Up for sale, a 2022 Dr. Z EMS 50-watt amplifier head in near-mint condition and in perfect working order. This modern Dr. Z offering is designed to produce the sounds of three generations of classic British amplifiers, from the touch-sensitive bloom and sweetness of the ‘60s JTM 50 (EL34s); to the solid-state rectification, cutting “kerring” and immediacy of small box ‘70s JMPs; to the metal and hard rock-ready cascading gain found in ‘80s JCMs, carefully wired (“massaged,” according to Dr. Z) to remove some of the ice-pick treble harshness sometimes associated with that circuit.
Hand-wired in Maple Height, OH, this EMS features a single-channel, single-input design, with user friendly controls that belie the huge array of available tones including Presence, Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, and Gain knobs. Other features include a 4, 8, and 16 ohm impedance rotary switch, Hi/Lo Sensitivity switch, “Touch” Sensitivity switch, and Tube/Solid State Rectifier toggle, used to easily switch between the various amp profiles. The tube complement comprises a matched pair of Electro-Harmonix EL-34 power tubes, an EHX 5U4 rectifier, and three 12AX7s in the preamp section. This EMS also features a precise copy of the Drake 784-139 50-watt output transformer to ensure authentic British crunch.
This Dr. Z EMS features a custom rolled aluminum chassis, with cosmetic touches including a vintage-style jewel LED, black tolex, and gold trim/accents (including the central “Z” badge).