Wizard amp owners? MC vs MCii

[monkey42]

Hi, what's the difference between a straight up modern classic and a MCii?

Also, how different then is the metal...just more gain

Anymore info/links on these mystical amps

 

[lespaul6]

Depends on your style of music.. if your into the chung chung, seven strings n such you might like the MTL with its added saturation. If you want plenty of gain but like a more classic vibe the MC and II are the way to go. Same overdrive channel in the I and II. The II has the additional contour knob and a preamp gain for the clean channel. Transformers are also going to play a part depending on your tastes.... good luck

 

[LP Freak]

I haven't tried the MCII yet but the MC I used to have had a huge pop when changing channels which was pretty common I guess but not what I'd expect out of a $4K amp. I'm assuming Rick has corrected this now but it's something to be aware of if you're thinking of buying used.

 

[mchn13]

From rezas vids I would prefer the mcII. May be the mic, but I liked the mid center better. I can always boost for more gain and actually prefer to.

 

[lespaul6]

Here's a shitty iphone recording of the MC... this will only give you an idea of the gain and some characteristics but that is it.. need to play it in person to understand fully.

 

[lespaul6]

I haven't tried the MCII yet but the MC I used to have had a huge pop when changing channels which was pretty common I guess but not what I'd expect out of a $4K amp. I'm assuming Rick has corrected this now but it's something to be aware of if you're thinking of buying used.

old issue.. Rick will fix it for a couple hundred bucks. Do not send to anyone else, they do not know what they are doing... trust me

 

[steve_k]

you will get 1 1/2 additional gain stages on the MCII over the MCI. 4 levels of switchable gain. no brainer.

 

[lespaul6]

you will get 1 1/2 additional gain stages on the MCII over the MCI. 4 levels of switchable gain. no brainer.

On the normal channel correct... not the overdrive. same thing, dont want anyone to be misled that they will get more overdrive gain on the gain channel of the mc ii


per the website: "The MC II expands control to the Rhythm Channel with the addition of higher gain and a Rhythm Master control ranging from soft and smooth in character to tight and in your face vintage tones.

The Lead Gain and Lead Master channel is carried over from the Modern Classic."

 

[fusedbrain]

Never played an MC, but I have an MCII and a MTL.
The overall voice of the amps, or mid centre, is different for sure. The MCII is a little higher up like a JCM800, where the MTL is a little lower like a Bogner. This gives the MCII more of a classic vibe as mentioned above. Not that the Wizards sound like those amps, but you get the idea.

Both amps have tons of gain. The MTL more than the MCII, but the saturation control on the MTL can change the shape and feel of the gain which is really cool. The MTL also has a depth control, and in combination with the saturation and the pull mid shift on the MTL, the MTL can cop a wider range of tones than the MCII. The contour control on the MCII is like a high cut, and I haven't been using it much lately.

The Rhythm channel on my MC II is nicer than the MTL and was one of the big surprises when I got the amp. Using the gain pot, you can get a KILLER crunchy plexi-type tone that is really nice. A rhythm channel without a gain pot would take away a lot of the versatility of that channel. Do not overlook the Rhythm channel on the MCII. It's that good!!
For some reason, I find the rhythm channel on my MTL to be a little flat sounding. OK, but not great like the MCII. Maybe cause the MTL is a 2012?? And I've tried different tubes. I don't know..Whatever...

I had the MCII first and bought the MTL thinking I'd keep the one I liked best and move the other, but I like them both so much, and they are different enough that I've moved some other gear instead ( Bogner & EVH Stealth). Both are fantastic amps and you can't go wrong with either one. And you HAVE to play one to really get the idea about why people freak out about these amps. They really are on a different level with the punch and girth. They sound MASSIVE like no other amp out there. Made most of my other amps obsolete.

Hope that helps with your search...

 

[mchn13]

Don't mean to derail, but there's a wizard rock standard on reverb. Anyone know the scoop on them? I really want a wizard next year after me and my wife buy a house.

 

[lespaul6]

Don't mean to derail, but there's a wizard rock standard on reverb. Anyone know the scoop on them? I really want a wizard next year after me and my wife buy a house.

I played one in a pawn shop in nashville in 1997... sounded like a plexi, it was 900 dollars lol At the time all I could afford was a marshall jcm 900 slx lol

 

[mchn13]

Don't mean to derail, but there's a wizard rock standard on reverb. Anyone know the scoop on them? I really want a wizard next year after me and my wife buy a house.

I played one in a pawn shop in nashville in 1997... sounded like a plexi, it was 900 dollars lol At the time all I could afford was a marshall jcm 900 slx lol

Dang. Been there myself. Now that I'm older I've learned to just save and get the one I want.

 

[monkey42]

Brilliant replies guys. I'm currently a Friedman guy, so gain wise what levels are these like compared to say a BE100 or (as I have) a SS100

 

[steve_k]

you will get 1 1/2 additional gain stages on the MCII over the MCI. 4 levels of switchable gain. no brainer.

On the normal channel correct... not the overdrive. same thing, dont want anyone to be misled that they will get more overdrive gain on the gain channel of the mc ii


per the website: "The MC II expands control to the Rhythm Channel with the addition of higher gain and a Rhythm Master control ranging from soft and smooth in character to tight and in your face vintage tones.

The Lead Gain and Lead Master channel is carried over from the Modern Classic."

right. the MCI has a non-MV rhythm which is clean when pushed and gets a bit of break up pulled. but, you get to ear bleed volumes. the MCII rhythm gain pushed and pulled has its own MV. the MCI stops with the MCII's rhythm gain pulled and boosted pretty much. you have one more tube and a half a triode gain on top of the MC. the rhythm and lead channels on the MCII have their own bright controls to help out.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Me wants ...

 

[RedB4Black]

Me wants ...

I own that particular amp now.

Like mentioned above, I bought it to try since I loved my MTL. I figured I wouldn't keep it because there would be too much similarity. I ended up selling other amps instead. I like the MCII just about as much as the MTL. It'd be hard for me to choose to keep just one. lol

 

[born_hard]

Hi there, for all of you Wizard owners, can you name an amp which is similar to a Wizard? I know, no other amp like the Wizard, but what would be one step behind the Wizard? SLO maybe?

 

[monkey42]

Me wants ...

I own that particular amp now.

Like mentioned above, I bought it to try since I loved my MTL. I figured I wouldn't keep it because there would be too much similarity. I ended up selling other amps instead. I like the MCII just about as much as the MTL. It'd be hard for me to choose to keep just one. lol

How do these compare to your BE100

 

[RedB4Black]

Me wants ...

I own that particular amp now.

Like mentioned above, I bought it to try since I loved my MTL. I figured I wouldn't keep it because there would be too much similarity. I ended up selling other amps instead. I like the MCII just about as much as the MTL. It'd be hard for me to choose to keep just one. lol

How do these compare to your BE100

It's all in this thread....

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=184185

 

[Chester Nimitz]

My take on a MC II is like a cross between an old Marshall & Hiwatt thats rodded.