craig
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by craig on Mar 12, 2006 15:33:30 GMT -7
I tried a Ghia head yesterday for the first time (through a Z-best cab), and I was blown away at how loud 18 watts can be! It was loud enough that I can't see myself cranking it up enough to get the full overdrive without using an attenuator.
I had been thinking about a Ghia combo, but I think that the Dr. hard wires the speaker to the amp in his combos, so I wouldn't be able to put a Z-brake between the amp and the speaker...can anyone tell me if that is correct?
Thanks
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Post by sicktone on Mar 12, 2006 16:12:56 GMT -7
The Ghia has standard 1/4" outputs to the speaker. You just need a 2nd speaker cable to go amp-->attenuator-->speaker.
If you can afford a new airbrake, I would buy one from some place that gives a few days to return it if you don't like it. I've tried the Dr.Z Airbrake and hated it with the Ghia specifically. IMHO there's something great about the Ghia's sound that completely disappears with an attenuator. My Z-28 was just okay. I ended up returning the Airbrake. Attenuators always "suck" tone, but they are a necessary tool for lots of situations. Mark Gregg (of Ulitmate Attenuators) says it best: all attenuators suck, the trick is getting the one that sucks least.
Best of luckand YMMV!
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Post by StrangeC on Mar 12, 2006 17:35:41 GMT -7
It is not correct. The combo's speaker plugs into a jack in the back of the amp.
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Post by zdogma on Mar 12, 2006 17:45:52 GMT -7
The ghia sounds fine with the airbrake as long as you don't attenuate too much (past 3 gets a little dull sounding). Still pretty loud at that setting, though.
Putting in a greenback (they sound nice with the ghia I find) will reduce the volume by 3 dB, which will also help a bit.
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Post by bluzsteel on Mar 13, 2006 19:16:13 GMT -7
I thought the ghia had a built in airbreak , its called 18 watts ...let er fly
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Post by Curt on Mar 13, 2006 20:49:40 GMT -7
I DO NOT like an airbrake on the ghia, the Ghia sounds great @ low levels, boost with a pedal as needed.
I LOVE the airbrake on Z/28 and Route 66, for me it actually HELPS these as it allows me to crank them to their sweet spot with out getting kicked outa the club.
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cliff
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by cliff on Mar 13, 2006 22:47:22 GMT -7
I play mostly small venues. I used a Hot Plate with my Ghia for quite a while...no pedals. The trick, IMO, is to use slight attenuation, one or two clicks on the Hot Plate. The Ghia is a loud mofo, no doubt, in a small bar. I second the recommendation of a less efficent speaker for less volume, but using an attenuator has worked for me. Of course, everything changes....now I'm a pedal junkie, and my Hot Plate doesn't see much action. I think it always boils down to the venue.....if you play small bars with people right on top of you, it seems like you gotta attenuate or use pedals, even with an "18 watter" like the Ghia. Of course, there are exceptions. We just played a bar where we left the amps at floor level, backed up against a pool table. The sound blowing out the back of the cabs was muffled by the pool table, and we were able to crank it without dirty looks from the bartenders. As I said, it's all about where you're playing.
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Post by bustertheboy on Mar 14, 2006 22:30:34 GMT -7
I'm using a weber mini-mass with a 2x12 open greenback cab- as with the airbrake (maybe more so as i haven't used one) any attenuator sounds best when it attenuates the least with the mini mass i can get sounds that are quite close enough not to be noticeable and the amp responds the same because a mini-mass has a speaker in it-minus cone try to remember that with a band it certainly won't be noticeable and it sure is great to wind up the ghia also remember that different tubes make huge changes with the ghia- i'm using a nos rca 12ax7 in v1 and nos jan 5751 in v2 (phase inverter) and i get more drive at lower volume even better the mini-mass is super cheap all the best
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Post by Greg G. on Mar 14, 2006 22:39:26 GMT -7
I thought the ghia had a built in airbreak , its called 18 watts ...let er fly this thread really needed a smart ss "Shane" post, well put Dave Man, I need to get a Ghia! ;D
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