| (http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/styles/subsilver2/imageset/en/icon_user_offline.gif) | | Supah Stah | | (http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/download/file.php?avatar=3502_1247544814.gif) |
Joined: Sun, Feb 17, 2008 1:15am
Posts: 2582 |
Here is more of a review with my opinions:
Pro's --
I like the look and weight of the amp, nice small package thats easy to transport. Seams built well. I like how the controls are laid out, with the ability to control input gain as well as lead gain, allowing the possibility for some breakup on the clean channel. Mid boost function is cool, helps to achieve different sounds in conjunction with the other eq knobs. Has efx loop. Possibility to step down the output power from full (15 watts), down to five and one watt and silent recording with filtered output. I have heard negative things about the filtered output, but I thought it didn't sound half bad, but there is a catch noted below. Has enough gain for me, and the gain is usable in all positions. I am plenty fine with the clean channel and the drive channel, like the overall sound, and I think it can be used for a variety of applications, such as rock, and bluesy stuff. Can connect an 8 ohm cab, 16 ohm cab, or 2 8 ohm cabs. Master volume works good, you can have it at full power and still get pretty quite with master down. Works well with rolling off the volume on the guitar to achieve different levels of gain, all sounds great throughout the spectrum
Cons --
The power reduction works ONLY in conjunction with the 8 ohm output. Since my cab is 16, I have to have a mismatch in order to use the power grid. Even with full power, I noticed a sound difference using the 8 ohm into 16 ohm cab, a little more muffled then with proper match, so that right there effected how all other power rating sounded, at least for my setup. This amp is geared toward a single 8 ohm cab. While I have been enjoying the sound and it works plenty fine for me, I think the top end is slightly fizzy at times, not bad by any means, I have a feeling a tube change will take care of this nit pick for me. Both channels share the same EQ. I notice that the clean channel seems to have more bass then the drive, not that big of a deal, but I am picky about my eq, so not completely ideal from switching back and forth live, but not an issue either. Some people, not me, but some may say this amp doesn't have enough low end. For me it is just right. The amp at this price point should come with a footswitch, it does not, you have to buy it extra. Only has one preamp tube, so I believe it is somewhat of a hybrid tube amp, not a big deal for me. Filtered output mostly will need a special cable, as noted in the manual. It calls for a balanced cable, but when trying it, it had a big ground loop, which the manual said would probably happen. It suggests removing the ground from one side of the cable, to cut out the ground loop. Haven't tried it but I am sure it would help. Not sure if a unbalanced cable would work better.
Even though I have listed cons, I am happy with this amp thus far. I am a fan of the little head trend. 15 watts is really all I need. I have previously owned a Blackstar HT-5 and Rebel 30 Head. To me, the Engl gigmaster is somewhere in between those 2. Has a more modern and tighter sounding drive like the HT-5 which I am pleased with, where as I liked the drive of the Rebel 30 tons, but it was a tad more loose and classic sounding I guess. It has a better clean channel like the Rebel 30. The Rebel 30 is slightly more 3D sounding, the Gigmaster is in between the 2 in largeness of sound, possibly the wattage can be the explanation. The Efx loop on the Rebel 30 sounds great, the Efx loop on the Gigmaster is fine. Rebel 30 has more features, but I think the Gigmaster is more of my cup of tea. So there ya go, my opinion on this amp. Solely mine, your experience may differ. |
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