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Post by deaconblues on Jul 10, 2006 20:10:25 GMT -7
Headroom wise how does the Ghia stand up against the venerable Fender 5E3 Deluxe? I realize these are very different amps, but both are 18 watts and cathode bias. Anybody AB'd these two designs?
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 11, 2006 5:41:31 GMT -7
I've played with tweed deluxes for years and I have a Ghia. The tweed deluxe can have quite a bit of headroom if you set it up right. Low gain preamp tubes and a very efficient speaker. I've got one of my deluxes loaded right now with a Celestion n-dym. I'd say they are pretty equal but the Ghia overdrives in a sweeter way and just all around sounds better. by the way, that deluxe is the only amp I've ever heard sound good with that Celestion Century.
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Post by deaconblues on Jul 11, 2006 13:38:07 GMT -7
I assume you've tried the Celestion Century with your Ghia? Didn't care for the sound? I've got a Jensen Neo that I was planning on using with whichever of those amps I end up with.
The fact that I chose those two amps probably tells you where I'm at in my sonic quest. I like an amp to hold together as well as break up nicely when pushed.
So, the Ghia and Deluxe are closely matched headroom wise?
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 11, 2006 13:52:20 GMT -7
Your jensen Neo might sound better than the Celestion. The Celestion does not sound good with the Ghia at all. The Ghia and tweed Deluxe are pretty similar in capability. Either one can be pretty clean or raging monster depending on the tubes you use. If I had to pick one or the other I would go with the Ghia. Effectively it fulfills the role as a modern improved tweed Deluxe. My old tweeds have the mojo but the Ghia sounds better.
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Post by straightblues on Jul 26, 2006 13:43:49 GMT -7
I have both of these amps right now. The Ghia is a much louder amp. In fact, that is the first thing that struck me with this amp. Just how loud it is.
I have a vintage Jensen and a 12AX7 in my 5E3 currently and it breaks up real early. Perefect for small clubs and house parties. So in my case, the Ghia has a lot more headroom.
With both amps, you can make tube swaps and speaker swaps and adjust the headroom. Since the Ghia is much louder, I think you could get way more headroom out of it than you could a 5E3 if that was your goal. I have seen a lot of your posts on different web sites about these amps. Just go ahead and do it. They are great amps and you need them.
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Post by bustertheboy on Jul 26, 2006 14:36:04 GMT -7
re straightblues cooment- i'd agree that the ghia is a very loud little amp over the years i've been surprised about the power output of various amps- twins that are very soft down to this very hot little ghia a friend has 2 5E3's and they have great tone but nowhere near the output of the ghia maybe it is a headroom factor but i suspect there's more to it than that after all watts are a measure of heat and energy and not the same as db s - so if an amp is more efficient, let alone the obvious differences in speaker efficiencies then there's a lot of room for difference i agree- get one and go for it
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 26, 2006 15:14:54 GMT -7
The way my Tweed Deluxe is set up it can easily keep up with my Ghia and any normal speaker you put it with. The jensens are very inefficient. I don't know how John Lennon could hear himself at all in the early days with that amp. Try your deluxes with a better speaker and you'll think again. I think that Celestion I have is like a 103db speaker. REALLY efficient but harsh with any other amp. I heard a Deluxe copy with a Weber Blue, it wasn't as loud as my amp either but it sounded better.
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 27, 2006 5:05:49 GMT -7
This morning I a/b'd my Tweed Deluxe with Celestion Century to my Ghia with my Z 2x10 cab. They had to be within a couple of DB of each other. The Deluxe had more mid punch but dimed they were about the same. The Celestion is more efficient so in that way it's not a true comparison, I'm just showing that there is volume in little amps. I would gig the Deluxe (and I have many times when I had a JBL D120 in it) before the Ghia because I like the thicker mids.
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