Reconsidering the Wizard Hell Razor

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Vader99

Member
I had one from the original batch, it was a 60W KT66 version. Honestly, I wonder if it wasn’t a good version - really struggled to get it to sound really great, it was a good amp but not grail worthy (my MC2 sounded much better, definitely keeper status). I sold it, and the next two owners also didn’t jive with and it’s been passed along, so I really wonder if this was just a dud.

Fast forward over a year, I know he’s made somewhat of a V2 with some improvements. What’s everyone’s take on the HR, and is there a specific wattage and output tube version that’s a highlight? I know a lot of people love the amp and claim it’s grail worthy so I am seriously considering giving it another shot.
 
Vader99 said:
I had one from the original batch, it was a 60W KT66 version. Honestly, I wonder if it wasn’t a good version - really struggled to get it to sound really great, it was a good amp but not grail worthy (my MC2 sounded much better, definitely keeper status). I sold it, and the next two owners also didn’t jive with and it’s been passed along, so I really wonder if this was just a dud.

Fast forward over a year, I know he’s made somewhat of a V2 with some improvements. What’s everyone’s take on the HR, and is there a specific wattage and output tube version that’s a highlight? I know a lot of people love the amp and claim it’s grail worthy so I am seriously considering giving it another shot.
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I've heard the original Hell Razors got quite a bit of feedback for how to improve them from users to Rick, and that the latest revision is much closer to what they ideally should be.

Most people who have bought them recently seem to love them. Lot of "it's a top 5 all time amp for me" type comments I've seen from multiple people with more recent ones.
 
The Hell Razor tones I've heard here on rig talk were not on the same level of the Modern Classic and left me disappointed. JMHO. Not even close to the MC. But truthfully only the vintage Marshalls one or two guys have posted are amps on or above the level of the MC, and that is really saying something cause that MC is pure awesome.
 
I have a Hell Razor KT150 and it’s in my top 4 favorite high gain amps. I’m not sure how the earliest versions compare. It is though, more than most, one of those amps that needs to be dialed in well and can sound bad if you don’t. There can be a fine line with dialing it in. My settings I’ve settled on are a bit unconventional, but sound amazing
 
braintheory said:
I have a Hell Razor KT150 and it’s in my top 4 favorite high gain amps. I’m not sure how the earliest versions compare. It is though, more than most, one of those amps that needs to be dialed in well and can sound bad if you don’t. There can be a fine line with dialing it in. My settings I’ve settled on are a bit unconventional, but sound amazing
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Unconventional in what way?
 
thegame said:
Further complicating matters are whether the gun stock is finished in oil or nitro. And it goes without saying a modern polycarbonate firearm is off the table.
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I’d take poly over oil. Nitro is not my favorite anymore either. Shellac is the best. I should get in a few days this new build coming with a shellac finish with many other unique features on it. Ideally I wish those great vintage guitars also had shellac and a string through bridge for those Gibson’s
 
Vader99 said:
Unconventional in what way?
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I have the mids dimed and use the lo input (more clarity imo). I guess other than that, my settings aren’t too strange, but the other details of how I dial it in and which knobs are pushed or pulled are also very important. This is with a KT150 version. It could be different on the other versions. The plate voltage on my KT150 version measured at 680
 
VonBonfire said:
The Hell Razor tones I've heard here on rig talk were not on the same level of the Modern Classic and left me disappointed. JMHO. Not even close to the MC. But truthfully only the vintage Marshalls one or two guys have posted are amps on or above the level of the MC, and that is really saying something cause that MC is pure awesome.
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I can see that based on just the clips posted here (not imo the best way to judge an amp), but the Hell Razor blows away the MC and MTL I used to have. The only things those 2 had going over the HR is more openness and better at rock and lower gain tones. For anything beyond rock this is like those models on steroids and can’t really see how one would take those 2 over the HR. It’s sort of like what guys I think try to get out of the MTL or MC boosted, but better

I would agree in liking good vintage NMV Marshall’s more overall than an MC (very different flavor though), but not vs the Hell Razor. Again super different flavors that make it hard for me to call one better or worse, but if I could only keep one it would be the Hell Razor KT150
 
braintheory said:
I can see that based on just the clips posted here (not imo the best way to judge an amp), but the Hell Razor blows away the MC and MTL I used to have. The only things those 2 had going over the HR is more openness and better at rock and lower gain tones. For anything beyond rock this is like those models on steroids and can’t really see how one would take those 2 over the HR. It’s sort of like what guys I think try to get out of the MTL or MC boosted, but better

I would agree in liking good vintage NMV Marshall’s more overall than an MC (very different flavor though), but not vs the Hell Razor. Again super different flavors that make it hard for me to call one better or worse, but if I could only keep one it would be the Hell Razor KT150
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Modded vintage Marshall vs MC MkII....Different yes, but there is a sheen to the highs in both of them that goes down into my soul. There is something going on there that to me is special that I can't verbalize with technical language because I cannot speak EQ. It's something I don't hear in any other amps I've listened to so far. But I also haven't heard a Wizard in person or tried one. I'm pretty sure most of the forum have bought more amps in a given month than I've owned my whole life, haha....
 
Can any of you current hell razor owners throw some clips up with your settings?

I’ve been toying with the idea of a HR…despite swearing off gear (lol)…but the MTL genuinely has more gain than I know what to do with…and the MC II is kind of my perfect territory
 
VonBonfire said:
Modded vintage Marshall vs MC MkII....Different yes, but there is a sheen to the highs in both of them that goes down into my soul. There is something going on there that to me is special that I can't verbalize with technical language because I cannot speak EQ. It's something I don't hear in any other amps I've listened to so far. But I also haven't heard a Wizard in person or tried one. I'm pretty sure most of the forum have bought more amps in a given month than I've owned my whole life, haha....
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Yeah it’s possible you might not like the HR as much, but you’d have to I think just try these amps in person and see what you think. A lot of the clips don’t represent them the way they sounded to me in person. You might be right about the highs. Marshall’s and Wizard’s IME also have different highs from each other
 
VonBonfire said:
Modded vintage Marshall vs MC MkII....Different yes, but there is a sheen to the highs in both of them that goes down into my soul. There is something going on there that to me is special that I can't verbalize with technical language because I cannot speak EQ. It's something I don't hear in any other amps I've listened to so far. But I also haven't heard a Wizard in person or tried one. I'm pretty sure most of the forum have bought more amps in a given month than I've owned my whole life, haha....
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I know exactly what you mean.

With old Marshalls, there’s something in the highs that sounds like those amps are ultra sensitive to string definition or pick noise or something and it comes out almost from behind the distortion. It sounds like the clink of brand new strings pushing up through the gain.

With Wizards, it’s a little different. The gain in those amps sounds extremely clear but the highs have a kind of fine grain crushed glass thing happening on top that’s just smooth enough to not be abrasive. Like was mentioned in the other thread, it’s not fizz but it’s more like a kind of smooth sheen on top of the tone.

They’re different from each other, but both are very addictive.
 
braintheory said:
I’d take poly over oil. Nitro is not my favorite anymore either. Shellac is the best. I should get in a few days this new build coming with a shellac finish with many other unique features on it. Ideally I wish those great vintage guitars also had shellac and a string through bridge for those Gibson’s
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You ordered a new one? What brand? 🔥

Happy incoming NGD 🤘🏻
 
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