Mesa Mk V:25 vs Wizard MC50 clip

[Jakem]

Sounded great!

 

[LPMojoGL]

Probably shouldn't start another thread for such a similar comparison.
So here is a brief clip of the Mesa Tremoverb Vintage High Gain setting vs the non-boosted lead channel of the Wizard, doing some drop D riffage kind of thing that was commonly played on the TOV in it's heyday:

 

[LPMojoGL]

so after all the gear you've been through what are your thoughts now? what would you get?

Cool question.

Regarding all gear...For playing at home, discovering, recording...
I say try it all! It's a blast, you learn a lot, you find your thing. So many great amps, guitars and pedals, tones to be explored. Even if just a hobby, it's a rewarding experience, well worth the $ and time. I found my favs. Find yours, by trying em all.

Suggestions for decent tone on the cheap: Squier Classic Vibes, Peavey Classics and Marshall DSLs are great bang for buck. The Chinese companies like Demon FX, Joyo, Donner, NUX, etc... offer so many good pedals (clones) for cheap, you can find what you prefer then buy the real thing, if on a budget.

Regarding amps...For playing with a band (pop, country, classic rock to the heaviest metal), I found I prefer a single channel amp and a couple of pedals. Just about any amp that can be set to slight breakup, can do most things with a couple pedals and your guitar volume. This idea really hit home when my Bogner Shiva popped a fuse during band practice, and I plugged into the bassist's 69 Fender Bassman. My SG, thru a Tube Screamer, into that amp at band volume...decimated any tone I could get out of the Shiva. The Shiva was sold within a week. If I played in a band, I'd use a single channel amp and modest pedalboard. Some standout amps:
1. Marshall 1974 or clone like the Retro King, for classic rock and blues in a 3 piece band. 2061 for a bit more punch and harder rock. A 20w plexi like the Germino Masonette would probably get this spot, tbh. Lil Marshall SV20 sounds fine every time I hear it live.
2. Fender Bassman for anything short of metal, Allmans to Van Halen to your fav 90s STP AIC Tool. It's effing amazing when cranked. LOUD AF. Top tier tone in a band mix.
3. JCM800 with effects loop for the heavier stuff, 80s metal to modern stuff. Honestly, this would be my #1 choice for playing with a band, because it can do what the others do + more. You can nearly match a 5150, Dual Rec, whatever high gain flavor of the day, with this setup if done right. Almost every badass rock n metal band, new or old, no matter how low down-tuned, has utilized this type setup at some point. Your favorite Mastodon tones? Marshall. Any 80s metal, 90s grunge or hard rock band? Marshall. Meshugga, Gojira, Korn? All used Marshall, if only in the studio. If I'm playing out, want to cover a lot of ground, at any volume...JCM800. Well, probably my Wizard or SLO, but whatever.

Honorable mention to 4xel84 Voxy type amps, as they were amazing at LOUD volume, and may very well have been better with a band if I ever had a chance to experience that.

For what I do, play and record at home, covering all kinds of sounds n genres, after 2 decades of flipping amps and cabs and pedals....

Guitars:
I LOVE my Gibsons: LP, Explorer, SG. Adored the ES335, but realistically, wasn't me. Can't gel with a V.
Need a good Strat. Squier CV HSS covers that spot these days. I've had so many, Charvel, Carvin, G&L, Fender, Nash... Squier scratches the itch, tonally hanging with anything I have, while also being the guitar I take out to play and not worry about. Epiphones are shit. LTDs are pretty good but expensive these days. Squier Classic Vibes are criminally good bang for buck.
Suhr Modern is in my top 3 keepers. Dunno which Gibson I'd give up to make it stay, but it would stay. I've had and loved a lot of amazing guitars, Anderson being the closest I can think of, but I just love my Suhr.

Pedals:
This is easy. I'll just list my fav essentials. There's way more I could mention.
Jam Wahcko Wah. Dunlop Rotovibe. Peterson Strobostomp HD tuner. Carl Martin Timmons Comp. EHX POG. Boss CE2. EHX Gold Small Stone. Klon clone (Mesa Cleo), Timmy, Analogman King of Tone and TS overdrives. EQD Dispatch Master, Strymon Dig, Boomerang or Boss RC5 looper.

Amps:
This is tough. If I'm honest...
SLO100 and Positive Grid Spark Mini do everything I need, while satisfying the tone junkie in me. Spark Mini is a great grab n go, coffee table, quick recording solution amp.
I prefer the SLO thru a 4x12 with GBs, but it sounds perfectly fine thru my Bogner OS2x12.
That was difficult to type. Because, Wizard!!!! Love the Wiz. Wiz or SLO? SLO has more weight, definition, higher quality sound, and is more versatile. Hearing the SLO after hearing any other amp, it just wins. Even with non-musicians. Still, the Wiz fun factor, while not the best sounding for all things, or best feeling for a lot of players, is intoxicating for me. It can be scathing, unforgiving, unwieldy...basically a bitch, in the wrong hands. Once you get some time with it, learn how to control it, gel with it...
It's like riding a rowdy motorcycle, or a horse that keeps testing you. Get it under control, and you're flying. Just a lot of fun.

 

[HowieJams]

Yep the Wizard can do quiet volumes very well. It doesn't go fully silent with the volume at minimum, there are still a few frequencies that slip through very quietly. But they even back out before hitting TV volume and only get better from there.

thanks, I need to check these amps out

 

[HowieJams]

Thanks!

First...The Rocca is long gone. It was modded, so doesn't represent a stock model. It was a fantastic amp, having similar punch to the Wizard, but was a quite a bit more touchy to dial in. Happy to answer any questions about how they compared.

I agree, playing the same thing is the best way to discern differences, in any gear.
I don't like using a looper when comparing amps or pedals, because they all react differently to your input. I prefer to play the same thing, but in the way I would with that pedal or amp. Playing to their strengths.
And None of this "all knobs at noon on both amps" BS. Totally ruins any comparison. What kind of lame, braindead dumbass dials all of his amps or pedals with the knobs at noon, instead of what sounds best for each piece?
Anyone reading this that is one of those Youtubers that puts all the knobs at noon on every comparison, F#$% O@# for wasting everyone's time, and misleading those inexperienced enough to not know how idiotic you are. You suck. I don't understand why you have subscribers.
Pardon the rant.


Thanks for the kind words!
Short answer:
Can the Wiz do home volumes in that db range? Yes. Absolutely.
Does it sound its best doing that? Negative.

Long answer:
In my experience, every master volume tube amp, that is capable of high gain, can sound decent at bedroom volumes. Just gotta dial em in for that volume.
I did that for years, while living in apartments, not playing out.
It wasn't until I got a house, and could regularly play at healthy volumes, that I realized just how bad that apt volume sound is.
With a mv tube amp, like your SLO30 or Little Sister, there is a point on the volume knob where the amp goes from making sound, to opening up. Can it sound good at .5 on the dial? Sure. Maybe needs more treble and presence, less mids on the eq. But at 1.5, it's actually opening up. More clarity, dynamics, harmonics, starting to breathe a little. Pedals actually sound decent with it. And then, as you increase the volume, there's a point where you start engaging the power tubes. The amp shows its real character. You have optimal tone, sustain, dynamics, harmonics, compression. Pedals sound the way they were designed to, like part of the amp.

So yeah, the Wiz can sound great at TV volumes. Just like, probably better than, the SLO30.
I find higher watt mv amps sound better at bedroom volumes than lower watt mv amps. IMO, for bedroom volumes: 50-100w amps>20-30watt amps with big tubes>lower watt amps with 6v6/el84s.
Those lower watt, smaller tube amps need more volume to initially open up, almost always sound smaller or more middy, but hit the fun power tube stage faster. They're the worst for low home volumes, but the best for small clubs and recording.


You're not wrong. I'm thinking more like this as I compare. Thanks for the advice.


Yeah, Mk IV seemed to best match up with the bigger amp sound. Mk IIC+ has less lows, Xtreme smoother as you said.
No denying the versatility and quality of sounds coming out of this little amp. It's only when comparing it to higher watt amps that I realize it's limitations in clarity and frequency breadth. But, therein lies the charm with the best lower watt amps. A Deluxe Reverb sounds small compared to the bigger Fenders. But it's probably the most utilized Fender amp ever, and one of the best in a live mix. Best live blues and country tones I've heard were thru a DR.
I haven't done a direct comparison, but I'm willing to bet this lil Mesa could hang with the DR doing its thing, and then do a whole lot more.



Talking sense. Agreed. Thanks.

I think you should keep the Wizard, sounds like a great map and even if it doesn't sound its best at low volumes, it still sounds better than smaller amps at low volumes from what you are saying.

My best sounding amp at low volumes is my Soldano Astro 20 (6V6)

I will say, I prefer 6V6 and 6L6 amps over EL84 and EL34 amps.

 

[anomaly]

Sounds really good. Both amps.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

And None of this "all knobs at noon on both amps" BS. Totally ruins any comparison. What kind of lame, braindead dumbass dials all of his amps or pedals with the knobs at noon, instead of what sounds best for each piece?
Anyone reading this that is one of those Youtubers that puts all the knobs at noon on every comparison, F#$% O@# for wasting everyone's time, and misleading those inexperienced enough to not know how idiotic you are. You suck. I don't understand why you have subscribers.
Pardon the rant.

Testify, brother!