DR. Z | X-RAY Amplifier Head & 1x12 Combo Amp
See Through to Every Nuance of Your Tone with the Dr. Z X-RAY!
Conceived as an amalgamation of two amps country legend Brad Paisley helped popularize in the 2000s and 2010s—the Stang Ray and the DB4, both of which are still featured in his live backline today—the new Dr. Z X-RAY combines the best of both earlier amps, plus a few tweaks, modifications, and design evolutions from over the years.


Fender Highways Series Event Featuring Julia Rizik
Join us at Chicago Music Exchange on Thursday, November 30, for a special Fender event introducing the new Highway Series guitars and featuring Fender artist Julia Rizik in CME’s Lincoln Avenue showroom!
In addition to a demonstration of the new series, guests will receive Fender-branded swag. Guests will also be invited to record themselves playing a Highway Series guitar to enter an exclusive raffle!
The Best of Both Worlds
Powered by Dr. Z’s favorite NOS 6n14n power tubes, the X-RAY delivers an articulate, snappy, British Invasion-inspired jangle that the Fab Four would have fallen in love with. While it boasts plenty of chiming clean headroom, a clockwise twist of the knob Dr. Z X-RAY’s volume knob unleashes a rush of mid-forward saturation, combining the chewy overdrive signature of the DB4 with the Stang Ray’s snap and sparkle.
Although both its predecessors were non-master volume designs, the X-RAY delivers the same 30 Z-watts, but with a new post-phase inverter master volume to add more flexibility to the design. In addition, it features a front panel mounted half-power switch that allows the user to alter the compression and dynamics of the power amp for a smoother, silkier feel at 15 watts.

Dr. Z X-RAY Amp Head & 1x12 Combo
Available in two configurations, the Dr. Z X-RAY amp head and 1x12 combo amp both come equipped with a tube-driven FX loop, letting users push signature voicing through the effects signal path of their choice without losing high-end, dynamics, or tone. The X-RAY 1x12 combo is outfitted with a striking quantum silver front valance and loaded with a WGS Retro 30—a 75-watt speaker that has become an overwhelming favorite in the Z test room, which was specifically chosen for this amp at the Doctor’s request.
As with all Dr. Z amplifiers, the X-RAY features a custom welded, aircraft-grade aluminum chassis, hand-selected, high-quality components, assembled in-house in Cleveland, Ohio, by technicians with a quarter-decade of experience.


To hear the best of both Dr. Z sonic signatures in one amp that goes from jangly, high-headroom twang to transparent harmonic saturation, come plug your preferred guitar into the new X-RAY amp head or combo amps now available at Chicago Music Exchange!
SHOP DR. Z AMPLIFICATIONSHOP DR. Z AMPLIFICATION
Related Posts
Two Rock & Divided By 13 | CME Exclusive Guitar Amplifiers for The Vault
The Vault at Chicago Music Exchange is home to pre-CBS Fenders, late '50s Les Pauls, and boutique builds that don't come around twice — but until now, we never had an amplifier built to match that same legendary standard. That's changed. We've partnered with Two Rock Amplification and Divided By 13 to create two CME Exclusive "Vault Edition" amplifier heads, each with a matching 2x12" cabinet, dressed and voiced to stand alongside the rarest guitars we own. Come plug into a piece of The Vault for yourself.
Read moreBoutique Guitar Showcase | enTour 2026
Chicago Music Exchange is proud to once again host the Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour, returning for 2026 after six celebrated years. On Wednesday, September 9, join us in The Vault for an exclusive in-person showcase featuring over 50 one-of-a-kind instruments from today's most innovative boutique builders worldwide, curated by Jamie Gale. RSVP below to reserve your spot.
Read moreBenson Amps | CME Exclusive Blue Floral Amplifiers
Chris Benson has spent over a decade building hand-wired tube amps that give classic American circuits a harmonically rich twist — and now three of his amps are getting a look you can only find at CME. We're proud to introduce three CME Exclusive Benson Amplifiers in a one-of-a-kind Blue Floral finish: the Monarch Reverb Plus, Vinny Reverb, and Nathan Junior. All three are hand-built, point-to-point wired, and in stock now.
Read more