ENGL Savage 120 vs ENGL Fireball 100/Invader 150

  • Thread starter Thread starter JakeAC5253
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The Fireball 100....
Its a Metal machine!
I liked the savage alot too.... :thumbsup:
 
I absolutely love the Savage and would own one right now if I didn't opt for the versatility and portability of an Axe-FX rig instead. The Invader sounded great as well, but I found it a little more refined sounding/not quite as aggressive in its voicing. I didn't really care for the Powerball at all...sounded almost solid state to me...very hard and sterile, but tons of gain on tap for those who feel they need it (actually they all have more gain than anyone should ever need).
 
JakeAC5253":pm721r5v said:
Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I've heard things about the ENGL Fireball's tone completely falling apart when you turn it up. Is this something that runs in the ENGL line in general or is it specific to that model? Does the Savage sound like shit when cranked up or does the sheer fact of being based on 6550/KT88's save it in that regard?

I don't know who told you that but it is 100% bs. My fireball is an absolute monster cranked up and sounds a lot better than at lower volumes. Great at lower volumes too but really comes alive loud. Also with a boost pedal the clean channel can do some great blues stuff too.
 
bigangryguitar":17ks9urp said:
JakeAC5253":17ks9urp said:
Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I've heard things about the ENGL Fireball's tone completely falling apart when you turn it up. Is this something that runs in the ENGL line in general or is it specific to that model? Does the Savage sound like shit when cranked up or does the sheer fact of being based on 6550/KT88's save it in that regard?

I don't know who told you that but it is 100% bs. My fireball is an absolute monster cranked up and sounds a lot better than at lower volumes. Great at lower volumes too but really comes alive loud. Also with a boost pedal the clean channel can do some great blues stuff too.

THANK YOU!! hah, I was just thinking about this thread today :lol: :LOL:

I actually had to pass up the offer on the Savage for now (financial reasons), so when I am ready to make the purchase I am fairly heavily considering a Fireball 100. It's just so tough, because I loved the 'grunt' that the savage had, and I'm not sure that the Fireball would have a similar tonality. I know it will be good, I don't doubt that it's a good amp, but I'm not sure if it'll have the same gruntiness that I liked about the Savage. Definitely not into the Powerball tonality, it's got no mids and no flavor.
 
just to fuel the fire lol. but tbh, the recto sounds just as good..

 
JakeAC5253":e83f4ku1 said:
bigangryguitar":e83f4ku1 said:
JakeAC5253":e83f4ku1 said:
Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I've heard things about the ENGL Fireball's tone completely falling apart when you turn it up. Is this something that runs in the ENGL line in general or is it specific to that model? Does the Savage sound like shit when cranked up or does the sheer fact of being based on 6550/KT88's save it in that regard?

I don't know who told you that but it is 100% bs. My fireball is an absolute monster cranked up and sounds a lot better than at lower volumes. Great at lower volumes too but really comes alive loud. Also with a boost pedal the clean channel can do some great blues stuff too.

THANK YOU!! hah, I was just thinking about this thread today :lol: :LOL:

I actually had to pass up the offer on the Savage for now (financial reasons), so when I am ready to make the purchase I am fairly heavily considering a Fireball 100. It's just so tough, because I loved the 'grunt' that the savage had, and I'm not sure that the Fireball would have a similar tonality. I know it will be good, I don't doubt that it's a good amp, but I'm not sure if it'll have the same gruntiness that I liked about the Savage. Definitely not into the Powerball tonality, it's got no mids and no flavor.

The Fireball and Powerball to my ears sound very similar. With the fireball I have the mids closed to dimed and it gets a sound I really like. I have yet to play a Savage or Blackmore but I have a sneaking suspicion I would love either.
 
bigangryguitar":2ge6gulw said:
The Fireball and Powerball to my ears sound very similar. With the fireball I have the mids closed to dimed and it gets a sound I really like. I have yet to play a Savage or Blackmore but I have a sneaking suspicion I would love either.

You, my friend, are a genius, whether you realize it or not. You've just reminded me of the Blackmore, which is supposedly "Savage based". Anyone here own a Blackmore?
 
killertone has some clips of his blackmore alone and with a JVM :rock:
 
Ricky Rockhardo":1go2iefg said:
killertone has some clips of his blackmore alone and with a JVM :rock:

OK, after listening to those, I'm pretty fucking sold on the Blackmore :D I love how it can clean up and do more vintage sounding stuff as well, that's very important to me. What are 5881 tubes?
 
I´ve tried most of the Engls, and I´d choose the Blackmore. It sounds great for a lot of stuff ranging from heavy blues up to modern metal, and is easy to use. Cleans are so-so, even when not compromising with the shared EQ, but if you think of it as a single channel amp with a footswitchable boost you´ll end up happy.
 
When I A/B'd the Savage and Powerball I chose the Powerball. I have since added the SE as well.

I was a long time, and still like, Mesa user. But, I also loved the tones coming out sweetened 5150's. I couldn't get along with their buzz in real life though. The Powerball to me, is the perfect combo the Mesa Depth and Punch in the gut, with the added crispy/crunchy goodness of a Marshall or the 5150. Best of both worlds.

As to the SE, well it is the like the PS3, it only does everything.
 
Fireball 100.... I think they meshed the powerball tones w/ the blackmore really well on that one. It was the missing link in the engl line up as far as I am concerned.
Josh
 
JakeAC5253":2pwx29j1 said:
Ricky Rockhardo":2pwx29j1 said:
killertone has some clips of his blackmore alone and with a JVM :rock:

OK, after listening to those, I'm pretty fucking sold on the Blackmore :D I love how it can clean up and do more vintage sounding stuff as well, that's very important to me. What are 5881 tubes?


KT does bring a massive wall of sound. My next amp purchase will probably be a Blackmore, its really organic sounding.
I'm pretty sure 5881s are 6L6 variants with a lower rated plate voltage.
 
Mailman1971":28q0ej6k said:
glpg80":28q0ej6k said:
........if i had to own only one though - VH4. not joking here.

that is where I am at. The Best amp out there Pound for POUND!!
and NO..........I AM NOT A DIEZEL FANBOI!! :lol: :LOL:

This amp simply rules........ :thumbsup:

I think I've heard you mention your VH4 in every thread I've seen you post in.... haha.

I mention my 5150 II alot too so it's cool. :D :rock:
 
joshsage":2wn95mmm said:
Fireball 100.... I think they meshed the powerball tones w/ the blackmore really well on that one. It was the missing link in the engl line up as far as I am concerned.
Josh

Great now you have me thinking about an amp that wasn't even on my radar! I thought it was just my amp with more power and a better control layout. By the way the shared eq on the fireball doesn't bother me in the least so I think it wouldn't on the blackmore either.
 
Blackmore or Savage. I love my Blackmore! Makes me grin every time I plug in!

For the $$$ I would go with the Blackmore. I compared them quite a bit side by side and the tones are very similar.

:rock:
 
I owned the engl se el34, powerballs v1 and v2, savage 120, steve morse, invader 100 and 150 and the blackmore.

the blackmore is my fav and then i would say the savage 120 or engl se as far as tones go, i wanst a fan of the invaders and i used to like the powerballs but i dont care for that tone anymore.
I love the blackmore and if i can only own one of the amps i mentioned i would take the blackmore, the savage is very similar but has more lows and more compressed, the savage isnt the same exact tone or say a stripped down savage, it has its own thing going on and theres alot of people that love it.
 
Of those 3 Savage 120. :thumbsup:

I never liked the Invader 100 or 150. :no:
 
Ricky Rockhardo":tocsk6oa said:
I'm pretty sure 5881s are 6L6 variants with a lower rated plate voltage.

Do you think it would be wise to swap these with Genalex Gold Lion KT88's in the future? I have heard that those tubes are a godsend to any amp, but I'm total noob to all this. I've also heard that the bias range on ENGL's is limited, so do you think that it would be a problem? Do you think it would be a good mod?
 
JakeAC5253":18go913u said:
Ricky Rockhardo":18go913u said:
I'm pretty sure 5881s are 6L6 variants with a lower rated plate voltage.

Do you think it would be wise to swap these with Genalex Gold Lion KT88's in the future? I have heard that those tubes are a godsend to any amp, but I'm total noob to all this. I've also heard that the bias range on ENGL's is limited, so do you think that it would be a problem? Do you think it would be a good mod?

Bump for education!!
 
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