NAD-Wizard content

[DanTravis62]

I preferred the HR boosted, but I boost everything.

I get the appeal, but there have been certain amps I've had or played where the boost wasn't necessary.

Driftwood nightmares or like the YJM marshall have an 808 circuit literally built in, and Larry, hermansson and others I would say a boost is completely unnecessary. Esp with a Dino the boost makes it sound worse not better. Lots of people say a c+ doesn't need one either.

Most high gainers though? A recto, 5150, SLO? A boost is basically mandatory

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

One thing I forgot to mention….it sounded very good with the stock (I think) JJ preamp tubes, but I typically don’t like those tubes much.

Decided to roll some of my NOS tubes.

Originally went with all NOS Mullards in v1-v4 and it made a difference in a good way.

Messed around a good bit and ended up with two old Mesa white label (I believe they are Chinese) in v1 and v2 and two RFT’s in v3 and v4. Left the JJ’s in 5 and 6.

This made a pretty big difference in both sound and feel to me. Will probably stick with this layout for the time being.

I like to put silver dragons in the preamp of wizards. The amps are already quiet, but the low microphonics of the axb give it insane clarity

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I get the appeal, but there have been certain amps I've had or played where the boost wasn't necessary.

Driftwood nightmares or like the YJM marshall have an 808 circuit literally built in, and Larry, hermansson and others I would say a boost is completely unnecessary. Esp with a Dino the boost makes it sound worse not better. Lots of people say a c+ doesn't need one either.

Most high gainers though? A recto, 5150, SLO? A boost is basically mandatory

The only amps I didn't prefer boosted were the Savage 120, MOAB+, and the Gower.

 

[mctallica1]

I like to put silver dragons in the preamp of wizards. The amps are already quiet, but the low microphonics of the axb give it insane clarity

I don’t know anything about silver dragons. All about NOS preamp tubes. Interested in learning.

 

[Greazygeo]

I mean, don't you play blues? It may work fine for that

But gary, I, and everyone else are talking about for high gain

Blues? Umm no. I mean I can, but not my preference. I’m more King Diamond, Annihilator, Testament, Nevermore, Prog metal, 80’s shred. Vomit vocal, screamin vocals no… Ts9 level ten, gain about two, SD1 same settings, Rat etc, same settings they all work on a Modern Classic great. Just like I did with Marshalls, 5150, Ultralead etc.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I don’t know anything about silver dragons. All about NOS preamp tubes. Interested in learning.

They aren't NOS

They are just very quiet. When you have multiple gain stages, i feel like the microphoniics add up. The silver dragons are very quiet tubes. So you don't have that shhhhhhh sound when you turn the volume up high.

 

[ners]

NEEDing a boost usually comes down to you've got a medium gain amp that needs the extra gain stage (eg. JCM800) or you've got a high gain amp without a tight low end that needs a low end cut first (eg. Recto).

 

[RedB4Black]

I don’t know anything about silver dragons. All about NOS preamp tubes. Interested in learning.

I use them in my wizards as well. Basically a Shuguang premium 9th gen 12AX7B… they’re brighter/more aggressive, higher gain and very low noise. I mix them in with RFTs for the main gain positions. Also like the 8th gen Beijing square getters. I also use a Sovtek lps in the phase inverter.

Boosts…the Wizard Leopard is a clean/ low OD boost in the vein of a Klon and works well with Wizards. I also like the Suhr Koko boost on the mid boost side.

I dislike boosts on theHR, but generally always use them with the MTL and MC2

 

[Techdeth]

I preferred the HR boosted, but I boost everything.

I still boost my hell razor at times . I don’t if I blend with my Larry PMM . Larry slightly boosted with my 10 band boss eq
Here’s @Omnipotent1 playng my blend
Welcome to the Wizard ckub .it does have that vht thing then with richer harmonics
More color

 

[japetus]

Keep the Mark III, trust me you'll regret selling!

 

[mctallica1]

Keep the Mark III, trust me you'll regret selling!

I don’t really want to have 3 amps, but maybe.

 

[Jccobb2]

I’ve never used any type of Klon. Maybe I should hit Griff up for a clone.

I have his Chiron clone. Excellent idea….

 

[mctallica1]

I just hooked up with Wayne and ordered the Rev 3 Chiron….

 

[gibson5413]

Congratulations Tony! Looking forward to the clips!

 

[Brain Becker]

I just hooked up with Wayne and ordered the Rev 3 Chiron….

I have the rig talk version and it is great.

 

[mctallica1]

Congratulations Tony! Looking forward to the clips!

Thanks dude!

Here’s the first slop fest

Thread 'Wizard MCII MKII 40. First clip'

Sep 6, 2026

First clip of the Wizard. Just noodling around…mistakes and all. Pretty low volume.

ESP M-II with an EMG 81 in the bridge.

Boosted with a Duncan 805.

Video doesn’t fully capture how mean this sounds in the room. I’ll record something with both the Wizard and my Cherry Bomb at some point soon.

Thanks!
T

• mctallica1
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Rig-Talk

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[mctallica1]

I am still very much in the learn the amp stage with this thing. Seems like every time I play it, I am fiddling with the Contour, Presence and Bright knobs.

The Contour knob, in particular, is all over the place for me. Right now, I have it below noon, but I’ve also had it as high as max and found very good tones. I find that big swings on it require small adjustments to presence and bright. I tend to have the presence somewhere around 3 o’clock, give or take and the bright switch around 7….also give or take a bit.

Im finding the amp a bit “chewier” with contour below noon, which I like, but it still retains that dry-ish thing.

I’ve also gone back and forth between the high and low input. Seems like I prefer high most of the time.

Currently, I'm not using the pull boost on the lead channel and have the gain set around 3 o’clock.

I’ve also found some incredible tones on the rhythm channel, double boosting with various pedals.

FWIW, I find excellent tones regardless how I set it, I’m just looking for what will be MY tone when all is said and done.

It is amazing how much flexibility there is for a relatively simple control setup. What an amp!

 

[peterc52]

Good advise. Bright at the back of amp on max. Or get them out of the circuit altogether. The amp gets much better

 

[mctallica1]

Good advise. Bright at the back of amp on max. Or get them out of the circuit altogether. The amp gets much better

Interesting. I haven’t tried the bright at max. Im guessing when I do, I’ll need to back off the contour, presence and possibly treble. Will give it a try later today.

 

[Tone Monster]

Good advise. Bright at the back of amp on max. Or get them out of the circuit altogether. The amp gets much better

I like all my Wizards around 6ish