Dr. Z Carmen Ghia 18w 1x10 Combo Amp w/ Master Volume & Eminence Z10 Speaker
At first glance, the Carmen Ghia looks rather, well, modest. Is this why, over the past 35 years, the Ghia leaves so many people floored from the first note? Or is it the notes spilling out with a warmth, complexity, and sustain that one would never expect from such a small amp. Each pluck has a hugeness to it that belies it’s 18 watt power section. All this before the amp really starts to sing. As you turn the Volume clockwise, the clean tones resonate even bigger than they were. Sustain rolls out smoothly, as musical as you have ever heard it. Notes seem to hang in the air forever. Rich, harmonic overdrive is easily coaxed just by digging into the strings. Just seconds into playing it, you’ll have trouble putting your guitar down as the hours pass like minutes. The Carmen Ghia interacts with your guitar, your touch is in complete control of the amp, it’s dynamics, it’s distortion, it produces a sound that is as uncanny as you.
Early in the company’s history, Dr. Z would visit Ohio area guitar shows with the Carmen Ghia in tow. A seemingly diminutive 18-watt amp was a curiosity in the 1980s, a musical era marked by the mantra of “more, more, more.” More watts, more channels, more knobs, but backbreaking weight, headaches from complex signal routing, and frustration from multiple points of failure. Dr. Z had a unique package with 2 knobs, one channel, all hand-wired; a striking concept. During the hours before these events were open to the public, other vendors would have the opportunity to peruse each other’s gear and to his surprise and amusement, the majority of the sales he would make during these shows would be to the guitar shops and luthiers that were exhibiting alongside him! The typically jaded vendors who had thought that had “heard it all” found the Carmen Ghia to be the perfect vessel to exhibit the various guitars they were selling, as it was a no-frills, plug-and-play amp that sounded great and demonstrated the genuine voice of the guitar and player that were plugged into it. This experience birthed Dr. Z’s credo: “volume, tone, what more do you need?”
This amp has become a favorite with discerning tone aficionados around the world, from the smallest bar backroom stages, to hit-making recording sessions. The Carmen Ghia turned 35 in 2023 and with this milestone, Dr. Z outfitted it in identical fashion to his personal amp, including a post-phase inverter master volume in this classic circuit. The amp’s characteristic voice is now attainable at all volume levels, from bedroom to stage. Turning the control to it’s most clockwise stop effectively removes it from the circuit, allowing the player to experience the Ghia’s “vintage” voicing: loud and proud. To top off our 35th birthday with a “cherry,” Dr. Z has hand-selected his favorite EL84 variant for this amp, a pair of NOS 6n14n power tubes, matched and tested in our shop, making the amp ready for years of rugged reliability and rich tone.
- Power Output: 18 Watts
- Output Tubes: 2 – EL84
- Preamp Tubes: 2 – 12AX7/ECC83
- Rectifier: 5Y3
- Controls: Volume, Tone. What more do you need?*
- *(Apparently a master volume, new for 2024!)
- Dimensions & Weight:17 1/2” W, 17” H, 10” D; 30 lbs.
Payment Terms - Orders Internet orders may be paid for using the following methods: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. For phone or mail orders you may pay money orders and cashier's checks by mail. Just call us at 773-525-7773 to place your order. All non-credit-card orders are subject to a 10-business-day hold. We do not accept international credit card or PayPal payments from international accounts. For international security reasons, please call the store to arrange a Bank Wire: +01-773-525-7773.
Shipping Charges - Taxes and Title Separate charges for shipping and handling will be shown on your order form. As a security precaution, initial orders and orders shipping to alternate addresses may be held for extended verification. We reserve the right to make partial shipments, which will not relieve you of your obligation to pay for the remaining deliveries. All items purchased from Chicago Music Exchange are made pursuant to a shipment contract. This means that the risk of loss and title for such items passes to you upon our delivery to the carrier. The published rates are for US domestic shipping only. Contact us directly if you wish to place an international order. For more information on our shipping policies, including rates, delivery times, and delays, please visit our website at chicagomusicexchange or call us at: 773-525-7773. If applicable, a separate charge for taxes will be shown on the invoice. We are required to collect sales tax on all orders shipped to Illinois.
3-Day / 15-day Return Policy If you are not completely satisfied with any product, return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of your choice. We give you 3 days from the shipping date on Vintage instruments, and 15 days on New instruments. Credit card returns are issued a credit for purchase price. Refunds are made for product value only, excluding shipping and handling charges. New, Unopened items: You may return most NEW, untouched, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.) we'll also pay the return shipping costs. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. Vintage, Used items: We have to evaluate vintage and used guitars, amps, and other items on a case by case basis. We spend a lot of time with you and the item before your purchase to try to avoid any surprises after your purchase. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, we strive to issue your refund sooner. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). Send your return to: Chicago Music Exchange 3316 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60657 The following items are returnable only if defective OR unopened or unused: strings, harmonicas, microphones, cleaners, polishes, and polishing cloths. Software/soundware, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and videos may be returned for credit only if they are in their original, sealed packaging. If defective, these items will only be exchanged for the same product. For complete details on our guarantees, shipping, and return policies, please contact our Customer Service Department at 773-525-7773; fax us at 773-525-2775; visit our website at www.chicagomusicexchange.com, or write us at Chicago Music Exchange, 3316 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.