Wizard MTL MK2 VS Marshall JMP 2203 (full mix)

[saxxamafone]

I know many players wonder how similar (and how different) Marshalls and Wizards are.

The boosted 2203 is a classic so I put my MTL un-boosted to see how it performs.

Funny I was struggling with getting the tone I was looking for from my MTL for a while.
The big mistake I made was trying to make the tone work in isolation.
Everything greatly improved as soon as I added some bass and drums into the mix.

There's 3 versions here:

• MTL
• 2203
• 2203 left and MTL right

 

[RaceU4her]

the marshall wins for me, the whole mix just seems to open up with that marshall top end chime. cool clip

 

[Ben Waylin]

Boosted Marshall

 

[anomaly]

The Marshall cuts a little better it seems?? but the Wizard doesn't have that shitty snarling, broken sounding texture over top of the sound like the Marshall does... it seems that Marshall is just gasping for more gain but can't deliver, even with the pedal. I like the Wizard better tonally.

 

[saxxamafone]

the marshall wins for me, the whole mix just seems to open up with that marshall top end chime. cool clip

Thanks for checking it out mate, the marshall definitely has a top end chime that's very distinct and cutting

 

[saxxamafone]

The Marshall cuts a little better it seems?? but the Wizard doesn't have that shitty snarling, broken sounding texture over top of the sound like the Marshall does... it seems that Marshall is just gasping for more gain but can't deliver, even with the pedal. I like the Wizard better tonally.

Agree Marshall has more cut and the Wiz is more low mid and lows.
The marshall gain is on 6 here so I do have some room to move, but I think it will always sound very raw whereas the Wiz is more refined and controlled

 

[DanTravis62]

I prefer the wizard. But they're both great sounding, and fucking classic.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Everything greatly improved as soon as I added some bass and drums into the mix.

100% - this is (supposed to be) what it's all about but so often gets overlooked.
Nice work man, both sound great and diggin' that riff

 

[saxxamafone]

100% - this is (supposed to be) what it's all about but so often gets overlooked.
Nice work man, both sound great and diggin' that riff

Thanks mate!

Yep I think I forget in the context of the full mix, the guitar really sits in the midrange.

I perceived the MTL as too middy with not enough sparkling highs when playing in iso, all of that went as soon as it was thrown in the mix.

It's almost like Rick at Wizard knows what he's doing or something

I'm actually not minding the 1 amp on the left, the other on the right combo here.

 

[RedB4Black]

Both sound killer! I’ve been wanting a 2204 (clone or otherwise) to go with my MTLs

 

[saxxamafone]

Both sound killer! I’ve been wanting a 2204 (clone or otherwise) to go with my MTLs

Thank you mate!

The MTL is definitely bigger and fatter (perhaps more even across the entire EQ). The Marshalls have that rattle in the highs, but they give up some low end and 'fullness' in the process IMO.

Love both

 

[RedB4Black]

Thank you mate!

The MTL is definitely bigger and fatter (perhaps more even across the entire EQ). The Marshalls have that rattle in the highs, but they give up some low end and 'fullness' in the process IMO.

Love both

Where do you set the presence, treble, mid sweep and bright? I tend to run them all pretty high and it gives it that grinding snarl I love about the amp.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Where do you set the presence, treble, mid sweep and bright? I tend to run them all pretty high and it gives it that grinding snarl I love about the amp.

Yep, Brights, Treb and Pres up around 2:30 - 3 o’clock sits nice in mix?
I like sweep around 1-2 o’clock
The MTL will cut very nicely in a mix, without harshness if you just turn the knobs with your ears and not your eyes.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

Marshall wins by far in my opinion. Great tones!

 

[peterc52]

JMP 2203 FTW

 

[Rex Rocker]

I hate being negative, but I think the attack is a bit too scratchy on both, but particularly on the Marshall. What kind of pickups were you using? Because the Wizard is completely unboosted, right? Almost sounds TCIP-ish to me.

 

[glpg80]

The Marshall cuts a little better it seems?? but the Wizard doesn't have that shitty snarling, broken sounding texture over top of the sound like the Marshall does... it seems that Marshall is just gasping for more gain but can't deliver, even with the pedal. I like the Wizard better tonally.

This is what I heard too. I did like the wizard more but it sounded a bit thin. I think I’d liked it more frowny EQ boosted to help thicken it up.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

What was the recording chain? Micced cab or direct? If a live cab, what speakers?

The MTL sounds a little too dark for my taste. I'd back off both the depth and bass to between 9-10:00. Also up the lead gain a touch to 2-3:00. It looks like you had the presence around 3:00 which is where it needs to be to open up the amp, maybe a touch higher at 4:00.

I liked the 2203 better in this clip... but would love it with the presence at 3:00 and bass at 11:00.

 

[MetalThrasher]

The Marshall cuts a little better it seems?? but the Wizard doesn't have that shitty snarling, broken sounding texture over top of the sound like the Marshall does... it seems that Marshall is just gasping for more gain but can't deliver, even with the pedal. I like the Wizard better tonally.

This is what I think as well. Both sounded great but I prefer the Wizard. What pickups did you use? Also, I wonder how the Marshall would sound if you moved the tone to 1 o'clock and dimed the level on the SD.

 

[SpiderWars]

Overall I prefer the Wizard. But I think I would like the Marshall more for all that stuff your doing up top in the mix and maybe the Wizard for the base rhythm. Killer tones, cool riffs and nice playing!