Bought this amp. CANNOT wait to get it next week. Thank you for this video. Everything I needed to know was in this. Also, the music was absolutely fantastic.
Tried the Ironball SE a few days ago in a local store and honestly i like it way more than all the big Engl Amps i tried or owned. They should Release a 100 Watt Version 👍 Just not as overgained..still a ton if needed and a really good cleans too! The features are superb too!
Yees, amazing! I saw you're doing a comparison with the FB25 already so that's awesome! Would love to see a comparison between this, FB25 and the Mini Rec also :D
I think the Ironball SE is the #1 Engl right now, followed by the Fireball 25, which I would buy in a heartbeat over the Ironball SE, IF it had the same SE feature set. I love having an amp that doesn't require that I take a reverb/delay/boost pedal with me at all times. Until the Fireball 25SE comes out (fingers crossed that ever happens), I'm totally going with the Ironball SE. Your videos are amazing and have helped me make so many good amp choices, thanks so much for that :)
When I'm looking for an amp Sonic Drive Studio is the first place I go, sick playing, sweet riffs and very professionals reviews!!! Thanks a lot!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
I’ve seen a few reviews of this amp but since I discovered your channel I’m glad I found your review of this amp. I think you do a far better review of amps than pretty much anyone out there and the length of the videos is spot on. I’m keen on getting this one. Btw I bought an Orange Micro Terror based on that video you did on all the Orange amps. Greetings from NZ 😎🤘🎸 Edit: can the delay, reverb etc be controlled by a footswitch etc ?
Maaan, you have the best cleans and crunch tones when doing reviews. Others are just focusing only on crunch, others just good at cleans but bad at crunch
Great review! One request though-when you are demoing the lead channel can you actually play some solo style play? I wanna hear those single notes soar.
Great sounding Amp with an impressive set of features. Engl has done such a thorough job designing awesome Amps, are there any "important" features you think they still need to add?
Cool video! Your music trax are awesome man... 😎 I bought the Ironball and have already tested it live via the direct out into the PA. Was awesome. Very versatile cause I'm using it for my retro vintage and also Gothic Metal bands...love it!
Nice video on a nice amp!! And nice playing too! Can you set the amount of the MVB and the gain boost effect? Or just turn it on and off to whatever Engl set it up?
First review and video I've seen from you, this was awesome! Any chance you could compare the Ironball SE to the PRS MT15? Fairly torn between the two. The MT15 is much better in price, but isn't very important. Just looking to downsize from my Powerball but still want an amp that can do it all.
Incredible Amp and great review 👍 I have a question - can this amp be fed directly into a DAW for recording? If so, can IRs be added via the DAW or do they have to be uploaded to the amp first of all? Thank you 👍
@@SonicDriveStudio how soon? I asked yesterday about the fb25 in another video about tone definition and articulation and i was ready to order a fb 25 but then i heard in other videos in your channel the ironball and i think it might have better note clarity , what do you think ?
Awesome sounding amp with great features. Do they come with a foot switch. I have always found it strange when multi channel/option amps don’t come with a foot switch. If it had a foot switch that could change all the options, it would be a winner!!!!
I tried plugging my Ironball SE into my Axe FX III via the IR output (with no IR) and just used the Axe FX for speaker emulation. It sounded great! However, do you think it would be better to use the power amp and go through a load box, and then into the Axe FX?
Hi, is the built in reverb and delay are mono or stereo? Because the DI output is mono, it may be hard to undertand but on the headphone output, do you hear it mono or stereo? Great video,thanks!! Edit: at the first part of the video where you demonstrate the clean sound arpeggio part, I hear it's stereo, but at 5:00 I just hear it mono, so that's part I've just confused
I love what I just heard in your video! But I wonder, can the gain channel be set to sound like... say Thin Lizzy or maybe Firebird (Bill Steer) guitar sounds?
Subscribed! I love the Engl tone. I would love to have an ironball SE. What are your thoughts of the Metalmaster? I'd love to see you do a review on this amp. Does anyone have any good reviews on the Metalmaster amps? Are they crap?
Hi how does the high gain level compare to the Engl fireball 25? I love the huge gain on the fireball 25 but the feature set on this is stella…in your opinion doesthe ironball se match up to fireball in gain stakes?
Awesome review (I was waiting for your demo of this amp). Extra features aside, which amp do you like the most as a core sound, the PRS MT15 or the ENGL Ironball SE?
@@SonicDriveStudio You were right. I brought an Ironball SE today, and is better in every aspect compared to my MT15. It has more clarity, less fizziness in high gain chords (not that the PRS was particularly fizzy), and it can access a wider, more versatile pallete of sounds with the gain boost and master volume knobs.
The amp does sound great with it's high gain tones, but if I'm honest here I'd say that I thought it lacks the low end that I'm always looking for. But that is to be expected from el84 tubes. It really does sound good though.
I struggle with that. It’s likely meaningless, or even ideal, in the studio where high-passes will be applied, but when I’m playing….I want some girth.
@@KB_Joys my point was that EL84 amps record quite well. A rock or metal mix will invariably use hi-pass filters that will neuter your EL34/6l6 amps. The girth in most recordings come from the bass guitar. Solo’d guitar tracks rarely sound huge.
@@mrhyde2250 Same, but I found that the "Source Audio EQ2" fixes this in spades, plus it is has midi which works with this amp. It absolutely kills through my Engl 4x12. As a matter of fact, I have sold EVERYTHING else.
Hi Jon, I downloaded the OH_412-ENG-Standard-Series-Bundle from OwnHammer. There are several versions of the OH1-05 IR file within the zip. Which one did you use with the 606SE (44.1k, 48K, 96k, etc.) and did you have to convert it with the Engl IR converter? This would help greatly, thank you!
I remember being into engl before I feel they became what they are today. I didn’t know this head had so many units. I’ve owned the se670, sovereign, and the powerball ii. I still have my powerball ii as I believe it’s the best amplifier ever made for my style. Seeing this though put me into total shock. It’s like engl went to a new level up in the stratosphere or something from hall with this. It makes me want to skip a mesa mark v for a different sound 😂😮😅
My main interest while deciding between this and the standard ironball is the ability to jam and record silently. So how does the IR function sound in comparison to the UA Ox box? Anybody compared the two?
Hi people of UA-cam, can anyone tell me if the store button is saving just the activated options or if it also saves the settings of the amp (like in the HK Grandmeister) ?
Is it possible to set the clean channel to a pretty clean sound and use the gain boost, to get crunch tones? If this is controllable via MIDI, it would be like a third channel, right?
@@SonicDriveStudio вас там жмыхнуло добряче или шо?) Я говорю: "Please tell me, when you turn off the output to the cabinet and apply a linear signal from the amplifier to the sound card, do the amplifier lamps remain in the circuit, man?"
Been looking for a lunch box amp for some metal.... I mainly use an Axe Fx III, but want a tube amp to toy with the feel of them i love. Considering few i like the Mark V, Mark Tremonti one cant remember name now, and this one looks great.
I would say it depends on what style you play. Engl do the riff based stuff really well because they are very tight. The MT15 does the chord based stuff really well. Personally I don't like the Mark V 25 that much but thats just my taste. If you have the chance, I recommend you play them side by side and see what suits you best.
Hey does the store button do anything if you don't use midi ? The instruction are kinda unclear on this. I don't have any midi controller and the store switch led is always blinking and it's actually annoying me. If I press and hold the store switch couple secs then it will stop flashing but as soon as you flip any other switch like reverb,delay,ect it starts flashing again. I'm actually considering cutting wire to that dam led
Correct, with one exception. If you are not using midi, you can use the store button to save presets with an Engl Z9 using the Serial Amp Control Out. However, if you had a Z9, it would make more sense to utilize midi in the first place. One thing that sucks about the Engl controllers is they do not send CC messages so you cannot use all of the features of this amp with it, only performs program (preset) changes. This was very frustrating to me, but the new Airstep solves this problem.
Would d mind telling what do think the Ironball vs rectoverb from Mesa? Are they comparable? I’m searching for some amp versatile - very good clean sound and a drive for rock and metal. Sorry if I’m bothering u a lot, but u would help u if u share some with me. Again, thank u!
Hmmmm this one would win for tight high gain tones but the H&K is an amazing amp in its own right. I guess it depends on the tonal flavor and features you prefer...
Forget the Amp, the music he makes for these videos are always inspiring!
Yes
John always has the killer riffage!
The best demo/review of this amp so far, and I've seen a lot of them. And the best sounds made with the amp, too. Thank you very much!
I love the Chime of Engl Clean channels...a very underrated clean.. Great vid
Wow, this amp is the best sounding ENGL I have heard so far…. Wicked beast!!! The clean is very nice too!!
Bought this amp. CANNOT wait to get it next week. Thank you for this video. Everything I needed to know was in this. Also, the music was absolutely fantastic.
i bought it this week, my first amp ever! played for 2 years on other crappy amps that i could use from friends butt i cant wait to play on this one!
Tried the Ironball SE a few days ago in a local store and honestly i like it way more than all the big Engl Amps i tried or owned. They should Release a 100 Watt Version 👍 Just not as overgained..still a ton if needed and a really good cleans too! The features are superb too!
I have an Engl Invader II and aside from the wattage to me it sounds almost identical. Like a mini Invader :)
Yees, amazing! I saw you're doing a comparison with the FB25 already so that's awesome! Would love to see a comparison between this, FB25 and the Mini Rec also :D
I think the Ironball SE is the #1 Engl right now, followed by the Fireball 25, which I would buy in a heartbeat over the Ironball SE, IF it had the same SE feature set. I love having an amp that doesn't require that I take a reverb/delay/boost pedal with me at all times. Until the Fireball 25SE comes out (fingers crossed that ever happens), I'm totally going with the Ironball SE. Your videos are amazing and have helped me make so many good amp choices, thanks so much for that :)
It's called engl custom shop... they will build to your liking
Yeah I probably will buy a fireball 25 SE if they release one, the fireball sounds alot warmer.
When I'm looking for an amp Sonic Drive Studio is the first place I go, sick playing, sweet riffs and very professionals reviews!!!
Thanks a lot!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Thanks!
I’ve seen a few reviews of this amp but since I discovered your channel I’m glad I found your review of this amp.
I think you do a far better review of amps than pretty much anyone out there and the length of the videos is spot on.
I’m keen on getting this one. Btw I bought an Orange Micro Terror based on that video you did on all the Orange amps.
Greetings from NZ 😎🤘🎸
Edit: can the delay, reverb etc be controlled by a footswitch etc ?
Great tones and great playing Jon 👍.
This little amp sounds awesome.
Maaan, you have the best cleans and crunch tones when doing reviews. Others are just focusing only on crunch, others just good at cleans but bad at crunch
Dude, the composition makes it all the more interesting. Thank you for going the extra mile!
Great review! One request though-when you are demoing the lead channel can you actually play some solo style play? I wanna hear those single notes soar.
that clean channel crunch sounds wonderful. wow.
You make great mixes with your tones. Sounded amazing
Which amp do you prefer to use at home, Mesa Mini Rectifier, ENGL Ironball 20 SE or Engl Fireball 25?
I have the First version... Such a small beast!! Sick high gain tones!!
Great sounding Amp with an impressive set of features. Engl has done such a thorough job designing awesome Amps, are there any "important" features you think they still need to add?
Hmm not really
A better IR (compatibility) support.
My favourite ENG , it sounds amazing, very useful and very portable ! ...
Cool video! Your music trax are awesome man... 😎 I bought the Ironball and have already tested it live via the direct out into the PA. Was awesome. Very versatile cause I'm using it for my retro vintage and also Gothic Metal bands...love it!
Nice review and demo 👍 but can you play without the drumm in the mix? or one demo only with the guitar?! so we can better hear what the amp do...
AlwaysI saw a new video of one of this amps like a lunchbox, want to buy all of them… the mini rectifier, the peavy and now the Engl… great video
This sounds really dope! Awesome demo and riffing. Thanks. // Wince
Great Demo. Keep Rocking Bro
Nice video on a nice amp!! And nice playing too! Can you set the amount of the MVB and the gain boost effect? Or just turn it on and off to whatever Engl set it up?
Yo the song you did with the red sparkle 8 string is outstanding!
Killer amp. I’m looking at getting this sooner than later.
That really is an awesome amp. I would seriously consider one in the future to sit side by side with or replace my Mesa Mark V 25 watt.
First review and video I've seen from you, this was awesome! Any chance you could compare the Ironball SE to the PRS MT15? Fairly torn between the two. The MT15 is much better in price, but isn't very important. Just looking to downsize from my Powerball but still want an amp that can do it all.
Dude that green LTD you have is so sickkkkkk! What model is that? I want one so bad 😄
Jon, great riffs again! haha!! 😁 played some good stuff there!!
Hey Jon, did you get to try out the IR loader function on the amp? Also, is there an option for a direct out without IR?
Incredible Amp and great review 👍
I have a question - can this amp be fed directly into a DAW for recording?
If so, can IRs be added via the DAW or do they have to be uploaded to the amp first of all? Thank you 👍
Thanks! Both of those options are possible! It also has a built in IR loader
Great review and breakdown as always!
Your 8 string piece reminded me of Vola. Great review mate 👍🏻.
All the hi gain in just a lunch box, great video and great amp,
You never disappoint
Thanks! :)
Wow great Demo and great Amp. A comparison with the Fireball 100 and the MT15 would be awesome!!
Going to compare it to the Fireball 25 soon!
@@SonicDriveStudio how soon? I asked yesterday about the fb25 in another video about tone definition and articulation and i was ready to order a fb 25 but then i heard in other videos in your channel the ironball and i think it might have better note clarity , what do you think ?
Hi there, can I suggest/ask for a comparison between the Engl 606SE and the Revv G20?
Very thorough review. Thanks. 👍
Woa
Very nice sounding!
Is there a lot of post processing on tbe guitars?
Awesome sounding amp with great features. Do they come with a foot switch.
I have always found it strange when multi channel/option amps don’t come with a foot switch.
If it had a foot switch that could change all the options, it would be a winner!!!!
I tried plugging my Ironball SE into my Axe FX III via the IR output (with no IR) and just used the Axe FX for speaker emulation. It sounded great! However, do you think it would be better to use the power amp and go through a load box, and then into the Axe FX?
Man that amp sounds killer with the LP!
Hi, is the built in reverb and delay are mono or stereo? Because the DI output is mono, it may be hard to undertand but on the headphone output, do you hear it mono or stereo? Great video,thanks!!
Edit: at the first part of the video where you demonstrate the clean sound arpeggio part, I hear it's stereo, but at 5:00 I just hear it mono, so that's part I've just confused
Good question. I have not tried it in stereo tbh. I assume it's mono but maybe check out the manual...
If I am not mistaken, it is dual mono, not stereo.
I love what I just heard in your video! But I wonder, can the gain channel be set to sound like... say Thin Lizzy or maybe Firebird (Bill Steer) guitar sounds?
Yeah sure!
Awesome review as always. Monster riffs.
Hey John, what drum packs are you using? They sound great
Steven Slate Drums 5. A custom kit
@@SonicDriveStudio thanks! Will look into it
That's a really nice little amp.
Subscribed! I love the Engl tone. I would love to have an ironball SE. What are your thoughts of the Metalmaster? I'd love to see you do a review on this amp. Does anyone have any good reviews on the Metalmaster amps? Are they crap?
Never tried one
Great review! Do you know if it is possible to plug a beheringer fcb 1010 as foot controller?
Up
That 20 women engl amp sounded amazing . Is it made in Germany?
Amp sounds killer! Great demo as always Jon! I wonder how this amp will stack up against the Mesa Mini Rectifier.
Maybe I'll make a comparison soon
Hi how does the high gain level compare to the Engl fireball 25? I love the huge gain on the fireball 25 but the feature set on this is stella…in your opinion doesthe ironball se match up to fireball in gain stakes?
This little champ but with the power section and lead channel of the Fireball 25 would be the absolute best.
Awesome review (I was waiting for your demo of this amp). Extra features aside, which amp do you like the most as a core sound, the PRS MT15 or the ENGL Ironball SE?
Ironball for tight metal. It's a better amp in general but the MT15 is great too
@@SonicDriveStudio You were right. I brought an Ironball SE today, and is better in every aspect compared to my MT15. It has more clarity, less fizziness in high gain chords (not that the PRS was particularly fizzy), and it can access a wider, more versatile pallete of sounds with the gain boost and master volume knobs.
@@gastonpossel And less noisy!
The amp does sound great with it's high gain tones, but if I'm honest here I'd say that I thought it lacks the low end that I'm always looking for.
But that is to be expected from el84 tubes.
It really does sound good though.
I struggle with that. It’s likely meaningless, or even ideal, in the studio where high-passes will be applied, but when I’m playing….I want some girth.
@@mrhyde2250 for sure. I mean if one isn't that concerned with the quality of their tone, well I guess that's what solid state is for 🤣
@@KB_Joys my point was that EL84 amps record quite well. A rock or metal mix will invariably use hi-pass filters that will neuter your EL34/6l6 amps. The girth in most recordings come from the bass guitar. Solo’d guitar tracks rarely sound huge.
@@mrhyde2250 Same, but I found that the "Source Audio EQ2" fixes this in spades, plus it is has midi which works with this amp. It absolutely kills through my Engl 4x12. As a matter of fact, I have sold EVERYTHING else.
@@ronaldboehm2933 I found that the Source Audio EQ2 is the best gear I have ever bought. It can improve sound of anything.
I ordered mine today 🤙🏼
I can get behind that MVB control ;)
11:39
What do you think if you compare the Engl to a H&K Grandmeister Deluxe 40?
Hey John, can i ask what string gauge do you use on your ESP LTD SC-20 Stephen Carpenter signature here ? it's in Drop C right ?
Yup, 11s
Especially nice riffing in this one 👍
Hi Jon, I downloaded the OH_412-ENG-Standard-Series-Bundle from OwnHammer. There are several versions of the OH1-05 IR file within the zip. Which one did you use with the 606SE (44.1k, 48K, 96k, etc.) and did you have to convert it with the Engl IR converter? This would help greatly, thank you!
They've realized the dream of digital controlled analog amps!
Mmmmm. That Les paul classic into this amp is yummy.
Great video bro
I remember being into engl before I feel they became what they are today. I didn’t know this head had so many units. I’ve owned the se670, sovereign, and the powerball ii. I still have my powerball ii as I believe it’s the best amplifier ever made for my style. Seeing this though put me into total shock. It’s like engl went to a new level up in the stratosphere or something from hall with this. It makes me want to skip a mesa mark v for a different sound 😂😮😅
hi sir whats better the lunchbox amp the ironball or the fireball? Appreciate any feedback
I'm going to do a comparison soon!
What guitar was used on the 11:37 test of the gain boosts? Was it the green esp?
And why you sold it? To me it sounds good.
I haven't sold it! Love it
I hate to say i but it sounds great. If it has tap delay then there is nothing more i can ask for
My main interest while deciding between this and the standard ironball is the ability to jam and record silently.
So how does the IR function sound in comparison to the UA Ox box?
Anybody compared the two?
since it has a built in load, I'm assuming no load box is required?
Hello sir just a question...which one has more low end and chunk? This ironball or the fireball 25? Im thinking of buying a lunchbox
The Ironball is more tight. The FB has more balls
@@SonicDriveStudio thanks for the reply sir! More power to your channel! I will definitely recommend your channel to others!!
Is IR output XLR sound less superior recorded compare to your standard signal chain?
Yes because it's a resistive load. Still a cool feature to have though!
@@SonicDriveStudio Thanks for your reply. That made me really sad. Will Captor X fix this problem?
@@DadoSimicStudiostriver I would just try it first and see how it sounds but a good reactive load will always sound better than a resistive load imho
How does the SE compare to the original Ironball 20?
Very impressive!!
ausgezeichneter Verstärker...hail hydra!!
Hi people of UA-cam, can anyone tell me if the store button is saving just the activated options or if it also saves the settings of the amp (like in the HK Grandmeister) ?
Is it possible to set the clean channel to a pretty clean sound and use the gain boost, to get crunch tones? If this is controllable via MIDI, it would be like a third channel, right?
Yeah I think that would work!
If they make a 100 watt I'm getting it. After the MT-100 ofcourse lol
Подскажите пожалуйста, когда отключаешь выход на кабинет и берёшь линейный сигнал из усилителя в звуковую карту, теряется ли влияние оконечника?
No one hear can read that man
@@SonicDriveStudio вас там жмыхнуло добряче или шо?) Я говорю: "Please tell me, when you turn off the output to the cabinet and apply a linear signal from the amplifier to the sound card, do the amplifier lamps remain in the circuit, man?"
Been looking for a lunch box amp for some metal.... I mainly use an Axe Fx III, but want a tube amp to toy with the feel of them i love. Considering few i like the Mark V, Mark Tremonti one cant remember name now, and this one looks great.
This is probably the most tight sounding small amp out there so if you like tight aggressive metal, this is hard to beat!
I would say it depends on what style you play. Engl do the riff based stuff really well because they are very tight. The MT15 does the chord based stuff really well. Personally I don't like the Mark V 25 that much but thats just my taste. If you have the chance, I recommend you play them side by side and see what suits you best.
@@SonicDriveStudio like 80s Metallica a lot. That tight fast metal. Some Pantera and Megadeth. That's what I love!!!
ENGL Ironball or Fireball would be right up your alley
@@SonicDriveStudio would love to see a comparison.
Hey does the store button do anything if you don't use midi ? The instruction are kinda unclear on this. I don't have any midi controller and the store switch led is always blinking and it's actually annoying me. If I press and hold the store switch couple secs then it will stop flashing but as soon as you flip any other switch like reverb,delay,ect it starts flashing again. I'm actually considering cutting wire to that dam led
Correct, with one exception. If you are not using midi, you can use the store button to save presets with an Engl Z9 using the Serial Amp Control Out. However, if you had a Z9, it would make more sense to utilize midi in the first place. One thing that sucks about the Engl controllers is they do not send CC messages so you cannot use all of the features of this amp with it, only performs program (preset) changes. This was very frustrating to me, but the new Airstep solves this problem.
Im assuming the blinking red inside the amp is being caused by the refresh rate of the camera?
No, it is asking if you want to save the amp changes as a new preset.
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE
🤘🏽😈🤘🏽
This
Amp
Kicks
Ass
🔥🔥
killer sounding amp.
Compared to the mic demo, the IR loader section sounded like poo. Any reason for that?
Super tight for an 8 string
anything germany makes is top shelf.
Talking about the tone have u felt the tone is the same of his brothe, ironball e606?
Yeah it's pretty much the same
@@SonicDriveStudio thx man! Awesome video! 🤘🏼
Would d mind telling what do think the Ironball vs rectoverb from Mesa? Are they comparable? I’m searching for some amp versatile - very good clean sound and a drive for rock and metal.
Sorry if I’m bothering u a lot, but u would help u if u share some with me. Again, thank u!
Engl ironball se ve Prs mt15?
Anyone knows if its the same sound as the standard E606 version or if there is a new voicing?
Anybody know if you can change the irs with midi. Trying to decide between Hughes kettner grandmeister 40
Get the Engl. I had the GM 40 and it is lacking in the metal department no question.
Amazing amp
If you put this amp in a cage with the H&K Grandmeister 40, which one would come out alive? Killer tones and riffs as always.
Hmmmm this one would win for tight high gain tones but the H&K is an amazing amp in its own right. I guess it depends on the tonal flavor and features you prefer...
You have the same reversed style of holding the plectrum as Ola Englund.
This one or the grandmeister 40?
Is the Ironball SE a Class D amp?