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 sa�sfied 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 configura�on, which yields a rich clean tone that
smoothly overdrives into gri�y, harmonic-laden distor�on. Single-ended, Class A opera�on produces full
even-order harmonics which are typically cancelled in tradi�onal push-pull, Class A/B tube amp designs. The
result is sparkling and sa�sfying tone with the full range of 2nd and 4th order harmonics with clarity akin to
an full bodied, acous�c guitar. While typically class A designs are limited by lower clean headroom, the
Z-PLUS u�lizes 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 opera�on,
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 sensi�vity 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 specifica�ons. The Z-PLUS is available in our standard Ultra-Lite 1x12 combo
or smaller studio-lite combo with either a ceramic Z12 Eminence designed speaker, or an upgraded Celes�on
Alnico Blue.
General Informa�on
Specifica�ons
Power Output
Output Tubes
Preamp Tubes
Rec�fier
Controls
Other
Configura�ons
Colors
Dimension & Weight
7/15 Wa�s
2 - 6V6 (Class A, cathode biased)
1 - EF86, 1 - 12AX7
1 - 5AR4
Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, Cut, Reverb, Master Volume, Half Power switch
4, 8, 16 Ohm speaker outs, effects loop
EQ Bypass (Variable boost footswitch included)
1×12 Studio Combo, 1×12 LT Combo (Z12 Speaker or Celes�on Alnico Blue op�on)
Black, Blonde, Red
1×12 Studio Combo: 19 ¼” W, 19 ½” H, 10 ½ ” D; 38 lbs.
1×12 LT Combo: 22 1/2” W, 20 1/8” H, 10” D; 40 lbs.
4 - 12AX7, 1-12AT7
