Engl Screamer Trade Suggestions?

[lyonk55]

I've had my Screamer for about 2 years now and I'm feeling that, even boosted, it's not quite what I'm after for metal. A gig on Sunday listening to 5150s/6505s didn't help much either. So I'm thinking about trading for something a bit more aggressive. Sound wise, something that can give a good melodic death. Nice rock and clean rounds would be great too, but not so important.

Any suggestions for what would be a good amp to look out for? Budget is one Engl Screamer combo (so £500ish? Hoping for a straight swap though). A combo would probably be best, but if anyone thinks I could get a decent head and cab, let me know.

Or would it be better holding out until later in the year and saving up a bit first?

[dave_mc]

might not get anything better for £500, that'd be my concern.

used, maybe.

[lyonk55]

Sorry, I was meaning used. Should have said that.

[dave_mc]

i dunno, 5150/6505 maybe? EDIT: oh right, cleans

laney vc50? prob not as good for the melodeath, though.

xmusic in ireland has a 6505 212 combo for like £560. I imagine it's new (though at that price it's probably been in the shop for a while).

[lyonk55]

That seems like a pretty good price. I'll have a look and see if I can find one locally to try out first. I know Guitar Guitar in Glasgow stocks the head and cabinate. How close would that be to the combo if I can't get my hands on one to try?

[dave_mc]

i' ve only tried the heads, unfortunately. i've heard the combos are a little different, but :?

[lyonk55]

Ah well, I'll see what I can get my hands on.

[JacksonRR]

Have you tried the Screamer with a larger cabinet? An enormous chunk of what your after is right there. Since a head and cab trade is probably unlikely, maybe start with forking over for a decent cab and work your way into trading for head later?

[lyonk55]

I've not, so that might be worth looking into. Any suggestions.

Side note: After posting this, I did manage to record what sounds like a pretty good metal tone with the Screamer. Tanglewood with Nailbomb/Cold Sweat seems better than Epi SG with Miracle Men and Cort with EMGs. I'll post in Players in a sec.

Still after suggestions, just a bit of self promotion.

[chrisola]

a used ENGL Fireball!

If you just want an awesome metal tone, with no constant fiddling with loads of channels and settings etc then i can't recommend it enough - i  loved my 60w version. It did the melodic death thing very, very well, and was capable of very tight high gain (and ultra high gain!) sounds. It was also good with the gain rolled down for more easier going rock sounds.

Downsides? Shared EQ, 'ok' clean sound (not an issue for me!) and not that flexible outside the realm of metal. Oh, and at the time it was quite hard to find one, but that was when they were new out.

I sold mine to a guy who played in a technical death metal band, the other guitarist used a 5150 and they had a fantastic sound. Randomly, Michael Angelo Batio also used my Fireball setup for a local guitar showcase he did, and it sounded fantastic doing the whole shred thing aswell ;)

I don't gig so the Fireball was overkill in my house, so i eventually settled on an ENGL 'Modern Rock' E530 pre-amp which runs into my PC. This pre-amp also has killer high gain sounds and would be another option for you -- you could probably get a used E530, cab and something like a Peavey 50/50 power amp for around your budget and that would be a good rig for all things metal.

I have also owned a Screamer combo (sold it to someone on here in fact!) and it was more versatile than the Fireball but like you i couldn't get 'that sound' out of it.

As others have said I would also recommend cranking the Screamer through a cab - that way even if you don't like it you still have a cab which can be used for whatever you get next.



And finally...

I swore by my Weber Mass Attenuator - it let me crank the outputs on the amp up, but dial the volume down, so i had all the valves firing hot but without being deafened by the volume - it's how i played at home with the Fireball, and a Marshall JCM800 before that. I got the 50w version with the extra tone controls so i was able to shape the tone to minimise any colouring the Mass may add (which was barely noticable). I spent a couple of months re-searching attenuators and came up with the Mass fitting my needs the best, and it was switchable so much more flexible than the Hot Plate and some of the other ones out there.

[lyonk55]

There is actually someone over on UG selling one of the old style Fireball 60W. I want it...but its about £500 for the head alone. And since I'd have to sell my Screamer to fund it, I'd have to most brutal sounding paper-weight ever.

Although, 21st coming up in June...might try stuff out now, then see what I can get with Screamer + birthday money...