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Post by zroach on Dec 23, 2007 11:17:12 GMT -7
I'm thinking of selling my MazJr and picking up a ghia. I really like the Maz but spend way to much time tweaking knobs. I'd like to make life a bit simpler. I was checking out the ghia on the main site and noticed that it does not appear to have a standby switch? Is this true? Anyone know why? Also, is there only one input? I read somewhere that newer ones have two inputs but haven't seen one like this. Thanks.
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Post by GuitarZ on Dec 23, 2007 11:50:46 GMT -7
True on the standby switch and true on the single input. There was a thread here somewhere in the past year about why it doesn't need a standby switch.
It's a great amp. I picked one up this year. If I had to go down to one Z, it would be a very tough call between the Ghia and my Maz Jr. They're similar and different. And for some reason, it's just a lot of fun to play with an amp that only has two knobs.
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Post by bustertheboy on Dec 23, 2007 13:04:26 GMT -7
I think the reason is the 5Y3 tube rectifier which has a slow heat up so the tubes don't get full voltage straight away. As it is I've never had tubes last as long on other amps as they do on the Ghia so I'd guess the design works very well! Brett
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2007 17:24:47 GMT -7
I don't have a technical answer, but I sell a lot of restored amps for my technician and many of the lower wattage amps in days of old didn't have stand-by switches, like the Fender Princetons adn small Gibsons and Valcos.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Dec 23, 2007 18:59:29 GMT -7
I'm thinking of selling my MazJr and picking up a ghia. I really like the Maz but spend way to much time tweaking knobs. I'd like to make life a bit simpler. I was checking out the ghia on the main site and noticed that it does not appear to have a standby switch? Is this true? Anyone know why? Also, is there only one input? I read somewhere that newer ones have two inputs but haven't seen one like this. Thanks. no additional info regards to your questions ..... but I think everyone should have at least one Ghia in their collection ;D cheerz alwayz, eh Joel
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Post by bluzman on Dec 23, 2007 19:30:13 GMT -7
Somewhere along the line Dr. Z wrote here: the design that the Ghia was based on didn't have a standby as it wasn't required therefore the Ghia doesn't have one.
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Post by billyguitar on Dec 23, 2007 20:16:04 GMT -7
Confirmation here on the 5Y3 being a slow warm up rectifier.
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Post by zroach on Dec 23, 2007 20:38:46 GMT -7
That makes sense. I just like the idea of a standby switch to kick off in between sets to keep the tubes warm. What do you guys do when you gig with yours?
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Post by bluzman on Dec 23, 2007 20:45:06 GMT -7
I shut it off between sets.
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Post by Curt on Dec 23, 2007 21:39:55 GMT -7
I always just kill it with the tuner.
Either turn it off or lower your volume pot/step on tuner mute, don't unplug and leave the amp on as I think that unleashes the power section full bore, no harm except shortened power tube life.
But I could be totally wrong.
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Post by billyguitar on Dec 24, 2007 7:43:39 GMT -7
I just turn the volume on the guitar down. I wouldn't shut it down. No reason why, I just think if it's up and running that I won't shut it off until the end of the night.
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Post by BW on Dec 24, 2007 14:26:15 GMT -7
I unplug from my tuner input, saves the dadgum battery too. Seems to me when you're most in need of a tuneup is when the 9 volt goes. And a wallwart is out of the question, too much junk to lug around!
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Dec 24, 2007 19:48:26 GMT -7
Like BW, I the tuner acts as a bypass... I turn the tuner on to change guitars. But if I'm just unplugging my guitar to put it away, I will turn the amp off first.
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Post by myles on Jan 1, 2008 17:21:20 GMT -7
I think the reason is the 5Y3 tube rectifier which has a slow heat up so the tubes don't get full voltage straight away. As it is I've never had tubes last as long on other amps as they do on the Ghia so I'd guess the design works very well! Brett Brett, You are 100% correct ... the 5Y3 has a nice slow warm up time. How many car radios from the 50s and 60s with a 6V6 and 5Y3 did you see with a standby switch? None. Not necessary in the least.
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Post by myles on Jan 1, 2008 17:23:48 GMT -7
I always just kill it with the tuner. Either turn it off or lower your volume pot/step on tuner mute, don't unplug and leave the amp on as I think that unleashes the power section full bore, no harm except shortened power tube life. But I could be totally wrong. If the power switch is on the amp is running at 100% no matter where the volume is set ... no matter if something is in the input jack or not. But ... the Ghia is not hard on tubes and its plate voltages are not out in the stratosphere as many other EL84 cathode biased amps which run voltages way beyond tube design spec.
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