Dr. Z Octal Six 28-Watt Guitar Amplifier Head

Description

The most recent collaboration between Dr. Z and Joe Walsh features 2 octal preamp tubes that delivers incredibly articulate tones and a very smooth, high fidelity gain structure!

From Dr. Z:

General Information

One of the greatest challenges of having 36 years of amplifiers, music, and business under your belt is maintaining the spark of inspiration. Sometimes that spark jumps from the embers of Dr. Z’s oldest collaborators, so when the phone rings and Joe Walsh, legendary solo artist and guitarist/songwriter for the Eagles, is on the other line, one can be assured there is a wellspring of ideas, interests, and inspiration to be tapped.

The Octal Six is result of the 4th collaboration between Dr. Z and Joe Walsh, birthed from the need to go somewhere different, untread upon and new, then road-mapped through Dr. Z’s 36 years of experience designing and building guitar amps. Joe is no stranger to electronics, being a hobbyist HAM radio operator and having played countless amps through his storied career. He always brings a unique, informed perspective to the drawing board while sending Z down uncharted territory; the Octal 6 is no different in this regard. Yet, under the hood, this amp is uncanny in almost every other regard in the history of Dr. Z Amplifiers.

Starting with a pair of octal preamps, the 6SL7 and 6SN7, the guitar signal is amplified by these large bottle tubes that are more commonly used as power tubes than preamp, marked by a their distinctive 8-pin octal base as opposed to the 9-pin 12ax7 types seen in 95% of all other amplifiers. These are supplied with their own independent DC heater supply, resulting in extremely low noise operation in ratio to gain. The distortion signature and compression character is simultaneously smooth, yet harmonically dense with a churning overdrive texture reminiscent of the 50s Tweed amplifiers, without the mush or lack or articulation common in those more archaic designs. The Octal Six has a recognizably vintage sound with expressive, blooming compression but with a string articulation and dynamic bandwidth only these octal tubes can supply. Play-feel and volume knob clean up, even at the high-overdrive settings rival the lauded Dr. Z Z Wreck, with a delicate balance between gain and fidelity.

After Joe first suggested the 6V6 as power tube, Dr. Z found these octal tubes to be exceptionally lively in the audio spectrum and needed a power tube to match their vigorous output. Striving for efficiency in both the top and bottom of the signal, he settled on the less common 7591 power tube, the last major power tube designed before the end of the vacuum tube era and the transition into solid state transistors. These are noted for their high sensitivity input resulting in unparalleled playing dynamics, with a clean and robust output with no loss in detail, seen by hi-fi and tube aficionados as the “perfected” form of the classic 6L6 tube.

A paper-wound, vintage spec’ed output transformer manufactured by Heyboer Transformers drives the speaker, while our Mk. II style Post-Phase Inverter Master Volume offers smooth volume operation at any level. Two guitars inputs are included to optimize for the amount of clean headroom desired. Joe requested a transparent FX loop for his bevy of guitar pedals, so the ever-reliable Metro “Zero-Loss” FX loop was included in the Octal Six.

Finally, debuting in the combo version of the Octal 6 is a Warehouse Guitar Speaker G12C/S orange basket speaker, a versatile American-voiced speaker with a very punchy, forward response and a smooth, silky top end. This is a speaker that was carefully selected through numerous candidates, and matched the distinguished quality of the Octal Six while also making in its exclusive debut in this design.

SPECIFICATIONS

Power Output: 28 Watts
Output Tubes: 2 – 7591
Preamp Tubes: 1 – 6SN7 (octal base tube) / 1 – 6SL7 (octal base tube)
Rectifier: Solid State
Controls: Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Master
Configuration: Head
Dimensions & Weight: Head: 19” W, 9 3/4” H, 9 1/2” D; 26 lbs.
Other: Hi/Lo Sensitivity Inputs, Metro “Zero Loss” FX Loop

Shipping & Returns

Free Shipping

Most 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.

Returns

We 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 Cancellation

All 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 Merchandise

Do 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.