Engl 530 Preamp

I bought it used, but ENGL still builds the 530. The features have already been described by others. The preamp defeat feature makes it more versatile for rack systems, because you can use another preamp (or a multi-fx with preamp functions)in the fx-loop and take the 530 out of the signal path (also you probably will not want to do that). The small power amp for practicing and the speaker sim make it even more versatile. I only miss the ability to produce a really different second high gain sound - so thats why I got some more preamps. It has always got the typical (good)sound of its own.

I use a Les Paul Studio, a self-built Warmoth "Paulocaster"(Strat with Duncan HB's and mahogany body with quilt-top), a Rockinger Strat w/ Fender Noiseless PU's etc. The distortion has got something of the modern brutality but with a certain traditional warmth - like a mixture between marshall and rectifier. It cannot replace either, but has its own sound. Like with all my amps, I soon found the one "right sound" and hardly touched the knobs after. Right know I am looking for a decent tube power amp, but even with my Peavey M-4000 (a solid-state PA-amp, right fellas!) it never sounds thin or harsh, but meaty and full. Plus it's not noisy, though I mostly use the distortion channel in high gain mode with gain all turned up. Maybe the clean sound could be warmer, but most metal-heads will like the way it cuts through - or it will get what I miss with a tube slave.

Never had problems. Outer appearance and feel of pots and switches is very sturdy.

Never had to deal with them problemwise, but they were very open and friendly at the Frankfurt MusikMesse.

I've been playin for like 20 years now and had (and still have)lots of gear. I use it in one of the two fx-loops of my Roland GP-100 and a JMP-1 in the other. Channels and hi-gain option are switched by the GP-100, so I can control all 4 Channels, two preamps - a third if you count the Roland - via my MIDI-board. My latest sound: both loops switched on, one preamp on each stereo side - cinemascope!! If it was stolen, I would buy a new one, except I had the money for the new Rectifier preamp (and if it would be worth it, haven't tested it yet). I consider it the best value-for-money tube preamp; maybe Egnater, Hafler etc. sound slightly better, but I bought my whole gear for what they cost without anything else. For the price I bought it used, it's a flat-out steal!

A German made 19" Preamp, bought in 1999.
The features are:4 channels, (2 x ECC 83), Clean, Lead, Crunch and Heavy Lead via Gain Lo/Hi switch, Bright switch in main channel 1, Contour switch in main channel 2, Preamp Defeat switch, Stereo FX loop;Per main channel:3-band EQ (Lead: 4-band), Gain and Volume controls;Power amp:2 x 1,5 watts (solid state);
Outputs:Stereo Line Out and frequency compensated Stereo Line Out with level control; Stereoheadphones/speaker 4-16 ohms, 2 x dual footswitch jacks;
I use this preamp in combination with a 2x50w Engl amp, for effects a boss SE70 and to controll a Engl Midi Switcher.
Great stuff, just one problem: the boost switch delivers a few problems. In the distortion section it's too loud and in the clean one not enough power

I use a Jackson USA limited and a Gibson Les Paul Studio, and they sound great, the clean sound is very warm and punchy and if you change to the second channel it delivers you hell. There's everything from
ACDC, Clapton to Slayer, Machine Head.

Use it at a very hard level. You can depend on it.

No Problems yet.

The best preamp i've ever used. perhaps it's no triaxis but it's only the quater price. Just get some. It's great.

Guess this amp is made in 1999. There are two main channels, Clean and Lead, with a switchable Lo Gain /High Gain function. This delivers 4 basic sounds. The clean channel has bass/middle/treble control and a bright switch, with boosts some highs and cuts some mids - good for bassy guitars like Les Pauls etc. In the Lead channel, the mid control is divided into low mid & high mid controls, great for adjusting the chracter of the distortion from classic to modern sounds. Also there is a contour switch for the lead channel, which bosst the mids for soloing. The amp fas two uncomsated outs, two compensated outs for direct recording, a headphone output and a 2x1.5 watts mini stereo transistor power amp, A serial FX loop is also included.

As far as it goes for me, this amp is pretty back to basics - no unecessary features, but all features (with the bright switch as only exception) are switchable via two stereo footswitches.
The only thing that I found out is that for comfortable switching (especially in combination with other rack components) you have to buy the Z-11 midi switcher to make the preamp midiable and to avoid a major tapdance. And this Z-11 is only rackmountable with a special rackmount-unit called Z-8, which has to be bought separately, too.

This is why it get only a 7 on the category scale. (The additional Engl-gear is quite expensive...)

I use singelcoil-equipped guitar as well as humbucker-equipped ones with this preamp, depending on the sound I want to achieve and the style I actually play.
This preamp fit every style form country to brutal metal, at least in combination with a good power amp & cabinets/speakers.
The EQ is very effective and the preamp reacts very sensitive to a guitar change, so you shouldn't change from humbucker-equipped guitars to singlecoil-equipped guitars and back without readjusting the EQ sections to get the best sound out of it.

It gets a 10 in sound for the quality, but please be aware that this preamp can only show his *complete* abilities with a good poweramp & cabinet. And also please be aware of the typical direct Engl sound - there is no chance to hide behind the distortion and the compression. If you make mistakes, this amp doesn't forgive...

When I play a gig, I usually have a backup amp with me. But that is just to "go for sure" in case something happens - tubes, you know... you never know when they gonna break... not that I'd expect that this preamp would break down! Typical Engl heavy duty.

What can I say about the Engl customer support... great guys. If something's wrong don't fear to contact the Engl distributor (Erich Koch GmbH) - Very helpful & very effective. BIG 10!

Playing for about 12 years, I really like this preamp. I play it in combination with a Reussenzehn Slave 200 poweramp and two ADA 2x12 vintage cabinets. The only things I will change are the speakers of the cabinets. (Have to replace them with Celestion Vintage 30's asap, for imho Engl's sound best over V-30s...)

If it were stolen... might be that I buy another one. But I'm also very interested in the bigger brother - the 580. Just a guestion of money...

But this is one of the best sounding preamps I ever heard - just plug and play, easy & fun to use.

This preamp is the most versatile I ever heard. You can play some blues with its funky crunch channal or some trash/death with the mos dynamic distortion channal. this preamp has 2 channels + a lo/higain switch for both channels at once. The clean channal has a bright switch to encance the treble end the lead channal has an extra contour switch.

I used 2 humbuckers and one singlecoil. This preamp shows you which pu you are playing with. You can hear it in the lead channel whne you lower the guitar's volume. the distorion is the brutals I ever heard. Perfect for metal sounds.

The amp was never broken yet....

I use an solidstate amp and a tube amp. I love everything about this preamp. Even with a nontube amp it sounds awesome

This was build in 1999, 4 Channels, two complete equalizer sections, contour switch (good for switching the same sound louder for soloing), bright switch on clean and crunch channel,tube Preamp with solid state poweramp for headphones or small speakers (good for Practising)Footswitch-Connectors for all channels, brigth and contour switch, stereo out, sym and asym line outs, separate level-poti for the effect loop

Suits any kind of music-style, 4 basic sounds (clean, crunch, lead + one more for incredible distortion sounds...)+ 4 solo sounds (same sounds but louder) in one analog tube-preamp... that should be enough for everyone... ;-) clean channel is what it should be, brilliant crispy and clean. crunch goes up to 70's rock-sound, lead gives you more distortion than a fully cranked-up marshall-anniversery top. If you need even more, then it's time to check the 4th channel ;-)

This amp is now 1 1/2 years old, never had trouble with it, don't use a backup while playing live...

Great support, warranty is 12 months... manuals are very easy to understand...

One of the greatest preamps ever built... tried Rocktron Piranha, Marshall JMP-1, Hafler & Bogner, Digitech GSP's, but this amp was exactly the sound that I had been looking for...