people who claim that engls don't cut through are just not doing it right.
A boosted Rectifier always works though! 5150 is probably a better choice if you really want something that really gets through everything.
Yeah Engl get a lot of flack but they are seriously high quality amps. Just don't try to approach the EQ with anything you've known before and you'll be able to get a great sound. For the most part they certainly do NOT need boosting, and in my experience have been a very "plug in and play" sort of amp.
Having said that, gotta agree with Ola on the 5150/6505/5150II/6505+/6534+/5150 III (holy shit, how many models now? :lol route. Can't be beat for live clarity.
I love the old 2 channel dual recs. I also like the newer roadkings and roadsters but I'm not a big fan of the current dual recs. Can't go wrong with a Mark IV or V either.
JCM 800s are great. 5150s do the job though they aren't really my thing. I used to love my Peavey Windsor especially after I replaced the transformer. The combo version sucks but the head is seriously underrated for the price I got great thrash tones out of it even before the mod.
I like the Engl Savage and Savage SE models but i'm not a big fan of some of the other models I've tried.
Really there are dozens of amps that will do the trick. Take a day to get to one of the bigger cities and hit up some stores. You may be surprised what ends up working best for you.
I have a new dual recto cleans are really good
I also have a 5150III and by far the best cleans for a 5150/6505 series I really think they have good cleans. For the amount of cleans I play.
Since you're in the UK, I'd suggest you check out the Blackstar Series One range. The 1046L6 is very similar to the Dual Rectifier, but better cleans IMO - depending on the settings, anywhere between a Fender Twin, Vox AC30 and a Marshall. I'm not sure if it would match up to a MESA, I wouldn't bet on it with the difference in price, but something to consider at least.
I haven't heard the ENGLs in person, I'm personally not keen on them on record though - same with the 5150s. I'm much more of a Recto/Marshall fan.
I know the Laney combos (LC series?) I used back in college cut through everything, but they were insanely harsh, no matter what you did with the EQ. Perhaps the Ironheart series?
The cleans on the 5150/6505 are good. Not brilliant but it's a metal amp and I'm guessing you are a metal player who dabbles with clean. Mine is absolutely servicable live and at the end of the day a well dialed in 6505 will outshine a badly-dialled in recto night after night.
They aren't the best but nowhere near as bad as everyone makes them out to be - I suspect it's more a case of it being really the only criticism of the 6505/5150 and it's been blown out of proportion as a result since it's the only consistent response.
On the other hand, show me another metal head you can find used for ~£500 that a) has better cleans b) actually sounds good
In fact yeah, to echo what Tibernius said, the Blackstar Series One, one of the 104 models (EL34 or 6L6), or even cheaper, but awesome as fuck (like really, for the price it's fucking silly how good they are), the Ironheart.
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