51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95 
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Post by 51d on Jul 22, 2014 0:46:01 GMT -7
First impressions of the Ghia, running through Bad Cat 1x12 open backed with V30.: 1. She's loud! 2. Way cleaner than I expected, granted running volume at 9:00 and tone at noon. 3. Takes od pedals and boosts WAYYY different than Vox. Struggling to find a couple complementary tones & volumes. Best best so far has been to run Zvex Distortron hot and control everything with guitar volume. 4. Cuts like crazy through band mix with ease. Will be trying with greenback in the cab ASAP. The amp might be too loud for my needs. May need to try Maz 8 or M12. But not before thoroughly f-ing with what I've got first..... I'm not an attenuator guy either. Yes, they're definitely loud, and I too see them as a much cleaner amp than some forum members. I run mine at 9 o'clock at home, with both a compressor and clean boost; this gives me all I need in terms of a great rhythm sound with enough lift on solos. I wouldn't run it much louder at a gig to be honest because of the Ghia's ability to cut through the band mix. However, if you're running a Zvex Distortion your expectations of what you need from an amp may be different from mine. BTW, I didn't bond with my Maz 8, and much prefer the Ghia...and haven't tried the M12. Options in the UK are thinner on the ground... |
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Post by John on Jul 22, 2014 4:41:58 GMT -7
If that Bad Cat speaker is efficient, then that greenback could be considerably quieter.
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redjr
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by redjr on Jul 23, 2014 16:29:35 GMT -7
Personally, I think having the Dr Z air brake makes a tremendous difference in the available tones in the Ghia. I agree that it's fairly clean at 9 o'clock, but push it up to noon with the air brake and the crunch is amazing. I use iy at that setting with the air brake on 2, use an OCD for some added dirt and does fine by me.
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Post by jesslm02 on Jul 23, 2014 21:26:58 GMT -7
Yea the Ghia is loud. That's 18 Z watts you have there, not ordinary watts. I'm guessing by your reaction that it's probably staying cleaner at gig volumes than you wanted. You have some options - lower efficiency speaker, air brake (or brake lite), or use a pedal for that edge of break up sound. I like lower efficiency speakers because they let you push the amp a little more and that might get you into the sweet spot. But, I also use pedals quite a bit to add a little hair or very light OD/edge of break-up tones. My two favorite pedals for that are the Timmy and the Barber Gain Changer.
Just out of curiousity, what year is your ghia? Is it the newer "racing stripe" graphic? I ask because the newest revision of the ghia does have a few circuit tweaks that make it louder, brighter, and have more headroom.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Proboards
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Post by ssdana on Jul 24, 2014 7:12:52 GMT -7
This Ghia has like a partial infinity symbol next to the word Carmen. Not sure about serial # or age cause I'm at work...  I typically run a pedal like Timmy, OCD, or RC Boost on all the time for my hairy clean tone, and then stack a Rat or Zvex Distortron on top for crunchy rock tones. I've kinda already decided this amp isn't the best choice for me, so if anyone is interested in a nice Ghia head, let me know ASAP! |
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Post by jesslm02 on Jul 24, 2014 8:02:42 GMT -7
Ok, sorry to here it didn't work out. Did you say vox? I know where a really nice Rx Jr is... Just sayin.
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Post by ssdana on Jul 25, 2014 6:04:57 GMT -7
Hey Jess, ok so is the Rx Jr. going to break up more at lower volume than the Ghia? And I wonder about difference in their natural voices with regards to taking pedals? Too bad you probably don't live near enough to Kalamazoo for me to take her for a test drive!! |
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Post by ssdana on Jul 25, 2014 6:23:11 GMT -7
Hey Jess, ok so is the Rx Jr. going to break up more at lower volume than the Ghia? And I wonder about difference in their natural voices with regards to taking pedals? Too bad you probably don't live near enough to Kalamazoo for me to take her for a test drive!! |
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Post by jesslm02 on Jul 25, 2014 7:30:30 GMT -7
Hey Jess, ok so is the Rx Jr. going to break up more at lower volume than the Ghia? And I wonder about difference in their natural voices with regards to taking pedals? Too bad you probably don't live near enough to Kalamazoo for me to take her for a test drive!! Yea for sure. The Rx can really go both ways. The Master Volume is THE key to getting breakup at lower volumes. You can set it up completely clean if you want, or set the volume knob to get breakup (starts breaking up around 10:00, depending on pickup output of course) and use the master volume to set the overall loudness. You are correct that the Ghia and Rx have different voicings, and rightly so because they are different animals altogether. I've used tons of different pedals with the Rx and can't say that I've had a bad experience with any of them. I've found that TS based pedals really seem to work well with Rx. It's voicing really accommodates that mid push that many OD pedals have, and yet they still cut through the mix very easily. Yea man, it would definitely be worth trying out. It sucks to buy an amp and realize it's not really going to work for you. Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Proboards |
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Post by jesslm02 on Jul 25, 2014 7:32:37 GMT -7
I run the Rx a lot just at that edge of breakup for my clean setting. And then use OD pedals for extra gain when needed.
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Post by jesslm02 on Jul 25, 2014 12:33:07 GMT -7
Maybe we should move this to the Rx section lol... I'd also add that if you really want to bring out some vox in this amp, alnico speakers work wonders.
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Post by Brimstone on Jul 25, 2014 15:38:08 GMT -7
The 1x10 Ghia is my workhorse. 18 Z watts indeed !! Add the Airbrake !!
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Post by ssdana on Jul 26, 2014 6:15:27 GMT -7
Jess you are inside my head now.... If I can unload this thing soon we may have to chat!!!
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Post by alexhall on Sept 8, 2014 6:32:51 GMT -7
I have no experience with the RX, but i own a Ghia, and iv played through the M12. I have owned several fenders, Genz Benz, Marshalls, Even an old Gibson 30W. Iv played through several "Class A" tube amps, including the all famous Z Wreck several times, and the Ghia set the standard for me. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, mainly because of the deal he was selling it at. I didnt think id end up switching to it, (i was playing through a Bennett Redhead jr 18w (Bruce Bennets reindition of a early 60's deluxe.)) Well i was playing a small show and decided to try it out. I had it at about 9:00 and it sounded amazing. The ballsiness and chimey clarity it was producing was so suprising. The way it took my pedals (Wampler Ego, Wampler Tweed 57 (set to a very light crunch), Boss DM-2 (set to a little more than a slapback), and my Wampler Paisley (my overdriven tone) was uncomparible. Im running all Lava Cable High End Tightrope. It came with a Forte 1x12 equipeef with a Tone Tubby 50 W. Im more of that mid-dy, beefy Brad P tone, but id recommend it for anything . I noticed the clean ceiling was around 1030 which is plenty enough volume without breakup , unless you dont mic. Im sure any Z will produce the sound you want, but the simplicity and overall specs of the Ghia won me over. I hope you find what your looking for!
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Post by jesslm02 on Sept 8, 2014 7:07:39 GMT -7
The Rx was my go-to for about 4 years. It was a great amp but I let it go for various reasons - mostly because I wanted the Zwreck, which I now have. I still have the ghia though, it's just an amp that I will always own. I'm currently on my 4th ghia and it came with a celestion blue - my favorite ghia tone to date. And prior to receiving it I was not a fan of the blue.
All of the Z amps are great. I could take either of these to the gig and be completely satisfied with my tone.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Proboards
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Post by eryan36 on Sept 14, 2014 18:42:30 GMT -7
I've owned an old script Ghia and (currently) a racing stripe Ghia, and a RxJr. The RxJr was a cool amp, but I love the Ghia. I don't even use drive pedals anymore, just turn it up and ride the guitar. The Ghia (like all Z amps) is loud for the wattage. If it's too loud for your needs, try a less efficient speaker.
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