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Post by Martanthegreat on Sept 27, 2006 5:52:32 GMT -7
Hey everybody, new to this but glad to be on the Z band wagon. Last tuesday i bought (on a whim) on ebay, a red Ghia head and the matching red 2x10 cab. It should be here today very exited! I never played through a class a amps before and from reading all the other threads I'm impressed. Coming from a JSX and a 1960bx 4x12 greenbacks I dont know what to expect. Our band is not to heavy in distortion I need more of a overdrive/crunch. I had to play with my gain almost off on the JSX in order not to get all that heavy distortion. But I did like the clean the JSX provided. Anyway, anyone with some insight on my expectations thankx.
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Post by drew on Sept 27, 2006 7:23:15 GMT -7
First, welcome to the Z-Forum and bandwagon. Caution it's infectious. There's a plethora of info on the Z-Forum pages and a great bunch of folks. The ghia is a sweet amp and was my first class A amp cathode biased amp. I like how it can go from clean to crunch with just the guitar volume knob. (I had to install a treble bleed circuit to take advantage of this feature, otherwise you can use the amp volume knob very effectively). I'm primarily a single coil player. For expectations - expect to be very happy with your purchase!!! The ghia is 18 watts so it's not going to have the clean headroom or loudness of the JSX however, that ghia clean tone is magnificent with it's chime, ring and sustain. And it's roar when cranked. Becuase the amp is used I'm highly recommend new output tubes (there are lots of opinions on what tubes are best. IMO spend a few extra $'s on a match set of GT gold, #6 or higher are a great investment. It's the quality control and spec matching that make the difference). I also recommend a new phase inverter tube but I know ya just shelled out some bucks... What's really cool with the ghia are the variety of tones you can get from simple preamp, phase inverter or output tube swaps. Check out the forum for more info. The ghia packs a wallop through a 4x12 greenback cab. Enjoy!!!
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Post by Matt H. on Sept 27, 2006 7:48:09 GMT -7
Congrats on a great purchase!
The Ghia's are just in a category of their own! I, like you don't like too much gain. I would highly recommend an Xotic AC Booster for some drive. It's the only pedal I have and it is so natural sounding, you'd swear that your not even using a pedal.
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Post by Martanthegreat on Sept 27, 2006 8:58:07 GMT -7
Thanks Drewtunes and Matt H, I will take a look at the tubes I know nothing about them I guess I will learn as I go. I have read alot about the AC boost so I will get one soon.
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Post by kc on Sept 27, 2006 9:49:58 GMT -7
martanthegreat,
Congrats on the purchase, but I gotta tell ya, I was about 10 seconds from clicking the "buy-it-now" button on that auction. I think you got a pretty good deal -- $1100 plus shipping for the Ghia and Z 2x10 cab. I was debating as to whether I really needed the 2x10 as I already have a couple of cabs when you grabbed it ..... good luck with it.
kc
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 1, 2006 11:59:00 GMT -7
Expect to be stunned.
I have had my Ghia for about 4 months and it has made me completely forget 18 years of a Mesa Mark III, 5 years with a Budda Superdrive (number 100) and everything else I ever owned including Top Hat and Rivera. Two knobs, the tone is right there between 11 and 2, and it takes whatever high low or medium gain overdrive you give it with amazing results. I get constant comments now about the Ghia/Z Best combination I've been playing, but the thing is that I'm MUCH happier now about my tone now that I'm not wasting time pushing, pulling, and adjusting knobs constantly to get the amp to sound right in the room.
A great amp. Doc needs to build a real 35 watt Ghia (I know the Mazerati is supposed to be that, but I've heard stories describing it as a little different) with everything exactly the same and he'd put everyone else out of business.
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Post by myles on Oct 4, 2006 8:28:41 GMT -7
Expect to be stunned. I have had my Ghia for about 4 months and it has made me completely forget 18 years of a Mesa Mark III, 5 years with a Budda Superdrive (number 100) and everything else I ever owned including Top Hat and Rivera. Two knobs, the tone is right there between 11 and 2, and it takes whatever high low or medium gain overdrive you give it with amazing results. I get constant comments now about the Ghia/Z Best combination I've been playing, but the thing is that I'm MUCH happier now about my tone now that I'm not wasting time pushing, pulling, and adjusting knobs constantly to get the amp to sound right in the room. A great amp. Doc needs to build a real 35 watt Ghia (I know the Mazerati is supposed to be that, but I've heard stories describing it as a little different) with everything exactly the same and he'd put everyone else out of business. I personally think the Mazerati and Carmen Ghia are very different amps. I love them both but if amps were women and my first wife would have been a Carmen Ghia I would not have been married as many times as I have been and would still be happy every day. I have some amps that go back long before even my first marriage. I am sure that my Carmen Ghia will last longer than my current marriage ... in fact ... it may not even need an output tube change the ways things go some days before the end of this marriage.
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 5, 2006 2:43:40 GMT -7
Expect to be stunned. I have had my Ghia for about 4 months and it has made me completely forget 18 years of a Mesa Mark III, 5 years with a Budda Superdrive (number 100) and everything else I ever owned including Top Hat and Rivera. Two knobs, the tone is right there between 11 and 2, and it takes whatever high low or medium gain overdrive you give it with amazing results. I get constant comments now about the Ghia/Z Best combination I've been playing, but the thing is that I'm MUCH happier now about my tone now that I'm not wasting time pushing, pulling, and adjusting knobs constantly to get the amp to sound right in the room. A great amp. Doc needs to build a real 35 watt Ghia (I know the Mazerati is supposed to be that, but I've heard stories describing it as a little different) with everything exactly the same and he'd put everyone else out of business. I personally think the Mazerati and Carmen Ghia are very different amps. I love them both but if amps were women and my first wife would have been a Carmen Ghia I would not have been married as many times as I have been and would still be happy every day. I have some amps that go back long before even my first marriage. I am sure that my Carmen Ghia will last longer than my current marriage ... in fact ... it may not even need an output tube change the ways things go some days before the end of this marriage. Oh, brother, TELL me about it. One more eBay box witha $100.00 pedal in it may shoot the whole thing for me...
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 29, 2006 10:27:28 GMT -7
The Ghia w/ 2x10 is giong to sound awesome. You'll be amazed at the tone. Congrats!
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Post by fuzzee on Oct 31, 2006 20:20:11 GMT -7
the best amp i ever heard was a ghia, but i got a maz18 last year. so a year goes by and i spring the idea of another amp on the wife and she said OK!!!!. It only took me 2.2 seconds to call the guy's at fat sound to place my order.it's gonna be a long 4-6 weeks
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Post by fuzzee on Nov 10, 2006 18:53:11 GMT -7
Well don't they say" nothin in life comes free" I just don't know who they are. But It does'nt matter as long as we get more Z's
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Post by johngourlay on Nov 11, 2006 1:56:49 GMT -7
I love my Ghia, I'm continually torn between choosing my Z28 or the Ghia. Buddy W used his Ghia when I saw him on Thurs night over here in the UK. I had a chuckle to myself as the guy next to me was convinced Buddy had a bigger amp secreted behind the scenes! I would like a red Ghia, sounds like you got a bargain. I too am learning as I go about tubes, there's a lot of knowledgable people on this site who have helped bigstyle. Thanks to you all.
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