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Specifications

All-Analogue EF86 Tube Preamplifier

At the heart of the ZEQD-Pre is an EF86 tube, renowned for its touch sensitivity and rich harmonic content. Because the entire preamp path is analogue, you feel the natural compression, sag and bloom that only a real valve can provide. It reacts to your picking dynamics and guitar volume control just like a high-end amp, making it ideal as the foundation of your sound.

Three-Band Passive Amp-Style EQ

The ZEQD-Pre features a three-band passive EQ section that behaves like the tone stack on a classic amplifier. This lets you sculpt your sound with familiar, musical controls, from tight, focused rhythm tones to wide open, airy cleans. The passive design keeps the response smooth and organic, so you can fine-tune your rig without harshness.

Dedicated Boost Channel

A built-in boost channel with its own output control lets you push the preamp into rich harmonic overdrive or simply lift your level for solos. Because it is integrated into the tube circuit, the boost feels and sounds like turning up a great amp rather than stacking an extra pedal, giving you more sustain, presence and character on demand.

Headphone and Balanced XLR with Analogue Cab Sim

With a dedicated headphone output and balanced XLR output featuring analogue cabinet simulation, the ZEQD-Pre is ready for silent practice and direct recording. Plug in headphones for late-night playing without disturbing anyone, or run the XLR straight into a mixer or audio interface to capture convincing amp-like tones in your DAW without mics, extra boxes or complicated setups.

FEATURES

• All-Analogue EF86 Tube Design - The EF86-based circuit delivers genuine tube warmth, dynamic response and harmonic richness, giving you the feel of a real amp front end under your fingers.
• Three-Band Passive EQ - A classic amp-style bass, middle and treble section lets you dial in everything from tight, punchy rhythm sounds to open, chimey cleans, tailoring the pedal to your guitar and rig.
• Integrated Boost Channel - The onboard boost with its own level control allows you to push the preamp into natural overdrive or add a volume lift for leads, without needing an extra pedal.
• Headphone and Balanced XLR Outputs with Analogue Cab Sim - Practise silently via the headphone output or record straight into your DAW using the balanced XLR and analogue cabinet simulation for convincing amp-style tones without a speaker cabinet.

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SPECIFICATIONSGeneral

• Product Type: All-analogue tube preamp pedal
• Collaboration: EarthQuaker Devices and Dr. Z Amplification

Electronics

• Preamp Valve: EF86
• Circuit: All-analogue
• EQ: Three-band passive amp-style tone section
• Boost: Dedicated boost channel with independent output control

Connectivity

• Headphone Output: Yes
• Balanced XLR Output: Yes
• Cabinet Simulation: Onboard analogue cabinet simulation (for headphone and XLR outputs)

Power

• Power Requirement: 9V - 500mA

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Description

The EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD Pre-Tube Preamp Pedal is an all-analogue, EF86-based tube preamp designed to live at the end of your signal chain and behave like a complete amp on your pedalboard. Created in collaboration with Dr. Z Amplification, it delivers genuine tube warmth, dynamic feel and a flexible three-band passive EQ, alongside a boost channel, headphone output and balanced XLR with analogue cabinet simulation for direct recording. Whether you are building a compact fly rig, want studio-quality direct tones straight into your interface, or need a powerful always-on tone shaper in front of your favourite amp, the ZEQD-Pre gives you the sound and response of a proper tube front end in a rugged stompbox format. From sparkling cleans to harmonically rich overdrive, it is built to be the ultimate tonal tool for modern guitarists.