Crab wizard clone?

[gritstogroats]

Skimming some for sales. I saw crab has a wizard clone? The mlt or something.

I was personally pretty happy with crab. Still have the marcus.

Anyone else heard of this or tried? Cant beat the price but. Hinestly with how everyone talks about wizards. This is one i would hope someone who has wizard experience can share pros cons.

 

[Music&Chaos]

It probably gets the character of the amp like the other models but they aren't spot on.

Highly doubt a Wiz owner has also had the Crab variant to test against it but who knows?

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Isn't part of the Wizard thing the Transformer design? I think all Crab amps use toroidal and transformers play a much bigger role in tone than most people realize.

 

[japetus]

If it gets sold within 24 hours of the guy recieving his order...you know it's close to the original ahahah

 

[Music&Chaos]

Isn't part of the Wizard thing the Transformer design? I think all Crab amps use toroidal and transformers play a much bigger role in tone than most people realize.

My Rivera has an oversized transformer and I think that has to be part of the reason it has such a big sound for its size.

 

[gritstogroats]

It probably gets the character of the amp like the other models but they aren't spot on.

Highly doubt a Wiz owner has also had the Crab variant to test against it but who knows?

Thanks,
Its a long shot.

Yeah Idk probably in the same ballpark already with a gz hellion per comments in other threads. 800 bucks doesnt seem terrible even if it gets me 80% of the way there though.

Idk thanks

 

[gritstogroats]

Isn't part of the Wizard thing the Transformer design? I think all Crab amps use toroidal and transformers play a much bigger role in tone than most people realize.

Probably. Everything is heyboeyer or custom wound or it seems. Marcus despite getting close to mark series. High end is a little different. Not quite as aggressive or thick.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Thanks,
Its a long shot.

Yeah Idk probably in the same ballpark already with a gz hellion per comments in other threads. 800 bucks doesnt seem terrible even if it gets me 80% of the way there though.

Idk thanks

You could potentially always contact the builder to see if you can pay for a different transformer to be installed to even more closely match the real thing. I agree that they seem like solid amps for a good price.

 

[Beyond Black]

Thanks,
Its a long shot.

Yeah Idk probably in the same ballpark already with a gz hellion per comments in other threads. 800 bucks doesnt seem terrible even if it gets me 80% of the way there though.

Idk thanks

The Marcus I heard got about 20% there to a Mesa Mark.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Never played a crab but there's no way in holy hell it'll get even close to a wizard. Its just not gonna happen given the build of those crab, not saying they're bad amps but they're a completely different build and component selection, particularly the trannies. I've owned more Wizards then I care to admit and a stupid number of other amps and the only amps I've had come even close in terms of the clarity, wallop, dynamics, aggression, yada, yada, yada, is the Fryette CLX, Peters Bodyhammer, Morris Perplexed, and Naylor amps.

 

[peterc52]

The crab marcus was overly gainy compared to my iic+ and iv

 

[gritstogroats]

The Marcus I heard got about 20% there to a Mesa Mark.

Oh see i hardily disagree. I am a mesa mark fan boi and own a marcus. if I a/b marcus and mark. The right volume. Playing through mesa speakers. The right settings (The Marcus having those lead knobs+ mv and gain knob like older mesa marks had. A lot more control over sound). I have mixed up which one I was playing on a handful of occasions. Ive never mixed up with any of my other amps.

Not the norm though. The mk7 vs crab and mark 5 is more angry/aggressive. More low end, thick girdthy quality and feel. Mk 5 and marcus are closer. And I remember the mk 7, Randall has a yt video. Mesa was shrinking transformers used fir years. Then for mk 7 they used very large/heavy iron which amongst kther things made the sound wayyy better.

But anyways.
A lot of people would be perfectly happy with the marcus. for me personally. I like bogner well enough. But I am perfectly content if I just have a crab ubertone.

20%... I feel like a line 6 spider gets 25% so this seems all wrong.

 

[gritstogroats]

You could potentially always contact the builder to see if you can pay for a different transformer to be installed to even more closely match the real thing. I agree that they seem like solid amps for a good price.

Im glad you mentioned this. Its not something I would really think about. Ateast last year the crab dude seemed cool cant hurt to ask.

And it is incredibly important. I was responding to another comment. I recalled that the mesa mk 5 and mk 7 had some differences and my preference was mk 7. One of Randall yt videos he talked about how mesa was trying to use tinier transformers for years. Mk 7 they reversed course and they used huge iron. Amongst other things to maximize tone.

 

[gritstogroats]

The crab marcus was overly gainy compared to my iic+ and iv

More gain on tap than most anytjjng ive encountered.

But mine is not overly gainy. Unless the gain knob is set higher, switches/knobs all engaged, a lot of higher eq added, and/or the gain lead is at max and level lead is on 1.

Pull everything back except the level lead. Have level lead high snd gain lead lower.

 

[gritstogroats]

The crab marcus was overly gainy compared to my iic+ and iv

Sorry to tag again. Your flair. How does gz compare to wizard since youve played with both?

Thats where i wonder. I feel like gz hellion is xloser to wizard than this clone possibly could be.

 

[peterc52]

Sorry to tag again. Your flair. How does gz compare to wizard since youve played with both?

Thats where i wonder. I feel like gz hellion is xloser to wizard than this clone possibly could be.

The sniper and moab+ ive had was much more in the marshall vein than the wizard can. I've have not tried the Hellion (yet!!) but will soon enough. So very excited about that

 

[Beyond Black]

Oh see i hardily disagree. I am a mesa mark fan boi and own a marcus. if I a/b marcus and mark. The right volume. Playing through mesa speakers. The right settings (The Marcus having those lead knobs+ mv and gain knob like older mesa marks had. A lot more control over sound). I have mixed up which one I was playing on a handful of occasions. Ive never mixed up with any of my other amps.

Not the norm though. The mk7 vs crab and mark 5 is more angry/aggressive. More low end, thick girdthy quality and feel. Mk 5 and marcus are closer. And I remember the mk 7, Randall has a yt video. Mesa was shrinking transformers used fir years. Then for mk 7 they used very large/heavy iron which amongst kther things made the sound wayyy better.

But anyways.
A lot of people would be perfectly happy with the marcus. for me personally. I like bogner well enough. But I am perfectly content if I just have a crab ubertone.

20%... I feel like a line 6 spider gets 25% so this seems all wrong.

My friend brought a Marcus over and we compared it directly to my C++ SG and a Mark III.
The Mesas destroyed it on every level with far superior clarity, girth, punch, harmonics, and just overall qualify tone.
The Marcus in comparison sounded like a toy crammed full of cheap components and bees.

I can’t imagine Crab’s version of an MTL will get any closer, especially with Wizards having top quality components and some of the best transformers in the business.

 

[gritstogroats]

My friend brought a Marcus over and we compared it directly to my C++ SG and a Mark III.
The Mesas destroyed it on every level with far superior clarity, girth, punch, harmonics, and just overall qualify tone.
The Marcus in comparison sounded like a toy crammed full of cheap components and bees.

I can’t imagine Crab’s version of an MTL will get any closer, especially with Wizards having top quality components and some of the best transformers in the business.

Yeah ita gonna be a no for me dog.

crab man builds good products. Price point is like 800 dollars (new tubes alone would be what, $270?). Good build, affordable materials hold up. Many of the clones, sonically imo are close enough its redundant to have the clonee too. Or its a good way to dabble in new stuff without shelling out 4k.

Id also like to note for comparison. Famous clone company. Bugera. They remain champ for caps busting forth with smoke, parts issues, failues, and their proprietary spontaneous combustion feature in early models.

Back to crab. I concer with commenters. Crab clone of a wizard will not hit the brief.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

To throw a small curveball into the mix, Jason/Headfirst/EvolveDIY has both an MTL and MC2 project PCB's. He has very high quality boards. Maybe look into pricing out how much it would be to build/have one built using those boards and quality components compared to the price of an actual Wizard.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

To throw a small curveball into the mix, Jason/Headfirst/EvolveDIY has both an MTL and MC2 project PCB's. He has very high quality boards. Maybe look into pricing out how much it would be to build/have one built using those boards and quality components compared to the price of an actual Wizard.

No doubt Jason's stuff is legit I'm sure, but if someone wants to experience a Wizard, ya just need to pony up and buy a Wizard.