Ghia for Rockabilly?

[mrpendleton]

Would a Ghia make a good rockabilly amp? Do Ghias work well with delay pedals?

[ss "Shane"]

IMO yes and yes. I have to say that I never actually play that style of music, but my playing has some of its influence. Personally I think rockabilly sounds better not so clean, but clean with a little hair. This is where the Ghia shines. It's great with all of my pickups, singles, hums and mini hums.

Delay pedals...mine is always on and I use it for ambiance instead of using reverb. I use an analog delay because I prefer the more natural tone. Basically I'm so in love with both of my Z's tone (Therapy and Ghia) to where I don't want anything coloring what the Doctor created. I use the MXR Carbon Copy.

[southmusic70]

I've gotten so I feel like the Ghia makes a good ANYTHING amp, particularly for smaller/quieter venues (but they also sound good properly miked up).

Actually, I can get my Gretsch or Tele pretty close to that rockabilly sound.

[j4gitr (John)]

I too use my delay almost always on with my Ghia. At church I adjust the delay for a variety of effects. You'll love it.

[nixpix]

Yes I find it to be a great amp for it. Rockabilly is a lot of fingerpicking, which is dynamic by nature. The Ghia is a very touch responsive amp so it's a good complement.

How it responds depends a lot on the guitar you use and the volume of the amp. The amp compresses at higher volumes, especially with higher output pickups, so I often prefer a digital delay for clarity. Since analog delays already have a warm, compressed sound, the slapback repeat can sound mushy.

[ianrossiter]

Never tried the Gia, but both my MAZ's (38/8) work great for Rockabilly.

[mrpendleton]

Thanks guys I have an opportunity to join a rockabilly band, and I don't want to buy another amp. I love my Ghia, but I heard they didn't work well with reverb pedals. I didn't know about delay pedals. It sounds so good without effects, that I hate to use any, but you really need a delay with rockabilly. Thanks again!

[Mark (Basement Enthusiast)]

The Ghia is a good anything amp, really... just depends on what guitar you're plugging into it, which pedals, and which speaker it's being sent to. It's a very sensitive amp (translation: flexible) to all those factors.

Speaking of flexibility, if you don't want to have to upgrade amps, the Z-Drive pedal--with its Treble/Middle/Bass controls and two separate drive options--would be a perfect companion to expand the somewhat-limited Ghia's singular tone control. In fact, I can't think of a more fitting amp to use the Z-Drive with than the Ghia.

[ianrossiter]

Jul 25, 2016 15:30:54 GMT -7 mrpendleton said:

Thanks guys I have an opportunity to join a rockabilly band, and I don't want to buy another amp. I love my Ghia, but I heard they didn't work well with reverb pedals. I didn't know about delay pedals. It sounds so good without effects, that I hate to use any, but you really need a delay with rockabilly. Thanks again!

DO IT DOT IT DO IT!!!
Rockablly is where all the cool music hangs out; it has Jazz,Blues,Country,Swing,Rock and ROLL,Gospel,all wrapped up in it. Good Rockabilly has an infectious energy to it that's undeniable!!

[bryan0418]

Check out the Strymon Deco for the Rockabilly band. It will give that tape slap back with the warm drive of the tape saturation. Would be great through a Ghia. 

[ianrossiter]

I've had really good luck with the TC Flashback,Visual Sound Tap Delay and the Tuetone H2o for Slapback with my MAZ's.

[deltone]

Ghia just seems to sound right no matter what genre you throw at it.