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Post by division17 on Apr 8, 2006 16:32:29 GMT -7
Hi there, I'm new to this forum. I'm going through a radical transformation craving a new sound and gear. I currently play through a Fender Vibro-King ... the trouble is it's way too loud for the home.
After listening to some samples of the Carmen Ghia I think this is the amp for me. The question is, what do you guys use for reverb?
I've been reading all through the threads and loving the comments and observations!
My guitars are: Tele, LP, and Ricki (330).
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 8, 2006 16:54:31 GMT -7
Welcome division17!!!!!!!!!!! You're going to like this forum. It really is a good bunch of well meaning people. Re: Carmen Ghia. Believe me this is one loud 18 watts. Unless it's played thru a very inefficient speaker it would even be too loud for a rehearsal, that is if you're going for natural overdrive. It also runs out of clean headroom pretty quick and mine is very bright. Those are the negatives, the positives are, it's got nice bloom to single notes and chords, the high end absolutely sparkles and it's really got a rich sound overall. Most everyone seems to want a Carmen Ghia at some point so it's a good place to start. If you want some good drive at lower volumes and more clean headroom I would suggest a Maz 18. It's more Fendery also.
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 8, 2006 17:33:10 GMT -7
welcome i've played the vibroking and while biilyguitar said the ghia is bright it's nothing like the vibro in my experience i guess it depends on speakers- mine is through a 212 open greenback cab so isn't that bright less spongy than vibro, more harmonics and i guess gives into distortion quicker, but how much softer is it? the ghia is more responsive to valve (tube) changes than most other amps- if you put a 12bh7 in v2- phase inverter it becomes much cleaner and has a lot more headroom i agree with billy that the sound is best described as rich- marshall non master crossed with vox someone said but definitely its own thing going- you have never heard harmonics like this with the volume up and a strat, tele or lower output humbucker (i have a seymour duncan jazz) get a airbrake or weber minimass (i use mine the weber a lot and with the right detailed valves i don't feel i lose much tone) you can't go wrong brett
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 8, 2006 17:37:16 GMT -7
forgot about the reverb- i only use reverb when i'm not pushing the amp too hard- not a fan of hugely distorted delay what ever the length, but the ghia will cope well if you keep the reverb mix very low i've used an old korg unit- can't remember unit name and a digitech floor unit- mulsti effects but it is too hissy so i have made a bypass that can bypass the entire unit
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Post by groovergeorge on Apr 8, 2006 18:09:44 GMT -7
The Ghia doesn't really need reverb,if you are using it for a little recording at home just pick a room with a bit of natural reverb going on. I thought I couldn't get by without reverb,growing up on Fender amps through my early years but the Doc's amps are just that good. If you still can't live without reverb try a EH Holy Grail (cheap alternative) but get a new one with true bypass. The earlier ones used to suck the S#%t out the tone when off. If you got the dollarez,nothing beats an old blackface reverb tank. They are like carrying an extra head around but they sound ever so cool for surf and heavily drenched stuff.
"KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD"
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Post by division17 on Apr 8, 2006 19:57:35 GMT -7
Thanks so much for the responses!
Another question: What about idle hiss when the amp is on a high volume? For example, if I'm not playing a note or my guitar volume is down, is there significant amp hiss when its volume is say past 2 o'clock? Lastly, how does one obtain more Karma in this forum (not in a philsophical way)?
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 8, 2006 21:12:55 GMT -7
Hi division17 the ghia is about the quietest amp i've played considering the amount of drive- very low levels of hiss of course dependent on the quality of tubes used the exalt smite bit under a persons karma will do what u ask, at least that's what i think it does all the best
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Post by guitarman1 on Apr 10, 2006 10:35:11 GMT -7
Yeah....forget about the reverb. I used to never buy any amp without reverb until I started using Dr. Zs. I'm getting to the point that I rarely want it. It took me about 2 years to get used to no verb, but the light bulb finally came on as to the signal degradation, noise and RFI problems that reverb can add. Also, a MAZ 38 with out verb sounds so much better than one with it.
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Post by guitarman1 on Apr 10, 2006 10:40:41 GMT -7
Thanks so much for the responses! Another question: What about idle hiss when the amp is on a high volume? For example, if I'm not playing a note or my guitar volume is down, is there significant amp hiss when its volume is say past 2 o'clock? Lastly, how does one obtain more Karma in this forum (not in a philsophical way)? Karma is generally given out when a member here does a nice , helpful thing. A good example is how many times Bustertheboy has responded to your question on this thread. You could give him a karma for his help. Just click on "exalt". If somebody has been nasty or rude, you can click on "smite" and that will delete one of their karmas.
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 10, 2006 14:08:12 GMT -7
i agree about the reverb/non reverb amps- from experience modding amps but also reading reviews- case in point badcat equivalent of DC-30- guitar player article said reverb model was less fat/full than non reverb- slight changes in circuitry to accomodate it i think from memory
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Post by division17 on Apr 10, 2006 17:51:44 GMT -7
The feedback is great - thanks!
Unfortunately, here in Montreal, no music store carries Dr. Z amps. That's why I'm pretty excited because this weekend I'm going to Ottawa to check out a store that carries a wide selection of Dr. Z amps. I can't wait to try the Carmen Ghia!! I hope, however, they have a left-handed guitar.
Reverb is pretty important to me. The primary reason I got the VK was so I could emulate the D. Dale style playing and surf tunes. That's not to say that reverb is essential to everything I play. I'm thinking if the Carmen Ghia impresses me, it'll be an addition as opposed to a replacement.
My preference is for the head as opposed to the combo. Any suggestions as to what kind of cab to get? I'm thinking the 2X10.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 10, 2006 18:19:25 GMT -7
The 2 - 10 is a great cab but if you like to really fine tune and tweak then a 1-12 might be better. If you try out a carmen ghia don't forget to use the tone control on the guitar. It can act like a cut control does on some of the other amps and help you tone down the treble if it seems bright.
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 11, 2006 1:09:43 GMT -7
i wonder how much of the comments about the ghia being bright have to do with 10" speakers- like vibroking or my old vibrolux i have an open back 212 with greenbacks- it's rich and sparkly but certainly not what i'd call bright after fender amps a lot of people like a 112 with the ghia
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Post by bustertheboy on Apr 11, 2006 1:10:24 GMT -7
i wonder how much of the comments about the ghia being bright have to do with 10" speakers- like vibroking or my old vibrolux i have an open back 212 with greenbacks- it's rich and sparkly but certainly not what i'd call bright after fender amps a lot of people like a 112 with the ghia also myles says he likes a low wattage speaker the ghia can push a bit
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 11, 2006 8:16:06 GMT -7
I think the Ghia is bright and I've only used it with 12s so far but like I said, the tone control on the guitar really works well to take the highs down. I think Dr Z 10s are actually pretty neutral.
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Post by zdogma on Apr 11, 2006 11:08:36 GMT -7
Unfortunately, here in Montreal, no music store carries Dr. Z amps. That's why I'm pretty excited because this weekend I'm going to Ottawa to check out a store that carries a wide selection of Dr. Z amps. I can't wait to try the Carmen Ghia!! I hope, however, they have a left-handed guitar. Yeah, Lauzon's Music. They have lots of guitars, lefties and righties. They carry mostly Gibson, PRS and G&L, I think you'll find something easily. Nice guys there, and they have two isolation rooms. When you come from Montreal take the exit for Parkdale ave, go right on Parkdale about two blocks then left on Wellington. It's about three or four blocks down on the right hand side.
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Post by zdogma on Apr 11, 2006 11:10:51 GMT -7
I think the Ghia is bright and I've only used it with 12s so far but like I said, the tone control on the guitar really works well to take the highs down. I found the ghia bright too, but it is much better since I put in beam blockers.
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Post by division17 on Apr 11, 2006 11:56:22 GMT -7
- zdogma
Lots of karma to you m'man ... appreciated!
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Post by JoeYello on Apr 11, 2006 12:13:41 GMT -7
I like some reverb when playing clean. I have tried them all and currently the Line 6 Verbzilla is my favorite. It adds no noise unlike the Holy Grail and some of the others. I find all of the settings to be usuable (some may not find needs for all of them, but it's fun to try). I bought a used one on the Gearpage and have been very happy with it.
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