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Post by nisaacs7 on May 8, 2015 11:45:24 GMT -7
I've been off and on thinking about selling the Ghia. I really like the tone I'm getting out of it but GAS always makes me want something different. Anyways, I just recently have been able to crank the Ghia up enough to get it to breakup. I like running the amp dirtier, but the breakup is very tight and not as hairy as I prefer. I know that speakers make a big difference in this amp and wanted to get some opinions. I have a earlier 1x12 Carmen Ghia with a V30 speaker.
I had an AC15C1 for a little bit and really liked the way it broke up, but didn't like the quality of sound as far as fullness and clarity. I have some buddies that have CBlues in their more Vox voiced amp and I like the tonal range that they offer, but I typically have more gain on my tone then they do.
I'm considering these three options. Greenback, Celestion Blue (or other Alnico equivalent), and Scumback (not too familiar with but have heard good things vs a Greenback).
When I get on other Carmen Ghia speaker forums all I hear is Blue, Blue, Blue. Which yeah, I could get a blue and probably love it, but no one seems to describe the differences on a Ghia. I would rather not save up for a Blue if the Greenback would suit me better. I prefer a more "vintage" sounding gain vs a more modern, Marshall sounding gain. I never worry about my bottom end flabbing out because I play lead and usually higher up on the neck. I also like to have chime in my tone. I know it's not a vox so it won't have the chime as a vox but I would rather the highs come out a little more than the mids in an amp. I also know the Carmen Ghia is a % of Vox, Fender and Marshall and that when you change the speakers out it reacts greatly.
So please give me descriptions on how a Greenback vs Celestion Blue vs Scumback would sound.
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Post by GuitarZ on May 8, 2015 15:13:57 GMT -7
Well, I'm probably not going to be very helpful here since I'll throw another horse into the race. I picked up a Tone Tubby a while back and found that I really liked it matched with the Ghia. I use an Airbrake, so I run the Ghia flat-out with my strat and really get a nice dirty, hairy feel. I like how the Tone Tubby rounds out the high end.
I have a Greenback in my Maz Jr and in my IsoCab. But, it's been a long time since I ran the Ghia through the Maz Jr's speaker and the IsoCab sound, even though I have multiple recordings, isn't really comparing apples to apples.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on May 8, 2015 19:42:08 GMT -7
In the several years that I've been a Z-amps fan, I've had 3 separate Ghia heads pass through my house. Over that time, I've managed to compare over a dozen speakers (mostly 12", some 10") with the amp, including many Celestions, Scumbacks, and Webers. I know that speakers make a big difference in this amp... ...when you change the speakers out it reacts greatly. This is very, very true. Moreso of the Ghia than any other amp--it's almost like the Ghia is connecting your guitar directly to the speaker. So please give me descriptions on how a Greenback vs Celestion Blue vs Scumback would sound. Greenback = neutral/warm & woody, more mids than hi/lows but well-controlled all around. Classic bark with a little chime. Blue = clear/transparent, jangly, lotta mids but more highs than lows; centered smack in the guitar's frequency sweet-spot range. Classic chime with a little bark. Scumback = models vary, but basically the Scumback "equivalent" to any particular Celestion is going to have similar character but more chewy & musical midrange and slightly less raspy bark than the Celestion. (I don't mean to be a Celestion hater, but the Scumbacks that I own/owned are just flat-out better. That being said, I still do own a couple Cel.'s.) The Ghia to my ears is all about the mids, with some high-presence as well--and that's exactly where the Blue lives. (The Greenback and Vintage 30 live there, too.. which is why they are also good Ghia matches.) It'd be hard for me to tell you which would be "better" (Greenback vs. Blue) but I can generally say if you want a slightly looser, loud, jangly, chimey sound, go Blue; if you want a slightly tighter, quieter, more bark with less bite, go Greenback. |
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Post by jesslm02 on May 8, 2015 22:00:27 GMT -7
You might consider the new Celestion Cream Alnico.
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Post by John on May 9, 2015 5:39:31 GMT -7
GREENBACK! The greenback shares a lot in common with the blue. Both have a bit more mids. (and not an upper mid spike like the V30) both have less bass, and both have attenuated highs when pushed. You could cruise Ebay for a used greenback. Or you could go to WGS and get their clone, the green beret. I have one, very nice....and cheap! I think you could get a new green beret for about what you'd pay for a used greenback. wgs4.com/gb |
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Post by meanslide on May 9, 2015 7:52:12 GMT -7
GREENBACK! The greenback shares a lot in common with the blue. Both have a bit more mids. (and not an upper mid spike like the V30) both have less bass, and both have attenuated highs when pushed. You could cruise Ebay for a used greenback. Or you could go to WGS and get their clone, the green beret. I have one, very nice....and cheap! I think you could get a new green beret for about what you'd pay for a used greenback. wgs4.com/gbGood info right here. I would also add that the Celestion Creamback M might be a good choice...it's a higher powered Greenback (65 W vs. 25 W). Somehow, the higher power rating gives the speaker some real Alnico character and but it still retains all of the Greenback attributes too. It's a great in between choice... |
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Post by nisaacs7 on May 11, 2015 17:41:15 GMT -7
As of Saturday I acquired a Brakelite so I could run my amp a little hotter and get more break up without upsetting my sound guy. I love the fact that now I can go anywhere and keep my volume know on the amp the same and adjust my volume with the brake lite.
Anyways, the more I turn the volume up the more I realize the gain has this high end fizzle sound. I can't really describe it but I guess I would place the frequency in the upper mids?
How much with the Breakup on the amp change from speaker to speaker? If I use a reverb or delay with the amp breaking up the repeats and oscillation that can be cool sounds very harsh and not smooth at all.
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Post by nisaacs7 on May 11, 2015 18:13:08 GMT -7
Also, I do have a 12ax7 in both V1 and V2 if that would make a difference in the sound of breakup.
Please let me know your thoughts!
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Post by John on May 12, 2015 3:47:44 GMT -7
A couple of comments:
1) On the fizzy breakup. Are you using humbuckers? I personally don't like el84 power tubes with humbuckers. There is a certain fizzy sound when pushed hard. Nothing against the doc...it's the tubes.
2) Those fizzy tones will be accented by the V30's upper mid spike in tone. (again, a greenback would help)
3) I would hunt down a 5751 for V2. However, I'm not sure being an older Ghia if that is correct. I can't remember if the Doc went back and forth between 5751 and 12ax7 as he tweaked the circuit over the years.
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Post by southmusic70 on May 12, 2015 4:57:08 GMT -7
I have a Ramrod in a Pro Junior cab that I take to rehearsals, etc. with my Ghia 25 Anni, but for jobs I use a 2x12 cab with Vin30s, and the Ghia sounds huge through that cab.
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Post by nisaacs7 on May 12, 2015 7:30:21 GMT -7
Another thing I was thinking is that it had something to do with my compressor. If I turn my diamond compressor off, my tone gets more "nasty" in a good way, at least I used to think. Then when adding reverb, and delay's it is unusable. When i add my compressor to the mix, the tone does not breakup as much and I have to turn the amp up more to get a saturated feel. Correct me if I'm wrong but maybe if I squash my signal a little more, then it will keep my lines/signal more in tact and there will not be as much variation in breakup.
The only reason why I care to run my amp at the "edge" of breakup is because I feel like it has much more brilliant and sweeter cleans this way and then when I use the bridge and add overdrive pedals it sounds more authentic and full. It's really only when I dig in with my bridge pickup that it get's a little too nasty. Also, I usually add pedals for dynamics vs using my volume knob.
My main guitar is a Reverend Buckshot (Hot Tele w/ Tune-o-matic) and backup is an American Strat. I'm going to try to add more compression tonight. Maybe it won't get as dirty when digging in.
I also do believe a speaker change is going to make a difference in the breakup and give me the more high end sparkle I desire.
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Post by eggman on May 22, 2015 20:48:55 GMT -7
Howdy,
I've posted many times about how much I favor Weber's AlniCo silver bell. It's got a good bottom end and has better clean tones than the blue.
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Post by nisaacs7 on Jun 2, 2015 18:02:57 GMT -7
I finally put a Celestion Blue in my Carmen Ghia and all I can say is wow!
After playing with the V30 for a couple years, the Blue instantly changed my tone for the better. I have note definition and cut that I never had before! I love how loose the low end is. When I play on lower strings, I don't lose not definition like before.
The clarity gain was so severe that I'm going to be able to and have to push my amp a little harder to make it sound as dirty as it did. The middle position on my guitar has come alive.
Also, now I'll have to roll the tone knob around 12 o clock rather than 10:30. One of the best investments I've made.
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Post by nmz on Jun 2, 2015 18:23:42 GMT -7
Speakers are so often overlooked and are such a easy fix. I know because I have been down that road. Now turn that Ghia up!
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Post by nisaacs7 on Jun 3, 2015 7:43:46 GMT -7
I know! I'm kind of worried about blowing the Blue but have heard that they can take a lot of beating from an 18 watt amp.
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Post by mfirst on Jun 4, 2015 8:36:55 GMT -7
You won't hurt the blue with the Ghia. Crank it up!
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