{"product_id":"dr-z-z-40-40w-head-blackout-2597458","title":"Dr. Z Z-40 40w Head Blackout","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis item is in excellent working condition and barely used.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaving much success developing half-power versions of his popular amps, the MAZ 18 and the Z Wreck Jr. being exemplary best-sellers, the impetus to distill the brilliant British character of the Z-80 down to a manageable 40 watts of dual EL-34 power was strong. And let’s face it, not every rockstar needs the full 80-watt potential of the Z-80, so the Z-40 seemed an obvious addition to the line. Yet the path it led Z down was winding, as trying to wrangle the Z-80’s behemoth tone by simply marrying it’s preamp to a twin tube power section wasn’t as easy as simply dreaming up the idea.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinding the same robust, chiming clarity of the bigger amp challenged Dr. Z to rethink the technical design while retaining the essential features every player appreciated about the Z-80. Still present in the Z-40 is the smooth, fader-like post-phase inverter master volume to manage the overall output, the unique, individually cathode-biased EL-34 power tubes which gave the original design it’s harmonically rich character, and the versatility of the Metro “Zero-Loss” FX loop for the modern player’s pedalboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRe-designed was a proprietary output transformer from Heyboer, not a copy of any previous amp, vintage or otherwise. The gain-staging of the preamp was considered to maintain superb clarity and headroom, with chiming British cleans that bloom into defined, grinding saturation. This amp includes a first in Z’s design history: the use of TAD Hi-Grade 12AY7 preamp tubes in the first two positions which provide a punchy, well-balanced response across every note of the fretboard. Adding the novel “bootstrap” tone stack driver circuit from the previous amp to the Z-40 increased bandwidth and gain which was essential to its sonic signature. Finally, another tweak rarely employed by Dr. Z: a subtle, fine-tuning of negative feedback in the output section corrects any mushy artifacts and produces an accurate, extremely low noise amplification of the guitar’s signal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut Dr. Z wasn’t satisfied with the Z-40 being the kid brother of the Z-80; the amp had to stand on its own with its own exclusive features. A new switchable rectifier mode allows the player to alter the headroom and response. Solid-state diode rectification, as in the original amp, produces pure, lucid cleans, with a snappy response. Switching in the 5U4 tube rectifier creates compression, a smoother play feel, and a bit more grit to the overdrive as the power section pulses to the player’s touch. The “cut” control, famous in many British-style amps, reappears in the Z-40 to fine-tune the all-important high mid chime to the player’s guitar and pickups.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, the Z-40 will be offered not just as a head, but also as a 1×12 combo in sleek black-out tolex with classy silver appointments. The 1×12 combo features a WGS ET-90, a high headroom powerhouse speaker that throws the sound forward, and is the same top-mounted cabinet design as the lauded Z-28 Mk. II, which produces piano-like low mids, and resonant, room-filling projection, even at lower volumes. Most importantly, Dr. Z aims to get the Z-40 in the hands of as many working musicians as possible by offering the Z-40 at a reasonable price of $1899 for the head and $2299 for the 1×12 combo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput Power: 40 watts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput Tubes: 2 – EL34 (individually cathode biased)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePreamp Tubes: 2 – 12AY7, 1 – 12AX7\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRectifier: Switchable 5U4GB tube and solid state diodes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther: 8, 16 Ohm outputs, Metro “Zero Loss” FX Loop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfigurations: Head, 1×12 Combo with WGS ET90\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight: Head: 19” W, 9 3\/4” H, 9 1\/2” D; 28 lbs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/b\u003e The item displayed in the images may not be the actual item you receive.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Dr. Z","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44844632866951,"sku":"DRZZ40HEADBLK-UKT","price":1816.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0343\/4368\/2183\/files\/dr-z-amplifiers-dr-z-z-40-40w-head-blackout-dr-z-z-40-40w-head-blackout-drzz40headblk-ukt-1243983360.jpg?v=1781211276","url":"https:\/\/www.chicagomusicexchange.com\/en-gb\/products\/dr-z-z-40-40w-head-blackout-2597458","provider":"Chicago Music Exchange","version":"1.0","type":"link"}