Fast, Tight, Dry Amps, What You Got?
- Thread starter la szum
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Maybe I am asking for too much.... but anyone care to break down the
Pitbull differences.... or point me to a decent online source?
Thanks!
Disclaimer: I only have personal experience with the CL50
Classic: not the same as the CL series, lower gain, more blues oriented amps
CL: fucking badass
UL: supposed to be even MORE badass. More everything
CLX: 3 channels as opposed to 2 on the CLs and also “master built” ? Whatever that means ?
This should all be vaguely correct (but don’t quote me)
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OrganicZed
Roadie
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Maybe I am asking for too much.... but anyone care to break down the
Pitbull differences.... or point me to a decent online source?
Thanks!
My understanding is as follows:
CL 100 and CL 50 are the same two channel preamp with two different power sections. They are capable of clean to high gain on either channel but are voiced slightly differently. The CL 50 gets power amp gain faster, so it is said to sound more focused while the 100 is more open and punchy.
The CLX and the UL have identical three channel preamp sections but the power amps are very different. These have two gain channels and a dedicated clean channel. The CLX is an EL34 powered 100W while the UL has a unique dual phase inverter driven KT88 120W power amp. The old CLX amps are labeled as Classic but VHT / Fryette had to change the name because Peavey sent them a cease and desist letter since they already had their own classic line of amplifiers. I have played the UL and it had excellent touch sensitivity and sounded very good. I own a GP3 preamp which is supposed to use the same preamp circuit as these amplifiers feature.
The Pitbull 50/ST and 50/12 are head and combo amps respectively that sound more classic rock oriented. I think they are in the realm of an un-modified JCM800 range of gain.
The Pitbull 45 is also a lower gain design aimed at the blues and classic rock crowd.
The master built designation simply means that the amplifier was built entirely by one person as opposed to in an assembly line fashion. It should make no difference in terms of desirability.
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Hmm, I wouldn't classify the gain channel of the Legacy (v1) as warm, at least in my experience. Speakers matter though. If anything it's very difficult to completely remove the top end sizzle without some external tweaking via guitar or pedal. I've been thinking about modding that channel to be a bit darker tbh.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.
The clean channel can be warm though, and generally quite lovely overall.
TheTrueZoltan!
Shredder
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To clarify the origins of the Blackmore and Artist Edition, here are two excerpts from the official descriptions on the ENGL product pages.
Blackmore: „Ritchie has an incredibly fine ear for tone and has had a long-standing impact on rock music, and so we created his signature amp based on the Savage. Ritchie’s amp is slimmed down features-wise compared to the standard Savage, but it’s just as tonefully powerful.“
Artist Edition: „Based on the E650 Ritchie Blackmore amps, we designed an amp for Doug Aldrich back in 2005. It was supposed to feature a few modifications, such as EL34 tubes in the power amp stage; increased dynamics and unmatched tone was the mission.“
Blackmore: „Ritchie has an incredibly fine ear for tone and has had a long-standing impact on rock music, and so we created his signature amp based on the Savage. Ritchie’s amp is slimmed down features-wise compared to the standard Savage, but it’s just as tonefully powerful.“
Artist Edition: „Based on the E650 Ritchie Blackmore amps, we designed an amp for Doug Aldrich back in 2005. It was supposed to feature a few modifications, such as EL34 tubes in the power amp stage; increased dynamics and unmatched tone was the mission.“
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GuitarBilly74
Roadie
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Apparently, I don't know shit
That was information that was passed on to me, obviously incorrect. Good on the guys here to set the record straight
Eagle
Rock Star
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The E570 preamp is an option. Insanely tight,dry, high gain. Only really a two channel however they try to say four. The switchable options and the shared controls make it effectively two.
Definitely fits the description but you would need to budget for a suitable power amp too.
Definitely fits the description but you would need to budget for a suitable power amp too.
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laxu
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How are the 830/840 poweramps? Those pop up every once in a while on the used market and aren't too badly priced in Europe even new. In case I ever need a stereo poweramp and don't mind the larger size.
Eagle
Rock Star
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Quite clinical and flat sounding. I’m not sure whether they are under test but they sound it in the circumstances I have tried them. When I had an E570 I used it with a VHT.
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Hmm, I wouldn't classify the gain channel of the Legacy (v1) as warm, at least in my experience. Speakers matter though. If anything it's very difficult to completely remove the top end sizzle without some external tweaking via guitar or pedal. I've been thinking about modding that channel to be a bit darker tbh.
The clean channel can be warm though, and generally quite lovely overall.
I was mostly playing downtuned Rock/Metal at the time and I couldn't get
a reasonable Rhythm tone out of the OD Channel. Same with the Carvin
V3. Mud city!
Both of those were ungodly dark and murky for me. Wasn't speaking
for everyone. Just myself.
Oh, and have you tried to turn off the DS-1 before modding the amp.
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Thanks, TTZ!
If I had known the Morse was based on the Powerball and the Artist/Blackmore are both Savage derived
I may have chosen not to purchase the Morse.
I appreciate everyone sharing this Intel. I kind of know now that my ears gravitate towards that
Savage-derived side of the Engl-verse.
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Apparently, I don't know shit
That was information that was passed on to me, obviously incorrect. Good on the guys here to set the record straight
You still know way lots.
Appreciate ya taking the time!
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- 16,045
Kind of like their actual amps then..... 4 channels is really 2 or 3 at best.
Mesa has done something similar with Hi/Lo Gain options on their Drive/Overdrive Channels.
Magic!
That rig looks glorious.
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- 16,045
This is awesome. Thank you.
I am going to assume the EQ/No EQ doesn't matter to the iteration or circuit??
TheTrueZoltan!
Shredder
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Don‘t underestimate the Powerball II, though. To me it‘s kind of a „Best of ENGL“ amp. The Clean and Crunch channels are really good. And while Channel 3 is like a better version of the Fireball (a little bit tighter, less bloated in the low mids and with a much more useable gain range), Channel 4 is very reminiscent of the Savage Mk II Lead.Thanks, TTZ!
If I had known the Morse was based on the Powerball and the Artist/Blackmore are both Savage derived
I may have chosen not to purchase the Morse.
I appreciate everyone sharing this Intel. I kind of know now that my ears gravitate towards that
Savage-derived side of the Engl-verse.
TheTrueZoltan!
Shredder
- Messages
- 2,037
...yeah, I know. But TBH I still think the Savage Mk II would be the safest bet for you.
TheTrueZoltan!
Shredder
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[…] Sill have to figure out what
the F to do with the Morse.
