WIZARD MC II vs FRIEDMAN KS JMP

[Chester Nimitz]

Give me the differences & Pro's & Cons ...

Im getting the impression the Wizard is Brutal & the Modded JMP's are Browner.

 

[Racerxrated]

Seems to me that most guys who have a Wizard start selling most of their collection. Not just Reza, a few others also. People say that if you like Marshall, you'll love the Wizard tone. All I know is that when I've heard one at a live show, its haunted me ever since. I have started a secret Wizard fund. Lol.

 

[fusedbrain]

Give me the differences & Pro's & Cons ...

Im getting the impression the Wizard is Brutal & the Modded JMP's are Browner.

I own an MC II and a BE100. I would say that's pretty accurate. Totally different amps for sure.
The BE100 will seduce you with it's Marshally Brown sweetness, where the Wizard just kicks you in the balls, and then cuts you up into little pieces.
Don't know how close the BE100 would be to a KS modded JMP, but I would think they would be similar.

 

[fusedbrain]

Probably should have mentioned that the Wizard needs to be turned up to do it's thing. It is NOT a bedroom amp.
If you can't turn it up, save your money.
Otherwise, there's nothing like it.
Hope this helps.

 

[peterc52]

Friedman is compressed and feels slow under your fingers. The Wizard is immediate and dropkicks you in the chest.

The Wizard behaves more like an old plexi.

I've had 2 Modern Classics and have a MTL on the way. Also have had a JJ as well.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Friedman is compressed and feels slow under your fingers. The Wizard is immediate and dropkicks you in the chest.

The Wizard behaves more like an old plexi.

I've had 2 Modern Classics and have a MTL on the way. Also have had a JJ as well.

Totally agree!

 

[RedB4Black]

Probably should have mentioned that the Wizard needs to be turned up to do it's thing. It is NOT a bedroom amp.
If you can't turn it up, save your money.
Otherwise, there's nothing like it.
Hope this helps.

I would say that about most 100W amps. Sure they can sound OK and even passable at lower volumes, but none really start to shine until you get some decent volume on them.

 

[RedB4Black]

Friedman is compressed and feels slow under your fingers. The Wizard is immediate and dropkicks you in the chest.

The Wizard behaves more like an old plexi.

I've had 2 Modern Classics and have a MTL on the way. Also have had a JJ as well.

My BE is more compressed and darker with the volume down and especially with the SAT switch on, but if you put some volume on it, it opens up just fine.

 

[fusedbrain]

Probably should have mentioned that the Wizard needs to be turned up to do it's thing. It is NOT a bedroom amp.
If you can't turn it up, save your money.
Otherwise, there's nothing like it.
Hope this helps.

I would say that about most 100W amps. Sure they can sound OK and even passable at lower volumes, but none really start to shine until you get some decent volume on them.

Yes I agree with you about most amps. But to me, the MC II is barely just meh until you get to band volume. Then it's just magical.

 

[peterc52]

Probably should have mentioned that the Wizard needs to be turned up to do it's thing. It is NOT a bedroom amp.
If you can't turn it up, save your money.
Otherwise, there's nothing like it.
Hope this helps.

I would say that about most 100W amps. Sure they can sound OK and even passable at lower volumes, but none really start to shine until you get some decent volume on them.

Yes I agree with you about most amps. But to me, the MC II is barely just meh until you get to band volume. Then it's just magical.

My old 50 watt MC was actually ok at low volume

 

[mdc1mdc11]

Just my opinion. but have both, prefer the Wizard as it has that iconic Marshall sound plus more. ie Hiwatt/Laney attributes that exceeded the Marshall circuit design. Friedman is a bit compressed for me and my application, but good for specific genres that I have moved away from in my development. Intrigued by the Wizard MTL as I have not tried one of those.

Have some other amps beyond the Friedman and the wizard drop kicks their ass as well (SLO). I have a super lead that I have modded that can keep up with it though but that signature snarling plexi sound that is iconic and the envy of any serious recorded album. Fuchs ODS is another unbelievable amp too, but different. Ever wonder why when you see you Jeff Beck the notes hit you right in the face and cut right through you and guys playing compressed marshalls are lost in the mix with less clarity? At some point it is about the right balance of distortion and clean signal. Trower does this as well.

Depends on the taste though. Some genres are just compressed sounds and those amps target it well. As an example, that guy Bonomassa just chucked his jubilee marshalls and tweaked up a fender rig. More guys doing this and letting their pedal boards deal with the pre-amp voicing. Not exactly a new breakthrough as Frank Marino in the 70s did not like Marshalls and used to carry around a 6 foot pedal board that had a custom designed pre-amp in it that fed into crown power amps to get the sound he was looking for without the compression, noise and buzz.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Just my opinion. but have both, prefer the Wizard as it has that iconic Marshall sound plus more. ie Hiwatt/Laney attributes that exceeded the Marshall circuit design. Friedman is a bit compressed for me and my application, but good for specific genres that I have moved away from in my development. Intrigued by the Wizard MTL as I have not tried one of those.

Have some other amps beyond the Friedman and the wizard drop kicks their ass as well (SLO). I have a super lead that I have modded that can keep up with it though but that signature snarling plexi sound that is iconic and the envy of any serious recorded album. Fuchs ODS is another unbelievable amp too, but different. Ever wonder why when you see you Jeff Beck the notes hit you right in the face and cut right through you and guys playing compressed marshalls are lost in the mix with less clarity? At some point it is about the right balance of distortion and clean signal. Trower does this as well.

Depends on the taste though. Some genres are just compressed sounds and those amps target it well. As an example, that guy Bonomassa just chucked his jubilee marshalls and tweaked up a fender rig. More guys doing this and letting their pedal boards deal with the pre-amp voicing. Not exactly a new breakthrough as Frank Marino in the 70s did not like Marshalls and used to carry around a 6 foot pedal board that had a custom designed pre-amp in it that fed into crown power amps to get the sound he was looking for without the compression, noise and buzz.

Excellent review thanks to everybody.

Yeah ive known about Marino from back in the day, killer player.

Seems im back at my original assessment and that was a WIZARD MC II is prolly my next & last amp.

I was surprised u sed the MC II drop kicked the SLO that speaks to me.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Many are wise in the ways of Tone here ...

 

[bbaug14]

I've owned a BE100 and a Smallbox. I've played the other varients. My fav was the Dirty Shirley. I also played a modded JMP with the KS mod and that thing was just a beast. Vintage iron just made that amp sing differently than the new production stuff.

I also owned a Wizard MCII and that amp was just a kick you in the teeth brutal monster. More clarity, more punch, more sizzle, more krangggg. The Friedman is refined, compressed, and smooth compared to the raw power of a Wizard.

Honestly, nothing I've played compares to a Wizard. Other amps can sound great, but NOTHING really compares in the same room as a Wizard.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Booyah ...

 

[braintheory]

I also sold my SLO when I had my Wizard MC. The SLO can sound very good but is very overrated and IMO kinda obsolete now with amps like the Wizards, Gower, Cameron, and possibly even Mezzabara (never played one but heard great things about it and it often gets compared to the SLO)

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I've owned a BE100 and a Smallbox. I've played the other varients. My fav was the Dirty Shirley. I also played a modded JMP with the KS mod and that thing was just a beast. Vintage iron just made that amp sing differently than the new production stuff.

I also owned a Wizard MCII and that amp was just a kick you in the teeth brutal monster. More clarity, more punch, more sizzle, more krangggg. The Friedman is refined, compressed, and smooth compared to the raw power of a Wizard.

Honestly, nothing I've played compares to a Wizard. Other amps can sound great, but NOTHING really compares in the same room as a Wizard.

Yes, nice explanation. Massive, Krangggg, Punch! The Wizard just makes all others sound and FEEL "small"...