ENGL E325 Thunder 50 Head

Engl amplifiers make some of the best metal amplifiers in the business. The really excel a creating an amplifier that meets the most demanding tones for metal players. This is a 50 W three channel amp that has a master volume. This is sort of a single channel amplifier with a crunch and lead push button and also the cleaning in lead push button this gives you a wealth of more versatility within this 50 W amplifier. You have a crunch volume and a lead volume and also the master volume in this two channel amplifier but the cleaning lead push button give you even more versatility from this amp.

This amp has 6l6 power tubes and the power section as well as a plethora of 12ax7 preamp tubes. Engl amplifiers definitely have their own voicing structure. If you have a great Tony can be very versatile but they have a distinct German hygiene sound to them. It's not a good sound. It's not a bad sound is just a very unique sound that makes them special.

UTILIZATION

Features

50 watts
3 channels
Master volume

Rated power: approx. 50 watts at 8 or 16 ohms
Tubes
V1 (input-tube): ECC 83/12AX7, FQ Grade
V2, V3: ECC 83/12AX7 selected
V4: ECC 83/12AX7 standard
V7, V8: 5881 (6L6GC) matched set
Fuses
External: 1.25 AM (medium) at 230 Volts; 2.5 AM (medium) in the 100 and 120 volt models
Internal: 1.6 AT (slow) at 230 volts; 3.15 AT (slow) in the 100 and 120 volt models
Dimensions: 53 x 25 x 25 cm
Weight: 30.8 lbs. (14 kg)



SOUNDS


I review like the tone of the small 50 W amplifier. Have a great versatility even using the shared EQ section. The cleaning lead push buttons give you a lot more total range to your last reply. This amp uses the highest quality components and workmanship that is available to amplifiers today. I think you can really hear the total difference in this amp versus some other amps that don't carry the same type of workmanship and strict quality control when building the amplifier's.

This amp is a very inexpensive but the tone is extremely huge. I like this amp with a good for 12 cabinet speaker. This is a very small head which also sits on a 2 x 12 speaker cabinet but to get this thing really cooking I believe you needed for 12 speaker cabinet. You can add in some delay in some course effect to this amp and get a solid room feeling metal toe.


OVERALL OPINION

The new price for these amps coming in at around $1000. As an exceptional price compared to many other hands within this price point. I highly recommend this into anyone looking for a good solid 50 W amp that excels at metal towns the same can get you just about any metal tone that you desire and even excels at the low drop to any guitar tones. Even if 50 W still has enough power to get you through most music gigs.

This is the hieght of German engineering. This amp is a metal guitar players dream amp. This amp will blown down doors and bust through walls. This is a three channel amp with a clean, crunch, and lead channel. Each channel is extremely usable and friendly to just about any music. However, this amp's voicing is tailored to a metal players amp. What that means is the voicing serves towards the metal style rather than a blues style voicing of an amp such as a Goodsell or a Fender amp.

UTILIZATION

Technical specifications:

Preamp:
3 channels (3 ECC 83 preamp tubes), Clean, Crunch, Lead, single 3 band EQ, Crunch/Lead, Clean/Lead switches.

Master section:
Master volume, 50 watts (1 x EC83, 2 x 5881 power amp tubes.

Outputs:
Speaker outs (2 x 8, 2 x 16 Ohms), fx loop
(parallel to serial adjustable), dual footswitch jacks (Z-3/Z -4).

Speaker:
1 x 12" CelestionÆ Vintage 30 (Combo)

Dimensions & Weight:
53 x 25 x 25 cm, 14 kg (Head)

SOUNDS

The clean channel is very good and usable in most circumstances. Yet the amp lives in the lead channel. These Engl amps feature the high gain tone and they do it quite well. Try this amp out with a lower tuning and you'll see and hear why so many metal professionals come to Engl for their amplifier needs.

This amp though only 50 watts still pacts quite a punch. You don't have to turn these amps up too much in the distortion or gain. They have so much gain that a lot of it is virtually unusable. Too much gain will not fit in a band mix very well. You will have problems cutting through the mix.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in at around $999, which is a great

(Originally written by elco7/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
50 watts

Original ECC83 and 5881 tubes with Engl logo

Comprehensive connections: you can connect virtually any speaker cabinet and the FX loop has a dry/wet setting.

V1 and V2 are used for the channels, V3 for the FX loop and V4 is the rectifier tube.

Two switches (clean/crunch and crunch/lead)

Gain, EQ, two volume plus one master control

Not very versatile

The scale of the controls goes from 0 to 12

UTILIZATION

The configuration is not very easy because the crunch and lead channels share EQ and gain control. This means that you have to set the crunch channel so that you can go from clean to distortion without affecting the dynamics of your playing.

You'll have to use a very high volume setting in the distortion channels and decrease the master... The crunch/lead gain turns into the clean channel's volume, but why? Why...? Because otherwise the amp would be too loud.

- The problem of having common gain and EQ settings in crunch and lead modes is that if you use both modes in the same song you'll notice almost no difference at all, except for more lows, a bit more gain and more noise, like a normal boost...

- And the problem of the gain control turning into a volume knob is that you won't enjoy the power tubes if you want to use all three channels...

But the amp has a very rare quality: you can play with low output volumes. Lots of amps sound awful when they are set to 1 and are very loud when set to 2 (like the Mesa Single Rectifier for example).

SOUNDS

I play with a Strat Mexico '60, a 1960b Marshall cabinet connected with 2.5mm2 speaker cable and a big Proco Power+.

6l6 Sovtek WXT+ and mix of Engl ECC83/ EH 12AX7.

The sound is very good with steady lows. The mid control is very effective, the sound is accurate and vigorous. It reminds me of a boosted Vox with an EL34 sound character. Some people might say the sound is cold but that's not the case and that's why it's versatile.

The amp faithfully reproduces the attack, the twang and the dynamic of my Strat. The position of the pick and the toggle switch provide a rich sound palette. You can get many different sounds and the amp sounds modern.

The clean tone doesn't sound like a duck, it's very musical.

Set to 7-8, the crunch channel provides a colored clean sound and a dynamic crunch sound (because of the low output level of the alnico pickups).

The lead channel doesn't interest me at all so I never use it...

I like to have a sharp and aggressive sound. The lows are well-balanced and accurate.

My settings the last three years have been: gain = 8, bass = 7, mid = 8, treble = 4, crunch volume = 6, lead = 0, master = 3. I can increase the master setting up to 6 and decrease the preamp level since I never use the clean mode (do you get it?)

OVERALL OPINION

I wanted a single channel amp and I use only one sound so this amp is perfect for me But guitarists looking for versatility should stay away from it...

I wanted a basic single-channel amp with a very dynamic and accurate sound (like a VHT Delivrance, H&K Puretone and the like). Before buying it I hesitated between vintage and modern sound. The crunch sound of ENGL amps is typical rock n roll. I immediately liked its sound and I find the amp sounds much better than many others.

The price is ok considering it has a more authentic sound than the new budget tube amp.

This amp combines a British sound character with an American-like frequency response. Highs, mids, lows, it's simply well-balanced!

Currently there's a hype for EL34 and KT66. Many manufacturers offer this sound (Mesa Stilleto, VHT Delivrance, Marshall JVM...)

This amp doesn't deserve a 9 in every respect, but if you like it you won't have any reason to change it (only the tubes). On the other hand, it's also nice to hear something different from time to time.

50watts
original lamps badged engl ECC83 and 5881
the connectors is Reglo, you can connect almost any speaker, the effects loop has a dry / wet.
v1 and v2 for channels, v3 is the effects loop, the v4 is the rectifier.
2 switches clean / crunch and crunch / lead
a gain, ega, 2 volumes a master
so it is fairly versatile
graduated to 12 it seems

USE

The configuration is not simple because of the common gain crunch sounds / lead and EGA unique, it is practically provide crunch channel trimmings to go from clean to distortion just by the dynamics of the play.

Please allow up the volume loud enough saturated channels, and lower the master, the crunch / lead volume gain becomes clear channel, but why? why ... The latter will really scream too loud.

-The problem is that with a gain / ega common to crunch / lead, the difference is smaller when crunch / lead parts in a song, more bass and a bit more grain, I would say more breath, what a boost ...dropoff window
-and the problem of a gain that becomes a volume, is that we do not use the power tubes if we want to take advantage of the 3 channels ...

rare: one can play at low volume. Wink to amps that do not sound at 1 and screaming to 2 (mesa recto eg single).

SOUNDS

I play with a strat mexico 60 ', a cabinet marshall 1960b 2.5mm2 and a big proco power +.
Sovtek 6L6 + wxt and mix engl ECC83 / 12AX7 EH.

the sound is already very good, the bass is firm, the mid knob is good, the sound is straight and firm but I find it a little side vox boosted a grain to the EL34. It will be at the limit of its cold for some but it is not, hence its versatility.

The amp enormously restores the attack (slamming it) and the dynamics of the strat. Each investment mediator and selector provided its sound palette. I think we can have a lot of sounds, and it is very modern.
The clean is not coincoin is a sound very musical.
The crunch channel 7-8 provided a clear up her colorful swift crunch without resistance (thanks to the low output alnico pickups.)
The lead channel has little interest for me, I've never used ...
I play with her sharp and aggressive. Low well placed not drool over the rest.
My controls are set for 3 years to gain 8 bass 7, 8 mid, treble 4, crunch Volume 6, 0 lead, master 3. Knowing that I can get the master to 6 and lower the preamp as I will not enter clean ( you understand that story or not?)

NOTICE GLOBAL

As I wanted a single channel amp, and I only use one sound suddenly, everything I just listed have any problem but if not let's be clear, this amp is a disaster versatility ...

I wanted a basic amp, single channel initially very dynamic and precise (VHT such issuance, H & K Puretone blah). I hesitated a lot between the medium vintage sounds and more modern sounds. ENGL is very rock n roll crunch on its channels. Compared to my game he knocked a lot of amps, both the sound corresponded me on.
The price is well positioned at the beginning of range I think, because it has a genuine identity that the new amps cheap lamps do everything.
A full English grain in a right as an American amp amp << >>. It is halfway between a lot of stuff: good mediums but also good bass discretion, grain and combined heat railway rails, colorful but not typed.

At this time, the mode returns to the boosted EL34 or kt66 include this sound in many manufacturers (mesa stilleto, VHT deliverance, marshall jvm ...)
This is not an amp that is 9 everywhere, but if you should no longer have reason to change (change the lamps). On the other hand, it's nice to hear something else from time to time.