Wizard W-800 : What's the deal?

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Anybody have experience with one of these? How much gain are we talking compared to Modern Classic (I/II)? What's the voicing like compared to MC? Is one more "modern"? Ay footswitchable modes on the W800? I need a full rundown!

 

[Apex1Rg7X]

@UberschallEL34 @mhenson42

 

[RedB4Black]

It's a straight up JCM800 with better quality components and a gain boost. It's a one off build he's does from time to time. Uberschallel34 and I both ordered them together - his is gold/black. I think Rick is going to make it as a standard production model starting next year.
There's a 3 way switch. Middle is neutral. Up gives it more gain, and thickens the low end. Down Seems to give more gain without the low end impact. Gain increase is about the same either way. Master volume is decent, still sounds better with the volume up a little, but can get a decent lower volume tone.

It has less gain than the MTL, but with the boost engaged, it's like the MCII, but more Marshallesque...it is basically a Marshall circuit. I haven't played a real/unmodded JCM800 except for a few minutes many years ago, so I really can't compare.

I like to boost it with my Highwind Direwolf, KSR Eros or Suhr Koko boost. It get's that old school thrash metal thing going. It becomes a metal machine.

Here's mine....

 

[cardinal]

That's pretty cool. Didn't know those were a thing.

 

[harddriver]

I thought the MCII did just about every tone of JCM800 and then some so the W800 seems kind of redundant. I always thought the MCII would satisfy any Marshall guy out there but as many say there is a little Hiwatt tone in there so I guess the W800 would be 100% Marshall as Mhenson42 says.

 

[braintheory]

I thought the MCII did just about every tone of JCM800 and then some so the W800 seems kind of redundant. I always thought the MCII would satisfy any Marshall guy out there but as many say there is a little Hiwatt tone in there so I guess the W800 would be 100% Marshall as Mhenson42 says.

Yeah the Wizards don’t really sound like Marshall’s to me. I’ve got at the moment an old Hiwatt, ‘79 JMP2203, Wizard MTL and have owned an MC and other Marshall’s. All amazing amps, but I’d say the wizards are kinda a hybrid in a way of the Hiwatt and Marshall sound and maybe a bit more like a Hiwatt to me than Marshall, but really it’s own thing still

I bet the W800 would probably still be more like Wizard’s take on an 800 than really nailing that sound. Not necessarily better or worse, but just my prediction without trying it. I’d also question it having “better” components than an old 800 because those older amps still are always warmer and a little more organic sounding probably from the older components, so I don’t think you can really say better, just different. Maybe better if you want a more modern, precise sound, but worse if you favor vintage warmth. Just my thoughts

 

[panhead]

I thought it was 800 watts

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I thought the MCII did just about every tone of JCM800 and then some so the W800 seems kind of redundant. I always thought the MCII would satisfy any Marshall guy out there but as many say there is a little Hiwatt tone in there so I guess the W800 would be 100% Marshall as Mhenson42 says.

None of the four Wizards I've had, 2 MCIIs, an MTL, and a Hybrid, sound like a Marshall to me. I've never owned an 800, but several stock JMP 2204s...and a modded 1987x. Definitely similarities, but the Wizards are a different animal in so many ways and they're own thing IMO.

 

[braintheory]

None of the four Wizards I've had, 2 MCIIs, an MTL, and a Hybrid, sound like a Marshall to me. I've never owned an 800, but several JMP 2204s...stock and modded. Definitely similarities, but the Wizards are a different animal in so many ways IMO.

Agreed, the 2 they have some overlap, but different niches imo

 

[fusedbrain]

Agreed, the 2 they have some overlap, but different niches imo

+1
THe MCII is more "Marshall-esque" than the MTL, but still different from a stock 2203 / 2204.
Main reasons are likely the 220pf treble cap + plate fed tone stack, and the lack of an un-bypassed cold clipper stage.

We all know Rick makes some killer amps, but I'm not convinced the world needs another $3k+ JCM800 clone.
Re-sale value would certainly be better than a Ceriatone version

 

[braintheory]

+1
THe MCII is more "Marshall-esque" than the MTL, but still different from a stock 2203 / 2204.
Main reasons are likely the 220pf treble cap + plate fed tone stack, and the lack of an un-bypassed cold clipper stage.

We all know Rick makes some killer amps, but I'm not convinced the world needs another $3k+ JCM800 clone.

Agreed. We don’t need clones anymore of an amp that’s been out there for ~40 years now. I’ve pretty much tried them all when it comes to Marshall, Vox, Fender, and Dumble clones and none of them were as good as the real deal. The only modern amps I’ve kept are ones that kinda have they’re own thing like Wizard, Naylor and Gjika. We could use more stuff like that, but ideally something even more different and novel

 

[Racerxrated]

I had a 2010 MC 100 that had the C transformers, which were the most ‘Marshally’ of all Ricks MM transformers. Close, but still not quite Marshall mids.
Amazing amp though.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

I made a phone video with mine that's on youtube, definitely likes volume and gets thicker the louder it gets, I need to clear the house and turn up past noon sometime soon. Loves a boost obviously as it's like an 800, it's a chug machine but with a little less thump than a MCII. It's definitely NOT redundant side by side with an MC or MTL.

 

[Dino 939]

Wizards...oh yeah.. those machines.
Official no ? wimps zone performance amplifiers.
For all you two pump chumps..
It's not the size of the wand..it's the
Wizard behind it.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Appreciate the insight. JP your clip sounds badass. Nonetheless, I love the MC and doesn't sound like I need to stray from what I know I like based on what I'm hearing about the 800

 

[Exo-metal]

How would you compare the C++ Coliseum you had Blake to the wizard? The impression of the wizards is they're punchy and tight and defined but so was that coli you had.

 

[harddriver]

Here's UberschallEL34's vid of the W800.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

How would you compare the C++ Coliseum you had Blake to the wizard? The impression of the wizards is they're punchy and tight and defined but so was that coli you had.

Well, Coli had wayyy more gain. Was not double plussed, but nonetheless - significantly more gain than the MC. They were similar in that, like you said, they were both tight and punchy with a thunderous low end. More low end on Coli if you wanted it. Both immediate but nothing is as immediate as a wizard, not that that's necessarily a good or bad thing. For a C+, that coli was pretty damn fast on the attack. Coli was more metal and wanted to stay metal, but could be dialed back. Wizard could be dialed in more traditional rock/hard rock more easily if you wanted it. Coli handled lower volumes better funnily enough, but could blow you away really damn fast if you weren't careful. I didn't love the Wizard until the volume got up to band levels personally.

My issue with Mark amps in general is that they don't have as wide of a sonic footprint as a "traditional" amplifier that doesn't rely on a graphic EQ to spread the sound back out. They are always more pokey in a mix and can come across boxy. I personally just want my guitar tones to be room filling and "wall of sound" ish while still having just enough mids ripping your at your face. The Coli was the easily biggest sounding mark in the mix out of the ones I've used in a band setting, but it still had that mark thing going on slightly.

 

[braintheory]

Well, Coli had wayyy more gain. Was not double plussed, but nonetheless - significantly more gain than the MC. They were similar in that, like you said, they were both tight and punchy with a thunderous low end. More low end on Coli if you wanted it. Both immediate but nothing is as immediate as a wizard, not that that's necessarily a good or bad thing. For a C+, that coli was pretty damn fast on the attack. Coli was more metal and wanted to stay metal, but could be dialed back. Wizard could be dialed in more traditional rock/hard rock more easily if you wanted it. Coli handled lower volumes better funnily enough, but could blow you away really damn fast if you weren't careful. I didn't love the Wizard until the volume got up to band levels personally.

My issue with Mark amps in general is that they don't have as wide of a sonic footprint as a "traditional" amplifier that doesn't rely on a graphic EQ to spread the sound back out. They are always more pokey in a mix and can come across boxy. I personally just want my guitar tones to be room filling and "wall of sound" ish while still having just enough mids ripping your at your face. The Coli was the easily biggest sounding mark in the mix out of the ones I've used in a band setting, but it still had that mark thing going on slightly.

Yeah the Wizards need a good amount of volume to do their thing. I’d also just add that Wizards will be much more open sounding and have this real rock solid quality to the notes that I’ve not yet heard in any other amp. The Wizards also are drier/less saturated and less forgiving feeling. I kept mine for its unmatched punch and note definition, but I play my other amps more often

 

[Racerxrated]

Yeah the Wizards need a good amount of volume to do their thing. I’d also just add that Wizards will be much more open sounding and have this real rock solid quality to the notes that I’ve not yet heard in any other amp. The Wizards also are drier/less saturated and less forgiving feeling. I kept mine for its unmatched punch and note definition, but I play my other amps more often

Mids, mids mids. No matter what you do to any Mark series, they just won’t cover the room like a Marshall or similar circuit. My Coliseum, I have set fairly bright but when I run my 72 Tremelo at the same time, the Trem literally covers up the Mesa because of its midrange response. Even with the Coli cranked pretty well I hear the tremelo more. A Mark player either has to be the only gp in the band, or the other player better be using another dark amp or you won’t be heard.