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Post by mickey on Oct 25, 2016 8:31:43 GMT -7
I'm really thinking hard about this now, selling my Ghia head for a Maz Jr reverb head. My Maz Sr is going nowhere, still sounds great with my Airbrake and a few pedals. The Ghia has always been a backup really, only ever used it on a handful of gigs. Sounds great in its own right, but really I'd like reverb and more EQ, and the Maz Jr seems ideal. I'm sure I'd take it out more than the Ghia. perhaps without the Airbrake. I've toyed with getting a Z-Lux, but I already have an old Deluxe Reverb and prefer using my Maz. If you've made the change, how do you feel about it now?
Yes, there's no substitute for playing through one, but it's a bit of a trek to Peach Guitars and I never seem to find the time! It's a big decision as used ones rarely come up, and I'd need to stump up a fair amount of cash to fund the switch.
I know this topic has cropped up before, so apologies if anyone feels bored by it!
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Post by Ridgeback on Oct 25, 2016 8:50:17 GMT -7
Not exactly what you were asking as I had the Maz 18 NR first. The Ghia was my second Z and while it had a cool and unique voicing, it never really measured up to the Maz for me. I tried it through a bunch of different speakers and cabs over the 5-6 years I owned it but I wound up playing and enjoying the Maz more. I always thought the Ghia would be a more useful amp if the tone pot sweep were modified so that it covered more than just the 11:00 to 1:00 range of the stock tone pot. Outside of that limited range, I didn't find many useful tones regardless of what guitar or speaker I was using. Just my experience as a not very talented player. I eventually burned out on the whole el-84 tone thing and both amps are gone now.
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Post by lowbudget on Oct 25, 2016 8:51:43 GMT -7
You can kinda get the Maz Jr. to cover a Ghia if you need and want to but not so much the other way around. And not everybody is happy throwing a reverb pedal in front of the Ghia, so there's that.
I love 'em both, but if I could only have one it'd be the Maz Jr. It has to be one of the most versatile amps ever created.
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Post by digs57 on Oct 25, 2016 11:25:52 GMT -7
Had both...albeit the 1/10...portable as heck...needed more tone alternatives...as good a amp as it was...my 18s are here to stay...
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Post by mickey on Oct 26, 2016 12:54:07 GMT -7
Thanks for these insights, really you've confirmed what I had guessed; the Ghia has it's own character, and I do like that, but I would prefer the more blackface/voxy characteristics of the Maz, and it's greater versatility. Also, reverb is important to me, and it's true, while my Mini HOF does a good job in front of the Ghia, it never works as well as when it's built into the amp. So, decision kind of made, but I do need to convince my lovely wife, who has lived through too many of my GAS attacks in the past!
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Post by mickey on Nov 3, 2016 9:58:15 GMT -7
Update....I had a good offer for my Ghia, but I have just turned it down. Thing is, my Maz 38 does what I want it to so well, and right now I can only find a new Maz 18 to partner it rather than a used one, which means stumping up more £££ than I feel comfortable with right now. I've been playing my Ghia trying to convince myself that I should sell it, but it didn't work, that amp still sounds pretty darn good. So for now I'm sticking with what I have, and if a nice red Maz 18 reverb head should become available I'll think again. At least the missus no longer has to worry!
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Post by Maddog on Nov 3, 2016 10:38:03 GMT -7
"I have traded my Ghia for a Maz Jr and not looked back," said no one ever.....
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Post by mickey on Oct 2, 2017 10:06:34 GMT -7
Update....just ordered a Maz Jr head/reverb. Unfortunately I'll be selling my Ghia to help fund this, and possibly my 2x10 cab which I rarely use. The Maz is new but old stock, so the latest version. I'll get it in a couple of days.
Hope I'm doing the right thing and there's not too much overlap between the Mazes, my Maz Sr has been my main gigging amp for some years now, and I don't see that changing, but the Maz Jr will give me more tonal variety than the Ghia, and who knows, I may even end up using it more than my Sr.
Time will tell.....
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 2, 2017 11:38:18 GMT -7
Congrats Mick , I feel you will be very happy with the Jr.
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Post by zpilot on Oct 2, 2017 11:39:00 GMT -7
My money is on you using the Jr most and maybe all of the time once you find out how close it is in volume to your Sr. Being able to turn the Master up more than the Sr really allows the Jr to shine.
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Post by mickey on Oct 2, 2017 11:39:19 GMT -7
Thanks Frank, I'll let you know!
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Post by mickey on Oct 2, 2017 23:56:12 GMT -7
My money is on you using the Jr most and maybe all of the time once you find out close it is in volume to your Sr. Being able to turn the Master up more than the Sr really allows the Jr to shine. Interesting, if I can get the same depth out of the Jr you may well be right. I always thought the Sr has a bit more authority and is a bit smoother sounding, but I'm looking forward to maybe being proved wrong.
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Post by pcns on Oct 20, 2017 8:14:59 GMT -7
My first Z amp was a Maz Jr. I loved it and used it for 2 years. I got GAS for other amps and sold it. I miss the Jr but not enough to give up my Carmen Ghia to get one back.
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Post by mickey on Oct 20, 2017 12:51:45 GMT -7
I'm getting on well with the Jr, like it a lot. It's a better match for me than the Ghia, which is now for sale, but the Ghia is still an awesome amp and I'd keep it if I could.
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Post by digs57 on Oct 20, 2017 15:46:11 GMT -7
Still wouldn't mind having a another 1/10 gab and go...
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Post by mickey on Nov 4, 2017 8:11:42 GMT -7
Well it's taken me a year to get this sorted, but the Ghia went to a new home today, together with my 2x10 cab. Didn't really want to sell the cab, but realistically my 1x12 gets all the gigs and the guy wanted the amp and cab together, so the deal was done. I bought a new unboxed Maz Jr/rev head a few weeks ago, and it's done every gig since, so I would say the change is a success; the Ghia is a really great amp, but the Jr is a better match for me, so no regrets! No plans to part with the Maz Sr though....
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2017 8:16:13 GMT -7
My MAZ 18 lives at the studio. I haven't used it on a gig since I got my Ghia and Cure.
Doc continues to come up with tremendous amps but I'm sure glad I have that Ghia. It gives me more feedback on my playing than any amp I've ever used.
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Post by mickey on Nov 4, 2017 11:50:00 GMT -7
My MAZ 18 lives at the studio. I haven't used it on a gig since I got my Ghia and Cure. Doc continues to come up with tremendous amps but I'm sure glad I have that Ghia. It gives me more feedback on my playing than any amp I've ever used. Ah....horses for courses then! As I said, I would have kept the Ghia, but for me the Maz Jr eclipsed it, and one had to go.
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