I will say if you want agressive on ANY Wizard just get el34s. All ricks work is special but with el34s it’s still best. So I definitely agree
I used to think so too with the MC EL34 and MTL EL34 I had until trying the Hell Razor KT150 that smoked both. I’ve mostly been a die hard el34 guy in high gain amps, but sometimes here and there some tubes translate differently in some amps than you might expect
I'm sure it's more the entire circuit design as opposed to EL34 vs KT88, etc. I didn't notice much difference with the KT150 when I experimented between KT88, 6550, KT90, slight differences, but nothing significant. I thought there was when I swapped, but I think the human memory in regards to tone/music just isn't very accurate. When I decided to spend time popping them in/out back/forth in direct A/Bing, I noticed very minor difference. I think its more the circuit design of the amp.
I just didn’t like his amos as much ever with any other tubes . I learned my lesson spending so much and not being as happy . But I must say they ALL are amazing af . No matter the tube .and I must add I’m not a fan of el34 tubes . Just like ricks work best with them always
All I can say is I had a MTL EL34 100w and MC EL34 100w and the Hell Razor KT150 I tried was way more impressive (imho not even close). I don’t miss anything about those amps vs it. It didn’t seem rounder or less aggressive in the uppermids or mids or highs vs those amps, if anything could be dialed in to better in those areas with it’s different style gain controls. The biggest difference though was how much more powerful and punchy it was. I’m guessing that’s likely the transformers designed around the KT88’s and higher plate voltage, but who knows. It just is different than what one might expect it to be given the KT88’s IME
Yeah the descriptions guys tend to give about Wizards also gave me a different expectation than how they really sound. The Hell Razor KT150 I tired was tighter and more aggressive than the MTL EL34 and MC EL34 I had, but they still all have some roundness to the attack and that smooth, more neutral midrange that doesn’t really growl or get as aggressive in that frequency range. The HR KT150 was way bigger than the MTL and MC 34’s I had
I don’t know, but my guess would be a lot of the differences I was hearing was probably from the higher plate voltage and transformer designed around the KT88’s. The MTL and MC EL34’s didn’t sound anywhere near as big or powerful. I had it next to a Megalith Beta, and while that amp still had bigger lows (especially sublows), the HR KT150 seemed bigger and better to me everywhere else. The voicing itself though I’m guessing is probably just how the HR is vs MTL’s and MC’s. It seemed tighter, less round (but still some of that Wizard roundness to the attack was there), more modern, more gain on tap and a much larger variety of sounds that could be dialed in with the way those 2 gain controls worked with shaping lower and higher frequencies
Yep. I kept trying different pedals in the KT150 to get that sharper, faster low end and midrange attack that I prefer in the E34L MCII 100w model but it just wouldn't go there. It's not worlds apart, but enough I sold it and went back to the 100w E34L MCII which when boosted it extremely tight and fast tracking with great attack even on the low notes.
When compared to the 2 Hermansson’s I brought over (the best amps I’ve had for tightness and sharp attack hands down) the HR KT150 was a lot more competitive in that department than the MTL and MC I had and I didn’t even try a boost with it, but Herm’s are still in their own league for tightness, sharp attack and high end aggression/sizzle if that’s what one especially wants imo. My HR KT150 just arrived and will open it up tonight
Yeah, I can see those Herms being maybe too tight for me possibly? The Hellion I just got it definitely tighter with more attack than any Wizard I've owned, but their is a warmth or organic quality mixed with the tightness that the MCII has when boosted that no other amp I've owned exhibits. It's just like the name implies...Modern Classic. Not too tight, not too metallic sounding, no overly modern clank that some amps have.
Interesting, my experience is opposite. I've had eleven non KT150 Wizards and one KT150 MCII MK2 and every non KT150 Wizard has been tighter, faster tracking, sharper attack. The Hellion I have is tighter and sharper than any Wizard I've owned. Show's how all our perceptions of these things differ.
