Hi..i had on order a Carmen ghia amp and the dealer called me up and said he just got a Maz 18 jr. in and asked if i was interested in it.... has anybody tried both of tese amps? any input would be appreciated....they are both 4 10s and the maz hs more tone variety and reverb for another $400...please respond

hey, jt,
i actually tried both of these amps at a store near nashville a couple of weeks ago. the maz they had was a 2x10 combo, and the carmen ghia was just a head, but i played it through the maz cabinet. these amps are very different in my limited experience. the maz seems to be much brighter- it actually sounded to me like a high wattage amp that's been cranked. the carmen ghia is more easily driven it seemed (what i'd expect from approx. 15 watts). this doesn't really make sense since they're both rated around the same wattage, but they sounded completely different to me. anyway, i would suggest trying both if you can- they're both wonderful amps, just different. cheers...

Thanks Justin....did you miss the reverb on the ghia?

reverb's definitely a must for me, but i loved the ghia so much that i'll probably just get a separate reverb tank (fender) when i finally take the plunge and buy a new amp. the maz 18 was nice, too, but the ghia was something i immediately fell for. if i could only have them all...

Thans again....i hate to keep this going but......was it the overdrive that turned you on? i am looking for something versatile for different situations.....i talked to Dr z and he said they are different .he also said that the Ghia nails the Zep 1 album tone to a "T". I need to play clean as well as overdriven.howwas the overdrive tone of the Maz.sometims blues...sometimes jazz....sometimes covers.....do you feel the ghia can cover those bases? does the gia have enough headroom to do some clean at higher volumes?..i have a 68 super reverb and i am looking for a nice contrast to that amp...sorry for all te questions...i don't have a place to try them out near me....thanks again...i would gladly buy you a beer but i guees we have to wait for technology to catch up to pull that one off over the internet...

You could use paypal to send him the money for a beer.

.....i have a 68 super reverb and i am looking for a nice contrast to that amp...

Good timing-- Im in the process of rigging up a rig with Z ghia and a Quad reverb, 4 speakers,split them into pairs,, get two eight ohm speakers for the bottom and use them for the Super/Quad, use the top two for the z.or you can plug both pairs in using the ext. cab output..........then if you want to play in stereo with the Z you just need something to switch betweent them... cool 'little' rig..........

hi, I've got a Mazerati (Ghia's big brother) and I've played thru a buddy's Maz18, here's my take. Very crudely, the Ghia will take you in a more "marshally" direction, the Maz in a more "fendery" direction (though either of the DrZ amps is superior to the standards IMO). The Maz18 is probably the most sweet and articulate single coil amp I've ever played through, it's the brighter of the two as mentioned above, but like a fender I didn't like it as much with humbuckers as single coils (still nice, but not quite fat enough). The Ghia (I'm actually talking about my Mazerati, the 4xEL84 version) will take you more into Billy Gibbons, Angus, sure early Page territory. With single coils the sound is big, smooth, and "rounder" than the Maz. Beautiful but not too fender. With humbuckers the amp breaks up pretty early (my Mazerati does, I assume the Ghia even more so). I love it, I don't use reverb anyway, it works for me. For clean with the Ghia, I'd think Dickey Betts not Mark Knopfler. Your ears may vary! Both great amps, get 'em both if you can, otherwise hopefully you can try before you buy. Good luck, -Guy

Well that was kind ofthe 'problem'... the mazerati sounds a good deal different than a ghia,,,, its not just a louder ghia.....for some reason by adding the extra two power tubes it loses alot of the sparkle and magic that the ghia has and sounds more marshally and loses that voxy high end.......I think Id rather have 2 ghias than 1 Maz......

a Maz with 4x10s??? woah!!!

anyways, if i understand it, the Ghia only has a volume, treble, bass knobs, whereas the Maz's got also a master volume, cut, and reverb. much more versatile. but then again there's the tone. the Ghia is more a ZZ top type of amp and the Maz is more texas blues meets british voxy chime. either way, I'd go with the maz. alot more options and it sounds amazing with single coils, it's prolly just as great with humbuckers.

actually, the ghia only has two knobs: volume and tone. a tweaker-hater's dream.

I've been playing the Maz 18 Jr. head for over a year now, and it's THE amp for me. I really wouldn't worry about it being too bright because the "cut" control is very effective and usable. Overdrive is smooth (assuming you're pushing it hard enough) and the clean tones are very lush. You'll want to use a good OD pedal with it. I prefer the Fulldrive. Don't base your decision solely on reverb, though, because the Maz 18's reverb is nothing to write home about. It's not bad, but it's not special, either.

Does the MAz have an effects loop ?

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Does the MAz have an effects loop ?

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Not stock, but I've heard of people ordering them from Dr. Z with an effects loop option. You'd have to wait the full lead time or find a used amp that has one. I honestly don't see the need for one because the master volume is not a high gain kind of deal. Plus, I think delay in particular sounds coolest before the preamp because successive delays get cleaner as they hit the input softer.

well, did you decide??? i finally decided on a Maz 18 Head which i love. i'm looking to get a jenkins 1x12 w/ Alinco Blue.

I actually bought both....kept the GHIA as it was better for my needs....what a great raw amp..tone tone tone....the maz 18 was great definately favored the strat but sounded a little too compressed to me....i just oredered a srz 65 head...anybody try one yet?....And on the Jenkins.....he mad a 1x12 for my ghia that is amazing....definatley get one.....can be used as open or closed back.beautiful

JT,

did you get the Maz Combo or the head??? also, how loud is the Ghia thru the jenkins and what's the speakers inside?? sorry just curious.

I got the 2x10 combo..great amp just not my flavor....i have a 1x12 jenkins with a V30 and yes its loud....enough i believe to jam with a few friends and small clubs where volume is an issue.great tone