Wizard Modern Classic coming on Tuesday....

[glip22]

This was a great post!!!!! I do have to say he took care of my amp. It was like new when I got it back. He never ignored me much either. He was just tempermental. I can see that he may not hold grudges and could be cool to talk with on different terms. In the end he told me "If you want me to fell guilty about something you have the wrong guy. I'm not going to feel bad for you. I fixed your amp so why don't we just call it a day Mate" He did fix it and shipped it back before he left on the tour. Just be cautious how you handle him and you will be alot better off. it would have been cool to be on better terms with him because of how much he has done for bands like AC/DC, Queensryche, Scorpions, ZZTop, etc, but it didn't happen for me. I'm still wondering how he will know if I open the amp up. he told me to use GrooveTubes e34ls rated 4-7 and it would be biased correctly. I like to bias my own amps. I do know if I open it up he will not help me in the future if I need him. It's a great amp but I have thought about selling it because of this.

 

[King Guitar]

This was a great post!!!!! I do have to say he took care of my amp. It was like new when I got it back. He never ignored me much either. He was just tempermental. I can see that he may not hold grudges and could be cool to talk with on different terms. In the end he told me "If you want me to fell guilty about something you have the wrong guy. I'm not going to feel bad for you. I fixed your amp so why don't we just call it a day Mate" He did fix it and shipped it back before he left on the tour. Just be cautious how you handle him and you will be alot better off. it would have been cool to be on better terms with him because of how much he has done for bands like AC/DC, Queensryche, Scorpions, ZZTop, etc, but it didn't happen for me. I'm still wondering how he will know if I open the amp up. he told me to use GrooveTubes e34ls rated 4-7 and it would be biased correctly. I like to bias my own amps. I do know if I open it up he will not help me in the future if I need him. It's a great amp but I have thought about selling it because of this.

Ricks a good guy but he doesn't suffer BS well and I cant blame him too much for that. (Not saying your encounter was BS but in general). I have had the pleasure of hanging with Rick and drinking a few long necks and he is a character and knows his shit. Remember he is out on the road most of the time and runs in to all kinds with the AC/DC gig and has his radar up at all times. Just a different mindset but living up here in the north east and being in the construction trades I am used to it. The man builds a wonderful amp with the best components and really cares about his hand built creations, you cant really fault him too much for that imo.

 

[Shark Diver]

This was a great post!!!!! I do have to say he took care of my amp. It was like new when I got it back. He never ignored me much either. He was just tempermental. I can see that he may not hold grudges and could be cool to talk with on different terms. In the end he told me "If you want me to fell guilty about something you have the wrong guy. I'm not going to feel bad for you. I fixed your amp so why don't we just call it a day Mate" He did fix it and shipped it back before he left on the tour. Just be cautious how you handle him and you will be alot better off. it would have been cool to be on better terms with him because of how much he has done for bands like AC/DC, Queensryche, Scorpions, ZZTop, etc, but it didn't happen for me. I'm still wondering how he will know if I open the amp up. he told me to use GrooveTubes e34ls rated 4-7 and it would be biased correctly. I like to bias my own amps. I do know if I open it up he will not help me in the future if I need him. It's a great amp but I have thought about selling it because of this.

Ricks a good guy but he doesn't suffer BS well and I cant blame him too much for that. (Not saying your encounter was BS but in general). I have had the pleasure of hanging with Rick and drinking a few long necks and he is a character and knows his shit. Remember he is out on the road most of the time and runs in to all kinds with the AC/DC gig and has his radar up at all times. Just a different mindset but living up here in the north east and being in the construction trades I am used to it. The man builds a wonderful amp with the best components and really cares about his hand built creations, you cant really fault him too much for that imo.

Yeah,he's a little gruff, but a great guy. I hung out with him all day in Laguna while he had a day off when AC/DC was here. It was cool. I kind of like that he is very straight forward. He knows his shit and comes through with anything he promises. He will tell you flat out he tours and time tables are hard for him. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Meathead]

I don't care how good of an amp he builds, if I spent that kind of money and was treated like that I'd tell him where to go.

Well then you wouldn't get one then, would you?

Unless he says "No one has ever stuck up to me like that! I am so sorry, I will build you a free amp."

 

[ejecta]

I don't care how good of an amp he builds, if I spent that kind of money and was treated like that I'd tell him where to go.

No amp for you!

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Buy some earplugs.

 

[Erock]

You're in for a treat

big +1

kind of scared to email Rick for anything now though, after reading this thread!

 

[glip22]

You're in for a treat

big +1

kind of scared to email Rick for anything now though, after reading this thread!

Erock, He responds within a couple of days, sometimes same day. I got into trouble when he did not respond and time was running out for him to fix my amp. I sent three emails in two days and the third one got me onto his bad side. One one hand maybe I should have had more faith, but on the other hand he could have communicated just a little better to let me know where I stood. If he did I would not have emailed him too much. He was also getting ready to leave on tour so there was definitely stress involved. Just bad timing on my whole deal. I was not slamming him, just relaying my experience. I hate to have to kiss someone's ass and that is what I felt with my dealings with him. He would basically slam me and I would have to apologize up and down. Why, because he had my several thousand dollar investment.
That was my only gripe. I'm sure alot of people have had no trouble at all. Like I said, he did come through. If I would have just sent my amp to him and waited, I would have received it back repaired with no issues at all. I get over anxious when I have absolutely no idea what is going on, especially with something I just dropped $3250.00 on and then was in for another $500+ with the repair, shipping and fees. He also gets very upset if you email his people like Jean Luc. I had no clue he was Rick's accountant when I emailed him for tech support. Jean luc forwarded my email to Rick and Rick became very upset with me for harrassing his people. I only asked a reasonable question. In the end it seems he was ok with me, but it took alot of goings on to get there. I didn't need that stress with my Father in Law dying and my business taking a big hit in this economy.

 

[jcj]

Loud, Organic and Raw!!! If you need customer support on it be very carefull how you handle Rick St. Pierre.
I purchased mine second hand. When I received it, it needed an OT, which you can only get from Wizard. I was lucky the ACDC tour was postponed and Rick agreed to take it in and he fixed it for me at a reasonable cost. However, he was very short with his responses and did not keep me posted and I felt like I was hanging.(He was due to leave for several months in two days). I made the mistake of emailing him one too many times in my anticipation and let me tell you; He has a very bad temper and it is very easy to get on his bad side if you did not buy the amp from him. Great amp with killer tone!!!! When I first received it in need of repair, I emailed Rick asking for advice and told him I was going to have someone look at it. He flipped out and demanded I send it to him and it was downhill from there. He did come through and replaced the OT and completely went over the amp. He also told me if I dare open it up even to bias it he would know it!!! Very strange. He felt that I tinkered around inside the amp ruining the OT. The fact is,I did nothing to hurt the amp. I received it that way. It was very stressfulll dealing with him. I'm afraid if I open it up it will blow my face off. Lol!!! Trust me Rick is no joke. If he didn't have me by my balls I would not have been so humble. Just thought I should share my experiences with you. Owning a Wizard is not like owning any old amp if you have to deal with Rick, especially if you did not buy it from.

I love the Wizards I've played, but as soon as he flipped out, that amp would have been on its way to someone else for service. Life's too short to deal with drama from any amp builder

 

[MichaelG]

Great thread! I'm really glad that I now know about Rick's fickle temperament. I've always really wanted to try a Wizard but now I think I'll support a builder who cares about his customers on an equal level with his amps. Like most folks, I just don't need any additional drama or complications. It's just an amp for frig's sakes.....

There is a really good luthier that lives locally to me who is like that. One day he is OK... next day... complete asshole. Now all of my business goes elsewhere.

 

[Hacksaw]

There ya have it.. harassing the amp tech.. any tech will get pissed! Not just Rick @ wizard.. Rick had two days to fix your amp and he did do it. Treat people with respect and not hound them with emails and calls.

Rick @ wizard has been super cool to me and others.

 

[King Guitar]

There ya have it.. harassing the amp tech.. any tech will get pissed! Not just Rick @ wizard.. Rick had two days to fix your amp and he did do it. Treat people with respect and not hound them with emails and calls.

Rick @ wizard has been super cool to me and others.

+ 1

 

[Jay Strange]

Loud, Organic and Raw!!! If you need customer support on it be very carefull how you handle Rick St. Pierre.
I purchased mine second hand. When I received it, it needed an OT, which you can only get from Wizard. I was lucky the ACDC tour was postponed and Rick agreed to take it in and he fixed it for me at a reasonable cost. However, he was very short with his responses and did not keep me posted and I felt like I was hanging.(He was due to leave for several months in two days). I made the mistake of emailing him one too many times in my anticipation and let me tell you; He has a very bad temper and it is very easy to get on his bad side if you did not buy the amp from him. Great amp with killer tone!!!! When I first received it in need of repair, I emailed Rick asking for advice and told him I was going to have someone look at it. He flipped out and demanded I send it to him and it was downhill from there. He did come through and replaced the OT and completely went over the amp. He also told me if I dare open it up even to bias it he would know it!!! Very strange. He felt that I tinkered around inside the amp ruining the OT. The fact is,I did nothing to hurt the amp. I received it that way. It was very stressfulll dealing with him. I'm afraid if I open it up it will blow my face off. Lol!!! Trust me Rick is no joke. If he didn't have me by my balls I would not have been so humble. Just thought I should share my experiences with you. Owning a Wizard is not like owning any old amp if you have to deal with Rick, especially if you did not buy it from.

He sounds like a complete jerkoff to me.

+1.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Did the amp arrive yet??? Let's hear a review

 

[HerbieTheRadDorklift]

I wonder if he was like that with Hetfield or Angus...

 

[ke2]

I don't care how good of an amp he builds, if I spent that kind of money and was treated like that I'd tell him where to go.

"NO SOUP FOR YOU!!"

 

[ke2]

I don't care how good of an amp he builds, if I spent that kind of money and was treated like that I'd tell him where to go.

No amp for you!

DAMN!!

 

[johnnyjellybean]

You're gonna love that amp. Just make sure turn the master to at least 2 or higher.
Then you'll be hearing it the way it is supposed to be played.

 

[ke2]

There ya have it.. harassing the amp tech.. any tech will get pissed! Not just Rick @ wizard.. Rick had two days to fix your amp and he did do it. Treat people with respect and not hound them with emails and calls.

Rick @ wizard has been super cool to me and others.

I`ve never spoken to him, but you mention respect.. Shouldn`t that go both ways? He`s surely aware of what his own amps cost, plus he charges 500$ for repairs. There is no good reason in the world for acting like a dickhead for any of the reasons listed in this thread. If you`re too busy to do work for people, tell them that. Peter Diezel calls up new owners to check out if they`re happy

 

[johnnyjellybean]

There ya have it.. harassing the amp tech.. any tech will get pissed! Not just Rick @ wizard.. Rick had two days to fix your amp and he did do it. Treat people with respect and not hound them with emails and calls.

Rick @ wizard has been super cool to me and others.

There is no good reason in the world for acting like a dickhead for any of the reasons listed in this thread.

Maybe they are not listed. With all due respect there are 2 sides to every coin.