ENGL Savage 120...thoughts???

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rupe

rupe

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I had the opportunity to play one for about 20 minutes this past weekend. It wasn't enough time to really figure the thing out, but it belongs to a friend who was able to help me get at "the good stuff" pretty quickly. All I can say is that I was blown away by the tones I was getting...and I wasn't overly optimistic since I hated the Powerball when I played one (almost solid state sounding).

Cleans were stout but not particularly "pretty"...easily good enough for the clean work that I do with my metal band though. I have other amps that do the "sweet" clean thing, so this more muscular take on clean is actually kind of cool.

The crunch channels were great...everything from classic AC/DC to VH to 80's pushed Marshall sounds (Unchained and Lay it Down sounded brutal).

The lead channel was very "in your face" yet still flexable with the different voicings. It worked for me, although I would love to hear it in a live mix.

The overall tonality of this amp is just...different. It definitely lies in the Marshall camp but is much more aggressive without being harsh. It's not as warm as some other amps, but it still has a largeness to it that you really only get with tubes (or perhaps an Axe-Fx???). It really has its own thing going on IMO.

My question...anyone here have any experience with this amp? My buddy doesn't actively gig so I really can't get any feedback about its performance. I have heard whispers that ENGL amps are poorly built and not road worthy (cheap components, board mounted tube sockets, plastic shafted pots, etc), but it seems like a lot of great players are using them. Any thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
The Savage 120 is a very cool amp...but I actually prefer the Powerball myself. Try to get your hands on an EL34 SE. You'll be blown away with the number of great tones that lie within that amp...
 
cant say much for the savage but i can say that the design of ENGL's is top notch.

one example is how the fireball inserts or extracts an entire gain stage and changes the grid design of the amplifier all at the same time in changing from clean to lead.

another example is the design of the powerball using light sensitive resistors and diodes to change channels quietly and effeciently.

they are just like you said, "different" amplifiers. as far as construction goes, i can highly believe such a thing to keep the cost down, considering the design aspect is excellent, but more importantly other than cost is that it could be a real bitch to fix if something happened on the road. they dont take kindly to techs calling and asking for schematics from what i have heard.

in my honest opinion, great amplifier. i wouldnt worry about the PCB layout as long as you had a roadcase for it. as for the tone, ENGL's always sound better cranked. its in their design specs from the type of gain they have. they just arent made for bedroom levels all the time.
 
I owned the Engl Invader and loved it. Covered pretty much anything you wanted to play and did it VERY VERY GOOD.
Sounded great. Sold it when I was flipping amps to get "the next better thing"
If I ever bought another amp in the near future it would be a Engl SE or Savage or Invader.
They sound great!
I loved the Savage when I tried it out. The Cleans on the Engls are some of the best out there.
Yes very Marshall sounding with their own "flair". :rock:
 
Still have mine, still love it. Works great in a band context
Had considered getting rid of it,, since it is WAY overkill for my condo and am not playing out. But..... it is still there

Clean are not Fender clean, but pretty damn good.... love the crunch and lead channels as well..
Marshally feel, but more of a SLO/5150 sound to my ears
 
I love the Engl Savage! WAY better than a Powerball to my ears, but to be honest those two amps shouldn't get compared as much as they do. Completely different. The Powerball has a different mid-range tone that either you like or you don't. I personally didn't like it as much.

I have a Engl Blackmore, which is basically a stripped down version of the Savage. I've compared them side by side for many hours. Very similar tones, but the Blackmore is simpler to use. Too many knobs confuse me!! :D You can dial in a kick ass tone on either in a matter of minutes. The Savage does offer a bit more versatility, but not enough for me to justify buying one.

My Blackmore makes me grin every time I plug in! Isn't that what it's all about??

:)
 
I used to have both the Powerball and the Savage 120. The Savage is hands down a better amp.

The cleans are pretty acurately summed up here - not fender but still good. The Crunch channel is very good for blues and hard rock rythyms, but it really excels if you smack it with an od pedal.

I never used Channel 3, but channel 4 is awesome - one of the sickest, most brutal metal tones you'll hear. Big 3D quality about it, and very throaty.

Loads of options (which you probably wont use) and easier than you think to get good tones - doesnt take that much tweaking.

Only criticism is, its very unique sounding and not especially what you might consider if looking for warmer, more organic sounds. The 6550s can be a *wee* bit stiff. Overall, a great amp, I miss mine.
 
glad i'm not alone to like it. it's MAYBE a tad too compressed to my taste, but otherwise the gain structure is cool and I like the voicing
 
to be honest the savage and the fireball are my favorites. if i could own Engl's and afford them i would have them in a heartbeat, but i have accepted what my wallet will allow and modified to make up for the difference :doh: ;)

Hammerfall uses the invader 60's, and the amazing Martin Grimm from Mystic Prophecy ( :rock: ) uses the Savage 120.
 
Thanks for all the feedback...sounds like I'm not the only one who digs the Savage's unique voicing. I think I've narrowed my search down to the Savage and the Mako Custom Hundred. I'm also going to do a side-by-side with the Savage and the Invader in a couple of weeks.
 
Funny. I played botht eh Savage 120 and Powerball back to back years ago. I eneded up buying a Powerball. Don't hate the Savage 120 but it just doesn't do much for me. Sometimes I miss the Powerball.
 
Had one for well over 7 years and gigged it a lot, never had an issue with it except the odd tube failure. I still kinda miss that amp because it sounded tres cool. I thought the cleans were pretty darn good, working with the different presence controls, I also really liked the rough/smooth switch for ch3 and ch4, made it sound like an entirely different amp.
 
rupe said:
I had the opportunity to play one for about 20 minutes this past weekend. It wasn't enough time to really figure the thing out, but it belongs to a friend who was able to help me get at "the good stuff" pretty quickly. All I can say is that I was blown away by the tones I was getting...and I wasn't overly optimistic since I hated the Powerball when I played one (almost solid state sounding).

Cleans were stout but not particularly "pretty"...easily good enough for the clean work that I do with my metal band though. I have other amps that do the "sweet" clean thing, so this more muscular take on clean is actually kind of cool.

The crunch channels were great...everything from classic AC/DC to VH to 80's pushed Marshall sounds (Unchained and Lay it Down sounded brutal).

The lead channel was very "in your face" yet still flexable with the different voicings. It worked for me, although I would love to hear it in a live mix.

The overall tonality of this amp is just...different. It definitely lies in the Marshall camp but is much more aggressive without being harsh. It's not as warm as some other amps, but it still has a largeness to it that you really only get with tubes (or perhaps an Axe-Fx???). It really has its own thing going on IMO.

My question...anyone here have any experience with this amp? My buddy doesn't actively gig so I really can't get any feedback about its performance. I have heard whispers that ENGL amps are poorly built and not road worthy (cheap components, board mounted tube sockets, plastic shafted pots, etc), but it seems like a lot of great players are using them. Any thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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There is only 1 video you need to watch. Best amp you could ever hope to own. Check out the best review I've seen on it. It was the one that convinced me, and I'm glad it did.
 
Addendum. Just do yourself a favor and never run it through a Marshall cabinet, especially the 1960a with G12 T-75s in it Use a mesa or Engl cab. Marshall cabs kinda suck. Hell, I'd prefer a Harley Benton vintage cab to a Marshall 1960a.
 
DarkOne said:
Addendum. Just do yourself a favor and never run it through a Marshall cabinet, especially the 1960a with G12 T-75s in it Use a mesa or Engl cab. Marshall cabs kinda suck. Hell, I'd prefer a Harley Benton vintage cab to a Marshall 1960a.
Click to expand...
I prefer my old Marshall cabs from 1986 with G12T-75's in it over my Bogner Uberkab (G12T-75 and V30's in X-pattern). And I own an ENGL.
Edit : I read that Engl cabs are loaded with V30's. Not particularly fond of cabs fully loaded with them.
I must say that I also own a 2011 Marshall cabinet with G12T-75's and that sounds totally different.
 
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turboblues said:
I prefer my old Marshall cabs from 1986 with G12T-75's in it over my Bogner Uberkab (G12T-75 and V30's in X-pattern). And I own an ENGL.
Edit : I read that Engl cabs are loaded with V30's. Not particularly fond of cabs fully loaded with them.
I must say that I also own a 2011 Marshall cabinet with G12T-75's and that sounds totally different.
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That's why they make vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. Different tastes. I happen to think the T-75 is quite possibly the worst speaker ever used in an expensive cab. It has no midrange, and obnoxiously harsh highs. But you do you man.
 
DarkOne said:
That's why they make vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. Different tastes. I happen to think the T-75 is quite possibly the worst speaker ever used in an expensive cab. It has no midrange, and obnoxiously harsh highs. But you do you man.
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If it's different flavors like Ice Cream then Marshall cabs don't suck, it's just a different flavor. Same as the GT-75. As was said above I own Bogner cabs and my favorite cab is my early 90's Marshall. I've had various speakers in it from the original 75's to GB's to what's in there now a mix of 30's and 70th Annis and that cab always sounds great.

As I always say, I've owned alot of stuff and it either works for me or it doesn't. That doesn't always mean it sucks if it don't.
 
DarkOne said:
That's why they make vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. Different tastes. I happen to think the T-75 is quite possibly the worst speaker ever used in an expensive cab. It has no midrange, and obnoxiously harsh highs. But you do you man.
Click to expand...

If you list us your top 10 bands, I am sure we will find at least 3 that they have used excessively G12T75...if it doesn't work for you that's fine..."worst speaker ever" is kids argument...
 
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