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hi guys
as promised, here's my review of the engl blackmore head.
you all know the features, so i'll skip that and immediately talk about the sound. i played it at home, in my rehearsal space, as well as live.
at lot volumes, it sounds great. very detailed, just the right amount of gain. all the switches and knobs really affect the sound. has enough gain for playing leads when set at 7.
at high volumes, it REALLY depends on the cab you're using. i played it through a behringer cab, a laney cab, a mesa rectifier oversize loaded with v30s (hate those speakers [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) as well as a marshall fullstack loaded with 75w celestions. i prefered the marshall cabs BY FAR. all the others made the amp sound tinny, fizzy, and harsh. the marshall had a smoother more balanced sound to it, with good bottom end and more detailed highs.
it has enough gain for HEAVY rhythm sounds with the gain set at 4 using emgs. the bottom end is just about right, could still be a little more but it's ok. having two independent master volumes RULES.
now, the downside is that it needs to be LOUD. and believe me, it is a seriously ass kicking loud machine. it SLAYS my jcm800 2210 in terms of volume. there is no comparison. i guess that one can get away with this kind of volume for open airs or stadiums, but it will be too loud for clubgigs, i promise. unfortunately, it sounds like total crap when played at medium volume. way too harsh and trebly. but get it past like 3,5 on the master, and you're pretty much send to heaven [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
so far, i'm not sure which amp i'm going to sell now, the engl or the marshall. the engl is a lot more versatile, but sounds very bright (had the treble at 3 and the presence off, and the soundman said it was still a little trebly), whereas the marshall doesn't need to be this loud to sound great, and has less highend. the marshall also cuts through better, but who needs a cutting amp if it's that loud [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
i think i like the overall gain structure of the engl better, though.
well....now, i don't want/need to have 2 amps around, so i'm going to sell at least one, trying out more amps.
i'd like a little more bottom end, and a slightly darker sound than the engl has.....fireball?? although that one is a gain machine i'd never use to its full potential. i hate the powerball btw. i was also thinking of the peavey XXX, for it is a bang for the buck 3 channel amp...also too much gain, though [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] and then again...i saw cataract (death metal band from switzerland) 3 days ago, and they used two old dual rectos through a single marshall 412 each, and their sound was CRUSHING. i personally never used one for a gig, though, so i'm hesitating to shell out 1300 euro.
as promised, here's my review of the engl blackmore head.
you all know the features, so i'll skip that and immediately talk about the sound. i played it at home, in my rehearsal space, as well as live.
at lot volumes, it sounds great. very detailed, just the right amount of gain. all the switches and knobs really affect the sound. has enough gain for playing leads when set at 7.
at high volumes, it REALLY depends on the cab you're using. i played it through a behringer cab, a laney cab, a mesa rectifier oversize loaded with v30s (hate those speakers [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) as well as a marshall fullstack loaded with 75w celestions. i prefered the marshall cabs BY FAR. all the others made the amp sound tinny, fizzy, and harsh. the marshall had a smoother more balanced sound to it, with good bottom end and more detailed highs.
it has enough gain for HEAVY rhythm sounds with the gain set at 4 using emgs. the bottom end is just about right, could still be a little more but it's ok. having two independent master volumes RULES.
now, the downside is that it needs to be LOUD. and believe me, it is a seriously ass kicking loud machine. it SLAYS my jcm800 2210 in terms of volume. there is no comparison. i guess that one can get away with this kind of volume for open airs or stadiums, but it will be too loud for clubgigs, i promise. unfortunately, it sounds like total crap when played at medium volume. way too harsh and trebly. but get it past like 3,5 on the master, and you're pretty much send to heaven [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
so far, i'm not sure which amp i'm going to sell now, the engl or the marshall. the engl is a lot more versatile, but sounds very bright (had the treble at 3 and the presence off, and the soundman said it was still a little trebly), whereas the marshall doesn't need to be this loud to sound great, and has less highend. the marshall also cuts through better, but who needs a cutting amp if it's that loud [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
i think i like the overall gain structure of the engl better, though.
well....now, i don't want/need to have 2 amps around, so i'm going to sell at least one, trying out more amps.
i'd like a little more bottom end, and a slightly darker sound than the engl has.....fireball?? although that one is a gain machine i'd never use to its full potential. i hate the powerball btw. i was also thinking of the peavey XXX, for it is a bang for the buck 3 channel amp...also too much gain, though [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] and then again...i saw cataract (death metal band from switzerland) 3 days ago, and they used two old dual rectos through a single marshall 412 each, and their sound was CRUSHING. i personally never used one for a gig, though, so i'm hesitating to shell out 1300 euro.
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