Engl Musings

[Dakine]

Well,
was decided (blind decision but done that with all my guitars anyway :)) on an Engl Screamer combo upon my imminent return to UK.
Not so much now though :)

Anyone with input on the Powerball head or Blackmore?
Also, thinking Invader (but as this is not out yet guess will have to wait on input for that one).

Basically I do NOT play "death/thrash" metal, I am a rocker, T-Rex-AC/DC-Priest-Metallica (early stuff). I mention this as some of the Engl's seem geared to real high gain thrash/death stuff.
Truly I guess I am looking for the "mule" of the Engl world :)

Idea's/opinions greatly appreciated, especially on the Blackmore as it looks very K.I.S.S. which I usually think is a good thing :)

Also, cab ideas :)

TY

[dave_mc]

haven't tried the blackmore. it's supposed to be a stripped down version of a savage, so would be worth a look.

You don't want the powerball. :D

screamer, maybe.

Invader- as you say, i haven't tried it.

the classic tube might be worth a look too.

if you truly decide on going with engl, check out this forum- they know a lot more than me! http://forum.lordriffenstein.com

EDIT: ah, i see you've just registered there. Touche!

And the savage, or se would be worth a look, if you can justify it.

oh, and the new sovereign is meant to be nice, it's meant to sound a bit like  asavage se.

[maliciousteve]

The ENGL classic may be more your taste

[Dakine]

LOL Dave,
see gave you some props there too? :)

Yeah, was thinking some of the Engls will be just TOO brutal for me most of the time.
I want to be able to get BLS/Anthrax brutal but not all the time.
After alot of thinking I decided a "best do it all" is needed and needs some thought.
I hear great things about the Blackmore. Also, if on time, the Invader should be out shortly after my return. Blackmore is very reasonably priced too. Good clips on rock solid amps of a Blackmore doing CFH Pantera so def. can hang.
Hmmmm, but that Invader looks interesting (but may be overkill for me tbh) but "Ooh Blue lights" LOL

[dave_mc]

^only problem is, it might be TOO vintage for what he's after, lol.

I'm gonna stop pussyfooting round it and say savage (assuming it sounds similar to my savage se) or blackmore (assuming it's a stripped down savage). Or screamer/sovereign if he wants a combo and depending on budget.

but it's best to try, lol. needless to say, savages are pretty rare in shops over here.

EDIT: yeah, thanks for the props, nick!

the powerball, i'd be almost certain, would be too heavy for you. I play mostly 80's hair metal type stuff (heavier stuff than you in other words), and I'm glad I went for the savage se over it.

I mean, seriously, both channels 3 and 4 are balls-to-the-wall death metal, even with the gain around 3! Great for silly drin syndrome, but when you actually take a step back and realise that you only play killswitch engage 2% of the time (yes, i know they aren't death metal, but it's  a similar guitar tone), having two channels capable of playing it is overkill...

[sambo]

nick... you have the opportunity to get an amp with blue lights, but your not sure....?!?!?!?!  im disgusted...

[Dakine]

Will try and find one, BUT am NOT against "blind purchase" :)
They are german and too well reviewed to suck :)

I am thinking Savage or Blackmore (think Blackmore has less variables and different tubes, but is alot cheaper).

Dave, what the heck is a main diff. in a blah amp and the SE version? Easy answer?

Gotta check that Invader though, may indeed be the Engl "mule"

[Dakine]

Sam, not yet, not unless I break into Engl HQ and steal a proto :)

[dave_mc]

^check my edit to my earlier post :D

but anyway, the difference between the savage and savage se is that the savage se has reverb, a couple more knobs, and a pentode/triode switch (basically, half power, but it affects the tone too).

Also, the savage se uses 6L6's while the savage uses 6550 (i think- maybe kt88's, i can never remember which!).

Anyway, basically the tone is a bit different, and you have a few more bells and whistles with the se.

I think yoeri (founder of that engl forum) prefers his savage to his savage se... (and he doesn't play metal)

EDIT: i don't know if I'd buy an engl blind- I had tried the powerball, screamer and SE before i bought my savage se blind, so I kind of knew what to expect. I wouldn't buy an engl blind without trying any of them, though, since some people just plain don't like the voicing...

[Dakine]

but yours is an SE right?

Did you a/b them?

What did you A/B when looking Dave?

[dave_mc]

ok, there are 3 different models here:

savage

savage se

se

I had tried the se, lol. (and i own the savage se now)

I also haven't really A/B'ed them- i tried all the ones I've tried in different shops, unfortunately. But the powerball (or se) has a lot more gain.

EDIT: oooh, when i tried the SE, i did it head to head with a diezel vh4, vht UL and crate blue voodoo. I preferred the se, but the diezel and vht were close- the engl se was just a lot more versatile.

[Dakine]

Well,
taking into account clips on rocksolid I would say Savage 120, Blackmore or SE (yeah right, dream dream LOL) and Invader who knows.

I think most pleasing to my ears through my JBL pc speakers are the Blackmore clips (which is cheapest and NOT a bad thing :)).

You try any of the Engl cabs Dave?

[dave_mc]

^yeah, i tried the engl pro cab- sounds kind of metal. Very very clear sounding, shedloads of bottom end too. awesome, but possibly a bit metal for you. then again, lordriffenstein uses them, and he's no metaller...

EDIT: the problem with the rocksolid clips is it depends the way they've EQ'ed them- i know most of them aren't the way I'd EQ the amp, lol...

[Dakine]

yeah but only clips can find lol.
Just using em as a "yardstick".
It seems impressive the variety of tone/sound outta all the amps.
As the Blackmore is a stripped down/cheaper Savage it may be the ticket.
Will have to see funds at the time and what the Invader is like.


Also, the Savage rough/smooth button?

And, on Engl site (yeah know am confused now) their is no Savage SE. Is it discontinued or do you mean THE SE there? "scratch head"

[dave_mc]

haha, yeah, the savage se is discontinued. I own the discontinued savage se, and bought it without trying. I've also tried the 6L6 version of the SE, that's still on the Engl site.

if the blackmore is stripped down in all the places that weren't necessary for the tones you want, then I'd say it's the way to go. Of course, I haven't tried it, so I don't know, lol.

There is a lot of variety out of the engls (bar the classic tube), even the powerball- but there's not much point in getting one of those when it is a metal amp, albeit a versatile one.