The Wizard of Oz

[steve_k]

Posted under the Wizard forum, but I am so pleased it has to come up here as well

The Wiz MC100 is here. Jeez what an amp. Got it home, plugged it into a front loaded Diezel 4x12 with V30's (US model). I am having some hearing issues at the moment (what?). This thing just absolutely blows me away - as well as anything in its wake. Went straight to the "holy shit" mode with the lead gain up and am just in tonal bliss. Matter of fact, I may have wet myself...

Here's a few iPhone pics. Fuzzy, but you get the picture. Dial settings are:

Presence - 7
Bass - 6
Mid - 2
Treb - 6
Lead Master - 2
Lead Gain - 8 (pulled)
Rhythm - who needs it?

Big thanks to Josh Sage for making the recommendation to me on the Wizard, and which to get - and for making sure it was outfitted as I wanted. This black/gold on the MC with the chicken head knobs is just too cool for school man. And, it is so easy to dial in. Just a few twists and I was there.

Rick St. Pierre has got it going on. I haven't even had a peek under the hood yet. Don't really care what tubes, transformer or anything else that's in it. It is good to go as it is.

Changed my drawers, the wife has straightened the pictures. Time to make some more noise and try a different cab or two. BTW, it sounds great in a front loaded Diezel 4x12 with V30's. Gonna try the Recto cabs next. It sounded like it had a blanket over it with the FL Diezel 4x12 with G12K100's.

Out of all the amps I own, or have owned - this is by a long shot the best sounding amp I have had the pleasure of playing. Will try and get rigged up for some clips soon. Contemplating Wizard #2

Steve

 

[tweed]

 

[yngzaklynch]

Love the clips I have heard. That appears to be one serious tone machine. How gainy/modern does it get?


Jim

 

[steve_k]

Love the clips I have heard. That appears to be one serious tone machine. How gainy/modern does it get?


Jim

It gets plenty enough gain to do what you need to do in any metal mode. And, it gets it without shit piles of saturation and compression like most metal amps. It is a very easy amp to dial in as well. Took me just a few minutes. It is very responsive to pick ups too, much more than my other amps. Active EMG's (81/85) absolutely sound fantastic, as do the SD Humbuckers (SH4, JB's). Got an EVH Signature in the back of my Jackson Soloist, and this absolutely kicks ass.

Steve

 

[MARK1970]

Congrats, That was one of the best sounding amps at the La Amp show. Looking forward to some clips.

 

[stephen sawall]

Very cool ....

I have been wanting to play on one for years. ..... your short review makes that a must.

 

[Tone Merchant]

congrats steve

 

[steve_k]

Very cool ....

I have been wanting to play on one for years. ..... your short review makes that a must.

Been wanting to try out this little Apogee One I got for Xmas. May give it a whirl tomorrow and throw a few clips up. Just had about 45 minutes with it and got all into a big-hair moment. Had to bust out the Les Pauls.

Steve

 

[jcj]

Glad you're digging it.

 

[Hard&Heavy]

Steve I knew that you would like it the amp rocks . I had the pleasure of trying one out for a week and it was fantastic loved everything about it. Try out the clean channel it is one of the best around.

 

[Erock]

congrats Steve! Your man cave just increased exponentially in the cool factor. You guys are killing me with the gold chassis's, I think this is the first time I've had g.a.s. for an amp I already own.

 

[steve_k]

congrats Steve! Your man cave just increased exponentially in the cool factor. You guys are killing me with the gold chassis's, I think this is the first time I've had g.a.s. for an amp I already own.

I know, I started to go with the black, but then I saw a few pics of the gold chassis and trimmed ones, with the chickenhead knobs and thought that was just cool as shit. The plexi (lexan) panel adds a nice touch too. But, it could be in a wooden crate and still be awesome. I have had a lot of good gear, but this amp absolutely kills straight in. Threw an Xotic EP Booster out front and damn, this really widened it up. Ready for the matching cab to get here. It sounds damn good with the Mesa Recto cab. Didn't think it would, but it works for me. Gonna have to move something out of the Man Cave soon.

Steve

 

[Erock]

congrats Steve! Your man cave just increased exponentially in the cool factor. You guys are killing me with the gold chassis's, I think this is the first time I've had g.a.s. for an amp I already own.

I know, I started to go with the black, but then I saw a few pics of the gold chassis and trimmed ones, with the chickenhead knobs and thought that was just cool as shit. The plexi (lexan) panel adds a nice touch too. But, it could be in a wooden crate and still be awesome. I have had a lot of good gear, but this amp absolutely kills straight in. Threw an Xotic EP Booster out front and damn, this really widened it up. Ready for the matching cab to get here. It sounds damn good with the Mesa Recto cab. Didn't think it would, but it works for me. Gonna have to move something out of the Man Cave soon.

Steve

yeah man, I was pretty surprised about the V30 too. I didn't expect the amp's voicing to work so well with them. I'm dying to try some H30 or those Rock 20's with it too, but I would have no problem keeping it the way it is. That thing sure does look gorgeous, I'm really diggin the chickenheads and gold trim. I'm having a hard time not thinking what I could pawn for a gold one.

 

[Hollywood]

Steve..........CONGRATS BUDDY! I wish I ahd one to play. OH, I do got one. HE HE HE ! Are we feelin it or what? What's that I can't hear ya? I like your settings to touch up where I was last nite. I only had to turn the treble up a bit and the mids down to 2. KA....ILLER! Hey, I told Erock last nite I was gonna do a shoot out with all the different cabs and speakers I could, here goes.
I ran the MC-100 into an english 4-12 marshall plexi top cab with greenbacks.. Crazy man. Bite from hell. Then I ran it through a nother 4-12 straight cab, mojo with scumbacks. Awesome sounding. This combination of scumbacks 2-h-75 and 2-m-75 65 watters was the best os a mixture of old school and a touch modern sounding for the Wizard.
The english cab I mentioned 1st had the most bite and up front to it. not as much roar or overall full spectrum/ range to it. Sounded great though.
Then I ran another 4-12 bogner straight cab with 2-v-30 celestions and 2 scumback h-75 65 watters in it. Okay guys right now if you want this amp to give you the MODERN tones, then I believe this is the speaker combination you want. I will play these again tomorrow nite but At this moment I would take the greenback top cab for recording, hard rock, blues rock, cover band work with the MC-100.
I would take the scumback cab for anything where I wanted to impress the hell out of the crowd as I may be the only guitar on the stage also to help me with those places where it has a reputaion for getting a good sound out of. I would take the Bogner loaded cab with the scumback and celestion mix if I was gonna be playing anything where I had the need for the BIGGEST TONE, MOST PERCIEVED BOTTOM. Modern metal etc... More to come. I did get a extreme rush from the bogner cab tonite with the speaker combination I had in it. P.S. for the new generation guitar players. THE BROOTALZ came out with the bogner cab/speaker combination.

 

[steve_k]

Steve..........CONGRATS BUDDY! I wish I ahd one to play. OH, I do got one. HE HE HE ! Are we feelin it or what? What's that I can't hear ya? I like your settings to touch up where I was last nite. I only had to turn the treble up a bit and the mids down to 2. KA....ILLER! Hey, I told Erock last nite I was gonna do a shoot out with all the different cabs and speakers I could, here goes.
I ran the MC-100 into an english 4-12 marshall plexi top cab with greenbacks.. Crazy man. Bite from hell. Then I ran it through a nother 4-12 straight cab, mojo with scumbacks. Awesome sounding. This combination of scumbacks 2-h-75 and 2-m-75 65 watters was the best os a mixture of old school and a touch modern sounding for the Wizard.
The english cab I mentioned 1st had the most bite and up front to it. not as much roar or overall full spectrum/ range to it. Sounded great though.
Then I ran another 4-12 bogner straight cab with 2-v-30 celestions and 2 scumback h-75 65 watters in it. Okay guys right now if you want this amp to give you the MODERN tones, then I believe this is the speaker combination you want. I will play these again tomorrow nite but At this moment I would take the greenback top cab for recording, hard rock, blues rock, cover band work with the MC-100.
I would take the scumback cab for anything where I wanted to impress the hell out of the crowd as I may be the only guitar on the stage also to help me with those places where it has a reputaion for getting a good sound out of. I would take the Bogner loaded cab with the scumback and celestion mix if I was gonna be playing anything where I had the need for the BIGGEST TONE, MOST PERCIEVED BOTTOM. Modern metal etc... More to come. I did get a extreme rush from the bogner cab tonite with the speaker combination I had in it. P.S. for the new generation guitar players. THE BROOTALZ came out with the bogner cab/speaker combination.

don't be gloating

yep, this amp just kicks everything else in the nuts. i may be able to trim down the man cave now.

i think you are probably spot on with the bogner cab and X pattern speaker configuration. its sounds good with the V30's alone and a mix between them and 75's should be right on the money. don't know anything about scumbacks, other than there is a wait list! i have 4-celestion 75's brand new from speaker warehouse. will sub two if them in one of my recto cabs for an X pattern with the 30's. should be able to get it on then.

steve
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

 

[Erock]

Steve..........CONGRATS BUDDY! I wish I ahd one to play. OH, I do got one. HE HE HE ! Are we feelin it or what? What's that I can't hear ya? I like your settings to touch up where I was last nite. I only had to turn the treble up a bit and the mids down to 2. KA....ILLER! Hey, I told Erock last nite I was gonna do a shoot out with all the different cabs and speakers I could, here goes.
I ran the MC-100 into an english 4-12 marshall plexi top cab with greenbacks.. Crazy man. Bite from hell. Then I ran it through a nother 4-12 straight cab, mojo with scumbacks. Awesome sounding. This combination of scumbacks 2-h-75 and 2-m-75 65 watters was the best os a mixture of old school and a touch modern sounding for the Wizard.
The english cab I mentioned 1st had the most bite and up front to it. not as much roar or overall full spectrum/ range to it. Sounded great though.
Then I ran another 4-12 bogner straight cab with 2-v-30 celestions and 2 scumback h-75 65 watters in it. Okay guys right now if you want this amp to give you the MODERN tones, then I believe this is the speaker combination you want. I will play these again tomorrow nite but At this moment I would take the greenback top cab for recording, hard rock, blues rock, cover band work with the MC-100.
I would take the scumback cab for anything where I wanted to impress the hell out of the crowd as I may be the only guitar on the stage also to help me with those places where it has a reputaion for getting a good sound out of. I would take the Bogner loaded cab with the scumback and celestion mix if I was gonna be playing anything where I had the need for the BIGGEST TONE, MOST PERCIEVED BOTTOM. Modern metal etc... More to come. I did get a extreme rush from the bogner cab tonite with the speaker combination I had in it. P.S. for the new generation guitar players. THE BROOTALZ came out with the bogner cab/speaker combination.

ooh, thanks Hollywood! That's great to hear, gives me a great idea of what I would want. I was thinking of an X pattern of H30 x V30, are those scumbacks anything like an H30, or do you have that combo loaded in any cabs?

 

[Hollywood]

Hey man if ya want I can call ya tomorrow some time Pm the number again. I do not have a h-30 celestion heritage here a the moment but I do have a cab with anniversary h-30's and v-30's in it but hey...soo many cabs soo little time. will play that one tomorrow nite. If you want the modern big tone, then right now you go celestion v-30's and scumback h-75 65 watters. Jim at Scumback speakers has no v-30 equivalent best I remember. I could play ya a few riffs on the phone tomorrow nite through the cab with this set up of speakers.

 

[Erock]

Hey man if ya want I can call ya tomorrow some time Pm the number again. I do not have a h-30 celestion heritage here a the moment but I do have a cab with anniversary h-30's and v-30's in it but hey...soo many cabs soo little time. will play that one tomorrow nite. If you want the modern big tone, then right now you go v-30 scumback h-75 65 watters. Jim's has no v-30 equivalent best I remember. I could play ya a few riffs on the phone tomorrow nite through the cab with this set up of speakers.

awesome, I'm hitting you up now on PM. Thanks man.

 

[steve_k]

I got hold of Dave Mills and changed my new cab speaker configuration up a little, based on his recommendation. Instead of all H30's in the 4x12 Afterburner, I am going to run with 2xV30's and 2xCL80's in an X pattern for a little crunch and cream. In the 2x12 extension, instead of the K100's, I am going to get these E/V Black Labels for loads of big ass bottom end. After trying the Wizard through the Diezel with K100's, I wasn't pleased at all with their flat response. This combination should make a hell of an all around full sound across the spectrum. The cabs just came back from the wood shop. Hopefully they will be done in a couple weeks.



Steve

 

[Hollywood]

I got hold of Dave Mills and changed my new cab speaker configuration up a little, based on his recommendation. Instead of all H30's in the 4x12 Afterburner, I am going to run with 2xV30's and 2xCL80's in an X pattern for a little crunch and cream. In the 2x12 extension, instead of the K100's, I am going to get these E/V Black Labels for loads of big ass bottom end. After trying the Wizard through the Diezel with K100's, I wasn't pleased at all with their flat response. This combination should make a hell of an all around full sound across the spectrum. The cabs just came back from the wood shop. Hopefully they will be done in a couple weeks.



Steve

Yeah baby! I find the v-30's do really well with the Wizard, but only combined with another pair of something. I really want to thank you for your posted settings. Close to what I had, but that turning the treble up and the mids down thing. KOOKY MAN, JUST CRAZY! I loved it set like that ... Thanks .