Modern classic... How bright?

[studiojig]

These amps have been tempting me for a long time now but one thing kinda bugs me... Are they as searingly bright as some folks say? I've heard clips that vary; some bright sounding and some not. I'm thinking about getting a new one (mainly 'cuz no one is selling anywhere ), so there may be a difference there what with all the mods now included.

What say you Wizard collective?

 

[steve_k]

These amps have been tempting me for a long time now but one thing kinda bugs me... Are they as searingly bright as some folks say? I've heard clips that vary; some bright sounding and some not. I'm thinking about getting a new one (mainly 'cuz no one is selling anywhere ), so there may be a difference there what with all the mods now included.

What say you Wizard collective?

I wouldn't say it is all brightness you are hearing. They are clear and defined, tighter than tree bark, and a lot of attack. Much would have to do with the cabs you are hearing the clips from too. The Wiz is really tuned to low wattage speakers. Try to run it through high wattage speakers and you got to EQ it up a bit otherwise it goes a little farty.

Steve

 

[studiojig]

Goes a little farty with higher wattage speakers?? That seems contradictory to what logic would dictate I think... Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying (which would be typical for me ). I'd be running it through either a 2x12 with one greenback and one G12h30 or a 4x12 Bogner with hellatone 60L's

 

[studiojig]

Now that I'm thinking about it, I suppose I should ask if anyone here has compared a Marsha with the MC? I have a Marsha and it's a fantastic amp but like many Marshallesque amps can be on the bright side. Of course, the eq works exceptionally well on it (unlike many Marshalls) so that can be dialed out easily. What about the MC in that respect? With all the new mods does the gain level compare? Can the brightness be tamed and ample, tight thump/bass be present along with similar gain structure at band volumes? Oh, and does it clean up really well with the guitar volume? That is, without getting so low in volume as to be too low a level compared to full on (if that makes sense to anyone)?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to be certain of my purchase

 

[Superunknown]

These amps have been tempting me for a long time now but one thing kinda bugs me... Are they as searingly bright as some folks say? I've heard clips that vary; some bright sounding and some not. I'm thinking about getting a new one (mainly 'cuz no one is selling anywhere ), so there may be a difference there what with all the mods now included.

What say you Wizard collective?

I wouldn't say it is all brightness you are hearing. They are clear and defined, tighter than tree bark, and a lot of attack. Much would have to do with the cabs you are hearing the clips from too. The Wiz is really tuned to low wattage speakers. Try to run it through high wattage speakers and you got to EQ it up a bit otherwise it goes a little farty.

Steve

I agree......the MC loves PAF's and vintage style speakers like Greenbacks/Scumbacks, etc. If you try to run it through Vintage 30's it could probably get a bit bright because of the way those speakers are voiced(ice pick, terrible IMHO).

If I were you, I would check with Rick and make sure that he is still offering the push/pull (Jose type) gain mod on the treble knob. If not, I would try to find a used MC with that mod because it just flat out sounds incredible.

I have two MC's which Rick voiced a bit different from one another for some tonal variation. My #1 is stock (Sykes, Angus, etc) and my #2 is voiced a little brighter and more toward the old EVH, Gibbons tone. Both have the C transformers and gain mod which again just makes the amp so much more versatile.

Todd

 

[thegame]

The tone controls are super effective, moreso than on most amps IMO. Between the treble and presence you can go from bright to very dark.

 

[johnnyjellybean]

If you want a less bright amp, order one with the A transformer and put some longplate 12 ax7s in V2 and V3. The A tranny has a little less top end and more of a mid push in the 1K to 1.5K range. It is the darkest sounding MC100. My personal fave.

 

[Hollywood]

Like Steve said if you want the slightly darker more modern tone ya gotta get these,

and that will do it. I bet you anything the C trannies Super has would make you pretty happy also.

 

[rocker]

If you want a less bright amp, order one with the A transformer and put some longplate 12 ax7s in V2 and V3. The A tranny has a little less top end and more of a mid push in the 1K to 1.5K range. It is the darkest sounding MC100. My personal fave.

Great info, thanks.

 

[wheelman]

I've heard two C transformers and they were completely different ( maybe the years had something to do with it). One was shit tons brighter in a GREAT way and the other was darker and looser. Go figure. I prefer the kerrang of the brighter one plus the tighter tracking with that vintage bite. Weird how the one C sounds so much like the A everyone is talking about. Both C's were friggin awesome regardless.

 

[johnnyjellybean]

I've heard two C transformers and they were completely different ( maybe the years had something to do with it). One was shit tons brighter in a GREAT way and the other was darker and looser. Go figure. I prefer the kerrang of the brighter one plus the tighter tracking with that vintage bite. Weird how the one C sounds so much like the A everyone is talking about. Both C's were friggin awesome regardless.

May not be the trannies. Just changing the make of preamp tubes has a huge effect in these amps.