ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Neeradj

New member
My Powerball arrived yesterday, but nobody was home so I went to the nearest postoffice which is almost half a mile away and had to drag a 45 kilo (that's double in pounds right?) home :yell: . Oh well, it was worth it! The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how solid everything was. This thing was huge, like in bigger than a JCM800 huge and the head-cab was very solid! The footswitch was also very solid and seems to be able to handle a good pair of boots!

After I plugged it into a Mesa halfback loaded with a Black Shadow 90 speaker, and plugged in my Jackson KE2 I started to explore the clean channel. Very versatile on it's own, it even has a very effective bright switch which gives my Jazz neck that little extra sparkle I usually dial in.

Then the Crunch channel. It has about the same amount of gain as a 2555SL Jubilee, and it can sound that way as well. It has the same growly type of gain, and really reminded me of my old 2210 except it had more gain. It'll sound great with a boost, but I use it for those slightly overdriven clean runs. It also has a bottom switch, but I didn't really use it since I didn't turn up the gain very much

The "Lo" Lead channel as they call it hit the spot for me! Very organic distortion, with tons of clarity and incredible punch! This one shook the floor especially with the bottom switch engaged it made my house move (I turned the Master and Poweramp volume to 5). I like a lot of gain, but it has to stay clear, it didn't really lose clarity when I turned it up, but I just felt it was perfect on 5 for me :). You can play Death Metal with this channel, but it can do so much more, prolly the most versatile channel on the amp

The "Hi" Lead channel, was like channel three with even more gain. I spend the least time on this channel. It got sterile like an Uberschall on 10, when I moved the gain knob past 12 o'clock. I could totally nail the newer George Lynch stuff (REvolution, Lynch/Pilson, Smoke This) it really sounded like the Uberschall he played on those albums. Basically if ch3 could go to 15 gainwise, 11-15 would be 6-10 on ch4. I know a Trash Metal playing guy who uses ch4 a lot, so I guess it's best suited for that kinda stuff. The Bottom switch did influence the sound more than it did on the previous two channels though, which I liked

I tried the amp with all my guitars, and liked it best with the KE2. The Demon in my V also showed huge Petrucci like picking attack which pleasantly suprised me. The amp also responded to every little touch on the knobs, which I like! I basically wanted to do a review for the USA forum bros who aren't to familiar with this German tank! If you're looking for an Uberschall and don't have the extra green look into this badboy and you shall look no further! Davey asked me for a review so I hope it'll tell you enough. When I get a good mic I'll record some stuff for you guys, but that could take a while. I'll gladly answer any questions. BTW, it's really cool looking for the show offs between us, but warn people it isn't on fire if you don't want water all over it :newangel:
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

BTW you know the ENGL Straight George Lynch uses on the REH video, the Powerball is the evolved version of this amp, and with a bit of delay and good fingerwork channel 3 will get you exactly there, I'm not joking! Also for people who're interested in the PB, it works best with Greenback loaded cabs, or the V60 cabs. Nobody I know uses a PB like the V30 cabs with their Powerball.
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

you carried that for half a mile :smack: :laugh2: all the engl amps ive come accross seem to blow people away. they really are worth every penny/cent you pay for them :)
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Congrats men!!! Glad you are satisfied with it... I own myself a Engl 50 Thunder Combo and I am very happy with it.

Anyway, sorry to be boring but, whach out you ears. Thoose thing can really damage them.

They did damage mines...
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

to start off:
I hate you!


that asside, man, i SO want this amp. i was cool amp before, but i heard the Fear factory cover self bias resistor here: http://rocksolidamps.com/sounds.php and i was ****ing blown away to say the least.
when ben said you can hear this amp on most of the new power metal albums, he wasnt joking.. this beast is featured on all EdGuy albums, and all the *various forms of names using Dragon, Force, Thunder, War*

it's the be all and end all amp .. all that FOCUSED tight gain without any outside factors... neera, i better not find out where you live or that badboy is going with me.

how much do they retail for anyway? you said you got from a guy in austia? thats REALLY close to me... i hope he got more of em cos holland is a bit of a drive ;)
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Cool review, hope you have finally found what you wanted.
I've never heard a live EMGL before but the Germans shure know how to make the good stuff! Must be a killer amp.

Pictures?
Soundclips?

Btw. have you ever heard of a guitar shop in Scheveningen called Purple Guitars? They seem to have some very interesting gear over there.
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Thanks all!

Davey, they retail for about 1600 euros, and the footswitch is about 170 euros, they don't include it with the amp. Hehe, no he hasn't got another one, too bad, but you're welcome to drop by during the summer after my exams, the Powerball might have a bigger brother joining him by that time.

Nightburst, wow yeah I'm definately satisfied! Feedback Rotterdam carries most ENGL models, so you can check them out there. Yep I've heard of them, a store filled with boutique amps! Haven't visited them yet, I'm either out too much or studying most of the time, but I'll be sure to drop by any time soon.
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Nightburst said:
Cool review, hope you have finally found what you wanted.
I've never heard a live EMGL before but the Germans shure know how to make the good stuff! Must be a killer amp.

Pictures?
Soundclips?

Btw. have you ever heard of a guitar shop in Scheveningen called Purple Guitars? They seem to have some very interesting gear over there.
I just heard them on concerts, But two times i guess it was a engl without seeing the amp and it was an engl when i go to stage and look (thought one time just the preamp)
the have a bit there own sound. But i like it.....

.
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

I really should go to Feedback someday! I really like the sounds from those soundclips I heard on the link Davey posted.
But really I don't need another amp, just curious how it would compare to mine.
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Marcel said:
I just heard them on concerts, But two times i guess it was a engl without seeing the amp and it was an engl when i go to stage and look (thought one time just the preamp)
the have a bit there own sound. But i like it.....

.


Hey I noticed you have a Walls of Jericho picture in your avatar, I saw that band live. IT's with the little hardcore girl singer right? Very cool stuff! Nice EPS they played. :)
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Gah! You guys and your boutique amps...lucky lucky! Ah well, I'm happy with a 5150 :)

Hey, post clips now, ya hear? :)
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

I can record clips with a two buck mic, but it won't do the sound any good, so I'll do my best selling my Mesa and using that cash for a mic and a 4x12 or 2x12 cab :)
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

Nice review. Sounds like a phenomenal amp. One of these days I'd like to find some Engls and Bogners to run through.

What do they run in US currency?
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

'only' 1800 (so to speak) ? ??? tha's about half as much as i expected... now.. which bank to rob...

that's around 2.2 to 2.5k give or take a few benjis
 
Re: ENGL Powerball review, WOW!!!

JeffB said:
Nice review. Sounds like a phenomenal amp. One of these days I'd like to find some Engls and Bogners to run through.

What do they run in US currency?

If you were referring to the price of Engl's in US Dollars, here's a link to a US dealer: Engl Dealer

I'm sure there are a few more, as I glanced around the Engl site late one night, but I'll leave that for you to unearth.

Hope this helps.
 
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