Wizard modern classic II or I vs Friedman BE100

[pstar]

keep in mind mc1 is not a mc2. videos r of mc1

 

[Anonymous]

So in general the Wizards are more open and big sounding with less compresion. Are they maybe less responsive compared to the Friedmans?

Yes on the former but no on the latter.

Be definition, if something is less compressed it should feel more responsive.

Oh indeed; compression kinda equalizes everything and can take away some of the subtleties of your playing.

 

[thegame]

So in general the Wizards are more open and big sounding with less compresion. Are they maybe less responsive compared to the Friedmans?

Yes on the former but no on the latter.

By definition, if something is less compressed it should feel more responsive, not less!

Exactly what I said. Please reread.

 

[lespaul6]

"The Wizard sounds like a bomb is going off. That amp had the most punch I have heard. It is not for in home playing. My Wife hated mine and I eventually sold it. It shook the house foundations. Huge round thumping low end. The highs on the older ones were too piercing for the home as well but in a band it probably worked. I honestly think that amp damaged my hearing and brain a little."

this is so funny and so true... the amp generally makes non musicians flee the area lol

 

[drspearing]

My $0.02 after having owned the BE100 and just having done an evaluation of an MC 1...

I did not like the BE100 very much at all. Sold it after 2 hard weeks of really trying to get it to work for me. Just last week I bought an MC 1 to see what it was about. It had the 4 foot switchable levels of gain upgrade. The clean channel did not have the low end I wanted (since fixed on the MC2) or I probably would have kept it. I played it through a Marshall 4x12 with greenbacks and it was what I have been looking for and rarely able to find in an amp. A lot of amps have low end but need something to make them cut. So they have this high end sizzle or brightness infused onto the note. With the Wizard I tried, it was not bright at all, it did not sizzle, it had a lot of low end plus the low end had definition unlike any amp I have played, and I've played a bunch. All the notes and strings were balanced and very present so it cut without any harshness or brittleness what so ever. The master volume worked great so I didn't have to play it any louder than any other tube amp to get the goods out of it. I emailed Rick and he responded very fast. Build quality was like a %13 which is very, very high. The MC2 has gain controls, foot switchable boosts (4 levels of gain), two brightness controls on the back, contour control and an effects loop. So, in my very humble opinion, it is no contest. Wizard for the win!

It may be that Wizard amps are different than they used to be and may have gotten a lot better over the last few years.

BTW. I paid $3600 shipped for the Wizard brand spanking new. I sent it back to Rock N Roll Vintage (even though Rick upgrades amps for free if you spring for the shipping) due to what I considered limitations for me and my rig. However, I am saving like a mad man to get an MC2 and it can't come soon enough.

YMMV, IMHO etc.

 

[rlord1974]

So in general the Wizards are more open and big sounding with less compresion. Are they maybe less responsive compared to the Friedmans?

Yes on the former but no on the latter.

By definition, if something is less compressed it should feel more responsive, not less!

Exactly what I said. Please reread.

I was agreeing with you!

 

[thegame]

So in general the Wizards are more open and big sounding with less compresion. Are they maybe less responsive compared to the Friedmans?

Yes on the former but no on the latter.

By definition, if something is less compressed it should feel more responsive, not less!

Exactly what I said. Please reread.

I was agreeing with you!

You are wise

 

[steve_k]

So in general the Wizards are more open and big sounding with less compresion. Are they maybe less responsive compared to the Friedmans?

Yes on the former but no on the latter.

By definition, if something is less compressed it should feel more responsive, not less!

Exactly what I said. Please reread.

I was agreeing with you!

You are wise

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

 

[thegame]

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

Happy to oblige :

 

[TrueTone500]

Without question - Wizard!

 

[steve_k]

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

Happy to oblige :

Wow, that's a beauty. When did you get? Congrats on that score.

 

[thegame]

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

Happy to oblige :

Wow, that's a beauty. When did you get? Congrats on that score.

Shortly after I got scorched by Satin the great deceiver.

 

[steve_k]

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

Happy to oblige :

Wow, that's a beauty. When did you get? Congrats on that score.

Shortly after I got scorched by Satin the great deceiver.

Oh yes. I remember that.......

 

[joepete77]

Let's have a shot of that Larry amp in your avatar.....

Happy to oblige :

Wow, that's a beauty. When did you get? Congrats on that score.

Shortly after I got scorched by Satin the great deceiver.

Who is this satin you speak of?

 

[mxr2000]

If you buy used should should be able to resell at close to what you paid for it. The only way to really tell which amp will work best for you is to spend some time playing it and I think you need a few hours or so to really be sure. Plan on spending $400-600 to learn by owning used (the cost of buying and selling a couple amps), in the end only you can prevent forest fires...wait, I meant only you can tell what amp will work the best for you.

Remember, the tones you hear on classic rock albums are the sounds of amps played at very loud levels, much louder than anyone would play today. The amps from back in the day did not sound as good when played at low levels.

An also back in those days, they used small amps for recordings!!!