DR Z Z-Plus
Specifications
Power Output 7/15 Watts
(half power mode)
Output Tubes 2 – 6V6
(Class A, cathode biased)
Preamp Tubes 4 – 12AX7,
1 – 12AT7
Rectifier 1 –
5AR4
Controls Volume,
Treble, Mid, Bass, Cut, Master Volume, Reverb
Other 4, 8, 16 Ohm
Effects loop
Variable Boost Footswitch
Parallel, Single-Ended Design
Colors Black
Dimensions & Weight 1×12 Studio Combo: 22.5” W, 20” H, 10 ” D; 38 lbs.
General Information
When Joe Walsh approached Dr. Z for a new amp to use on the
latest Eagles' tour, he harkened back to the legendary recordings with the
James Gang, where Joe was using small, single ended Tweed combos. Never one to
be satisfied with rehashing old designs, Dr. Z and Joe Walsh upped the ante by
looking to hi-fi audio amplifiers; from this the Z-PLUS was born.
The Z-PLUS is a parallel, single-end amplifier in true Class
A configuration, which yields a rich clean tone that smoothly overdrives into gritty,
harmonic-laden distortion. Single-ended, Class A operation produces full
even-order harmonics which are typically cancelled in traditional push-pull,
Class A/B tube amp designs. The result is sparkling and satisfying tone with
the full range of 2nd and 4th order harmonics with clarity akin to an full
bodied, acoustic guitar. While typically class A designs are limited by lower
clean headroom, the Z-PLUS utilizes two 6V6 power tubes in parallel which
increases clean headroom, per Joe Walsh's request.
For the best of both worlds, the inclusion of a half-power
switch drops the second 6V6 out of operation, rewarding you with touch
responsive drive, dynamic compression, and lowered headroom. All of the typical
Dr. Z features are included: full EQ with master volume and cut, hi and lo
sensitivity inputs, an effects loop, a rich reverb circuit, and our variable
boost footswitch. The output transformer is a special design for this amp,
constructed with the highest grade M-6 stacked laminates, coupled with our
custom all-aluminum chassis, and built like a tank to UL-60065 specifications.
The Z-PLUS is available in our standard Ultra-Lite 1×12 combo or smaller
studio-lite combo with either a ceramic Z12 Eminence designed speaker, or an
upgraded Celestion Alnico Blue.