Dr. Z Synergy module

[MetalDaze]

I'm guessing there aren't a lot of Brad Paisley fans on here but Synergy has a new module called the Z Wreck.

What I find interesting is that this is the first one with a phase inverter in the preamp module in order to simulate aspects of the power amp. Sounds weird to me, but they claim to have incorporated a "zero watt power amp" (including a small transformer) into the module design. Synergy says this idea may find its way into other modules in the future.

Dr.Z Z Wreck - synergyamps.com

The Z Wreck tube amp from the legendary Dr. Z is the brainchild of some of the most well-respected names in electric guitar tone: Brad Paisley, Dr. Z (Mike Zaite), and the late Ken Fischer of Trainwreck. Inspired by Paisley's vision, this vintage-style tube amp has become famous for its touch...

www.synergyamps.com

 

[Moongrum]

In most amps the majority of the tone is derived from the pre-amp section. The Z Wreck amplifier however derives a significant portion of its signature tone from the power amp, creating a major engineering obstacle for designing a Synergy preamp module. In collaboration with Mike Zaite the Synergy team resolved this issue by incorporating an actual “0 watt power amp”, phase inverter and small transformer into the module design. This innovative solution resulted in this module authentically capturing the harmonic and dynamic content of the Z WRECK power amp including the “CUT” knob, which is a part of the power amp section.

This engineering achievement has opened the door for Synergy towards flexibility and infinite tonal options for the entire Synergy eco system.

idk if it's just marketing or rooted in reality, but sounds pretty neat.

 

[technomancer]

This seems like a pretty cool jump in what they can do with these if the description is accurate.

Sounds pretty cool, whatever they're doing

 

[Crungy]

I'm not a Brad Paisley or really country fan in general but I know he can play!

It sounds interesting but I have no idea it's just a bunch of hot air. Maybe someone with some knowledge here can chime in.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Wrecked'em? Damn near killed'em!

When I lived in Ohio, Dr Z worked on my MM HD130 2x12 prior to my acquiring it. It's the best sounding amp I've played to this day.

 

[crushingpetal]

I'm a metal / hc player through and through, but I actually really love playing the trainwreck models in the Fractal. They feel / sound out of control in a good way.

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

Sounds promising. I've used rack discrete tube pre and power amps together for mamy gigs and I dug it, but always found when I plugged into a true tube head that I had been lacking some of that squish that makes them so nice to play through

 

[Shask]

Not my style, but I know many people are gonna be happy with this one.

Several people have been asking for more lower gain modules that aren't Marshall based.

 

[Shask]

Sounds promising. I've used rack discrete tube pre and power amps together for mamy gigs and I dug it, but always found when I plugged into a true tube head that I had been lacking some of that squish that makes them so nice to play through

Heads are bigger and squishier feeling, where racks are tighter with more clarity.

 

[Sacha]

Synergy: the Worst of Both Worlds

 

[budda]

I remember my friends maz sr (?) burying my FSM when we finally got them in the same place. It was eye opening .

 

[Moongrum]

I remember my friends maz sr (?) burying my FSM when we finally got them in the same place. It was eye opening .

Isn't the FSM a 100 watt tube amp? I think the maz is only 38 watts. What exactly happened? lol

 

[budda]

Isn't the FSM a 100 watt tube amp? I think the maz is only 38 watts. What exactly happened? lol

Wattage ≠ voicing

 

[Moongrum]

Wattage ≠ voicing

I still don't understand what happened, you only said eye opening lol. I had assumed you were talking about volume.
Were you buried, or were you just surprised how loud 38 watts was?

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Isn't the FSM a 100 watt tube amp? I think the maz is only 38 watts. What exactly happened? lol

FSM is a 100w amp. I have one

 

[Meeotch]

Speaking of Dr. Z, anyone here played that CAZ-45? Supposed to be his highest gain offering.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Speaking of Dr. Z, anyone here played that CAZ-45? Supposed to be his highest gain offering.

Oh wow, I was expecting "high gain by Dr. Z standard" and not outright pretty-goddamn-saturated gain



Kinda has that hot-rodded Plexi kind of grit to it.

 

[Meeotch]

Oh wow, I was expecting "high gain by Dr. Z standard" and not outright pretty-goddamn-saturated gain



Kinda has that hot-rodded Plexi kind of grit to it.

I play a Tremonti so that vid was helpful, thanks. I'd love to get one of these in my studio and put it through its paces with a proper boost and my 4x12's. I once owned a Carol-Ann Triptik 2 and it had this insane harmonic content that I've never experienced since. That's really the main reason I'm drawn to the CAZ...the collaboration with Alan Phillips.

 

[MatrixClaw]

I hope more modules are brought out with the zero watt power amp design or redesigned with it. The problem with the Synergy line for me is that, even though they are marketed as being able to use any power amp, because the tone is in the preamp, in practice that's not the case at all. Unlike modelers, using a flatter power amp with them just doesn't sound as good because the power amp is definitely a large part of the sound they're trying to recreate.

The zero watt power amp adds that power amp emulation in that these need, so flatter amps should, in theory, work much better. You'll be able to mix circuits that typically run on EL84s, 6v6s, EL34s, 6L6s, KT88s, etc through a single power amp and actually get a similar response to those amps, instead of it sounding like those amp's preamps through a totally different power section.

 

[c7spheres]

Curious what's to come with other modules with this new 0 watt power amp breakthough.
Also I noticed the Deliverance is now a series ii preamp that's been updated and the original is no longer available. I watched the Malcontents this weekend and Fryette was saying it's updated more like a ii+ head or something. Also saw a pict on Facebook of someone who said it was Tremonti's rig and it has a SLO series ii inside it which looks like a Slo with two Eq sets instead of one.