Description
From Dr. Z:
The CAZ-45 is the first true, modern-voiced high gain amplifier available from Dr. Z. To measure up to the task of creating a high gain amp without sacrificing the touch dynamics, tonal versatility, and hand-wired craftmanship that Dr. Z has built his reputation on, he enlisted his friend, Alan Phillips, the owner-engineer of Carol Ann Amps, to draw up a circuit from scratch. From this collaboration, a full year of prototyping, meticulous tweaking, sampling, and nearly a half dozen prototypes were sent back and forth between the two builders, striving for an amplifier that wasn’t just loaded with gain, but also exceptionally responsive to dynamics and fun to play at any volume level.
Uninterested in building a hot-rodded Marshall or supped-up Fender design, they started with a clean drawing board, and Alan and Dr. Z zeroed in on a single channel design that could be controlled by the player’s hands, pick attack, and guitar volume knob, which is the secret weapon in a seasoned player’s arsenal; an old school approach to a modern sounding amplifier. A unique set of controls straight from both builders’ cookbooks are featured on the CAZ. Beyond the gain knob and the ubiquitous EQ section, there’s the variable Sensitivity control, as seen on many Carol Ann designs, to tailor the amp’s front end to the player’s choice of guitar and pickup. Dialed lower, this control ensures clarity with hot-wound or active pickups, and set higher it increases input signal to beef up low wound single coils found in Strats and Teles to maximize thickness and sustain.
Further down the CAZ-45’s control panel, the Aggression control is a satisfyingly versatile feature that introduces overdrive in the unique cathode-biased, 6L6-based power section. It creates new harmonic textures and tightens the low-end while focusing the high end to cut through a dense mix like a surgical blade. Set this control lower for warm and smooth classic overdrive as preferred by Alan or dial it up to induce percussive grind, as suggested by Dr. Z , when you just need more, more, and more gain! By utilizing the Gain, Sensitivity, and Aggression controls on the CAZ, you will find that regardless of how much distortion you pile on, balancing these controls will allow you to clean up the amplifier to crystalline, harmonic-rich chime with just the roll back of the guitar volume knob.
Packing this much gain into a hand-wired amplifier was no small task, and to address the concerns of the modern guitarist, Alan included his tube-driven effects loop into the CAZ-45 to integrate the large palette of effects units available on the market. Similarly, Dr. Z wired in his lauded Level control to serve as the answer to loudness concerns. The Level is a volume scaling control, as seen on the popular CURE and JETTA amplifiers, that acts as a master fader on the amplifier to adjust to whatever situation the player finds themselves in. Be it at home practicing with the family within earshot, or on stage where you need enough volume to let all your playing nuances shine, you will not find any lack of singing sustain and crushing gain, nor experience any loss of tone regardless of where the volume is dialed.
SPECS
- Power Output: 45 Watts
- Output Tubes: 2 – 6L6 STR
- Preamp Tubes: 3 – 12AX7, 1 – 12DW7
- Rectifier: Solid State
- Controls: Sensitivity, Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Aggression, Presence, Level
Shipping & Returns
Free ShippingMost orders over $99.00 ship for free inside the lower 48 states. Certain items that are large and heavy do not qualify for free shipping.
We Ship Worldwide!For information on International Shipping, please call, email or use live chat for rates. Orders shipping outside the Lower 48 States to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and international orders do not qualify for free shipping. Orders shipping to U.S. Military APO/FPO addresses, PO Boxes, and US territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.) can only ship USPS. NOTE: Boxes over 70 lbs each cannot be shipped to these locations.
As a security precaution, orders over $200.00 will only ship to the address your credit card company has on file for you.
*Korg and Mesa/Boogie products are only available for shipment within the USA.
ReturnsWe want you to be completely happy with your purchase, so we offer a 48 hour approval period on most purchases (see exclusions below). The 48 hour approval period begins when your purchased item is delivered to your door. If after 48 hours you’re not happy with the item, just contact us via phone, email or live chat on our website to arrange for a return authorization (RA#) and return shipping instructions. Any package sent back without prior authorization will be refused.
Returns must be shipped back to us within two days of the RA being issued. Items must come back to us undamaged and in the same condition they were shipped out. All manuals, paperwork, cables, tremolo arms, wrenches, etc… must be included or full credit will not be issued. Any items not conforming to this policy will be subject (at our discretion) to a restocking fee of 20% of the purchase price.
Refunds will be issued minus all related shipping expenses, if free shipping was initially given, the cost we incurred to get the item to you will be deducted from your refund. A 10% restock fee will also be deducted from your refund. Restock fees will be waived for full value exchanges.
Here are exceptions to our return policy.
- Custom orders of any kind are non returnable and non refundable. We often charge a deposit before we will place a custom or special order. All special order deposits are NON REFUNDABLE, no exceptions.
- Microphones, Harmonicas, In-Ear Systems and any other items that come into contact with your mouth or ears.
- Items labeled as BLOWOUT, are non-returnable. These are often being sold below cost and are considered “all sales final”.
- Software (this may also include hardware that includes software), unless still in shrink wrap with barcode affixed.
- Guitar strings, blank media, and other disposable merchandise.
- Guitar or bass pickups that have been installed or used in any way.
- Any item advertised as “USED” is non returnable.
*Payments for music lessons are non refundable, no exceptions.
View our detailed Return Policy here.
Early Order CancellationAll deposits are non refundable. Lots of our products are special orders and in many cases your order has to be built for you at the factory. This is what makes a lot of our products special. Once your order is started, it's being put together just for you. For this reason we ask that you don't cancel your order after you place it with us. If for some reason you absolutely have to cancel your order with us, we will assess you a 25% cancellation charge. This amount is equal to 25% of your total order amount. Ask us before you place your order to see if what you're purchasing is considered a special order.
Damaged MerchandiseDo not accept your shipment if the package shows any signs of external damage. After the item is returned to us we will ship you a replacement. If you receive incorrect or defective merchandise, please call 781-335-0700 within 5 days for a return authorization number.
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