Anyone know ENGL?

[Osensei]

First let me specify the tone I'm seeking.

Ever since my first Santana conert back in 1974, I've been a lover of the vintage Fender sound as opposed to the Brit Marshall sound! My guess is that the tone I'm talking about was from a dimed out non-master volume fender. Probably a bassman or something. I dunno if this time period was before Carlos jumped on the Mesa Boogie bandwagon. It could be that this was the same time when Boogies were nothing more than hot rodded Fenders. Unless I'm mistaken, Marshalls started out as hot rodded Fenders as well.

Anyway, It seems that some of the ENGL amps might have the tonal qualities that I've described above. I tell you that I've really been impressed by the Boogie Lonestar but I have no way to compare the two amps since the closest ENGL distributer is several states away from my location. What's your impression of ENGL in terms of quality, durability, price and more importantly tonal quality vs an amp like the Lonestar.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Hm...Engls in general are rather modern sounding amps but with most of them being at least two channels(the majority is 4) you usually can get quite good oldschool tones out of it. I've tried every Engl except for the classic series and the invaders.
From my experience the Sovereign and the Screamer will bring you closest to what you want. Both have very fender-ish clean and crunch sounds(first two channels on both). My Sovereign has the closest cleans to a fender that i've ever found on a high gain amp. The screamer is close but not at the same level as the sovereign.
Problem is that the Sovereign is also one of Engls most expensive amps and that it's only available as a combo. Also it's 100W and until you get this thing into natural powertube OD you'd have it would be insanely loud. Better use the crunch channel for OD sounds. Screamer is 50W so you have less headroom and it distorts earlier.
There's a clip of the Sovereignon rocksolid amps(scroll down in the list).
clip page

Want to specify what specific tonality you're after and what kind of budget and intended wattage you have? Where are you located?

 

[Osensei]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

That Black Magic Woman sound! Santana, Jeff Beck, Russ Freeman, Scott Henderson, Holdsworth, Frank Gambale. In that tonal range. If I'm thinking Boogie then I'm willing to get relatively expensive where relatively is defined as a couple of thousand bucks. I live in Houston, Texas.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

For a lot of the tones you mentioned I'd look at Fuchs or other amps in the "D" vein before I'd consider ENGL, but others may disagree.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

When you are in for those tones an Engl will certainly do them and sound great but i think there are better options. Also because buying an Engl and then not going for it's high gain part is kind of a waste since that's the tone that makes the unique.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Engl can def. do it.But it would be such a waste!Engls greatest strengths are the low and ,the gain structure and the Technical advantages.I am certain that Ritchie Blackmore sig amp can bring you there!But i am not shure how much it costs there!We have it here for 1900 $$

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

ENGLs are versatile amps no doubt, but unless you look at the classic series (which I've never played) you might be looking at something a bit "modern" sounding for what you've specified.

Having said that though, they have lots of gain which means you can use the amps gain and not worry about having to crank the pi$$ out of an amp (and it's tasty gain too), then use a vintage guitar with vintage pickups and some good tasty delay into some cool speakers to get you into that vintage territory nicely...I think for doing that an ENGL would be good. Probably look at the Screamer or the Thunder...but like I said the Classic series might be just the ticket but I've never tried them.

Plus the bonus is that if you ever want to play any other kind of music like something heavier, the ENGL will do it at the drop of a hat!

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

ENGLs are versatile amps no doubt, but unless you look at the classic series (which I've never played) you might be looking at something a bit "modern" sounding for what you've specified.

Having said that though, they have lots of gain which means you can use the amps gain and not worry about having to crank the pi$$ out of an amp (and it's tasty gain too), then use a vintage guitar with vintage pickups and some good tasty delay into some cool speakers to get you into that vintage territory nicely...I think for doing that an ENGL would be good. Probably look at the Screamer or the Thunder...but like I said the Classic series might be just the ticket but I've never tried them.

Plus the bonus is that if you ever want to play any other kind of music like something heavier, the ENGL will do it at the drop of a hat!

most definitely.
When you only want to play that kind of music then get something more fitting. But if you ever want to venture into metal and other high gain stuff while retaining the options of also playing other stuff, Engls are gret do-it-alls

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Where do you live Osensei?

Engls aren't cheap in the U.S., you could take a look into Cornford.

I never used the Engl Screamer's overdrive/distortion in the band at a gig (I'm just asking myself why)..only with the Tube Zone pedal by MI Audio and it's a great sound if you crank it (1/2 is enough)


I got JJ 6L6 now...MUCH smoother than the =C= I had in there before.

I think I know what sound you're after and I believe the Screamer would deliever.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Cornford is a good Call.But much more expensive !

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Cornford is a good Call.But much more expensive !

I just watched a Guthrie Govan video @ NAMM was it I think...straight into a Cornford amp..heaven!

 

[Osensei]

Re: Anyone know ENGL?

Where do you live Osensei?

Engls aren't cheap in the U.S., you could take a look into Cornford.

The suburbs of Houston, Tx! YEEEEHAAAH! Better known as The Peoples Republic of Mexico! :chairfall

I never used the Engl Screamer's overdrive/distortion in the band at a gig (I'm just asking myself why)..only with the Tube Zone pedal by MI Audio and it's a great sound if you crank it (1/2 is enough)

StrangeSound and Marin Blues deliver vintage tone pwnage w/ Engls all the time. I never expect to see Marin doing a drop tuned whammy bar concerto! :chairfall So I guess you guys are wasting your amps! :chairfall

I got JJ 6L6 now...MUCH smoother than the =C= I had in there before.

I think I know what sound you're after and I believe the Screamer would deliever.

So, you swapped your tubes for a different type? Yep, that's the absolute tone I'm after. Like I said Lonestars are easier for me to get my hands on. Whenever, I play one at the local guitar shop people that hear it get slain by the Holy Ghost! It's just that I heard that ENGL were like Boogie clones. That's why I asked, but it looks like they're a bit pricey. Just like Mercedes. They're taxi cabs in Germany but they cost more the peoples houses in the U.S.:chairfall