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There's a new Guitar store opened up recently near me, so myself and the other guitarist in my band decide to check it out.
While we were there we checked out the Engl Screamer 50 head and combo.

All I can say is that this amp blew us away!!!!!

We've both known Steve, the owner, for may years (he used to work in a local store before working for both Fender and Line 6 ) and he was very accomodating, letting us try different cabs at decent levels!!! (very loud ).

First, for those that don't know, the amp. Its an all tube 50w amp with basically two channels. However, with the optional Z5 footpedal, it becomes a four channel amp with a boost on each channel. You have a clean, crunch, soft lead and hard lead channel with the option of boosting each channel and switching reverb on/off. Very versatile!!!! Ok, the EQ is shared, but there is a bright switch for the clean/crunch channel, which can be used with the gain channels treble turned down a tad for different clean/OD tones. It is more hard rock orientated, compared other Engl amps, but still has enough power for metal if required.

First, we tried the head through a Marshall 1936 2X12 with G12-75'S.
The tone was a bit harsh with some ice picky type highs, but overall, not too bad.
Secondly, we swapped the standard 1936 for Steve's personal 1936 fitted with Vintage 30's. This gave a softer, more rounded tone, but still a little harsh.
Thirdly, we used the Engl 2X12 vintage cab with Vintage 30's. The construction of this cab is head and shoulders above the 1936 and it showed. The tone was much more rounded, with greater bottom and definition. The tones we got with this setup were just out of this world!! Fantastic chimy cleans and creamy overdriven tone that are the best I've heard period (and that includes Mesa's, Marshalls, THD's, fender's and even Cornford's!!!!).
The biggest surprise came when we tried the combo. This is a 1X12 version of the head and can come with a Vintage 30 or a G12-60. The one we tried was fitted with a G12-60 and the tones were just out of this world. I still can't believe that a combo could deliver such devastating tone as this baby. Think my description of the Engl head/cab but add a bid dollop of cream and your about there!!!. I can say that the combo was quite simply the nicest and most versatile amp I've played - you basically set the EQ (bass, mid, trb, presc) to 12 o'clock and your there!!! Fine tuning only adds to the pleasure!!!

The best thing about it was the price. We could have it on special deal for ?599 (GBP) with the Z5 footswitch for ?99 (GBP). Considering the normal price for the amp is ?799 and the footswitch ?150, this has to be the bargain of the century!!!!

That's Marshall TSL money for better (IMHO) than Mesa, THD, Cornford etc. tone.
If you get the chance, try one of these suckers out - you will not be dissapointed!!!!

Time to raid the piggy bank.........................

The Marshall 1936 cabs really don't sound good. I'm sure it sounded best with the Engl cab, but wait till you try it with a good 4-12. Those amps really come alive with a quadbox!

Try a Fireball out of you get the chance. I love mine, and I often wonder if it's possible to find an amp I like more.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserThe Marshall 1936 cabs really don't sound good. I'm sure it sounded best with the Engl cab, but wait till you try it with a good 4-12. Those amps really come alive with a quadbox!

The old ones do, I basically have a 2x12 sized 1960TV and my Powerball rips with this cab! When I went to the store to buy it I told the seller I wanted this cab to match a Powerball and he immediately said it was an excellent choice. I know a lot of dutch ENGL players that prefer the 2x12 sound to the 4x12 because it seems to add more pressure and punch.

I dont want to rain on anyones parade but i thought these amps sounded harsh.

The funny thing is that i REALLY WANTED TO LOVE THIS AMP. because i am looking to buy a new boutique amp and someone here is selling a screamer for 600 euro. now thats cheap! ( funny thing is that i have seen many screamers for cheap on Ebay.co.uk)i heard the powerball as well and many others through different cabs and stuff. didnt have that punch that i love and i thought that they were harsh. after that i went and heard a VHT and a SMF. that was heaven. especially the SMF ( sound machine factory) it was the best amp i have ever heard!! amazing but it is too expensive for me 2800 euro for the 35 watter.
just my two cents.

i did like the clean sound however.

The thing with the Powerball is it only sounds good with warm sounding speakers like greenbacks or their own V60s, although I've heard it'll never shine as much as with an Uberkab (Bogner).

I really like the Screamer 50 combo. It is going to be the 1X12 combo I choose when I get ready to pick one up! I think they sound really good.

amen, they are sweet metal amps!

they can sound a tiny bit harsh, yeah - but in the same sort of vein as mesa or 5150 drive does! i think you need a certain amount of grit if you're using higher gain levels..

tom

These threads about Engl amps are making want a tube amp even more... But I can't, I'm going off to college and a tube amp is too loud/powerful for dorm playing levels, which really sucks. It will be a total of seven years before I can get my hands on a tube amp.... Cruel world.

POD XT will get you as close as volume levels allow

im facing exactly the same problem.. 40w valve combo and drywall dorm walls don't mix

might pick up even the first gen POD... im not fussy if it's for practice!

tom