Dr. Z Carmen Ghia 18w 1x10 Combo Amp W/Master Vol 35th Anniversary
Marking our 35th Anniversary in business, Dr. Z presents the Carmen Ghia as a 1×10 combo, an amplifier design that has been in continual production in our lineup and is the first model sold under the Dr. Z banner. With its inception in 1988, the Carmen Ghia launched the business: a company that has weathered over 3 decades in the musical instrument marketplace without faulter, firmly establishing the Dr. Z name amongst music’s greats, past, present, and future. The Carmen Ghia is the distillation of the company’s goal: manageable volume, jaw-dropping tone, without compromise, utilizing a pure, direct signal path from amp, to speaker, to audience.
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?”
Fast-forward to 2023, the 35th Anniversary edition of the Carmen Ghia is built to the exact same specifications as it always has been, hand-wired by veteran builders in our Cleveland, OH shop. This year we have added one important feature: a post-phase inverter master volume (PPIMV) that has been specifically integrated into the circuit to achieve versatile low-volume overdrive, but remain entirely out of the signal path when turned to its maximum setting. Pair this with a light weight 1×10 cabinet loaded with a WGS Veteran 30 10” speaker (the first Dr. Z/WGS pairing in company history), and you have a unique, yet simple, elegant, but easy to dial-in amplifier perfect for small gigs, studio sessions, prayer/worship use, and at-home practice. 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.
The Ghia 1×10 combo is in limited production through 2023 and comes branded with a 35th Anniversary commemorative badge on its grill cloth, as well a special Certificate of Authenticity signed by its designer, Mike Zaite, aka Dr.Z.
Output Power: 18 Watts
Output Tubes: 2 – NOS Mil Spec 6n14n (EL84 variant)
Preamp Tubes: 2 – 12AX7/ECC83
Rectifier: 5Y3
Controls: Volume, Tone, Master
Configuration: 1×10 Combo w/ WGS Veteran 30 10″ speaker and 35th Anni. badge
Dimensions & Weight: 1×10 Combo: 17 1/2” W, 17” H, 10” D; 30 lbs.
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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.