The Inverted Cross Audio DZL is a high-gain distortion and preamp pedal designed to replicate the tone of the Diezel VH4 high-gain amplifier channel. It is an analog circuit with true bypass switching, aimed at players who want that amp's aggressive saturation from a pedal, either in front of an amp or as a preamp of its own1.
What the DZL does
The DZL is built around the sound of the VH4's third channel. Diezel describes the channel that inspired the pedal as delivering "all the lush, dynamic overdrive character of the VH4's famous third channel," with lower gain settings producing the classic Diezel sparkle and chime2. The DZL aims to put that character in a pedal format: its internal circuitry uses discrete solid-state gain stages engineered to capture tight low-end response and aggressive harmonic saturation1.
Five controls give deep tone shaping across varied rigs1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive and saturation |
| Treble | Adjusts the high-end of the EQ |
| Middle | Adjusts the midrange of the EQ |
| Bass | Adjusts the low-end of the EQ |
| Level | Sets the pedal's output volume |
That full three-band EQ is unusual on a distortion pedal and lets the DZL be dialed in for different guitars and cabinets rather than only adjusting drive and output1.
The VH4 pedal it draws from
The DZL belongs to a small family of pedals built around the Diezel VH4. Diezel's own VH4 Pedal is a preamp pedal, described by the maker as "a rugged, built in USA, preamp pedal which delivers an authentic representation of it's namesake," based on the VH4's third channel2. It can be plugged into an amplifier's clean channel or run direct into the power amp, which Diezel says gives "all the dynamic, unfiltered Diezel tone by simply plugging" straight in2.
Guitar World's Alex Lynham described the VH4 pedal as "Diezel's attempt to distill its flagship amp into a compact pedal"3. The original pedal was first released in 2016 and had two output jacks4:
- one for using it as a standard pedal, with some attenuation and tone shaping
- one for connecting straight to a power amp
The DZL follows the same idea of a VH4 channel in pedal form1.
Power and practical notes
The DZL runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 200mA1. That is a heavier draw than many compact distortion pedals, so a dedicated power supply output rated for the full current is the practical choice for a pedalboard.
With a 200mA current draw at 9V DC1, the DZL is not a candidate for battery power, and a shared daisy-chain output may not supply enough current. Give it its own supply output.
The pedal is built in a solid metal enclosure with high-grade components, which RockBoard's PedalPedia says ensures reliable performance in stage and studio environments1. True bypass switching preserves the original instrument signal when the distortion effect is disengaged1.
Where it sits on a board
As a distortion and preamp design, the DZL is a high-gain distortion pedal. Players comparing it with other high-gain options can see how it sits among distortion pedals generally1.
Questions
Is the Inverted Cross Audio DZL true bypass?
Yes. The DZL uses true bypass switching, which preserves the original instrument signal when the distortion effect is disengaged, so your clean tone passes through the pedal untouched when it is switched off.
What power supply does the DZL need?
The DZL runs on a 9V DC, center negative supply and draws 200mA. Because of that current draw, a standard low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough; a dedicated supply output rated for at least 200mA is the safe choice.
Can the DZL run on a battery?
The published specifications list a 9V DC, center negative supply with a 200mA current draw, and no battery operation is given for the pedal. A 200mA draw is well beyond what a 9V battery can deliver, so plan on a mains power supply.
Is the DZL analog or digital?
The DZL is an analog pedal. Its internal circuitry uses discrete solid-state gain stages engineered to capture tight low-end response and aggressive harmonic saturation.
How much current does the DZL draw?
The DZL draws 200mA at 9V DC, center negative, according to the pedal's published specifications. Check that your power supply output can supply at least that much current before adding it to a shared pedalboard supply.
Sources (4)
- DZL by Inverted Cross Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- VH4 Pedal, Diezel Amplification, 2017-03-19
- Best distortion pedals for metal: get the ultimate metal tone, Guitar World, 2022-04-26
- DZ4 Preamp / Diezel VH-4 Distortion, Aion FX, 2022-06-02