Z Wreck
“The touch response of the Z Wreck is unequaled. Does the Z Wreck ROCK? YES!!! Does the Z Wreck TWANG? YES!!! The Z Wreck will deliver exactly what your hands and guitar give it.” – Dr. Z
Specifications
| Power Output | 30 Watts (optional 1/2 power switch) |
| Output Tubes | 4 – 6n14n (EL84), Cathode Biased |
| Preamp Tubes | 3 – 12AX7 |
| Rectifier | 1 – 5AR4 |
| Controls | Volume, Bass, Treble, Cut |
| Configurations | Quantum Silver Set, Head & 2×12 Cab w/ Celestion Blue/Gold speakers Black 1×12 Combo w/ Celestion Gold Head, stand alone |
| Colors | Quantum Silver Set : silver tolex with hardwood fronts. 1×12 Combo: black Head (Stand Alone): black |
| Dimensions & Weight | Head: 20 5/8”W x 9 1/2”D x 9 1/8”H, 38 lbs. 2×12 Cab: 27 1/2”W x 10”D x 21 1/2”H, 61 lbs. 1×12 Combo: 22 1/2″W x 10 1/2″D x 20″H, 53 lbs. |
| Other | Speed/Comfort voltage tap switch 4, 8, 16 Ohm Covers with Z Wreck logo come standard with Quantum Silver Set and 1×12 Combo Optional 1/2 power switch (replaces speed/comfort switch) |
| Owners Manual | Download |
General Information
Starting in 2006, Brad Paisley contacted Dr. Z about building another amp. After talking about the design and the desired outcome Z asked his friend Ken Fischer to lend a hand. Dr. Z built up the prototype amp and sent it off to Ken. Ken did his thing to it and sent it back…including naming the amp the Z Wreck. After a few more tweaks the amp was sent off to Brad and it has become a mainstay in his rig since 2006. When Ken passed away at the end of ‘06 Dr. Z put the amp on a shelf and walked away.
Over the past few years the Z Wreck was mentioned by Brad in various interviews and appeared on a few TV shows and of course quite a few album tracks. Dr. Z got numerous requests to put the amp into production, but always declined. Fast forward to May 5th 2010 and the Nashville flood. Brad’s original Z Wreck was not harmed in the flood, but all of his road amps were destroyed. Dr. Z quickly built 2 replacement Z Wrecks for Brad, as the show must go on. This got him thinking…why should such a fine sounding amp be left only for one person to play? With encouragement from Brad to release the amp, Dr. Z went over the notes he and Ken had exchanged via fax. Dr. Z took into account all of the layout and design tweaks he could incorporate and laid the amp out on a clean sheet of paper with an all new aluminum chassis and birch head cabinet. Click here to view the fax.
Every component on the Z Wreck was placed with the utmost attention to short wire lengths and increased separation between the front end and the output section. The heart of the amp is the output transformer designed by Ken for Dr. Z in the early 2000s. Also on board is a newly designed power transformer which incorporates a multi tapped secondary that allows for 2 different plate voltage settings: Comfort and Speed. Speed yields a strong attack with increased clarity and dynamic headroom. Every note rings clear in the clean settings and they absolutely scream when the amp is pushed to its natural overdriven voice. The comfort setting drops the plate voltage down for more of a vintage feel. The softer response and overall sweetness of the comfort setting really makes it difficult to put the guitar down.
The touch response of the Z Wreck is unequaled. Settings below 12:00 on the volume yield a rich clean sound with no signs of harshness. A 12 string Ric will be right at home for mid 60s Liverpool bliss. Once past 12:00 on the volume you can dial in excellent crunch all the way up to full blooming sustained drive sounds. Does the Z Wreck ROCK? YES!!! Does the Z Wreck TWANG? YES!!! The Z Wreck will deliver exactly what your hands and guitar give it. With the amp volume past noon you can roll your guitar volume back for articulate full bodied clean sounds and turn it up full for excellent drive. The Z Wreck truly is a plug-and-play amp.
You may be asking “why the matching 2×12 cab?” As stated earlier the Z Wreck was designed on a clean sheet of paper and the cab is no exception. The included 2×12 open back cab comes standard with a Celestion Blue and Celestion Gold wired in series at 16 ohms. This speaker combination in an open back 2×12 is the true voice of the Z Wreck.
Other standard features include a matching set of covers from Studio Slips with the Z Wreck logo embroidered in the lower corner. Dr. Z has acquired a massive amount of NOS Russian 6n14n (EL84) tubes to use in the Z Wreck. These output tubes were chosen because of their superior sonic qualities and extended life span.
As of May 2017, the Z Wreck can be ordered with a half power switch in place of the “speed/comfort” switch. The speed or comfort setting will be hard-wired in factory, and the half power switch will be in it’s place. Please contact your authorized Dr. Z dealer for details on this option. Current Z Wreck owners can contact repairs@drzamps.com to schedule this modification on their amp.
Magazine Reviews
The Z-Wreck combo earns an Editors’ Pick Award from Guitar Player magazine as well as an outstanding review.
Guitar Buyer magazine in the UK provided us with a great review of the Z Wreck.
Vintage Guitar magazine’s excellent review of the Z-Wreck combo.
Testimonials
“This album [Frozen In Time] would never have been possible without Mike Zaite and his incredible amplifiers [Z-Wreck]. This is ‘Z’ sound I have always dreamed of having and Dr. Z put it in my hands. Thank you for your support and being such a great friend.”
- Adrian Raso
