Wizard W800 in the house

[ZEN Amps]

Have a Wizard W800 on loan, nice amp. Sounds closer to a MC2 than a 2203, still has that signature zingy sound.

Handy having a Contour control though - every amp should have this. Overall it has less gain than the MC2 even with the boost, but still enough for good time rock n' roll. I expect it will take pedals well.

Haven't heard a lot chatter on these, who's got/had one - how did you get along with? I'm not convinced a Wizard that sounds halfway between an MC2 and Marshall is something I need in my life, but it's certainly a fun amp to play.

Will try and get a clip up before the owner comes back for it.

 

[saxxamafone]

Interested to hear this mate - my key question has always been 'why would someone get this instead of a good 800'... keen to hear it!

 

[Techdeth]

It’s got a good grind . Play Riff Raff though it and record it . Please . I’d love to hear that lol I know im asking too much

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Oh man I'd love to hear Wizard's interpretation of "the ideal JCM 800" compared to the real thing.

I heard a shootout between the MC2 in boosted rhythm mode and the W800, and the W800 had just a hair more stringy top end detail, just like those older Marshalls tend to have.

edit: to clarify, I'm not saying the W800 sounded better or worse than the MC2, just "more like a JCM 800" than the MC2.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Yeah it's pretty rock and roll this thing.

 

[lessarti]

Sounds good, what is it like with boost on and gain maxed ?

 

[dead-pan]

Yeah it's pretty rock and roll this thing.

Really dig the push.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Sounds like a good JCM

 

[VHTStark]

I have had my w800 100w almost a year now and it is probably my favorite amp overall.

So, this is obviously a very biased opinion because I like it so much, but here goes:

Compared to the MTL mkII, MCII (which I have played) and MCI (which I own), the w800 absolutely has more Marshall DNA in there; notably more upper mid kerrang. It is not, IMO, just a stripped down MCII....although there is some overlap, of course.

The w800 does have less gain on tap for sure than the other three, but its voicing makes up for that a little bit and it turns into a fire-breathing beast with a good boost. It also has less low end compared to the other three. My MC1 at 11 o'clock is ~ 1 o'clock on the w800.

It is very versatile for a one channel amp. The low setting produces great cleans and it also cleans up super well with the volume pot on your guitar. It also has a great feel: tight, punchy and percussive like any Wizard, but a nice bounce/give, so it feels easy to play.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Sounds good, what is it like with boost on and gain maxed ?

Pretty good, this is the same old Holt riff and it works well to my ear. Classic Lead 80 for this clip, really getting into that speaker lately:

 

[lessarti]

Pretty good, this is the same old Holt riff and it works well to my ear. Classic Lead 80 for this clip, really getting into that speaker lately:

Thank you for doing that, appreciate it. Sounds like a solid amount of gain for rhythms, all it needs is a boost to take it 'over the edge' for saturation as per taste / compression / lead grease

 

[RedB4Black]

Channel 1 of the MC2 with the Black Kat and boost can get you pretty close to the W800. After I figured that out, I decided to sell my 800.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Thank you for doing that, appreciate it. Sounds like a solid amount of gain for rhythms, all it needs is a boost to take it 'over the edge' for saturation as per taste / compression / lead grease

No worries man. Yeah the boost takes it beyond a 2203 and it's tighter and brighter, as is the Wizard way.

Channel 1 of the MC2 with the Black Kat and boost can get you pretty close to the W800. After I figured that out, I decided to sell my 800.

Yeah I can see that. The voicing is a little different but close enough. The MCii really is kinda hard to beat given the rhy channel is very good, and the lead channel is ball-tearing.