[blackrobedone]

This thread hopefully will be worthwhile even without pics, because everyone knows what the Fireball looks like, and in person it actually looks like shit. Pretty chintzy looking, what with the miniature plastic fencing looking grill. The back of the amp looks like a solid state crate - bare bones . . .

I've never had a head below 100 watts and this one's 60, with 2 power amp tubes and 3 preamp tubes. Same volume capabality as 100 and up wattage amps, at least for my practical purposes.

I compared it against 3 amps - JCM 2000, VHT Pittbull UL, and Mesa Triple - I used 4 different guitars.

This is very close to a 5150 II, but with more low end. It sounds unlike most old school tube amps, but rather sounds like a tubey metal zone distortion pedal. I think this characteristic is referred to as Djent. It's the best Djent amp I've played. Solos sound good too, but plain.

Rhythmically, I can get a very similar tone to the Mesa out of it with my 7 string stuff. Disappointing if you find the best it can do is approximate a Mesa with a little more crispness.

It made a US strat with single coils actually sound potentially useable for metal (playing with the depth button and the presence)- that was pretty impressive.

It has less midrange character than VHT. I think the Fireball sounds best slightly scooped, but changing the tone knobs doesn't alter the base sound - it just sounds like you're either covering or removing a blanket from the front of the speaker.

I think it's best for something like Dio or Scorpions style riffage - I think the Mesa's a better option for detuned death metal, and I swear I will not try any more amps to improve on that tone.

In all, I'd say it's a good metal tone but generic - it sounds like what passes for good tone on most new metal cds. I'd only recommend it to inexperienced players who play with no dynamics or feeling, and just need to plug in and sound like their favorite cd. I don't think that this amp will be remembered or sought out within 5 years, unlike the 5150, Mesa 3, or JCM 800.

That's a ringing endorsement, eh?

Maybe that last paragraph was a little overstated. I don't think you suck if you play one of these. I mean you have to be a little bit lazy just to want to plug in and you have one tonal option (that's admittedly pretty damned good). But I've found that most any high dollar tube amp can be tweaked to get a tone that's 95% kick ass, and it's probably not worth it to investigate every amp made looking for the other 5%. For example, switching amps is not always any more radical of a tone change than switching guitars, pickups, or getting a different overdrive pedal.

[Xtremevillan]

On a sidenote, Invader 100 might be what you want. People have said it sounds more organic.

[blackrobedone]

Damn, I thought the Fireball was more organic - maybe just compared to the Powerball?

Anybody want to trade for the Fireball (wrong area of site, I know). Whatcha got?

[Jan]

Originally Posted by blackrobedone

Rhythmically, I can get a very similar tone to the Mesa out of it with my 7 string stuff. Disappointing if you find the best it can do is approximate a Mesa with a little more crispness.

Hi, I haven't had any experience with a TRIPLE but comparet to DUAL Rectifier or Stiletto the Fireball is MUCH tighter, more articulate and WAAAAY less fizzy and punchier in the low end for fast death metal rhythmwork. Hence, I STRONGLY disagree with your statement in this respect.

Having said that, YES, the Fireball is a bit of a one-trick pony but still the death metal sound it produces is kickass. I wish it sounded better for solos on its own, but with my Blackjack's neck pup + Ibanez TS + some reverb it sounds pretty darn good.

Originally Posted by blackrobedone

I mean you have to be a little bit lazy just to want to plug in and you have one tonal option

Do you really think TWEAKING amps makes people good musicians or something? I am not claiming to be a good guitarist (I know I suck) but sometimes simple solutions are waaaay better than fancy onces. Let you focus more on actual PLAYING your instrument.

[Xtremevillan]

You know what? if you want PM zimbloth, he got my amp choices down pat and I'm sure he will give you a good discount on an amp if he wants to.

[blackrobedone]

Originally Posted by Jan

Hi, I haven't had any experience with a TRIPLE but comparet to DUAL Rectifier or Stiletto the Fireball is MUCH tighter, more articulate and WAAAAY less fizzy and punchier in the low end for fast death metal rhythmwork. Hence, I STRONGLY disagree with your statement in this respect.

Having said that, YES, the Fireball is a bit of a one-trick pony but still the death metal sound it produces is kickass. I wish it sounded better for solos on its own, but with my Blackjack's neck pup + Ibanez TS + some reverb it sounds pretty darn good.



Do you really think TWEAKING amps makes people good musicians or something? I am not claiming to be a good guitarist (I know I suck) but sometimes simple solutions are waaaay better than fancy onces. Let you focus more on actual PLAYING your instrument.

Never said that, and I think you took me out of context. I would be really bored with an album or a band's set that had the Fireball tone on the entire thing. I also don't recommend everyone being a tweaker as I stated that one can get a good enough tone out of almost any of the amps that we discuss here - pick one and then tweak that, or not. However, as far as the people I know who are good players, they are also tweakers and know their equipment. And they have good tone. If you are a good player with good tone (= a good ear and money invested in gear, i.e, give a shit about your sound, perhaps?), you're better (IMHO) than a better player with shit equipment and shit tone.

Fireball is tighter but I don't notice its punchier low end compared to a MESA. I'll concede some of your points but I think it's misleading to say 'way more' or 'much tighter' - it is more like 10% tighter than Mesa, 5% less fizzy, etc.

The ENGL was purchased on a whim. I also wanted to try what I could afford out of the amps considered to be the best for metal, so naturally, I tried and ENGL. I didn't really need a new amp, and I'm not looking for one.
I think it has a good tone - but I was disappointed. It may be slightly better than Mesa at death metal but the Mesa really surprised me with it's heaviness for 7 string stuff and its versatility. I would still have to say Mesa is the best for me, and for whatever style of metal you play you can't miss with it. I'd only recommend ENGL to someone who loves a5150 or processor distortion.

[stuh84]

Originally Posted by blackrobedone

I'd only recommend ENGL to someone who loves a5150 or processor distortion.

Not to try and start a war, but how many Engls have you played?

[Kakaka]

He'd mean the ENGL Fireball, I'm sure...

I liked to read a different review on it. Thanks pal!

[budda]

cool review dude

[Jan]

Well, I don't intended to bash you nor claim the FIREBALL is THE best amp in the world. My opinion is based on what I have heard in the recording studio. My good buddie has his own studio just opposite our rehearsal room. He records loads of different rock bands (from pop punk to blackest metal) and used different amps (5150, Mesas, Marshalls). He used to own a Marshall and now he owns a Stiletto (he plays sort of NU rock with his band). I frequently pop in and watch him work. Also, I have lent him my ENGL quite a few times for recordings. His opinion is this - ENG was the tightest, fastest responding and the most articulate amp he has recorded for DEATH metal. And judging by what I have heard, I second his opinion. I really love (and envy) Mesa's snarl and sort thunderousness it shows when playing downtuned OPEN riffis. The ENGL looses here. However, for fast old In Flames-like riffs (which I mostly play) I have found DUAL RECTO much more muddled or fizzy than my FB. That's it.

Originally Posted by blackrobedone

Never said that, and I think you took me out of context. I would be really bored with an album or a band's set that had the Fireball tone on the entire thing.

I suppose it's a matter of taste. I think quite many metal bands rely on only one distorted sound (i.e. the same in every song) and chenge their tone only for solos or some FX. As far as I know, that SCAR SYMMETRY have recorded both their albums using only Fireball for rhythmwork and I just love these albums.

If you are a good player with good tone (= a good ear and money invested in gear, i.e, give a shit about your sound, perhaps?), you're better (IMHO) than a better player with shit equipment and shit tone.

Now that's as clear as the sun. It's just that you said one has to be lazy to play an amp which produces a good sound straightaway... And this is what I disagree with. IMO a good amp will produce a good sound even with all the knobs at 12 o'clock. Not PERFECT, but good. If you get a crappy sound this way, tweaking will hardly ever change anything significantly.

Fireball is tighter but I don't notice its punchier low end compared to a MESA. I'll concede some of your points but I think it's misleading to say 'way more' or 'much tighter' - it is more like 10% tighter than Mesa, 5% less fizzy, etc.

Well, maybe I worded it incorrectly. Mesa has even more low end but by "punchier" I meant less "flobby" or "wobbly" or "fizzy" when playing single-string muted fast rhythm stuff. As for HOW MUCH it's tighter, well I don't really know whether "10% tighter " is more precise than "much tighter". You can't MEASURE tightness. For me it "way more" for you "10%" - it's hard to argue about that.

The ENGL was purchased on a whim.

Hehe, I wish I could afford to do that!

OK, anyways, thanks for the discussion. I honestly don't think the FB is perfect, it's just I couldn't agree with some things you said. And I perfectly understand Mesa works best for you. As I said, I wish my FB had SOME qualities of MESA, however, since I can't afford to have both, for the stuff I play I choose ENGL. PERIOD.