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Post by DRZ on Apr 13, 2022 6:37:55 GMT -7
Make some popcorn sit-down and enjoy this well crafted lengthy demo.
DR.Z
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Post by ME on Apr 13, 2022 6:47:46 GMT -7
Make some popcorn sit-down and enjoy this well crafted lengthy demo. DR.Z I’ll definitely need more time too look this over. ME Ok, lots of great tone, sounds good with all the guitars, nice exploration of the amp and it’s potential. Really good to hear the clean side of the amp as so many just crank it and leave so much of what an amp can do out. ME
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Post by KeithA on Apr 13, 2022 9:50:12 GMT -7
I watched it last night and enjoyed it. Even subbed to Adam's channel afterwards Now, I may be biased, but doesn't that Ghia look killer in red It's a unique little amp. Even with all the great amps over the years, I think it will still be Z's legacy amp (there's a fair few a close second, though).
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Post by pcns on Apr 13, 2022 10:07:18 GMT -7
I was using my Ghia last weekend jamming at Brayks house. Double Cut LP with P90s and cranked, sounded fantastic! Great amp . . . . everyone should own one! Todd
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 13, 2022 10:36:14 GMT -7
Gosh, I want that amp--red tolex, salt & pepper grill... Looks AND sounds great!
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Post by Russell B on Apr 13, 2022 13:11:25 GMT -7
What more do you need? As Steve says, "Two knobs and the truth!"
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Post by nmz on Apr 13, 2022 13:25:30 GMT -7
Good to hear Crimson in the mix. Great demo of a great amp!
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Post by adam on Apr 13, 2022 15:11:23 GMT -7
Everyone is so kind here. Really rekindles my faith in humanity. Love you guys.
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Post by adam on Apr 13, 2022 15:35:43 GMT -7
Really good to hear the clean side of the amp as so many just crank it and leave so much of what an amp can do out. A lot of demos I see people will find the one spot or magic combination where the amp sounds decent (tolerable?) and that's the demo. I have a blackface bassman like that, meaning you can get a very good tone, but only with one guitar, and if you move any control 1/4 of a turn, the whole thing falls apart, and you are at the mercy of whatever volume that happens at. None of the Z amps I have are like that at all. I made reference to the Deluxe, but it's the same thing where you screw with it for 1/2 hour and you can get it "ok", but don't dare change the volume, or the guitar. You guys get that.
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Post by adam on Apr 13, 2022 15:42:48 GMT -7
Gosh, I want that amp--red tolex, salt & pepper grill... Looks AND sounds great! When I got it, I think I stared at it for 30 minutes before plugging it in. Every corner, everything about it, was just perfect. I think to speaks a bit to the quality of the brand as a whole.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 13, 2022 16:39:40 GMT -7
+1000 on the overtones. That always stuns me hen I plug into the Lux. Those beautiful, lingering overtones.
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Post by adam on Apr 13, 2022 16:55:49 GMT -7
+1000 on the overtones. That always stuns me hen I plug into the Lux. Those beautiful, lingering overtones. Yeah, isn't that cool? There's another thing that happened in that video at one little point where I accidentally picked an open string incorrectly and this super high harmonic sang out. That happens with the z amps, and I always think it has something to do with the hand wiring, but I don't really know. They are just happy accidents letting you know the amp is alive.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 13, 2022 17:41:05 GMT -7
Two words: World Class.
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Post by lowbudget on Apr 14, 2022 7:39:12 GMT -7
A really terrific demo of what history will confirm is easily one of the top two or three most iconic amps since the 1950s. I personally think it’s already inarguable.
Thanks especially Adam for devoting so much time to low volume straight-in. This to me is the true test of amp tone. And while time-based and modulation effects add interest, once ODs and disto pedals are introduced there goes any meaningful review of the actual amp.
Thanks so much for taking the time!
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Post by adam on Apr 14, 2022 17:13:12 GMT -7
A really terrific demo of what history will confirm is easily one of the top two or three most iconic amps since the 1950s. I personally think it’s already inarguable. Thanks especially Adam for devoting so much time to low volume straight-in. This to me is the true test of amp tone. And while time-based and modulation effects add interest, once ODs and disto pedals are introduced there goes any meaningful review of the actual amp. Thanks so much for taking the time! In hindsight, I hope I didn't bore people to death. I kind of looked at it like if you are really considering buying the amp, then this would hopefully give the consumer a good idea wether they would like the amp or not. Nothing polished in the demo, no verb or whatever (there are very few demos like that). I kind of wanted it like if you purchase the amp based on this demo, that when you get it home, it's exactly like the demo sounds. And to be honest, I wished I moved the mic 1/4" left or right because it sounds a little more pokey than it really sounds. The pedal part - I probably should have cut out the parts that didn't sound all that great, but again to the above. The tube screamer in the LP custom was just horrible, but I also thought the same TS settings with the strat or tele were decent. And everyone knows a TS, so there's a reference point there. One thing that stuck me was how much I didn't like they sound of the Revival drive (at those settings) with the LP custom, but I really liked it on the LP standard, and those guitars have the exact same pickups. Only real difference there is the fingerboard wood, so maybe it's a good thing that that small difference in the guitars is really exemplified in the amp. Lastly, that boss chorus jumps out volume wise on the Ghia compared to my other amps where the volume stays basically the same on other amps. Again, not really sure why that is, but maybe it plays a bit to whatever is coming into it is sort of just exemplified somehow by the amp. Lastly, I made mention of how the amp sort of has a big amp feel at low volume, but I didn't explain that very well at all. Basically there's compression to the dynamics, but it doesn't sound like compression, it just reacts and feels that way. The other part is that when you play muted single lines or arpegiated chords, there's something with this amp that makes you just want to keep doing it. I have no idea how to explain that one. It's like the transient pops and is articulate, but it's not pokey. Maybe if someone hasn't tried that, mess around with it for a little while. There's my too long of a comment to a too long of a video.
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Post by psj1026 (Pete) on Dec 20, 2022 11:31:47 GMT -7
adam, don't be so hard on yourself. I bought a red Ghia mostly based on your review. Like someone else said I can't stand when: a) the guitar is out of tune on a demo, and there are many out there b) the person doing the demo uses effects and especially gain in front of the amp. I get it on part of the video but you must show the amp itself most of the time (well done) c) 90% talk and 10% demo You did a fantastic (albeit long) job! Thanks for that
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Post by adam on Dec 20, 2022 16:05:46 GMT -7
adam, don't be so hard on yourself. I bought a red Ghia mostly based on your review. Like someone else said I can't stand when: a) the guitar is out of tune on a demo, and there are many out there b) the person doing the demo uses effects and especially gain in front of the amp. I get it on part of the video but you must show the amp itself most of the time (well done) c) 90% talk and 10% demo You did a fantastic (albeit long) job! Thanks for that Thanks for the kind words! Most importantly, how do you like the amp, and did what you saw in the video translate to your experience with the amp?
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 20, 2022 18:57:18 GMT -7
Adam, I just listened to this again, and I've got to compliment you on your technique. So expressive, and the Carmen Ghia just tracks every nuance that you put into it so beautifully. Great sounds, man...it's hypnotic.
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Post by simpleton on Dec 21, 2022 0:40:28 GMT -7
The Ghia is an amp to sit down and play….this really shows that aspect of it. Every guitar sounds like itself, clarity, and ringing harmonics all a special part of the Carmen Ghia.
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Post by DRZ on Dec 21, 2022 3:06:45 GMT -7
The Ghia is an amp to sit down and play….this really shows that aspect of it. Every guitar sounds like itself, clarity, and ringing harmonics all a special part of the Carmen Ghia. I know I have told this story before but I feel this is a good place to repeat . Early on when I just started DR Z Amps I would attend Guitar shows. Prior too letting in the public shows would allow dealers to check out others booths and make deals . I would sell a couple of Ghia's to dealers who would not resell them but use the Ghia to demo the Guitars they had for sale. The Ghia has an uncanny way letting each Guitars unique voice come through in spades. It is a quality that very few amps have . I have built the Ghia unchanged for 35 years and it still is a top seller in my line up. I'm thinking about returning the Ghia 1X10 combo to my line up. It is the perfect at home, studio , and small club amp IMHO.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 21, 2022 8:05:51 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED!
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Post by DRZ on Dec 21, 2022 8:49:45 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED! Really does everyone want RED ? Z
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Post by pcns on Dec 21, 2022 9:33:26 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED! Really does everyone want RED ? Z I love my 1x10 Ghia, even though I have a lot of Z amps that little 1x10 gets a lot of time on it. Great amp, everyone should have at least one. Mine does happen to be Red . . . .
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Post by lowbudget on Dec 21, 2022 11:11:41 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED! Really does everyone want RED ? Z I don’t necessarily WANT a red 1x10 Ghia but if you make one I suppose I’ll have to buy it anyway cause both my current 1x10 Ghias are black and well, it’s kinda like climbing one of those big-azz mountains. Just because it’s there is reason enough! It’s funny, one of my 1x10 Ghias is an alnico Red Fang and the other one is a Greenback. I’d like to meet the guy who can make the honest case that he can’t get whatever he needs done between the pair of those bad boys. He just ain’t trying very hard!
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Post by adam on Dec 21, 2022 17:27:18 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED! Really does everyone want RED ? Z The red Z's are really quite stunning, particularly in person. Kind of like you can take a picture of the Grand Canyon, but it ain't the same as real life. Maybe something subliminal with how perfect the application of it is too makes that stand out too. Some of my other mfg amps in black are kind of cheesy in comparison, but maybe the black is ok there where those flaws would stick out like a sort thumb (what a dumb saying, like it came from a cartoon or something). Side note, had a long time drummer/painter friend over painting stuff for a couple days and quickly ran him through a demo of maybe 5 Z's real fast. For whatever reason on this day, the Ghia and EZG really stood out. Both big, clear, detailed and open. Also ran both of those through the 4x12 with H30's and v30's FWIW. Really great combo for clean and detailed. Ghia observation from today - you move the tone control around in general to control the overall brightness and treble of the amp, but no matter where you set that, I'm never thinking it needs more bass or less bass. That's really super cool unto itself, and I never really noticed that before. Such a neat tone control and just so simple. Just giving you some kudos for something you really got right even way back when.
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Dec 27, 2022 11:32:16 GMT -7
It's a perfect gigging amp for sure...just look at Buddy Whittington's backline. In a lot of pics it's a 1x10 Ghia.
Bring it back Doc, but please do it in RED! Really does everyone want RED ? Z nope. amps should be tan or black. Red is a collector's color (ducking so i don't get hit by flying objects).
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Post by helmi on Dec 27, 2022 12:57:25 GMT -7
Really does everyone want RED ? Z nope. amps should be tan or black. Red is a collector's color (ducking so i don't get hit by flying objects).
I don’t like red at all, but somehow I’ve ended up with 2 red amps. I’m still not comfortable with their color. sometimes I put bags over them with cutouts for the speaker and controls. sort of like that ugly woman thing! lol
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