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Post by 03bart on Mar 28, 2014 20:30:37 GMT -7
First post. After several years of off and on messing about with guitars (mostly acoustic), I'm finally in a place to dedicate time (and funds) to lessons, practice, and playing. I most want to play blues rock in the tone/style of SRV, John Mayer, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton (Lay Down Sally), AC/DC, etc. I'm especially looking to play at that edge of the clean/distorted sound to get that dynamically driven distortion. No high gain stuff for me.
I've been to the guitar stores looking for my first electric guitar in 20 years, and was first looking for Strats, since SRV, Clapton, Mayer played them. I didn't like the really bright (almost discordant) sound from the Strat through a Fender Blues Jr amp (the initial front runner in my amp purchase list). I played a tele and liked that better but then played a Les Paul and liked that best.
Anyways, I just purchased a 2013 Les Paul Studio and am now looking for an amp. Like I said, I was leaning hard to the fender blues Jr at first and also played a Blackstar Studio 20 my local shop had used. But listening to amp/guitar demos on YouTube led me to The Dr Z Carmen Ghia.
It it seems like a lot of money for an amp, but I'm ready to 'buy it right the first time'.
After finding this board and reading through a bunch of threads (and my long-winded intro), I'm looking for opinions: will a Carmen Ghia or a M12 or a Maz 8 provide a touch sensitive blues-rock clean/distorted tone for this beginning electric guitarist? After reading the threads, I'm concerned about the amp being too loud for home playing at the clean/breakup sweet spot I'm looking for.
My gut instinct is to buy the Carmen Ghia combo amp with the attenuator.
Thanks for for your help.
B
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Post by bryan0418 on Mar 28, 2014 20:55:32 GMT -7
The Ghia with attenuator is a great choice for what you are looking to do. All Dr Z amps are touch sensitive so they will give you back what you put into them. Any slop will be amplified which takes getting used to at first but once you get used to the feel, they all sound so so good! Depending on how loud you play, you may be able to get your dirt from the amp or use a boost pedal to kick it up for higher gain tones.
The MAZ 8/18/38 is also a good choice. Those amps have a bunch of great tones in them.
I am sure there are other Z's as well. The Z28 is great too. More American voiced tho.
Keep in mind your speaker and cabinet have a big effect on your tone so don't overlook that. The Dr Z speaker cabinets are some of the best sounding cabinets you can buy. As for speakers, the Celestion Blue is what most guys like with the Ghia. The Vintage 30 and Greenback are also good choices.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 28, 2014 21:13:39 GMT -7
Where are you from Bart? There may be someone from the forum that could let you play one or more of the amps you listed. You might also want to put a MV Monza on your list - it does a lot of what you want it to do.
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Post by muZician on Mar 29, 2014 1:37:46 GMT -7
^^^^ agree on the Monza MV. if you don't need clean sounds the Monza is absolutely amazing
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Mar 29, 2014 4:22:43 GMT -7
Go with your gut. You won't be sorry.
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Post by John on Mar 29, 2014 4:37:44 GMT -7
All of the Doc's amps are touch sensitive. It's just a matter of what flavor/tone and volume a person is looking for.
Will you be playing with a band or alone?
The Ghia is a great choice.
But as others have said, so is the Maz 8 or 18. (Maz 38 will have a lot of firepower...you may not need it.)
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Post by doctorice on Mar 29, 2014 5:11:43 GMT -7
Click on the link below and listen to Every Time I Roll the Dice. Recorded with a Ghia 1x10 (Eminence Red Fang), Les Paul and with the Brake Lite attenuator on 3 (4 is max attenuation). Live studio recording, so it's not the greatest, but the guitar tone is accurate. Ghia recording |
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Post by markT on Mar 29, 2014 6:19:44 GMT -7
^^^ Nice sounds Mike!
Can't go wrong with a Ghia, but there is a reason Maz Jr is Dr Z's most popular amp. The Ghia was my first Dr Z and I loved it. Gave me a taste. Then I got a Maz Jr NR and never looked back.
Welcome to the forum and good luck!
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Post by 03bart on Mar 29, 2014 7:04:53 GMT -7
Where are you from Bart? There may be someone from the forum that could let you play one or more of the amps you listed. You might also want to put a MV Monza on your list - it does a lot of what you want it to do. I'm in Colorado Springs, CO. The Monza is actually how I found Dr Z in the first place, looking for pointers on getting a Billy Gibbons tone. I want clean also and that led me to the CG. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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Post by 03bart on Mar 29, 2014 7:10:58 GMT -7
Will you be playing with a band or alone? Playing at home--more worried about too loud then not loud enough. I'm still just learning, but hope to play with a band someday. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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Post by John on Mar 29, 2014 7:32:31 GMT -7
Worries about volume= Maz 8
But it might not be enough for a live band at some point.
Lefty....aren't you in Colorado Springs?
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 29, 2014 7:44:13 GMT -7
Where are you from Bart? There may be someone from the forum that could let you play one or more of the amps you listed. You might also want to put a MV Monza on your list - it does a lot of what you want it to do. I'm in Colorado Springs, CO. The Monza is actually how I found Dr Z in the first place, looking for pointers on getting a Billy Gibbons tone. I want clean also and that led me to the CG. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk The Monza has been referred to as "Billy in a Box" by many, including Doc himself! |
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Post by digiTED aka 'Ted' on Mar 29, 2014 8:00:11 GMT -7
Ghia If not, then Ghia.  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2014 8:48:37 GMT -7
Tough choice between Ghia and the MAZ 8. For home you'd probably want the attenuator w either one. They both sound great. 8 is easier to tame.
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Post by doctorice on Mar 29, 2014 9:09:07 GMT -7
^^^ Nice sounds Mike! Can't go wrong with a Ghia, but there is a reason Maz Jr is Dr Z's most popular amp. The Ghia was my first Dr Z and I loved it. Gave me a taste. Then I got a Maz Jr NR and never looked back. Welcome to the forum and good luck! Thanks, Mark. Can't go wrong with a MAZ either. |
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redjr
Junior Member
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Post by redjr on Mar 29, 2014 11:43:47 GMT -7
I'm amazed how versatile my 1x10 Ghia combo is. Clean with some "hair" up to 9 o'clock on the volume. Definitely get some crunch after 12, but the Brake Lite is a must, unless you want to have some ringing in the ears.
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Post by LT on Mar 29, 2014 18:33:16 GMT -7
It it seems like a lot of money for an amp, but I'm ready to 'buy it right the first time'. Welcome to the forum Bart! Great guys and lots of good info here. ^^ Here's the line in your post that I like. You won't regret buying the best. And, if it doesn't work out, you can recoup most or all of your $$ back when selling. That being said though, I just got back home from gigging the Ghia 1-10 (Red Fang, BL) outdoors for 3+ hours with my Country/Rock band and it sounded great and drew compliments from a guitarist in the audience that came up after the show. I mostly used a Les Paul with a couple of OD pedals for a little kick where needed. And Mike….SWEET tone and playing on those tracks…thanks for sharing. |
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Post by doctorice on Mar 30, 2014 4:13:38 GMT -7
And Mike….SWEET tone and playing on those tracks…thanks for sharing. Thanks, Lou. You and I are running the same setup for gigging  |
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redjr
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by redjr on Mar 30, 2014 4:22:58 GMT -7
And Mike….SWEET tone and playing on those tracks…thanks for sharing. Thanks, Lou. You and I are running the same setup for gigging Hey, I've got the same setup (1x10 Ghia, 10" Red Fang, BL) as you two guys! I was loving it yesterday, and I was only in my living room. |
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Post by jb on Mar 30, 2014 14:11:39 GMT -7
If you are looking for an amp that allows you to quickly dial in the tone you are looking for and sound great, I don't know how you can beat the Ghia. You will spend more time playing and less time fiddling with the knobs.
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Post by 03bart on Mar 30, 2014 14:43:43 GMT -7
Click on the link below and listen to Every Time I Roll the Dice. Recorded with a Ghia 1x10 (Eminence Red Fang), Les Paul and with the Brake Lite attenuator on 3 (4 is max attenuation). Live studio recording, so it's not the greatest, but the guitar tone is accurate. Ghia recordingGreat sound! |
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Post by 03bart on Mar 30, 2014 14:46:06 GMT -7
If you are looking for an amp that allows you to quickly dial in the tone you are looking for and sound great, I don't know how you can beat the Ghia. You will spend more time playing and less time fiddling with the knobs. This is definitely the other thing I'm thinking about. As a beginner, I'd rather focus on the playing and less on the knobology (since I don't know anything!!). I'm going to buy the Ghia 1x10. Can't wait! Thanks for all the help! B |
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Post by jb on Mar 30, 2014 18:21:09 GMT -7
You will be very happy with that choice!
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Post by doctorice on Mar 31, 2014 5:47:31 GMT -7
Click on the link below and listen to Every Time I Roll the Dice. Recorded with a Ghia 1x10 (Eminence Red Fang), Les Paul and with the Brake Lite attenuator on 3 (4 is max attenuation). Live studio recording, so it's not the greatest, but the guitar tone is accurate. Ghia recordingGreat sound! Thanks! |
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Post by 03bart on Apr 17, 2014 9:38:45 GMT -7
Just wanted to follow-up. Got the Ghia delivered two weeks ago and it's just the sound I was hoping for!! Attenuator is on max, and I started with the volume down at 8-9 o'clock. But the volume is starting to creep up ;-) and it sounds great!
Thanks!
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Post by doctorice on Apr 17, 2014 10:48:15 GMT -7
^^^
Excellent. Congrats on the new amp. It really is very versatile: that tone knob does a lot.
Btw, what speaker did you go with?
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Post by 03bart on Apr 18, 2014 9:01:09 GMT -7
It's the 1x10 combo and it came with the Red Fang.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 18, 2014 10:03:57 GMT -7
^^^ Perfect! Do turn the volume know higher, though. |
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