Fast, Tight, Dry Amps, What You Got?

[GuitarBilly74]

You are 50% right. While it‘s true that some ENGL amps are variations/derivatives of other models, I think you‘re wrong with some of your categorizations.

Well, it's what an ENGL rep told me once at NAMM. I don't have experience with every single of these amps so I can't be sure. Just information I was given.

 

[MatrixClaw]

iirc the ones i played were a pitbull and a sig x- both had SO much more gain than id ever possibly need, but they were both incredibly fast recovery wise even gained out! mind you.. i play alnico pickups and amps that give quite a bit- so my judgement may be skewed by that- but those two surprised me a lot with how stiff they were!

Interesting. My SigX was one of the few high gain amps I've played that DIDN'T have enough gain for me. I don't generally play with a ton of gain and tend to prefer drier tones, but the SigX was just barely at the right level of gain with both gains cranked and at that level, it got muddy AF

FWIW, I have a Savage Mk II and I wouldn't call it dry at all. That amp is insanely saturated. Probably the most saturated amp I've ever played. It's the only amp I find fun to play with tons of gain because it's just ridiculous how beastly it sounds like that. A gigantic wall of sound, but not like a Recto that's just all low mids.

One of my favorite "dry" sounds is actually the 50w 5150 III on the Blue channel with gain around 11 o'clock. The Ultralead is also dry and tight, as long as you like really dry - like, dry as a barren wasteland

 

[RaceU4her]

Marks are the opposite of "unforgiving" IMO. They're so compressed and tight and fluid they hide all sorts of mistakes.

i agree, this thread is kind of a perfect example why its hard to recommend amps, guys describe amps and gear literally total polar opposite of how i would.

 

[maddnotez]

100CL will not disappoint

 

[spawnofthesith]

i agree, this thread is kind of a perfect example why its hard to recommend amps, guys describe amps and gear literally total polar opposite of how i would.

I do have to chime in that Indont agree with this perception about marks being unforgiving

But a pittbull CL… yeah 100%. Only amp I’ve owned that made me rethink my technique from ground 0 (I still suck don’t get me wrong lol)

Pay off is immense with that amp though

 

[laxu]

Interesting. My SigX was one of the few high gain amps I've played that DIDN'T have enough gain for me. I don't generally play with a ton of gain and tend to prefer drier tones, but the SigX was just barely at the right level of gain with both gains cranked and at that level, it got muddy AF

I haven't played the Sig X but Fryette/VHT to me always feel like there's less gain than there actually is because they don't get saturated in the way most amps do. They are a "hit the strings real hard" type amps for me.

 

[MatrixClaw]

I haven't played the Sig X but Fryette/VHT to me always feel like there's less gain than there actually is because they don't get saturated in the way most amps do. They are a "hit the strings real hard" type amps for me.

I've owned the Ultralead multiple times, a 50/CL, 100/CL and a Deliverance, plus both Synergy modules. I'm very familiar with that sound and this was definitely not the case with that SigX. I did, however LOVE the Plexi channel, but it was hardly worth keeping for that.

 

[maddnotez]

I haven't played the Sig X but Fryette/VHT to me always feel like there's less gain than there actually is because they don't get saturated in the way most amps do. They are a "hit the strings real hard" type amps for me.

Haven't tried the sig either OR a deliverance.

The only VHT/Fryette I have owned are the 50CL, 100CL and the very early 1994 Ultra lead (before the modern updates)

I am a very high gain player and love saturation and to me the 100CL easily smoked them all. The UL was definitely wider but the 100CL was much more agressive.

Again never played the "newer" UL so I can't comment there, while everyone says the UL is the best I just really don't know. I'd be surprised if I liked it better.

Anyway I do agree they are not saturated and maybe less gain. I definitely needed to boost the 100CL and you do need to give her what she wants and play the guitar. Might not be the best amp for new users but it is definitely an all time favorite. Top 3 amp for me.

 

[DrewJD82]

Ever try a Carvin Legacy? Kinda in that fast/dry ballpark.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Fast and tight? YES PLEASE. Dry? Ehhh; I prefer the sizzle!

 

[MatrixClaw]

Haven't tried the sig either OR a deliverance.

The only VHT/Fryette I have owned are the 50CL, 100CL and the very early 1994 Ultra lead (before the modern updates)

I am a very high gain player and love saturation and to me the 100CL easily smoked them all. The UL was definitely wider but the 100CL was much more agressive.

Again never played the "newer" UL so I can't comment there, while everyone says the UL is the best I just really don't know. I'd be surprised if I liked it better.

Anyway I do agree they are not saturated and maybe less gain. I definitely needed to boost the 100CL and you do need to give her what she wants and play the guitar. Might not be the best amp for new users but it is definitely an all time favorite. Top 3 amp for me.

This is how I felt. I owned a few ULs from various years, but the CL line was always my favorite. I had a feeling the CLX would be the one to beat for me, but I never tried one and they're hard to find now.

 

[GTR37]

I had a pittbull 50cl and sig X. The pittbull was probably the longest tenured amp I’ve held on to out or a few dozen. Sig X can be fast/tight/dry but can also be dialed in to not be that way. Pittbull is an amazing menace. A mark is “easy to play” in comparison imo. Picking hand is everything. Incredibly dynamic


The pittbull actually just popped up in my memories, got it 13 years ago today. RIP, I need another one. There’s been one listed locally for a bit….. tempting but I’m trying to slow my roll a bit lol. Just did my taxes, Mayve if it’s still around when I get my refund lolol

Can never go wrong with collecting more marks either though

The pittbull 50 CL is one of the most unique amps I had
You where you have heard the term it sounds like your fingers are moving the speakers in the cabinet , absolutely, it’s the most connected guitar playing and alive experience if remember
Don’t know why I even sold it
It was so immediate and dynamic

 

[la szum]

ENGL has 2 platforms of flagship high gain amps, the Fireball/Powerball and the Savage.
Everything else are variations on those platforms.
The Blackmore, Artist, Morse, Inferno, Ironball etc are all based on the FB/PB platform and they have a huge low end and low mids but are not necessarily tight.

The Special Edition, Svogli sig are based on the Savage and they're much tighter.

Then they have some lower priced lines like the Screamer, Gig Master, E530 preamp etc.. those are a bit different.

And the Retro line, which is lower gain.

But for the flagship high gain amps, they're all based on the 2 main platforms.

This is pure gold, Billy! How come you didn't text me all of this info last week.

 

[la szum]

Ever try a Carvin Legacy? Kinda in that fast/dry ballpark.

I did own one, Drew. It was just super dark and and kind of urky to my ears. Like it was designed
by a guy who never plays anything below the 12th fret or on the wound strings.






Sorry Steve. Just makes sense that a guy who plays mostly single note lines would end up
designing a SUPER fat and warm amp.

Maybe this is why it is so hard to design a killer amp that is articulate in the low end and
not shrill and bright when we play up high. Or super fat and warm when we play in the
higher register of the guitar, but which becomes muddled and loose when we play down
low. It's such a massive range the electric guitar covers.

 

[la szum]

Fast and tight? YES PLEASE. Dry? Ehhh; I prefer the sizzle!

 

[la szum]

The pittbull 50 CL is one of the most unique amps I had
You where you have heard the term it sounds like your fingers are moving the speakers in the cabinet , absolutely, it’s the most connected guitar playing and alive experience if remember
Don’t know why I even sold it
It was so immediate and dynamic

Why do I need to pull my pants back up after reading that?

That is some super sexy talk to my ears and eyes.

The more control I have over saturation and volume with my right hand (picking
Hand) the better an amp is for me. I loathe super compressed tones where no
variation in dynamics is even possible with an amp.

 

[Blix]

The Blackmore, Artist, Morse, Inferno, Ironball etc are all based on the FB/PB platform

Both the Morse and Blackmore amps was released years before the FB/PB, so it should be the other way around no?

 

[MatrixClaw]

Both the Morse and Blackmore amps was released years before the FB/PB, so it should be the other way around no?

The Blackmore and Artist also have mids much closer to the Savage. I've always assumed those three were related. The Savage also had an "SE" version, so I can't imagine the actual SE is based on it. I've always heard it described as an iteration of the Powerball...

 

[spawnofthesith]

Why do I need to pull my pants back up after reading that?

That is some super sexy talk to my ears and eyes.

The more control I have over saturation and volume with my right hand (picking
Hand) the better an amp is for me. I loathe super compressed tones where no
variation in dynamics is even possible with an amp.

The CLs are just so good. I do believe they’d be up your alley

Both the Morse and Blackmore amps was released years before the FB/PB, so it should be the other way around no?

I know Billy knows his stuff but I’m a little confused on that too, I’ve always heard that the Blackmore is savage based, and also that the Morse is Invader based, which to my knowledge is (was? Do they still make the invader?) the invader is kind of its own unique entity within the lineup

 

[la szum]

Ok.... slowing my roll on the Billy praise.

Appreciate all of you guys chiming in here.