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Post by nickthestick on Sept 7, 2005 11:56:19 GMT -7
anyone ever use on of these with the ghia?.....i think the dual boost circuit would be sweet with mine, but they are so darn expensive, i dont want to buy one until i hear some opinions first....also will the heavy boosting hurt the amp at all?.......im also using an ernie ball volume pedal that works great with the ghia....it almost acts as an overdrive if i turn the amp up, and control with the volume pedal, however i am looking for that something extra, and the superduper has plenty to offer
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Post by rclemmer on Sept 7, 2005 13:51:06 GMT -7
I use the Z.Vex Super Hard On with my Carmen Ghia and I LOVE IT!!! The effect is fairly subtle until I turn off the SHO and then I wonder where my tone went. I use the SHO in front of a variety of boost and/or OD pedals. At times this could include any combination of: TIM, Zendrive, OCD & Full-Drive II. I am quite pleased with the variety of tones I'm getting.
I have a Maz 18 Jr NR head on order from Fat Sound. I've spent some time experimenting with the Z.Vex into the Maz 18 Jr in their showroom and it is also amazing. In fact, that was the day I bought the Z.Vex. It was that good.
My advice... buy it!!
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 7, 2005 14:23:44 GMT -7
I've owned and used both the SHO and Super Duper with my Ghia. They were OK, but you're right, expensive for what they are. They add a glassy compression to the sound, and the Ghia is capable of enough of that on it's own, so I came to the conclusion that I liked the sound of the Ghia better without them.
It isn't good to crank the Ghia full up and then hit it hard with a heavy boost... I can't remember what Dr. Z told me could be damaged there, but I do remember that he didn't recommend doing that.
Do you already have the Ghia cranked up all the way? If not, I found the pushed tones to come from within the Ghia itself, versus getting those tones with pedals. You could always pick one up used and give it a try to see what you think!
If you've already got the Ghia full up and still want to add some extra dirt, I recommend the Tonefactor Hellbilly.
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 7, 2005 15:04:46 GMT -7
wow.....two totally different opinions.....well im not running the ghia full out...i have it about halfway up so the amp give just the right breakup when i hit it hard...i was looking for something to push it to the next level of its own design if that makes sense.......peachphan, you seem to be a big hellbilly fan, ive heard you mention that several times in other forums.....i was also looking at the nick greer gold nugget, anyone ever try that?
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Post by rpavich on Sept 8, 2005 3:51:33 GMT -7
Hey, I'm wondering this myself: I just got my new hotplate and my rig at practice last night was this: RC booster dimed, hotplate attenuated a lot, and Ghia on about 11:00am as on a clock (a little less than halfway) with my 335....it was sounding great...
Now....WILL THIS HURT THE GHIA?
bob
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 8, 2005 7:50:22 GMT -7
bob, that won't hurt the Ghia in any way.
nickthestick, my suggestion is still to just turn the Ghia up to get maximum overdrive level you desire on it's own, and then control the amount of drive with the volume controls on your guitars. If you're a player that likes to control everything with your feet to keep your hands free, I'd say you're already on the best track by using a volume pedal to control the amount of drive. If the Ernie Ball is working well for you, that's great... Otherwise, there are a couple truly high end "boutique" volume pedals available now that might be just the ticket for doing what you're talking about. I've been seriously considering investing in one of those myself.
There's a volume pedal out there that's regarded as "the best" by a lot of guitar and pedal steel players, but the name of it slips my mind at the moment. It's supposed to be a very high-quality piece, made with the best parts, and have a VERY smooth and accurate sweep. Anyone know the pedal I'm thinking of?
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 8, 2005 7:57:45 GMT -7
Goodrich LSW Volume Pedal is the one I'm thinking of... Anybody using one of these with a Z that can report results?
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 8, 2005 11:13:18 GMT -7
wow cool....i will check it out.....im thinking that you're right with just crankin the ghia....the amp is basically the worlds best overdrive pedal, and i guess there is really no need to add to that.......i just ordered a mojo vibe and i think that will compliment the ghia great....any suggestions on where to put it in regards to the volume pedal?
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 8, 2005 12:58:32 GMT -7
It depends... Do you want the volume pedal to control how hard the mojo vibe is being driven, or do you want the volume pedal to control the overall signal output after it's already gone through the mojo vibe? Try it both ways and see which works for you.
You're on the right track now though... spending your money on a few quality time-based effects. The Ghia eats those up... A good analog vibe, trem, or delay can be mind blowing through the Ghia. Not that you really NEED anything other than a guitar chord when you've got a Ghia though.
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 9, 2005 13:08:44 GMT -7
just a quick note on my mojo vibe.....it might be a while before i get it becasue part of the product is manufactured in mississippi, and the disaster shut things down over there......its really ashame about that area, and there are always constant reminders of what is really going on.....my heart goes out to everyone there
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Post by real oldster on Sept 9, 2005 22:31:32 GMT -7
i was looking for something to push it to the next level of its own design if that makes sense...
It makes sense. I asked Dr Z about a year ago how to best get more of the Ghia's own sound at lower levels, without using an attenuator. His reply: KLON
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 10, 2005 10:14:23 GMT -7
the klon.....i have heard many mixed opinions from guitar players about it......some think it is genius, and others think that it is a glorified tube screamer.....maybe they are both right....what could be better than enhancing your amp, than the best tube screamer ever made?......ill go buy some scratch off tickets today...if i win $400, ill go buy one
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 10, 2005 10:24:51 GMT -7
hey did anyone know there is already a thread in here about the ghia and teh klon.....i was checkin it out and someone mentioned the pro analog dual drive.....after listening to the sound clips, it seems like exactly what im lookin for
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Post by scott on Sept 11, 2005 16:02:12 GMT -7
Goodrich LSW Volume Pedal is the one I'm thinking of... Anybody using one of these with a Z that can report results? Ouch! I just looked up the LWR 2 Volume pedal, $330.00. Yea more than a typical vol pedal but worth the investment? www.steelguitarcanada.com/acces/volume.htm
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 12, 2005 7:01:04 GMT -7
yeah thats pricey...i work with a few guys who use ernie ball and they sound great.....if i get to know it, and i dont love it i would look into the more pricier ones
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Post by johnthigpen on Sept 12, 2005 8:01:11 GMT -7
I'm using a T. C. Jauernig Luxury Drive between my Tele and Carmen Ghia and absolutely love what it does. I leave it on all the time, adding just a slight boost. It really livens up the tone, and adds a slight treble boost...the unboosted signal is dull and lifeless in comparison. I still roll off a little treble on the guitar, about 25%.
John
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Post by nickthestick on Sept 12, 2005 20:59:35 GMT -7
hey thats pretty funny man...i was lookin at that boost as well as the nick greer...they seem very similar.....glad to hear u dig it......i find hard to belive the ghia could sound dull and lifeless without it though...just different....what cab r u using?
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Post by johnthigpen on Sept 14, 2005 12:15:44 GMT -7
I'm using a Dr Z 1x12 with a P12Z. Note that it sounded fine before I turned on the Luxury Drive. It just sounds so much better when it's on.
John
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 14, 2005 17:38:19 GMT -7
After owning a P12Z and running a Ghia into it for some 6 years, I think the reason your tone might seem dull and lifeless w/o some kind of a boost is the speaker. Not say it's a bad speaker, but it is relatively dark, dull, and somewhat lifeless compared to some of the other options out there. An H30 or V30 might free you up to ditch that boost pedal if you ever desire, unless of course you're married to that P12Z. I was married to it for a long time thinking if it says "Z" on it, it must be the right speaker for the Ghia. After popping a V30 in my Z 1x12 a few years back, the Ghia seemed to come ALIVE! I too relied on several different boosts (SHO was one of them in fact) as necessities when I had the P12Z as my speaker of choice. Some of the other speakers options have since readjusted my outlook on that topic. I know you didn't ask.... I'm just rambling. Just a thought to try if you haven't w/ the Ghia yet.
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Post by johnthigpen on Sept 15, 2005 5:20:01 GMT -7
I guess my poor choice of words completely destroyed the credibility of my post. I was NOT complaining about the sound of my Tele straight into my Ghia, or my P12Z speaker. I like them all. Since this was a thread about boost pedals, I was simply trying to say that I like the Luxury Drive pedal and think it livens up my sound...not that it needed it.
John
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Sept 15, 2005 10:19:16 GMT -7
Sorry John. Didn't mean to misconstrue what you were trying to say. Ahh, the perils of the internet. Anyways, glad you've put together a Ghia rig that works for you!
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