NAD: Wizard MCII KT88 150w

[ChrisWuelling]

Just took ownership of this beast today. This one also has a depth mod done by Jeremy from Ground Zero and can have massive amounts of low end.

I didn’t get a ton of time with it yet, but it definitely has the signature Wizard punch. I have a custom Splawn Nitro in the works with Scott right now and honestly I don’t know that I’ll end up keeping the Wizard. I’ve owned a few Wizards and I feel like the Splawn stuff gets damn close. Close enough to pay substantially less anyway haha.

Anyone got a clever way to make the clean unboosted and clean boosted tones the same volume? I could do it with scene levels in my FM3 but was curious about what others have done. I’d prefer to have true clean and dirty clean.

Curious on others’ thoughts on Wizard vs Splawn too.

 

[Smash]

That is interesting to have the Mod on it. But the true magic of the McII is when it is boosted, imo. Have you boosted it yet? Also, are you playing at full volume (11oclock to noon on master)?

 

[ChrisWuelling]

I have boosted it and yeah it definitely crushes then. Eats boosts really well too. I definitely don’t have it cranked that much - only at about 9 on the master but I’m using it with a Suhr RL (I know, it’s sacrilege with a Wizard) so I could definitely bump it up.

 

[Smash]

I have boosted it and yeah it definitely crushes then. Eats boosts really well too. I definitely don’t have it cranked that much - only at about 9 on the master but I’m using it with a Suhr RL (I know, it’s sacrilege with a Wizard) so I could definitely bump it up.

I have always just played at volume. I had a powerstation, but I used it to get more volume because i had a 50 watt amp and liked using the 100 watt powersection of powerstation; so I can't speak to attenuation too well. But that is great, man. I have never got to try a splawn, but I think I would like one of those also.

 

[innogator]

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how the Splawn compares as well. Having gone through several high end amps these forums would have you believe the Wizards are on a different level than anything else available.

 

[Techdeth]

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how the Splawn compares as well. Having gone through several high end amps these forums would have you believe the Wizards are on a different level than anything else available.

Wizards are unreal . They are another level compared to other amps .theres only a couple on the same level honesty . If I sell my collection and just keep 2 it’s the wizard hell razor and Hermanson 5GS Marshall .i don’t think I could sell all my amps though in actuality lol

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how the Splawn compares as well. Having gone through several high end amps these forums would have you believe the Wizards are on a different level than anything else available.

Its a personal preference with gear regardless of price point/brand, but most that have compared/contrasted to numerous amps, myself included, will agree that Wizards are unique in that they have an articulation, a punch and weight and pure quality to the notes and chords, an immediacy to the pick attack, and dynamics and harmonics that rival most amps.

The tone, voicing, and immediacy are highly subjective though and individual preference, but no denying the other things mentioned are unique and noteworthy among all Wizards.

The price is stupid IMHO and its a 10-20% appreciation in the attributes I mentioned, but to some its entirely worth it and makes all the difference. Many will feel a Splawn, Peavey, Fryette, whatever, is just as good for the lesser cost, but its truly in the eye of the beholder. So many great amps, but something lively, punchy, and articulate that always stands out with a Wizard that brings me back again and again.

 

[Techdeth]

Its a personal preference with gear regardless of price point/brand, but most that have compared/contrasted to numerous amps, myself included, will agree that Wizards are unique in that they have an articulation, a punch and weight and pure quality to the notes and chords, an immediacy to the pick attack, and dynamics and harmonics that rival most amps.

The tone, voicing, and immediacy are highly subjective though and individual preference, but no denying the other things mentioned are unique and noteworthy among all Wizards.

The price is stupid IMHO and its a 10-20% appreciation in the attributes I mentioned, but to some its entirely worth it and makes all the difference. Many will feel a Splawn, Peavey, Fryette, whatever, is just as good for the lesser cost, but its truly in the eye of the beholder IMHO. SO many great amps, but something lively, punchy, and articulate that always stands out with a Wizard that brings me back again and again.

Ya the price is too steep . Fr
But I agree with you on all . I still love many other amps too but man the wizards are special

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Ya the price is too steep . Fr
But I agree with you on all . I still love many other amps too but man the wizards are special

Yes indeed, many other incredible amps but there is something unique to the Wizards for sure IMHO. To this day, the 2017 MCII I had was the best amp I've ever owned. No other Wizard touches that amp for some reason. I had found it for sale like 6 years after selling it and it had been gigged hard and beat to shit but I should have ceased the opportunity and bought it back regardless, especially for the same price I originally paid back in 2018...$3200.

I absolutely love the GZ stuff and my Hellion is my longest owned amp of all time and one of my favorites, if I was forced to sell all but one, that might be the amp I keep. The GZ Tremo is absolutely incredible too though, so it'd be between those two more than likely. Skeleton key is sick, Megalith Beta, Granophyre v1.5 is unique and awesome and the Gower Rockmonster and Fryette CLX were soooo good. Then there's the Naylor SD60...fuck is that an incredible amplifier. We are living in a time when there are so many great amps, so many options.

 

[ners]

How does the depth mod work? Like is stock at noon and it goes from there?

 

[MetalHeadMike]

How does the depth mod work? Like is stock at noon and it goes from there?

Buy an ISP sub, then you have a depth mod far more powerful than any onboard resonance/depth knob that can be used on any amp you have.

 

[Techdeth]

Yes indeed, many other incredible amps but there is something unique to the Wizards for sure IMHO. To this day, the 2017 MCII I had was the best amp I've ever owned. No other Wizard touches that amp for some reason. I had found it for sale like 6 years after selling it and it had been gigged hard and beat to shit but I should have ceased the opportunity and bought it back regardless, especially for the same price I originally paid back in 2018...$3200.

I absolutely love the GZ stuff and my Hellion is my longest owned amp of all time and one of my favorites, if I was forced to sell all but one, that might be the amp I keep. The GZ Tremo is absolutely incredible too though, so it'd be between those two more than likely. Skeleton key is sick, Megalith Beta, Granophyre v1.5 is unique and awesome and the Gower Rockmonster and Fryette CLX were soooo good. Then there's the Naylor SD60...fuck is that an incredible amplifier. We are living in a time when there are so many great amps, so many options.

I thought you might like to hear my tone if you haven’t . I’m really happy with this

 

[innogator]

Its a personal preference with gear regardless of price point/brand, but most that have compared/contrasted to numerous amps, myself included, will agree that Wizards are unique in that they have an articulation, a punch and weight and pure quality to the notes and chords, an immediacy to the pick attack, and dynamics and harmonics that rival most amps.

I guess one thing that confuses me when I see Wizards being compared to other amps and each other is I always hear about the punch. But then I see people say the MTL punches much harder than the MCII, then the Hellrazor even harder than the MTL. I guess it just seems to lose some of the value with that description since it's obviously all relative at that point.

I've been trying to avoid it but with the overwhelming majority of people saying it's something you have to experience, I know I'm going to have to break down and get one at some point. At least the resale market is strong, for now at least.

 

[ChrisWuelling]

So this thing is a beast, but I did decide to sell. My Nitro will be ready in a couple months and FOR ME, it has all the punch and articulation I need with that extra low end and growl in the chugs. First time I played an actual Nitro, I was like this is the sound. I feel like it’s very close to the Wizard in punch…again FOR ME. My problem with Wizards is that I love playing them and they sound great but in the back of my head I’m thinking is it worth $4k+ to me? For me…I don’t think so.

 

[innogator]

Yeah that's a good take, the cost has to be considered as well

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I guess one thing that confuses me when I see Wizards being compared to other amps and each other is I always hear about the punch. But then I see people say the MTL punches much harder than the MCII, then the Hellrazor even harder than the MTL. I guess it just seems to lose some of the value with that description since it's obviously all relative at that point.

I've been trying to avoid it but with the overwhelming majority of people saying it's something you have to experience, I know I'm going to have to break down and get one at some point. At least the resale market is strong, for now at least.

Its dependent on more things IME, sum of all parts, with the room your playing in playing a huge part too I believe. Once wound up, the Wizards have a unique, concrete/hard--only way I can put it, punch in the way the low mids/low end hits. Its just different than other amps. Not to say that other amps don't punch, its just different. But like all tube amps, its gotta get wound up to produce that effect.

 

[innogator]

Its dependent on more things IME, sum of all parts, with the room your playing in playing a huge part too I believe. Once wound up, the Wizards have a unique, concrete/hard--only way I can put it, punch in the way the low mids/low end hits. Its just different than other amps. Not to say that other amps don't punch, its just different. But like all tube amps, its gotta get wound up to produce that effect.

Is part of it driving a speaker as well though too? So would the effects of a Wizard be diminished running through an attenuator?

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Is part of it driving a speaker as well though too? So would the effects of a Wizard be diminished running through an attenuator?

Maybe? I've never used an attenuator. But your probably right because it seems like its the way it moves the speaker.

 

[* velcro-fly *]

Yes indeed, many other incredible amps but there is something unique to the Wizards for sure IMHO. To this day, the 2017 MCII I had was the best amp I've ever owned. No other Wizard touches that amp for some reason. I had found it for sale like 6 years after selling it and it had been gigged hard and beat to shit but I should have ceased the opportunity and bought it back regardless, especially for the same price I originally paid back in 2018...$3200.

I absolutely love the GZ stuff and my Hellion is my longest owned amp of all time and one of my favorites, if I was forced to sell all but one, that might be the amp I keep. The GZ Tremo is absolutely incredible too though, so it'd be between those two more than likely. Skeleton key is sick, Megalith Beta, Granophyre v1.5 is unique and awesome and the Gower Rockmonster and Fryette CLX were soooo good. Then there's the Naylor SD60...fuck is that an incredible amplifier. We are living in a time when there are so many great amps, so many options.

Yeah and unfortunately the price is gonna get stupider with 25% tariff on Canadian goods.....

There is just something about those amps, it’s undeniable.

 

[Techdeth]

Hell ya ! Great amp !