|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 28, 2007 15:23:49 GMT -7
I have a shot at getting a Ghia 2x10 combo for a decent price but have a couple of questions:
- Did Dr. Z discontinue this model?
- Is a 2x10 setup a good match with a Ghia or is a head + cab a better way to go? I'm a little concerned about weight and possibly the amount of treble that a 2x10 usually makes.
- Anything else I should know before jumping in? I also have a shot at a 65' Princeton Reverb (yeah, I know they're different animals) so need some help getting up to speed fast.
Thanks!!
|
|
|
Post by guitarboy02451 on Mar 28, 2007 16:01:02 GMT -7
- Did Dr. Z discontinue this model? > No, it is available in a 2x10, 1x12 or head.
- Is a 2x10 setup a good match with a Ghia or is a head + cab a better way to go? I'm a little concerned about weight and possibly the amount of treble that a 2x10 usually makes.
> The 2x10 sounds awesome. The weight is a litte more than a 1x12 (obviously, two magnets). The 10's are made by the DR himself, as he got some pointers from Weber. So they are very nice warm tight speakers. Treble is no more than a 2x12 closed back or 1x12 open back.
-Certainly having a head will lighten the load and alow different speaker combinations. However, you can always connect a cab to a combo as well.
>Nothing else to know before you jump in except the CG is probably hands down the best amp Dr. Z makes.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 28, 2007 16:25:17 GMT -7
Thanks a lot Paul G.
One more thing; are there any good sample sounds of a CG anywhere (preferably by itself)? The Dean Parks demo makes me want to run out and buy one, but the "Pro Guitar" stuff on the Z home page sound horrible. I need another reference point....
Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Lefty on Mar 28, 2007 23:09:17 GMT -7
I have a Ghia 2x10 combo, and recently put it into a head box. If I had to do it over again I'd go with just the head. The 2x10 sounds GREAT, but it's more fun to have the cab option with the Ghia. I plugged it into my other guitar players Valvestate 4x12 tonight and it sounded pretty cool. And a head is just so damn cute
|
|
|
Post by tjstrat on Mar 29, 2007 4:56:35 GMT -7
Thanks a lot Paul G. One more thing; are there any good sample sounds of a CG anywhere (preferably by itself)? The Dean Parks demo makes me want to run out and buy one, but the "Pro Guitar" stuff on the Z home page sound horrible. I need another reference point.... Thanks! I don't know where else there are samples... The ProGuitar stuff is all over the place, but it DOES give you an idea of where the amp goes at different volume settings. The OD is pretty clean and bluesy, but with the volume between 9 and 12 o'clock and a good overdrive in front you can get anywhere you want. An OCD or an MI Audio Crunchbox will make this amp do anything from country to No Doubt to Metallica. Really.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 29, 2007 7:33:57 GMT -7
I thought about getting the the 2x10 combo and transplanting it into a Mojotone small box cab if it was too much to carry around. I can get the 2x10 combo for much cheaper than the head retail so it's a worthwhile experiment.
My original goal was to *make* a Marshall 18 watt knock off but the CG seems like that plus so much more. If they sound roughly similar then it's a great amp.
|
|
|
Post by jwr on Mar 29, 2007 8:25:04 GMT -7
I don't think it sounds like a 18 watt Marshall. It's got it's own thing going on IMO. I don't think it sounds like the new Handwired 18 watt Marshall as it has some Fender fatness to it. I'd go with a head/cab setup, it gives ya more speaker options down the road.
|
|
|
Post by Matt H. on Mar 29, 2007 8:29:41 GMT -7
My original goal was to *make* a Marshall 18 watt knock off but the CG seems like that plus so much more. If they sound roughly similar then it's a great amp. The Ghia is way better than the 18 watt Marshall - I tried them both - bought a Ghia because it is a way better amp IMO for half the price. I would still choose the Ghia over the Marshall even if the Ghia cost more.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 29, 2007 8:36:36 GMT -7
Coolio, thanks all.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 29, 2007 14:29:35 GMT -7
Thanks to y'all my studio has a new baby. Yeah, it's a little fugly but at least it matches the floor! The amp ROCKS! Super sensitive and dynamic with a nice "chewy" top end that never gets ice-picky like some of my Fenders. What are some good replacement EL-84's? JJ's, Mullards (kinda pricey) or ??
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Mar 29, 2007 15:27:01 GMT -7
I don't think the NOS EL84s are a good buy. Z amps eat them up pretty quick and he designs around production tubes anyway.
|
|
|
Post by jwr on Mar 29, 2007 20:54:13 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by johnnyl on Mar 29, 2007 22:53:21 GMT -7
I have to agree billy. I tried some NOS Teslas (not JJ) and they really didn't do much. I wound up putting the GTs right back in there. They sound great. I'd experiment with preamp tubes to suit your tastes... just my 2.
|
|
|
Post by jwr on Mar 30, 2007 7:55:31 GMT -7
I've played the Tesla's and wasn't impressed enough to warrant the xtra $$. But I've played a CG with Mullards, and they are worth the $$. And they come recommended by the man who designed the amp, ya can't argue with that.
|
|
|
Post by Stumpy on Mar 30, 2007 8:22:46 GMT -7
Thanks to y'all my studio has a new baby. Yeah, it's a little fugly but at least it matches the floor! That's a fine looking Ghia, I like the wood front.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Mar 30, 2007 8:35:44 GMT -7
I got to thinking after I posted. Personally I wouldn't spend the extra money on NOS output tubes unless there was a very noticeable difference, BUT, the Carmen Ghia may not be as tough on output tubes as the other designs so they may last a lot longer. In other words I wouldn't spend big money on tubes that were only going to last 300 hours but if they're going to last 400 or 500 hours because the amp is easier on them than the other designs then it makes more sense.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 30, 2007 8:40:19 GMT -7
Mullards = $100/ea JJ's = $10/ea I honestly can't imagine my CG sounding any better than it already does with the stock GT EL84's. It does hiss a little, but that might be preamp tubes (?). I think I'll try JJ's first and if there is a huge void in my life I'll "invest" in Mullards. The Doctor recommended I get the JJ's, but probably more from a price to performance ratio perspective. Anyone get a D2F amp cover for their Z? www.d2fcovers.com They are a couple of bucks cheaper than Tuki or Studioslips and look like they might fit better. Any other options? You would think Z would make some w/ a logo....?
|
|
|
Post by kc on Mar 30, 2007 9:59:15 GMT -7
Anyone get a D2F amp cover for their Z? www.d2fcovers.com They are a couple of bucks cheaper than Tuki or Studioslips and look like they might fit better. Any other options? You would think Z would make some w/ a logo....? Nice color chart: www.d2fcovers.com/Color_Chart.htm ;D kc
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Mar 30, 2007 10:41:31 GMT -7
Crap, no pink! WTF? ^%$#@*(&
|
|
|
Post by guitarboy02451 on Mar 31, 2007 19:15:09 GMT -7
I can't say that anything would fit bette than a studio slip. They measure exactly and painstakingly verify the exact dimensions. After getting the Studio Slips I must admit I'm biased because the quality is super high and the service was great. Susan really has her craft down.
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Apr 6, 2007 7:58:28 GMT -7
FWIW, I swapped out the stock tubes for a full set of JJ's plus a NOS RCA rectifier. I honestly can't tell too much difference except that the stock GT-EL84's were probably a little smoother than the JJ's. Biggest difference by far was using a Mullard 12AX7 in V1 instead of the stock GT 12AX7 (Sovtek?) or JJ ECC83's. Bottom line is that the CG comes with great tubes. This is the first amp I've had that didn't really need new bottles.
|
|
|
Post by Don on Apr 7, 2007 5:09:32 GMT -7
I have 2 Ghias, one set up with Groove Tubes, and the other with JJs. I do get different tones out of both of them, but if I had to go with just one brand of tube, it would definitely be Groove Tubes.
|
|
|
Post by Don on Apr 7, 2007 5:13:35 GMT -7
Anyone get a D2F amp cover for their Z? www.d2fcovers.com They are a couple of bucks cheaper than Tuki or Studioslips and look like they might fit better. Any other options? You would think Z would make some w/ a logo....?I use the StudioSlips pleated cases for my Z heads and have been extremely happy with them. You can find them preowned for a better price.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 7, 2007 12:32:36 GMT -7
Here's a way to save a bit on Studio Slips if you have more than one Z head. I ordered a set of covers for my Stang ray head and 2x10 cab. I found out I can use that head cover with my Carmen Ghia and Route 66 too. It's a little loose on the smaller heads but not loose enough to concern me. Since only one head goes out at a time I have one cover that will fit all 3 heads!
|
|
|
Post by plankspanker on Apr 9, 2007 15:47:55 GMT -7
Well I got the D2F (Designed 2 Fit) cover for my Ghia 2x10 combo and it is excellent. Perfect fit, great materials/workmanship and most of all, incredible customer service from the owner Tom Palmer. Blows away the others I've tried. www.d2fcovers.com
|
|