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Post by hotmod on Oct 17, 2013 9:55:31 GMT -7
I registered about an hour ago, so a big hello to all Z users and everyone on the forum.
First of all, let me state that I am not a Usa resident, I live in Europe and in a country that doesn't have a Dr Z dealer , so I really am gonna need as much help I can get from you guys.
Lately I've been saving up in order to buy a Dr Z amplifier , since i'm intrigued by what I've been listening from clips on YouTube.
So I decided to start with the cheaper amp of the Z line that can get through a rehearsal and a gig in addition of my playing at home, the Carmen Ghia.
What I would like to understand though is the difference between the standard model and the 25th anniversary in terms of tone and only that. I understand that the anni has a master volume and a 16 ohm output on the plus side.
I want to know if anyone has tried turning all the way up the master volume on an anni and tried the same settings on the other knobs with a current production standard model side by side,through the same speaker. Is the sound identical, or the anniversary is different, like warmer , fatter etc?
I also read that someone stated that the previous standard model to this one, I'm guessing it's the one that doesn't have the two racing white lines on the control panel, is a bit warmer to the current one, any truth in that?
I'm going to buy without hearing so please be as accurate as you can.
Thanks!
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Post by digs57 on Oct 17, 2013 13:03:09 GMT -7
There is a post on the comparison of the two models in a different post. I believe after all the dialing in the sound was relativly the same.I have got to believe you can get there earlier with master though?(as it is I don't have 25th ani). I do own 1/10 and yes for the price its somewhat of a deal?Nothing barginish about sound and feel of amp though.  Welcome!!! By the way its a great choice for starts... |
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Post by John on Oct 17, 2013 13:32:13 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum!
There have been some minor changes to the Ghia circuitry over the years. In general, the newer ones (including the racing stripes on the front panel) are considered a little louder and a little cleaner.
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Post by jb on Oct 17, 2013 14:41:21 GMT -7
I have said this many times before, everyone should own a Ghia and then, whatever else they can afford. It doesn't much matter which version. And welcome to the forum!
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Post by LT on Oct 17, 2013 17:54:12 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum! Lots of great guys and good info here. The Ghia has proven to be a great gigging amp for me (1-10 combo). Mine is a later non-master model.
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Post by doctorice on Oct 17, 2013 18:34:55 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum! Lots of great guys and good info here. The Ghia has proven to be a great gigging amp for me (1-10 combo). Mine is a later non-master model. Ditto on all the above. |
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Post by gplayer1965 on Oct 17, 2013 19:18:14 GMT -7
I have said this many times before, everyone should own a Ghia and then, whatever else they can afford. It doesn't much matter which version. And welcome to the forum! I would say the Ghia is probably my "less" Played amp.However, when talking sale/trade and the Ghia comes into the dealing possibilities I always back out. Can't let it go.Even if not played often, but when I do, I walk away with a smile. Mine is an older model (15 year anniversary model) and I love it. pardon my rudeness, Welcome to the forum |
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Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on Oct 17, 2013 19:18:28 GMT -7
^^^^^^^^^ What they said. Truth!!  |
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Post by gplayer1965 on Oct 17, 2013 19:27:21 GMT -7
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Post by hotmod on Oct 18, 2013 8:05:53 GMT -7
Thanks to all for the warm welcome and appreciate your encouragement towards the Ghia.
I love the Garret Parks demo and the Buddy Whittington videos where is stated that he uses one but the sound is not the same as on most other clips I've come across.
I still haven't understand what the amp can do at full volume with the tone varying from noon to full clockwise when a strat bridge pickup is used, that would be great if I could find it. How is this amp different to the maz 18 and the monza?
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Oct 19, 2013 7:40:36 GMT -7
I have said this many times before, everyone should own a Ghia and then, whatever else they can afford. It doesn't much matter which version. And welcome to the forum! Welcome to the forum. And to add to the above; I started with a Maz jr. then a Rt66. The third was the Ghia, but in no way do I consider it third in line. It is a truly great amp on its own. So buy with the confidence you are purchasing a tone machine. |
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Post by digs57 on Oct 19, 2013 8:50:45 GMT -7
What guitars are you playing matters?
Ghia is a little darker.
Maz 18 is brighter voiced...many posts on this subject.Got both...but im still hungry.No Monza experience though.
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Post by hotmod on Oct 19, 2013 10:48:59 GMT -7
What guitars are you playing matters? Ghia is a little darker. Maz 18 is brighter voiced...many posts on this subject.Got both...but im still hungry.No Monza experience though. I play all kinds but I really care about the sound of the strats through this amp. Darker is good, but I do care about the ease of breakup and sustain a lot. I've spend hours listening to different models and the best sound I heard was from the stang Ray , clean yes but it sounds like it has a lot of sustain. Truth be told I'm sure that each and every model has a great sound when pushed. I also liked a couple Z 28 clips and the ezg 50 sounds great on the clips that is used live with a band too. Additionally the Maz jr clips sounds great when pushed to breakup and very harmonically complex which I love too! Anyways, I think I will start with a new Ghia since I can't afford to pay more at this time, unless I found a different model (28,maz) used at the price of a new Ghia when the time comes . I wish i had the choice to go to a store and try as many available but... I have a sound in my head about the Carmen Ghia but I'm not sure it will be so. I think about a slightly overdriven, warm, fat, sustaining sound from a strat bridge pickup coming out of this amp. If I can have that, then from any other guitar I'll be able to get a great sound out of it. |
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Post by Baconator on Oct 19, 2013 12:24:41 GMT -7
I, like probably many others here, bought my Ghia without any real knowledge of the amp outside of youtube videos and some of the threads on this forum and have never been dissatisfied with my choice. The fatness of the sound you can get out of the bridge pickup depends quite a bit on the cabinet you're using, but it's easy with the Ghia to get a great full, rich overdriven tone. It reacts very well to your guitar controls so if you're not getting the sound you want a slight adjustment to your guitar's volume or tone can make a big difference. If you're playing a traditional strat having no tone control on the bridge this will limit things a bit since adjusting the amp to make the bridge sound fat could make the other pickup settings sound too dark, but of course this is true for any amp.
(EDIT: Just to make things clear, this is the first amp that really made me want to use single coil bridge pickups!)
I do feel for you in terms of putting down so much money on an amp you've never played even if it is a great deal of amp for the money (which it definitely is). Just yesterday I received my second Z amp (a Route 66) without having tried it out, just like my Ghia, and I'm a very happy man.
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Post by digs57 on Oct 19, 2013 12:40:38 GMT -7
Wow bacon...kool.I did get both (maz,ghia) without a lengthy audition at local shop....no regrets.Do have 1/10 (ghia) and its a great grab and go.Bought that for that reason.I feel if you could just have one... go for the 12 combo in any of them.
The 12 combo would have been great (ghia)... but my maz 18 combo is very rich and harmonic (full) sounding,while the 10 is a punchy little dude... it is lacking in the lowend somewhat...but not terribly.I have always wanted a princton rb...but I think this amp will go toe to toe with pr quite handily.
Choose well for now... many cant get along with just one of these babies.
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Post by jb on Oct 19, 2013 14:35:58 GMT -7
Hotmod,
Along with my Ghia, I also have a Rt66, which I feel is also a great amplifier. I view them equally in terms of their intrinsic value. Don't feel like you are settling for less buying the Ghia, which just happens to be Doc's first and a less expensive amplifier. That has more to do with the cost to build versus the tone achieved. The Ghia has a beautiful clean tone and breaks up easy when you want it to. The conjunctive filter gives it great string to string balance. To me its the perfect amp.
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Post by ericatunc on Oct 19, 2013 19:32:39 GMT -7
I had both a 2009 Ghia and a 25th Anniv for about a week. I did a/b them with the master volume all the way up (I was curious as well). To my ears, I couldn't hear a big difference.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2013 19:47:52 GMT -7
Welcome hotmod, great folks here hope you stick around! I own a version one Mazerati basically a Ghia X2. Greatest amp I have ever owned hands down no contest. It absolutely rocks with single coils. My Strat, Tele and 'rati are a perfect match. Sustain for days and a wide array of tonal choices. Buying a Z changed my playing style and understanding of what tone is for the better. I'm gushing a bit here but they're that good. Fwiw, I played an EZG-50 at Maken Muisc here in Chicago last week and it too ROCKS. A different flavor all together but man was it awesome. Buy with confidence!  |
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Oct 20, 2013 7:36:22 GMT -7
Buying a Z changed my playing style and understanding of what tone is for the better. Amen to that! I have grown exponentially since owning my Z. First because it makes me want to play more due to the tone, but also because the amp(s) can convey your input so magnificently. This is true at all volumes on the dial. But oh my...when you open the volume up! |
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Post by digs57 on Oct 20, 2013 17:11:20 GMT -7
after considering that strat is your go to...im thinking that you might strongly consider holding out for the maz nr,or maz rb if that's important to you.I just think that maz is so versatile...its hard to beat. After playing strat through my ghia for a while today ive found that I like tele through my ghia and strat through maz. Truth be told every axe sounds good through the maz 18...my ghia is just a little more particular?But as I said before the 1/12 cab or combo is the way to go.(imho for everything  ) |
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Post by simpleton on Oct 20, 2013 22:55:41 GMT -7
I can't help with comparisons...I've got a green jewel light ghia. If you like master volumes get the mini ghia i guess....but I can say a strat sounded fantastic with the ghia and definitely gets great rock sounds. I guess as with everything ones personal taste and style comes into play, but I too bought a ghia with limited experience with them and have really enjoyed the amp. It is my only amp now and it can do any style of music that I want to play...I think it's both fit for bedroom level and live band levels, but obviously it's not super quiet without a master, but it has a very usable volume control. As far as the tone knob most folks use it around the noon area, plus or minus a couple...extreme settings might help at different volumes or for recording....clockwise is darker - counter clockwise brighter.
Hope you like your amp when you get it. I think it compliments every kind of guitar, speaker, tube, pickup ect.... and really lets them have a personal sound.
have fun
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Post by mackaygtrs on Oct 21, 2013 19:58:50 GMT -7
Buying another Ghia made me buy 2 more guitars.... well that's my story anyway...  |
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Post by hotmod on Oct 21, 2013 22:29:37 GMT -7
Buying another Ghia made me buy 2 more guitars.... well that's my story anyway... Sweet set up ,i must say.For me it must be the other way around i'm afraid. Buying a Z would mean that i have to sell a guitar from my stash in order to fund it ,along with my savings. |
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Welcome!!!
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