Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Infliktor on February 11, 2009, 07:05:35 PM
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Im still really set on an ENGL Powerball and 4 x 12 cabinet. I think the head is like 2 grand and the cab is another grand
I am almost there money wise.
But I still have a voice telling me I shouldnt spend this much money.
Id like to see some lists of other Amp heads I should consider and go try out that would be less expensive but get me similar Gain tones to the Powerball. Maybe thats not possible
The Powerball is 2 channell with 4 voices. Specifically I like Channel 2 and the low gain voice. Plenty of Gain for almost anyone there.
Help me out guys if you would be so kind
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I'd be mindful of the Powerball as its 2 channels have shared EQ's so you don't really get 4 voices. Additionally I found with the ENGL 4x12 that it had a hard time cutting through the mix due to the huge bass response and lack of midrange. This is just my experiance mind you, although I have heard similar tales from owners.
Head-wise it'll all be down to budget. I believe Lew is asking a similar question here: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15968.0 (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15968.0) so have a nose chap.
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Do not rule out used amps and cabs. There are plenty of good ones around! :D
I've never owned a new amp, and only one cab (a 2x12 many years ago).
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I'd be mindful of the Powerball as its 2 channels have shared EQ's so you don't really get 4 voices. Additionally I found with the ENGL 4x12 that it had a hard time cutting through the mix due to the huge bass response and lack of midrange. This is just my experiance mind you, although I have heard similar tales from owners.
Head-wise it'll all be down to budget. I believe Lew is asking a similar question here: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15968.0 (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15968.0) so have a nose chap.
I agree completely on the Powerball. That said, I know of several people who get great results with them..
How about a used Framus Cobra or Dragon? They go for pretty darn cheap half the time, and are great amps.
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I think you'll be able to get a much better cab for a grand mate. MAybe something like a Bogner 4x2 loaded with V30's, set you back around £800
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Whatever you do, try to buy used/second hand.
Orange 4x12's are great with v30's by the way.
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How about a used Framus Cobra or Dragon? They go for pretty darn cheap half the time, and are great amps.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Framus-Cobra-Topteil-100W-Vollroehre-Mesa-Killer_W0QQitemZ110350097163QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAmps?hash=item110350097163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Framus-Cobra-Topteil-100W-Vollroehre-Mesa-Killer_W0QQitemZ110350097163QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAmps?hash=item110350097163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
Whammy! This could be a sweet bargain.....In fact forget I mentioned it.. :D
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Framus-Cobra-Topteil-100W-Vollroehre-Mesa-Killer_W0QQitemZ110350097163QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAmps?hash=item110350097163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Framus-Cobra-Topteil-100W-Vollroehre-Mesa-Killer_W0QQitemZ110350097163QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAmps?hash=item110350097163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
Whammy! This could be a sweet bargain.....In fact forget I mentioned it.. :D
Bingo!
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Whatever you do, try to buy used/second hand.
Orange 4x12's are great with v30's by the way.
Yep, this too!
I have a matamp 4x12, which are identical in size etc to Orange (they used to make quite a bit of the Orange stuff back in the day), but these are hand made by Matamp in Huddesfield, you have a choice of colour, grill cover etc etc etc, and all for around the same price as a Orange 4x12. Around £600. I use 2xV30's, and 2xHot 100's in a X-pattern. It's very nice and meaty for high gain!
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are you in the USA?
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Yes sir, in New Orleans
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Ahhhh...
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that's what i figured, a powerball shouldn't be £2k in the UK. that means you have a lot of different options available at different prices from the prices we pay here in the UK- stuff like soldano, VHT, bogner, splawn, even mesa etc. are a lot better value in the US than they are here, and might be a better idea than Engl (which is comparatively expensive your side of the pond). if you like the engl more, then by all means go for it, though. :)
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I can honestly say I've tried LOADS of Amps in my local area, and none of them quite had... "it", if you know what I mean... A lot of them were good, real good, but none of them had that spark.
And then I travelled a little way further out of my area and found an Engl dealer, tried the Powerball, and almost creamed myself. It has exactly the sound I am after in an amp. I'm pretty picky, so when I say the Powerball is awesome, it really means it's something special. If I had all the money in the world given to me with one restriction: only one amp. It would be the Powerball for sure.
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The powerball is an awesome amp, go for it!
I would try to save some money on the cab, you should be able to get a good Mesa or Avatar for less than a grand.
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If you're in america, you can get a custom made Stoneage Cab for $1000, very nice!
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I can honestly say I've tried LOADS of Amps in my local area, and none of them quite had... "it", if you know what I mean... A lot of them were good, real good, but none of them had that spark.
And then I travelled a little way further out of my area and found an Engl dealer, tried the Powerball, and almost creamed myself. It has exactly the sound I am after in an amp. I'm pretty picky, so when I say the Powerball is awesome, it really means it's something special. If I had all the money in the world given to me with one restriction: only one amp. It would be the Powerball for sure.
then you should probably go with the powerball, then.
however, one caveat: what amps have you tried (including other engls)?
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I can honestly say I've tried LOADS of Amps in my local area, and none of them quite had... "it", if you know what I mean... A lot of them were good, real good, but none of them had that spark.
And then I travelled a little way further out of my area and found an Engl dealer, tried the Powerball, and almost creamed myself. It has exactly the sound I am after in an amp. I'm pretty picky, so when I say the Powerball is awesome, it really means it's something special. If I had all the money in the world given to me with one restriction: only one amp. It would be the Powerball for sure.
then you should probably go with the powerball, then.
however, one caveat: what amps have you tried (including other engls)?
Have tried lots of Mesas, Marshalls, all the Diezels, a few Bogners, the Line 6 Valve head, Soldano's, Randall (The V2 is a close runner-up to the Powerball). Quite a few others I can't remember, but what I really want to do is try a couple of Framus amps and some more Engls. We don't have any Framus dealers nearby, and my neares Engl dealer is 30 or so miles away. I am going there today to check out some more Engl stuff. I have also tried a 2nd hand Thunder 50 half-stack and was suitably impressed, the price it was going for was really good too, I would have nabbed it if I'd had the money. Was going to use that until I could afford a Powerball later on as the PB seems to be more of a Pipe dream at the mo with all my debts that I have to clear.
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haven't tried any framuses either, unfortunately.
definitely try as many of the other engls as you can, too- if you really like the powerball there's a good chance you'll like the other engls too, and you may find one which you prefer to the powerball.
from the sounds of things you've tried a load of nice amps, so you're probably reasonably safe by now to stick to engl. though obviously if other things come along you might as well try them too. :)
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No one is buying any of my used equipment so I think I am going to settle on the Fireball.
Now which Cab to buy for it is another question