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GEAR DATABASE
Dr. Z Z-80 & 1961 Vox AC-30 Cranked! [Dan’s Amp Heaven?]
Published 17 January 2025
Duration:
00:46:23
Our first Dr. Z amp on the show, with the AC30 for context
Welcome to the show! There are various disturbances in the force of TPS. One of the more puzzling is the total lack of Dr. Z amps on the show to date. All that is about to change today as we saddle up and let loose the thoroughbred Z-80 into the playing paddock. Developed by Dr. Z and Brad Paisley, the story begins way back in the mid-1960s as Vox was trying to develop louder amps for bands – not least The Beatles – as gigs and stages got bigger and bigger. Dan tells the story in the video. In any case, there was a short-lived AC80/100 amp using four cathode-biased EL34s… It is the core inspiration for the Z-80.
Let’s go - enjoy the show!
Pedals & Stuff used in this show
• TheGigRig Three2One
• Sonic Research ST-200 Turbo Tuner
• Clinch FX EP-Pre Booster
• Pete Cornish TB-83 Extra Treble Booster
• Crowther Audio Hot Cake Overdrive
• Free The Tone Future Factory RF Phase Modulated Delay
• Carl Martin Headroom Reverb
• Jam Pedals Harmonious Monk Harmonic Tremolo
• TheGigRig G3S
If you use these links to buy stuff - any stuff – we receive a small cut.
UK & Europe: Andertons Music - https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
USA: Sweetwater - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5g6ALN
Australia: Pedal Empire - http://bit.ly/2mWmJQf
Interesting bits and go to sections…
0:00 Intro playing (it’s the Z alone)
1:48 Hello, welcome and thank you
2:37 The AC100 to the Z-80
5:26 Enter Brad Paisley (not actually)
8:18 Dan’s 1961 AC30
10:00 AC30 sounds
12:12 AC30 & Z-80 compared
14:00 Z-80 master all the way up
16:50 Exploring the Z-80 sounds more
18:15 Thoughts on volume
20:15 Les Paul?
23:00 Dan’s happy place on the Z?
25:05 Clinch FX Ep-Pre
25:41 Crowther Audio Hot Cake
27:34 Adding reverb
29:12 Slapback echo
32:00 AC30… and what about the Matchless?
33:38 Z-80 & AC30 together
39:25 Dan’s happy - closing thoughts
Guitars in today’s show
• Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster - Dan’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnQ4OIJFTgY&t=0s&ab_channel=ThatPedalShow
• Gibson Custom True Historic 1957 Les Paul Goldtop, Murphy Aged
Amps in today’s show
• 1961 Vox AC30 with 2 x 12-inch Celestion Alnico Blue speakers
• Dr Z Z-80 with 2 x 12-inch Celestion Alnico Gold speakers
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