Wizard Amp Models

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journeyman73

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I've developed a nice, healthy case of GAS for a Wizard amp. Go back and forth between a 100w MC II or MTL version.

For those with extensive experience....imagine a world where you have both an MC II and MTL in your amp rooms....what bands/songs would choose to play the MC II on and what would the MTL sweet spot serve better?

Bonus points if you also want to provide an indication of the various tube types (e.g. 100w EL34 MC II vs 150w KT88 version, etc.)

Just trying to get some tonal association between the two models.

thanks!
 
I prefer the MTL over the MC2. the MTL has more of a modern voicing where the MC2 is more vintage. I had a KT88 MC2 and El34 MC2. I preferred the El34 a lot more as it had a more aggressive/grinding tone where the KT88 was a little smother and fatter mids,

I think the MTL can cover 95% of what the MC2 can do, but the inverse is not the case.
 
mhenson42 said:
I prefer the MTL over the MC2. the MTL has more of a modern voicing where the MC2 is more vintage. I had a KT88 MC2 and El34 MC2. I preferred the El34 a lot more as it had a more aggressive/grinding tone where the KT88 was a little smother and fatter mids,

I think the MTL can cover 95% of what the MC2 can do, but the inverse is not the case.
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I agree . Rick said all the tones are in the MTL2 if you search
 
The 2012 MTL 50 I had, didn't take boosts well and had 'hollow' mids. Great amp but not for me. The 2010 MC100 was perfect; scoop for metal or modern and the mids turned up were almost spot on Marshall.
Maybe the newer MTL has a better EQ range; but my first choice would be the MC100.
 
I've owned six Wizards, including three MCIIs, and that 2017 I bought from you was the best of the lot. :doh:for selling that one!

I prefer the MCII to the MTL but I feel they can both cover the same tones/genres just with a different mid focus and amount of low end depth. The MTL is better suited to death metal and heavier modern metal tones plugged straight in due to the saturation knob, but you can get just as much saturation on an MCII by boosting, and it takes boosts like a fucking champ. But as mhenson42 said, it's slightly more of a classic crunchier voicing. It's just not as thick sounding as an MTL because of the difference in mid frequencies and of course the depth knob.

I struggled with the MTL's voicing and always felt I couldn't get good upper grind out of it...to me it had a much flatter mid response...more treble and bass. Aside from that, it is a great amp and just as versatile as MCII.

I then tried a 100w Hybrid thinking that would be the answer, and while it had more upper mid grind than the MTL, it still lacked a bit compared to the MCII. Then tried an MC25 which I feel has the best tone of all the Wizards I owned, but just lacks headroom and the balls of the 100watters (to be expected right). So six Wizards later I'm back on an MCII and it's just much more aggressive to my ears. I feel like MCII has a great balance of bright vocal upper mids but still has good growl in the low mids. Put an ISP sub and a boost in the chain and you now have an MTL with hyper aggressive upper mid snarl, a good dose of low mid growl, and the wrecking ball low end of an MTL :)
 
MetalHeadMike said:
I've owned six Wizards, including three MCIIs, and that 2017 I bought from you was the best of the lot. :doh:for selling that one!

I prefer the MCII to the MTL but I feel they can both cover the same tones/genres just with a different mid focus and amount of low end depth. The MTL is better suited to death metal and heavier modern metal tones plugged straight in due to the saturation knob, but you can get just as much saturation on an MCII by boosting, and it takes boosts like a fucking champ. But as mhenson42 said, it's slightly more of a classic crunchier voicing. It's just not as thick sounding as an MTL because of the difference in mid frequencies and of course the depth knob.

I struggled with the MTL's voicing and always felt I couldn't get good upper grind out of it...to me it had a much flatter mid response...more treble and bass. Aside from that, it is a great amp and just as versatile as MCII.

I then tried a 100w Hybrid thinking that would be the answer, and while it had more upper mid grind than the MTL, it still lacked a bit compared to the MCII. Then tried an MC25 which I feel has the best tone of all the Wizards I owned, but just lacks headroom and the balls of the 100watters (to be expected right). So six Wizards later I'm back on an MCII and it's just much more aggressive to my ears. I feel like MCII has a great balance of bright vocal upper mids but still has good growl in the low mids. Put an ISP sub and a boost in the chain and you now have an MTL with hyper aggressive upper mid snarl, a good dose of low mid growl, and the wrecking ball low end of an MTL :)
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:doh:To the both of us lol
 
Still have my 2016 MTL and used to have a 1996 MC. The MTL has a V transformer and the MC had a C transformer, so that may account for some differences. I greatly prefer the MTL, but would probably like the more recent MC’s more than the ‘96 I had. My MTL does have hollow mids as others mentioned and also a bit dry sounding, but overall an awesome amp with a real wow factor and hard hitting punch like nothing else. The MC I owned had mids a bit closer to the Marshall’s, but still hollow when compared to my actual Marshall’s. Mostly just the mids were raised higher than the MTL, but still hollow for my liking. The clips of the MCII’s I’ve heard had the same mids as my MC from what I could tell. The Wizards to me, especially, the MTL are to me kinda like a hybrid between my Marshall’s and Hiwatt’s in flavor, but of course higher gain and tighter. Great amps. Few amps made today can rival them
 
I've got a 2010 MTL mk1 "C" transformer and a 2016 MC II "V" transformer, I can tell you the differences in sound are worth owning both for, but not vitally important if you get me lol

If I HAD to choose 1? MC II because I find its voicing naturally cuts, and fills the room proper. Both amps are huge sounding, but the MTL does have aggressive grind to it with the pull shift engaged shifting mids up a notch which helps a lot. I've found myself on the fence considering putting the MTL mk1 up for sale numerous times, but changed my mind days later because there are just not many other amps worth swapping it for. Maybe a Bogner helios but i am worried I would regret letting any Wizard go.
 
panhead said:
I take it people sell these great amps cause they cant justify the never ending credit card payment? So its sort of like renting it? :unsure: Inquiring minds want to know cause Ive seen alot bought and sold over the years. almost as much as a 5150.
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I’ve had two both times I had to sell because it’s a lot of coin for myself to have tied up in a single piece of gear , but they are that damn good
 
Dyllheaven88 said:
I’ve had two both times I had to sell because it’s a lot of coin for myself to have tied up in a single piece of gear , but they are that damn good
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Yeah once you’re in the 3k+ territory for amps it’s harder to justify keeping multiple. If you want to buy a new amp it’s hard to justify getting that without moving an old one. I had 3 Wizards at once (the mtl 2, a mc 1 from 2010 with a c transformer that is my favorite mc i have played, and a mc ii kt150). I sold the 150 because, although it was a great amp, i just didn’t like it as much as the other 2 and it was like 5k just sitting there.

Just to answer the original question, I do feel the mc is more of a hard rock amp for me than the mtl (but the mtl can do hard rock). But I would reach for it first before the mtl. When I play Alice In Chains or tool I reach for that a lot.
 
AmpliFIRE said:
Which Wizard model and transformers are hot rodded Marshall-like?
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The MC I believe has more marshall voice than the MTL. Supposedly the C transformer has more marshall mojo than the others. I haven’t played all the transformer types so I can’t confirm. But can say my c transformer mc has a lot of hot rodded marshall characteristics.
 
panhead said:
I take it people sell these great amps cause they cant justify the never ending credit card payment? So its sort of like renting it? :unsure: Inquiring minds want to know cause Ive seen alot bought and sold over the years. almost as much as a 5150.
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I paid 2400 for mine, so it wasn't due to the HUGE coin of a new one...or even a used one in today's market. I saw an opening to have a C+ Coliseum...so I needed to generate some cash. It would still be here if it wasn't for my chase for a bucket list amp.
If only I could keep them all....
 
I've sold every amp I've ever owned with the exception of 6. Wizards, Camerons, Diezels, Bogners, Engls, Soldanos, Riveras, Mesas, Fryettes, KSRs, Revvs, Barons, Fortins, Ceritones, Kashas, EVHs, Peaveys, Splanws, you name it...they all get sold eventually. Just because somebody sells something doesn't mean anything. :sneaky:
 
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