The Díaz CD-100 Amp Head is a Diaz amplifier. Close alternatives include the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head. It pairs well with the Greer Mizuki blue and the Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser.
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Diaz · amplifier
The Cesar Diaz CD-100 is a hand-built amplifier head running roughly 130 watts through four 6L6 output tubes, sharing structural similarities with a Fender silverface Twin Reverb but voiced with a tighter low end through Diazs own modifications, plus a footswitchable mid boost for extra punch on lead lines. Cesar Diaz spent over three decades building, modifying and repairing amplifiers for artists including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck. Warren Haynes uses a CD-100 built in the early 1990s as a constant across every project he plays in, guitar or otherwise.
- mid boost
- bluesy
- glassy
- bass
- bright
- cut
- texas blues
- treble
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Genres the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head is commonly used in
- Country
- Americana
- Blues
- Blues Rock
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
22% matchRun Greer Mizuki blue after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
19% matchSpaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser's modulated voice goes after Díaz CD-100 Amp Head in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's own mid-forward character
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
19% matchGreer Royal Velvet layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
18% matchRun mid-forward into Greer Black Mountain for more fuzzy on top
Donner Lax Comp
Donner
14% matchDonner Lax Comp leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
J. Rockett Immortal Echo
J Rockett
13% matchKeep J. Rockett Immortal Echo in Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's effects loop, clear of Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
12% matchRun Suhr Discovery in Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's effects loop, clear of Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Behringer Chorus Symphony answers back smooth
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
61% similarityShared character: touch, response, blues_players
Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Pre-Sale! Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Framus Ruby Riot
Framus
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Park P45H
Park
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Diezel Paul 45W Head
Diezel
94% similaritysimilar tone character
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Victory V40 Deluxe
Victory
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 2245 JTM45 MK II Reissue 2-Channel 30-Watt
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Fender
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman Dirty Shirley, the Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head, the Bad Cat Pre-Sale! Hot Cat Head.
What pairs well with the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Mizuki blue, Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser, Greer Royal Velvet — Run Greer Mizuki blue after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm.