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Post by taswegian on Oct 2, 2006 0:21:56 GMT -7
I've noticed over the last couple weeks I am progressively checking out the CG section more and more. This isn't good! While the Route 66 is my original gig rig and perfect, I'm sick of getting told to turn down in all the inner city venues playing covers. All the cover bands I play in don't even play that loud but now thanks to all the new inner city apartment and town houses everyone is getting complaints I think if I had a choice the SRZ or 6545 would be my next Z but I'm really starting to get keen on the Ghia just to play in these cover bands and be able to work the amp a little. I know the Maz jr might be a bit more versatile but the lure of the ghia is strong! I mostly play modern rock/top whatever covers, classic rock, British R and B and funk. I also play in a "Police" band and 70's classic rock band (Purple Creme Led Zep etc). I'm thinking the ghia would cut most of these gigs. Volume/headroom won't be a problem these gigs are getting ridiculously quiet, and I've always got the 66 if it is. Can the CG pull a good classic rock tone? I can imagine it would be great for all the voxey brit pop stuff and I'm sure the clean is awesome. I'll be using my Ulbrick 1-12 with Heritage V35 speaker (custom built, greenback with tighter bottom or V30 without the upper mid bite) or the stock Z Best 2-12. Thanks, sorry for the long post. (I have 6 weeks till my parents return from the States which could save me some shipping!!!) The danger is to my testicles which will be promptly removed if my partner reads this post. ;D
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Oct 2, 2006 5:49:15 GMT -7
GET A GHIA!! you won't be sorry... you'll use it all the time if headroom/ volume is not an issue... will do everything you are looking for and more with the right pedals...
and DON'T let her read this post.... ;D
"honey... thats a funny looking piece of luggage your parents have brought back home, looks about the size of a DR Z amp?"
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Post by taswegian on Oct 2, 2006 6:01:27 GMT -7
"honey... thats a funny looking piece of luggage your parents have brought back home, looks about the size of a DR Z amp?" "And Honey, you're going to be missing a funny looking piece of luggage if it is" ;D Actually, I think it's a great idea. With the 1-12 I'll have small venues covered, take the ZBest for slightly larger and 66 there for my "real gigs" and larger cover gigs. Well it's nice in theory anyway. Financially might be a problem in reality but we are coming up to the "busy season"
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Oct 2, 2006 6:51:51 GMT -7
"Actually, I think it's a great idea. With the 1-12 I'll have small venues covered...
take the ZBest for slightly larger"I bought MY ghia after playing one in the store through a 2x12 stock Z-best.... WOW it is/ can be alot louder than you think with that cab and with the 1x12 you can cover alot of ground... I think if you can swing it you will look back on it and be extremely glad you got it... you will save ALOT of wear and tear on the 66 like you said... I'd rather burn out the few tubes in the GHIA than in my other Z's for practice... easier to get and cheaper to replace... especially for your 66 with now a little harder to come by kt 66's? I bet you'll use that amp MOST of the time and rarely have to use the 66... AND always have a back-up in the GHIA, hey even bigger venues... mic that ghia through the Z-best and ROCK on... sorry if I'm not helping with your Z-gas but I think you've got a great idea that will actually SAVE you money in tubes ( and even make you some money if you can play under the volumes the clubs require ) in the long run, plus you will be HAPPY when your playing at those lower volumes because of the good tone/ sound... instead of wishing you could push your amp more... besides you won't miss YOUR luggage cause you've gotta hand em over to her anyway now.... so ask for forgiveness NOW, while you still have em and not permission.... ;D don't let her read this, or MY wife cause she'll kill me... OH and another plus... ( like you need one) since your getting Myles all time favorite amp, he can set you up with some great tubes for her...
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Post by taswegian on Oct 2, 2006 7:06:53 GMT -7
Man, thanks Jason, great points that I might para phrase to get the job done! Also, since I'm singing/fronting some of these bands it's nice to be able to pull a good tone at lower volume too. Mmmm. I gotta sell my old rack...it's so beat up though. 13 years of total pub abuse. Then perhaps I could justify it. You're right though, it would save me money in the long run I'm sure.
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Post by billyguitar on Oct 2, 2006 8:33:40 GMT -7
Can you borrow one of those little Fender Pro Jrs? That would be about the same power rating. Don't use the 10" speaker in it, plug it into the 1x12. Then at least you would know if that has enough power.
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Post by drew on Oct 2, 2006 8:37:21 GMT -7
Hey Taz, I'm very happy with my ghia. I don't have any problem covering a wide range of styles and that's without pedals. Put some pedals in front and it's a chameleon. It sounds like an el84 amp. Check out Nickg's metal clips on his ghia, yowza! Tell your partner it will save funds in the long run on just tube cost alone... ;D Not too mention the gas money and chiropratic cost you'll save on.
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Post by johnnyl on Oct 2, 2006 10:55:37 GMT -7
Do it TAZ.... I have no regrets that I let my SRZ go to finance my Ghia. It goes from Fender/Vox cleans to Marshall grind with ease. I loved my SRZ but it's just a beast of an amp. I can get those dirty tones out of the Ghia at a manageable volume + I've got cleans now that I couldn't get before.
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Post by taswegian on Oct 2, 2006 15:06:46 GMT -7
Do it TAZ.... I have no regrets that I let my SRZ go to finance my Ghia. It goes from Fender/Vox cleans to Marshall grind with ease. I loved my SRZ but it's just a beast of an amp. I can get those dirty tones out of the Ghia at a manageable volume + I've got cleans now that I couldn't get before. Ah Johnny, you've said all the right things there! That's really got my blood going. The marshally grind at lower volumes, and cleaning up nicely is what I'm looking for. Plus it needs to be ok with pedals. I don't use OD's only boosts. Billy, I know it wouldn't have enough for my "original" gig as that band is loud...the z28 barely kept up. I'll keep the 66 for those gigs. But these inner-city clubs really have come down on volume hard. The cover bands really have to watch their volume. I've been playing my Route 66 with all knobs at 9:00 to 10:00 and it's sometimes hard to get my boost pedals to respond when the amp is that low. I know the CG would have no probs as I have used the mini at one of these gigs (miked) and if it had more clean headroom it would have been fine.
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Post by GuitarZ on Oct 2, 2006 16:21:58 GMT -7
Can't someone just delete this thread off of here. In fact, let's do away with the entire Ghia forum. I'm starting to suspect folks are adding subliminal messages: "Buy Me!" "Buy Me!" "You'll Really Like Me" "The Wife won't Mind" "Buy Me in Her Favorite Color" "Just Buy Me"
I even have an older Marshall, so I can't figure out why I keep checking out the Ghias.
You gotta love that whole two control thing though you know. And it really gets a nice crunch. Can you imagine the other folks in the band saying "Check out the new amp." "Cool". "Wow, Sounds Great" "It's a Z you say" It's just something special.
Whoa, stop me now. I found myself on a distributor web site yesterday and tried to convince myself that I was just checking out shipping charges and almost hit the "Check Out" button after adding the Ghia to the cart.
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Post by taswegian on Oct 3, 2006 6:36:58 GMT -7
I was talking to my friend/soundman today about it and he jumps RIGHT in and says he'll buy the Mini from me so I can get it done. Well I don't think I want to go down that road. I love my Mini, and find it very useful. I don't think I could part with it. He was like "c'mon I've got cold hard cash". He plays bass in a couple bands I'm in and has heard the mini at practise, plus a gig in a 250-300+ club packed, (he actually went out front and sound checked it) and now he wants it bad. I think I'll just see how the next few weeks pan out.
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Post by bluzsteel on Oct 3, 2006 6:42:39 GMT -7
Tas , you wont be sorry , I use mine live all the time as well as recording , BW does as well, its the perfect small rig, now I got a TRex Room Mate verb I put in front and I m digging it even more
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Post by BW on Oct 3, 2006 9:29:51 GMT -7
I've been using my ghia more and more. I'm planning on taking it AND the Senior to England (if I can get away with it) just in case they add another gig at Wembley or somethin'...;^) Wish I could get my Zbest over there, we ran my ghia thru Myles' ZBest out in LA and it was just about perfect for the big ol' room we were in. Not QUITE as clean as the Sr for rhythms but workable. I'll prolly have my 1X12 celestion G12 100H Z Cab, but might have to rely on a backline 2X12 Marshall 1936 box. Who knows with the way the airlines are these days?(how many pieces you can ship, how much per piece, etc.) I think the rules have changed a bit regarding instruments as carry on baggage to and from the UK though, as some tours cancelled due to the tightened restrictions. Nobody wants to check their Stradivari, it seems! OR their Stratocasterus Maximus.
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Post by taswegian on Oct 3, 2006 14:32:31 GMT -7
BW, my mother not quite in Law just came back from England and they could only carry on what was visible in a clear plastic bag (ie: a toothbrush) The fact that you've been playing the Ghia a lot didn't go unnoticed here! ;D In fact it's the very thing that got me thinkin' bout it. Wonder if they'd let my parents carry on a ghia back to Oz?
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Post by BW on Oct 3, 2006 16:24:55 GMT -7
Get a big enough bag, maybe......
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