Which ENGL for me? Blackmore? METAL?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Disappear_85
  • Start date Start date
D

Disappear_85

New member
Hello gentlemen, And ladies (if you are here)

I want an ENGL amp but i can't decide on which one i should get, Fireball 100 or Blacmore, Sadly i cant try the amps, i know you'll recommend the Savage but its a little out of my price range and i much prefer a simple amp 2 channels, clean and full blown metal.

And im getting an ENGL 2x12 cab to go along with it.

i play in the style of ICED EARTH and Metallica, So i would love a Rhythm amp that can get brutal galloping picking, i play in E standard And D#, maybe I'll go with D standard thats the lowest I'll go for certain songs and i use passive pickups.

I've seen and read some reviews on the fireball 100 and i was lead to believe its suited best for down tuning, and some complaint about it being overly compressed and scooped. one plus over the blackmore is has tube monitor system, i don't know if it is actually accurate

Now the Blackmore (based on the savage as some has stated), from the vids I've seen, some got a great tones out of it using the gain around halfway, while others got poor tones and weak overall sound with gain nearly maxed out, i know tones are subjective, but a week tone is not what im after

Now i use the ENGL E530 with Rocktron velocity 300 with no boost pedal and im happy with the results, but im sure a tube amp will get better results, and I'd rather not needing a boost cause i never used one before.

Im not gigging, only home use and playing with backing tracks and maybe recording small clips

Tones im after :

Iced earth - Dystopia ( very punchy guitar tone )
Metallica - Black album ( i know its super polished but that holier than thou riff is so good )
Exodus - Downfall

And i've asked the following before on another thread and some people where kind enough to answer but for more opinions here it is again:

Do tube amps need servicing beside changing tubes? assuming you don't get a factory defective amp to begin with, what kind of other service is needed, I've read some gigged with their amps and everything is good, while other saying their amps need to be serviced, What kind of service are we looking for? and can it be done by me? As there is NO tech in my country.

Thank you, and excuse my English, and im waiting for some feed back to pull the trigger.

P.S
An ENGL retro tube 100w might be an option, but its retro more expensive.
 
If you are liking the E530, the Blackmore should be the appropriate choice as their preamp structures are very similar (the Blackmore works in higher internal voltage though).
 
I'd get a Blackmore and not even think twice about it. I had a Fireball years ago and don't get me wrong, it was a great amp, but I wish I would have got the Blackmore. The dealer I purchased from tried over and over to talk me into the Blackmore but I kept second guessing that it could do metal even though he kept telling me it was a great metal amp.

I have never heard both side by side but based on my own experience with the Fireball, and clips I've heard of the Blackmore, I imagine that between the two the Blackmore would be warmer, more versatile, able to achieve better cleans, etc. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

The Blackmore is based on the Savage technology so I'd go with that.
 
Engls are cool sounding amps. The only thing that turns me off are the tiny transformers and the tiny plastic pcb mounted pots. I've been inside about five of them. Expensive for what they are. I know many have not had issues. My Extreme had an issue where one pot stopped working. One of my Invaders had a lifted solder pad in the bias circuit and the tubes were plating. Not trying to talk you out of one. Just know what you are getting. Mesas are built way better.
 
glip22":3c6iahvd said:
Engls are cool sounding amps. The only thing that turns me off are the tiny transformers and the tiny plastic pcb mounted pots. I've been inside about five of them. Expensive for what they are. I know many have not had issues. My Extreme had an issue where one pot stopped working. One of my Invaders had a lifted solder pad in the bias circuit and the tubes were plating. Not trying to talk you out of one. Just know what you are getting. Mesas are built way better.
Click to expand...


Mesa looks mighty on the inside, but in my case they are way more expensive than an Engl, in my case if anything went horribly wrong with either one of them im screwed, as i mentioned there is none i mean zero tube amp techs in my country, thats why i asked the question about what kind of service (other than tube swap and bias) it will actually need.

Thank you for your response
 
godgrinder":2m9q8g4t said:
If you are liking the E530, the Blackmore should be the appropriate choice as their preamp structures are very similar (the Blackmore works in higher internal voltage though).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response

I'm not sure what internal voltage will affect, i want to stick my guitar cable in and smile while i play it
 
romanianreaper":1t5tvu19 said:
I'd get a Blackmore and not even think twice about it. I had a Fireball years ago and don't get me wrong, it was a great amp, but I wish I would have got the Blackmore. The dealer I purchased from tried over and over to talk me into the Blackmore but I kept second guessing that it could do metal even though he kept telling me it was a great metal amp.

I have never heard both side by side but based on my own experience with the Fireball, and clips I've heard of the Blackmore, I imagine that between the two the Blackmore would be warmer, more versatile, able to achieve better cleans, etc. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

The Blackmore is based on the Savage technology so I'd go with that.
Click to expand...


I really liked the demos of the savage and i really hope some one will confirm that the blackmore has the same gain.

And please tell me if it can get Iced earth Dystopia tone without a boost

Thank you for a much appreciated input
 
Why not consider the Artist Edition? That's the best one to my ears. Or a used invader. I would choose either of those over the fireball and Blackmore.
 
I used to have a Blackmore and loved it...until...I played the Savage. Yes they are close, but the low end and cleans on Savage are on another level completely. I haven't tried the Artist edition. The Savage I own now is from the new series by the way (2015 model).
 
braintheory":1tager2v said:
Why not consider the Artist Edition? That's the best one to my ears. Or a used invader. I would choose either of those over the fireball and Blackmore.
Click to expand...

The Invader has way too many options and knobs for a simpleton like me, I'd much prefer a simple amp.

Now the artist edition looks i identical to the blackmore, plus a few extras a noise gate ( already got the decimator ) switchable FX loop ( can't see where would that come in handy as i plan to implement a looper system )

But what i find interesting about it is the fuse LED on the back, i looked at the manual and it say this is an indicator for Power tubes fuses and it has 4 of them and the amp can oprate even ater a tube shorting out, While the blackmore according to the manual only has 2 fuses 1 for main outlet and the other is internal fuse.

Now is that the same safety system or is the artist edition have more protection for the amp? if a tube short out in a blackmore does it mean there isnt enough fuses to protect is from extra damage?

Thanks for making me more confused lol, but really thanks for the input and i wish to hear you thought on the matter
 
shadowdevourer":20d2rm8o said:
I used to have a Blackmore and loved it...until...I played the Savage. Yes they are close, but the low end and cleans on Savage are on another level completely. I haven't tried the Artist edition. The Savage I own now is from the new series by the way (2015 model).
Click to expand...


Savage 120 is a monster, but its way more expensive and has a lot of options that i don't really think i will need, tone wise i think its a beast, if i go savage I'll have to let the cab go and i might regret it

And used amps are no option for me cause I'll have to find a supplier that ships internationally

Now it's a tie between the blackmore and the artist edition ( only because it has 4 tube fuses and an indicator ) and my simple brain tells me that's a better protection for the amp :doh:

Come on people give me your thoughts
 
Artist Edition all day long...like a Blackmore but with EL34s and more gain. I wouldn't discount the switchable loop either, even with a looper system, it gives you control over one more function.
 
paulyc":1g7acopu said:
Artist Edition all day long...like a Blackmore but with EL34s and more gain. I wouldn't discount the switchable loop either, even with a looper system, it gives you control over one more function.
Click to expand...


So the artist edition also based on the savage and share some tonal quality with iy?

I would be great to get your input on the fuses, or am i concerning myself with more technical stuff that i shouldn't worry about? lol

I know buying an amp online is a big investment and commitment for me, I cant try it, i might even not be able to return it, that's why im asking all these question

Thank you all for the input, and keep em coming
 
Another vote for the Blackmoore or artist edition. Great versatile amps and they are very easy to dial for studio recording.
 
Savage 120 is a beast. Owned an older one and it crushed!! :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
ProgFreak":1hwpcdlb said:
Another vote for the Blackmoore or artist edition. Great versatile amps and they are very easy to dial for studio recording.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the response, I'm reading about the artist edition and some people say it is voiced for rock, while the blackmore is based on savage which is brutal metal.

The key word here is METAL Rhythm, James hetfield & Jon schaffer style
 
I own both a Series 1 Powerball and an SE but have played the Fireball and Blackmore and have to say I like the Blackmore above the Fireball. Both are good though for live and recording.
 
The Artist Edition is based on the Blackmore. Ride the Lightning was a Jose modded Marshall so which era of Metallica are you talking about ? There are TONS of thrash metal masters that used Jose or Fortin or Langer modded Marshalls, the Artist Edition would keep up any of these IMO.
 
paulyc":bglp6wcj said:
The Artist Edition is based on the Blackmore. Ride the Lightning was a Jose modded Marshall so which era of Metallica are you talking about ? There are TONS of thrash metal masters that used Jose or Fortin or Langer modded Marshalls, the Artist Edition would keep up any of these IMO.
Click to expand...

Black album, Justice era, I know its a Mesa tone but i like the playing style, so i want an amp that can deliver

My absolute favorite tone is from iced earth, especially Dystopia album

:rock:

I just pulled the trigger on the Engl 2x12 cab now im waiting on the head :doh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top