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Post by nicholas on Jul 3, 2017 12:36:23 GMT -7
In bound Ghia from Humbucker. Pretty excited. I'm hoping this will fill my skinny tube needs. Really looking forward to the simplicity. For some reason I passed up this amp a few times in favor of more control knobs and stuff. Some videos from Ian "bad poodle" and roknfnrol helped make the decision for me.  Life is Good when there is a new Z in the mail... |
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Post by simpleton on Jul 3, 2017 12:49:48 GMT -7
Ghia is the amp I miss the most. Hope you love yours.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 3, 2017 13:20:32 GMT -7
Ghia is the amp I miss the most. Hope you love yours. Thanks fuzzy. It just seems like an amp that will endure my neverending gas. Only time will tell. I'm getting excited about just two knobs. |
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 3, 2017 14:18:38 GMT -7
Two knobs are good! Congrats!
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Post by John on Jul 3, 2017 14:49:13 GMT -7
What's the speaker?
...and congrats...
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Post by nicholas on Jul 3, 2017 15:07:14 GMT -7
What's the speaker? ...and congrats... V30 |
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jul 3, 2017 17:59:48 GMT -7
I think you're in for a treat. It's such a cool amp.
And that color combination looks terrific! Classic.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 4, 2017 10:55:47 GMT -7
Thanks guys. I'm pretty excited. Looks like a "turn it on and play" type of amp, which is just what I'm looking for. I usually look for amps with reverb, as I just play at home and like what a little verb adds. But I've been kicking the verb off my JAZ lately and just getting lost in the tone, so I think I'll be ok without it.
Also humbucker sent me a note saying I could change to a creamback as most of the new ones come that way. I have a spare creamback, so I figured I'd just try the V30 and see. But now I'm thinking maybe I should go with the blue? I had on in my MAZ years ago and liked it a lot.
Any opinions on speakers with the Ghia? For reference I play a Les Paul with PAF stye pups and don't use pedals, just crank up the amp.
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Post by ss "Shane" on Jul 4, 2017 14:31:30 GMT -7
Thanks guys. I'm pretty excited. Looks like a "turn it on and play" type of amp, which is just what I'm looking for. I usually look for amps with reverb, as I just play at home and like what a little verb adds. But I've been kicking the verb off my JAZ lately and just getting lost in the tone, so I think I'll be ok without it. Also humbucker sent me a note saying I could change to a creamback as most of the new ones come that way. I have a spare creamback, so I figured I'd just try the V30 and see. But now I'm thinking maybe I should go with the blue? I had on in my MAZ years ago and liked it a lot. Any opinions on speakers with the Ghia? For reference I play a Les Paul with PAF stye pups and don't use pedals, just crank up the amp. I use a Creamback cab with my Ghia and love it. I'm not wanting for another speaker what so ever, just another cab for lower volumes. Creambacks are being made more available at Humbucker for a a reason. |
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jul 4, 2017 17:41:52 GMT -7
I just mentioned in another post about how the Ghia is like a chameleon when you change speakers and cabs, but my favorite right now is a 1x10 C Gold in an open back Z cab. It's so changeable and that is one of the great aspects of the design.
EDIT: When is it due, Nicholas? I'm looking forward to your report, brother!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2017 21:34:11 GMT -7
In bound Ghia from Humbucker. Pretty excited. I'm hoping this will fill my skinny tube needs. Really looking forward to the simplicity. For some reason I passed up this amp a few times in favor of more control knobs and stuff. Some videos from Ian "bad poodle" and roknfnrol helped make the decision for me. Life is Good when there is a new Z in the mail... Looks just like mine :-) I'm running an Avatar A25 (Blue clone) and it sounds nice - and about $120 cheaper than a Blue. |
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Post by TelePrankster on Jul 5, 2017 1:08:04 GMT -7
+1 on the 10'' Gold.
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Post by John on Jul 5, 2017 4:23:18 GMT -7
Although I never used a V30 with my ghia, many do and like it.
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Post by doctorice on Jul 5, 2017 5:49:43 GMT -7
Looks very sharp, Nick. I know you'll dig it.
My CG is set up with the 10" Red Fang: loud and proud.
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Post by TelePrankster on Jul 5, 2017 5:57:37 GMT -7
I don't think anyone could possibly dislike an amplifier like the CG, to be honest.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2017 12:02:43 GMT -7
Congratulations Nicholas!
Two knobs of tonal excellence...
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Post by nicholas on Jul 6, 2017 3:24:59 GMT -7
Thanks guys. I'm pretty excited. Looks like a "turn it on and play" type of amp, which is just what I'm looking for. I usually look for amps with reverb, as I just play at home and like what a little verb adds. But I've been kicking the verb off my JAZ lately and just getting lost in the tone, so I think I'll be ok without it. Also humbucker sent me a note saying I could change to a creamback as most of the new ones come that way. I have a spare creamback, so I figured I'd just try the V30 and see. But now I'm thinking maybe I should go with the blue? I had on in my MAZ years ago and liked it a lot. Any opinions on speakers with the Ghia? For reference I play a Les Paul with PAF stye pups and don't use pedals, just crank up the amp. I use a Creamback cab with my Ghia and love it. I'm not wanting for another speaker what so ever, just another cab for lower volumes. Creambacks are being made more available at Humbucker for a a reason. I ended up getting a Creamback. Turns out the V30 wasn't in stock. Seems to be the popular choice anyway. |
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Post by nicholas on Jul 6, 2017 3:26:16 GMT -7
EDIT: When is it due, Nicholas? I'm looking forward to your report, brother! Looks like Saturday if there aren't any delays.  |
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Post by ss "Shane" on Jul 6, 2017 4:47:13 GMT -7
I use a Creamback cab with my Ghia and love it. I'm not wanting for another speaker what so ever, just another cab for lower volumes. Creambacks are being made more available at Humbucker for a a reason. I ended up getting a Creamback. Turns out the V30 wasn't in stock. Seems to be the popular choice anyway. I think you will really like the Creamback. My speaker hunt ended after I bought one for my Therapy and I was so pleased with it I bought another Creamback to use with my Ghia. It's a great feeling not having to search for speakers. There are way too many speaker options on the market and trying to analyze them all online is mind numbing lol. I have a Vin 30 and the break in period is rough. I know it's an extremely popular speaker, but maybe I'm too impatient to really appreciate what it's capable of being after it breaks in. To me the Vin 30 is just to harsh where as the Creamback is so smooth and pleasing to my ears. Great choice! |
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Post by alex2murk on Jul 6, 2017 18:10:51 GMT -7
For a bit less volume, a greenback 10 sounds fantastic with a CG.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 7, 2017 16:57:02 GMT -7
I ended up getting a Creamback. Turns out the V30 wasn't in stock. Seems to be the popular choice anyway. I think you will really like the Creamback. My speaker hunt ended after I bought one for my Therapy and I was so pleased with it I bought another Creamback to use with my Ghia. It's a great feeling not having to search for speakers. There are way too many speaker options on the market and trying to analyze them all online is mind numbing lol. I have a Vin 30 and the break in period is rough. I know it's an extremely popular speaker, but maybe I'm too impatient to really appreciate what it's capable of being after it breaks in. To me the Vin 30 is just to harsh where as the Creamback is so smooth and pleasing to my ears. Great choice! This is interesting. I wonder if many others share this. No so much on liking your particular speaker mentioned, but liking one speaker with most amps? I had your same experience with a different speaker. The Warehouse G12C/S. I tried it for my JAZ and ended up loving it, and also in my (departed) Therapy as well. So naturally I'm thinking of a quick try with the incoming Ghia plugged into that speaker that's in my JAZ combo. I'm sort of at a point where I feel I have my speaker figured out, in general. But who knows with the Ghia. Can't wait to find out! I'm definitely gonna give the Creamback a good trial. It will be interesting to see where this goes. I was going to give the V30 a try since I already have a Creamback new in box. Figured try a speaker I don't have and if nothing else it's another speaker in the closet to try with something else someday. But my overall experience with the V30 isn't real good. Never liked it much. Don't hate it, but it always seemed to have a real peaky treble. Maybe I never let it break in enough... Ghia should be here tomorrow. Wife is working a night shift at the hospital tonight and will be sleeping all day! This will let me sneak it in nice and easy  |
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Post by nicholas on Jul 8, 2017 13:50:58 GMT -7
Today was a good day. The Ghia arrived safe and sound this morning. I may have set an all time record for unboxing, setting up and getting great tones. I also think I set a personal record for how long I sat down and actually played without messing with any knobs, or trying "this and that". The amp really couldn't be any simpler, and I don't see any trade off here. This thing sounds excellent. Going into this purchase my biggest concern was how it would handle my Les Paul's. That's my primary instrument. I've had a DRZ JAZ for a long time and love that amp. But it's 40 watts and I use them all. I was worried the Ghia might not hold up and fall apart. It does not. I was also wondering if the simple volume/tone arrangement would work for me. The "tone" control seems to work more like low pass filter, and it works great. It's seems to me like having an amp set with the tone stack bypassed, but with a filter to control how much low end to add/remove. However it is actually designed makes no difference. It works great. My biggest take away with the Ghia is how it blends a squishy feel with a solid sound punchy tone. Typically when I played a lower watt "saggy" amp with a 5Y3 rectifier the bass was loose and farty. So in my mind I was worried that might be the case here. The Ghia however has a great elastic feel but retains a tight punchy sound. That's a rare combination. I don't remember this quality with my MAZ, nor the DB4 or ZWreck. Not that any of those were farty, but I just don't recall this elastic feel. I really like it and it makes it easy to play. My Les Paul sounded great. I was getting some impressive BFG type tones with nothing more than a guitar cable. Then I tried "Uno". It's my garage built Jr style guitar. Jeez. I'm not sure it gets any better for vintage type tone. While I was totally sold on the tone from my humbucker equipped LP Custom... Old 'Uno' has never sounded better. P90's and the Ghia seems to be a perfect match. (This is splendid news because I have a dual P90 guitar in the mail!)   I'm really pleased with this amp. I can't believe I overlooked it all these years. Mine shipped with 12ax7's in both slots and they will stay. It's perfect..... |
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Post by purpletele on Jul 8, 2017 14:02:55 GMT -7
Good report!
I suspect you are still playing
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Post by Stephen on Jul 8, 2017 16:05:17 GMT -7
Did you get it in a Lite cabinet?
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Post by nicholas on Jul 8, 2017 17:33:16 GMT -7
Good report! I suspect you are still playing Yes I am . I caved and tried a pedal. Put a Catlinbread Talisman Reverb in front. Oh yeah!  |
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Post by nicholas on Jul 8, 2017 17:39:30 GMT -7
Did you get it in a Lite cabinet? Yes. I'm pretty sure all his combos are built in that manner now. That style was introduced with the ZWreck combo. These just have front facing controls (which I welcome). |
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Post by nicholas on Jul 8, 2017 19:40:25 GMT -7
Okay. I just turned the volume all the way up. This thing is nuts. I'm never coming out of my jam room
At this point I'm thinking the only thing better than a Carmen Ghia is two of them. This thing rips.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2017 8:29:44 GMT -7
Great to hear you're a happy camper Nicholas.
That Jaz w/Z-Wreck grill looks sweet too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2017 9:39:00 GMT -7
The Ghia is simply an incredible amp.
If there's a sound that's not in there, I don't want it.
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Post by KeithA on Jul 9, 2017 9:47:28 GMT -7
Okay. I just turned the volume all the way up. This thing is nuts. I'm never coming out of my jam room At this point I'm thinking the only thing better than a Carmen Ghia is two of them. This thing rips. I'm going to have to revisit mine tonight. I have only ever used single cilis into it 😳 |
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