This design started out as an ultra-tiny head. It was originally housed in a case about the size of a lunch box, and used NOS, Hammond Organ transformers. It was designed to be simple, small, and sonorous: so that's 3 out of 3 for the doc. From a musician's point of view, Mike Zaite (AKA Dr. Z), has a clear vision of what he wants to hear, and he's got a unique way of achieving it. Someone with more technical training than us, accused the Dr. of elegant design concepts. Maybe he flat out, charms the tone out of the circuit, because he certainly doesn't fry a bunch of 12AX-7's to achieve a full sound.
The Ghia is his smallest, least complex amp, and we got ours among the first handful built into the larger "3/4 size" heads. It has a volume, and single tone control that works vaguely along the lines of the pot in a wah-wah pedal. The tube compliment consists of a 12Ax7, and one 12BH-7, in the preamp section, a 5y3 rectifier, and two El-84s to drive it home. The use of the 12Bh-7, (Hi-Fi) tube speaks volumes as to the doctor's commitment to the quality of sound over massive square wave generation. He doesn't build heavy metal amplifiers.the guy has his own style!
If our lives depended on comparing the Ghia to another Amp, we'd call this as somewhat akin to a Fender "Deluxe Tweed". Don't let that go in too deep though, because the Carmen Ghia is less distorted, a little louder, (about 18 watts max), and doesn't have the somewhat shapeless low end response of the Deluxe Tweed that this reporter owned. Great punch for such a little power section.
The Carmen Ghia produces an overdrive at about 2/3 volume, that is very pleasing to the ear. It may be loud; but instinct doesn't kick in, where you hold your ears. Even the modest distortion is musical: you'll notice it immediately: Ghias are quality Merch, and have been spotted in a number of recording studios. Despite their size, (and price), these are not "practice Amps". Dr. Z also makes bigger amps with more buzzers, and bells, used by players we've all heard; and yet, he remains merciful as all get out, on his prices. A super nice guy!
PS This amp is loud enough to play small clubs without a problem. It also has the punch and clarity, to allow you to play the next larger size audience, by placing a clear booster in the line, (like a ZVex Super Hard-On), for the louder stuff.
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