff you'd expect someone to load it with if they wanted to sell the thing and not leave anything too expensive in it, thereby losing too much $$$. I guess for the $763.04 I paid for it, the owner didn't want to lose too much "moola" in Ebaying his near new amp. Anyway, I plugged it in and turned it on.It had the volume on 3' o clock and tone at around 1'. I figured that'll do and started playing. This thing with a strat was pretty clean with this setting through the Tone Tubby cab but I could hear some punch and believe it or not,a hint of hair on the note. It just wanted to be turned up. I started hiking up the volume slowly and the amp and guitar just started coming alive. I set the volume on 11' and tone at around 1' and the next thing I know I'm just playing stuff (really badly ) like Cold Shot and Mary Had a Little Lamb by SRV. This all the timewithout any pedal/s into the front end,just an old Strat,a George L and the Ghia. "The amp just floored me." After being so dissapointed with the tone of the Tubby with the Maz Invasion I paired it with, I just couldn't believe the tone that I was getting. It was killer; tight and punchy with breakup starting around 12' o clock on the Volume knob. The Tubby is brand new so I think It has a little hours to go before it gets broken in, but it sounded awesome. I think the closed back cab went a long way in helping to give it a more focused bottom end that might have been lost if it was an open back. I kicked on a modified TS808 but it really just sounded better without a pedal. My friend has 2 modified ts808's in his rig,he is a diehard SRV fan, he runs them into an early 60's blackface vibroverb (ala SRV). I borrowed that rig off him and stomped on both pedals and proceeded to have a ball. Endless sustain,controllable feedback.....Santana could easily be there with a Les Paul and the right pedal.This amp just has it all! Off with the frog green boxes and the volume back to 10', pickup selector to the in between bridge,middle pickup position,lose the pick and your in early Dire Straits , Sultans of Swing stuff. Whether your on the front pickup playing bluesy type Cray/SRV riffs or Claptonesque pick strumming like "Badge" off the rainbow concert album,the tone of this little sucker matched with a Tone Tubby is all there. I still don't think the tubby is all that suited to dirty bluesy stuff unless a L.P and some pedal is used but with a strat I don't think there is a better amp. The volume on the Ghia is a very workable,gig friendly indoor rig or small outdoor amp unless your drummer is some spandex wearing 80's type metal head. I still haven't plugged in my Paul' and a good pedal and tried some Gary Moore through it but this amp is a KILLER!!! I've never really been a 1x12 guy always choosing a 2x12 setup but the tubby really does sound awesome. Im still going to order a 2x12 and load it with 2 blue celestions as I prefer a little more twang and chime to my tone and a bigger spread of noise but for a portable all purpose rig the Tone Tubby into a closed back and ghia is awesome. Now I know why people are using the Ghia and a Z28 in a tandem setup. The Ghia with a strat and a Z28 with a Paul would in my opinion cover just about everything the working muso would need. "My humble apologies to "Billyguitar" about the Tone Tubby's shortcomings with the Ghia. It's not exactly what I wanted but still sounds awesome ;D "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by terryg on Feb 24, 2006 6:04:16 GMT -7
Congratulations! That's a great writeup, and I share your feelings about the amp. +1 for your patience, your trials/tribulations getting there, and your candid "musings" along the way. You've indirectly helped me in my path. Have fun retubing it if you decide to do so - the amp's character will undoubtedly change. Mine had a similar complement out of the box; after swapping everything and experimenting with V1 options, I've found an amazingly satisfying and versatile configuration. It is indeed one of the most capable amps, if not the most, that I've had the pleasure of experimenting with. I've had mine for only a week, and I already feel bad about neglecting the others (it's still honeymoon time, I'll adjust eventually...or not ) Terry ps: I'm real keen to hear about your experiences with your P90 LP into this amp.
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Post by zdogma on Feb 24, 2006 7:19:03 GMT -7
The p90 will knock your socks off into the ghia. So will humbuckers. It really sounds nice with high output pickups. My favorite combo is 5751 in V1 and V2 with high output pickups. It seems strange, but it sounds great.
I have used a number of speakers with the ghia, almost always with a 1X12 cab, including a tone tubby (the ceramic one), and I have settled into three favorites. I love alnico speakers and I use both a 15w bluebell Celestion (haven't blown it yet!) and an EMI redfang regularly. They are similar, in some ways, but each has its strong suits. I wrote a short review in the speakers section with my amateur opinons a while ago. The vintage 30 also sounds great, and is my favorite ceramic.
They all give different flavors, and everyone seems to find a different combo to get "that sound" that they hear in their head.
I read an interview with dr.z in tonequest (i'm sure you've seen it) where he says the speaker is the most important single componant in shaping your sound, and I think he's probably right.
I don't think you have to apologize for giving your opinion, because we all hear things differently. ;D
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Post by Curt on Feb 24, 2006 7:33:03 GMT -7
"The Ghia with a strat and a Z28 with a Paul would in my opinion cover just about everything the working muso would need."
+1, no doubt...love the Z/28 with 'buckers and a Ghia w/Single coils
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 24, 2006 15:48:41 GMT -7
;D told ya.... I figured you'd like the Ghia given your discription of music styles, it is THE most fun amp ever invented... w/ or without pedals, 1st one I go to now to play at home.. AND groovergeorge IT SOUNDS AWSOME with a 2x12...think about the old marshall 18 watt bluesbreaker style combo's BUT better.... Phat, Strat, Heaven... then try pairing it with a stingray for the clean!!!! holy moly batman.... "NOW your rockin in the free world" Jason ps YOU GOTTA TRY THE NOS tubes in it!!! get with Myles and he'll help ya....
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Post by groovergeorge on Feb 28, 2006 4:39:00 GMT -7
Well I finally put the Strat down and got the Gibson LP TV Special out to give it a bit of a wirl through the Carmen Ghia. The tone with a good strat is beautiful a beautiful thing through the Ghia, but with a good quality P90 snarls and barks, responding to your pick attack like no other amp I've ever tried. I played the P90 through my Maz Sr and it's a great but with the Ghia is just plain "Freeeekin' amazing!" The tone through my closed back Tone tubby was one of the punchiest,tighest and raw tones I have ever heard through my 25 years of playing. I stuck a Fulltone fd2 in front of it and went through all settings on the pedal, but, like the Strat, just seemed to want to be played without a pedal. The Strat sounded best to me on setting of 11-11:30 on the Volume knob and the Tone around 1-1:30. The LP Special however wanted to be turned up to around 2:30 on the Volume and the Tone knob dialed back to around 10:30. If old school rockier type blues is your thing along the lines of Lonnie Mack, George Thorogood, and even the Black Crowes then get a Ghia and a Gibson Les Paul Special (Historic series) and do believe me try one yourself. "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 28, 2006 6:17:23 GMT -7
No apologies necessary but appreciated. I like the give and take on this forum. 99.9% of the time any dispute is open and respectful. The TT does sound different than other speakers, just like a Z sounds different than other amps. Richer is the descriptive word that comes to mind first.
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Post by myles on Mar 1, 2006 14:04:37 GMT -7
"The Ghia with a strat and a Z28 with a Paul would in my opinion cover just about everything the working muso would need." +1, no doubt...love the Z/28 with 'buckers and a Ghia w/Single coils I have to agree with you here .... there is little that I can think of that will compare to a Carmen Ghia / Z-28 rig regardless of $$$$ spent, versatility, tone, easy of setting up and moving around, or most any other factor. I'd add a Tele and Ricky 360-12 to the Strat / Les Paul deal ... or if you had a ton of money an SG also with an ES-175. With that sort of rig nothing, including a wide range of session work, would be out of reach. If you want to do the heavy metal thing just add some shredder pedal in front of the Z-28 and watch out! One of Jim Wigle's "skull crusher" pedals works great with the Z-28:
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Post by taswegian on Mar 1, 2006 17:44:26 GMT -7
I'm so glad you love the Ghia Groover. It's a bit of a gamble the whole "buying before playing and shipping across the planet" deal. Hopefully I will get up to Byron this year and get to hear that bad baby! Haven't tried P-90's with the Rt 66 yet which I've been hanging to do. If my friend Simon Patterson is at the Roots and Blues Fest this year it might be a good excuse to come up. I think he played last year with Harper.
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Post by myles on Mar 1, 2006 18:21:36 GMT -7
This might seem like a close minded and rash statement but .... The Carmen Ghia is the best amp ever made on this planet.
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Post by taswegian on Mar 1, 2006 19:27:32 GMT -7
Well I may as well put it on my gas list now! Dag Nammit.
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Post by myles on Mar 1, 2006 21:06:40 GMT -7
Well I may as well put it on my gas list now! Dag Nammit. Well .... one good point is the Carmen Ghia is not all that pricy. Another point is you may find it will make some other amps un-necessary and if you sell them it may cover more than the cost of a Carmen Ghia.
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Post by taswegian on Mar 2, 2006 0:15:52 GMT -7
Well I may as well put it on my gas list now! Dag Nammit. Well .... one good point is the Carmen Ghia is not all that pricy. Another point is you may find it will make some other amps un-necessary and if you sell them it may cover more than the cost of a Carmen Ghia. Well I've still got my old rack I can sell but I will NEVER sell my Route 66. I'll give it to some young gun who needs it when I'm too old to play. ;D And the mini is too darn handy. That aint goin anywhere either.
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Post by groovergeorge on Mar 2, 2006 3:09:48 GMT -7
I have been playing the Ghia non stop for the last few days and the amp is just so amazing. It truly is the most awesome studio-recording amp you can get. Sure you can go and get a THD ubivalve-bivale and swap out tubes to your hearts content but if you just couldn't be bothered with fiddling around and just want to play,turn a knob or two and play then "THIS IS THE ONE!" It's range of tones on a strat and other single coil guitars make it extremely versatile. On lower volume levels this thing is crystal clear with just a hint of sizzle on the top end as you wind up the volume knob and start getting around 12 o' clock the dirt starts to kick in and by 3 'o clock with a Gibson style single coil like a P90 this this is just roaring all while keeping a tight focused bottom end. They aren't that expensive "YET" folks............don't wait until they turn into a Mark Sampson era Matchless or a Dumble and the price $kyrockets! Love to catch up with you if I am around town this Easter Taz. Just let us know if you are coming. I'm not really into heavy metal there Myles,more the classic rock stuff. That pedal looks like it came off the set of the "Terminator" (Attempting to put on my best Arnie Swarzenegger accent) I'll take one of those, a 45 longslide with the laser sighting and an UZI 9 mm.........Great stuff Myles. ;D Man, I got the G.A.S bad. I nearly bought a Dr Z Z28 4x10 plexi front off the bay' today. "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by myles on Mar 2, 2006 11:34:07 GMT -7
I have been playing the Ghia non stop for the last few days and the amp is just so amazing. It truly is the most awesome studio-recording amp you can get. Sure you can go and get a THD ubivalve-bivale and swap out tubes to your hearts content but if you just couldn't be bothered with fiddling around and just want to play,turn a knob or two and play then "THIS IS THE ONE!" It's range of tones on a strat and other single coil guitars make it extremely versatile. On lower volume levels this thing is crystal clear with just a hint of sizzle on the top end as you wind up the volume knob and start getting around 12 o' clock the dirt starts to kick in and by 3 'o clock with a Gibson style single coil like a P90 this this is just roaring all while keeping a tight focused bottom end. They aren't that expensive "YET" folks............don't wait until they turn into a Mark Sampson era Matchless or a Dumble and the price $kyrockets! Love to catch up with you if I am around town this Easter Taz. Just let us know if you are coming. I'm not really into heavy metal there Myles,more the classic rock stuff. That pedal looks like it came off the set of the "Terminator" (Attempting to put on my best Arnie Swarzenegger accent) I'll take one of those, a 45 longslide with the laser sighting and an UZI 9 mm.........Great stuff Myles. ;D Man, I got the G.A.S bad. I nearly bought a Dr Z Z28 4x10 plexi front off the bay' today. "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD" A Carmen Ghia and Z-28 may be the ultimate rig on the planet.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Mar 2, 2006 12:29:03 GMT -7
Of course it floored you -- the Ghia is indeed the best amp on the planet!
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Post by Curt on Mar 2, 2006 15:20:46 GMT -7
Ghia..studio..the best..... YUP !! ;D Ghia and Z/28 the ultimate rig....uhhh,, YUP !!
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Post by taswegian on Mar 2, 2006 18:16:50 GMT -7
Well Curt, you have the ultimate rig (CG and Z28) and still you want more!!! ;D It's good to get something with some more oomph just in case you need it too right? CG and Maz 38 might be a pretty formidable rig also. ;D
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Post by Curt on Mar 2, 2006 18:58:25 GMT -7
That's what I'm thinkin' !! Gotta be ready for those outdoor gigs mate ;^) Taz,....when ya gonna grab a Z/28 man ? ya gonna luv it when ya do !
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Post by myles on Mar 2, 2006 19:44:29 GMT -7
That's what I'm thinkin' !! Gotta be ready for those outdoor gigs mate ;^) Taz,....when ya gonna grab a Z/28 man ? ya gonna luv it when ya do ! Outdoors ... no problem .... just bring along that 400,000 watt rack-o-amps that Brad Paisley takes to run the house systems wherever he plays ;D
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Post by myles on Mar 2, 2006 19:47:46 GMT -7
Ghia..studio..the best..... YUP !! ;D Ghia and Z/28 the ultimate rig....uhhh,, YUP !! Looks like you are all done! What more could you actually "need" ampwise? Now its time for .... A Strat .... Les Paul, SG, Gretsch with Filtertrons (any one), and ES-175 and Rickenbacker 360-12. You already have the Tele bases covered. Then .... you are ALL DONE!
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Post by bluzsteel on Mar 2, 2006 19:56:13 GMT -7
love my Ghia...............its a Red head and those same girls pop up everytime I pull my Z stuff out!!!
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Mar 2, 2006 21:55:19 GMT -7
" CG and Maz 38 might be a pretty formidable rig also" " That's what I'm thinkin' !! " I really like the MAZ 38 with the carmen ghia BUT..... STINGRAY and CARMEN GHIA!!! IS AWESOME!!
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Post by Curt on Mar 3, 2006 9:46:43 GMT -7
Looks like you are all done! What more could you actually "need" ampwise? Now its time for .... A Strat .... Les Paul, SG, Gretsch with Filtertrons (any one), and ES-175 and Rickenbacker 360-12. You already have the Tele bases covered. Then .... you are ALL DONE! [/quote] Got a Strat and a Lester, never seen a Gretsch with a thick 'nuf neck for me...Tele's just seem ta werk fer me.....simple..like a Ghia and a Z/28..hell when I play my ghia my whole rig only has 4 knobs and 2 switches !!!!
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Post by Jim Fairbairn on Mar 3, 2006 10:22:05 GMT -7
There's always a need (or is it a want) for just one more guitar, or one more amp. But then again, I'm sick.
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Post by groovergeorge on Mar 5, 2006 16:18:05 GMT -7
You guys are all a bunch of A@#HOLES!(jokes) I thought my G.A.S had gone for a while and then all you dudes from the Ghia/Z28 club decide to hijack my post and next thing I'm breaking out in cold sweats in the middle of the night,talking in my sleep and then jumping out of bed and heading straight to my computer to see if anyone has listed a 2nd hand 28' head on the bay'. I'm on it at 3am one morning after not being able to sleep and my wife wakes up and asks me what I'm doing on my computer so late. I answer her with the standard "Not much darling, just looking at stuff". Being an inquisitive woman like the rest of the species, thinking I'm up looking at porn or chatting to some woman and having an internet affair etc etc... she gets up and comes into my office,looks over my shoulder, shakes her head and says, " YOU ARE F#@%*ING losing the plot!!!! She storms off back to bed and I say to her, hey babe,Is there any chance I can hit you up for a spare $1000,there's this bargain Z28 4x10 combo with 1 day to go and it's got a plexi front and..................? She just shakes her head,goes back to bed and I hear her punching the pillow and swearing and muttering underneath her breath. Hmmmmm,now how can I get around her and get that $1000 off her? ;D "KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by terryg on Mar 5, 2006 20:47:48 GMT -7
;D
that's a great story!
dunno how I could provide *any* sensible advice to that though....dedicate your first hit song to her?
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Mar 6, 2006 13:14:46 GMT -7
Heh... my wife thinks I've been dreaming about scuba diving in the ocean while I sleep lately... She said I keep mumbling things about sting rays and manta rays... I don't have the stones to tell my little red head the truth.. yet.
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