Real talk… Headfirst Wizard clones

JerEvil

JerEvil

Well-known member
How far off will they be from the real deal? I know the transformers Rick uses apparently impart all teh mojoz, but I’ve seen a few really nice builds for sale and have yet to hear more than a clip or two that made me want to plunk down real Wizard coming for one.

Who’s tried the clones and also the real deal? How close were they?
 
Wizards sounds are definitely based strongly in the OT- the HR has super high plate voltage and punches crazy hard
 
I have a Headfirst MCII build. It’s a 25 watter but in a small box headshell. I haven’t run it side by side against a real MCII, but I will say this: it punches harder than any of my other amps (VH4, JMP 2204, Mesa Stiletto, Boogie MK IV and 101b). It’s also a very loud 25 watts - very open and uncompressed. I think Jason said on YT he’d put Trainwreck transformers in there.

Gratuitous ‘family shot’ included for good measure.

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I tried a Headfirst MTL that @hellzington had at one point. It sounded better than the real MTL Mk2 I owned for a short period of time. But there were probably small circuit differences between the two as they were different revisions.

There’s no magic in the Wizard-branded transformers despite what many on here believe. They may have extra laminations but they operate at typical Marshall voltages, at least for the 50w/100w EL34 models.

You won’t be missing out on anything besides recent circuit revisions Rick has done.
 
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There are no Headfirst wizard clone builds anymore. It was a phase I went through in my journey a long time ago, I built maybe 10 or so clones, it’s all in the past.

EvolveDIY.com sells PCB boards for DIY builders, it’s a marketplace for DIY guys that want to step beyond building from ‘kits’.

Headfirst Amps for years now is only our own production amps (Alta and Evil Joe) and high gain Marshall mods.
 
burger can probably correct me but the importance of the power transformer is most crucial.. it has to get somewhere near 500volts on the plates.
 
Although the clones are no more, if the quality of my Headfirst is anything to go by, the Alta and Evil Joe are fantastic amps. Jason is a great guy to deal with too.
 
burger said:
There are no Headfirst wizard clone builds anymore. It was a phase I went through in my journey a long time ago, I built maybe 10 or so clones, it’s all in the past.

EvolveDIY.com sells PCB boards for DIY builders, it’s a marketplace for DIY guys that want to step beyond building from ‘kits’.

Headfirst Amps for years now is only our own production amps (Alta and Evil Joe) and high gain Marshall mods.
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Well it’s a build (and apparently a very clean one) on what I’m told is one of your PCB’s that someone is selling.

RedB4Black said:
If you want a Wizard… buy a Wizard. A clone isn’t the same thing… no matter if it’s a clone of a Wizard, Marshall, Soldano, etc.
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That’s the thing, I don’t know that I actually want a Wizard but I want to hear one finally in person and I know no one near me that has one. I know based on what I’ve surmised from reading posts and chats with folks, the MCII is what I’d want if I were to go that way. I also know I’ve yet to hear a clip save MAYBE one or two over the last 5 years that even remotely made my trigger finger itchy, but curiosity is hitting me lately.

I hear so many people talk about them with such high praise my concern is that I’ll get it and hate it! Lol. That won’t be the first time it’s happened.

burger said:
I think more is made of the transformers than is actually the case, the majority of that tone and response is in his circuit.
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Thanks! Good to know. I’ve yet to try any of your stuff but certainly on the radar. If nothing else maybe content for the channel.
 
JerEvil said:
Well it’s a build (and apparently a very clean one) on what I’m told is one of your PCB’s that someone is selling.


That’s the thing, I don’t know that I actually want a Wizard but I want to hear one finally in person and I know no one near me that has one. I know based on what I’ve surmised from reading posts and chats with folks, the MCII is what I’d want if I were to go that way. I also know I’ve yet to hear a clip save MAYBE one or two over the last 5 years that even remotely made my trigger finger itchy, but curiosity is hitting me lately.

I hear so many people talk about them with such high praise my concern is that I’ll get it and hate it! Lol. That won’t be the first time it’s happened.


Thanks! Good to know. I’ve yet to try any of your stuff but certainly on the radar. If nothing else maybe content for the channel.
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I think you should listen to your gut and not bother. I have never heard a wizard clip or heard a recording of one on an album, that made me feel like I couldn’t do as well if not better with just a decent six knob marshal and the right pedal.
When you’re spending that much on an amp, pretty much every instance you hear one or come across one, should be like the clouds are parting and God‘s light is shining down. Or that the Earth is cracking open and Satan’s fire is literally cooking your nuts when you play. 😊
 
I bought my MTL from Hellzington about a year ago. I think a few RT members have owned this amp and can attest to how awesome it sounds. I have not A/B'ed the Headfirst to a Wizard (I did own a 2016 MTL briefly) but I will say the Headfirst reminds me more of the Fortin Cali in that it's greasier than the Wizard and has a deadly upper mid grind that puts your jaw on the floor. Plus you get a true MV (2 of them) and MIDI. Honestly I'm pretty torn about selling mine and may try to find a way to keep it despite my financial situation.
 
I have built both the mtl and mcii style amps from boards from Jason and both the amps are sounding great. They definitely have the quality that a lot of people say about the Wizards, being punchy and uncompressed.
Granted i never heard/played through a Wizard so i cannot comment about the direct comparison.
I have around $700-$800 in each of the amps so i highly doubt a real Wizard would be worthwhile over the clones, especially considering here in europe i guess a real Wizard would run more like $7K-$8K.
The boards from Evolve-DIY are defintely a great place if you want to get into amp building. I have built several amps over the years and the stuff from Jason is top quality and he is highly helpful and also has great content to learn a ton on his youtube channel.
Here is a pic of my two amps:
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Infernal_Death said:
I have built both the mtl and mcii style amps from boards from Jason and both the amps are sounding great. They definitely have the quality that a lot of people say about the Wizards, being punchy and uncompressed.
Granted i never heard/played through a Wizard so i cannot comment about the direct comparison.
I have around $700-$800 in each of the amps so i highly doubt a real Wizard would be worthwhile over the clones, especially considering here in europe i guess a real Wizard would run more like $7K-$8K.
The boards from Evolve-DIY are defintely a great place if you want to get into amp building. I have built several amps over the years and the stuff from Jason is top quality and he is highly helpful and also has great content to learn a ton on his youtube channel.
Here is a pic of my two amps:
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I can get a super clean MCII build for $1200 on the Headfirst board. According to my amp guy it looks solid and the parts listed are top notch
 

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It does look solid and well put together. For $1200 it looks like a good deal, i would think even if you don't like it and want to get rid of it again, you should be able to get around the same what you paid for.
 
Jimty said:
I have a Headfirst MCII build. It’s a 25 watter but in a small box headshell. I haven’t run it side by side against a real MCII, but I will say this: it punches harder than any of my other amps (VH4, JMP 2204, Mesa Stiletto, Boogie MK IV and 101b). It’s also a very loud 25 watts - very open and uncompressed. I think Jason said on YT he’d put Trainwreck transformers in there.

Gratuitous ‘family shot’ included for good measure.

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More than a vh4 ? Vh4 is the only amp I find that punches as hard as my wizards . What tubes you have in vh4 ?
Note : I like my wizards more . Just taking about the punch
You build the shelves ?I need
 
@JerEvil I’ve never played a clone so I can’t comment on it being dead on or what. But I have to imagine it’s in the ball park. Plus if it’s one Jason actually built himself that’s gotta mean something.

On another note… I think from what I’ve heard from you, you have a good ear. If you don’t like what you’re hearing from a micd clip I don’t know that you’ll dig it in person. Wizards sound how they do micd in the mids and high end. Some dig it, others don’t… I mean if you’ve played a vht Fryette that’s in the ballpark with the mids. There’s no crazy difference that it’s going to be a totally different amp when in person vs under a mic. The only big difference in the “in the room” deal is you really could dial in more punchy low end than you’d ever need in a band context or in a mix. It’s like the amp has its own fuckin sub it adds lol. When you’re playing by yourself this could be fun, but I never dial in THAT much when playing with others. Nor do I do it on my own recordings. Wizards general eq curves though do show up on micd recordings and their dynamics do too. Can literally see it on my micd recordings the wave form bouncing around.
 
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