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Post by joek86 on Oct 6, 2005 16:16:27 GMT -7
I play Classic Rock and Blues, mainly P90 PUPs. Which of the two would you guy's recommend and why?
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Oct 6, 2005 16:35:03 GMT -7
Well, I think everyone knows my opinion... as for the 'why' in your particular case: you cite using mainly P90's... the EXACT type of pickups that Z says on his website, 'sound particularly sweet with the Ghia.' The Ghia is a classic rock and blues tone machine... Ghia also costs less. The ONLY reason I'd suggest the MAZ Jr. is if you require full EQ tweakability. That said, the Ghia's single tone control is surprisingly versatile, and if that can't get you to where you need to be, a simple tube swap in V1 is usually all it takes. Swapping speakers is also a very cool and effective way to get to different tones with the Ghia. If it were me, I'd do what I did and get a Ghia. I'm guessing that's what you're leaning towards since you posted this in the Ghia forum, rather than in the MAZ forum.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Oct 6, 2005 16:36:56 GMT -7
Nevermind... just saw you posted in the MAZ Jr. forum as well Are you going for any particular blues and classic rock tone by the way? Any particular sound that really fits with what's in your head?
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Post by joek86 on Oct 6, 2005 16:40:41 GMT -7
Thanks for the comments...........
I am going for early ZZ, and Free ARN tone ..........
What speaker type, size, combo etc do you like?
Which amp do you think is louder?
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Post by taswegian on Oct 6, 2005 17:05:10 GMT -7
I can't imagine an amp better than a route 66 at classic rock and blues, but if I had to make a lower wattage decision, mine would be the Ghia. Cheaper, purer tone signal, and based on what others have to say on this forum, I don't think you could go wrong for classic rock. Being a rock fan of all genres, especially classic 70's I would love to own one myself. I would think versatility would be the favorouble factor with the Maz. Myles and Peach both love the Ghia and I would rate their opinions highly. Happy Hunting
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Post by StrangeC on Oct 6, 2005 22:45:07 GMT -7
I went through this not too long ago and I chose the Ghia. Side by side I think it had better tone than the Maz. Theres not much to it - just pure tone. Perhaps its the non-master design (like most all ther other Zs except the Maz), but the Ghia just oozes tone.
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Post by JoeYello on Oct 7, 2005 10:02:01 GMT -7
I have both but if push came to shove I would keep the Maz 18 JZ NR. I like the master volume and there is much more clean headroom. I find the Ghia to bring out the noise more in a P-90 pickup configured guitar as it seems to be voiced for higher gain. I think with the right pedal you can get the Maz to sound like the Ghia but the Ghia will never have the headroom of the Maz.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Oct 7, 2005 11:12:10 GMT -7
As with anybody, I'm just voting for what I like personally, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt. Five minutes spent playing through each of these two amps is worth a lifetime of reading my internet forum babble.
As for speakers, for classic rock and blues, the Z-Best with the standard H30/V30 speakers (yeah, the Dr. got it right again with that speaker combo) is the best I've found. I've found the Ghia truly sounds it's best for my taste with a Vintage 30, even though I haven't liked that speaker with other amps. Add the H30 to the mix in a 2x12, and you've got a cab that will give you unparallelled versatility with this seemingly simple amp... From clean to mean, those speakers and that cab just plain work with the Ghia to give you all those different tones at the a twist of the volume control, or a change in your touch.
If you generally prefer open backed cabs however, my favorite combination of speakers with the Ghia is a Blue and a G12H30 (specifically the 55hz cone H30 offered by Scumbag amps). The Blue is divine for upper mid chime and treble sparkle in an open back cab, and the 55hz cone H30 makes the cab more versatile, giving it great lower mids and bass response that most open back cabs lack.
As for relative volumes, I'd say the Maz *might* have a slight edge all other things being equal, but it's not enough of a difference to base your decision off of. You're choice of speakers will have more to do with your overall volume level than chosing the Maz Jr. v. the Ghia will.
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Post by greenmachine on Oct 10, 2005 13:59:25 GMT -7
My vote is for a Maz. More headroom,more versatility and reverb if you want it. I'd like to own both someday but since they are reasonably similar my next will be Z28
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 10, 2005 15:27:23 GMT -7
Both amps are exceptional. I own a Maz Sr. It's insanely loud and we play about 5 zz top songs in our line up. But... having said that, I stumbled accross a Ghia that was mint-used. I tried it and if I had the cash in my back pocket I would have bought that too.
I like the low wattage of the Ghia and no frills two knobs. The tone really sculpts the sound. You Can't beat it. Very touch sensitive and killer tone box. Having said that, the MAZ almost seems like it's the Ghia, but with versatility. You get the Cut, Master, Bass, Mid, Treb and Volume. Plus a High and Low input.
One trick Bluezsteel taught me about the MAZ was to go into the low input, then crank the master vol on 10. Then use the pre-volume for regular volume. Turned the amp into a single stage similar to the Ghia.
The tone on both amps are killer and you couldn't go wrong either way. I use my Maz for mostly classic rock and blues. When we do more progressive stuff, I switch over to the Marshall Hi-Gain. (sorry... I used the "M" word..)
Anyway, I guess I didn't offer much either way. I listened to alot of the sound clips on the Maz before I pulled the trigger. Hard to go by something you cant try out in the store, but seemed to work out great!
Good luck pg ;-)
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Post by Stumpy on Oct 11, 2005 5:11:57 GMT -7
I can't comment on the Maz Jr, as I don't own one yet ;D, but I play a '56 RI Goldtop w\P-90s through a Ghia (2x10s) and it is does sound great.
It tames the neck pickup, like no other amp I have played it through, so you can use it and not have it sound so bass heavy. One would think the tone control on the Ghia was designed with this in mind.
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