Engl E570 SE Preamp

This is the preamp section of the ENGL Special Edition Amp E660, a very expensive (and amazing) topoftheline amp. It's an all tube preamp. It basically has 2 channels and each channel has 2 subchannels... At least this is what the manual says, I see it as a 4 channels preamp. It has a Clean channel, a Crunch, Lead I and II. Each channel has a gain boost switch (a 'Gain boost' for channel Clean and Crunch and a 'High Gain' for Lead I and II), all channels have a switchable M.L.P. (Mega Low Punch, a bass frequency boost) and a Modern/Classic mode (I'd say it mellows the tone you get, especially the Lead I and II's tone). Channel Clean and Crunch (as Lead I and II) share a 3 band EQ, but there's an indipendent Treble pot for each channel. Each EQ section has two switches, for Clean and Crunch you have "normal bright" and "ultra bright" (they can work at the same time because they boost two different frequencies in the high-frequency spectrum) and for Lead I and Lead II a "Contour" and a "Mid Boost" (one shapes your EQ in the Smiling Face shape, the other... well, ya know...!). All switches can be MIDI controlled or switched via an ENGL pedalboard (not included). There is a switchable Noise Gate with threshold and mute control (you choose the level for the noise gate to kick in and how much you want it to dumpen the noise) for Crunch, Lead I and II. Very useful, 'cause this thing is mean... Outputs: Stereo XLR for DI in mixerboard with Ground Lift ability, Left and Right output for your Power Amp and a mixed Stereo Output, that mixes the L and R singnal in one mono exit. So you can use this for silent recording... I don't like it, but that's my problem (and my neighbours' eheheh). It has a FX loop that you can turn on or off, as you see fit, with a level control. The on/off button is glowing red, as all the Leds... I like red.

Ok. Useless to say it's a rack unit, 2U, not heavy, but solid. I bought it new in Germany for about 1500???. I play heavy music (not thrash, not death, no nothing, just good old METAL, from Black Sabbath to Rage), but I come from a Jazz oriented family and I am a huge Wes Montgomery fan, and trust me, this ENGL can take me both sides of the musical ocean that separates this two continents (and how...). I use it with a BOSS GT-PRO in the effects loop with a stereo signal set up and it works just great. I can use a MIDI pedalboard to send program changes to both the BOSS and the ENGL. sweet!

This preamp has everything I need, too bad though for the shared EQ and the bright function limited to the clean channels and the cromed pots are not eyes friendly as you might not see the setting on the fly, but it's just a minor issue, it's perfect all around. I'd give it a ten, but perfection belongs in the realm of Ideas, though this preamp is the best reflection of perfection you'd ever find in this Cavern...

I use this preamp with an ESP M-1000 w/EMG 81s, a Jackson RR3 loaded with SDs TB6 and SH2, a Kramer Vanguard, a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a vintage 70s Telecaster, even a Gibson E-335. My power amp is a used Marshall 9100 (it doesn't have EL34, but I am not that sure about it's power tubes, maybe 5881...). I use a Marshall 4x12 angled lead 900 cabinet loaded with celestion 30s. It might look insignificant, but I use a 20 ??? Cordial cable, and it really makes the difference (good cable = good sound).

As you can see I don't have a very narrow and specialized selection of axes, dedicated to just one style, and this preamp works perfectly with everything, it really brings out the full extent of the guitar's tone and "soul".

Maybe many of you associate the ENGL trademark to really heavy music... and you wouldn't be wrong, but this unit is NOT A ONE TRICK PONY!! It can get out many many different tones just by the turning of a knob (and I really mean ONE KNOB...).

The clean sounds are very sparkling, always on the top of the mix, the EQ makes wonders on channel one. The noise gate is not active for this channel, since is absolutely noiseless. I use this channel with gain on 9 o'clock and volume on 10/11 because I want a really clean, Jazzy sound. It sounds pretty modern, maybe a little cold, but with the classic switch on it gets warmer. Don't use the M.L.P. on it, it gets a little too muddy (for my taste...). If you push this channel you can get a crunchy sound, like a pushed Fender twin reverb, very early '60s (and funny!).

"Cruch" can be clean, like the "clean" channel, but a little gutsier. You can get really bluesy and rock'n roll sounds out of it. You can get through a show just using the volume pot of your guitar on this channel. From clean to soloing overdrive, it's all there. I love the classic mode on this channel, reminds me of Alvin Lee's tone. If you push this channel, you can get a heavy sound (no squiels thanks to the noise gate), like early Black Sabbath's (to be honest, the first time I heard the sound it reminded me of King Crimson's 21st century skizoid man, but that's just me ;) ).

Now, let's get to my favorite channel, Lead I. It's heavy. Real heavy... But I need to say one thing clear to all my guitarsturmtroopers brothers out there looking for the one-unit-does-it-all, for the Holy Grail of Meltyoufaceandmama Metal Sound. This is not an easy plug-in-and-rage-war unit, it needs tweeking (and some EQlizing) to get really Ubermetal. Don't think to put this thing in your rack, turning it on and get a metalfantastic sound. This ENGL will be you best companion in the search and it will bring you a lot closer to the goal, but it's not the ultimate answer. That said, I love this channel! I use with gain on 3 o'clock, High Gain switch on and Volume on 10 o'clock. It is just great. The noise gate works perfectly (after some minor tweaking) and the EQ is fine. The M.L.P. gives you a punch in the guts that will make you say "Hell, yeah!!". You can solo on this channel (though is concieved as a rithmic channel), just by rolling off the wolume on the guitar to get more noise reduction and you can even get a clean sound if you almost close the volume on the guitar. I never use contour 'cause it adds to many highs, but the mid edge is very useful for solos. The classic mode pushes down the gain a lot, but I like modern metal sounds. Anyway it's there if you need a Led Zeppelin kind of overdrive. You can really shape the sound just using the volume of the channel, but it'll get noisy, I garantee it (ask my neighbours... And I live in a farming area...). Absolutely amaizing and verstile.

Lead II is the "solo" channel, it's the most difficult to handle (but I just have to practice more I guess eheh), because it's really definite, clear and precise (and that's how you are suppose to play ;)!). Never use M.L.P. on it, not even the noise gate, because is a very manageble channel, even at the highest gain levels

I don't gig, I play for fun. I use in the safety of my home studio, safely bolted in my rack. I really do not belive it would brake down for no reason, but I can't be sure, can I?

I would gig with it without a backup, no problem, it's a preamp, there's no chance it would blow up or something. It's sturdy, like a little Tiger tank. NOT BULLET PROOF, but you know what I mean, it can easily handle any and all gigs' stresses. I can't give a grade, but you get the picture.

Ok, I dealt with ENGL support and THEY ARE THE BEST EVER!!
I got my preamp from this mega music store in Germany (I am Italian by the way, so it suffered a long journey to get to me) and it had an ugly problem. The first channel had an intermittent sound emittance. I thougth it was the 10 years old bought-used power amp, but it was the VERY EXPENSIVE AND NEW PREAMP!! I wrote to ENGL to ask what the problem might be, and in less than I guess two hours I got a very extensive, helpful reply, with their excuses for the problem. I sent it back to the store in Germany (and they were extremly efficent, but that's another story) and got it back after a week. They sent it back to ENGL, fixed it (it was just a dameged tube, really), sent it back to the store and they sent it to me. In a week. Great. And they asked me if it worked fine after the reapair. I mean, they are awsome!! ENGL forever!!!!!! (The only problem is that in Italy is difficult to find authorized repairers for ENGL, but Germany is just beyond the Alps (and a couple of countries, but we're all in the EU so I gess is no big deal eheh!)).

I am 21, and I have been playing electric guitar for just 6 years now (but I played music for as long as I can remeber). We all play music in my family and, as I said, we are a "jazz family" (so I guess I am kind of the "black sheep"), but I found my father using my ENGL with his 335 playing Real Book standars and being amazed, so I guess it something said about versatility, ah?

I bought this becasue I wanted to be able to choose what to play, not to be forced in one genre because of my rig. I love metal, but I want to be free to play everything. Whith this Engl I CAN! If someone would steal it for me, I'll hunt him/her down... Ok, maybe I am too lazy for that, but I'll be very very mad. I might get the full MIDI preamp in the case of such an event, but is still to expensive.

I cannot comapre it to other rack preamps, becase it's unique and because most people would settle for the head+cabinet solution, so I really have no reference.

One thing that really bothers me is the price. It's very expensive. You get your money worth, don't worry, but still, 1500 ??? is a lot of money! I guess it's a good thing I got the preamp and not the amp, because I coupled it with my Mashall power amp that costed me "just" 300 ???. The whole Engl Special Edition amp costs about 3000???. I might have saved some money... Maybe the Invader 100 whould have been a good alternative, but I am in the rack phase of things now.

As a final statemet I can tell you this: this is the top of the ENGL family of products. Just look at Steve Morse, Victor Smolsky, Hammerfall, Blackmoore and many many others great artists, and you'll see ENGL beyond them. Do I need to say more?

I bought this amp new in 2006. I use this amp for band rehearsals and live gigs (from bars to open air festivals). I play mostly 80's and 90's metal, but also blues (rock).

It's the preamp version of the E670 Special edition head. It weighs 12kg. It has 4 preamp tubes which do the following:

- V1a = Input stage, affects every channel
- V1b = Second gain stage, after gain pots, affects every channel
- V2a = Lead driver stage
- V2b = Equalizer input stage, before sound settings
- V3a = Modern/Classic for each channel
- V3b = FX-Send driver, each channel
- V4a = Output left, each channel
- V4b = Output right, each channel

It has 4 not fully independant channels, that means ch. 1 and 2 share EQ and ch. 3 and 4 share EQ. But each have their own treble, which makes it a bit more versatile. I think the shared EQ was a big BAD from ENGL, but I still can get all the sounds I want though.
It has onboard midi. That is, you can only store the extra options such as noise gate, fx loop, gain boost etc. to 128 presets. The other fuctions such as gain, eq and volume can be only set once just like a normal amp.

Example:
patch 1: lead 1 with mid edge and MLP.
patch 2: lead 1 with high gain, noise gate and loop.
patch 3: lead 1 with high gain, contour active, classic mode
etc.

Channels:
1: there's a gain knob, bass (shared), mid(shared), treble and volume
2: same knob layout as ch. 1 but with it's own treble.
3: gain knob, bass (shared), mid(shared), treble and volume
4: same knob layout as ch. 3 but with it's own treble.

Midi switchable options for ch.1+2:
- gain boost
- normal bright
- ultra bright

Midi switchable options for ch. 3+4:
- high gain (gain boost)
- contour active (low mids boost)
- mid edge (high mids boost)

Other midi switchable options:
- modern/classic mode
- MLP (mega low punch)
- fx loop
- noise gate (only for ch. 2, 3 and 4)

Other options:
- master volume
- frequency compensated line outputs (XLR L/R and Stereo jack)
- stereo Fx loop
- noise gate (adjustment on the back)
- phantom power for ENGL footswitch Z-9, Z-12 and Z-15
- Z-4 and Z-9 footswitch jack inputs
- preamp defeat (bypasses the whole preamp so you can use another preamp in the loop)
- auxillary input at the back

I would have given it a 10 if it wasn't for the shared EQ.

This amp is very versatile, but it still has it's own ENGL sound which is very tight and sometimes a bit compressed at high gain. I use it with an ENGL E840 50 watts stereo tube poweramp and a TC electronic G-sharp in the effectsloop.

I use custom built Les paul with floyd rose and a les paul classic. Both with 490R and 498T pickups.

Ch. 1 is the clean channel. It goes from REALLY crystal clean to a vintage breakup crunch. This channel breaks up pretty early though, so watch out with high output pickups. That's why I replace the V1 input tube to a lower output Sovtek 12ax7WA.
I always use the normal bright and ultra bright for that super crystal clean sparkle, I LOVE IT!! Almost a bit piezo sounding. But you can easily dial in some blues clean with a bit of break up or smooth jazz. On the TC I use soft chorus and silver plate reverb.

Ch. 2 is the crunch channel. It goes from little break up to high gain rock sounds. I use this as my AC/DC kinda crunch/distortion sound. On the TC I use a silver plate reverb.

Ch. 3 is the lead 1 channel. It goes from distortion to super high gain distortion. I love high gain, the more the better, but I never exceed 1 o'clock, so that must be very high :-) It's very tight and compressed and a bit gritty (fuzzy) that's why I replaced the V2 and V3 tubes with JJ 12ax7. It's a lot smoother and warmer now. I use this as my high gain rythm channel. On the TC I use a bit soft chorus.

Ch. 4 is the lead 2 channel. Same specs as lead 1 but a bit more scooped and less tight and even more gain. I use this as my solo channel so I set the channel volume higher. On the TC I use dynamic delay and silver plate reverb.

The clean channel has very low noise. The high gain channels have a quite amount of hiss, but with the noisegate it's perfectly muted.

I'de gave it a 10 if it wasn't for the early breakup in the clean and fizzy high gain sound. The new tubes made it perfect though.

Reiable? Don't know... not as reliable as point to point solderings I think, but I guess with a little care you can use this amp for years. All parts are solid mounted, so are the tubes, but never day never! The pots are sturdy. I have it for more than a year now and nothing has happened to it.

I always use it without a backup.

They are hard to reach. But they e-mailed me back a couple of times. I even directly e-mailed Horst Langer and he was very friendly and helpful with my question.

There are enough ENGL dealers, so enough service points.

Warranty is 2 years.

I've been playing for 15 years. Before this amp I used a Digitech 2120 tube preamp with a mesa 50/50 tube poweramp. Well... after hearing this REAL tube amp, I never use my digitech anymore :-)

I have all my amps insured, so if it gets stolen or lost I get my full money back. I think i'd go for the SE head, Invader or try other amps like the marshall JVM or 3 channel rectifier. I never had any other tube amps so I can't compare. That's why I'd like to try others.

I love that is is midi switchable. I hate the shared EQ.

This is the preamp section of the Engl Se head, which is the biggest and most versatile amp Engl ever made until now. This tube preamp features the same options such as the bright and ultra bright (increase the high end) the contour and mid edge (increase the mid range) the MLP (increase the low end) the modern and classic mode (different voicings) the higain (turns the preamp into a higain monster). It alos features a noise gate and a totally bypassable fx loop. All those switches are controllable via midi (which is awesome!) but the eq settings and the gain pot are not storable, unlike the e580. Well nothing is perfect, the e570 works a little bit like the VHT GP3 in that sense.

The preamp is really versatile. With all the sound shaping options and the 4 different channels, you can access to a vast area of tones, from very clean, sparkling kind of tones to a super heavy over the top hi gain sound and everything in between. I don't use that much gain, and I play melodic progressive metal. This thing is wonderful. the lead sound is ultra tight, articulate and very dynamic in response. I struggled a little bit to find a sweet singing juicy solo tone, but you can find it by using the mid edge and contour options and lowering the high frequencies (which are very upfront on this pre)
But the heavy rythm sound is really where the 570 shines the most I would say. Unbelievable!!
The clean channel is one the most beautiful and dynamic channel I ve ever played, you can have a crystal like kind of clean but you can distort it a little bit and give it another flavour which is amazing. The crunch is also very usable and sounds really nice.

The 2 lead channels are quite close to each other. The first one is actually a little more voiced for rythm work (very articulate and fast response) and the second one works more for fat solos (more bottom end, more gain, more juicy). When you set them up without the Higain switch, you have a lead sound that is very close to the savage and blackmore amps, and when you activate the Hi gain you have a much more compressed, heavy and bassy tone, closer to the powerball/fireball series.
This what I like the most with this preamp is that you can access to basically every Engl sound they have made so far. awesome!

The preamp never broke down I never had any bad experience with it. It's built very well.

Never had to contact the customer support!

I play guitar since 12 years and I use the 570 since one year. I wish I had started guitar with this gear!!! I ve owned a transistor combo amp (an old carlsbro) and a tonelab SE. There is no comparison!! the engl makes your playing come alive, it makes you shine if you play well, but it doesn't save you if you play bad. The sound is very very clear and precise so any mistake is clearly heard!
I love the design, the sound. It's not that cheap but I don't regret any euros spent in it. All the options are great. I wish the solo tone would come easier, but I know it's there somewhere.

I compared it recently with a Rocktron Prophesy which I heard of a lot. To me the Engl is much better in terms of sound. Sure the Prophesy has got more tonal controls and also features a nice fx section, but when you take it as a preamp solely, the Prophesy is just miles away. The 570 sound much more focused, natural and warm. This a real tube preamp whereas the Prophesy sounds digital and cold.
I also tried the triaxis which sounds really good, but overall I had a better feel with the Engl.
If it was stolen, id buy antoher or maybe I would try the e580 which seems to me very nice too, or the new invader head!

Visit the Engl site, or look above or below this submission. This thing gas everything, and now my Bogner is my backup. Killer preamp, no question. I run all 16 of my guitars through it and it rocks.
Sounds great with all pickups, emgs, duncans, etc.
Dont look anywhere else this is the preamp to have!

For me it death metal all the time, but it will do really good cleans and whatever crap you play.
Built in noise gate, so noisey..........no. I can bypass the gate when I flip my P2 on, and then watch out KFK.

Its the best preamp on the market. I have an amp tech, so I am not even concerned. Breaks down, then I have my bogner (this has broken down in the past) but I will never need a back up in all honesty.

Jeff rocks!! Got next day delivery was at my house on a saturday! How great is that?

Been playing for almost a week. My other gear I am running consists of 2 Marshall 9200s, Marshall VBA 400, 2 full stacks and Bass bin (all Marshall). Several other items I will not mention, but you get the idea, I have serious gear.
Blood has come out of several ears in my studio, and the Engl has just the right stuff to make my whole system do what it was intended to do.
I could have purchased any preamp on the planet, I have the means, but this was the smartest idea yet. Thanks to all the death metal guys out there for turning me onto this fine product, and to Jeff for really helping me out with the details
Avoid the following preamps;
ADA MP1 and MP2
Marshall JMP
anything Messa
These are all thin and shitty!!!!!!!!! Unless you want to sound like that, then thats your buisness!!
Hope this helps
If it was stolen I would have another is less than 24 hours. The guy who stole it would be very pleased as well!!!!!!!

This preamp goes the whole nine yards when it comes to features. 4 channels, different gain structures for each channel, different tones filters for each channel, all is midi switchable, and MIDI controllable with its 128 presets. There's a preamp defeat function that is actually really great if you want to use this pre with another one or your favourite head or combo... The 4 channels go clean, crunch, lead 1, lead 2.

The sounds are amazing to say the least. I don't think I've heard such great sound from a preamp in all the years I've played the guitar. The clean is Fender clean, different tone, but it can sparkle or hold back on demand. The crunch is the most amazing channel to me, because it's heavy enough to be played in almost any style short of the most extreme ones. Think petrucci in metropolis part 1 main rythm tone and you get a good idea how this channel sounds. JCM800 on steroids if you ask me. Lead 1 has enough gain for anyone, stays clear and defined through all the gain knob range. I play with gain set at 4 on this channel, and I get GOBS of gain ! Lead 2 goes beyond lead 1 gain wise, just over the top, but some guys want that so it's cool for them that it's in there. I use this channel as my lead tone with gain at 3-4 and Hi gain switch on. Tone for days. The striking part for me is the dynamics this pre is capable of, it just plays from your playing. Unlike amps that cover your dynamics when they're full on, this one lets your playing adjust the level of dynamics, and that's really nice.

Built like a tank... Could go wrong like anything, but I doubt that it will...

That's just the best preamp out there, same league as a VHT GP3, better than a custom audio to me, and way better than the Triaxis. Dynamic, great overall tone, easy to play and dial in, not to mention control via MIDI... What else could I ask for...

I'm calling this a two channel unit , because there are only two independant sets of EQ .
The Engl guys appear to think that every 'boost' button equals a whole new channel . We are not in agreement there .

Gibson factory stuff . I like *selected* studios ( many are shite ) .
Engl amps are so low noise on 'clean ' that you could use them fro HiFi systems ( yes , seriously you could ) .
Make Mesa-Boogie cleans a joke .
Jazz sounds on the Engl are sweet , sweet , sweet ....

Very complicated amp . But I've had no problems with any Engl equipment thus far .

Their manuals are pretty rubbish .
Somtimes its the 'crunch' channel , sometimes its ' overdrive 1 channel ' , on the front panel its 'gain LO/HI ' ..... make up your **cking minds !!
Rumoured to be very helpful if there's a problem .

30 years on guitar .
I traded it back in to the shop for an Engl 580 which is the real deal for midi control . A total Triaxis killer .

Four basic channels Clean, Crunch, Lead I, Lead II The two Lead channels are freely configurable, affording tremendous flexibility in shaping lead sounds to suit every player, situation and style, satisfying the most diverse tonal requirements of guitarists. Each of the four channels sports a dedicated Volume knob, making it easy to adjust their relative levels.
Two sound modes for all four channels Top tone for a vast range of styles.Two sounds x four channels = eight jaw-dropping basic sounds!
Four Gain knobs and 2 Gain buttons Each of the sub channels' Gain is independently variable. This makes it easy to fine-tune input sensitivity and control the amount of distortion in the Crunch and Lead channels. Gain Boost and Lo/Hi Gain extend the four channels' gain spectrums: another 4 sound options.
Two EQ sections with Bass, Middle, Treble for Main Channel 1, Clean & Crunch for Main Channel 2, Lead I & Lead II Both voicing sections feature separate Treble knobs for each of the four sub channels, enabling all four channels to be shaped and fine-tuned with precision.
Four voicing buttons Bright, Ultra Bright, Contour, and Mid Edge.Normal Bright and Ultra Bright on the Clean and Crunch Channels elicit chiming, bell-like top end. Contour and Mid Edge on the Lead I and II channels shape crucial mid range frequencies to create commanding lead tone. The voicing buttons offer an amazing range of options for shaping the basic lead sounds.
An impressive sound-shaping button: M.L.P. - Mega Lo Punch Mega Lo Punch is a voicing control feature that boosts the low-end response of all four channels. Especially in the Modern Lead mode M.L.P. beefs up the preamp's bottom end.
Built-in Stereo Effects Loop passive, featuring tube circuitry, programmable via MIDI. For enhancing the sound spectrum via external stereo effects devices.
Preamp Defeat Feature If desired, the preamp may be deactivated and bypassed via the Defeat function. This option comes in handy when you want to insert another preamp or an effect processor into a serial loop along with the ENGL Preamp 570.
Volume Control each Channel and an additional Master Volume pot Precise volume tuning between the four basic channels. Quick access to the overall output level.
Stereo Recording outputs with speaker simulation The circuit is designed to simulate a guitar loudspeaker system. Stereo 1/4" output for hard disk recording. Balanced XLR outputs for feeding simulated stereo signals to PA systems. Level knob, Clip LED.
Switchable Noise Gate The Noise Gate is a critical feature for many situations demanding a hushed signal - in the studio, on stage, and while recording, particularly at high gain levels. Threshold and Mute Depth knobs control the Noise Gate's intensity and the noise gate is programmable via MIDI in the overdrive channels.
Additional remote control ports For the optional Z-9 footboard (accesses functions directly or via MIDI x 10) and for a two-way channel switching footswitch

Depends on the what power amp it is used with. Please all users of this preamp, specify what power amp you use with it and describe how it sounds.

Engl products seem pretty reliable but like all music equiptment it just depends on how good you take care of it and how long you've had it for. Tubes are usually the only problem.

It's a pretty nice preamp as far as I can tell. Haven't had it long enough but it seems very versitile. Haven't tried it with to many power amps yet but I'm assuming a power amp with EL34's would suit my style best. Wouldn't mind trying it with 6L6's. The actual Engl power amp made for this preamp like the one inside the SE head, has not been released yet but when it does it will cost $3000 USD. Pretty fucked up that it's so expensive. Some might just benefit from buying the actual SE head than to go with the rack stuff because it would be alot cheaper. I'm probably going to use a Mesa power amp with it for now or possibly a Randall RT250 which can use EL34's and 6L6's on different sides of the power amp. Please all users of this preamp let other users like myself know how you have yours set up. This preamp seems like it could possibly be the best one to buy other than the new 580, but the power amp you use can make all the difference. Contact me if you have any suggestions or you just have some info to share. Thanks!