[Origins]

About the difference of price, it's not really important to me, 'cause I prefer to make a decision according to the quality, not price/quality.
I have the chance to be able to pay for what I want, so I'm not going to prevent myself .

[ZeroSignal]

Originally Posted by Origins

About the difference of price, it's not really important to me, 'cause I prefer to make a decision according to the quality, not price/quality.
I have the chance to be able to pay for what I want, so I'm not going to prevent myself .

OK, without being a bore. One last point on why you should get new pickups. think of it like this: crap signal goes in -> crap sound goes out. You can't polish a turd. While the new amp will certainly change your sound, it won't necessarily make it much better because what you are sending to your amp is the muddy signal from your stock Ibanez pickups.

It's for this reason that I will probably be upgrading my cables to either the Elixir ones or the really high-end Fender ones and I already have all my pickups changed to non-stock.

[sepherus]

How much do VHTs go for over there? I'd look into a Sig:x if I were you. An Engl Savage, or Steve Morse (by what i've heard so far) would also be ideal.

Personally I could never get into the Blackmore for high gain stuff. I own the 6505+ (5150ii) and love it. I could never sell it. Novembre used to use one, and the guitarist from As Daylight Dies used to also. It should be able to do what you need.

[budda]

Originally Posted by Origins

Thanks for the advices!
I know I have to try before buying, but when you live in a lost finnish city at the Russian border (The first "real" music shop is at about 40km away, and if I really want to try different things, I have to go to Helsinki, so more than 200 km ), it's not quite easy!
Anyway I'll get the chance to try the Blackmore next week, so let's see!

before i moved for college, it was a 2 hour drive one way to the nearest music store that had more than traynor tube combos and SS combos, line 6 amps, practise amps and Marshall SS amps.

and all that driving got me was peavey, marshall, traynor, fender, mesa.

make the drive, test out the gear. your own experience will allow you to form your own opinion.

[Origins]

Yep..
By the way, what about a Fireball?

[neoclassical]

I love my Fireball. It can be fizzy and have ice picky highs, but those seem to smooth out. Do not scoop the mids on the FB or with an EQ you will disappear in the mix as soon as your bassist shows up like no other amp I've heard. The FB is easy to dial in (all controls at mid point even sounds good) and the depth control is unusable at band volume (to me). Try as many amps in person as you can, and upgrade those pickups.

Adam

i meant smooth out as you turn it up

[WarriorOfMetal]

Originally Posted by Brord

-Good live sound, ALLWAYS. I've not a single time heard a 5150 sound like shit live, those things excel in a band situation, more so then playing it by itself (can sound a bit fizzy or harsh but in the mix it smooths out really nice). On the other hand, never been a fan of the Engl live sound or in the band mix, quite the opposite of the 5150.

which Engls are you talking about, though? the Savage 120 and Blackmore (similar to each other) sound totally different from the Powerball, for example. much more cutting and present...actually kinda similar in sound to the 5150.

[Brord]

Originally Posted by WarriorOfMetal

which Engls are you talking about, though? the Savage 120 and Blackmore (similar to each other) sound totally different from the Powerball, for example. much more cutting and present...actually kinda similar in sound to the 5150.

Well over here in the Netherlands Engl is one of the most common brand of amp to use if you play in a metal band, just everybody uses it, it seems. So I have seen my share of Engl amps in a live situation (admitting most of them are powerballs, fireballs but also some blackmores and savages) and while some do suck more then others (powerballs never seem to cut through and allways sound to compressed and thin) I've never been stunned by the Engl live sound. Perhaps it's somebody elses cup of tea but it doesn't put a smile on my face. It seems especially problematic in a two guitar band where the other amp just eats the Engl sound, as happened with me when I had a powerball by my bro's 5150 for example. There are amps that sound great on their own and not in a band situation and there are amps that sound not nearly as great on your own then in a band situation and in my personal opinion Engl and the 5150 both are entitled to a place at each of the complete opposites of that spectrum respectively.

I'm not saying that Engls aren't quality amps by any means... Fine amps, high quality stuff, just very different amps and each has it's qualities in it's own right, but being very present, cutting and thick in a band mix isn't one of those that the Engl posseses in my opinion.

[neoclassical]

The first time I heard an Engl was live with Hate Eternal in 2005. I think it was the Powerball, I knew then I would have to own an Engl. I thought it was incredible. Just my opinion.

Adam

[toolsound]

Originally Posted by Brord

I've not a single time heard a 5150 sound like shit live, those things excel in a band situation, more so then playing it by itself (can sound a bit fizzy or harsh but in the mix it smooths out really nice). On the other hand, never been a fan of the Engl live sound or in the band mix, quite the opposite of the 5150.

I've had the opposite experience I think. The only Engl amp that I've heard live so far is the Powerball, but it has sounded so good every time and it doesn't seem to have any problems standing out in the mix.

I own a 5150 and although it sounds great, I would trade it for an Engl in a heartbeat. The 5150 can cut through a mix decently, but my ears tend to pick up the Powerball more easily...and the tone is just better overall in my opinion.

Edit: I also own a 1527.

[Origins]

I think I made my choice:
I'm going to go for a Fireball that I try tomorrow

[budda]

if an amp doesnt cut in a band situation, it has more chance that the owner of the amp doesnt know how to EQ it a bit better instead of the amp itself just not being able to cut.