Engl Fireball Head

The Engl Fireball 60 Watt tube head has a very simple layout. It's because of this simplicity that I'm scoring it a 10 for features. There are two channels for clean and gain respectively, and the controls are shared between them. A single EQ, Gain, Prescnence aswell as two master volumes (Footswitchable for a solo boost). There's also the familiar FX Loop, which I don't use.

Being a former Mesa Boogie user, there's a degree of freedom in the simplistic design of the Fireball, and I would say it's a very user-friendly "Plug & Play" style amp compared to Mesa amps that take a degree of knowledge and tweaking in order to dial in the right tone. So, while that's not exactly a criticism of Mesa Boogie, if you'd prefer a more user-friendly amp, then the Engl really delivers.

This is where the amp really shines. There's no doubt that it has been designed as a purely Heavy Metal beast, and it succeeds not only because of a phenominal distorted channel, but a sparkling clean channel aswell. Infact, I'd say that the Cleans beat that of Mesa Boogie's Rectifiers and other hard-rock geared amp hands down, and this is a huge plus because in the world of Metal today there are bands who use a lot of cleans.

Personally, I play music akin to that of Opeth, Death, Nevermore, Megadeth, Dream Theater, aswell as song by the aforementioned bands. The Fireball has the style nailed, and has more than enough distortion and gain on tap to satisfy any needs, even the severely brutal Morbid Angel sound.

I also find that turning the volume down on the guitar, and using single coils, I can get some very nice low-gain bluesy style sounds. Good if you're a fan of Stevie Ray or the likes aswell as some of the more extreme acts around, but I doubt I could recommend the Fireball for the blues player.

Overall though, I believe the amp to be nothing short of perfection for me needs. It can be extremely loud indeed, so plenty of juice for live playing.

Overall, a stunning amp that I simply cannot fault.

This amp has a clean and a dist mode!
I mostly play metal and that's what it's build for! Treb Mid Prec Bass Depth and Bright mode. Thats it

I'm using a ESP Horizon with EMG 81/85 and Jackson DK Solo with same PU's and they fit perfectly to this amp (espacially tuned to B!!)! The clean chanel is really nice and sounds like no other. It's just differnt to other amps. The dist channel is what i bought it for! Metal!!!!!! There are no limits with EMG 81 Cutting through and sounding like a beast! No compare to powerball! Powerball is ok and has a noisegate but the tightness on powerball is less than on FIREBALL because the Mids are not as variable than on FIREBALL. So this amp gives you more for less!!!!

I use this amp for 8 weeks now and played 4 gigs with it! I don't need a backup anymore (Had JMP1 and 9100 and a lot of Eq stuff) just a boss noisgate and it sounds like hell!!!!!

I can't tell becuae I just had no pobs until now

This amp is worth while every Cent!! It's realy a working horse! If you play Metal espacially Symphonic stuff this thing is the best choice! I'ts versatile and perfectly tunded to such stuff

60W Tube amp with clean and distortion channel.
No unnecessary features, just what you need.

I'm using it with a Ibanez rg7 (tuned in D) with DiMarzio evolution pickups, and a self-built 2x12 cabinet (celestion speakers). Reverb pedal in the fx loop sometimes.

I play mostly death metal-style distortion and this amp has a great sound for it. Warm and crunchy. The clean channel is clear and warm-sounding. With the gain at around 12:00 it's good for both channels.

Very versatile, anything from clean to brutal distortion. Clean channel with full gain is pretty much like the dist channel with low gain, so it's all there. A 9 because I have a sore throat.

I've had it for about 5 years and it has worked fine for me. Never gigged but (ab)used alot in practice.

No idea, haven't needed it.

I've been playing for about 8 years or something. It's my only amp and perfect for me. I think there's no better amp for the price.

It's also a nice piece of furniture if I find myself wondering why the hell I think I can play an instrument.

Real simple but does me just fine

I actually dont use the gain channel the overdrive level is ridiculous,i go for an ac/dc type sound,why oh why engl didnt you include a seperate gain knob for the overdrive channel!! how ridiculous! set up a perfect rhythm sound with the gain up full,only to have it blow your head off when you switch to the gain channel!

interanlly this amp is a joke,it must cost very little to make,eveything is on a pcb and all the trannies are about as a big as a marshall choke! so why is it #800 quid? i dunno..it does sound good though

ABsolutely $%^&! i emailed them about the gain knob and they ignored me,like they do eveybody else,so engl you can suffer for this,answer your emails and you will sell more amps! its called customer serivce!!! get it engl??

Despite my despair with engl customer serivce it is the best amp ive had so far sound wise,but i dig the clean channel only..the gain channel is to much for me,i dont do reviews, this is my first,and im only really posting this to make engl suffer for there lack of email contact,and that is a fucking insult,prehaps they should change there name to ignorant

Hi everyone. I'll run over the essentials fast, since features asf are more than adequately covered in the above reviews.

Yeah, the 'ball is pretty basic, but for some of us, thats just the thing.

I play this thing through the ENGL 4x12 Vintage 30 cab. It's expensive compared to std. cabs, but the sound is infinitely better.

This is point no. 1. Have a good cab for your head. Speakers aren't just speakers, and wood isn't just wood.

It's a hardrock/metal amp, and it nails the genre to a tee. But it doesnt end there. You wanna go vintage, it's there. You wanna tune down two steps and go death it's there. Anything in between, from scarcely overdriven early AC/DC tones, through Blackmore-like glassy brilliance/hollow depth to your average metal sound (Boogie/Marshall/Soldano) - this thing has it all. Yup, you'll have to dial 'em in one at a time, but most of it depends on your playing style, to which this amp is as responsive as anything I've ever come across.

My main use for this amp, is in my Sabbath Tribute band, and it shines.

I play a costum Morch and a SG. The Morch has a Duncan Invader 'bucker and 2 homespun Singles from Morch, which are nice and smooth, and has great chunk when cranked in the neck pos.

This opens up the land of crunchy SRV-style blues, which this amp will handle - a little too tightly perhaps - but veeeery convincingly.

I rarely play the clean channel, much preferring to dial back on my guitar for a clean setting. For this to work, I need to freeze the gain, not much higher than halfway, or it'll go muddy when I de-crank. I find the clean sound to be better this way, and whatever hiss the gainstages might generate, disappeares when I turn down the guitar. The clean I get this way is warm and bell-like, lots of highs, and all I need for it to sneer a bit is pick a little harder, or maybe raise the knob a notch.

The gain in this amp should cover everything. If you feel you need more, you should probably seek help. It's a demon if you so wish,
and the sheer number of Death/Black/Powermetal-players who plays it, is testament to this fact.

BUT! I'd bring it along for a Party-gig anytime - it is that flexible.

Hmm. On the whole ENGL is pretty reliable gear. The Fireball is build like a tank on the outside, and that a good thing, cause the internals are somewhat fragile.

Beware, that repairshops will probably hate doing service on any ENGL-amp, since they're all designed in the same extremely service-unfriendly way: In order to replace a single knob on this baby, one would have to do a pretty complete disassemble. You want one pot out, you gotta remove them all, cause they're all stuck on the same piece of board.

Despite what boutique-amp-manufacturers might have you believe, though, board constructions are not nescersarily worse-sounding or shorter-lifed than their point-to-point-soldered counterparts. But, they're a hell of a lot easier to service, because everything is separate.

On a board, everything is stuck together, and you pay the price, when one of those cheapo potentiometres break at the stem, and your chickyhead-knob goes flop on the floor.. The shop will fix it in a heartbeat, but you get to pay for 2 hours, while they take the fucking thing apart and put it back together again, and I do speak from personal experience!!

ENGL cuts corners just like everyone else, and you'll find cheapo INTERNAL construction on any given ENGL product. - Just like on Marshall, Fenders, Peaveys a.s.f.

Another example:

Anyone got a Z4 switch? Try taking it apart, and check out the mounting of the LEDs - A glob of silicone is all thats holding them in place! Now, call radio-shack, and ask 'em how much a set of screw-in diodes would have cost, and remember that factories buy leds by the thousands..

Such lousy design should not find it's way into supposedly 'pro' gear, and that's where the boutique-stuff comes in, for those who's got the cash...

Having said all this, I should say that neither of my ENGL amps have ever broken down on me. The other one is a Screamer Pro Blues Combo, which has taken 10 years of abuse and played hundreds of gigs, with minimal maintenance.

The solution for me is Flightcases for the combo and the head. They're a pain to carry, but my Fireball still looks brand-new everytime I open the box..

If you DO take care of your ENGL amp, it WILL last and last. The few weak points are all internal, and in general the amps take abuse really well, since outwardly they're built very sturdy. Just don't knock off those knobs, or you'll be sorry.

...But not as sorry as you'll be after 14 consecutive futile efforts to contact ENGL's costumer service... These guys do not answer their e-mail, and the spare parts they delivered via their dealer were wrong!

I actually payed for parts that don't fit in my amp, and they just totally ignore the e-mails I send them!

Their dealer in Denmark is a good guy, who will do all he can to help you out.

I guess you could say I'm a fan of ENGL - The amplifiers, not the company!!!

I've been playing forever, professionaly for the last 10 years. I Don't have that much guitar-gear. A stack, a combo, a small set of pedals, a couple of guitars.

ENGL amps sound sensational. I love them, and need them. Will probably play them forever.

Fantastic value is exactly right!

The Fireball is the entry level into the BIG HEAD range of its line up. It is a 60 watt one channel, dual mode or two channel amp if you wish to accept it as. It has 4 12AX7 pre-amp valves and only 2 6l6GC power amp valves.

Internally it lights up in red giving it a truly sinister 'Fireball' glow....absolutely classy.

I remember reading the old paper based brochure for this amp and ENGL start off saying "This amp is for all you head bangers out there..." So this amp for you know who, yes us GLORIOUS HEAD BANGERS.

It is a simplistic design and the front panel consists of a gain dial that works both channels, a bright and depth switch that boost the treble and bass range (respectively) when pushed in.

Then you have your pre-amp EQ dials (bass/middle/treble) and then you have the presence dial which works the treble range in the power amp.

There is a third and final push-in switch that activates the ultra gain mode. Then there are two separate master volumes each working the respective channel. However with the ENGL Z4 footswitch you can work the volumes together in each channel which is great in Ultra Gain mode to give you a volume boost when performing lead.

Finally there are 2 LED lights that when turned on, advise the user which power amp valve is playing up. Usually by turning off the stand-by switch and turning it on fixes the problem.

Then Stand-by and power switch.

At the rear of the amp it's very uncluttered, input AC socket, footswitch socket, FX loop with a balance dial allowing you to mix accurately the amount of FX and finally 4 inputs for various cabinet combinations.

Well may I firstly say, exorcise me and send me to the heights of Heavenly Head Banging divinity. Firstly in clean, it projects crystal clear tones for those Metallica like interludes before the crushing sound comes in again.

Set it on Ultra Gain mode and this EVILIZED venomous creature sounds like a Beast from the most darkest and most vile forests of Budapest disembowelling a wolf, strangling it with its own bowels and then feasting off the bile in its spleen...Get the picture folks.

I just cannot fathom how an amp with only a master volume and no channel volumes can still sound vicious at conversational volumes let alone bedroom volumes.

Sweep picking and legato just flows, alt picking and this thing fires like an automated electric cannon, pinched harmonics, this thing howls like a pack of wolves about to extract revenge on a warring pack.

Even though it has only one gain dial, fear not, because it's very sensitive when you ease off the volume on your axe and you'd be surprised how clean it can still sound. Setting the Master volume at 2 (15.5 on the Richter scale) and then set the gain at about 1 o'clock and that's way too much. Click the foot switch to clean channel or dial back the volume on Ultra Gain and this thing cleans up well.

I have the standard ENGL angled 412 cab with Celestion V60s and they sound awesome....

NEVER HAVE I HEARD A MORE BEAUTIFUL TONE FROM SUCH A SIMPLISTIC AMP. MY 4 YEAR OLD SON AND 2 YEAR DAUGHTER HAVE EXPRESSED KEEN INTEREST IN SETTING THIS AMP UP FOR ME....

OK FOLKS, I'VE SAID THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, IT'S GERMAN....

When NATO were testing nuclear missiles in the Pacific Region, they used ENGL amps as the benchmark to ensure that surroundings would be obliterated...The only difficulty was, NATO could not destroy this thing.

It just kept being blown up and still made it to live performances on time and in perfect working order.

The good thing is that it is lighter than the Powerball and much lighter than the Savage 120 (which I own and this thing weighs 16 mega tonnes). That way, you?ll only slip a disc or two per year, which is treatable with physiotherapy?

Chris at ENGL is a gentleman, always helpful, emails me brochures and has emailed me technical specs and pics of amps, cabs etc...

Try info@engldistribution.com

Or Peter from Synergy Distribution, very responsive and willing to give advice and point you in the right direction.

peter@synergydistribution.co.uk

Bought it at Wembley Guitar Centre (Thanks Alvin...do me a good deal on the footswitch, AHEM!).

I've actually paid a deposit and will be paying it off sooner rather than later. Though I have played it enough to know its potential and tonal dynamics.

My poor wife, I have more ENGL equipment at home than she has shoes... I LOVE YOU MARIA, you're the best, thanks for your patience.

If it were stolen, I would hunt the culprit down, stick the power valves up their sphincter, wire them back to the head and flick the power/stand by switch on and watch their ass and bowels burn....

Amps like this will last you a life time and can be handed down to the younger generations.

Go try it folks, for those who want an amp with the capacity to blow you off stage for that ultimate metal sound without having that Steve Lukather approach (676 pedals, 546 boards, 231 midis...) it'll more than do the job.

It has 2 power tubes(6L6GC) and four preamp tubes.1 gain for both channels,bass,mid,treble,presence,brigth and depth switch and 2 master volumes.Not alot of knobs on this amp but thats how I like it... keep it simple.

With this amp I'm using a Jackson RR5 loaded with emg-81.First off I'm a metal head...think Dying fetus,six feeth under and Napalm death.For real death metal or black metal this amp will be your tool to raise the dead.Its fucking brutal as shit,it seems that Satan himself build this amp from the fires of hell.The palm mute is a real deep ?TSHUG?.But this amp is not just made for metal,hell no,yesterday I nailed the old AC/DC sound,just turn down the gain,get those mids up and you got that warm vintage sound.And the claen is simply the best clean sound I have personnaly had.

Seems to be fuckin reliable...fist it came from Germany to the u.s.a then from the u.s.a to Qu?bec canada and then after its been used by alot of people and shipped and reshipped,its still works like a new one.

I wrote to Engl u.s.a and they answered me the next day

I've been playing for 5 years and its of course the best amp I have ever owned.Once you go with an Engl all tube amp you'l never come back to those expensive amps that don't even come close to the character that Engl amps give to your sound.The only kind of down this amp has....god is it huge!(not at all a problem for me)

All features I need. I use a GT-8 in the eff.chain, so I don't mind the lack of reverb and different Chains for Clean/Dist. Two master vols (switchable), one gain control, pres/treb/mid/bass, depth and bright switch.

I use the amp with a Gibson style guitar (Pearl GC) with EMG 81.

Clean: from clean to heavy crunch. I have to set it to 5 to get a great sounding clean. Although I bought this Amp for its dist.-channel, the clean sound is the best I've had so far. Enriched with some chorus you feel like flying. :-D

Dist: thick, harmonic distortion. You can do artificial harmonics without any probs. The riffs just flow. It`s really a great feeling.

I mostly play melodicdeathmetal and it's the best amp to buy for all styles of metal and rock. Much better than Mesa and Marshalls. Had a Laney VH100R before with much more shit (4 ch/5 eff. ch etc), but it didn't rock.

Has a Tube Monitor system and looks really(!!!) dependable. I had some gigs with it and would definetly gig it w/o backup. You can trust in German quality engineering!

I had some phone calls with a technician, because I heard radio from my amp. He told me to modify my guitar and now everything's fine.

They offered to check my amp free of charge.

Really nice.

I would definetely buy it again. If you need a metal amp, try this one!

This is just a kick ass amp! The Fireball has 2 channels. Very nice clean to bluesy tone on the 1st channel, to a nice classice rock to a heavy ass metal tone on the 2nd channel. It has a Depth and Bright button. At first you don't really notice a change in tone when these buttons are engaged. But after playing with them engaged for a while, and you disengage then, you are like holy shit, that did do a lot to the tone. The only thing that discouraged me at first was the shared gain knob between the 2 channels. I still wish it had 2 gain knobs, but the shared knob is NOT a problem. I run the gain around halfway, and I get sparkling cleans, and balls to the wall distortion. It has plenty of power and is loud as hell when cranked.

First of all, let me say extremely tight and articlulat. I am using a crappy Ibanez guitar with my Fireball, and it still sounds great. I have used guitars with Seymour Duncans and EMG's through this amp, and let me just say, the higher quality guitar really shines through this amp. I have played everything from Metallica, Lamb of God, Chimaira, Arch Enemy, to Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, Sixpence None the Richer, to AC/DC, Ozzy,... The amp can do it all. I would suggest getting a noise gate (ISP Decimator kicks ass) with the amp if you play out much. It isn't very noisy, but it really helps to have a noise gate.

I have had the amp for about 6 months now and nothing has gone wrong with it yet. These things are built like motherfucking tanks. I have played a couple of gigs with it, and it has done great.

I have never had to go through customer support for any reason, so I guess that's a good thing.

I have been playing for a couple of years now, and I am a gear/tone whore. I have played many, many amps and stuff, so I know what I am talking about. I have compared this to Mesa, Marshall, and others, and for what I do, it owns. If you want 5150 (6505) tones, but also want a clean channel, get this amp. I can nail those tones, and I have a great clean channel. If you have enough $ to get a Powerball, then get that because it has all of the versatility at your feet, but if you don't, get the Fireball. I can get almost all of the Powerball's tones, just not at once. Once again, KICK ASS AMP!

This is a 2005 Fireball. Im very impressed with the amp for my needs. It goes from crystal clean to just crushing distortion. I use this amp mainly for mostly Death/Thrash/Black/Grind metal. Amp has two channels. You can switch btw clean/distortion, and switch btw two masters with the footswitch (not included) Effects loop is really nice, very transparent. Also has deep/bright switchs, fairly subtle, can notice more on clean channel, but I use deep switch for high gain stuff, it makes the sound a bit thicker to my ears. I am real satisfied with the layout of the amp. No problem with the power it has plenty of volume. I use this amp in my studio, and it works great in that enviornment.

I use USA humbucking guitars, usually made from mahogany with neckthru designs. Dean,BC Rich,Gibson,Wazoo etc. This has been
my favorite amp I've played so far, and I have played a bunch of high end stuff. I play very aggressive metal, and for that this amp really is just untouched, except maybe for another Engl. The clean is super quiet, the high gain has a bit of noise, but nothing that bothers me, I am putting a decimator noisegate in front and that takes care of any noise if I want, but it is fine either way. The clean is beautiful very clear with good headroom. The distortion is where this amp shines, as mentioned in other reviews, this is a 'metalhead's amp"
I could not be happier with the distortion it is deadly. Palm muted stuff is awsome and very articulate. This amp has more then enough distortion and it still remains very articulate - just incredible!!

This is a fairly new amp, so I am not going to give a review on this right now. So far the amp has been working real well and from other owners I have spoken with, the Fireball seems to hold up real well.

I actually went to www.rocksolidamps.com in person and purchased from
Derek directly. Derek is a great guy and let me try out the Fireball, Powerball, Blackmore, and SE. They all sound great, the Fireball works for me perfectly. I should mention I had the amp shipped and it was packed totally pro and double boxed. If your interested in one of these deadly amps check Derek's website out, there is bunch of soundclips - He is the man if you want an Engl!

I have been playing metal for over 20 years now. I have a Hot Rodded Marshall, Univalve, and Soldano Avenger. All great amps in their own way, but if it came down to one keep it would be the Fireball, I just love the distorton of this amp - it flat out kills! The only amp that I liked as much as the Fireball was the Engl SE, but it cost quite a bit more. The Fireball Smokes!!!!