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

[RaceU4her]

What speakers are you using? My old Mesa Hermansson sucked with V30s but was good with Greenbacks.

G12-65's work best for me as they are smoother, v30s are just too much clank. i told him i wanted as tight and aggressive as can be, and it certainly is that

 

[glpg80]

Yes it is a worthy replacement. The HRG RI absolutely kills and is as good, if not better than any vintage C+, depending on your taste (same goes for the Recto RI). If you prefer a more vintage flavor, the OG is your amp. If you’re cool with a slightly more modern sounding C+, get a RI. The bottom line is the RI is still a raw, vicious beast that’s 100% C+ and in no way sounds sterile, filtered, or polite like many modern amps.
If cash was a non factor, I’d still have both, because they are still different enough to justify that. In my case, I’m just as happy with the RI and the extra scratch.
As far as the ridiculous prices that the ++’s are going for, only a fool would spend more on a RI than what the OG’s are going for because “mEtAlLiCa ++ dRg.” It’s a $5.00 mod ffs and pulling the treble and bright knobs will get you close enough as far as saturation and additional gain go. If your amp is on Mike B’s bench, paying extra for the ++ mod is worth it. If it means spending an additional $4k plus for a RI to have it, fuck to the NO.
A C+ RI can do the scooped OSDM sound all day long and then some. I sold my VH140C because my OG ++ could nail that tone and do it better, with more punch, aggression and far better clarity.
If you’re considering an HRG RI for Metallica and OSDM toans, I can say with 100% certainty that you should do it ASAP.

Would you recommend the HRG 100 even against the coliseum? Debating getting an HRG in addition to the coliseum just to check it out but I wonder what it brings to the table that I don’t already have.

Backstory for everyone else - he owned my coliseum before I did.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Man I’ve been wondering about this for a few years now. I’m only on pg 1 but I don’t see/hear anything I have to have.

Not ragging on any guys’ clips as they were all stellar but it just really doesn’t seem to be my bag.

I’m all about my Herbert and my Mesas and my Cameron Kemper tones lately….

 

[Greazygeo]

Man I’ve been wondering about this for a few years now. I’m only on pg 1 but I don’t see/hear anything I have to have.

Not ragging on any guys’ clips as they were all stellar but it just really doesn’t seem to be my bag.

I’m all about my Herbert and my Mesas and my Cameron Kemper tones lately….

If you like those, there is nothing for you in a Wizard.

 

[Steinmetzify]

If you like those, there is nothing for you in a Wizard.

Glad to hear it man. Thanks for letting me know. You just saved me like $5k.

 

[DanTravis62]

If you like those, there is nothing for you in a Wizard.

Yeah those are definitely non-overlapping magisteria as far as tones go

 

[Steinmetzify]

Yeah those are definitely non-overlapping magisteria as far as tones go

Thanks man and thanks @Greazygeo for the tips. Like I said before, I’ve wondered. Nice to know I can cross em off my list and I only have like 35 amps to go….

 

[DanTravis62]

Thanks man and thanks @Greazygeo for the tips. Like I said before, I’ve wondered. Nice to know I can cross em off my list and I only have like 35 amps to go….

Man, I think we can all relate.

everyone has white whales out there that we need to try out. I've never played one of the new reissue marks or rectos, an uber ultra, a whole bunch of amps I really need to try out just to make sure

 

[glpg80]

Man, I think we can all relate.

everyone has white whales out there that we need to try out. I've never played one of the new reissue marks or rectos, an uber ultra, a whole bunch of amps I really need to try out just to make sure

I really want to try out the new driftwood Atlas 180

 

[DanTravis62]

I really want to try out the new driftwood Atlas 180

Absolutely, that thing looks beastly and the super high headroom and output is really a cool idea

zagging while everyone else zigs, as it were

 

[Beyond Black]

Would you recommend the HRG 100 even against the coliseum? Debating getting an HRG in addition to the coliseum just to check it out but I wonder what it brings to the table that I don’t already have.

Backstory for everyone else - he owned my coliseum before I did.

I’d recommend getting an HRG just to slave it through the Coli!
I’d slave my SG++ through it and it was incredible. All the tightness and aggression of the 60 through that 180 watt powerband was mindblowing.
IMO the HRG and your Coli are different enough to justify owning both. I prefer the core tone of a C+ to that of the Mark III, and you may as well. The HRG RI sounds incredible and has a juicy thing to it that the OG’s don’t even have.
Same goes for the Recto RI, as they’re both much improved in the mids. I say go for it.

 

[Greazygeo]

Glad to hear it man. Thanks for letting me know. You just saved me like $5k.

Sure thing, just being honest. Nothing wrong with what you like, just the Wizard stuff is not really anything like those.