Engl Gigmaster 15

[Sikor]

Also, the ENGL Gigmaster cab looks like a pretty good deal for ~£150 in the UK.. it's a 110 though, if it were 112 I'd definately consider it for my bedroom.

two flights of stairs and a small car don't really accomidate a 412 well. I'd like to have a 112 for practices/home playing.

I didn't test the Gig Master cab, becaue it was not yet available, but I have tested the combo against head + a few cabinets: Laney Cub Cab (awful), Engl 1x12 Standard with V60 (didn't like it), Framus FR112 (the winner for me).
Gig Master combo sounded ok, but I prefered Framus cabinet by a long shot (not boxy, nice bass).

I ma planing to go to the shop again and make another cabinet-test round

 

[Sikor]

Could you do a mini-review for us? Sound, available volume, build quality, how does it compare to the bigger engl products? Made in Germany?

At 15W setting is really loud, definetely not for home use
5W is quieter but still too loud for home IMO.
But 1W is really a lot quiter, but clean headroom is very small.
Head sounds very nice, pretty modern and has healthy amount of gain, but it's not over the top.
Gain can be cranked and it's still usable.
Clean channel is nice, but it's not the main point of the amp.
Gain channel covers from mid-crunch, to heavy gain, but it's not vintage voiced ofc.
And footswitchable mid boost is very nice. Because of more mids it's alos louder,
so it can be used as a solo boost.

I still didn't test the fx loop, but I didn't havey any problems with loops in my Sovereign,
so I'd say they now how to do it properly

Buil quality is on the same level as my Sovereign combo. Nothing to complain.
And Gig Master is ofc Made in Germany.

 

[Audioholic]

Could you do a mini-review for us? Sound, available volume, build quality, how does it compare to the bigger engl products? Made in Germany?

At 15W setting is really loud, definetely not for home use
5W is quieter but still too loud for home IMO.
But 1W is really a lot quiter, but clean headroom is very small.
Head sounds very nice, pretty modern and has healthy amount of gain, but it's not over the top.
Gain can be cranked and it's still usable.
Clean channel is nice, but it's not the main point of the amp.
Gain channel covers from mid-crunch, to heavy gain, but it's not vintage voiced ofc.
And footswitchable mid boost is very nice. Because of more mids it's alos louder,
so it can be used as a solo boost.

I still didn't test the fx loop, but I didn't havey any problems with loops in my Sovereign,
so I'd say they now how to do it properly

Buil quality is on the same level as my Sovereign combo. Nothing to complain.
And Gig Master is ofc Made in Germany.

cool sounds very promising. post any recorded (not direct) clips if you gotem.. By the way, I think I am having this conversation with you here as well as the Gear page If its easier, lets just keep it here, much preferred gathering place

 

[Sikor]

By the way, I think I am having this conversation with you here as well as the Gear page If its easier, lets just keep it here, much preferred gathering place

LOL
We can keep both, no problem, just copy&paste

 

[D-Rock]

I just picked one of these amps up today and it's pretty impressive. Lots of gain but not in that super modern hi-fi Powerball/Fireball way.
This one has more of a glassy crunch sound from the input gain control which you can then combine with the hotter and more aggressive lead gain dial. Really makes for a nice open sounding, dynamic high gain tone.

It only has one preamp tube, but that tube really affects the voicing of the EQ and preamp when you swap it out.
It had the stock Engl labeled tube in there so I replaced it with a handful of different ones and settled on a Mullard. Which is just excellent in this amp compared to the other tubes I tried. Huge noticeable differences between tubes. I was blown away.