Engl Ritchie Blackmore Signature

This is basically a 4 channel head, clean, crunch, low gain lead and high gain lead. It has one E.Q. for all 4 channels, but it is voiced so that all you need is one E.Q. and the pickup switch on your guitar. It lost a point for not having a footswichable effects loop, and another for not having a midi interface but it gained a point for having the 2 footswitchable master volumes, a great feature. Overall this amp is very easy to understand and if you have the Z-5 footswitch it is the only amp you need to own.

I own amps by Marshall, Mesa, and Soldano, and there is no contest, the Engl blows them all away. In fact, the other guitar player in my band had been trying to talk me into a Bogner Uberschall, but when he heard the Blackmore he thought it sounded better! This is the first amp that I've ever played that can really stand on it's own. (I usually run a BBE sonic maximizer in the loop on all of my amps, if you don't have an Engl I highly reccomed the maximizer). I'm a bonifide gearhead with tons of rack gear and pedals, but I plug straight into this head and I don't miss a thing! The first thing I noticed was the clean channel, it's fat and clear and beautiful and it doesn't break up like a Rectifier does. It stays clean, no matter what volume you play at. I play in a hard rock / metal band, so I immediately jumped to the high gain lead channel, and this is where this amp is at it's best. I read some of the earlier reviews that said everything about this amp is great except this channel, and I don't know what the Hell they're talking about! This is the most tight, heavy, focused gain I have ever heard in my life. It's heavier than Marshall, and way tighter than a Boogie. I can't even put into words how this channel sounds, imagine the feel and warmth of a vintage marshall with the in you face distortion of a Boogie, but every note rings true, you can hear every note of an augmented chord ring, and palm muting is pure Heaven!! Raw like Aerosmith and tight like Megadeth rolled into one, absolutely unbelieveable. Then you kick in the mid boost and solos just scream through the mix! The crunch channel is basically the clean channel with a little gain added and is perfect for "raunchy" clean tones, Stevie Ray style blues, or Skynyrd licks. The low gain lead channel is very similar to the high gain channel, with, guess what, a little less gain. It's great for nasty rock n roll like AC/DC or Kiss, but with the tone of this amp it can actually blow away the high gain channel of most other heads out there! I know that Mr. Blackmore prefers a Strat with single coils, but I think this amp sounds best when punished with a guitar loaded with a Duncan JB in the bridge. It does get noisy on the high gain channel, but a Boss NS-2 between the guitar and amp cleaned up most of it. I've been experimenting wit that set up plus adding another NS-2 in the loop and the amp is dead silent without sacrificing tone or the AMAZING sustain and controlled feedback this bad mutha has to offer!

Built like a brick shit house, spare fuse, no frills so nothing goofy to break. I'd never gig without a backup no matter what I was playing, vbut I'd leave the backup in the truck with this one!!

I've e-mailed them on a few occasions, even before I got the Blackmore to ask tech questions and they've always been helpful and quick to reply. They would've gotten a 10 if you didn't have to ship your stuff to Germany to get it worked on.

I've been playing for around 20 years and have never played an amp that sounded this good, and it can be had for less than half the price of a Diezel or a Bogner. It's a steal, and if someone offered to trade an Uberschall or Herbert for it I wouldn't think twice about saying "no".

Easiest way to explain it is that it's a four channel amp, clean low-gain, crunch hi-gain (very bluesy), soft lead low-gain (rock rythm), heavy lead (lead)
Because of the Master volume A/B selection there's a lead sound for each of those channels very cool, though this only works if you have one of the Engl footswitches.
Also theres a mid boost and presence on the lead sounds.

Gave it 8 as its very easy to use. Would have been ten but it needs the Engl footswtch and could have done with a midi interface to stop the tap dancing on stage

10 out of 10 (and I don't even like Richie Blackmore).

I use '91 USA Strat with a Hot rails in the bridge, and a mex Standard Tele. I play anything and I mean anything.

There are three amps in here. On the clean side you got Fender'ish sounds, add the mid boost and you got Boogie sounds. Clean is very clean, I can't get it to distort. (That's what channel 2 is for!)
On the dirty side you got Marshall sounds, add the mid boost and you got Dual Rec type boogies with big bottom end.
I use it with a Marshall power brake, the more you turn it up the better it sounds.

When I Purchased the amp I had a marshall 2x12 cab, then I bought a shop soiled Engl standard 4x12 cab for #200, they're normally #550. What a difference! Engl cabs are supposed to be the best in the business, I can see why.

Never had to put a spanner on it at all. Add an engine and large gun and you got yourself a tank

Never had to use them but I've heard say they're very, very good

Ive been playing 15 years. Ive had Boogie DC5, Boogie Dual Recs, Fender "this that and the others". To be honest this is the Best Ive had so far. I think Boogie Dual recs are over rated and way tooooooo expensive. They've got a great dirty channel but the clean sound is just useless.

The sound is what made me decide to buy this amp. For six about months I kept going to the same shop, trying all the different amps next to each other. To me that is the only way to do it. The RBS beat all the other Engls', Boogies', Marshalls', Etc hands down, its just the TONE!

Lastly its the coolest looking amp I ever owned. All the power tubes have red LED's behind them, so when the lights are low on stage it glows a deep fire red. Looks just great, a real posers amp. (Did anyone mention Richie Blackmore?)

If stolen would I buy another, without a doubt. Then again I might buy a Diezel VH4! Just to see if they're as good as what everyone says they are. I could always come back to the Engl as they're so cheap! You get a hole lot of amp for your money.

What do I love about it? The sound (which is what its made for) If you play live and want a really great sound just buy one of these. Simlpe as that. Also the two master volumes what a great Idea (that's something the Diezel VH4 doesn't have!)


What do you hate about it? Nothing really, but the lack of MIDI interface buggs me a little. Engl sell one at #200 which is way to much. The Rolls "Patch mate" is way cheaper. Also the footswitch was #90! I think Engl link all their products together to sell their customers lots of stuff.

But hey no amp is perfect....but it doesn't come much better than this! Not for this monet anyway.

A 2001 model, 4 channels clean/crunch/low & Hi gain. FX send & Return. 2 switchable master volumes. contour boost. Pretty much as you see in the other reviews below. I play in a coverband with styles from Lenny Kravitz to Metallica and from Coldplay to Linkin Park. also some ska. Pretty versatile i guess. I've owned it for 2 years now.No Headphone jack, but then again: Who buys this stuff for a headphone? Only one way to connect it: to 1 or 2 412 Engl Cabs. I had it on a Marshall cab once, but didn't like it. Power enough, i gigged from small cafes to open air concerts for 5000 people, no problems there. When you put in a lot of gain and presence it might give you to much feedback. Other than that: great.

I use a gibson LP studio (special quilted maple top) and a Gibson SG special 1975 with Dimarzio's in it. Pretty raw. Check our styles above, we play very versatile, and this amp has got lots and lots of versatile sounds BUT....... The hi gain channel just seems to miss bottom / low end or something. I dont quite know how to discribe it, but i just seem to miss 'that thing'. For clean sounds its great! Crunch: no problem there! Low gain: (for like Kravitz kind of stuff) beautiful! But when you want to play punk, metal, hardrock, Nu-Metal etc: Buy something else. I know i did. I bought a Mesa Triple rectifier, and, with exception for the clean channel: that one does the trick for me. but this is not a Mesa review so i'm gonna stick to the Engl for now. The contour switch pushes up the mids for good solo sounds. a nice feature that gives you a little extra for your lead licks and stuff...
Anyway: I'm gonna rate it like this:
Clean: 9
Crunch: 9
Low Gain 8
Hi gain 7
so thats pretty much a 8.

gigged with it for 2 years, no problems at all. Made in germany. It's a not a tank, but you can roll over it with one... :)

My local store does all the import of Engl for Holland so If I had questions i went there. I mailed Engl once, but they didn't answered my mail. so they can work on that one...

I've been playing for about 10 years and owned Roland, Marshall, more marshall, this Engl and now play Mesa. One thing is clear: i'm never gonna buy a Marshall again. That stuff either breaks or dissapoints you. If you wanna play medium rock or old school rock, blues, funk, or whatever, this amp COULD be your thing. If you wanna play metal, punk, Nu-Metal buy something else. You could consider an ENGL powerball then, i did, but could get a great price on the Rectifier used so.... If i hadn't had the opportunity to buy the MESA used, I probably bought the Engl Powerball. One thing is for sure: Engl has got the looks! It really looks "porn" on stage :)!But then...you must listen, not look!

This is a Four Channel amp that ranges from very clean to very thrashy. It is definitely versatile enought for Me personally. It is a VERY LOUD 100 watt head. There is TONS of headroom available. More than any other amp I've ever heard. I'm giving it a 10 because it is more than sufficient for Me.

I use this guitar with solid-body Jacksons with Seymour Duncan pickups. I play classic Heavy Metal (Maiden, Priest) through old school Death (Death, Pessimist) and Thrash (Megadeth, Kreator). This is definitely an amp for this style of music if there ever was one. I have to say that this is the most pleasing amp I've ever played on. Go listen to Megadeth's Peace Sells... But Who's Buying to get an idea of what this amp can sound like. It will give You a good idea, but You can get a little chunkier, and a little heavier.

I've had this head for a month or two, and I've gigged with it. I always take a backup if I have one available. I bet this amp is going to be VERY reliable because it is impeccably constructed. It has very high quality components. I'll give it a 9 because I've only had it a little while.

I ordered this amp from Derek at RockSolidAmps.com and He has been nothing but helpful since I first contacted Him. I highly recommend buying Your amp from Him.

I've been playing for about 7 years now, and I've owned lots and lots of gear and guitars since then. I've finally narrowed My gear down to the essentials. Two Jacksons (one with and one without a Floyd) and this Engl Blackmore top. I compared the Blackmore top with other Engl products and decided that this was the one. And it most definitely IS!

This amp has 4 channels and two switchable volume's and fx-loop, mid, treble, bass, presence-switch, bright-switch.
I'm not an effect-guy, I like it simple, on this amp is no poti too much.
My amp is one of the earlier one's, you can't use a z-5 footswitch.
I played for two years only with clean and low-gain and it was great.
Then I bought a stereo footswitch and so I can have a clean, crunch, low-gain or high-gain sound.
The only worst thing is if you choose the crunch sound and you step on the footswitch, you get automaticly the high-gain sound and you must step again for the low-gain sound.
But on the newer amps you can use the footswitch with a switch for every channel (but this is expensive).
I never used the bright or presence switch on the amp and I mostly play with the low-gain channel.
The sound is great.
I use this amp on stage and at our rehearsalroom (cleanvol. on 5,overdrive on 6,gain on 9, master on 3 and I got a realy pushing sound, you can FEEL the power.

I use a epiphone flying V.On higher volumes in the overdrive channel, I get some feedback, but its a problem of the humbuckers and not the amp.Then I bought a Morley Wah-Pedal wich sounds very well and a Syrincs 225W 4*12Box.I tested some amps and the Engl in combinaton with the syrincs box knocked me on the wall.
It's the best sound I ever heard and the best amp I tested.
I played for two years in a deathmetal-band, we played hard and groovy(the amp has enough power for this kind of musc).
At the time we play stonerrock and this amp sounds good in every channel, a warm clear clean channel, the crunch channel with some distortioned sound and the low-gain is pushing you away.
The good thing is you can play on mastervol. 3 at the rehearsalroom and it sound very good and you can go on stage and play at vol. 9 and it sounds even better.

I play this amp for 3 or 4 years and had no problems.

Don't need it.

I play since 12 years (Peavey,Marshall with any problems) and I'm a fan of ENGL, I love this amp, this is the sound I want.
I tested Marshalls, Peavey, Laney, Rath and only the Engl could convince me, so I came back for a second time, tried it again and bought it in combination with the syrincs-box.
If you have the chance test it (with a good cab).
If it were stolen, I would test all ENGL-Amps I can get and buy some of them again.

Super Versitile.. 100 watts, german made.

ok.... i noticed someone gave this amp a 6 and chose a 5150 over it. WOW i cant imagine that... If you like that buzzsaw undefined sloppy loose bottom end fuzzy gain over this sort of distortion than more power to you. but anyone who apreciates articulate amplifiers should love this amp. Very good for all styles of music but once again if you like that buzzsaw sound that is horrific to my ears then go buy a peavey. this thing cuts through easy and its super fucking loud. Ive owned marshalls and peaveys befor buying this and let me tell you this thing has by far the best distortion i have ever heard. its high gain but not to the point where you cant even hear the notes. if you are a good player you will sound good through this amp, if you are not... then you might hate the amp. kind of like a VHT imo. get the right pickups and the right cab and it can be metal heaven. with a far better clean than any marshall i have ever heard. go try one out somehow. it will be worth your time.

only had it a couple months

Probably the most real sounding amp out there under 2k. this can easily compare with the bogners and the VHT's and the soldanos. its got a very original voicing that will set you apart from all of todays buzzy nu metal acts. If you are not good at guitar then spend your money on lessons and a cheap practice amp befor you buy this amp. I am now an Engl man. if i get a different amp it would definatly be either an Engl savage or a powerball. but for now this amp rips.

For what I do and what I need it for, it's features are great. In my opinion, lots of features are good on an amp, but when the features are too hard to use, then that just defise the purpose of having the features. I don't have this problem with the Blackmore.

Great crunchy distortion, great tone, and the Valves Seem to love punishment.

I've had one for about 7 months and never had a problem with it.

Never had to deal with them. But from what I've heard they are very helpful.

As I said before, I've had the amp seven months, and I've played nearly 100 gigs with it. I've been playing for about 20 years and I've used numerous marshall, peavey, and fender amps. But this one is by far the best amp I've used. The day I tried it was the day I bought it, I sold my 5150 to buy it. I was told I was mad, by I've had the last laugh. If it was stolen, I would buy another. But just in case, I have insurance.

Brand new bought from the store in Helsinki. Finally I got what I wanted. With Z5-footswicth you can switch from clean to crunch and from soft lead to solo lead or in whatever order you want to dial in. Contour is excellent for lead work. Despite the fact that eq-settings are the same so what, the AMP is so responsive and versatile. Frankly enough and not too much controls for my purposes. Besides what's the point if you're dancing on the stage in front of huge pedalboard. With this you can concentrate on essential.

I plugged in a Les Paul in a soundproof playing room. ENGL Standard 4x12 cab used as a load. Salesman chose the lead channel right away. I took an opening chord of Collective Soul's Why Pt.2. There it was!! The search was finally over! This one chord proved following: Mouth watering distortion, very accurate, punchy low end, a long sustain, crystal clear harmonies. Repeats every note you play in an organic way. The sound has character and colour. One cannot play sloppy it won't forgive wrong notes. Few solos and licks then for five minutes only to get used to machine. If there is god he is there inside this setup I walked out with stupid smile on my face (still there today). At the moment I use an ESP KH-502, Fender Strat Lone star, Gibson Epiphone Les Paul. I can play all styles of music with those axes and this head. Maybe only changing the bass pot/middle for each of them, so easy. The amp is very quiet even in lead mode while not playing.

Looks like built like a tank or MB. Could use it without a backup no problemo...

Have had it few months only no experience yet. Looking for contacting them have heard so much good of their support.

I've been playing for 18 years now. Have had AC30 (still have), Mesas, Marshalls, Music Mans, Rolands etc but this fullfills all needs now. If it one was stolen I'd buy a new one immediately no doubt at all.

2000,model,4 channel,no reverb (why!),all tube 100 watt head.I use this amp on stage and in the studio.

the clean can be crystle clear,and also very crunchy,depending on how you set the eq and clean gain knob.the crunch channel is a little compressed but i like that sound.the lo gain is very marshall sounding,again depending on how you set the controls.the hi gain channel is just amazing.a winner in every aspect.

no problems to speak of .giged for over a year.

never had to deal with them.

been playing for 25 years ,this amp is easily the best overall amp i have ever heard.it does everything from jazz to funk to rock to metal.i love it.i would buy it again in a heart beat.

I believe my amp is a 2001 model.4 channels 2 master volume pots,standard eq,contour switch for solos(mid boost),bright switch for clean channel,effects loop,no reverb,100 watt all tube head,all you need to produce some truley unique sounds without all the b.s.

Lets just say ,if there is a god ,he has camped out inside my amp.Let me tell you a story about how I came about buying this amp.Richie Fliegler,(amp guru)once wrote that you would know if you like an amp in the first 5 seconds of plugging in.He also said that you would probobly only like one of the channels,and that you probobly would not find an amp that would do both well.Well Rich,all has changed.I went to the guitar center to try out some new sounds.I realy liked a used club royale and considered buying this amp.Then by luck in a corner I spotted Her.I plugged in a 139.00 lotus strat copy and strummed one cord.It was over.The price for this used head and cab was 2200.00 so I graciously turned it off.Moments later a friend was considering buying a gibson firebird so i said "lets hear that on this"and pointed to the engl.again I strummed one cord and asked the manager what he could do for me .He said 1750.00 is the best I can do for the amp and cabinet,I said Ill take it.the funny thing is that I did not even hear the gain channel until I got home.After a few weeks with her all I can say is that I have found my tonal soul mate.O.k.enough of that.The clean channel is super punchy and warm.The crunch channel is bluesy and fat.The low gain channel is dark and gritty.The high gain channel is over the top.This amp is so responsive that I had to adjust all my pickups and also the tone pots on all my guitars.This is a good thing,for tonal variations are endless.I use a variety of single coils and humbuckers ,all sound awesome through this amp.My only gripe is that it is so loud and i'm peeling paint off my walls .This amp can produce tones for all styles of music.One friend said when I was playing that the tone was so clear tht it sounded like it was coming from a cd.Another said it sounded like it was already mixed and coming through a P.A.If you are a tone monster like most guitar players are you must try one of these.You wont be disappointed.

dont know only had it for a few weeks.all things must break sometime.a

n/a

Been playing for 20 years.I also own a class a vc30 that I love.I play a home made strat,a yamaha sg 2000,a yamaha image,an epiphone doubleneck,and les paul.I just cant get over how articulate this amp is.Sometimes trying to play a shuffle rhythm ala stevie ray,its just not sloppy enough.Maybe a tube screamer in the crunch channel can cure that.Compared to a marshall this amp squeezes its ass.Boggie owners could take lessons from engl.Combos are in a different ball park so I dont think its fair to compare.If stolen I would drag the culprit to bagdad ,stick his head in the sand and tatoo an american flag on his ass.You must give a listen its that good.