The Quantum Zen
Overview:
The Quantum Zen started as a tonal collaboration with Zen Guitar Trading - A completely new ground up design featuring an EF86 preamp tube in a unique configuration that maximizes its potential with none of the microphonic or noise issues that plagued older designs. This preamp tube allows for extended bandwidth, sweeter harmonics, and a natural compression that makes your notes sing out, all with even more clarity than "traditional" designs.
The first preamp (V1) features a JJ 12AY7 Gold Pin for a smooth and dynamic feel. As the amp is overdriven, the 12AY7 has a wonderful balance between preamp and power tube distortion. V1 can also be substituted for a 12AX7 for a sound that tilts the balance towards the preamp when overdriven. It not only gives the classic 12AX7 tone, but also drives the EF86 harder for more pentode (the sweet kind) distortion in the preamp. It's like having 2 amps in 1!
A pair of EL84 power tubes drives the power section, but don't worry - this isn't a "Brit" amp. The EL84s are tuned to give you anything from "Brit" to "American" tones if you want, but really it's something new to paint your own unique voice.
Power:
This amplifier feature a wattage control that works by controlling the internal voltages where they need to be, and not where they shouldn't. The Quantum Zen can go from 15 watts all the way down to 1/4 watt. Since this circuit is not in the signal path, tone and touch sensitivity are unaffected. For more details on the wattage control, click here.
Tone Controls:
The tone controls have been redesigned to fit the needs of today's players. Unlike most traditional designs, the tone controls are usable through the entire range.
Turn the Bottom knob all the way down for British like tones, or to tighten that overdrive. Turn it all the way up for a more Tweed like character that will fatten the thinnest of single coils, or to give you those big room filling clean tones.
Unlike most treble controls, the Top control on the Quantum Zen won't suppress those wonderful tube harmonics. Turn it all the way down for fat jazzy tones, or all the way up for a biting tone that will cut through any band situation.
Finally, the Charm switch gives you either tight or full bass. Up is "normal", and Down for more clarity and tightness in the low end.
Transformers:
The Quantum Zen uses custom Soursound transformers for unrivaled quality and tone. Soursound transformers are also made right here in Portland, Oregon. Being so close has allowed us to work together through multiple iterations to nail that perfect match.
Cabinet:
We feel that the cabinet is perhaps the most overlooked part in guitar amplifier design, as most cabs today and in the past were just designed to be boxes to hold speakers. Eddie Wang Instruments views the cabinet as an instrument. The design features used in the Quantum Zen cabinet took years of development and refinement to give you the biggest sounding "natural reverb" ever in such a small form factor. One of the most common feedback we receive is how the amp sounds far bigger than it looks. We even hear from many artists that use the Quantum Zen say that they no longer feel the need to use reverb or reverb pedals anymore to add "a bit of space" to their sound.
The build of every cabinet starts with the best woods. For the Quantum Zen, we use solid pine, which are hand picked and properly seasoned. All the panels, including the front panels, are finger jointed for maximum strength and resonant coupling. Finally, the tolex is applied using hot hide glue, which crystallizes and hardens when dried, reducing any damping that is typical from other glues that are more commonly used. All these little features add up to give you what we feel is the best sounding cabinet out there today.
Circuit:
Every component has been examined and reexamined to give you the maximum in tone. Features include point-to-point and turret construction, 99.9999% pure solid core copper wire in all signal paths, premium carbon comp resistors (sourced from a factory that still makes them like they used to) in all the places that matter, Jupiter capacitors, and an aluminum chassis that is also made right here in Portland, Oregon. Wiring and construction is done to the highest standards possible - this amp is built to last forever.
The Quantum Zen started as a tonal collaboration with Zen Guitar Trading - A completely new ground up design featuring an EF86 preamp tube in a unique configuration that maximizes its potential with none of the microphonic or noise issues that plagued older designs. This preamp tube allows for extended bandwidth, sweeter harmonics, and a natural compression that makes your notes sing out, all with even more clarity than "traditional" designs.
The first preamp (V1) features a JJ 12AY7 Gold Pin for a smooth and dynamic feel. As the amp is overdriven, the 12AY7 has a wonderful balance between preamp and power tube distortion. V1 can also be substituted for a 12AX7 for a sound that tilts the balance towards the preamp when overdriven. It not only gives the classic 12AX7 tone, but also drives the EF86 harder for more pentode (the sweet kind) distortion in the preamp. It's like having 2 amps in 1!
A pair of EL84 power tubes drives the power section, but don't worry - this isn't a "Brit" amp. The EL84s are tuned to give you anything from "Brit" to "American" tones if you want, but really it's something new to paint your own unique voice.
Power:
This amplifier feature a wattage control that works by controlling the internal voltages where they need to be, and not where they shouldn't. The Quantum Zen can go from 15 watts all the way down to 1/4 watt. Since this circuit is not in the signal path, tone and touch sensitivity are unaffected. For more details on the wattage control, click here.
Tone Controls:
The tone controls have been redesigned to fit the needs of today's players. Unlike most traditional designs, the tone controls are usable through the entire range.
Turn the Bottom knob all the way down for British like tones, or to tighten that overdrive. Turn it all the way up for a more Tweed like character that will fatten the thinnest of single coils, or to give you those big room filling clean tones.
Unlike most treble controls, the Top control on the Quantum Zen won't suppress those wonderful tube harmonics. Turn it all the way down for fat jazzy tones, or all the way up for a biting tone that will cut through any band situation.
Finally, the Charm switch gives you either tight or full bass. Up is "normal", and Down for more clarity and tightness in the low end.
Transformers:
The Quantum Zen uses custom Soursound transformers for unrivaled quality and tone. Soursound transformers are also made right here in Portland, Oregon. Being so close has allowed us to work together through multiple iterations to nail that perfect match.
Cabinet:
We feel that the cabinet is perhaps the most overlooked part in guitar amplifier design, as most cabs today and in the past were just designed to be boxes to hold speakers. Eddie Wang Instruments views the cabinet as an instrument. The design features used in the Quantum Zen cabinet took years of development and refinement to give you the biggest sounding "natural reverb" ever in such a small form factor. One of the most common feedback we receive is how the amp sounds far bigger than it looks. We even hear from many artists that use the Quantum Zen say that they no longer feel the need to use reverb or reverb pedals anymore to add "a bit of space" to their sound.
The build of every cabinet starts with the best woods. For the Quantum Zen, we use solid pine, which are hand picked and properly seasoned. All the panels, including the front panels, are finger jointed for maximum strength and resonant coupling. Finally, the tolex is applied using hot hide glue, which crystallizes and hardens when dried, reducing any damping that is typical from other glues that are more commonly used. All these little features add up to give you what we feel is the best sounding cabinet out there today.
Circuit:
Every component has been examined and reexamined to give you the maximum in tone. Features include point-to-point and turret construction, 99.9999% pure solid core copper wire in all signal paths, premium carbon comp resistors (sourced from a factory that still makes them like they used to) in all the places that matter, Jupiter capacitors, and an aluminum chassis that is also made right here in Portland, Oregon. Wiring and construction is done to the highest standards possible - this amp is built to last forever.
