Wizard Amps: Guys swear by them, clips don't do justice. Are there any clips - even of other amps - that come close?

[Racerxrated]

Clips clips clips......

This thread is the BEST example of why clips are incredibly limiting AND can be very misleading. I know...it's the only way to TRY and judge what a piece of gear can do....but, when the best attribute of an amplifier is what it does/how it sounds cranked, clearly there's no chance that will EVER translate on any clip, ever.

The best way I can describe a Wizard is this...if you have experience with an amp that when pushed, sounds incredible BECAUSE of the power section, then that's what a Wizard does. Old Superleads, 2203s, HiWatts, Coliseums, Triple Rectos, SLOs, VHT/Fryettes all have this great 'bloom' that have to be experienced live to really get it. Some amps like EVH stuff just get loud but don't have that 'thing' Wizards and others have.

The Wizard tone to me is mostly HiWatt with 'some' Marshall sprinkled in. Great feel, clarity like other great amps...but that power section is incredible and not many amps can match that 3D 'bloom' they seem to have when turned up.
It's hard to take a chance on buying one when the clips don't wow you, but maybe more than any other Amp out there, a Wizard had to be experienced in person to really get it.

 

[Tone Monster]

Clips clips clips......

This thread is the BEST example of why clips are incredibly limiting AND can be very misleading. I know...it's the only way to TRY and judge what a piece of gear can do....but, when the best attribute of an amplifier is what it does/how it sounds cranked, clearly there's no chance that will EVER translate on any clip, ever.

The best way I can describe a Wizard is this...if you have experience with an amp that when pushed, sounds incredible BECAUSE of the power section, then that's what a Wizard does. Old Superleads, 2203s, HiWatts, Coliseums, Triple Rectos, SLOs, VHT/Fryettes all have this great 'bloom' that have to be experienced live to really get it. Some amps like EVH stuff just get loud but don't have that 'thing' Wizards and others have.

The Wizard tone to me is mostly HiWatt with 'some' Marshall sprinkled in. Great feel, clarity like other great amps...but that power section is incredible and not many amps can match that 3D 'bloom' they seem to have when turned up.
It's hard to take a chance on buying one when the clips don't wow you, but maybe more than any other Amp out there, a Wizard had to be experienced in person to really get it.

Agree. Punch. Muscle.

 

[harddriver]

Clips clips clips......

This thread is the BEST example of why clips are incredibly limiting AND can be very misleading. I know...it's the only way to TRY and judge what a piece of gear can do....but, when the best attribute of an amplifier is what it does/how it sounds cranked, clearly there's no chance that will EVER translate on any clip, ever.

The best way I can describe a Wizard is this...if you have experience with an amp that when pushed, sounds incredible BECAUSE of the power section, then that's what a Wizard does. Old Superleads, 2203s, HiWatts, Coliseums, Triple Rectos, SLOs, VHT/Fryettes all have this great 'bloom' that have to be experienced live to really get it. Some amps like EVH stuff just get loud but don't have that 'thing' Wizards and others have.

The Wizard tone to me is mostly HiWatt with 'some' Marshall sprinkled in. Great feel, clarity like other great amps...but that power section is incredible and not many amps can match that 3D 'bloom' they seem to have when turned up.
It's hard to take a chance on buying one when the clips don't wow you, but maybe more than any other Amp out there, a Wizard had to be experienced in person to really get it.

I always like the MCII clips that I've heard. The MTL's and Hell Razors not so much but they're cool.

 

[BABMusic]

That's shocking to me. They couldn't be more different. Go have a listen.
PS: Left channel only. Right channel is the same from Load to Reload.

I will go have a listen again.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Clips clips clips......

This thread is the BEST example of why clips are incredibly limiting AND can be very misleading. I know...it's the only way to TRY and judge what a piece of gear can do....but, when the best attribute of an amplifier is what it does/how it sounds cranked, clearly there's no chance that will EVER translate on any clip, ever.

The best way I can describe a Wizard is this...if you have experience with an amp that when pushed, sounds incredible BECAUSE of the power section, then that's what a Wizard does. Old Superleads, 2203s, HiWatts, Coliseums, Triple Rectos, SLOs, VHT/Fryettes all have this great 'bloom' that have to be experienced live to really get it. Some amps like EVH stuff just get loud but don't have that 'thing' Wizards and others have.

The Wizard tone to me is mostly HiWatt with 'some' Marshall sprinkled in. Great feel, clarity like other great amps...but that power section is incredible and not many amps can match that 3D 'bloom' they seem to have when turned up.
It's hard to take a chance on buying one when the clips don't wow you, but maybe more than any other Amp out there, a Wizard had to be experienced in person to really get it.

I agree on the Hiwatt comparison at volume. I've only ever played one Wizard, an early Ard years and years ago. There is an upper midrange bite and presence coupled with incredible low end punch that never goes away even at crazy loud volumes when most amps start to sound flattened out across the midrange and get woofy on the lows. The bite and punch never goes away.