Wizard MC vs MTL comparison

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brandonrz
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ners said:
Isn't the MTL just an MCII with an extra gain stage? I imagine the right boost/EQ could get you there.
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No idea from a component standpoint, but to the ears they are two different amps tone/gain structure wise. Can't really make one sound like the other...similar in some respects, but quite different in the mid frequencies & attack.
 
ultimatemetalguitartones said:
So far I like my MTL MKII EL 34 a lot. I do believe it's a dark amp tho. I need to have the bright level at about 8 or sth and the dial the presence almost at 9 to make it sound aggressive. Have zero experience with other models. Mine loves boosts with low gain settings / no drive or really low drive settings / level tone at 3:00
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You just need to get the treble, presence, bright up higher and balanced with one another. I usually run bright at 1 oclock to near max, treble 2-4 oclock, presence 2-4 oclock. It should have enough high end, presence to cut your head off. What it won't have is that upper mid frequency presence/grind/cut which may be why you say you think its a dark amp. That's why I always go back to the MCII...way more upper mid voiced vs. the low mid voicing of the MTL. The contour and mids knob on the MCII has a dramatic effect on upper mid impact/bite.

If you add an ISP sub to your chain with the MCII, it far surpasses the ass end and girth of the MTL with depth. I'm about to add a second ISP sub to run two with a 2x12/412 cab setup. These subs are like the best depth mod you can ever imagine but your able to use it with every amp.
 
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MetalHeadMike said:
You just need to get the treble, presence, bright up higher and balanced with one another. I usually run bright at 1 oclock to near max, treble 2-4 oclock, presence 2-4 oclock. It should have enough high end, presence to cut your head off. What it won't have is that upper mid frequency presence/grind/cut which may be why you say you think its a dark amp. That's why I always go back to the MCII...way more upper mid voiced vs. the low mid voicing of the MTL. The contour and mids knob on the MCII has a dramatic effect on upper mid impact/bite.

If you add an ISP sub to your chain with the MCII, it far surpasses the ass end and girth of the MTL with depth. I'm about to add a second ISP sub to run two with a 2x12/412 cab setup. These subs are like the best depth mod you can ever imagine but your able to use it with every amp.
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Actually I do prefer darker sounding amps to brigter ones as I find it easy to make em sound good without sounding harsh if you know what I mean. Nothing a good cab or a could of speakers can't fix haha
Today I'm gonna try it thru a really interesting cab / an old marshall with some eminence speakers. Will Probably post some clips later
 
Bram576 said:
Thanks man! I’ll get an additional 2 videos going. Non boosted MC, and boosted MTL. I actually don’t push my tube screamers as hard as a lot of others. I see a lot of guys run the level all the way up… I tend to keep drive at 0. And tone 11-12, and level 11-1. I think it helps keep the character of the amp a bit while still making it nasty.

The non boosted MC still has the more grindy high end, and less ass. It still does sound killer; it’s just not my thing for what I play when it’s not boosted. I get why people say it’s not a metal amp… but when you put a boost in front of it, I think it disproves that point.
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That's cool about the way you set the tube screamer level, I get that. To me it seems like too much boost would kind of take away the distinctive ultra tight "Wizard" quality of the amp. From the clips, it seems like the biggest influence the pedal has on the tone is the low cut.

Have you ever tried a simple EQ pedal to cut the right amount of low end, and really get surgical with it?

Looking forward to more upcoming videos, btw. :)
 
TheGreatGreen said:
That's cool about the way you set the tube screamer level, I get that. To me it seems like too much boost would kind of take away the distinctive ultra tight "Wizard" quality of the amp. From the clips, it seems like the biggest influence the pedal has on the tone is the low cut.

Have you ever tried a simple EQ pedal to cut the right amount of low end, and really get surgical with it?

Looking forward to more upcoming videos, btw. :)
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Too much definitely makes them shit out. I tried a dirty tree in front and that is not a good move IMO lol. Different boosts definitely have different function.

I typically don’t go super surgical with eqs or use them really in front or in the loop of the amp because if I eq at all I try to do it after the fact… in my amp clips I do not eq at all. Usually try to make them bigger and then do subtractive eq if I’m using it in a mix or something.
 
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