MetalHeadMike
Well-known member
I finally caved and bought a Wizard. Couldn't take it anymore and had to see what all the hype was about.
Well my initial thoughts upon plugging in the day it arrived were that everything I've read regarding the amps punchy nature are 1000% spot on and fact. I surely thought that people were exaggerating with comments like "it makes all my other amps feel/sound small", or "you have to sit in front of one in the room to understand".
It is tremendously powerful and you really do have to experience it in the room to understand it.
The percussive effect and amount of air moved is almost hard to believe. Some amps punch you in the chest, some smash you in the face, but this thing punches you in the chest, smashes you in the face, and kicks you in the nuts simultaneously. I had the master on 5 the other day and my wife came into the basement saying the entire house was shaking on its foundation and it felt as if it was going to shake apart.
There are many aspects about this machine that are still blowing my mind, but I think the thing that has me the most amazed is the fact that this is the first amp that I was able to dial a tone that I absolutely love and its there every time I plug in without touching a knob; all I do is flip it to standby and play. No continuous knob turning like I've experienced with damn near every other amp. Not to say I couldn't get great tones from other amps, but it seemed that I'd no sooner find a tone I was satisfied with, and the next day it just wasn't right, it wasn't there, and the knob turning would commence.
When people say this is one of the most open gain structures in the business, I can now see why they make this claim. It's also cable of some pretty extreme saturation too. I have spent 99% of my time on the lead channel with the boost engaged and plugged into the low input, and its more than enough gain with gain knob at 1--->3 o' clock to satisfy my thrash and death metal urges all while doing so with amazing articulation and warmth. Great great voicing with a very mean unruly attitude. Dynamics are incredible. Pick light and its very very open yet raunchy, and dig in hard and it just snarls and growls like the hounds of hell. Palm mutes and chugs sound like pure fucking cannon fire.
I messed with the Rhythm channel briefly on day one to compare the rock tones to a Germino club 40, and it's definitely on par. It does the 60s--->70s rock n rolla stuff beautifully but definitely with major bite and attitude. Not near as sweet as the Germino but to be expected considering that's a 50w and bass spec with EL34 vs. the 100w E34L power section of the MCII. I need to get back to that channel and play more, but the metal tones on the lead channel are so seductive and will most likely keep me detained for the time being.
I've been very very hesitant to spend this much coin on one amp, but I have to say that so far its been worth every penny
Well my initial thoughts upon plugging in the day it arrived were that everything I've read regarding the amps punchy nature are 1000% spot on and fact. I surely thought that people were exaggerating with comments like "it makes all my other amps feel/sound small", or "you have to sit in front of one in the room to understand".
It is tremendously powerful and you really do have to experience it in the room to understand it.
The percussive effect and amount of air moved is almost hard to believe. Some amps punch you in the chest, some smash you in the face, but this thing punches you in the chest, smashes you in the face, and kicks you in the nuts simultaneously. I had the master on 5 the other day and my wife came into the basement saying the entire house was shaking on its foundation and it felt as if it was going to shake apart.
There are many aspects about this machine that are still blowing my mind, but I think the thing that has me the most amazed is the fact that this is the first amp that I was able to dial a tone that I absolutely love and its there every time I plug in without touching a knob; all I do is flip it to standby and play. No continuous knob turning like I've experienced with damn near every other amp. Not to say I couldn't get great tones from other amps, but it seemed that I'd no sooner find a tone I was satisfied with, and the next day it just wasn't right, it wasn't there, and the knob turning would commence.
When people say this is one of the most open gain structures in the business, I can now see why they make this claim. It's also cable of some pretty extreme saturation too. I have spent 99% of my time on the lead channel with the boost engaged and plugged into the low input, and its more than enough gain with gain knob at 1--->3 o' clock to satisfy my thrash and death metal urges all while doing so with amazing articulation and warmth. Great great voicing with a very mean unruly attitude. Dynamics are incredible. Pick light and its very very open yet raunchy, and dig in hard and it just snarls and growls like the hounds of hell. Palm mutes and chugs sound like pure fucking cannon fire.
I messed with the Rhythm channel briefly on day one to compare the rock tones to a Germino club 40, and it's definitely on par. It does the 60s--->70s rock n rolla stuff beautifully but definitely with major bite and attitude. Not near as sweet as the Germino but to be expected considering that's a 50w and bass spec with EL34 vs. the 100w E34L power section of the MCII. I need to get back to that channel and play more, but the metal tones on the lead channel are so seductive and will most likely keep me detained for the time being.
I've been very very hesitant to spend this much coin on one amp, but I have to say that so far its been worth every penny