Wizard MCII Preamp Tube Layout Question and advice needed

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Cenotaph

Cenotaph

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If Im looking at the back on the MCII I'm assuming it goes left to right V1-V6?

I had a power amp tube bite the dust and since I'm placing an order to Eurotubes anyway I'm going to grab some preamp tubes. I love the amp, but I'd like to brighten up the rhythm channel and maybe boost the gain a little on that channel only. The lead channel is perfect but can be a bit too much gain for certain things like overdubs.

Nitpicking at this point really, its the best amp I've ever played.

Right now heres whats in the amp:

Quad of JJ's E34L power tubes
v1: ECC83S (This one has a marking "3G4", anyone know what that means?)
v2: ECC803S
v3: ECC83S
v4: ECC803S
v5: ECC803S
v6: ECC83S (This one has a green dot on the top??)

If anyone would care to school me on what each of the V tubes do and maybe some suggestions to brighten and boost the rhythm channel it would be greatly appreciated!
 
@MetalHeadMike @mhenson42 Tagging you guys because you have/had a lot of Wizard experiences. P.s. Mike, I'm the one who bought this MCII off of you...it rules!
 
Glad you're digging it...KILLER amp!

I'm honestly not sure in regards to the rhythm ch as I never used it. I played the lead without the pull boost engaged and smacked the front with an OD and it got PLENTY bright. I never really noticed significant changes with tube swaps on the three MCIIs I've owned. I think the Chinese 12ax7B tubes could potentially brighten it up a tad, but I'm not sure which preamp tubes, or which half of which, affect the rhythm ch.
 
Oh yeah, lead channel is plenty bright with boost or without, figured a tube swap for the R channel might make that one more to my liking, I dunno.
 
Hello :)
Check this thread - https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/wizard-mcii-tube-layout.160198/

So you want to experiment with V1-V2 tubes. I have good experience with the chinese 12ax7 or the new JJ preamp tube - E83CC. They are a little bit brighter than the normal Ecc83 by JJ.

And if your MC2 has the rhythm bright control on the rear panel then turn it up. It will make the channel brighter and ads a little bit of gain.
 
I don't know why the rhythm channel would need to be brighter, assuming you're also using the bright knob on the back - the rhythm channel can be stupid bright to the point of painful.
 
both are wide open on the back @UberschallEL34 This particular one, the rhythm channel is signifigantly darker, sounds like i rolled the tone knob off on my guitar.
 
Change the V2 from ECC803S to JJ ECC83S.
Should increase gain, and a bit of brightness
 
UberschallEL34 said:
I don't know why the rhythm channel would need to be brighter, assuming you're also using the bright knob on the back - the rhythm channel can be stupid bright to the point of painful.
Click to expand...
I love the painful bright at times . Fr .
 
Cenotaph said:
both are wide open on the back @UberschallEL34 This particular one, the rhythm channel is signifigantly darker, sounds like i rolled the tone knob off on my guitar.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is @UberschallEL34 owned your same MC2 before me and Mike. I don’t any of us used the rhythm channel. Lol
 
Cenotaph said:
both are wide open on the back @UberschallEL34 This particular one, the rhythm channel is signifigantly darker, sounds like i rolled the tone knob off on my guitar.
Click to expand...
Something ain't right then, I keep the bright on the Rhythm at like 9:00 or less.
 
I noticed my MTL has a sovetk in V2 might put that in there and see what it does, of course I think of this the day I leave for a week…
 
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