Wizards

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I had the head version....I loved how it looked like a grandpa amp but could unleash the most brutal tone ever with no pedals needed

I feel like me and you are usually pretty aligned in tone. I may have to look into trying this amp. Sounds cool as shit.

 

[RedB4Black]

Meh. Rather have a Bugera

 

[Devin]

I feel like me and you are usually pretty aligned in tone. I may have to look into trying this amp. Sounds cool as shit.

On the overdrive channel it reminds me of something like a cross between a Dual Rec and a Mark series…..absolute crazy ampunt of gain available with gobs of compression for easy shredding and singing leads. The normal channel is pretty unique too….kind of a smoky low headroom clean sound that can do ac/dc style tones with the gain up.

I can see how Fender purists might turn their nose up at it, but for hard rock and metal it’s a beast. A truly unique sounding amp and one of my favorites ever. It’s a Zinky design, and switchable between 60 watts class a/b SS rectifier, 45 watts a/b tube rectifier, and 30 watts class A tube rectifier.

 

[PDC]

I’ve never played a Wizard - but I have listened to several demo clips and read several descriptive reviews. You can only tell so much with an online clip, but the written descriptions make me think of how the early100 watt Heyboer transformer Splawn Quickrods sound. Big, tight, minimal compression, with a pronounced midrange that isn’t quite Marshall. Some people love those early QRs and others just cannot gel with them.

Scott’s switch to Classic Tone transformers, drop B+, and mid / voicing switches really do ‘soften’ the QR experience. I’m a die hard Splawn player and find that I’m back to running them in the ‘Old’ voicing with the ‘mid’ switch pushed - closer to the OG QRs. I’m betting I’d really dig a Wizard.

 

[RedB4Black]

I’ve never played a Wizard - but I have listened to several demo clips and read several descriptive reviews. You can only tell so much with an online clip, but the written descriptions make me think of how the early100 watt Heyboer transformer Splawn Quickrods sound. Big, tight, minimal compression, with a pronounced midrange that isn’t quite Marshall. Some people love those early QRs and others just cannot gel with them.

Scott’s switch to Classic Tone transformers, drop B+, and mid / voicing switches really do ‘soften’ the QR experience. I’m a die hard Splawn player and find that I’m back to running them in the ‘Old’ voicing with the ‘mid’ switch pushed - closer to the OG QRs. I’m betting I’d really dig a Wizard.

im a big Splawn fan too. I jettisoned my last QR after getting my MC2. Nothing wrong with the Splawn…The Wizard just takes it up a few notches. I’ve actually had my friends QR for the last month. He recently got an MC2 as well and said he hasn’t touched the QR in 6 months. I really wanted to check it out with the new switches… played it for an hour and set it aside. Lol

 

[panhead]

Meh. Rather have a Bugera

Hey I bought a 1960 bugera on MF stupid deal of the day for 239 shipped 7 years ago changed tubes immediately when i got it and its ran on 10 its whole life. If you want to hear a loud amp believe me its loud it takes over my 100 watt jmp nmv side by side and actually sounds awesome for $239.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I've had a bunch of Wizards and always sell because of guilt tripping myself that I shouldn't have that kind of dough wrapped up in any one amp. I then try amp after amp after amp only to find I can't get what the MCII brings out of any other amp I've owned. Now I'm back on an MCII. There is a grind, clarity, authority, articulation, attack, and punch that I have not found in other amps.

 

[Mark Skid]

The Wizard that I played was a beast. If I had to compare to others amps, I'd describe it as a cross between HIWATT and Marshall. I should have bought it. That's my kind of sound, for sure.

 

[* velcro-fly *]

The Wizard that I played was a beast. If I had to compare to others amps, I'd describe it as a cross between HIWATT and Marshall. I should have bought it. That's my kind of sound, for sure.

The first one I played was J-dubs non master volume 100 watt metal from waaaaaaaaay back. That amp was frightening AF in the volume needed to get there and the immense footprint, but that gawd damned sound was THERE. Always in the back of my mind. I lucked into a bargain priced used MC25 and that's all she wrote. Current prices new or used would scare me away. I would also agree with your description of Hiwatt / Marshall.
Good luck in your search

 

[RaceU4her]

On the overdrive channel it reminds me of something like a cross between a Dual Rec and a Mark series…..absolute crazy ampunt of gain available with gobs of compression for easy shredding and singing leads. The normal channel is pretty unique too….kind of a smoky low headroom clean sound that can do ac/dc style tones with the gain up.

I can see how Fender purists might turn their nose up at it, but for hard rock and metal it’s a beast. A truly unique sounding amp and one of my favorites ever. It’s a Zinky design, and switchable between 60 watts class a/b SS rectifier, 45 watts a/b tube rectifier, and 30 watts class A tube rectifier.

this is like the last amp i want. they doubled in price during covid, not sure what they are at now but if i found one for 800 or so id grab it

 

[RedPlated]

I would try an MC25.

They rarely come up, though. And the prices lately on used Wizards have been really high. They used to be in the 3200-3400 range. Now I see them at 4500+.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I would try an MC25.

They rarely come up, though. And the prices lately on used Wizards have been really high. They used to be in the 3200-3400 range. Now I see them at 4500+.

I had a 2021 MC25 and the tone was the best of any amp I've owned but it lacked the balls, headroom, and girth of the 100w wizards. The voicing and feel were godly though. I just prefer the 100w MCII with a boost. Been through 6 Wizards and it's the one for me.

 

[Crash-VR]

Wizards are definitely not for everybody, but if they are for you, nothing else compares. I’ve sold Wizards in the past because I needed money and took for granted what the amp was capable of. Thinking I could get close enough for less money. Then I lost even more money trying to find close enough. Now I have a KT150 MCII and an MC25 combo. With those two and a Suhr RL-IR, every situation is covered. I did check with Suhr too. They said 150 watts was fine as long as it had no more than 4 power tubes.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I had a 2021 MC25 and the tone was the best of any amp I've owned but it lacked the balls, headroom, and girth of the 100w wizards. The voicing and feel were godly though. I just prefer the 100w MCII with a boost. Been through 6 Wizards and it's the one for me.

Yeah. I tried amps with less than 100 watts several times. The punch is lacking. I need to be hit in the chest when i am palm muting. If I am not feeling my guitar in my chest, the amp is getting sold.

 

[harddriver]

I had a 2021 MC25 and the tone was the best of any amp I've owned but it lacked the balls, headroom, and girth of the 100w wizards. The voicing and feel were godly though. I just prefer the 100w MCII with a boost. Been through 6 Wizards and it's the one for me.

I have to agree with your assessment, I think this SLO30 shows what you are talking about. To my ears to the tone is great but there seems to be a lack of headroom, distortion seems more compressed and not alot of punch to what I hear in a 100 watt SLO. I know this is Wizard thread but the vid does seem to confirm MetalHeadMike's conclusions.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Great drummer in the hired gun band! I like his playing…

 

[ClintN667]

I used to equate used gear sales with how good an amp is. Some things you will see everyone talking about them then all the sudden they are listed everywhere for sale(Armored Amps comes to mind recently).

But I have sold amps that I absolutely loved due to life hitting me unexpectedly only to buy them again once everything is back on the upswing.

Also sometimes people don't jive with a particular piece of gear. I've seen people sell stuff that I love that they didn't like. We all have different setups and playing styles so an amp could be the greatest thing ever but just wrong for the application or playing style

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I used to equate used gear sales with how good an amp is. Some things you will see everyone talking about them then all the sudden they are listed everywhere for sale(Armored Amps comes to mind recently).

But I have sold amps that I absolutely loved due to life hitting me unexpectedly only to buy them again once everything is back on the upswing.

Also sometimes people don't jive with a particular piece of gear. I've seen people sell stuff that I love that they didn't like. We all have different setups and playing styles so an amp could be the greatest thing ever but just wrong for the application or playing style

The Armored amps Sabot I bought was the single worst amp I ever owned. Flipped it within a couple days That amp should not even be mentioned in a Wizard thread.

 

[bluguitar]

I’ve had four Wizards. Two MCII and two MTL. Just didn’t do it for me in the end. The MTL’s had too round of an attack and lost clarity at high gain for me. MCii is cool but just not “enough” without a boost.

They’re amazingly built amps but I found myself constantly turning knobs to get the sound I wanted that just wasn’t there.

I probably did not play them loud enough. But my ears ring already so I don’t need an amp that I have to blow the windows out with to sound great. And the price point makes it hard to justify if it doesn’t do exactly what I want.

I am not knocking these amps at all in general. They just weren’t for me. And that was the question asked by the OP.

I have had 2 Wizards that were good amps but as has been stated there are a lot of great amps out there. It makes me laugh when some people see them as the holy grail of amps . I've play quite a few amps that I thought were amazing,Friedman smallbox,Bogner XTC, Hiwatt,etc.. but in the end no matter what you play through you will sound like you.Plus personally I think Wizard is so over priced but hey its what the market will bare eh. Players have so many choices today..so enjoy...

 

[Devin]

The Armored amps Sabot I bought was the single worst amp I ever owned. Flipped it within a couple days That amp should not even be mentioned in a Wizard thread.

Oof; can you describe the fail for us?