Good God, this is THE tone. I was lucky enough to find a 50 watt modern classic used, and was not in the least disappointed upon its arrival. Put an instant end to a 20 some year long tone chase. 6 months later I'm still playing it daily, just to hear it. It doesn't get old 😁. Thank you for the video, exceptional playing sir, keep it up!
I own a 94 VC100(for 13 years) and a 93 MTL100(for 6 years). There is not a single time I plug them in and don't put a smile on my face. They are are fantastic! Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Every cent!!! Congrats on the amp! It does sound amazing!
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist Damn man that might be better than the Friedmans Ive played. What pickups you have in that Les Paul? Killer tone man. Sounds based off a lead circuit Marshall for sure. For a lil lower gain I like the bass circuit because they sound fat with lower gain but can still saturate quite nicely too. The lead circuits are a lil leaner and can sound skinny when you lower the gain a bit.
yours truly only amp I’ve ever owned that people hear and there 👅 tongue basically hit the floor. It doesn’t get any better than this. This would eat a Friedman when it comes to getting chewy thumping rock blues tones. Rick St. Pierre knocked this one out of the park!
Hey Jason - Great playing and tone. Just so you know - the link above for your website goes to nothing but a fill page Ray Ban sunglasses ad. No website there.
amazing! That must be the best crunch tone I have ever heard here... and I've been looming for years around, hunting THE holly grail of tone.. I have 3 Friedmans (2x BE100 and JJ100), have you ever played any of those and can you compare them with this amp? Damn, after this vid, I think I'm going in a hunt for one. Most of other vids sound too harsh and bright but this is the best tone I have ever heard...
Killer! I shouldn't do this, but I'm willing to part with a Pod2.0 plus an original Metal Zone pedal for that amp you have there. It's your lucky day bud....
I tried out a Splawn looking to get this type of tone and though I liked it, it was too gainy, compressed, and stiff in the mids...my JCM 800 is all I can afford for now but this video really displays the magic of WIZARD AMPS...
Matt Loughran thanks Matt, yeah most demos are gained out by others, that’s not my style. Very versatile, I’m a firm believer that dialing the gain back results in a clearer better tone with high gain amps when playing with a band setting. Cheers
Sounds KILLER in this clip-- awesome playing--, but wasn't a fan of it with the Tele in the other vid, sounded quite brittle to me. Any videos demonstrating the amp fully clean?
Very nice tone. I love those 4 creambacks. What is the difference in their tone over greenbacks. I just bought a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe, that I have fallen in love with. Also bought a Friedman 4×12 speaker cabinet, with 2 greenbacks on top, and 2 vintage 30's on the bottom. You should check out that speaker combination in your speaker cabinet. Wizards, Friedmans, and Metropolous amps are the best of the best. Enjoy your rig!
Sonny Seabury I just go for quality... wizard makes the best quality cabs out there in a 4x12 ... when you have to wait on a wait list to get your amp and cab... you know you’re getting quality hand crafted stuff. I wish you could play this side by side by your Friedman, you’d see your Friedman. Myself and my friends have heard the difference. It’s really that good. Rick St Pierre has it all figured out. Best amp builder out there when it comes to plexi circuits. They are just not as plentiful as other brand names because they are made in order... not many die hard tone enthusiasts willing to wait for their amp to be built. :) thanks, cheers
Meastro Fuzz I haven’t played a Marshall I’d compare it to actually, the transformers in this amp are exclusive to WIZARD. You won’t find this tone in another amp, that’s what I love about WIZARD Amps. Completely hand wired by Rick himself. He doesn’t rush builds, very meticulous and uses the best components out there in his amps. My buddy came over to hear it and it literally made his jaw drop, lol it’s that kind of amp man. Thanks, cheers
Marshall, no offense, is overrated garbage, and no where near as reliable. Marshall and Wizards aren't even in the same hemisphere. No comparison. Same goes for comparing a Marshall to a Friedman.No comparison. Neither Wizard or Friedman are cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Sonny Seabury the Wizard is built like a tank. If you want amp that will last a lifetime and you want to pay for quality buy a wizard. Rick is the man, he knows how to build an amp rock solid. I’ve had guys come buy and have a listen and their jaws dropped when they heard this amp. To this day, they say it’s the best tone they’ve heard. \m/
Man I just can't get over the tone of this amp. Great demo Jason. You're one of the few players here on YT that just goes for it, plays and feels it. I love it dude. A lot of these players have some pre-programmed stuffy crap they play and you can always tell they are so self conscience about what they are doing and need to impress and need the attention / compliments etc and whatever. Thanks for keeping it real Jason, outstanding playing as always and damn you sound amazing thru this rig! P.S. - Is it possible to get bedroom volumes out of this or maybe the 50 watt that you know of?
silversurfstudio thank you,very nice comment. Yes, it has a master volume so you can get great tone at low volumes. I’ve used this amp more at home than live situations, lol cheers!
That thing does just sound insane! Could you do a video of all the tones it covers? I know there's loads of odd bits and bobs on your channel but I would love to hear the versatility of the thing. Got to ask what made you ditch all the Dr Z gear?
@@daviddorrian5349 it is no where near a vintage real deal blackface super reverb, that’s for sure. If I’m going for the”fender tone”, I’ve finally realized that I should just buy the real thing. Happy days… :) ✌️
Wonderful vids on all Wizarp amp demos... Now torn into two possibilities : Second hand MC II 100W or a brand new Hybrid MCII in 50W... I'm a 100W man but these Wizard 50W are so brutal and loud that I wonder if I should not take the hybrid in 50W... For information, already had two MCI 50W that I sold only to have a more recent MC II Hybrid or not and in 50W or 100W... Any advice from you would be more than welcome... Hybrid or not, 50W or 100W ? Many thanks
Thanks man! You can’t go wrong with either. My fave is the MTL MCII but both are fantastic amps. I’d be more than happy owning either one. Rick would be able to explain the differences more to you. He won’t lead you astray. ✌️
Hey Jason - Great demo! Quick question : Other demos I have heard of this amp are quite bright at the very top end, but your sound cuts nicely without all the sizzle.I am sure the 65 watt celestions contribute to the rounded tones, but how do you tend to set the bright knob on the back, treble, and presence knobs in general to get the kind of tones on this demo? It cuts beautifully without high end frequency fatigue.
It’s been a while since I’ve had this amp, I have a MTL MCII hybrid now. The speakers were a big contributor for sure. I use to set the bright knob pretty similar to how I set it on the hybrid. 11 o’clock ish. I’d also experiment with your tone controls. That key on a les Paul like this. For instance back your guitar tone knob off to 50% then lower your guitar volume knob in increments and listen to how the tone changes, it’s an amazing thing with these Les Paul’s. :) ✌️
Nice demo Jason! I'm curious, would you mind sharing the settings for you back bright knobs? (Rhtymn and lead). I own the 50 watt model...I love it. Cheers
+marvel harris no, I'll dial it in for recording purposes to what sounds good for the mix... I use my ears basically ... I never really look at what's it's on when mic is on it. Cheers
Thanks, much appreciated man. That was my old 59 les Paul reissue I had a few years back, I think it has burstbuckers, stock pickups from the Gibson custom shop. They were pretty nice pickups. ✌️
Killer tone and playing dude! I have an MCII as well. Would you mind sharing the settings you used when you made this video? Also interested in how you had the lead and rythym bright knobs set at the rear of amp
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist thanks for the response. Wasn't sure if the settings in video were actually how you had amp set. Do you recall where you had the rythym and lead bright knobs set? Also, I assume this was recorded using lead channel? Thanks in advance for any additional insight Peace brother!
@@stephenhowe9778 I don’t think it was the lead channel, just low gain channel. I’m afraid I can’t remember exact settings though other than what you see in the video. I dialed the amp in different ( control wise) for every room I had it in. Truly a great amp, haven’t heard a better amp to put a nice Les Paul Through yet.. :) Congrats on one great amp! Cheers!
@@stephenhowe9778 just found a pic of how I use to set it up, the two bright knobs on the back were set at a little past noon for both. Hope that helps. Cheers
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist thanks for going to the trouble of finding that info! I ran through the rhythm channel last night at band rehearsal. It's much more open and fatter than the lead channel...like in your video. This is such a great amp!
I assume this is best jcm800 from 80s / vertical inputs - doing a Marshall better than marshal. Sounds so tight and note articulation is heaven. What speakers are you using ?
Thanks! I’d say the amp was on 2-3 volume wise. Sounds great down to talking volume as well. Great amp! I’m using a Ribbon ART AR5 mic here I believe. Nice affordable mics. Not sure if they make them now. ? Thanks again.
Julio Serrano thanks man! This is the best amp I've ever owned that can get awesome tones at bedroom level... absolutely no need to get a attenuator with this amp. Cheers!
Hi Jason hope you are well brother! I know I’ve asked you many questions about the wizards but I’m still struggling with which one to get. The MCii / MKii The Hybrid The W800 Or the MC25 Do you still feel the W800 is your fav of them?
Hey Robert, for me personally, I prefer the W800. When using the Wizard leopard pedal in front of it I can get all the boost I need to send that amp over the top. It’s the Wizard that I knew I had to own it after hearing it for the first time. ✌️
Why did you go to the Hybrid from this amp -too bright? Do you feel like the 50w Hybrid is enough compared to the 100w you had here? I am more of an 80's rocker and dig the articulate mids so would you suggest the MC II over the Hybrid's low mids?
Patrick Corvo Patrick Corvo thanks man, yeah the amp is awesome. The volume here is on about 2 ish... master 6 ish I think... no trouble to get a great tone at real low volumes with this amp, cheers!
MarkKiddGuitar I use to know... ask Rick St. Pierre , he’s the builder, he would know which one is in mine. He told me once but I forget. He’s an awesome guy, he will guide you to the tone u want hands down! Amp building genius! Cheers. Sorry.
@MarkKiddGuitar George Metropoulos is an amazing amp maker. I would think twice before you sell your Metroplex. I'm looking at getting one ASAP. Friedman is damn good too. George and Dave are Amp Tone Gods, and friends too. Both from Michigan. I have a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe Amp, and a Friedman 4x12 speaker cabinet, with Celestion Greenbacks on top, and Celestion Vintage 30's on the bottom. Friedman makes amazing cabs, and that speaker combination is to die for!
@MarkKiddGuitar Awesome man. Happy for ya. Sounds like you might be a little more knowledgeable than me on some things, so I need to ask ya, I thought that with the Master Volume on amps, that you can get, full throttle opened up tones, without having to wind it out like you were referring too. I, myself, like the Master Volume features, since they eliminate having to spend alot of money on a good attentuator. I was blessed to be able to get my dream rig, a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe Amp, and cabinet, which I'm still in awe of. The return level of the effects loop, can be used as an attenuator. I would have much rathered a master volume on the front, but with all of the tonal possibilities of that amp, I don't stress or complain over it. I'm with ya on the 50 watt Metroplex. 100 is overkill. I talked to George's secretary a while back and she told me a 50 watter would be coming out soon, and that was many months ago, so I have no clue about what happened. I hope that George didn't change his mind about making them. If the 50 watt Metroplexes will offer all the same features and options as the 100 watt ones, I definitely want to get one, hopefully in the near future. If not, I guess I'm gonna have to get the 100 watt version. I think the price of the 50 watter might be a little more attractive too, since it would probably be a few hundred less. George's secretary said they would be in the high 2k range, as opposed to the $3550 price tag of the 100 watter. Since I already have the Friedman amp, all that I need is the Metroplex, then my amp buying days will be done. Ya might also want to check out the Third Power Modified Plexi Type amps that come out of Nashville..They're very nice, but not cheap either. It all goes back to getting what you pay for. High Quality Amps aren't cheap, but they're big lifetime investments, that I would never want to sell, so I'm good with the price scenario. I would much rather a hand built amp, as opposed to a mass produced one. Have a good one, brother.
@MarkKiddGuitar Awesome brother. Thanks lots for that good info. I had no clue. Well, atleast there is a projected date now. I guess it just got pushed back, because, if I'm not mistaken, it was supposed to be this past august. Money doesn't come to me easily anymore, like it once did, when I had a good career. I have to live on disability now for non-stop kidney stone issues. The only reason why I was lucky enough to get the Friedman Rig, was because Sweetwater offers a 48 month 0% interest plan on certain brands. I lucked out since Friedman was one of them..Currently, I realized that I've been, unknowingly, exposed to black mold in my apartment, that I've been living in for 3 years now. When I researched it, and the health side effects, I then realized that the active mold is the reason why my body has been feeling the way it has for 3 years now, when I had no clue what was the causing factor. I hate to have to sue anybody, since I can't stand sue happy people, but in this serious and severe scenario, I have no choice but to do it. If the lawsuit goes in my favor, financially, like many people think it will, I'm gonna pay off the Friedman rig immediately, and then buy the Metroplex, and 2x12 Metropoulos Cabinet, with Creambacks, which the Metroplex is supposed to be voiced for. We'll have to see what happens. Have a good night brother, and thanks so much for the helpful Metroplex info. PS. Now that you mentioned it to me, Chris was the lady secretary that I spoke too. Very nice and helpful lady. I had no clue that was George's wife. They're good people. Take care and have a good one.
OldSlowGamer Lol I’ve heard his amps, sorry but WIZARD is in an entirely different league of quality. Bray amps are a cheap attempt of classic Marshall circuits but not even close. The Modern Classic 2 will eat it alive! This amp Thumps for metal and hasits own sound, not a copy of a Marshall. It has its own transformer design exclusive to WIZARD amps only. I have played a lot of amps in this style of amp and have never heard anything even come close to the tone this thing puts out. One of my biggest regrets is letting this one go. :( if it didn’t cost 7G’s to buy another one I’d have one again already. Cheers
Jason Hobbs The transformer part would only be a subtle difference vs if he used any of the other high end vendor. Its the design that makes it sound this way. Anyone can get the parts except for the exact same transformers. But as I said a Heybor or Merrin would be very very similar.
GREAT sounding amp. Wizard kinda does the Friedman thing better than Friedman. I still can't seem to find anything better than the Spawn Quickrod. The Wizard is a stunner though....not doubt about it.
Amazing video. I'm getting ready to finally take the plunge and buy one. How's the master volume on the MCII? Can you play it at lower/practice volumes?
Man this amp is the best I’ve played through. I foolishly let it go to support my addiction to car modifications, lol I’ll be having another in the future. I was concerned too about controlling this beast at lower volumes at home. No worries though, it sounds amazing at lower volumes as well. My buddy heard it who at the time owned a Suhr PT100 with matching cab and instantly wanted it, he also says it’s the best amp he’s played through. It trumped all the amps he had including a BE100 Friedman. I’ve always said, you have to play one in person to “feel” the difference. It’s that punch that gets you, the amp thumps, the attack is very articulate. FX loop is awesome as well. I still to this day say it’s the greatest amp I’ve ever owned. Rick st Pierre builds these amps one by one all by himself. That says a lot about quality control. I’d put WIZARD amps up against the best in the world. He worked with AC DC for 27 years, yes 27 years! He was their Amp guy, that says a lot. They could have picked anyone they pleased to be their amp guy... Rick was the man... he will not gloat about that at all. He’s very down to earth, sincere and says it like it is. I can tell you one thing, WIZARD amps are built right, not rushed, when the amp leaves Ricks hands, you’ll be receiving a masterpiece that was hand built and tested by the man himself. This is not a huge production amplifier, he cares more about quality over quantity. Expensive but you get what you pay for. That can be said about everything out there though. Needs to be heard in a room to be truly appreciated... all the best man. Hope that helps. Cheers
Hard to say, for rock I’d have to say it’s hard to beat the new Suhr Badger 35 MKII , I can just imagine what’s it like with a nice Les Paul. I’m liking my suhr’s more for rock and blues. Hence the reason I’m using Suhr amps nowadays. Very versatile amps. Unbeatable imo. Thanks man, Cheers!
Jason, Do you think these are the most Versatile Wizard Amps, to pretty much play any type of music, that a person wants? How much do they cost? What speakers are in your 4x12 speaker cabinet?
Sonny Seabury give rick a call at wizard amps. He can lead you on the right path to meet your needs. The MC2 is quite the beast, beautiful cleans and ripping dirt tones. You need to play one to realize this.
Θανος Z They are both great, the 100 watt pushes more air obviously, 50 Watts is plenty... but I’m convinced the transformers in the 100watt version is where it’s at for that bottom end thump! Call Rick and talk to him personally, he’s a awesome guy! He will guide you in the right direction. Or message him on his Facebook page. If you’re looking for this tone, his amps can’t be beat bro! Cheers!
Θανος Z 100watt, very controllable though. great Master Volume amp and sounds amazing at lower at home volumes. Just seeing your message now, sorry. :) Cheers.
LOL somehow I accidentally hit ‘dislike’ on this video and it sat there uncorrected for a couple of days. So if you noticed ONE DISLIKE, that was my mistake. This is the best tone I’ve ever heard. 🤷♂️
Curt Vogue yeah you get what you pay for. You won’t buy this amp for $4700, maybe a Friedman or Suhr but not a wizard. $4700 US maybe. It was $7000 Canadian about 7 years ago. Ask Dave Friedman about the quality of a wizard.. lol he even says it’s outta this world. Check out Pete Thorne video “ Sunday live #116, and listen at 1:41:22, he confirms this. :) thanks!! Cheers!
Still the best LP/Marshall tone on TH-cam all these years later. Incredible.
Thanks man! 👍 I appreciate that.
Cheers. ✌️
Good God, this is THE tone. I was lucky enough to find a 50 watt modern classic used, and was not in the least disappointed upon its arrival. Put an instant end to a 20 some year long tone chase. 6 months later I'm still playing it daily, just to hear it. It doesn't get old 😁. Thank you for the video, exceptional playing sir, keep it up!
Thank you! That’s rocks man! Congrats! Cheers
Every time I play through this amp it gives me chills and a huge smile on my face.
I own a 94 VC100(for 13 years) and a 93 MTL100(for 6 years). There is not a single time I plug them in and don't put a smile on my face. They are are fantastic! Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Every cent!!! Congrats on the amp! It does sound amazing!
tiago castro definitely a great choice! The best I’ve heard and owned personally. :) cheers
These amps get 'it' meaning that hot Marshall sound. Very nice!
That Tolex is absolutely Gorgeous!!! And the tone is more than words can describe!
Tim Stanley thanks, cheers!
Damn that might be better than even a Friedman. Hmmm where can one play these in the Los Angeles area?
I guess that's an okay tone if you like perfection.
antonio ortiz haha thanks man! Cheers
🤣
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist Damn man that might be better than the Friedmans Ive played. What pickups you have in that Les Paul? Killer tone man. Sounds based off a lead circuit Marshall for sure. For a lil lower gain I like the bass circuit because they sound fat with lower gain but can still saturate quite nicely too. The lead circuits are a lil leaner and can sound skinny when you lower the gain a bit.
yours truly
only amp I’ve ever owned that people hear and there 👅 tongue basically hit the floor. It doesn’t get any better than this. This would eat a Friedman when it comes to getting chewy thumping rock blues tones. Rick St. Pierre knocked this one out of the park!
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist Is it handwired or PCB?
Best Marshall sound I heard on you tube. And im 10 years on youtube
Amazing guitar player and amazing guitar amps!!! You blew my mind! My respects!
Thanks Boyan! I really appreciate your nice comment. Glad you liked it. Cheers! ✌️
Thats the tone ive wanted my whole life....my lord thats nice! ;) your lucky to have that amp.....wow is right.
David Draper thank you! Cheers
The 3 idiots who disliked this video are just damn jealous. Great job dude. Ain’t no reason that anyone should dislike this video. Thanks man!
Thanks! Lol cheers!!
exactly he is a good player and this is an amazing amp. I'd love to try one out someday.
Hey Jason - Great playing and tone. Just so you know - the link above for your website goes to nothing but a fill page Ray Ban sunglasses ad. No website there.
Much better than the last demo of this amp I saw
DC Welker thanks man! Cheers
That thing cooks!...man,that tone is awesome...
Killer and the room ambiance..Wow!
John Spina thanks man! Cheers
OMG! that is some sick tone!
Claude Bessette great amps, thanks man.Cheers!
Tasty amp, tasty tone and tasty playing. Great man! One of my friends got a wizard last week, i might have to try it out soon!
you won't regret it! cheers! Thanks man!
Great sounding demo! VERY well done!
RezaMatix thank you! Cheers
Wow that sounds killer Jason!! I was actually thinking about greenbacks in my quad in place of V30's!! They really suit the Wizard :)
Thanks! Yeah I'm really sold on the G12M-65 creambacks... I'd love to try greenbacks as well... Again, thanks for your comment. Cheers!
+Jason Hobbs very nice!! Sorry meant to say creambacks!!
+shfnderrock ok sorry, lol cheers
The best guitar I’ve heard right here. And the amp sounds great also.
Awesome tone!!!
EliasV thanks! Cheers. Cheers!
amazing! That must be the best crunch tone I have ever heard here... and I've been looming for years around, hunting THE holly grail of tone..
I have 3 Friedmans (2x BE100 and JJ100), have you ever played any of those and can you compare them with this amp?
Damn, after this vid, I think I'm going in a hunt for one. Most of other vids sound too harsh and bright but this is the best tone I have ever heard...
U show off & yes I love it. Very much nice jason :))
Lol, nahhhh, just love this amp too much... Thanks bro! Cheers!
Outstanding playing and demo of this killer amp!
Renaissance Man thanks! Cheers
Great amp! Great Demo, Great playing. Jason, Have you checked out any other Wizard models?
@@staggs5034 yes lots, I’ve owned a Vintage Classic, modern classic II , MTL MCII and now a W800. All great amps. 👌
Thanks 🙏. Much appreciated.
PERFECT PLEXI tone to my ears !!!
motorboy1966 yes I agree too. :) cheers
Best wizard tone achieved. Wizard should give you an amp for free as this demo has likely sold MANY amps.
@@LordFingers1 thanks man! I appreciate that.
Cheers!
Great Playing .
DogDaze66 thanks a lot! Cheers!
Fabulous tone and fabulous price also...
R.G. Benett \m/ right on! Thanks, cheers
...but also mostly great playing contribute to the tone !!
R.G. Benett
This Reggie? :) thanks bro!
no I'm not Reggie...lol
I have a friend Reggie Bennett, lol no worries..
I loved the JTM50 and I always said nothing would get close, then this wizard amp came along
Bluesr0cker nice! 👍 cheers
Didn't you have a 101b like 2 weeks ago? The wizard rocks. And that Ar5 is a nice complement.
Thanks man! Yeah I have a few amps in my collection. Lol I'm lovin the AR5, nice and warm..
Cheers!
Killer! I shouldn't do this, but I'm willing to part with a Pod2.0 plus an original Metal Zone pedal for that amp you have there. It's your lucky day bud....
Bahahahaha 👍
I tried out a Splawn looking to get this type of tone and though I liked it, it was too gainy, compressed, and stiff in the mids...my JCM 800 is all I can afford for now but this video really displays the magic of WIZARD AMPS...
Matt Loughran thanks Matt, yeah most demos are gained out by others, that’s not my style. Very versatile, I’m a firm believer that dialing the gain back results in a clearer better tone with high gain amps when playing with a band setting. Cheers
Jason Hobbs Dude you are %100 correct. Most of the demos online make these amps sound like over gained crap. Wizard should be paying you.
Sounds KILLER in this clip-- awesome playing--, but wasn't a fan of it with the Tele in the other vid, sounded quite brittle to me. Any videos demonstrating the amp fully clean?
mijmar67 thanks, I'm planning on doing a clean demo very soon... cheers!
Best Amp meets a very good guitar man
Two awesome pieces of gear for sure.. thanks for watching man! Cheers!
GREAT TONE !!
Thanks man! Cheers!
Nice tone!
Ethan and Darren vlogs thanks man! Cheers!
Very nice tone. I love those 4 creambacks. What is the difference in their tone over greenbacks. I just bought a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe, that I have fallen in love with. Also bought a Friedman 4×12 speaker cabinet, with 2 greenbacks on top, and 2 vintage 30's on the bottom. You should check out that speaker combination in your speaker cabinet. Wizards, Friedmans, and Metropolous amps are the best of the best. Enjoy your rig!
Sonny Seabury I just go for quality... wizard makes the best quality cabs out there in a 4x12 ... when you have to wait on a wait list to get your amp and cab... you know you’re getting quality hand crafted stuff. I wish you could play this side by side by your Friedman, you’d see your Friedman. Myself and my friends have heard the difference. It’s really that good. Rick St Pierre has it all figured out. Best amp builder out there when it comes to plexi circuits.
They are just not as plentiful as other brand names because they are made in order... not many die hard tone enthusiasts willing to wait for their amp to be built. :) thanks, cheers
Dear Jason, this for me is the ultimate Marshall tone. You are amazing! With what Marshall amp would you compare the MCII???
Meastro Fuzz I haven’t played a Marshall I’d compare it to actually, the transformers in this amp are exclusive to WIZARD. You won’t find this tone in another amp, that’s what I love about WIZARD Amps. Completely hand wired by Rick himself. He doesn’t rush builds, very meticulous and uses the best components out there in his amps. My buddy came over to hear it and it literally made his jaw drop, lol it’s that kind of amp man. Thanks, cheers
Jason Hobbs thank you very much for your answer, keep up the amazing work my friend!
Meastro Fuzz no worries thank you, cheers
Marshall, no offense, is overrated garbage, and no where near as reliable. Marshall and Wizards aren't even in the same hemisphere. No comparison. Same goes for comparing a Marshall to a Friedman.No comparison. Neither Wizard or Friedman are cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Sonny Seabury the Wizard is built like a tank. If you want amp that will last a lifetime and you want to pay for quality buy a wizard. Rick is the man, he knows how to build an amp rock solid. I’ve had guys come buy and have a listen and their jaws dropped when they heard this amp. To this day, they say it’s the best tone they’ve heard. \m/
Man I just can't get over the tone of this amp. Great demo Jason. You're one of the few players here on YT that just goes for it, plays and feels it. I love it dude. A lot of these players have some pre-programmed stuffy crap they play and you can always tell they are so self conscience about what they are doing and need to impress and need the attention / compliments etc and whatever. Thanks for keeping it real Jason, outstanding playing as always and damn you sound amazing thru this rig!
P.S. - Is it possible to get bedroom volumes out of this or maybe the 50 watt that you know of?
silversurfstudio thank you,very nice comment. Yes, it has a master volume so you can get great tone at low volumes. I’ve used this amp more at home than live situations, lol cheers!
Awesome ...
guitar-guy thanks! Cheers
Perfection.
Nuccio raw Lo Presti thanks man! Cheers
amazing
Thanks bro! Cheers!
That thing does just sound insane!
Could you do a video of all the tones it covers? I know there's loads of odd bits and bobs on your channel but I would love to hear the versatility of the thing.
Got to ask what made you ditch all the Dr Z gear?
Thanks. I play vintage fender amps for the more country stuff nowadays. Got away from the Z stuff after trying more fender stuff.
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist Did the EZG50 not do a killer vintage fender sound?
@@daviddorrian5349 it is no where near a vintage real deal blackface super reverb, that’s for sure.
If I’m going for the”fender tone”, I’ve finally realized that I should just buy the real thing.
Happy days… :) ✌️
Awesome tone and playing! So no loadbox used during recording, just mic'd? Was the amp at bedroom volume to achieve this tone?
Yup just a mic on volume 2 on amp. No problem to get good tone at lower volumes on this amp. Cheers
Jason Hobbs Thanks Jason! 👍
I've watched this video so many times that TH-cam added it to the top of a playlist for me.
"Celestial" Creambacks? Lol. Yeah, they're pretty divine.
Thank you! Sorry for the late response... cheers!
Simply amazing tone. Beautifully articulate. How's the clean tone?
Millo1868 thanks man for the comment, the clean can be very clean if you'd like... this amp really can do it all.cheers!
Wonderful vids on all Wizarp amp demos... Now torn into two possibilities : Second hand MC II 100W or a brand new Hybrid MCII in 50W... I'm a 100W man but these Wizard 50W are so brutal and loud that I wonder if I should not take the hybrid in 50W... For information, already had two MCI 50W that I sold only to have a more recent MC II Hybrid or not and in 50W or 100W... Any advice from you would be more than welcome... Hybrid or not, 50W or 100W ?
Many thanks
Thanks man! You can’t go wrong with either. My fave is the MTL MCII but both are fantastic amps. I’d be more than happy owning either one. Rick would be able to explain the differences more to you. He won’t lead you astray. ✌️
I while have to take out a second mortgage to buy this amp...but it must be done!!!
great playing by the way!!!!
Hardnitz1974 lol thanks man! Yes go get one!! Haha cheers ;)
Hey Jason - Great demo! Quick question : Other demos I have heard of this amp are quite bright at the very top end, but your sound cuts nicely without all the sizzle.I am sure the 65 watt celestions contribute to the rounded tones, but how do you tend to set the bright knob on the back, treble, and presence knobs in general to get the kind of tones on this demo? It cuts beautifully without high end frequency fatigue.
It’s been a while since I’ve had this amp, I have a MTL MCII hybrid now. The speakers were a big contributor for sure. I use to set the bright knob pretty similar to how I set it on the hybrid. 11 o’clock ish. I’d also experiment with your tone controls. That key on a les Paul like this. For instance back your guitar tone knob off to 50% then lower your guitar volume knob in increments and listen to how the tone changes, it’s an amazing thing with these Les Paul’s. :)
✌️
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist -Thanks! I will try that Les Paul setting for sure. Never heard of that before.
Nice demo Jason! I'm curious, would you mind sharing the settings for you back bright knobs? (Rhtymn and lead). I own the 50 watt model...I love it. Cheers
Rhythm bright set @ 2 O'clock
Lead bright set at 12 O'Clock
Thanks , cheers!
Would you mind sharing your front panel settings...channel used...etc?
Sounds killer...great playing too man
Rock on!
Gorgeous tone .. I wonder if the Suhr Aldrich pickups would be "too much" for this style amp ..
Not at all! :) cheers!
Sounds great... I should try those creambacks with mine- I thought they might be too dark but they sound really nice here.
Thanks, yeah, I think most people would like them. They were suggested by the builder himself.
Cheers!
Hey Jason.. I noticed you run the bass pretty low compared to me (I'm at 1 oclock) are the creambacks darker than vintage 30s?
+marvel harris no, I'll dial it in for recording purposes to what sounds good for the mix... I use my ears basically ... I never really look at what's it's on when mic is on it. Cheers
Sounds incredible. Great playing. What pick ups do you have in that les Paul?
Thanks, much appreciated man. That was my old 59 les Paul reissue I had a few years back, I think it has burstbuckers, stock pickups from the Gibson custom shop. They were pretty nice pickups. ✌️
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist do you still have the amp? It sounds incredible
@@khalilhabib9607 I have a Wizard MTL MC II Hybrid 50 watt now. Another great Wizard amp.
Sounds awesome! What bridge pickup are you rocking in that Les Paul?
Thanks! It's the stock pickup, not sure, probably a burstbucker? Cheers!
Man, this is the tone I am chasing for years,. But that machine is so pricey, does anybody think a Bogner Helios may get closer to it?
Once you go WIZArd you’ll be a Wizard amp guy for life. My favourite amp ever. I’ve been through them all.
Killer tone and playing dude! I have an MCII as well. Would you mind sharing the settings you used when you made this video?
Also interested in how you had the lead and rythym bright knobs set at the rear of amp
Thanks, I no longer own the Wizard but you can see the settings at 5:07 in the video. Much appreciated man. Cheers
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist thanks for the response. Wasn't sure if the settings in video were actually how you had amp set.
Do you recall where you had the rythym and lead bright knobs set?
Also, I assume this was recorded using lead channel?
Thanks in advance for any additional insight
Peace brother!
@@stephenhowe9778 I don’t think it was the lead channel, just low gain channel. I’m afraid I can’t remember exact settings though other than what you see in the video. I dialed the amp in different ( control wise) for every room I had it in. Truly a great amp, haven’t heard a better amp to put a nice Les Paul Through yet.. :) Congrats on one great amp! Cheers!
@@stephenhowe9778 just found a pic of how I use to set it up, the two bright knobs on the back were set at a little past noon for both. Hope that helps.
Cheers
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist thanks for going to the trouble of finding that info!
I ran through the rhythm channel last night at band rehearsal. It's much more open and fatter than the lead channel...like in your video. This is such a great amp!
I assume this is best jcm800 from 80s / vertical inputs - doing a Marshall better than marshal. Sounds so tight and note articulation is heaven. What speakers are you using ?
Lol, thanks man. These are celestion 65 creambacks in this cab. 🤘 ✌️
Sounds awesome. I was thinking soldano and now it’s wizard
What a demo what an amp and what a player, do you prefer this over the 101b? It sounds absolutely fantastic 👍
Thanks Stuart, I appreciate that. Yes I much prefer it over the Bogner. ✌️
Very nice! How loud was the amp? SM57?
Thanks! I’d say the amp was on 2-3 volume wise. Sounds great down to talking volume as well. Great amp! I’m using a Ribbon ART AR5 mic here I believe. Nice affordable mics. Not sure if they make them now. ? Thanks again.
FUCK. That thing sound AWESOME.
This are freaking awesome tones you are getting on this clip! Can this amp be used at bedroom levels, I meant.. if it sounds good at bedroom levels?
Julio Serrano thanks man! This is the best amp I've ever owned that can get awesome tones at bedroom level... absolutely no need to get a attenuator with this amp. Cheers!
Awesome Glad to read that man. thank you for the quick reply!
Julio Serrano no problem, take care.
Hi, great great sound and playing.. is the clean channel a Plexi channel?
Oh yes,someday she will be mine
Excellent sound wow. What pickups do you have on your LP?
This one had burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups cheers! Thanks!
Great tone but I want to hear spec's please
Buried In the many comments below.
Awesome!!!!
Hi Jason hope you are well brother! I know I’ve asked you many questions about the wizards but I’m still struggling with which one to get.
The MCii / MKii
The Hybrid
The W800
Or the MC25
Do you still feel the W800 is your fav of them?
Hey Robert, for me personally, I prefer the W800. When using the Wizard leopard pedal in front of it I can get all the boost I need to send that amp over the top. It’s the Wizard that I knew I had to own it after hearing it for the first time. ✌️
wowwwww!!!
solly karsenti thanks solly! Cheers!
Why did you go to the Hybrid from this amp -too bright? Do you feel like the 50w Hybrid is enough compared to the 100w you had here? I am more of an 80's rocker and dig the articulate mids so would you suggest the MC II over the Hybrid's low mids?
That's one amazing sound. Which channel is that? Rhythm or lead?
Leigh Plozza just low gain... I’m not really into super high gain. Thanks.
Sounds like my splawn on the plexiglas gear
After a second listen, this crushes the splawn..... jeeze what a tone.
Holy crap that sounds amazing man, it's the tone I was looking for. How cranked is the head?
Patrick Corvo Patrick Corvo thanks man, yeah the amp is awesome. The volume here is on about 2 ish... master 6 ish I think... no trouble to get a great tone at real low volumes with this amp, cheers!
Is this just the normal modern classic ii? Are there any special options? Sounds freaking perfect. Next amp purchase for sure.
No just regular MC2 that he builds, be sure to tell him you want the transformer I have in mine, he’ll know what you’re talking about. Cheers!!
MarkKiddGuitar I use to know... ask Rick St. Pierre , he’s the builder, he would know which one is in mine. He told me once but I forget. He’s an awesome guy, he will guide you to the tone u want hands down! Amp building genius! Cheers. Sorry.
@MarkKiddGuitar George Metropoulos is an amazing amp maker. I would think twice before you sell your Metroplex. I'm looking at getting one ASAP. Friedman is damn good too. George and Dave are Amp Tone Gods, and friends too. Both from Michigan. I have a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe Amp, and a Friedman 4x12 speaker cabinet, with Celestion Greenbacks on top, and Celestion Vintage 30's on the bottom. Friedman makes amazing cabs, and that speaker combination is to die for!
@MarkKiddGuitar Awesome man. Happy for ya. Sounds like you might be a little more knowledgeable than me on some things, so I need to ask ya, I thought that with the Master Volume on amps, that you can get, full throttle opened up tones, without having to wind it out like you were referring too. I, myself, like the Master Volume features, since they eliminate having to spend alot of money on a good attentuator. I was blessed to be able to get my dream rig, a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe Amp, and cabinet, which I'm still in awe of. The return level of the effects loop, can be used as an attenuator. I would have much rathered a master volume on the front, but with all of the tonal possibilities of that amp, I don't stress or complain over it. I'm with ya on the 50 watt Metroplex. 100 is overkill. I talked to George's secretary a while back and she told me a 50 watter would be coming out soon, and that was many months ago, so I have no clue about what happened. I hope that George didn't change his mind about making them. If the 50 watt Metroplexes will offer all the same features and options as the 100 watt ones, I definitely want to get one, hopefully in the near future. If not, I guess I'm gonna have to get the 100 watt version. I think the price of the 50 watter might be a little more attractive too, since it would probably be a few hundred less. George's secretary said they would be in the high 2k range, as opposed to the $3550 price tag of the 100 watter. Since I already have the Friedman amp, all that I need is the Metroplex, then my amp buying days will be done. Ya might also want to check out the Third Power Modified Plexi Type amps that come out of Nashville..They're very nice, but not cheap either. It all goes back to getting what you pay for. High Quality Amps aren't cheap, but they're big lifetime investments, that I would never want to sell, so I'm good with the price scenario. I would much rather a hand built amp, as opposed to a mass produced one. Have a good one, brother.
@MarkKiddGuitar Awesome brother. Thanks lots for that good info. I had no clue. Well, atleast there is a projected date now. I guess it just got pushed back, because, if I'm not mistaken, it was supposed to be this past august. Money doesn't come to me easily anymore, like it once did, when I had a good career. I have to live on disability now for non-stop kidney stone issues. The only reason why I was lucky enough to get the Friedman Rig, was because Sweetwater offers a 48 month 0% interest plan on certain brands. I lucked out since Friedman was one of them..Currently, I realized that I've been, unknowingly, exposed to black mold in my apartment, that I've been living in for 3 years now. When I researched it, and the health side effects, I then realized that the active mold is the reason why my body has been feeling the way it has for 3 years now, when I had no clue what was the causing factor. I hate to have to sue anybody, since I can't stand sue happy people, but in this serious and severe scenario, I have no choice but to do it. If the lawsuit goes in my favor, financially, like many people think it will, I'm gonna pay off the Friedman rig immediately, and then buy the Metroplex, and 2x12 Metropoulos Cabinet, with Creambacks, which the Metroplex is supposed to be voiced for. We'll have to see what happens. Have a good night brother, and thanks so much for the helpful Metroplex info. PS. Now that you mentioned it to me, Chris was the lady secretary that I spoke too. Very nice and helpful lady. I had no clue that was George's wife. They're good people. Take care and have a good one.
Very nice but I'd take one of David Bray's amps instead, for equal or better tone at a significantly lower price point.
OldSlowGamer Lol I’ve heard his amps, sorry but WIZARD is in an entirely different league of quality. Bray amps are a cheap attempt of classic Marshall circuits but not even close.
The Modern Classic 2 will eat it alive! This amp Thumps for metal and hasits own sound, not a copy of a Marshall. It has its own transformer design exclusive to WIZARD amps only. I have played a lot of amps in this style of amp and have never heard anything even come close to the tone this thing puts out. One of my biggest regrets is letting this one go. :( if it didn’t cost 7G’s to buy another one I’d have one again already. Cheers
Jason Hobbs The transformer part would only be a subtle difference vs if he used any of the other high end vendor. Its the design that makes it sound this way. Anyone can get the parts except for the exact same transformers. But as I said a Heybor or Merrin would be very very similar.
got like an airbourne sound
Jason, do you recommend the MCII even if I just want a classic rock, 1 channel amp? Would a different Wizard work?
Could get a Suhr Badger for a fraction of the cost
Vintage classic is nice for classic rock early Van Halen’ish tones. I’ve had both.
Cheers. Sorry, I’m just getting this question for some reason...
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist I have a Friedman Dirty Shirley and Small Box 50, I'm good.
Also meant to ask which version of the MC II this is, the 50 or 100 watt?
No problem, it’s the 100w version. 👍
You got a new subscription bro.
Thank you, much appreciated, cheers!
GREAT sounding amp. Wizard kinda does the Friedman thing better than Friedman. I still can't seem to find anything better than the Spawn Quickrod. The Wizard is a stunner though....not doubt about it.
It is a beast for sure. Cheers!
Do you know the tolex style? I bought a head with that same black (side) and brown tolex with western motif. Looking into getting a matching cab!
Jonathan Brisebois-Lamarche yeah it’s called “western tolex”
Call Rick, he’ll build you a matching cab for sure. Cheers
Amazing video. I'm getting ready to finally take the plunge and buy one. How's the master volume on the MCII? Can you play it at lower/practice volumes?
Man this amp is the best I’ve played through. I foolishly let it go to support my addiction to car modifications, lol I’ll be having another in the future. I was concerned too about controlling this beast at lower volumes at home. No worries though, it sounds amazing at lower volumes as well. My buddy heard it who at the time owned a Suhr PT100 with matching cab and instantly wanted it, he also says it’s the best amp he’s played through. It trumped all the amps he had including a BE100 Friedman. I’ve always said, you have to play one in person to “feel” the difference. It’s that punch that gets you, the amp thumps, the attack is very articulate. FX loop is awesome as well. I still to this day say it’s the greatest amp I’ve ever owned.
Rick st Pierre builds these amps one by one all by himself. That says a lot about quality control. I’d put WIZARD amps up against the best in the world. He worked with AC DC for 27 years, yes 27 years! He was their Amp guy, that says a lot. They could have picked anyone they pleased to be their amp guy... Rick was the man... he will not gloat about that at all. He’s very down to earth, sincere and says it like it is. I can tell you one thing, WIZARD amps are built right, not rushed, when the amp leaves Ricks hands, you’ll be receiving a masterpiece that was hand built and tested by the man himself. This is not a huge production amplifier, he cares more about quality over quantity.
Expensive but you get what you pay for. That can be said about everything out there though.
Needs to be heard in a room to be truly appreciated... all the best man. Hope that helps. Cheers
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist That may have been the single most expensive reply I've ever gotten on TH-cam. Thanks man! Sold!
@@JuanCanteli haha 🤘 awesome stuff. Cheers
Im going to maybe grab a modern classic 1.no FX loop but, man they sound good, where you getting reverb from?
Mike Anthony cool! This is recorded in my studio... reverb is always added after..
Killer playing bro! I found 2 wizard 4x12 cabs with the 20 watt speakers, Selling an old empty wizard rock cab.
Shame we can't see your left hand weaving all that magic.... Killer Tones!!!
Lol half way through the video the camera Frame is better. Thanks! Cheers
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist.... Rest assured mate, I watched to the end and seen you come into full view half way through. Awesome demo of a kick ass amp!
@@petericho71 thanks man! Much appreciated! Cheers!
Killer tone! Is this still your favorite rock amp? I'm considering one.
Hard to say, for rock I’d have to say it’s hard to beat the new Suhr Badger 35 MKII , I can just imagine what’s it like with a nice Les Paul. I’m liking my suhr’s more for rock and blues. Hence the reason I’m using Suhr amps nowadays. Very versatile amps. Unbeatable imo. Thanks man, Cheers!
Jason Hobbs I'll look on your site to see if there's a video of one. Loved sleepwalk!!
No matter how awesome the amps you would have great sound from even a crap amp as you are a very talented player. But yea Great amp and Axe .
DogDaze66 I really appreciate your comment, these amps just bring out the best in your playing.. cheers!
Jason, Do you think these are the most Versatile Wizard Amps, to pretty much play any type of music, that a person wants? How much do they cost? What speakers are in your 4x12 speaker cabinet?
Sonny Seabury give rick a call at wizard amps. He can lead you on the right path to meet your needs. The MC2 is quite the beast, beautiful cleans and ripping dirt tones. You need to play one to realize this.
Jason... where are you running your lead bright knob?
SWeetest distortion
👍😁
Hey there, looking to get a modern Classic II but debating between the 50w vs 100w. What is your take on it based on yours?
Θανος Z They are both great, the 100 watt pushes more air obviously, 50 Watts is plenty... but I’m convinced the transformers in the 100watt version is where it’s at for that bottom end thump! Call Rick and talk to him personally, he’s a awesome guy! He will guide you in the right direction. Or message him on his Facebook page. If you’re looking for this tone, his amps can’t be beat bro! Cheers!
sounds great
any boost or is it straight in?
Have you tried any boost (Clean or OD) through your Wizard? Anything that you liked?
Do you know if it has the 'V' or 'C' output transformer?
Daniel Coumans
Hey it's the "V" type transformer
hi there, nice playing. Is this the 100w version or 50w? I hear that these Wizards are uber loud.
Θανος Z 100watt, very controllable though. great Master Volume amp and sounds amazing at lower at home volumes. Just seeing your message now, sorry. :) Cheers.
LOL somehow I accidentally hit ‘dislike’ on this video and it sat there uncorrected for a couple of days. So if you noticed ONE DISLIKE, that was my mistake. This is the best tone I’ve ever heard. 🤷♂️
Lol no worries. I don’t care too much about dislikes. I just do it for fun. I do appreciate your support though. Thanks!! 🤘
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist 🤘🏻
Say - I don’t suppose you ever made a Quad Cortex capture of this setup(?). 🤞
@@rossbrooks950 no I have never, sorry. ✌️
I don't hear ANY "noise." Is this the amp or something about your set up?
Pretty quiet amp, no worries in that department. ✌️ guitar straight into amp here pretty much.
@@JasonHobbsGuitarist WOW!
Was that tolex an extra charge?
Sting Carlsson not that I can remember. You’ll be talking with Rick St. Pierre when building the amp... he will ask you all that stuff. Cheers
It does sound great. Not $4700 great but it does sound great.
Curt Vogue yeah you get what you pay for. You won’t buy this amp for $4700, maybe a Friedman or Suhr but not a wizard. $4700 US maybe. It was $7000 Canadian about 7 years ago. Ask Dave Friedman about the quality of a wizard.. lol he even says it’s outta this world.
Check out Pete Thorne video “ Sunday live #116, and listen at 1:41:22, he confirms this. :) thanks!! Cheers!