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Post by metalone72 on Aug 31, 2015 9:11:53 GMT -7
I have (and had) Marshalls and Mesa's and now I have a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia Head inbound! I'm really excited to check it out. I am going to make a speaker cabinet for the amp and am wondering what the consensus is as far as if I should go 1x12 or 2x12? I know 2x12's are generally louder. I am thinking that if I go 2x12 I will go with a Celestion blue and a Celestion Gold. However If I go the 1x12 route, which would be the recommended speaker, Blue or Gold? I plan on picking up a Tele in the near future. I am interested in playing it for some country (Brad?) or maybe some blues. I know tone is subjective but I need some where to start.
Thanks!
Scott
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Post by simpleton on Aug 31, 2015 9:40:34 GMT -7
congrats on the Ghia! It is such a connected amp to the player...I loved mine in a 2 x 10 with Eminence Legends as well as with 12" WGS Reaper (G12H copy)... It also sounded great with the 10" Red Fang and 12" Celestions Gold...you might have to try a couple speakers to find the ONE for you but I'd just start with your own personal favorite.
Turn it up and let it flow
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Post by John on Aug 31, 2015 10:00:33 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum.
A 2x12 is not necessarily louder than a 1x12. Yes, there are two speakers, but they only receive 1/2 the power. (There's all sorts of weird math involved...something I try to avoid)
If you want to play modern country, a blue or gold will be perfect. Either one is fine. A Ghia won't burn up a blue. Just make sure it's an open back cabinet.
The Ghia will be SO different than Marshalls and especially Mesas. Ghias are not overdrive monsters. You'll probably be shocked at first. You'll come to find out that the amp reacts so dynamically to how the player hits the strings. Play soft...the amp's clean. Dig in and play loud...and the amp will overdrive. Then add the difference the guitar volume knob will make. Yet even more dynamics.
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Post by metalone72 on Aug 31, 2015 10:11:31 GMT -7
A 2x12 is not necessarily louder than a 1x12. Yes, there are two speakers, but they only receive 1/2 the power. (There's all sorts of weird math involved...something I try to avoid) I always thought the same thing that with the 112 vs 2x12 volume thing. Makes sense when think of it like same amount of power but two speakers instead on one so 1/2 as loud, but I was told that its the air movement and that two speakers would push more air than one. Never really tried it for I always just play though a 4x12! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 10:17:13 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum.
The Carmen Ghia is a great amp, Congratulations.
Ten inch speakers sound great with this amp also.
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Post by metalone72 on Aug 31, 2015 10:35:24 GMT -7
What do 10" speakers do that 12" don't? Are they tighter sounding? Never really played through a 10" speaker before.
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Post by Funk#49 on Aug 31, 2015 10:37:32 GMT -7
Welcome! The Ghia is a fantastic amp! It will definitely change your idea of "tone." I love my Ghia 1×12 with a Celestion greenback.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 11:59:31 GMT -7
Congrats! You picked a good one to start with. The Ghia is my favorite Z.
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Post by doctorice on Aug 31, 2015 12:40:00 GMT -7
A great intro to Dr Z amps.
My Ghia is housed in a combo with a 10" Red Fang, which is a loud, i.e., very efficient, speaker. It's a great small package.
For more flexibility, I'd consider having two separate 1x12 cabs, each with a different speaker. Get a Y-cable to connect both cabs at the same time as an option. Speaker choice is subjective, but a Cel Gold or Blue are certainly good choices.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 14:13:32 GMT -7
What do 10" speakers do that 12" don't? Are they tighter sounding? Never really played through a 10" speaker before. More portable. Doc's 10" combo is a lot smaller /lighter than his 12" combo. |
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Post by deltone on Aug 31, 2015 14:18:36 GMT -7
Welcome, and congrats on the Ghia! Everyone should own a Ghia.
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Post by jb on Aug 31, 2015 15:26:42 GMT -7
I really like the Blue with the Ghia, although, the Ghia does not seem to be really fussy about speakers. It seems to sound great with most speakers.
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Post by John on Aug 31, 2015 18:28:32 GMT -7
What do 10" speakers do that 12" don't? Are they tighter sounding? Never really played through a 10" speaker before. I have a 10" gold in my combo. It's fantastic. 10" speakers can move quicker than 12's. There is a certain tightness about them. |
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Post by nmz on Aug 31, 2015 18:59:20 GMT -7
Congrats on a great purchase. Ghia rocks!
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Post by southmusic70 on Aug 31, 2015 19:13:23 GMT -7
I've been playing Z amps for almost five years, but just got my Ghia (CG Anni 10/50, to be specific) this past December. I usually run it through a1x10 cabinet with an Eminence Ramrod or a 1x12 open back Mesa cab with C90, but have also run it into the CGold 1x10 that's in my Z28 combo (very nice sounding) or a 2x12 cabinet with Vin30s (very big sounding). It's a very satisfying amp in any of these configurations.
Let me just say that I grew up on, and still have and use, a '67 BF Fender Vibrolux Reverb (2x10 combo), so I have always liked what I would call the "immediacy" of ten inch speakers, that is, they kind of seem to jump out at you, and they work great for most playing situations. When I needed a little more presence in the mix, I added either a 2x12 or (preferably) a 1x15 cabinet. Either one of these gave my VR (sometimes called "the poor man's Twin" back in those days) substantial authority on the bandstand.
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Post by eggman on Sept 1, 2015 9:19:34 GMT -7
Howdy,
I'm enjoying a Celestion Blue in my Z 1x12 cab these days. Makes my Ghia sound British-Invasion-ish at low volume and Keef-ish when cranked. Truly versatile. It's an inefficient speaker, so it wants to get raunchy pretty low on the volume dial.
My favorite speaker with this amp though, is the Weber AlNico Silver Bell in 30 watts configuration. Best cleans I've ever heard, with more bass than the Celestion blue. The Silver Bell also likes rocking out at higher volume, but doesn't quite do that slightly overdriven , "Hot Legs" raunch that can be easily obtained through the 'Blue. Sorry for the novel, but I love my Ghia.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2015 19:40:07 GMT -7
Congratulations on your Carmen Ghia purchase!
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Post by metalone72 on Sept 2, 2015 13:46:16 GMT -7
Ok so I ordered a Celestion Blue and a 12" Celestion Gold. I think I will do as some one suggested and make two 1x12 cabs. The amp and speakers will both be here tomorrow but until I get the cabinets made, I'll have to play it through my 4x12 that is a mix of Scumback G12M's and G12H's. Next step after the cabinets is to get some NOS EL84's and a 5751!
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Post by simpleton on Sept 2, 2015 13:51:54 GMT -7
Ok so I ordered a Celestion Blue and a 12" Celestion Gold. I think I will do as some one suggested and make two 1x12 cabs. The amp and speakers will both be here tomorrow but until I get the cabinets made, I'll have to play it through my 4x12 that is a mix of Scumback G12M's and G12H's. Next step after the cabinets is to get some NOS EL84's and a 5751! Sounds like someone has some work to do...I think it will sound great in the 4x12 |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2015 15:44:54 GMT -7
Yesterday, I tried the Ghia through a 12" Scumback M65 (25w).
Sounded great.
Actually, it beat out the Green Beret I've been using.
Also tried it with a Weber P12Q - and got very nice results.
What I'm saying, is that you've got a lot of different directions you can take the CG - just with speaker choices.
And maybe a brake-lite.
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Post by freddieg on Sept 2, 2015 17:48:31 GMT -7
One of the best amps in the Z lineup.
Some of the speakers that folks use : Red Fang, Gold, Greenback, Silver Bell.
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Post by John on Sept 2, 2015 18:36:01 GMT -7
Ok so I ordered a Celestion Blue and a 12" Celestion Gold. I think I will do as some one suggested and make two 1x12 cabs. The amp and speakers will both be here tomorrow but until I get the cabinets made, I'll have to play it through my 4x12 that is a mix of Scumback G12M's and G12H's. Next step after the cabinets is to get some NOS EL84's and a 5751! I don't know if it's worth it to get NOS el84's. They don't last all that long. (although the Ghia is much easier on the tubes than the Maz Jr.) And the Doc makes his amps to be used with modern production tubes....as unreliable as they are. I would check the Ghia when it arrives, it may already have a 5751 in the PI. (mine did) An open back cab with a blue or gold is going to sound VERY different than a closed back 4x12. (And I don't care for G12H...and especially in a closed back cab. If someone's going to use that speaker, it's got to be in an open back...in my opinion of course.) I used to have multiple 1x12 cabinets. (I think I had a 12" Red Fang, a blue, a V30 and a Greenback) I thought I would mix and match multiple cabs depending on the gig. But all I ever used was one cabinet. This was back when I had a Maz Jr. Maybe you'll use both, but I never did. |
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Post by metalone72 on Sept 3, 2015 18:43:25 GMT -7
Today I received the Carmen Ghia and I got to take her for a little test spin this evening. What a cool little amp! So much flexibility for an amp with two knobs.   |
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Post by zed on Sept 4, 2015 2:17:41 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum and congrats on the Carmen Ghia!
I have the '08 Anni model myself, in black and tan.
Mine came in with a 1x12 with a V30, sounds great.
I picked up a Zbest 2x12 with two V30s, it sounds huge!
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Post by metalone72 on Sept 16, 2015 19:21:08 GMT -7
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Post by digs57 on Sept 17, 2015 7:06:43 GMT -7
you might be able to update your 84's and get a little mo sumthin out of her...money put into nos tubes...wow.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Sept 17, 2015 15:51:43 GMT -7
Those preamp tubes are going to last a LOT longer than the power tubes will. Don't just change them out unless there is a good reason. Tubes made in the 50's and 60's (preamp tubes like the 12AX7 family) have been know to last for 20,000 hours. That's ten years, 40 hours a week.
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