Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

[Metalblaze]

I'm thinking about a head for heavy metal and up to thrash.

I don't care about the watts. 50 are enough but I won't say no to 100 for example. I care mostly about the sound characteristics of the amp.

So:
There is the Fireball 60 which is quite simple and less expensive, also 2 channels - 950 euros or so. I could spend a bit more for some more adjustments (it's way too simple).

The Powerball II - very powerfull, tight etc but a bit too overkill with all those 4 channels. Great tone shaping though. - 1600 euros (seriously thinking about it...)

The Pitbull 50 CL - two channels, extra EQ etc but I'd prefer it with KT88 tubes instead of the EL34s (can I order it like that?). - around 1650 euros

The Deliverance 60H - KT88s and interesting tone shaping but only 1 channel - 1400 euros

The SigX - 3 channels, KT88s but a bit pricey. - 1850 - 1900 euros

The Ultralead is off my reach.

Actually I don't need versatility, two channels are enough for me (even one if I could find a easy way of switching to cleans just in case). The tone I'm after is a tight metal sound with strong low-end and good definition.

I'd take the Deliverance but it has only 1 channel....if only I could get around that somehow....:scratchch Maybe that one channel is enough for me once the 80% of my playing is in high gain. Maybe just turning the gain down when I need it it'd be ok? They say at their site "clean and overdriven voicing’s can easily be dialed up using the unique GAIN I / GAIN II structure".....Anyone knows how this works?

Any ideas?

If you have any other suggestions apart from Engl and Fryette for a tight, defined tone with strong low end are welcome. Definition is the most important of the three.

Maybe Soldano, Egnater, Krank or anything....I just know nothing about those brands....Thanks! :headbang:

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Well finally the Deliverance seems like a cool option. 1 channel that if set up properly all controls can be done from the guitar. From clean to distrtion. Plus the switching between the two sounds is gonna be way smoother. I like the idea.

Anyone with experience on this amp?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Actually I don't need versatility, two channels are enough for me (even one if I could find a easy way of switching to cleans just in case). The tone I'm after is a tight metal sound with strong low-end and good definition.

100w.

I haven't played any of the amps mentioned, so I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Oh man, Splawn's Nitro sounds f-----g amazing! It comes either with KT88s or EL34s.

I think I like those two the most. Deliverance and Nitro. Both should cost me the same if you think the 120w version of the Deliverance. Ugh....

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

You have to play a Fryette before you buy it. They are INCREDIBLE amps, but I could see people not liking them. They're extremely tight, and you absolutely will hear every single missed note. They are incredibly dynamic, and a roll of the volume knob has a massive effect. I love them, but they are not for everyone.

I played the CL and the Sig:X, and I absolutely loved the Sig:X. I wish I had played a Deliverance just to know the sound and feel.

 

[ricc]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

have you considered a Blackstar series 1 200? i picked one up and it is the most versatile and fantastic amp i've owned.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

I would go with the pitbull hands down, best amp I've ever played. I've plugged in to some pretty nice mesas and soldanos but the pittbull just kills them all.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

I have actually played all those amps you listed. I have a Powerball II. It's a phenomenal amp. It's not the kind of amp you can set all the controls on 12:00 and cut loose. It takes a little tweaking. All of the controls are very responsive so just a little tweak is all you need to make a big difference. Engls are very true to your sound. If your guitar is setup badly then you're going to hear it in an Engl.

The Powerball II has an advantage over it's predecessor in that it's much better at mid gain tones. The cleans are definitely very good for a high gain amp. You might think 4 channels are overkill but it's not. Being able to switch between clean, mid gain and high gain is great to have.

Plus Engls are built incredibly well. Where I think the Powerball II passes the Fryettes is that it reacts so well to tweaks. If there is too much of something you can dial it out. If there's not enough of something, you can get it. Although it's not as feature rich as the Sig X, it competes remarkably well.

I like the Deliverance 60 but I don't like an amp that leaves you wanting more. It has a great sound, even better than the 50CL, but it just doesn't have the basic features you expect in todays amps. That's the reason why people tend to keep them for a while and then sell them. You can get more versatility from a Marshall JCM800 reissue for about the same price.

The Sig X is awesome. I really would like to have one, but it can't do low volumes as well as the Powerball II in my opinion. I would say it has a more generic tone. It takes some tweaking to get a good sound but you'll always find yourself tweaking more even after you think you've gotten the tone. A Powerball II in comparison takes some tweaking but once you've gotten your sound you can write it down. It might just be me but I could never find exactly where I wanted the Sig X set unless I had that thing cranked to a sweet spot.

The Fireball 100 rocks. I would choose it over the Deliverance 60 because it is more versatile even though it's basically clean and distortion. It's basically a distortion amp but the clean is there if you need it. They can be had for a very fair price.

The Pitbull 50cl is a great overall amp but you're not going to have much headroom. To me it sounds a little sterile. I think the 100CL sounds better.

I dont think you can go wrong with any choice but the Powerball II is such a killer amp. It blows me away every time I play it.

 

[BeeGee]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

The Deliverance is pretty sick man. I roll the volume down on my neck pickup and get all of my cleans that way. It's an extremely responsive amp, even at full crunch if you just back off your picking hand a little bit it cleans up real nice. Has tons of low end too. As stated earlier, it is very tight and dry. There isn't a ton of saturation and it won't cover up any mistakes you may make. I love mine though, I can get my cleans, old school marshall crunch, and high gain insanity all with the roll of my guitars volume knob.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Yeah I've played the Fireball and I know first hand about what Engls can do. The Powerball II is really an interesting one.

On the other hand the not so saturated tone of the Fryettes was something I always liked. I like tight, clear amps because I like to play tight, defined riffs etc. I noticed they also have a distinctive deep sound and then I read about it somewhere too. You know those deep low-mids etc, which are my favourite.

The same kind of tone but a bit more edgy and less dry has the Splawn Nitro, which I think it can really blow me away if I listen to it in person too.

So as far as tone goes I'm closer to the Deliverance being very defined apart from the rest. I'm thinking about the Splawn too. They just seem to give so easily that deep tone I'm looking for. The exact sound I wanna built my guitar around...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

For me, Fryette's hi-gain tone is the best in the business.

We have an old VHT Deliverence at my shop and it's the only amp i plug into for heavy heavy.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Yeah Fryettes have a high quality heavy sound. Almost a studio post-production CD-like sound. I was sure about which one I want but I listened to the Nitro and now I'm split in half..........:rant:

 

[BeeGee]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Yeah Fryettes have a high quality heavy sound. Almost a studio post-production CD-like sound. I was sure about which one I want but I listened to the Nitro and now I'm split in half..........:rant:

When i first heard clips of the Nitro i almost regretted picking up my Deliverance, But theres just something about Fryette's sound that i can't get enough of.

I constantly GAS for different amps, but as soon as i plug into my Deliverance it goes away. I never thought a single channel amp could cover so much ground.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

the tone you're describing is exactly a JCM800 2203 with a Boss SD-1 or a Tubescreamer.

In my expereience, modern high-gain amps like the Fireball and Powerball are so saturated at all volumes that they have less real push.

If you get a mid-gain amp like the 800 up to gig volume, they are pure anger and scream.

I played an Engl SE side-by-side with my old Marshall 2203. When cranked, the Marshall was far more aggressive despite it having less distortion.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Sorry for the delay.....

Well, yeah the Nitro has a COOL sound but the Deliverance does so too. I'm still undecided but I'm not in rush about the amp right now. I guess I have time to decide.

A pushed Marshall eh? I've heard about that too. I've played a JCM800 full stack many times but never over-pushed it....and that rehearshal studio is now closed for good....

I also read somewhere that Splawns have a bit of that pushed Marshall overdrive....hmmm

 

[crguti]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

+1 to Engl Powerball II


... yes, I'm an Engl whore.

 

[cakire82]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

Since you are in europe I would go for the ENGL. Freyettes are amazing amps but looks like they are a little overpriced in europe.

If you go for the Powerball II or Fireball100 I don't think you will regret it.

 

[ken361]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

+ fireball 100:wave:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Amp head first ideas (focusing on Engl and Fryette)

The only thing I can suggest is pooling the money, and getting ready to pull the trigger....

Then, spend every day on Craigslist searching these, and grab the best one you find for half the new price.

ENGL
Soldano
Bogner
Mesa
Marshall
VHT
Fryette
Diezel
Jet City
Peavey
Hughes & Kettner
Cornford
Rivera
Randall