Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ENGL savage 120

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    ENGL savage 120

    i finally have the cash to buy one. it seems killer. anybody ever play one? are the 4 channels good or is it really a 2 channel amp with options? is the clean good? does the distortion get thick or is it buzzy and stuff like some mesa/boogie amps? it appears to be midi switchable, but is it?

    i like my gain to be more of the "marshall" type rather than the "boogie" type...well, actually a mix of the 2, which is what i get with my riveras.....

    any comments will be appreciated!!
    GEAR:

    some guitars...WITH STRINGS!!!! most of them have those sticks like on guitar hero....AWESOME!!!!

    some amps...they have some glowing bottle like things in them...i think my amps do that modelling thing....COOL, huh?!?!?!

    and finally....

    i have those little plastic "chips" used to hit the strings...WHOA!!!!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    I've had my Savage for about 6 months now...I'll give you my 2 cents.

    I love this amp but I also love Engl tone. Engl amps have a very distinctive tone and if you don't like that tone....you are not going to be happy. I would listen to different groups recording with Engls and make sure you like that tone before you buy because you can't shake it. You can always tell instantly when your hearing an Engl.


    It has four independent gain sections but it is really a two channel amp.
    The first gain stage of each channel affects the second....meaning

    Channel One..CLEAN and CRUNCH ONE: CRUNCH ONE=clean + CRUNCH ONE
    Adjusting clean affects crunch one

    Channel Two..CRUNCH TWO and LEAD: LEAD=CRUNCH TWO + LEAD
    Adjusting crunch two affects lead


    The stock Engl branded preamp tubes it came with were a bit fizzy. I replaced them (6 in all...4+Tube Driver + Phase Inverter) with NOS tubes and it sounds amazing..tons of gain....no fizz....thick tone. It is comparable to Marshall tone but unique at the same time. Maybe angry modified Marshall tone.


    The 120 is hard on power tubes...I have already lost one 6550. I replaced it with NOS GE 6550's and it sounds even better.


    I mostly play hard rock...IE..Dio, Halen, Whitesnake..etc. But also do play some metal...Lamb of God..nevermore..KSE type stuff. I like this amp because it can do both. I think it gets stereotyped because most people that use them play extreme metal. I think it is very versatile.


    I have the midi module (Z-11) to channel switch. It does not midi switch without the Z-11 (couple hundred bucks).

    I have mine running through two Engl Vintage 2x12's with V30s. I couldn't be happier and can not imagine an amp that I would want instead.

    Hope that helps

    P.S.
    Don't expect much love on this board for Engl gear..about every Engl thread I've seen draws haters like a magnet.
    -Michael

    Comment

    • #3
      I don't know much about them, but they do sound killer! I played through Ivan's (Robotechnology) last month when we had a little JCF get together at his house. Truly a killer sounding amp!! There's a thread with pics around here somewhere.
      I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.

      Comment

      • #4
        I love mine, and Vander hit it on the head.. they are distincly ENGL sounding....

        Comment

        • #5
          For a long time now the Savage 120 has been one of my favorites. Its probably the most appropriate name ever given to an amp. SAVAGE

          Comment

          • #6
            well, i love the sound of primal fear's last few records, especially black sun - when i first got that one i was willing to bet it's all marshall + boost. no, savage 120.
            also, they're using the engl 530 preamp live, at least used to use it for the black sun tour.

            now, the thing is, the engl blackmore i used to own is said to be a stripped down savage 120, and the 530 preamp is basically the preamp section of the blackmore. having that said, i didn't like my blackmore at all at high volumes - awesome low volume amp though. moreover, it didn't really sound like primal fear to me...the low volume tone was dead on iced earth alive in athens, that's about it.

            so, to finally get back to the topic, is the savage 120 similar/close in sound to the blackmore?

            Comment

            • #7
              I've heard an updated version of the Savage 120 is supposed to be out sometime this summer or year. It will include a built in noise gate and a few other goodies. Ask Derek at Rock Solid Amps about it or Lord Riffenstein. The price might go up a little too.

              Comment

              • #8
                I love my Savage, very versatile. It's the first amp I've been totally happy with and it DOESN't do the buzzy Mesa thing
                http://www.myspace.com/chriswestfallguitar

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by vander


                  The first gain stage of each channel affects the second....meaning

                  Channel One..CLEAN and CRUNCH ONE: CRUNCH ONE=clean + CRUNCH ONE
                  Adjusting clean affects crunch one

                  Channel Two..CRUNCH TWO and LEAD: LEAD=CRUNCH TWO + LEAD
                  Adjusting crunch two affects lead.

                  Wow...that totally confused me.
                  "Quiet, numbskulls, I'm broadcasting!" -Moe Howard, "Micro-Phonies" (1945)

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Gain 1 affects channel 2 (stacked)
                    Gain 3 affects channel 4 (stacked too)

                    You can't have a super clean channel 1 with a cranking channel 2 but, you have two more dirty channels (3 & 4) so who cares, right

                    Very versatile amp ESPECIALLY if you have the midi interface and set it up to change between the different presence and master settings and other buttons as I do.

                    I have a few friends that are obsessive about tone and the Savage 120 makes the cut in their book. May not be their favorite but, it hangs.
                    Last edited by Robotechnology; 07-27-2006, 08:48 AM.
                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFn-5BTQ8uU

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      My only experience with Engl was about 6 months ago at my neighbour's house. I was buying his bike and went downstairs to check out his guitar room. He has a Engl 620 preamp->Mesa 50/50 power amp->2 Carvin 2x12 vertical cabs. He has a USA Wolfgang that he played a few things on then handed it to me. I hit one chord, had a big grin on my face, and was thinking "Fuck Yeah!". I played it for a little while and just LOVED it. He's moving in about a month and said he would give me a great deal on it but I would need to convince the wife.......

                      Anyway, I'm a fan of the Engl tone - so I say go for it!
                      Unleash the fury.....Texas style!

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by toejam
                        I don't know much about them, but they do sound killer! I played through Ivan's (Robotechnology) last month when we had a little JCF get together at his house. Truly a killer sounding amp!! There's a thread with pics around here somewhere.
                        +1 that amp sounded great, i have no clue as to the setting used or even what channel i was using but i didnt tweak one knob & it sounded great.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Vander you absolutely hit the nail on the head on two comments.
                          1) The Engl tone is a Marshall on steroids kinda thick sound.
                          2) You will not find a lot of love for Engl here. Weird because my Engl just rips when I tangle up my Jackson and Charvels with it... oh well.

                          I seriously considered the Savage but ended up with the PB, the Savage had bells and whistles I did not need at the time. Having said that the Savage is one beast of an amp.
                          Mr. Patience.... ask for a free consultation.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            I bought a Fireball last year (I need even less bells and whistles, so...) and I love the ENGL sound. Totally happy with it.
                            When I got it (with matching ENGL standard cabinet) I couldn't stop grinning for like a month every time I hit a chord or palm-mute stuff.
                            http://www.myspace.com/officialuncreation

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Ran into this on the Boogie forums, had to post it. Insane sound.

                              Guitar->amp->twotrack and that's it

                              http://media.putfile.com/fix-71

                              Posted it because it's vastly superior to any of the clips on rocksolidamps.


                              I'm stoked, my other guitarist is getting an Mk III Coliseum and a Savage 120, can't wait to mock around with them/it!!
                              Last edited by GodOfRhythm; 08-04-2006, 09:35 PM.
                              You took too much, man. Too much. Too much.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X