Guess who got an amp today?

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I've been hunting for one of these 60w Fireballs for a long time.... Hard to find in the USA, there are a couple overseas, but shipping is a nightmare.

I've been hunting and going back and forth, I don't NEED to buy another amp, I've got 6.... What else could I need to justify another $1k right?

So.... I ended up just checking craigslist 2 nights ago and found one! In Vegas.
I messaged the guy, asked if he'd meet me in Kingman. 1.5hr drive for him 3hr drive for me. He said yes.
I left the house at 6 and picked it up. In great shape.
Flew home and plugged it in.

Just threw a really quick stupid and sloppy video together to give y'all the flavor of it.

My first impressions are:
It's got a clean sparkly/chimney channel that's like wow! different.
it's got actually enough gain to not even need an OD at all.... That's so weird to me.
It's got low end balls much like my JSX, or 6505, but tighter and a lot more of them.
it's got a upper mid grind that reminds me of a pissed off Marshall, but without the fizzy on top.
The EQ is simple and works pretty well.
Gain boost, presence knob are things I really love!
It didn't come with a foot switch, but I may not even want one.

Very simplistic, especially for an Engl. It's a lot lighter than my other full sized amps.

I'm walking pretty tall right now!
is my quest for amp flavors over now? It may be.

 

[Securb]

Very sweet amp love the clip. However, I strongly doubt you are done buying amps.

 

[dave74]

Nice choice! Out of the Engl line the three I've always wanted the most are this one (fireball60), the Invader w/kt88, and most of all the Victor Smolski model.
I highly doubt any of them will land close-by for a reasonable used price, but I guess ya never know.

 

[Mincer]

How would you compare it to what you have already?

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

It's got a middy voice and a spongyness that I really like..
it doesn't have all the bells and whistles as some of my other amps, it's fairly straightforward.

It's got more pleasant lows than all my amps, very similar to the JSX I'd say, probably a 6l6 thing.

I think it's voice is my favorite.... It's different than my Marshalls or Peaveys..etc etc
It's got a ...I don't know .... A smooth mean tone with zero honkiness or harshness, or fizzy high end, it's void of things I don't like in an amps sound.

I really love my Marshalls, but sometimes they have flubby lows or too much sizzle... I love my Peavey's but sometimes they are all mids and lack certain character. There's lots to like and dislike about most amps.

I love the way it's voiced is what it comes down to so far.

I wish it had a solo boost, then it could be just the perfect amp for this old guy.

I'm really pleased with it so far.

I just recorded another quick demo with a passive std tuned guitar.

Sorry for the feedback, I'm playing at my knees right in front of the speakers

 

[PS412]

I've been eyeballing those as well, have the same problem,,, super rare around here. Now do me a favor and go buy a powerball II and let me know which is better.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Congrats...Nice tones! There was a guy with a Blackmore model here... It's the only Engl I've had the opportunity to play around with. I'm a big fan of how the regular/stock Savage sounds too :bigthumb:

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I've been eyeballing those as well, have the same problem,,, super rare around here. Now do me a favor and go buy a powerball II and let me know which is better.

As I understand it, the powerball is a better amp, with many more features, but the fireball sounds a little better.

Actually 2 nights ago I decided I was just going to buy the little Powerball 20w lunchbox for like $1300 off reverb.... And something told me to check craigslist.... I found this one!
there's a great video comparing the 2 lunchbox heads on YT.
I'm sure I'd be happy with either one, just sort of really wanted a fireball.

 

[dave74]

There is just something so perfect about such a streamlined amp that goes to full-on brutal.
Anymore the vast majority of truly high-gain amps are only offered with a ton of options and features.
Reminds me of my vht d60,,,,,just off the simple looks.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

I love how it yields brute metal tone without the annoying fizz.

 

[Bogner]

Good grab. It is never over! You are just getting started...

 

[Mincer]

Congrats...Nice tones! There was a guy with a Blackmore model here... It's the only Engl I've had the opportunity to play around with. I'm a big fan of how the regular/stock Savage sounds too :bigthumb:

Ritchie makes the Blackmore model sound great! I'd love to try one.

 

[Aceman]

Will it Chug? I'd say that's a yes...

 

[Aceman]

I strongly doubt you are done buying amps.

This

 

[JOLLY]

Sounds great with everything just at 12 o'clock.

 

[Demanic]

Nice.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I looked it up today, the Sodom guitarist used ENGL amps! (Since they're both German I figured that makes sense) I knew that I knew this tone!

This is unboosted, straight into the amp zero effects. Knobs pretty much noon bright switch on, deep switch off.

 

[alex1fly]

Monstrous

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I recorded this with my phone last night to hear it in a mix kind of thing.
(I have no idea what the bassist is doing)

 

[maug2122]

I used to think that I would only use tube amps, until a friend let me borrow a Quilter and Crate Powe Block.
At the time I had an Eleven Rack and tried those solid state amps ..... I was amazed at those SS amps