Rock Standard vs a real Plexi

[ners]

Anyone have an experience with these two?

I've been using my MCII for more classic rock stuff, but I absolutely hate the mids in it (or any Jubilee?) so probably going to sell it and debating what I want to replace it.

I've owned multiple Plexis over the years, and especially regret selling my Friedman '68 spec modded 100w Marshall 1959 Reissue, so thinking of grabbing his new Plex and that seems pretty economical to scratch that Plexi itch.

However...Wizards are still sick amps and I'm open to the RS, but tough to find a real direct comparison.

 

[rocker]

@VHTStark has the RS, MC l and ll and compared them to the superlead

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Anyone have an experience with these two?

I've been using my MCII for more classic rock stuff, but I absolutely hate the mids in it (or any Jubilee?) so probably going to sell it and debating what I want to replace it.

I've owned multiple Plexis over the years, and especially regret selling my Friedman '68 spec modded 100w Marshall 1959 Reissue, so thinking of grabbing his new Plex and that seems pretty economical to scratch that Plexi itch.

However...Wizards are still sick amps and I'm open to the RS, but tough to find a real direct comparison.

Grab the friedman. No wizard is going to sound like a plexi

 

[VHTStark]

I have not played the Friedman Plex, but I still own (and still absolutely love) my Wizard RS 100. I have had it for just about a couple years now and have compared it to my father's old Super Lead and my vertical input 2204.

The RS has all the kerrang and feel of the Plexi dimed, plus a great effects loop, a footswitchable bright/boost and the ability to fine tune and sculpt your mids, low end and top end.

So.....what about the old Marshall?? Well, the Plexi (and the 2204) change as you hammer the power section. And the change, to MY ears happens in the midrange. It fills out, while keeping that kerrang or upper mid attack. The Wizards, even the RS, stay much more linear and firm, even at high volumes. Hope that is helpful!

 

[ners]

Definitely makes me interested in trying one, gaahhhhh

 

[Greazygeo]

So.....what about the old Marshall?? Well, the Plexi (and the 2204) change as you hammer the power section. And the change, to MY ears happens in the midrange. It fills out, while keeping that kerrang or upper mid attack. The Wizards, even the RS, stay much more linear and firm, even at high volumes. Hope that is helpful!

It’s not so much that you are hammering the power section mmaking it fill out. Finally overcoming the god awful bright cap on the volume is what is happening.

 

[Greazygeo]

Anyone have an experience with these two?

I've been using my MCII for more classic rock stuff, but I absolutely hate the mids in it (or any Jubilee?) so probably going to sell it and debating what I want to replace it.

I've owned multiple Plexis over the years, and especially regret selling my Friedman '68 spec modded 100w Marshall 1959 Reissue, so thinking of grabbing his new Plex and that seems pretty economical to scratch that Plexi itch.

However...Wizards are still sick amps and I'm open to the RS, but tough to find a real direct comparison.

You hate the mids? What does that even mean? I play all kinds pf stuff classic rock to whatever with my MC1. Have killer plexis too…they never get used anymore. Plug in from time to time, they are ok, but Back to the Wizard I go.

Any recordings we can hear? What is the rest of the rig?

 

[ners]

You hate the mids? What does that even mean? I play all kinds pf stuff classic rock to whatever with my MC1. Have killer plexis too…they never get used anymore. Plug in from time to time, they are ok, but Back to the Wizard I go.

Any recordings we can hear? What is the rest of the rig?

I don't long the mid frequencies it produces?

Not saying you can't get classic rock tones (it is literally a modified Marshall at it's core), just saying I don't prefer it for that and an more into a Plexi esque tone.

 

[Greazygeo]

I don’t see how you can’t get a plexi tone out of it? The rhythm channel is basically that, at least on the MC1. Rhythm channel is the early ACDC tones…TNT, Dirty Deeds etc… Lead channel is Highway to Hell, Back and Black etc.

I know the MC2 has a redesigned rhythm channel, might be different, but lead chaneel is supposed to be the same.

Like Chris said with Wizards the tones let you dial up or down whatever frequencies you like or don’t.

 

[ners]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[reignman454]

Anyone have an experience with these two?

I've been using my MCII for more classic rock stuff, but I absolutely hate the mids in it (or any Jubilee?) so probably going to sell it and debating what I want to replace it.

I've owned multiple Plexis over the years, and especially regret selling my Friedman '68 spec modded 100w Marshall 1959 Reissue, so thinking of grabbing his new Plex and that seems pretty economical to scratch that Plexi itch.

However...Wizards are still sick amps and I'm open to the RS, but tough to find a real direct comparison.

I'll take the hits.... I played a Rock standard (early one) this past week for at least an hour. I've played Bugera 1960's that sounded 95% as good.... I'm not sure what buzz is with them but for the money, absolutely not. Do they sound good? Sure.... Would a bone stock plexi do literally everything it did? yup.

ymmv, I've heard GREAT tones coming from clips but realistically, I've heard some of the best tones I've ever heard coming from a DSL100H...

Mic placement / Speakers / Tubes / Hands / Strings / Pickup / Pick all > than the amp so long as she's a good sounding amp... Once you get into the top 1% it's snake oil to think I can cut corners on everything else and the amp will make up for it.

ALL things the same, absolutely a phenomenal amps going to be worth it... but 4K worth it for something that isn't really distinguishable? There's a great clip showing a PRS MT100 and a CCV (granted, Brad Era) and they're REMARKABLY close.

Dude's are always going to swing and back a product they ponied up the dough for... reality is, when there isn't a dog in the fight, I've not once seen a dude who wouldn't live without the tones they got from one.. ymmv, ran multiple music stores and we had them come in from time to time and one never followed me home.


If you have the expendable income, the Wizards are made well, sound great and you'll be happy.. but do you need that to get close to a plexi? Not in the slightest.

P.S., keep in mind... marshalls vary... ALOT. Wizard would never pull the crap Marshall, Fender etc have... Part of the price you pay with the Wizard is absolutely for the quality of the work, components etc.... Marshall?... eh.

 

[Greazygeo]

I'll take the hits.... I played a Rock standard (early one) this past week for at least an hour. I've played Bugera 1960's that sounded 95% as good.... I'm not sure what buzz is with them but for the money, absolutely not. Do they sound good? Sure.... Would a bone stock plexi do literally everything it did? yup.

ymmv, I've heard GREAT tones coming from clips but realistically, I've heard some of the best tones I've ever heard coming from a DSL100H...

Mic placement / Speakers / Tubes / Hands / Strings / Pickup / Pick all > than the amp so long as she's a good sounding amp... Once you get into the top 1% it's snake oil to think I can cut corners on everything else and the amp will make up for it.

ALL things the same, absolutely a phenomenal amps going to be worth it... but 4K worth it for something that isn't really distinguishable? There's a great clip showing a PRS MT100 and a CCV (granted, Brad Era) and they're REMARKABLY close.

Dude's are always going to swing and back a product they ponied up the dough for... reality is, when there isn't a dog in the fight, I've not once seen a dude who wouldn't live without the tones they got from one.. ymmv, ran multiple music stores and we had them come in from time to time and one never followed me home.


If you have the expendable income, the Wizards are made well, sound great and you'll be happy.. but do you need that to get close to a plexi? Not in the slightest.

P.S., keep in mind... marshalls vary... ALOT. Wizard would never pull the crap Marshall, Fender etc have... Part of the price you pay with the Wizard is absolutely for the quality of the work, components etc.... Marshall?... eh.

The early Rock Standards I don’t think were anything special. I still have my old Marshalls, they are good ones too…the amp that sees the gigs and most use, Wizard Modern Classic. As it has been for 21+ years now. That is where they shine, being played with a band. Have not gigged with a plexi since probably ‘95 or 96. They were my go to before that.
Just ordered a MC2 40 watt to give that a go. Looking forward to trying it when it arrives.
To live with a plexi, I had to mod it, slave it, eq it, run it thru fx, power amps etc…my Mc1 gets that tone just plugging in. And the tone stays the same all nite, rarely have to change the eq from room to room, records great. Yeah it is expensive, but no kore than all the stuff to make the plexi work for me, and alot less work.

 

[reignman454]

The early Rock Standards I don’t think were anything special. I still have my old Marshalls, they are good ones too…the amp that sees the gigs and most use, Wizard Modern Classic. As it has been for 21+ years now. That is where they shine, being played with a band. Have not gigged with a plexi since probably ‘95 or 96. They were my go to before that.
Just ordered a MC2 40 watt to give that a go. Looking forward to trying it when it arrives.
To live with a plexi, I had to mod it, slave it, eq it, run it thru fx, power amps etc…my Mc1 gets that tone just plugging in. And the tone stays the same all nite, rarely have to change the eq from room to room, records great. Yeah it is expensive, but no kore than all the stuff to make the plexi work for me, and alot less work.

I feel like I'd like the MC significantly more...

 

[Greazygeo]

I feel like I'd like the MC significantly more...

My first Wizard was an early Metal 100. It was cool, very much like early ACDC on rhythm channel and Highway to Hell on Lead channel. Then got Rick in 04-05 to build me the MC100 I have now. Kept the Metal awhile longer but the MC was so much better.
I think the early Rock Standards were more like the Metal, but not as much gain. New one is probably different than the early ones.
They are expensive for sure.