DragonCrestPC
Well-known member
Looking to buy a Wizard but i don't know which one to get. I play metal and hard rock but i still want that classic marshall vibe. Also whats the difference between MCI and MCII??
fusedbrain
Well-known member
The Wizard website explains the differences.
http://www.wizardamplification.com/amplifiers.htm
You probably want to look at an MCii or an MTL.
I owned both at the same time (still have the MCii) and the MCii has the Marshall vibe. The MTL not so much. The mid push is lower on the MTL.
The MCII rhythm channel with the boost on is a killer plexi tone.
The MTL sounds like something you've heard Hetfield play.
Both are great, great amps.
http://www.wizardamplification.com/amplifiers.htm
You probably want to look at an MCii or an MTL.
I owned both at the same time (still have the MCii) and the MCii has the Marshall vibe. The MTL not so much. The mid push is lower on the MTL.
The MCII rhythm channel with the boost on is a killer plexi tone.
The MTL sounds like something you've heard Hetfield play.
Both are great, great amps.
MetalHeadMike
Well-known member
Have not played the MTL, but the MCII I have is my go to. It's got some Marshall vibe, but definitely it's own thing. The lead ch will do death metal to thrash to modern metal ALL DAY LONG. The Rhythm ch gets VERY close to the Germino club 40 I had when A/B'd side by side, only it gets much raunchier for the dirtier classic rock stuff.
Bar none the best low volume amp I've ever owned/played. Not that I have to play at reasonable volumes, and this thing cranked up is absolutely positively absurd (in a good way), but even at low volumes it maintains cranked amp feel/tone. Simply one of the most amazing amps I've owned in my life.
Good luck Chris
Bar none the best low volume amp I've ever owned/played. Not that I have to play at reasonable volumes, and this thing cranked up is absolutely positively absurd (in a good way), but even at low volumes it maintains cranked amp feel/tone. Simply one of the most amazing amps I've owned in my life.
Good luck Chris
LunatiBSW
Active member
I thought Hetfield had an MC1.
They are pretty much the same at heart. The mtl and mcII have added features and tone shaping from the mc1, but from what I understand they all went through an update in 2016.
They are pretty much the same at heart. The mtl and mcII have added features and tone shaping from the mc1, but from what I understand they all went through an update in 2016.
Wizard of Ozz
Well-known member
Simple... buy both!
I have both, and love both. I have clips of the MTL posted here... but I'm not sure if I made clips of the MC2 or not.
The MC2 has the more Marshall mid character and a little less gain and bottom. The MTL is similar, but more modern sounding with 20% more gain on the lead channel, and different mid voicing... not drastically, worlds apart different, but different enough to warrant owning both amps, and being happy with both long term, and not afraid they overlap a lot (which was a concern for me)... but they are 2 different killer sounding amps.
Name some examples of bands that you dig or specific tones you like? This will help narrow it down.
The difference between the MC1 and MC2... single channel vs. 2 foot-switchable channels with more tone shaping knobs. Same lead channel tones from both iirc.
I have both, and love both. I have clips of the MTL posted here... but I'm not sure if I made clips of the MC2 or not.
The MC2 has the more Marshall mid character and a little less gain and bottom. The MTL is similar, but more modern sounding with 20% more gain on the lead channel, and different mid voicing... not drastically, worlds apart different, but different enough to warrant owning both amps, and being happy with both long term, and not afraid they overlap a lot (which was a concern for me)... but they are 2 different killer sounding amps.
Name some examples of bands that you dig or specific tones you like? This will help narrow it down.
The difference between the MC1 and MC2... single channel vs. 2 foot-switchable channels with more tone shaping knobs. Same lead channel tones from both iirc.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
I would recommend the MCI/II. You can make it sound modern, or vintage Marshall and they take boosts really well. I had a MTL, and it didn't jive with any of the 5 boost pedals I had, and the EQ was modern more than Marshall..in fact the upper mids of a Marshall just weren't there.
All are incredible amps though.
All are incredible amps though.
maddnotez
Banned
Well-known member
Links?Wizard of Ozz":3rfupylv said:
Wizard of Ozz
Well-known member
maddnotez":1alkdxo7 said:
Here for the MTL:
https://soundcloud.com/user-768095258-70430618
Scroll down a bit. IIRC these were done with a Gibson CustomBucker bridge pup... which is a lower output PAF A3 clone... no external boost. This is a brand-new 2018 Wizard MTL 100W for the record.
SQUAREHEAD
Well-known member
Wizard of Oz is one of two people I would trust completely with wizard amplifier experience!
The other member with a ton of wizard experience is ‘thegame’.
The other member with a ton of wizard experience is ‘thegame’.
maddnotez
Banned
Well-known member
Sounds pretty awesome.
fusedbrain
Well-known member
Yeah, Hetfield did have an MC1. Not sure if he ever used an old Metal. I think they used to layer the Wizards with a Mesa or a Diezel on the recordings. Not sure.LunatiBSW":kvnygw2m said:
Anyway, I was just trying to give an example of what the MTL sounded like to me. It had this wicked lower mid grind and thump that just killed for that kind of music.
Also, I agree that the MTL and the MC2 are different enough to own both.
Only reason I let my MTL go was to get a VH4.
Wizard of Ozz
Well-known member
SQUAREHEAD":1ej01lbb said:
Thank you kind sir.
glip22
Well-known member
With the newer iterations of the MTL and MCII it's hard to advise. I have owned 7 Wizards and I would not be able to give sound advice. If anyone on here can help you it's Mhensen. Pm him. I am not sure if he had any older versions but he knows at least the difference between the EL34 and KT 88 versions of the newer revisions post 2016. When I say newer amps, I am referring to the different power tube configurations with custom trannies, designed to operate each tube type efficiently. I have owned several MTL's up to 2017. I have owned 2016 MCii's and older Wizards, one with a 2016 revision.
My 2017 MTL 6L6 is very different from the 2017 El34 version I owned which was more mid scooped. One would think the El34 would have more mid push but it does not compared. The 6L6 has a thicker mid than my El34 version had. I imagine the KT88, or other than EL34 tube type versions, will sound much different, not only from the tube type, but from the custom trannies Rick decided on. Rick, at least in the past, would test out several transformer samples before deciding on one. I had my first Wizard when it was unheard of for a mere mortal to have one.
It had issues too. Rick really stepped up his game in the years after my first one almost ten years ago.
My 2017 MTL 6L6 is very different from the 2017 El34 version I owned which was more mid scooped. One would think the El34 would have more mid push but it does not compared. The 6L6 has a thicker mid than my El34 version had. I imagine the KT88, or other than EL34 tube type versions, will sound much different, not only from the tube type, but from the custom trannies Rick decided on. Rick, at least in the past, would test out several transformer samples before deciding on one. I had my first Wizard when it was unheard of for a mere mortal to have one.
It had issues too. Rick really stepped up his game in the years after my first one almost ten years ago.
godgrinder
Well-known member
Since getting my MC1, I've been curious about the VC. Could someone school me on the VC? Is it basically a JMP?
RedB4Black
Well-known member
glip22":2tyfxlpf said:
That guy doesn’t know shit!
glip22
Well-known member
mhenson42":3hlosbdm said:
SQUAREHEAD
Well-known member
mhenson42":3hovzxyy said:
Sorry MH, I forgot about you!
I guess we have a few experts on Wizards!
Hope you’re having a great weekend brother,
Keith
RedB4Black
Well-known member
I had a few beers in me last night, otherwise I'd have posted my opinion. lol
I had a MC briefly many years ago. I'll admit at the time, I thought it was a cool amp but really wasn't my thing. Back then I was more into darker, compressed amps like Diezel/Bogner. Then a year or two later, my buddy brought his MC that he'd just bought over and I loved it, but really never pursued getting one unitl I decided to get the MTL two years ago. Now I have that, an MC2 and an MC2 with KT88s. To the OP, I'd say get the MC2 for what you are looking for. You can't go wrong with either, but I think the MC2 leans more to what you said you want. As for MC vs MC2, I'd get the MC2 just for the added features. I couldn't really say tonally one is better than the other - as that's more of a qualitative preference thing.
In the end, it doesn't matter which one you buy...MTL or MC2, you'll eventually buy the other. lol. That's what I told Wizard of Oz would happen, and now he owns both too.
I had a MC briefly many years ago. I'll admit at the time, I thought it was a cool amp but really wasn't my thing. Back then I was more into darker, compressed amps like Diezel/Bogner. Then a year or two later, my buddy brought his MC that he'd just bought over and I loved it, but really never pursued getting one unitl I decided to get the MTL two years ago. Now I have that, an MC2 and an MC2 with KT88s. To the OP, I'd say get the MC2 for what you are looking for. You can't go wrong with either, but I think the MC2 leans more to what you said you want. As for MC vs MC2, I'd get the MC2 just for the added features. I couldn't really say tonally one is better than the other - as that's more of a qualitative preference thing.
In the end, it doesn't matter which one you buy...MTL or MC2, you'll eventually buy the other. lol. That's what I told Wizard of Oz would happen, and now he owns both too.
Wizard of Ozz
Well-known member
mhenson42":2hfnvry2 said:
Enabler.
Both are killer amps. Zero disappointment with either one.
DragonCrestPC
Well-known member
Ended pulling the trigger on a MCII. Thanks everyone 