How does the 25th Ghia compare to the Std Ghia?

[Don]

Just curious how the MV is working out for you guys with this amp. 

[simpleton]

I too wonder that. I've always thought that having both would be cool so the regular could be the cleaner amp and the MV version the Lead amp with the Master to put the volume where you would need it.

[nmz]

I love love love my little anni. Ghia. The master is great! And if you do not like it max it out and it is out of the circuit.

I have never owned a Ghia in its origional form so I can just compare it to maxing out the master. I do that from time to time because I dig the tone. But having the dirt at lower volumes helps in so many situations. Dr did a great job with the master in my opinion. I would rather have the option of the master. In my mind it is a no brainer if you are a Ghia fan. The only down side I can say is that it is only a head so if you are a combo guy.

All I have are heads so I consider it my grab and go amp. I will bring it to pick jams or open mic situations with a WET and I am set. Being so small it is my back up amp as well. If you get one I highly recommend getting a clamshell cover.

[Jaguarguy (Mike)]

Two years ago we A/B them here at a mini-Zfest. As noted above - maxxed out there is no difference. As Doc noted the pots are tapered a little different so the grit comes on a little different speed but they both have same tones.

[51d]

OK, I confess. I bought my CG 25th because it was unbearably cute, had a custom built flight case, and didn't crook my back when I lifted it. And did I mention the tone? Or that there are only 3 in the UK? BUT...I have to admit that whilst I'm sure a post phase inverter master volume is a great bit of physics, it receives little love hereabouts. I need a just on breakup tone for my basic clean sound, and the PPI MV doesn't deliver this; instead there is a kind of soupy growl, which isn't unpleasant, but doesn't sit well in my band's mix. Normally, any piece of gear that has a feature I don't like (or use) gets moved on - fast. Fortunately though I so love the instant tonal gratification of the Ghia, and its wonderful ability to get you playing rather than tweaking, that the (pretty much redundant for me) MV doesn't irritate. Truthfully, I would have preferred it to have operated in the more conventional manner of just adding an ounce or two of grit to the basic clean tone. But it certainly offers something the others don't, so I will admire it - without actually adoring it...

[simpleton]

I'm gonna chime in on the MV now since I've had mine for about a month. The MV isn't nearly as usable to me as the one I was used to on my Monza. I was thinking last night while playing that maybe the design was intended to cause more clean headroom, since Doc Z has mentioned that it was the one thing most people wanted more of from the Ghia..... Does anyone else know more about the intention of the design OR if my Monza is different because someone besides Dr Z did the mod?

I need more time with the MV to get the feel for what it does best...it does seem like 3/4th of the knob is almost not doing anything until around 9 O'clock. But the Mini is uber cool looking, small and sounds fantastic just like my other Ghia...altho the knob taper is different. It feels like it does stay clean easier if wanted at a higher volume than my 2009 Ghia.

That's my early bird word...maybe after more time Ill re report

[jhanks]

Can't comment on older models because I've never played one, but have to agree with some comments here. Very little effect until at 9-10:00, and then it gets kind of grainy to me. However, I LOVE it with the MV dimed. Also haven't started playing around with tube options, which most people claim makes a huge difference.

[simpleton]

Jan 15, 2015 12:28:37 GMT -7 jhanks said:

Can't comment on older models because I've never played one, but have to agree with some comments here. Very little effect until at 9-10:00, and then it gets kind of grainy to me. However, I LOVE it with the MV dimed. Also haven't started playing around with tube options, which most people claim makes a huge difference.

  I've found that the speaker is the biggest thing to 'change' my tone with the Ghia.  Tubes feel like more of a fine tuning thing to me.