@@user-vm6nm3yx3k For me, they have a very precise sound that's still thick and warm. Great for complex chords. TONS of tonal options too seriously. I'm not much of a lead player but if you are you'd love the buttery tone you can get from it.
@@user-vm6nm3yx3k in my humble opinion all the ENGLs share a very direct soundquality, very good to hear in a band setting but less forgiving for the player than other amps (I had the direct comparison to orange and marshall) - but because of that the sound resolution of cords is very good. That said, because of that its not that easy to get the simple easy vintage rock sounds.without a pedal.
I've owned a Engl Powerball 1st Gen twice, not sure why I sold them both times but apparently I wasn't impressed enough to keep them. Played my buddies Powerball 2nd Gen just a few weeks ago. Great amp for sure. I don't have GAS to buy one but its a fantastic amp!
Engl is the one amp brand that I’ve loved everything I’ve played but never bought one. I don’t need a 50 or 100 watt amp so if they ever make a savage mini head I’ll hop on that. Or just finally invest in a synergy system
Dude! Great demo! I love Engl amps. I have a Fireball 100 that just seems to get better every day. This is next level, for sure. Gotta say, the Schecter Apocalypse EX is really getting my attention. Loved your video on it. Now if only I can get past the finish. Lol. Thanks Fluff.
The Blackmore Slowhand edition and the Special Edition Preamp also have rather uncompressed high gain structures that you can dial to be more compressed or in case of the blackmore shape the sound with the awesome contour button. They both also have amazing pristine cleans that are really sparkly but still warm enough to not be sterile at all... you can get used Blackmores here in Germany for around 5 to 600€. And similar to 5150s all the Engls I have ever owned were built like tanks and never broke down on me. Engl support is absolute top notch and always a pleasure to talk to.
When i was a teenager in the 80's, i used to see Engle combo amps @ Nadine's in Hollywood. I used to see 1/4 page ads in GFTPM and GWorld mgs. So, you had Boogie MK3, JCM800, Rivera-era Fenders, Bogner,, Soldano and Jackson modded Marshalls.
This amp sounds amazing in person! Especially after you dial things in just right, for me it has a better tone than I could've pictured in my head. Love it!
I've always been a massive ENGL fan from day one- I definitely know what you're talking about with the compression. My big exception is the Fireball, especially the gen 2- something in the slim down from the Powerball made it meaner and more open than anything else I've toyed with from that era.
Great video.awesome job I really appreciate you sharing this amp w us all. I personally wonder what compliments speakers would work best w these engl amps. I know so little about them.lol. they've only truely caught my eye not too long ago. Maybe a year or so. Hope to see more engl videos and metal!lol keep it up fluff!
Hopefully Fluff can find time to play with the tone wizard dip switch module on the back. I’ve been curious how much value that actually adds? I have an old Steve Morse edition Engl head that I love but have been tempted by the Invader II with its options.
So... I been playing Takamine acoustics and Les Pauls... Recently came to love an EII evertune... As well as an Eclipse Bass I've had for a while.. And noticed ENGL is the trifecta company grouping. Invader / Eclipse Evertune/ Takamine FXC Cedar top.. I think so.
I'm impressed how this amp sounds congested, compressed and not musical. Clean sounds like a keyboard or something. It's like a $ 3700 LINE 6 pod HD hahahaha
Got my Invader II 4 years ago, and it's still one of the best amps for modern music I ever played. With this amp I prefer to set the presence at around 3 'o clock because it has less highs than other ENGL amps. Then it becomes very tight and aggressive on the 4th channel.
Nice vid 🙂 would have loved to hear some more in the mix and also heavy distortion sounds not in a mix. But I do like really how you played all sorts of different styles that made sense for the tone you dialed in! It looks nice too, but honestly I’m wishing Engl would make a lunchbox sized Savage. I have a Savage 120 SE and it’s sooooo good. It’s just a huge thing to have ready to play in my home, also definitely needs an attenuator for home levels haha. Fireball 25 seems nice too though 🙂
Euge said the Invader is rather compressed and processed. He also mentioned the Fireball is more open and uncompressed, like a Marshall JCM 800. Savage and Invader and their other amps he mentioned as being to compressed.
I think they sound great, lots of sound shaping options, can do everything, no need for a Tubescreamer. I mean i'm probably just used to them because i grew up using Engl amps, here in EU they are quite widespread and fairly affordable, much cheaper than Freyette, Soldano or Mesa Boogie. I can get like 2 Engl amps for the price of 1 Mesa.
My version 1 Invader, beat out of my Diesel VH4's clean channel, hands down. Wasn't even close. Engls clean is the best on earth, I say that as a dude that grew up around my dads 1960's Fender Twins. The Engl sounds very full, polished and expensive. Engl Invaders channel 3 disto is easily be on par w/ the VH4 channel 3 disto, so I sold the VH4. I didn't want to, but I couldn't justify the economics of owning two very expensive amps If I was forced to say what the best amp ever made is, I'd say Engl Invader. I am going to check out the 50 watt VH4, however. The 100 watt version sounds best (it "opens up") when played loudly, and I want to give Diesel another chance to take down the king. The Invader has a killer sound at bedroom levels. Full MIDI capability (as does the VH4). The Engl MIDI pedal, controls all amp functions, and my switches my reverb/delay pedals as well. It has volume boost on every channel. A decent noise gate. Records like a dream -it can stick out of a mix, like crazy, if that's what you are after. It literally does everything I have ever needed an amp to do, and then some. I got it for $1600 bucks! I am too broke to merely try the Version 2 Invader. Hell, I can't even afford to talk about it. It costs $50 per word. I'm going to shut up now.
I definitely need you to go over those dip switches in a future video, though. You can't wave something like that in our faces and just keep it from us lol
It's alot he would have had to do a PBS documentary on it lol...and he probably doesn't have the patience for that. I spent a few hours hearing everything the wizard module does and then decided where I was gunna have it. Crazy amp.
Really looking into getting this because of ESP. May pre order the silver one that comes with a 2x12 🤔 or the fireball 100... or the Savage II 120. I can't decide.
I own an Engl Invader 100 (first generation) and it's sounds amazing! My humble opinion is that , there is not such a big difference between the first one and the second generation. Beyond the obvious facelift,the sound and feel is the same. Cheers.
Question for anyone that knows. If you use an overdrive or distortion pedal before your amp, and have some gain also dialed in on your amp, which gain are you going to hear? Isn't the point of using an external pedal for distortion that you prefer that to the one built into the amp?
You'll hear both. People generally use ODs to tighten the low end of the amp and have the drive on the pedal at 0. If you have a good amp there really isn't a point in using a distortion pedal unless you specifically want the sound from that pedal. In that case it would probably sound best used as a preamp.
Sz Ki Overdrives and distortions are different pedals with different purposes, and there are several ways to use each. These are some of the most common: 1. Overdrive pedal between your guitar and the input of the amp, used as a boost. In this case, the gain on the pedal is usually set to minimum, and you’re using the pedal for it’s equalization properties as well as raising the signal level. Cutting the low frequencies “tightens” the sound, and having a louder signal going in to the front of the amp pushes the preamp tubes harder and makes it distort more. Any distortion added by the pedal itself is minimal. It’s just supercharging your amplifier’s built in distortion characteristics. An EQ pedal can also be used for the same purpose. 2. An overdrive or distortion pedal with the gain set high going in to the amp input is going to create a lot of distortion from itself. A high signal level from the pedal may also drive the amp in to a more distorted sound. This is how the Swedish death metal sound is created; heavy distortion at high levels going in to the amp super hot, which distorts the amp as well, creating a wall of thick, fuzzy noise. 3. Finally, plugging the output from a distortion pedal in to the effects return jack of the amp bypasses the amp’s built in preamp and you’re amplifying the distortion pedal directly. Try it and you’ll notice the gain, EQ, and volume controls on the amp do nothing, because they’ve been cut out of the signal path and replaced by the controls on the pedal.
Myke Fuller then you add in his les paul, cabs, records setup and mics, that’s so expensive. Yepp, you could get a really, really nice rig for just the cost of the non collectors head alone.
So the mix at the start sounded great, but that LP sounds compressed as hell - like putting my head in a vice. I cant image what the other Engls must have sounded like, based on your description. Yikes.
Great amp! Love the Invader II although sometimes I think that this beats is too smooth. Maybe you want to check out my Invader II demos, that would be very cool. #engl_amplification
I gotta be honest dude dials in the worst tones on youtube. plays crappy rock on extreme metal amplifiers. riffs are elementary at best and never do these amps justice
It's a shame, ENGL amps sound so well-defined, cutting, clean and precise... but that always comes with a certain "coldness". I now understand what my guitar teacher meant when he said "you can also play blues with it, but you'll still hear that it's an ENGL". That "coldness" comes out especially in the clean and crunch tones. For the high gain stuff, that clean precision is often what you want... but not always. That's why I went with the JVM instead.
Unpopular opinion: mesa cabinets dont sound all that good. Mine was veiled and "distant". Best combo i ever played was an engl savage with a hughes and kettner cab.
Mesa cabs are my favorite cabs. They sound best out of the 3 v30 types. And ive tried dozens of speakers and i always come back to the v30. Its the only speaker i always get aong with especially the mesa ones. They’re darker and punchier which i really like. You have to crank them to hear them at their best.
My version 1 Invader, beat out of my Diesel VH4's clean channel, hands down. Wasn't even close. Engls clean is the best on earth. I say that as a dude that grew up around my dads 1960's Fender Twins. The Engl sounds very full, polished and expensive. Engl Invaders channel 3 disto is easily be on par w/ the VH4 channel 3 disto, so I sold the VH4. I didn't want to, but I couldn't justify the economics of owning two very expensive amps If I was forced to say what the best amp ever made is, I'd say Engl Invader. I am going to check out the 50 watt VH4, however. The 100 watt version sounds best (it "opens up") when played loudly, and I want to give Diesel another chance to take down the king. The Invader has a killer sound at bedroom levels. Full MIDI capability (as does the VH4). The Engl MIDI pedal, controls all amp functions, and switches my reverb/delay pedals etc, as well. It has volume boost on every channel. A pretty decent noise gate. Records like a dream. It can stick out of a mix, like crazy, if that's what you are after. It literally does everything I have ever needed an amp to do, and then some. I got it for $1600 bucks! I am too broke to even try out the Version 2 Invader. Hell, I can't even afford to talk about it. It costs $50 per word. I'm going to shut up now.
The ENGL Savage will always be one of my favorite amps ever.
Why?) I want to buy one
@@user-vm6nm3yx3k For me, they have a very precise sound that's still thick and warm. Great for complex chords. TONS of tonal options too seriously. I'm not much of a lead player but if you are you'd love the buttery tone you can get from it.
@@gaukarmadhouse what do you think about savage 60 ?
@@user-vm6nm3yx3k in my humble opinion all the ENGLs share a very direct soundquality, very good to hear in a band setting but less forgiving for the player than other amps (I had the direct comparison to orange and marshall) - but because of that the sound resolution of cords is very good.
That said, because of that its not that easy to get the simple easy vintage rock sounds.without a pedal.
@@user-vm6nm3yx3k It's the tightest amp that I've ever played. It's articulate, aggressive and it can do a very amazing lead. It's amazing.
The savage 60 is my dream amp, it's nice seeing ENGL really come up and get the recognition they deserve as I feel they used to be overlooked
Fluff’s got the American Jesus.
I've owned a Engl Powerball 1st Gen twice, not sure why I sold them both times but apparently I wasn't impressed enough to keep them. Played my buddies Powerball 2nd Gen just a few weeks ago. Great amp for sure. I don't have GAS to buy one but its a fantastic amp!
Sounds good man. I have always thought they did dirty, gritty tones really well. But even that clean was REALLY clean. Looks like a sweet amp!
Sensacional Engl engl engl
LUISAO GUITARS CHANNEL
Engl is the one amp brand that I’ve loved everything I’ve played but never bought one. I don’t need a 50 or 100 watt amp so if they ever make a savage mini head I’ll hop on that. Or just finally invest in a synergy system
Ironball? Wasnt a fan of it but, it exists.
Fredrik Svärd What didn’t you like about it?
the fireball 25W blew me away
Hi, you could use a Torpedo Reload as power attenuator and still push the tubes. You also get a nice software to re-amp.
And the guys engl himself
Today in spliffs, beards and beer. We drink to the ENGL invader
Dude! Great demo! I love Engl amps. I have a Fireball 100 that just seems to get better every day. This is next level, for sure. Gotta say, the Schecter Apocalypse EX is really getting my attention. Loved your video on it. Now if only I can get past the finish. Lol. Thanks Fluff.
“Today on roofs spears and gear” according to the subtitles... Anyway, that sounds SICK
I'd ask for a "How to sound like Mr. Brett on Recipe For Hate" video but apparently all it takes is this Engl and a Les Paul. Fair, fair.
One of the best and most versatile amps ive ever used
I love mine, Best Amp for my needs live or at Home. IT Sounds killer trust me even Without the optional sound wizard Module.
Favourite amp I have ever played on!
I hate when ppl leave shitty comments, let us see your amp demos and your CZcams channel.
The Blackmore Slowhand edition and the Special Edition Preamp also have rather uncompressed high gain structures that you can dial to be more compressed or in case of the blackmore shape the sound with the awesome contour button. They both also have amazing pristine cleans that are really sparkly but still warm enough to not be sterile at all... you can get used Blackmores here in Germany for around 5 to 600€. And similar to 5150s all the Engls I have ever owned were built like tanks and never broke down on me. Engl support is absolute top notch and always a pleasure to talk to.
When i was a teenager in the 80's, i used to see Engle combo amps @ Nadine's in Hollywood. I used to see 1/4 page ads in GFTPM and GWorld mgs. So, you had Boogie MK3, JCM800, Rivera-era Fenders, Bogner,, Soldano and Jackson modded Marshalls.
probably their best amp after the Savage
You convinced me, I'm sold. I'm buying another Orange amp tomorrow.
This is the type of amp that I be looking at when scrolling through gear knowing that ill never be able to afford any of this shit
Distorted don’t think like that dude! You just gotta budget and save.
Same lolol even tho i have always wanted an archon and i finally got one
This amp sounds amazing in person! Especially after you dial things in just right, for me it has a better tone than I could've pictured in my head. Love it!
Hey great demo! Thanks for doing it in standard tuning!
I need new pants after hearing that mix. Was never a fan of the original Invader, but this sounds incredible.
I've always been a massive ENGL fan from day one- I definitely know what you're talking about with the compression. My big exception is the Fireball, especially the gen 2- something in the slim down from the Powerball made it meaner and more open than anything else I've toyed with from that era.
Great review Fluff, I definitely want one, but then again I want one of every amp you review 😂👍🎸
Savage will always be my favorite ENGL amp ever
Great video.awesome job I really appreciate you sharing this amp w us all. I personally wonder what compliments speakers would work best w these engl amps. I know so little about them.lol. they've only truely caught my eye not too long ago. Maybe a year or so. Hope to see more engl videos and metal!lol keep it up fluff!
@5:50 "We've got the American Jesus!"
That is a fantastic sounding Engl!
Hopefully Fluff can find time to play with the tone wizard dip switch module on the back. I’ve been curious how much value that actually adds? I have an old Steve Morse edition Engl head that I love but have been tempted by the Invader II with its options.
Absolutely nothing it's like a gimmick I'm not that impressed with it but it's better than most amps
Hope you doing well during the fires Fluff! I just got back from evacuation here in Oregon.
I told you it was amazing, best amp ever in my opinion, I love mine!
Nice demo! The amp sounds great!
@Silvano, do you prefer the ENGL Invader II or the Soldano SLO-100?
Ok you got my attention, so I will look for a proper review.
So... I been playing Takamine acoustics and Les Pauls... Recently came to love an EII evertune... As well as an Eclipse Bass I've had for a while.. And noticed ENGL is the trifecta company grouping.
Invader / Eclipse Evertune/ Takamine FXC Cedar top.. I think so.
you could really get some great thrash tones from this amp, time to start saving
For a moment his playing and tone gave me Charles Bronson band vibes
I'm impressed how this amp sounds congested, compressed and not musical. Clean sounds like a keyboard or something.
It's like a $ 3700 LINE 6 pod HD hahahaha
Got my Invader II 4 years ago, and it's still one of the best amps for modern music I ever played. With this amp I prefer to set the presence at around 3 'o clock because it has less highs than other ENGL amps. Then it becomes very tight and aggressive on the 4th channel.
Nice vid 🙂 would have loved to hear some more in the mix and also heavy distortion sounds not in a mix. But I do like really how you played all sorts of different styles that made sense for the tone you dialed in!
It looks nice too, but honestly I’m wishing Engl would make a lunchbox sized Savage. I have a Savage 120 SE and it’s sooooo good. It’s just a huge thing to have ready to play in my home, also definitely needs an attenuator for home levels haha. Fireball 25 seems nice too though 🙂
Sounds great 👍👍
Love this brand, i had a e530, but on the other hand... it would be awesome a Fender Prosonic review!!
Euge said the Invader is rather compressed and processed. He also mentioned the Fireball is more open and uncompressed, like a Marshall JCM 800. Savage and Invader and their other amps he mentioned as being to compressed.
so sick!!!
I see you dropping in a little bad religion riff in there. Great reveiw boss
Around 2005-06, tried out a Engle powerball combo
I must be missing what everyone else hears with ENGLs. Can't say I would take one over a Fryette, a Soldano SLO or a good Mesa.
I had an ENGL Thunder w/ Reverb. I put a BBE Sonic Maximizer in the loop. Unreal Distortion. Great clean. One hell of an Amp.
I think they sound great, lots of sound shaping options, can do everything, no need for a Tubescreamer. I mean i'm probably just used to them because i grew up using Engl amps, here in EU they are quite widespread and fairly affordable, much cheaper than Freyette, Soldano or Mesa Boogie. I can get like 2 Engl amps for the price of 1 Mesa.
My version 1 Invader, beat out of my Diesel VH4's clean channel, hands down. Wasn't even close. Engls clean is the best on earth, I say that as a dude that grew up around my dads 1960's Fender Twins. The Engl sounds very full, polished and expensive. Engl Invaders channel 3 disto is easily be on par w/ the VH4 channel 3 disto, so I sold the VH4. I didn't want to, but I couldn't justify the economics of owning two very expensive amps If I was forced to say what the best amp ever made is, I'd say Engl Invader. I am going to check out the 50 watt VH4, however. The 100 watt version sounds best (it "opens up") when played loudly, and I want to give Diesel another chance to take down the king. The Invader has a killer sound at bedroom levels. Full MIDI capability (as does the VH4). The Engl MIDI pedal, controls all amp functions, and my switches my reverb/delay pedals as well. It has volume boost on every channel. A decent noise gate. Records like a dream -it can stick out of a mix, like crazy, if that's what you are after. It literally does everything I have ever needed an amp to do, and then some. I got it for $1600 bucks! I am too broke to merely try the Version 2 Invader. Hell, I can't even afford to talk about it. It costs $50 per word. I'm going to shut up now.
You da man fluff
Honestly...I always wanted channel 3 of the original Invader 100w in an old Marshall head/chassis.
I own the Original Invader 100! and its suck a fucking beast! Best amp i ever played and owned!
Wish I could afford one of these.. or the Savage II
I definitely need you to go over those dip switches in a future video, though. You can't wave something like that in our faces and just keep it from us lol
It's alot he would have had to do a PBS documentary on it lol...and he probably doesn't have the patience for that. I spent a few hours hearing everything the wizard module does and then decided where I was gunna have it. Crazy amp.
On the CZcams subtitles it said today on roof spears and gear 😂
Love Engl
It's a looker as well
Really looking into getting this because of ESP. May pre order the silver one that comes with a 2x12 🤔 or the fireball 100... or the Savage II 120. I can't decide.
That $3k for the regular invader doesn't include the Wizard module.
I own an Engl Invader 100 (first generation) and it's sounds amazing!
My humble opinion is that , there is not such a big difference between the first one and the second generation.
Beyond the obvious facelift,the sound and feel is the same.
Cheers.
I want
The best Engl is the Savage 120 mk1!
Yeahhh Bad Religion !!! 😁🤣
Dafuk. Was that a demo or paying your endorsers??
The first thing I would do is cover I and N
Question for anyone that knows. If you use an overdrive or distortion pedal before your amp, and have some gain also dialed in on your amp, which gain are you going to hear?
Isn't the point of using an external pedal for distortion that you prefer that to the one built into the amp?
You'll hear both. People generally use ODs to tighten the low end of the amp and have the drive on the pedal at 0. If you have a good amp there really isn't a point in using a distortion pedal unless you specifically want the sound from that pedal. In that case it would probably sound best used as a preamp.
@@gaukarmadhouse not following. How do your tighten the low end of your amp if you have the overdrive pedal at zero?
Sz Ki Because your level should be at max and the tone knob can be tweaked to your liking.
Sz Ki Overdrives and distortions are different pedals with different purposes, and there are several ways to use each. These are some of the most common:
1. Overdrive pedal between your guitar and the input of the amp, used as a boost. In this case, the gain on the pedal is usually set to minimum, and you’re using the pedal for it’s equalization properties as well as raising the signal level. Cutting the low frequencies “tightens” the sound, and having a louder signal going in to the front of the amp pushes the preamp tubes harder and makes it distort more. Any distortion added by the pedal itself is minimal. It’s just supercharging your amplifier’s built in distortion characteristics. An EQ pedal can also be used for the same purpose.
2. An overdrive or distortion pedal with the gain set high going in to the amp input is going to create a lot of distortion from itself. A high signal level from the pedal may also drive the amp in to a more distorted sound. This is how the Swedish death metal sound is created; heavy distortion at high levels going in to the amp super hot, which distorts the amp as well, creating a wall of thick, fuzzy noise.
3. Finally, plugging the output from a distortion pedal in to the effects return jack of the amp bypasses the amp’s built in preamp and you’re amplifying the distortion pedal directly. Try it and you’ll notice the gain, EQ, and volume controls on the amp do nothing, because they’ve been cut out of the signal path and replaced by the controls on the pedal.
@@singleproppilot ok. Makes sense. Thanks!
Please start adding the price on screen
noice
Lol I expected the normal one to be a lot cheaper than just $700 less on an amount of almost $4k.
Woooooo, great amp!!! I hope that you would review Ceriatone amps. See good reviews in youtube. Thanks
Fluff, I don't think "MASSIVE SOUNDING" means what you think it means...
Is the amp’s name Walter by any chance?
Asking for a friend 🤔
I'm sure pros use this system, they get a great sound, but what's the cost of all this system? 10k? all in? Expensive for sure!
Myke Fuller then you add in his les paul, cabs, records setup and mics, that’s so expensive. Yepp, you could get a really, really nice rig for just the cost of the non collectors head alone.
What is going on with your ceiling??
So the mix at the start sounded great, but that LP sounds compressed as hell - like putting my head in a vice. I cant image what the other Engls must have sounded like, based on your description. Yikes.
imagine every guitar you play through it sounding like its equipped with EMG's
Still sounds compressed 🤷
Great amp! Love the Invader II although sometimes I think that this beats is too smooth. Maybe you want to check out my Invader II demos, that would be very cool. #engl_amplification
Engl Savage 60w mkII is the shi.
Is it bad that I want to buy this just because of the name?
Only if you use a seymore duncan invader too
@@Ottophil Would sound thunderous as hell.
sounds like an orange and a dual rec had a baby....... and the baby needs to be fed by silver spoon that price is so high.....
Shouldn't have to 'goose' an amp that costs sub 4gs US. My 2 cents rounded up to the nearest nickel.
Don't buy anything based off what this guy's says. He's a sellout. He'll say anything is good when their giving it to him....
Bad Religion ;p
I gotta be honest dude dials in the worst tones on youtube. plays crappy rock on extreme metal amplifiers. riffs are elementary at best and never do these amps justice
It's a shame, ENGL amps sound so well-defined, cutting, clean and precise... but that always comes with a certain "coldness". I now understand what my guitar teacher meant when he said "you can also play blues with it, but you'll still hear that it's an ENGL". That "coldness" comes out especially in the clean and crunch tones. For the high gain stuff, that clean precision is often what you want... but not always. That's why I went with the JVM instead.
What a low effort demo of the amp
I need $3700 dollars.
Unpopular opinion: mesa cabinets dont sound all that good. Mine was veiled and "distant". Best combo i ever played was an engl savage with a hughes and kettner cab.
Mesa cabs are my favorite cabs. They sound best out of the 3 v30 types. And ive tried dozens of speakers and i always come back to the v30. Its the only speaker i always get aong with especially the mesa ones. They’re darker and punchier which i really like. You have to crank them to hear them at their best.
second
first
My version 1 Invader, beat out of my Diesel VH4's clean channel, hands down. Wasn't even close. Engls clean is the best on earth. I say that as a dude that grew up around my dads 1960's Fender Twins. The Engl sounds very full, polished and expensive. Engl Invaders channel 3 disto is easily be on par w/ the VH4 channel 3 disto, so I sold the VH4. I didn't want to, but I couldn't justify the economics of owning two very expensive amps If I was forced to say what the best amp ever made is, I'd say Engl Invader. I am going to check out the 50 watt VH4, however. The 100 watt version sounds best (it "opens up") when played loudly, and I want to give Diesel another chance to take down the king. The Invader has a killer sound at bedroom levels. Full MIDI capability (as does the VH4). The Engl MIDI pedal, controls all amp functions, and switches my reverb/delay pedals etc, as well. It has volume boost on every channel. A pretty decent noise gate. Records like a dream. It can stick out of a mix, like crazy, if that's what you are after. It literally does everything I have ever needed an amp to do, and then some. I got it for $1600 bucks! I am too broke to even try out the Version 2 Invader. Hell, I can't even afford to talk about it. It costs $50 per word. I'm going to shut up now.