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Post by adam on Jul 13, 2021 16:39:56 GMT -7
Just wanted to share my experience so far with the Ghia. When I first got it, I kind of didn't know what to do with it, or maybe how it related to known sounds in my head that I'm used to, or something like that. Tried it in a bunch of cabs and while it always sounded "good", I kind of could never picture how I would use it. Fast forward a couple months of playing it a little bit every day and it's now the number one thing I want to plug into when I have time to play. Something really gratifying or rewarding about it that I can't really lay my finger on to turn into an explanation. It's just so fun to play. That's my story.
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Post by simpleton on Jul 13, 2021 16:45:35 GMT -7
The GHIA really got me out of twisting knobs and into playing. Finding a speaker that translates the tone you do or don’t want to hear will help solve the full riddle of the Ghia. It’s a great amp and really sounds good turned up in a band setting.
Enjoy!
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Post by nmz on Jul 13, 2021 20:26:23 GMT -7
Ghia rocks!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jul 14, 2021 1:07:56 GMT -7
In my living room right now I've got a CAZ, Z Plus, EZG50, and a Ghia. I'm plugged into the Ghia, it fills a hole that no other amp can. Unique and great, mine's in a studio cab with a 10" Greenback.
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Post by adam on Jul 14, 2021 3:29:15 GMT -7
In my living room right now I've got a CAZ, Z Plus, EZG50, and a Ghia. I'm plugged into the Ghia, it fills a hole that no other amp can. Unique and great, mine's in a studio cab with a 10" Greenback. Funny how that works when you have all those stellar amps and the Ghia gets the nod. I'm really liking it in my Z 1x12 closed back with a V30. Like they were made for each other.
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Post by Russell B on Jul 14, 2021 3:36:08 GMT -7
There's really nothing like the Ghia. It has it's own thing going on. I saw it in the background of the Tom Sawyer video and wondered what you though about it.
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Post by adam on Jul 14, 2021 3:46:35 GMT -7
There's really nothing like the Ghia. It has it's own thing going on. I saw it in the background of the Tom Sawyer video and wondered what you though about it. I was still trying to figure it out.
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My Ghia
Jul 14, 2021 5:54:50 GMT -7
Post by doctorice on Jul 14, 2021 5:54:50 GMT -7
adam, what tube is in the V1 position on your Ghia? If it's a 12ax7, which is Doc's current production spec, you might enjoy swapping it out for something different. My recollection is that when NOS 5751s were available, Doc used those. (I know that's what's in my CG.) Not better, of course, just a different flavor.
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Post by spencer096 on Jul 14, 2021 6:41:34 GMT -7
Same setup as you…Ghia into a v30. My all time fav amp
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Post by nmz on Jul 14, 2021 7:07:34 GMT -7
Same (V30), my favorite Ghia guitar is a Les Paul.
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My Ghia
Jul 14, 2021 9:11:42 GMT -7
via mobile
adam likes this
Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Jul 14, 2021 9:11:42 GMT -7
Me too man. Ghia + V30 for life. Plug any guitar in and give the knobs a spin and it’s instant pure magic every time. At least one good daily dosage is highly recommended.
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Post by adam on Jul 14, 2021 14:30:38 GMT -7
adam, what tube is in the V1 position on your Ghia? If it's a 12ax7, which is Doc's current production spec, you might enjoy swapping it out for something different. My recollection is that when NOS 5751s were available, Doc used those. (I know that's what's in my CG.) Not better, of course, just a different flavor. I'm assuming stock 12ax7 whatever it came with. In my tube grab bag, doc included a nos 5751 and told me to try in the phase inverter position (V2). Being the good kid my parents raised me to be, I listened to my elders and what do you know... just what I was looking for in that amp, and it's magic. Until he tells me otherwise, it's staying that way. For anyone wondering about that nos tube in V2, it adds more clean headroom and it doc's words, creates a kind of "hollow sound". Some people might like the grit of the stock tube, and it might be better with certain guitars or whatever, but I really like it with the NOS tube.
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My Ghia
Jul 14, 2021 14:49:00 GMT -7
nmz likes this
Post by adam on Jul 14, 2021 14:49:00 GMT -7
Same (V30), my favorite Ghia guitar is a Les Paul. My LP custom sounds fantastic in the Ghia, like my best amp with that guitar. That guitar has a pretty dense and warm sound, much more so than my LP standard with the fancy expensive old school pickups. Kills with my tele and sg too. Both of those are really low output, which I think interesting because the LP custom is pretty high output. I hear you!
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Post by adam on Jul 14, 2021 14:50:03 GMT -7
Me too man. Ghia + V30 for life. Plug any guitar in and give the knobs a spin and it’s instant pure magic every time. At least one good daily dosage is highly recommended.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jul 14, 2021 16:53:02 GMT -7
One thing about the Ghia is that it's very, very responsive to different brands of tubes and speakers. It magnifies the difference of anything that's plugged into it, be it a guitar, a tube, or a speaker. Probably more than any other amp I own. And the thing that is really, really cool about it is the controls. I laughed the first time I saw two knobs on the panel. Then I got to know the amp.
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Post by eggman on Jul 15, 2021 15:02:02 GMT -7
Howdy, I'm happy for you Adam., the Ghia's fantastic, but I figured that our within seconds of plugging an ES-335 into her. I can't get a bad tone from the Ghia.
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My Ghia
Jul 16, 2021 4:22:27 GMT -7
Post by doctorice on Jul 16, 2021 4:22:27 GMT -7
adam, what tube is in the V1 position on your Ghia? If it's a 12ax7, which is Doc's current production spec, you might enjoy swapping it out for something different. My recollection is that when NOS 5751s were available, Doc used those. (I know that's what's in my CG.) Not better, of course, just a different flavor. I'm assuming stock 12ax7 whatever it came with. In my tube grab bag, doc included a nos 5751 and told me to try in the phase inverter position (V2). Being the good kid my parents raised me to be, I listened to my elders and what do you know... just what I was looking for in that amp, and it's magic. Until he tells me otherwise, it's staying that way. For anyone wondering about that nos tube in V2, it adds more clean headroom and it doc's words, creates a kind of "hollow sound". Some people might like the grit of the stock tube, and it might be better with certain guitars or whatever, but I really like it with the NOS tube. Interesting. I'm pretty sure mine came with it in V1, but this sounds like a fun tube swap to try.
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Post by adam on Jul 16, 2021 6:11:18 GMT -7
Just wanted to say it was neat to see everyone jump in here about their passion for this amp. It's pretty special.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 16, 2021 9:46:16 GMT -7
Just wanted to say it was neat to see everyone jump in here about their passion for this amp. It's pretty special. I've got 4 different versions of the Ghia - all different and all really fun to play!
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My Ghia
Jul 16, 2021 16:56:02 GMT -7
Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Jul 16, 2021 16:56:02 GMT -7
doctorice Did you buy your Ghia new? My used racing stripe Ghia I got in a recent trade showed up with the 5751 in V1, though the factory tube chart stapled in the head cab says 5751 in V2. I mean, you can use a 5751 in V1, it’s not “wrong” per say, though I personally find them a bit colder or sterile and dull in V1 by comparison to a good ECC83... But back to the point, IIRC, Doc has classically used the 5751 in the V2 phase inverter position, current production Ghias use a Tung Sol 12ax7 in V2, and factory V1 has been the JJ ECC83 for quite some time. Z’s website confirms the current production factory tube info I mentioned. Also, fwiw, after lots of tube chasing with Ghias quite a bit over the years I’ve found I really dig the factory tube setup because it seems to give me the most from the amp. Strange, I know , but the Ghia is so amazing that way, it’s not something I even think about anymore.
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My Ghia
Jul 17, 2021 5:23:57 GMT -7
Post by doctorice on Jul 17, 2021 5:23:57 GMT -7
No, it was used. The amp is stored in another location presently, so I can't check which slot the 5751 is in. I'll do that next time I pull out the amp.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Jul 17, 2021 6:43:35 GMT -7
My Ghia has two homes. I have a head cab and a 1x10 combo cab, so I have the ability to adapt according to my needs. Match it it with my 1x12 convertible or my 2x10 convertible. The 1x10 which I purchased from a fellow member here has a 1x12 baffle I can swap in. Kind of a best of all worlds for the Ghia.
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Post by captainron (Ron) on Aug 2, 2021 14:02:54 GMT -7
What a great sounding amp! Ghia=TONE!
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