Tone Monster
Well-known member
This is Rig-Talk....ABSOLUTELY!!!
heavision
Active member
Does anyone know what options—if any—are available when ordering from Rick/Wizard? Thought I’d ask here before emailing him
I have a MCII from 2024 that I love. I love it so much I’m considering another one. I have a wish list of tweaks. I’ve heard that Rick is not too keen on this.
Anyways; I’m wondering how to go about asking him about a few tweaks, without scaring him off.
I saw earlier in this thread that he asked a customer if they wanted the more VH transformers? So maybe there are some options? Any others?
I’ve been thinking about emailing him for some weeks now. It’s causing me some anxiety.
I have a MCII from 2024 that I love. I love it so much I’m considering another one. I have a wish list of tweaks. I’ve heard that Rick is not too keen on this.
Anyways; I’m wondering how to go about asking him about a few tweaks, without scaring him off.
I saw earlier in this thread that he asked a customer if they wanted the more VH transformers? So maybe there are some options? Any others?
I’ve been thinking about emailing him for some weeks now. It’s causing me some anxiety.
TheGreatGreen
Well-known member
Does anyone know what options—if any—are available when ordering from Rick/Wizard? Thought I’d ask here before emailing him
I have a MCII from 2024 that I love. I love it so much I’m considering another one. I have a wish list of tweaks. I’ve heard that Rick is not too keen on this.
Anyways; I’m wondering how to go about asking him about a few tweaks, without scaring him off.
I saw earlier in this thread that he asked a customer if they wanted the more VH transformers? So maybe there are some options? Any others?
I’ve been thinking about emailing him for some weeks now. It’s causing me some anxiety.
Looks-wise, there's tolex color, piping color, logo color (white or gold), front control panel color (black or gold), LED color, and what kind of knobs you want.
Options-wise, on most models you can choose the kind of power tubes you want, which usually dictates the transformer he installs, but feel free to ask about that. Sometimes he'll also offer regular or hybrid poweramp controls, which effectively means you can choose between a Depth knob or Contour knob.
As far as actual mods to the circuit go, I'm not familiar with him doing that. I asked if he would be willing to do a standard / hybrid poweramp on an amp, or in other words if he'd add a push/pull knob for swapping between Depth/Contour, and he declined. I didn't get the impression I made him mad for asking though.
As far as modding stuff like "I want more gain here, different low end there" type stuff, I'm not aware of him ever having done anything like that at all. To me that seems like it would be pushing it.
edit: oh and you can choose between a large or small logo.
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Greazygeo
Well-known member
It was my amp and transformer. At the time he was not in production making amps and had not been for some time. He was still working with ACDC. He was fixing the Metal I had at the time and while we were discussing it I told him what I wanted if he were ever going to build amps again..There were quite a few things I wanted. About 6 months later he emailed me saying it was ready. I doubt he does stuff like that anymore.
I am inquiring about another one now. I did ask him some questions…..
heavision
Active member
Soooo; does anyone know what it is that makes Wizards sound so full, punchy, clear? Like; higher voltages, bigger transformers or something?
It doesn’t seem like a voicing thing to me. I’m not a tech or anything, but my MCII seems to have something very unique under the hood. Tone-wise it’s pretty Marshall-esque, based on Jubilee apparently and so on.
But there’s something else going on. Not just tone or voicing or character or anything. I’m talking about that massive sonic footprint, 3D clarity, percussive punch—not to mention crazy dynamic touch-sensitivity. It ain’t normal. You guys know.
Shit, mine is 50 watts and it sounds bigger, fuller, clearer, punchier etc than most 100 watt amps I’ve played.
Anyone know what it is, in general, that yields clarity, punch, hugeness?
It doesn’t seem like a voicing thing to me. I’m not a tech or anything, but my MCII seems to have something very unique under the hood. Tone-wise it’s pretty Marshall-esque, based on Jubilee apparently and so on.
But there’s something else going on. Not just tone or voicing or character or anything. I’m talking about that massive sonic footprint, 3D clarity, percussive punch—not to mention crazy dynamic touch-sensitivity. It ain’t normal. You guys know.
Shit, mine is 50 watts and it sounds bigger, fuller, clearer, punchier etc than most 100 watt amps I’ve played.
Anyone know what it is, in general, that yields clarity, punch, hugeness?
Beyond Black
Well-known member
Higher voltages, bigger transformers, and uncompressed.
ners
Well-known member
I don't know shit about voltages/transformers, but they're super uncompressed from what I can tell.
Corey James
Well-known member
I'd love to know as well. The Wizard I have on load is fast in it's response.
I prefer plexis for the 'immediacy' of the note, the MCII is similar, yet it has preamp gain.
It may sound silly, on some amps (my old Boogie Dual Recto for example) it feels like there was too much latency between the pick and the amplifier. The Wizard doesn't have that.
Similarly, I feel that way about mahogany necks with rosewood boards. I still enjoy those guitars for different vibes, though if I want that immediate response, roasted maple necks with roasted maple fingerboards are where it's at.
Go one step further and add a roasted alder body. Once you bite the apple.....
mermer
Active member
Today I got my hands on the MC 100W EL34. Solid, all-around aggressive rock amp. Very responsive to the guitar knobs — you can create a bunch of sounds just by rolling your knobs. Takes boosts like they’re part of the circuit; tried the Leopard, SD1 and Origin Effects Halcyon Green (TS), different flavours, all great. Really liked the straight rhythm channel, straightforward cleans. For now, I am very happy with it.
Compared to the MTL: the lead section of the MTL is a bit more scooped and low-mid emphasized. Aggressive in a different way. More sinister, malicious sounding. Not as responsive to the guitar knobs as the MC, but it’s not designed for that either. The MTL is a more versatile amp with a bunch of knobs and features. You can go into the MC territory with double boosting the Rhythm Channel as well, but the feel is different. MTL is tighter where MC has some give under the fingers. You can dial them to sound very similar but I think they extend in different directions.
MTL for “Black Gives Way to Blue” and MC for “Dirt” kind of tones.
Compared to the MTL: the lead section of the MTL is a bit more scooped and low-mid emphasized. Aggressive in a different way. More sinister, malicious sounding. Not as responsive to the guitar knobs as the MC, but it’s not designed for that either. The MTL is a more versatile amp with a bunch of knobs and features. You can go into the MC territory with double boosting the Rhythm Channel as well, but the feel is different. MTL is tighter where MC has some give under the fingers. You can dial them to sound very similar but I think they extend in different directions.
MTL for “Black Gives Way to Blue” and MC for “Dirt” kind of tones.
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Greazygeo
Well-known member
I would say it is just overbuilt. Power supply has lots of reserve, when under heavy load it doesn’t sag. Transformers are big enough to not saturate at high volumes. Preamp design doesn’t have too much gain/ saturation. Its like a high horsepower racecar driving 55mph.
thegame
Well-known member
I can’t abide 55
Greazygeo
Well-known member
You can do it…what is 55 in cmph?
thegame
Well-known member
Speed of light, thanks to the exchange rate
heavision
Active member
Any other amps have these attributes? ie fullness, clarity, dynamics, punch?
Not asking if other amps sound like a Wizard. I’m just curious about those particular characteristics. Because got-dam!!!
Old Super Leads have some serious punch. My 2011 SLO had some 3D clarity going on. I’m sure there are other examples.
But yeah; my MCII is some whole other shit. Radically different from other amps.
Not asking if other amps sound like a Wizard. I’m just curious about those particular characteristics. Because got-dam!!!
Old Super Leads have some serious punch. My 2011 SLO had some 3D clarity going on. I’m sure there are other examples.
But yeah; my MCII is some whole other shit. Radically different from other amps.
Greazygeo
Well-known member
Of the ones I have experience with:
VHT Ultralead and CLX
VHT Deliverence
Hiwatt Dr-504/103
Orange OR120
I would not list Marshalls. They give up and get mushy too soon.
Tone Monster
Well-known member
Yeah, the Deliverance is darn close. Just missing that perfect frequency response. Similar thump/punch and gain structure.
ners
Well-known member
Ground Zero Ampworks and Monomyth stuff has those characteristics while having a non-Wizard voicing (they're more Plexi/JCM voicing rather than Jubilee).
heavision
Active member
Yeah Ground Zero has some intriguing stuff for sure. I’ve never played one though. They seem to have that super tight bottom end/low mids thing going on. I thought they were sorta in that modern, ultra gain camp, maybe?
Man, if they have that Wizard-esque fullness and clarity, with plexi/JCM voicing….. Dangerous for my wallet.
ners
Well-known member
I mean, they certainly can be, but there are so many switches that they can do plenty else. There is a good video from someone where they got their Hellion to sound like an old school Plexi.
A unique feature of the Hellion is the Compressed/Raw and Aura knobs, those things can really open the amp up and give it that uncompressed Wizard feeling.
I've been considering selling my MTL because I always use my Hellion over it since I prefer the voicing better and it's got the same level of clarity and punch.
MetalHeadMike
Well-known member
In the territory...
Stock Marhsall boosted (JCM800-JMP-Silver Jube)
MOAB+ on an old Marshall
Naylor boosted
Freyette CLX
Morris Perplexed
Mesa RI IIC+ HRG
Freyette D60
Granophyre
