tlp1234
Moderator
Yup.....too bad you can't try before you buy a Wizard.
I got my first one in the blind. I'd read about them, heard numerous clips over many years. I'm definitely NO AUTHORITY on them. Folks here and across the forums have many, many more for much longer than me.
For what it's worth, what drew me to them was I wanted something based on my favorite Marshall of all time, JMP50 MKII. Mine was from 1980's best I could tell. Decades ago I played thru a number of them before finding one I liked. I tried many other Marshalls of the the day and was astonished how inconsistent they were even among the same models. That amp sadly perished in a fire. I loved that amp. Too me it was like losing a favorite pet. I figured I would never easily find another to replace it, and didn't try.
Before some wise ass comes out to correct me, I'm not even saying that ANY Wizard is based on my old beloved JMP50 MKII, but that's the sound I had in my head. My MC50, is not too far off the mark. No it doesn't sound exactly like it. Hell....no two of anything (even the same make/model of virtually ANYTHING) sounds exactly the same.
Around Christmas 2018 before the markets distorted out of recognition into bizzaro world, I found an MC50 on eBay a scammer was trying to pedal for what ended up being an overly inflated price. Stupid me took the bait and paid $3,200 for it. When I got it, it was not as advertised and had many problems. I won't puke out the whole sickening teen-girl-soap-opera about it all. I was going to return it, and the seller, instead of immediately accepting it back, offered to refund $1,200 if I kept the amp. At the time, and based on what I believed I knew about the amp (wasn't a lot at the time), I kept it after the partial refund.
To make a long story short, I sent it back to Rick in 2020 for upgrades to the current spec's at the time. Those were, effects loop, current spec output transformer, switching improvements (before mods, the damned thing popped like hell in all footswitchable modes). Had Rick shit can the huge, ugly, clunky impedance select sw, and install new silk-screened back and front panels just like those at the time.
Before:
After:
Although Rick was reluctant to replace the front and back panels, he finally did. I wasn't concerned about the cost at the time, it just seemed like the right thing for me to have done since I was getting a new OT, effects loop, and the additional LED's for the Rhythm Boost and effects loop. I wanted it to look just like a new amp, without the P-touch labels I see on so many that have been modded. I just hate the cheap looking shit.
The only thing I couldn't talk him into was selling me a new head shell with the vent/grate on top. (ended up finding a mint used one finally).
That amp led to 3 more Wizards, an MC25, MCII KT150, and MTL MKII KT200. I recently got rid of the MC25. Just not enough power for my uses.
I learned a lot through the school of hard knocks buying my first used one. Mostly that a whole shit load of people selling these know very little about what they're selling. It was damned near impossible to even get the serial number from the sellers. It was like they and the amp were under the witness protection program. Each prospective seller didn't even know where the damned serial number was. And/or would argue with me over why in the hell I wanted it to begin with. It became increasingly harder to bite my tongue from telling them, "well dumbass, since you can't tell me anything else except why it is such an awesome amp, and why I should buy it, I want the serial number so the builder can tell me what year it was made, what mods I need for it to bring it up to current spec.
That's why all my Wizards after that (except one MTL MKII 50W which was returned) were new builds. The used ones to me were not worth the hassle. I don't suffer dumasses well. Especially when they are selling used gear at damned near new prices. Unless you at least know a little about what you are buying, can go check it out in person and play thru it, I don't recommend buying them used.
I'm sure there are exceptions like a trusted friend or aquaintance. I'm also sure folks here have those sources. Unfortunately for me at that time I did not.
My number one piece of advice in buying a used Wizard is definitely get some background on the amp, buy from a trusted source and be able to play thru first. I still would not buy used at the moment. Sellers asking way too much. I'll just buy a new build.
Both the amps and the builder are strange ducks. Although I will say Rick has always been straight up with me about anything I've bought from him, and stands 100% behind his work. Every build I've ever got from him arrived early, and the amps were perfect (for me anyway).
Just know Rick is a man of extremely few words, and doesn't appreciate people bugging the shit out him while he's trying to work. Again, fortunately for me, I've found him to be a man of his word. I tell him what I want, he tells me if and when he can do it, I send him money, 5 to 6 weeks later, product arrives. No hassles. For me it doesn't get much better. Rick's a good dude. Just don't fuck with him.
I'm sure there's other amps that will do flavors of Marshall just fine and cost a lot less. And are built just as well.
This leads me to the build quality. I've been a licensed aircraft mechanic/electronics technician, and degreed electrical engineer for many years. Although the thrill of working on this crap left me decades ago, I still like something that I can work on without a god damned microscope and wave soldering skills. I'm from the dinosaur tech era. If I cant fix it with common soldering skills/tools, basic test equipment if I happen to want to work on it, then I don't want it. Not at Wizard prices anyway.
Wizard builds are a sight to behold. Not that I expect anyone else to appreciate them that way like I do. But I've done MIL spec building in aerospace back in the late 70's thru 90's. The Wizards are built as good as any. Not hard to work on. Plenty of room.
Built like a brick shit-house.
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I like Rick and have a good dealings/communications with him, but I can get that some people need a little bit of coddling in their purchase decisions - especially for a high $ purchase...and that's just not something Rick is gonna do...so they get bent out of shape. I'd rather deal with someone who actually delivers his product on time without all the BS excuses, but is short in his communications, than someone who's your "buddy" but shines you on after they get paid.
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