Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210 Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68 My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio Thanks for supporting the channel!
Clearly the answer is always buy both! I get Exodus nostalgia when I think of the Savage. Never owned either but I loved the E570 preamp. Great representation here.
I have the Fireball 100 and it sounds amazing. What I take away from this comparison, and then comparing it to my Fireball, is that you really can't go wrong, for high gain metal, with an Engl.
Excellent as always Jon. I think the SE FE is my favorite overall here. Waiting patiently for your Quad Cortex captures of either of these beasts... As a side note, that twisty riff during the crunch section was particularly awesome.
If I had the money and the utility, I'd totally get both. If I were to actually buy one, it would be the Savage, as I liked it slightly better and think, it would work more easily in a mix.
Savage 120 MKII 💪🔥🤘And put a Tubescreamer in front of the Savage 120, dial in the mid-lean function of crunch one and you get a new high gain channel that sounds different from the lead channel.By boosting the second crunch you get a another high gain channel that differs from both other channels especially in the low end.the crunch channels are a perfect platform to transform them with a little effort into high gain.I recommend a Maxon ST9 Pro Plus as a tubescreamer/booster in front of the amplifier.
For me, I'd prefer the Savage. It just sounds a little more pissed off (for a lack of better terms). It just sounds like it wants to be cranked and played with heavy ass riffs. The FE is a sick amp as well, and I don't think anyone would be wrong for choosing one over the other. Thanks for the comparision, Jon!
Really surprised how close it was between them. Only finite differences in tone. I preferred the clean on the Savage, and juuuuust about everything else on the SEFE. But it wasn't stark and it was very close! Can't go wrong with anything ENGL. Great video, Jon!
Having both, they do 'hit' differently imho. SE is the better all-rounder, again, imho, yet the lead channel on the Savage 120 (OG or MKII) is brutal, I love that channel!
As expected, they are indeed very similar (the SE is historically based on the Savage / Savage SE)! I find the Savage a little more aggressive and raw on your video (in a good way, which I prefer for my style) and the SE a little “smoother”. That was also my impression when I compared them side by side at work. It's worth noting that the Savage costs 1K less and is therefore a very solid option if you don't need the 5th Chanel tube driver, integrated reverb and 3rd loop fx (especially for people suffering from options paralysis XD Which is a bit ironic when you consider that some users are already unsettled by the Savage's many options and may therefore prefer the fireball.). In short, even if I also found the SE's switches to be a little more “musical” and “user-friendly” it really depends on your taste (personally, I would give a very slight advantage to the Savage for pure metal) and budget, but in the end, it's hard to go wrong with either (and I'll be perfectly happy with the SE in my arsenal). Amazing video as always !
I recently purchased a savage 120 mk2 and I can't wait til it's in my hands. My dream amp, I've had my eye on it for a long time. Then I'll need to save my pennies for the XXL cab...
That chromatic lick on the crunch part was great! FE sounds more open and clear, less compressed, if money no object i would choose the FE, but considering the price difference i would get the Savage, not too shabby either.
These amps sound great. I would prefer the Savage out of these two if I had to pick but I would take either really. In saying that I think I could make any high gain amp work these days if I had my personal cabs or fav IRs 🤷♂️ Great video 🤘
Savage is the King! More clarity, more punch and more brutality as the SE. The SE FE is also a versatile and excellent amp. But the Savage Sound has something inherent, which for me is almost unbeatable.
Really disappointed my experience with the Fireball 25 was a bad one . Maybe I need to just go all the way to their big boy heads . Loving my Badlander so I guess I need a 2nd amp now . Love all your content Jon , your riffs are killer as well 👍🤘🏻
In certain contexts I like how the Savage is more aggressive and crispy and in others I prefer the overall clarity of the SE/FE. I guess if I had to pick one I'd pick the SE/FE just for the better clean/crunch options as well.
I have the Savage II 120 and I would prefer the SE FE, because of the second Lead channel. The second crunch channel on the Savage is about useless for me and the first crunch channel has too little gain for high gain chugga-chugga. You have to use the Lead channel for that on the Savage. But the Savage was as far as my credit card would let me go, so I am quite happy with that one anyways. Great amp! Beats both my JVM410H and the PRS MT15.
Clean: essentially the same, at least on my monitors. Sounds good. Crunch: Savage beats the SEFE by a long shot. So much richer, yet still tight and aggressive. SEFE is too "well behaved". Lead 1: Savage sounds more… wild. So, so good. Lead 2: Again, Savage is tighter and brighter. Conclusion: Savage. No question. Might be the best metal rhythm tone ever. A big part of it is the 6550 valves. If you've ever played Kerry King's Marshall sig, you know how insanely brutal KT88s (which are a variation on 6550s, much like KT77s are a variation on EL34s) are. I kinda wanna hear the Savage on Creambacks and other speakers. Do you own the Synergy Savage module? Could you make a video running it through the Savage power section, and comparing it to the actual preamp on the head?
Cant really tell from a recording on RUclips matey. Had both these up against each other and it was no contest for metal the se destroyed the savage. Savage was under powered and sounded like a solid state Randall when U cranked it it was pumping out air and some noise but no depth or tone to it it was just woof the se holds together and is much more powerful, musical and crushing I do agree that the savage can pull of better crunch tones but if I wanted good crunch tones the Steve Morse or artist edition destroy both of these in that department.
@@josephbutler148 I think we've definitely not tested the same amps... while it's very possible and respectable to prefer one over the other, neither “destroys” the other... this comment makes no sense... A solid state Randal??? Stop messing around... Either the amp you tested was defective, or there is bad faith. I also tested both side by side. As in the video (in which Jon puts a lot of elegy and precision) they are very close and have been designed by ENGL in this way... You should definitely give the Savage a second chance ^^.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I feel it, the savage has more low mids and scooped high mids, while the E670SE has more toned higher mids and heavy lows. In mixes, I like to combine them to get best of both worlds.
What did you think of the Marshall Mode 4? I think it has a very alternative rock sound.Even a bit plastic.Do you own one.Or do you have something similar you could recommend?Keep up the good work.
It's hard to call it, over RUclips, compared to you hearing them in person. But, I slightly preferred the Savage. It sounded less compressed and more raw. I'd rather have the dynamic range, and compress it to taste in processing. The Savage sounded more direct, but with RUclips compression, who can say really. I thought the cleans were decent enough, but you'd get better clean tones from amps intended for that. If it's high-gain amps, the Victory Kraken mk.2 has better cleans. Other than that, they both sound great. I just slightly prefer the transient attack / bite of the Savage. It's well-named. To the title of the video, the FE does sound _heavier_, but for me that's not so much a good thing.
Have U tried both the se is way angrier the savage is very lacking in aggressive grit around the edges in comparison and the se is far more punchy and crushing
@@josephbutler148 I've tried both side by side and - like most people here - come to exactly the opposite conclusion... it's simply a matter of taste and needs and it's important to respect everyone's opinions.
Two Engls and no Necrophagist riffs? I'm gonna need to speak to your manager please 😆. Seriously though you can tell these share some lineage. The Savage certainly lives up to its name and I wonder how much angrier it sounds with a good boost 😁
I have the same issue on the e570. They used black lines and it's even harder to see. Almost impossible under stage lights, even with a power conditioner light.
I just got the SE a couple of weeks ago and I love it but didn't think about this. My 50 year old eyes can't see the red dots, especially when the red LED lights are reflecting off of the knobs. Does anyone know if the knobs can switched out with something easier on the eyes? I have never tried changing them so I don't know if these things are proprietary to the amp makers or not?
@@josephbutler148 The INFERNO is a fantastic amp, but very different from the Savage, and I can see why you prefer it. But to exaggerate a little, your comment is tantamount to saying that you would have liked a JCM 800 to sound like a Dual Rectifier... well, no... as for the Savage/Inferno duo, these are two beasts operating in different territories, and if you want the sound of a Savage, you get a Savage, and vice versa for the Inferno. ... so there's no point in trying to convince heaven and earth that the Savage sucks... you didn't like it, that's to be respected and, above all, it's understandable if your tastes and needs turn to an amp like the Inferno which I love too, but once again, there's no point in getting so down on this poor Savage, either here or on Facebook XD. Maybe you should try the Savage MKII 60 with EL34 to reconcile you with ;)
EL34 sounds more wet and 6L6 sounds more dry. Imho EL34 works better for classical (marshall-inspired) rock sounds whereas 6L6 works better for modern metal with tons of high gain as they remain a little bit more transparent. I picked the Invader II btw.
Got the money? Take your pick. The only thing i wasnt crazy about was hearing that theirs repairmen that wont touch them if something goes wrong with them because being they are Products from Germany, they have to order the parts directly from Germany and between the wait, and what your charged if not covered by warranty, and the labor? Ridiculously pricey. Great for Many styles especially METAL but for what they cost they should be damn near indestructible. Yes nothing is, but damn close for what they cost.
ENGL screwed up making the Savage Mk.2 They had an opportunity to fix the completely useless Crunch 2 circuit The Savage Crunch 1 sounds better than the SE Crunch The Savage Lead sounds better than either Lead channel on the SE BUT Crunch 2 is a deal breaker I wish they made a 2 channel version of the Savage (Crunch 1 & Lead)
Engl SEFE by far. That bigger power section really makes the amp sound bolder, larger, and more authoritative. The notes just don’t seem to carry a lot of attack on the savage.
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Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx
My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68
My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio
Thanks for supporting the channel!
Eagerly waiting for QC captures for both these amps. 🙋🏻♂️😃
I will always vouch for the Savage. It's the 6550 that five it that extra glassy edge ❤
The Savage 120 is definitely awesome!
So 6550 even better?
@@BlackHeart_RUclips_Channel Ola is referring to the fact that powertubes in the Savage are 6550 as opposed as usual el34/6l6. 👍
I like that riff at 4:49, very creative
Clearly the answer is always buy both! I get Exodus nostalgia when I think of the Savage. Never owned either but I loved the E570 preamp. Great representation here.
Both is always the best answer!
I have the Fireball 100 and it sounds amazing. What I take away from this comparison, and then comparing it to my Fireball, is that you really can't go wrong, for high gain metal, with an Engl.
Excellent as always Jon. I think the SE FE is my favorite overall here. Waiting patiently for your Quad Cortex captures of either of these beasts... As a side note, that twisty riff during the crunch section was particularly awesome.
You beat me to it! Love ENGL, love both these amps!
If I had the money and the utility, I'd totally get both. If I were to actually buy one, it would be the Savage, as I liked it slightly better and think, it would work more easily in a mix.
Savage 120 MKII 💪🔥🤘And put a Tubescreamer in front of the Savage 120, dial in the mid-lean function of crunch one and you get a new high gain channel that sounds different from the lead channel.By boosting the second crunch you get a another high gain channel that differs from both other channels especially in the low end.the crunch channels are a perfect platform to transform them with a little effort into high gain.I recommend a Maxon ST9 Pro Plus as a tubescreamer/booster in front of the amplifier.
Loved your riffs and tones as always! Also, it’s always a good day when you bring out the NW44 😍 awesome video.
Great video! I like both amps....the Savage 120 MK II is really interesting. I have to try it someday.
For me, I'd prefer the Savage. It just sounds a little more pissed off (for a lack of better terms). It just sounds like it wants to be cranked and played with heavy ass riffs. The FE is a sick amp as well, and I don't think anyone would be wrong for choosing one over the other. Thanks for the comparision, Jon!
Really surprised how close it was between them. Only finite differences in tone. I preferred the clean on the Savage, and juuuuust about everything else on the SEFE. But it wasn't stark and it was very close! Can't go wrong with anything ENGL. Great video, Jon!
Thanks buddy!
Great review. Curious how the FE would compare having EL34s.
Having both, they do 'hit' differently imho. SE is the better all-rounder, again, imho, yet the lead channel on the Savage 120 (OG or MKII) is brutal, I love that channel!
As expected, they are indeed very similar (the SE is historically based on the Savage / Savage SE)! I find the Savage a little more aggressive and raw on your video (in a good way, which I prefer for my style) and the SE a little “smoother”. That was also my impression when I compared them side by side at work.
It's worth noting that the Savage costs 1K less and is therefore a very solid option if you don't need the 5th Chanel tube driver, integrated reverb and 3rd loop fx (especially for people suffering from options paralysis XD Which is a bit ironic when you consider that some users are already unsettled by the Savage's many options and may therefore prefer the fireball.).
In short, even if I also found the SE's switches to be a little more “musical” and “user-friendly” it really depends on your taste (personally, I would give a very slight advantage to the Savage for pure metal) and budget, but in the end, it's hard to go wrong with either (and I'll be perfectly happy with the SE in my arsenal).
Amazing video as always !
I recently purchased a savage 120 mk2 and I can't wait til it's in my hands. My dream amp, I've had my eye on it for a long time. Then I'll need to save my pennies for the XXL cab...
That chromatic lick on the crunch part was great! FE sounds more open and clear, less compressed, if money no object i would choose the FE, but considering the price difference i would get the Savage, not too shabby either.
Excellent comparison, both amplifiers are good.
Savage is more creaky and accented for metal, I choose Savage.🤘
I preferred the SE isolated, but the Savage in the mix.
Geen idee, waarschijnlijk ga ik met beide versterkers door mijn rug😅. Awesome video as always.
These amps sound great. I would prefer the Savage out of these two if I had to pick but I would take either really. In saying that I think I could make any high gain amp work these days if I had my personal cabs or fav IRs 🤷♂️
Great video 🤘
Savage is the King! More clarity, more punch and more brutality as the SE. The SE FE is also a versatile and excellent amp. But the Savage Sound has something inherent, which for me is almost unbeatable.
Really disappointed my experience with the Fireball 25 was a bad one . Maybe I need to just go all the way to their big boy heads . Loving my Badlander so I guess I need a 2nd amp now . Love all your content Jon , your riffs are killer as well 👍🤘🏻
Preferred the SE FE every time. The Savage reminds me of a Blue Voodoo, which isn't a terrible thing but just not "refined" like you said
In certain contexts I like how the Savage is more aggressive and crispy and in others I prefer the overall clarity of the SE/FE. I guess if I had to pick one I'd pick the SE/FE just for the better clean/crunch options as well.
I have the Savage II 120 and I would prefer the SE FE, because of the second Lead channel. The second crunch channel on the Savage is about useless for me and the first crunch channel has too little gain for high gain chugga-chugga. You have to use the Lead channel for that on the Savage. But the Savage was as far as my credit card would let me go, so I am quite happy with that one anyways. Great amp! Beats both my JVM410H and the PRS MT15.
Clean: essentially the same, at least on my monitors. Sounds good.
Crunch: Savage beats the SEFE by a long shot. So much richer, yet still tight and aggressive. SEFE is too "well behaved".
Lead 1: Savage sounds more… wild. So, so good.
Lead 2: Again, Savage is tighter and brighter.
Conclusion: Savage. No question. Might be the best metal rhythm tone ever. A big part of it is the 6550 valves. If you've ever played Kerry King's Marshall sig, you know how insanely brutal KT88s (which are a variation on 6550s, much like KT77s are a variation on EL34s) are. I kinda wanna hear the Savage on Creambacks and other speakers.
Do you own the Synergy Savage module? Could you make a video running it through the Savage power section, and comparing it to the actual preamp on the head?
Cant really tell from a recording on RUclips matey. Had both these up against each other and it was no contest for metal the se destroyed the savage. Savage was under powered and sounded like a solid state Randall when U cranked it it was pumping out air and some noise but no depth or tone to it it was just woof the se holds together and is much more powerful, musical and crushing I do agree that the savage can pull of better crunch tones but if I wanted good crunch tones the Steve Morse or artist edition destroy both of these in that department.
@@josephbutler148 I think we've definitely not tested the same amps... while it's very possible and respectable to prefer one over the other, neither “destroys” the other... this comment makes no sense... A solid state Randal??? Stop messing around... Either the amp you tested was defective, or there is bad faith. I also tested both side by side. As in the video (in which Jon puts a lot of elegy and precision) they are very close and have been designed by ENGL in this way... You should definitely give the Savage a second chance ^^.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I feel it, the savage has more low mids and scooped high mids, while the E670SE has more toned higher mids and heavy lows. In mixes, I like to combine them to get best of both worlds.
You can fix that on the lead channel with the “contour” button on, it will be far less scoopy
Danke , sehr interessant, super Klang. 🔥🔥Engl 🔥🔥
The main difference I hear is that the savage is set to more gain. Some really pleasant saturation there
What did you think of the Marshall Mode 4? I think it has a very alternative rock sound.Even a bit plastic.Do you own one.Or do you have something similar you could recommend?Keep up the good work.
The crunch on both sounded odd. Quite compressed and gated. But maybe Jons playing and mixing is just that tight. :)
For some reason the subtitles show [Applause] during the clean parts.
It's hard to call it, over RUclips, compared to you hearing them in person. But, I slightly preferred the Savage. It sounded less compressed and more raw. I'd rather have the dynamic range, and compress it to taste in processing. The Savage sounded more direct, but with RUclips compression, who can say really. I thought the cleans were decent enough, but you'd get better clean tones from amps intended for that. If it's high-gain amps, the Victory Kraken mk.2 has better cleans. Other than that, they both sound great. I just slightly prefer the transient attack / bite of the Savage. It's well-named. To the title of the video, the FE does sound _heavier_, but for me that's not so much a good thing.
For what I play, I prefer the Savage as it sounds angrier to me, but for something more versatile the SE would probably be the best.
Have U tried both the se is way angrier the savage is very lacking in aggressive grit around the edges in comparison and the se is far more punchy and crushing
@@josephbutler148 I've tried both side by side and - like most people here - come to exactly the opposite conclusion... it's simply a matter of taste and needs and it's important to respect everyone's opinions.
Two Engls and no Necrophagist riffs? I'm gonna need to speak to your manager please 😆. Seriously though you can tell these share some lineage. The Savage certainly lives up to its name and I wonder how much angrier it sounds with a good boost 😁
Ach Jon, wat ben je toch een Engel 😋😂
Surprised ENGL decided to stick with the chrome knobs on the SE FE considering how hard they are to read.
They have red dots
I have the same issue on the e570. They used black lines and it's even harder to see. Almost impossible under stage lights, even with a power conditioner light.
@@SonicDriveStudio The old ones have black lines. Still difficult to see since the knobs are reflective.
I just got the SE a couple of weeks ago and I love it but didn't think about this. My 50 year old eyes can't see the red dots, especially when the red LED lights are reflecting off of the knobs. Does anyone know if the knobs can switched out with something easier on the eyes? I have never tried changing them so I don't know if these things are proprietary to the amp makers or not?
Hey Jon, have you tried out the Marty Friedman ENGL Inferno head?
I have not
@@SonicDriveStudioit's good it's my 2nd fave after the se. Its what I wish the fireball and savage was to be honest
@@josephbutler148 The INFERNO is a fantastic amp, but very different from the Savage, and I can see why you prefer it. But to exaggerate a little, your comment is tantamount to saying that you would have liked a JCM 800 to sound like a Dual Rectifier... well, no... as for the Savage/Inferno duo, these are two beasts operating in different territories, and if you want the sound of a Savage, you get a Savage, and vice versa for the Inferno. ... so there's no point in trying to convince heaven and earth that the Savage sucks... you didn't like it, that's to be respected and, above all, it's understandable if your tastes and needs turn to an amp like the Inferno which I love too, but once again, there's no point in getting so down on this poor Savage, either here or on Facebook XD. Maybe you should try the Savage MKII 60 with EL34 to reconcile you with ;)
EL34 sounds more wet and 6L6 sounds more dry. Imho EL34 works better for classical (marshall-inspired) rock sounds whereas 6L6 works better for modern metal with tons of high gain as they remain a little bit more transparent.
I picked the Invader II btw.
Got the money? Take your pick. The only thing i wasnt crazy about was hearing that theirs repairmen that wont touch them if something goes wrong with them because being they are Products from Germany, they have to order the parts directly from Germany and between the wait, and what your charged if not covered by warranty, and the labor? Ridiculously pricey. Great for Many styles especially METAL but for what they cost they should be damn near indestructible. Yes nothing is, but damn close for what they cost.
Please bring back the one song, one amp for all the new amps you’ve got lately! Every who agrees press the like button
⬇️
I'd love to but it's a lot of work... not sure
I have the Savage MKII which is warmer sounding compared to the SE which sounds crispier overall to me though ?
Interesting, in this video it seems complete opposite. The savage is brighter and more saturated
Savage sounds kinda more pissed off right? cheers
I like the Engl better
Me too
Which is heavier? I don’t know. Have you tried weighing them?
Good one!
ENGL screwed up making the Savage Mk.2
They had an opportunity to fix the completely useless Crunch 2 circuit
The Savage Crunch 1 sounds better than the SE Crunch
The Savage Lead sounds better than either Lead channel on the SE
BUT
Crunch 2 is a deal breaker
I wish they made a 2 channel version of the Savage (Crunch 1 & Lead)
Engl SEFE by far. That bigger power section really makes the amp sound bolder, larger, and more authoritative. The notes just don’t seem to carry a lot of attack on the savage.
I just got a2nd mortgage to buy one