ENGL
ENGL builds in Germany and has been a fixture of European metal since the 1980s, with the Powerball and Savage amplifiers and a long association with Ritchie Blackmore. The amps are known for tight low end and a large amount of channel switching and MIDI control, which suited the era of complex live rigs and has aged well into the modelling age. ENGL turns up in our high-gain amp coverage and comparisons.
ENGL Ravager IR: Vintage Tube Tone Meets Modern Firepower in a Compact Head
Get vintage tube tone and modern power with the ENGL Ravager IR. This compact 20W head features a Power Soak and built-in IR Loader for stage, studio, and silent practice
- Amplifiers
- Speaker cabinets
- Effects pedals
- Powerball
- Fireball
- Savage
- Blackmore signature
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ENGL FAQ4 questions
How did ENGL start?
With a programmable amplifier. The company's own account puts the beginning at Musikmesse 1984 in Frankfurt, where the first programmable ENGL guitar amp was unveiled — at a time when two channels and a master volume counted as luxury features. Edmund Engl, a musician rather than an electronics obsessive, had the idea in the early 1980s.
What are ENGL amps known for?
High gain and switching. The German company built its reputation on tightly controlled saturated tones with extensive channel switching and footswitchable control, which is why the brand is closely associated with metal and progressive playing across Europe.
What is an ENGL Powerball?
One of the company's best-known high-gain heads — four channels, a great deal of usable gain and the midrange control the brand is known for. The Fireball is the more compact, more focused sibling and the Savage the more traditional voiced one.
Are ENGL amps made in Germany?
ENGL is a German company and its higher-end valve amplifiers are associated with German manufacture, while smaller products and pedals follow the usual industry pattern. Check the individual model, as with any amp brand of this size.