If one has a Monomyth Skeleton Key... which Wizard would you go for?

FWIW despite Rick’s eccentricities, I genuinely think he’s an amp genius,

I didn’t care for all the wizard hype but my curiosity got the better of me and I tried em

The hype is well deserved. You’ll never see Rick do any marketing, no sales, nothing. Just a belief in his product. It’s quite admirable imo.
 
ners said:
What do you want to use it for? I have both a SK and an MCII (both awesome) but I use them differently (tele with one and les paul with the other) so I'll never sell either of them.

The MCII definitely lacks in gain compared to my SK and the low end can be wildly different (which is where I think MTL might be more similar in). It's definitely more vintage feeling, but if you get a newer one with the Pull Shift knob then it helps tighten the low end up (though still needs a boost for higher gain). Boosting an MCII can help but still don't think it gets that close to a SK for higher gain stuff. For mid/lower gain stuff I think they're both perfectly capable and their voicing isn't too different (SK is probably closer to a Plexi while MCII is closer to a Silver Jubilee).

If I had to guess I'd say the MTL might be most similar to a SK, but never played one to confirm. Both seem to have big low end with a Marshall flavor highs. The MTL is essentially just an MCII with an extra gain stage up front (and then maybe different power tubes depending if you got a hybrid or not).

Hell Raiser...no idea man. Every clip I hear online this thing lacks low end but also might just be the more modern metal style guys are going for which isn't me. Also haven't heard anything but crazy high gain.

I might be alone in this opinion, but as awesome as Wizards are they aren't head and shoulders above some guys these days (like Monomyth, GZA, etc).
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The MTL and SK are polar opposite.
 
Nashville Riff Co said:
Own all three MC2 (EL34), MTL (6L6) and HR (6L6).

Thumpy as fuck, all of them. The gain just keeps going up and the clarity and attack never goes away. The sound in the room through a 4x12 is just incredible.

If you don’t have a strong picking attack/accurate picking hand, be careful.

Never played a skeleton key.

What are you trying to do that your skeleton key can’t do, what type of tone are you after and what bands/style of music you want to achieve?

MCII - Hard rock to some metal

MTL - imagine the most perfect amp for 80s thrash and then some

HR - just absolutely crushing and more gain and just sheer metal ness than you could ever imagine…EVER.
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Gaining interest in the HR which admittedly didn't interest me initially. But not sure I'd go there because of Rick's insanely bloated prices, which carries into used prices these days, which is the only way I'd buy a Wizard, its hard to justify. MC2 IMO does any metal imaginable with the proper boost and pups, especially with ISP subs to get into modern low end/low mid thump territory.
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Gaining interest in the HR which admittedly didn't interest me initially. But not sure I'd go there because of Rick's insanely bloated prices, which carries into used prices these days, which is the only way I'd buy a Wizard, its hard to justify. MC2 IMO does any metal imaginable with the proper boost and pups, especially with ISP subs to get into modern low end/low mid thump territory.
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Yea man HR did not interest me at all initially but then I bought a used one and it is stupidly addictive under the hands.

I almost sold it a few times but then every time I’d plug in to it, I giggle like a little kid in a candy shop. The feel is just something else.
 
Erock said:
just heed that advice, lol. I think he's softened his stance over the years. I made some clips well over a decade ago, and asked him about modding an original MTL100 that I had at the time. It sounded nothing like the current MTL MKII, which I currently own. He didn't like my suggestions or clips, lol.
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Lololol I’d love to meet him some day. He’s such a strange dude!
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Very strange dude based on my correspondence over the last 7 years, and lost some respect from some correspondence back a couple years ago, but he builds a fuck all hell of an amp that's among the most unique amps around in a sea of repeat generic mainstream.
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100%! I love buying them used, never new lol
 
Techdeth said:
A Wizard when you plug in is special no matter what amps you have .I know people think we kiss wizards ass but Rick can be a dick and piss you off . But I still go through with the purchase .lol he was a dick to me bad one time . But he’s a mad scientist
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I hate to say it techy but I love my Bogner and Larry more. Been hammering the Bogner over the past few weeks. It’s different. Very different. The Wizard I could live with as a single amp but I have found two that are better in my ear.
 
alund said:
I hate to say it techy but I love my Bogner and Larry more. Been hammering the Bogner over the past few weeks. It’s different. Very different. The Wizard I could live with as a single amp but I have found two that are better in my ear.
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Which Bogner? Also, which Wizard(s) are you comparing it against?

Not that I don't believe you, I'm just curious.
 
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alund said:
😬. A special Ecstasy.
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Neat! But what do you mean? Like a Pandora or something? Marvel modded 101B? One where Reinhold personally descended down from the clouds to customize for you and only you before rising back up into the golden heavens?
 
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alund said:
I hate to say it techy but I love my Bogner and Larry more. Been hammering the Bogner over the past few weeks. It’s different. Very different. The Wizard I could live with as a single amp but I have found two that are better in my ear.
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Ya but you lean toward more natural beefy Marshall. Wizard . You’re is 6l6 . It’s like a super vht . Very differbt
 
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