Smashedguitaris⸸
Hack
I know with my w800, i love to crank presence and run treble just to the point where it starts to hiss. I feel like with the annies, it gets the aggressive highs and still stays pretty balanced
Wizard MTL darker than other Wizards?
- Thread starter saxxamafone
- Start date
Techdeth
RESIDENT ROCK PROFESSOR
I could see the AM radio thing happening more so with it in . I think pulling it out would help fight the AM thing. I keep it pulled out for my main tone with it. But it’s just an option
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Definitely more modern with it pulled out, that's for sure
braintheory
Well-known member
I have an original Uber too and a 2016 MTL (considered MK1 I guess). Although other Wizard's are brighter with less lower mids than the MTL, I find it to still be a pretty bright amp overall and definitely brighter than my Uber. It is less modern to me than the Uber. I agree that both the MTL and MC I had did have a certain roundness to the sound in a way that I actually don’t prefer. The '96 MC I had had more mids and uppermids, but they both have the overall Wizard sound. They both have this somewhat hollow quality in the mids. I set my presence at 8.5-9/10, treble 6/10, bright 4/10. I tend to often like things bright, but I wouldn't got more than that on my MTL. Maybe the MK2 version is darker? Is yours the EL34 version? If it's 6L6 or KT88's I can also see that making it rounder or darker possibly
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Thanks for your thoughts here mate, great to hear from someone who has both these amps.
I think you're right in that the Uber is more modern at the end of the day.
Not that it's a bad thing but I think I might be expecting the MTL to get to that level of 'modern-ness' which it may not be capable of. Not a bad thing, just different.
I know what you mean about the MTL mids, definitely different and unique.
Mine is the EL34 version.
I think the hugeness and roundness of the MTL makes it less up front and in your face, less focused and modern.
Still learning a lot about the amp and how it behaves.
The Uber on the other hand is instant gratification, I barely touch the knobs
Racerxrated
Well-known member
I would consider getting another cab with GBs or H30 Anniversary speakers; or maybe the Creamback 65s as they will handle the power better. Those speakers or a combination will have a brighter response vs the Mesa cab.
When I had my Wizards, I had a C+ and also a Mesa cab to go with it. The Wizards liked the Mesa V30 cab far less than my GB, 65 or H30 cabs. Greenbacks or similar sounded far better to my ears.
Racerxrated
Well-known member
This is exactly how I dial in every amp. Max the presence, mids 3-5 and bring treble up gradually. Works for me.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
I agree with Matt's suggestions here. I have a MTL mk1 and mk2 ...... Bright at around 3:00 really opens the amp up and gets that brightness you are looking for. Presence around 3:00 tightens up the lowend , its not harsh set this way. Be moderate with the bass and depth. Keep the sweep set 1-2:00. Keep the shift pushed in.Mine sounds incredible this way through v30s.
If you have a Mesa traditional cab I would say thats part of the darkness, lol. I have one of those cabs also. If you have a recto cab then not so much, those cabs have more treble response. If your amp sounds like a transistor radio set this way I would start experimenting with tube rolling. JJ preamp tubes are dark and warm sounding tubes, you might want to try a few Chinese in there. Lastly, are you boosting the amp in front ?
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Great info mate, thanks.
I'll try to record some clips tonight and share back where i get to
Geisterfaust
Member
I thought mine sounded a little dark and hollow but once I got over the “set it all at noon” bias and bumped the bright (about 2:00-3:00 for me) and presence (also 2:00). I also got an MCII for the same reasons you listed and in the hopes that it would be an either/or scenario. The MCII has a more prominent high-mid focus that I love. It complements the MTL perfectly so my “either/or” plans were foiled and I’m keeping both.
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Nice expensive way to do it haha
Ok you guys have convinced me to try the bright cranked up again so i'll give that a go
Geisterfaust
Member
I don’t recommend my methods! “Just add mids by buying another $4,500 head!”Nice expensive way to do it haha
Ok you guys have convinced me to try the bright cranked up again so i'll give that a go
Honestly, the MTL took a minute to click for me, but when it did…
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Yeah I can feel it's almost about to do that for me.. it's so close
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Here's some clips to show what i'm hearing.
The Uber seems to have something else going in the mids that gives it a more aggressive cut.
MTL still sounds great but not quite as angry as the Uber.
The presence, treble and sweep is cranked very high on the MLT in these.
The Uber seems to have something else going in the mids that gives it a more aggressive cut.
MTL still sounds great but not quite as angry as the Uber.
The presence, treble and sweep is cranked very high on the MLT in these.
Smashedguitaris⸸
Hack
Bogner sounds way more in front there. I would pick it 10/10. That is strange, because my W800 would be hard pressed to sit back in any mix..
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Yep you're hearing what I'm hearing too.
That's why I started the thread and I have a feeling because the MLT is stronger in the lower mids, the highs/high mids don't sizzle quite as much.
Not a bad thing, just a different flavour.
It's like the Uber mids sit a little higher and that helps the cut and being more up front.
Techdeth
RESIDENT ROCK PROFESSOR
It is strange because I have both amps and my MTL2 punches so much harder even when playing live
saxxamafone
Well-known member
Weird isn't it, a little tube tweaking might get some more out of it.
Not to take anything away from the Uber original though, that thing is just a beast