[InTheRavensName]

Heard some great tones from these little heads...any strong views here?

Sorry for the big lack of info...

Style: Power metal/Thrash metal (Think Demons and Wizards/Iced earth)
Guitars: RR3 with Dist/Jazz - S370 - Schecter C7 - Epi LP Gothic
What I want: Defined trem picking, tight biting gain, singing sustain, liquid legato...think Terror Train by Demons and Wizards, the three main sounds on there...

Danke Danke!

[Karl Hungus]

Originally Posted by InTheRavensName

any strong views here?

I'm generally pro ENGL on every single thread, so you could say that I've fairly strong views.

Anyway, I've not played the Screamer, but supposedly it's not as hot as other ENGLs, more for classic rock than metal. The discription on the wesbite says "Tamed gain" so I don't think that's really what you'd be after.

You're into Iced Earth, so you should be well at home with an ENGL, seeing as Jon in endorsed by them.

I'd say your best bet would be to go for a Fireball, it's in the same price range as the Screamer head, but a lot hotter with loads more gain. I've got one of those babies, and if you're after an extremely tight metal sound, then it's the absolute best. Completely owned the various other amps I've played, including Rectos, 5150s and such.

So, my advice is, try out an ENGL Fireball, and see what you make of it.

[InTheRavensName]

Deal

[maliciousteve]

I thought the Screamer would work really well for metal. It tried it out with my RG, a PGM and a 59 strat and it sounded great for pretty much anything. True it isn't the grind monster that is the Fireball, but it can still keep up with the best of them.

[Alpo]

I've played the combo quite a bit in a band setting, and it can do a lot of different things well. It has more distortion than anyone would ever need. The sound is tight, and it can definitely do the IE, D&W thing.

BUT!! The Blackmore head puts the Screamer in shame, and doesn't cost much more. The BM can do anything you want with great tone that cuts through very well and is so punchy and tight it would knock out Mike Tyson in his prime.

I haven't played the Fireball, so no opinion on that.

[InTheRavensName]

Cool, I'm watching a Screamer head + 2x12 on evilbay on the pretence of Xmas...I'm thinking of maybe running a TS9 in front if I need it...although from the clips I've heard I shouldn't think I'll need to...

[eaeolian]

Doesn't Kai Hansen use a Screamer? I know he had a small Engl head when we played with them, into a cab emulator, and his tone was pretty impressive...

[InTheRavensName]

KAI FREAKING HANSEN USES ONE!??!?!?!?11!!!11shift+oneELEVEN!!!1!

sold...to be honest I really like the idea of them, my band doesn't play huge venues so 50 watts will be plenty, and if you guys are right with on that then it should sound perfect...

...and I think you're right about Kai, I know he's used ENGL stuff for a while

what about the thunder? any views on that one?

[InTheRavensName]

sorry to wake the dead...buuut...

still thinking about the screamer, from what I've heard it sits between the thunder (not quite gainy enough) and the fireball (OMFGZ my ears and face!)

any new developments?

[Loserchief]

The screamer is a great amp. It has nice cleans and great distortion. It's not as gainy as others but a frined of mine plays thrash with it and it's not a problem. it should be well enough for power metal(don't expect grind or death). The only gripe i have with the screamer is the global eq. There's always between great distortion+ just ok cleans or vice versa.
If you get one you'll need a Z-5 footswitch with it to really access the amp.