ENGL E660 Savage Special Edition Head

The ENGL Savage SE is one of the flagship models that they offer. It's a four channel amp that comes in both EL34 and 6L6 varieties, depending on what flavor you're going for. It has a ridiculous amount of features that almost makes your head spin. I won't go through all of them, but the ones that stand out are multiple voicing switches per channel, fully MIDI enabled, multiple effects loops and a noise gate. It also has all the standard features you'd expect from an amplifier at this level.

UTILIZATION

ENGL did a great job at fitting nearly everything you can think of in this amplifier. Seriously, if you can imagine it, chances are it's in this thing. Being fully MIDI enabled and having multiple effects loops put it in a category where not many amps can keep up. The manual does a really good job at explaining everything, too. However, the biggest disappointment is probably that Clean 1 and 2, as well as Lead 1 and 2, have some shared controls. Bass and middle are both shared in their respective channels. I really wished they could have added the extra knobs to make this thing a bit more versatile. Instead, you have to rely on the voicing switches and independent treble, gain and presence controls to shape the channels to how you'd like them to sound.

SOUNDS

This thing sounds like most ENGLs out there. It's extremely versatile with a pretty good clean, good crunch, amazing rhythm sound and ridiculous lead sound. The amp can do most any style you can think of, but I think these excel best when doing metal. There's no need to boost these amps at all; they tend to just get noisy when you do. The EL34 gives it that more Marshall-esque vibe where as the 6L6 version gives it that more round-ish, big low end sound. I think the 6L6 version is a little better, but both are great.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, it's a great amplifier. Whether you get the EL34 or 6L6 version, you should be very happy with your purchase. There are two things, however, that bug me about this amp -- the lack of fully independent EQs and the reliability. Sometimes things like LEDs will go out or they'll start to act a bit odd. With all the technology cramped inside, it's not really a surprise. I've never personally had problems, but I've heard some people have issues getting ENGL to help them out, so just keep that in mind. Regardless, the amplifier sounds amazing.

That's a nice lil monster ...
- So this is an amp head, tube here are the specs (according to the instructions ...)
Preamp:
V1 -> ECC83/7025 FQ (First Quality)
V2, V3, V4, V5 -> ECC83/12AX7 selected
V6 -> ECC83/12AX7 standard
Amplifiers:
V7, V8, V9, V10 -> 5881 or 6L6 GC matched set

- This amp, although called Savage 120, with 3 delivers 100W output has impedances (4.8 and 16 ohms)

- Level connections, an input jack to put your chainsaw String, 4 footswitch input jack, two effects loops, two outputs for the power amp and an impedance tester and I almost forgot for a MIDI connect the ENGL Z-7 ... Grrrr! Frankly, Mr. ENGL is not nice-nice to us that ...

- For the settings: there are four channels (Clean, Crunch1, Crunch2 and Lead) assigned to two main channels with a separate voicing for each (you follow?) There are also several switches to change the color of his (Bright, Preshape, Rough / Smooth, Reverb, Triode / Pentode, Depth Boost, Boost Lead)

Here are lots of buttons! It's nice to see as complete a head! -1 For the MIDI interface overrated ...

UTILIZATION

- Who said a lot of buttons just said headlock (mouhaha! the pun ... no !)... That said, when you come to have such a thing, you want to touch everything so we do not lose heart. I even found a use for my tone knob on the guitar and the presence knob on the amp ... We rediscover with great pleasure the joys of being a sound.

- The sound just comes ...

- The manual is clear (in English or German) with some tricks with the many switches (like as not to switch with another is not bo ...)

SOUNDS

- Well then, I give in the not too delicate a bit technical (prog metal, some thrash and death metal the way) and it sends the POTATO !!!!!!!!! YOUHOUUUUUUUU!! It's alive, there is a grain very thick, a definition unstoppable (even at high volume) ... You can feel the guitar roar with pleasure ... Be careful, this is not the amp that will give you sound ultra saturated compressed equalized ... but What the f ***? The sound is rather hard rock typed caribou (see Laurent Gerra Celine and) see if you know how much metal palm-mute and if you go down a little tuning.
* Sounds cleans are a bit cold on the other hand but well above average.
* The sound crunch1 gives you a small smooth overdrive sound with warmth ... a little shine on your crazy diamond sound of thunder ...
* The sound is typed crunch2 rock ... lacks a bit of gain for my taste (even fully)
* The lead sound is a killer (see above)

- I use it with an Ibanez JPM100 P3, an Ibanez UV777 Universe and a Jackson PS2 mounted in D with a Tone Zone in bridge. I connect a 2x12 speaker cabinet "made by a friend of mine.

I put the total because I'm in love with this amp ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use the beast for 6 months now and I am very happy and very proud!

Assets:
- Sounds divine
- A head full and shapely and strong and everything ...
- A unique sound
Cons:
- MIDI interface and more
- The fuses are hyper sensitive (already farted 1 in 4 months ...)

I had the OCCAZ try a Dual Rectifier and a Carvin Legacy. The first is good but too impersonal and the other is a little off-topic (gain too low ...)

I had € 1,700 on eBay (with a clearance store German ...) is that the € 900 price catalog ... (Goodie goodie! Seems like our dear IA) The price / quality ratio is out of proportion with the rest of the market.

With experience, I would definitely do it again this election ... However, since they released the E670, I do not think it is still new ... You never know ...

Correction: another fuse just blow up ...!!! Apparently, you have to spare in transit and wait 10 minutes minimum head cool after use before trudge with ... Otherwise, it is unanimous to my group

Aptly summarized below

UTILIZATION

With the interface and a pedal (I have the Z12 engl) is childish.
I use the switch bcp pentode / triode with mpaster different levels of the sudden I preset guitar equipped with double or P90 or guitar equipped with single micro Jazzmaster (more dynamic and crystalline)

SOUNDS

I have no reference style, I sail from project to project and I've never felt restrained;
This is not a story of versatility because he has a particular grain and rather aggressive and can not approach the mesa or marshall sound, it just is neutral so it responds to the guitar that bcp it was opposite.
I play Jazz
Rock of all kinds:
More edgy stuff:

I put 9 because I do not like the channel 2, I prefer the bluesy crunch, I have a Homebrew Paradrive for it.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had 4 years.
If the amp is not a life it is not far, the only thing that could make me change it is the weight, I shall be tired of lugging 70 kilos every week ...