EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD-Pre Tube Preamp - The All-Analog Simulation and Preamp Solution

2026 NAMM Best in Show Winner! Two Ohio titans of music - Earthquaker Devices and Dr. Z have collaborated on the new ZEQD-all analog tube pre-amplifier! 

Let's face it: In terms of emulation and modeling, Digital has come a long way. But it can be complicated, with menu diving, endless configuration options, and firmware upgrades. Not to mention that every six months some new version comes along making the previous version seem less awesome. 

Life is short, and we should be spending more time playing and less time programing. The ZEQD provides a simple, intuitive knob-based preamp for live rigs, recording, or practice. It works equally well plugged into your amp, headphones, mixing board, modeler, or powered speaker (with or without its built-in cab sim).  And it's high-headroom high clarity EF86 pentode tube can handle strong input signals from basses, keyboards...anything than needs some warm, clear analog tone shaping.

Designed to live at the end of your signal chain, we tried the ZEQD through both headphones and our custom built 1x12 Princeton-ish clone (the DI and headphone outputs share the same voicing). Through headphones it's warmer, fuller and more engaging than their bargain-priced Easy Listening amp simulator. Adding a little Reverb on the front end did wonders, and even with no other effects it's a great rehearsal tool. 

Putting it in front of our amp gave us a better picture of what the ZEQD can do. With the level set at unity relative to the bypassed signal, the ZQED added a very nice spaciousness, clarity and "air" compared to what is already a great sounding amp. Dr Z. is a fan of the EF86 preamp tube used in the ZEQD, and we can see why. And the 3-band EQ adds plenty of tweaking potential. Unless you have pretty hot pickups the ZEQD is unlikely to break up by itself, but it's got plenty of juice to push your amp.

The Boost switch bypasses the EQ section and unleashes a fat, meaty tube-infused signal down the line. The Boost is definitely a "second sound" and not just a louder version of the un-boosted tone. On either setting the ZEQD managed to sound a little more present and alive than the amp by itself. It can help any amp or signal chain, whether it already has tubes or not. And it runs off standard 9VDC tip-negative power (500mA).

When Earthquaker released their Easy Listening analog amp simulator a few months back, we thought it was a great idea, but we wanted more (and we told them that). The ZEQD is a smashing follow up, and in a world going digital is proof positive that analog is far from obsolete.

In the words of Earthquaker:

The ZEQD-Pre is an all-analog tube preamplifier that brings together EarthQuaker Devices' innovative pedal design and Dr. Z's Amplification's decades of tube amp expertise. With a passive Three-Band EQ, professional headphone output, balanced XLR output, and onboard analog cabinet simulation, the ZEQD-Pre delivers authentic tube warmth and dynamic response in a complete analog amplifier system that fits right on your pedalboard.

Designed to live at the end of your signal chain, the ZEQD-Pre adds classic tube character to everything upstream. Its passive Three-Band EQ provides precise tonal control—fine-tune your amp's voice, push its preamp into rich harmonic overdrive, or breathe dimension and life into a modeling setup.  

This pedal is a simple, modern tool devised to give you all the organic sonic character and dynamic response of a tube amp in a compact and convenient form factor. There are no menus to dive through. No IR loading. No firmware updates. No 0s, 1s, or any other pesky digital artifacts to get in the way of you and your tone. The ZEQD-Pre is the no-fuss analog solution to all your digital woes.

The ZEQD-Pre features a built-in analog cabinet simulation for realistic amp feel during quiet practice sessions to give you the full EF86 tube character without disturbing your housemates. This feature is handily disengaged via the Cab Bypass switch enabling you to send a pure signal to your preferred IR loader or modeling software and making it perfect for direct recording, backline-free gigs, or hybrid rigs with multiple signal paths.

Hit the Boost footswitch and the Three-Band EQ drops out completely, delivering a full-range boost with its own dedicated level control. Two distinct tones at your feet: sculpted EQ tone or wide-open boosted voice. Simple, immediate, and musical.

The ZEQD-Pre uses the EF86 pentode—the same tube that gives many Dr. Z amplifiers their pristine hi-fi tone and makes them such responsive pedal platforms. What does that mean for you? It means dynamic and nuanced touch sensitivity, hi-fi full frequency clarity, and an EQ that is both predictable and highly responsive.

Though designed with guitarists in mind, the ZEQD-Pre’s broad range of EQ voices and tube warmth can enrich the sonic color and harmonic content of just about anything you can think of plugging into it, including, but not limited to, bass, synths, keys, drums, vocals, and microphones.

Each ZEQD-Pre is built by one sophisticated droid and many kind-hearted flesh and blood artisans in the tropical metropolis of Akron, Ohio USA.

• Activate Foot Switch: This activates or bypasses the ZEQD-Pre
• Boost Foot Switch: This defeats the tone controls and delivers a full range boost without altering the frequency response. This switch is only active when the Activate switch is on.
• Bass: Adjusts frequencies from 20Hz-400Hz
• Middle: Adjusts frequencies from 400Hz-2KHz
• Treble: Adjusts Frequencies from 2KHz-20KHz
• Level: Output volume control when the tone controls are active
• Boost: Output volume control for when the Boost is active and the tone controls are bypassed.
• Ground Lift (On Side): Press for ground lift on the XLR output.
• Cab Bypass (On Side): Press to remove the analog cabinet simulation on the XLR out.
• Headphone Out (On Side): TRS ¼”
• Direct Out (On Side): Balanced XLR
• Lifetime Warranty
• Out of Box Dimensions: 5.875" x 3.9375" x 2.75" / 14.9225 cm x 10.00125 cm x 6.985 cm
• Switching: ZEQD-Pre uses mechanical true bypass switching.
• Input Impedance: 10 MΩ
• Output Impedance: Variable
• Headphone Out Impedance: 39Ω
• Direct Out Impedance: 100Ω
• Current Draw: 500mA