I traded my Engl Screamer for a Raider :)

UberMetalDood

New member
This is the best upgrade I've done in a long time. The Engl Screamer is a great amp all around, but it can be a little harsh or aggressive sometimes. The cleans are great on the screamer, but even better on the Raider. The Raider is smoother and much more versatile with the separate eq's, dual master volumes per channel, and several other options like presence and punch controls.

The Raider has the same features as the expensive heads like the power tube indicator system, noise gate, switchable effects loop, etc... It's definitely in the ranks of the high-end Engls as far as the tone goes. I can get so much more detail and sweet tone out of it than as withe the Screamer.

Man I have been playing it for hours. I couldn't turn it off because it's so inspiring to play. It breaths new life into my Satriani covers and scooped rhythms. I spent the last half hour playing a single coil strat on the clean/crunch channel playing SRV licks and stuff.

It's kind of like a Steve Morse model except you can get a little more presence without the mids getting all out of control. It's 100 watts by the way, but don't let that scare you away. It sounds even better than my 50w Screamer playing at home. It comes with a V30 which if I'm not mistaken is like a 65 or 75w speaker, so I don't know how it will hold up if I max out the volume on the amp, but so far I've gotten the master up about 3 and it doesn't seem as loud as say a 100w plexi. It seems more like a 60w amp I guess, but like I said, I haven't (and probably won't) get it near the max.

Engl has always been impressive, and in my opinion, don't get the credit they deserve for having excellent varieties of tone. I've met a lot of tone snobs on other forums and they scoff at Engl even though Engl amps are up to par with any boutique amp out there. My Steve Morse head had amazing cleans, and so does the Raider. You guys have got to check out a Raider if you have the chance.
 
Re: I traded my Engl Screamer for a Raider :)

I've always been intrigued about the Raider. I haven't had the chance to play with it.
Congratulations.
 
Re: I traded my Engl Screamer for a Raider :)

Thanks. From looking at the Raider for the first time, I didn't get the impression at all that this 100w combo would ever be something I'd want. It has the black panel and boasts huge power but is the same size as the Screamer. Given the name, "Raider 100," it would seem like something in the Powerball vein. Now that I know this amp, I think Engl did not do a good job of marketing the Raider.

Although it does do a great heavy thrash sound, I don't think that's the staple of this amp. It's more organic and less processed sounding than the Screamer, and in addition to the wonderful clean channel, it does awesome blues tone.

I'm going to write more detail in MWalluk's review thread. Anyway, I just think more people should go check one out and see that it's much more than a metal amp.
 
Re: I traded my Engl Screamer for a Raider :)

So what does the owner's manual say about the mismatch between the power output and the speaker's power handling? Congratulations on your amp, but don't turn it up past 2 1/2?
 
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