Revv Gen MkIII or Engl Savage 120 MkII?

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PSGuitar

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Hey guys,
I am considering buying a be all end all amp for myself.
I lean toward the heavy and more modern.
I love what I hear of the Gen MkIII 120, 100P and 100R. I tend like darker, more forgiving tones, but I like variety.
Possibly. KSR too....

I hate that with the Engl, it requires a midi controller and I'm not a midi guy. I'd rather just have real time amp control. I hate patches and crap.

I like that the Engl is easier to find used and cheaper than new Revv 120.
I lean toward the 100R but worried I'd regret not having the Purple too.

Thoughts?
Thanks.
 
Never played a Revv, but the original Engl Savage 120 is far from dark and modern, it's bright and has that Marshallesque 2203 vibe and it is not the most easy/forgiving amp to play. It's quite fast in response and somewhat stiff. Maybe the MKII is different? The FB100 would lean much more towards what your description of Dark/easy to play.

KSR might also be in the direction you're after or an Uber possibly.
 
If you are looking for Darker tones, Revv is not the amp I would look at IME. No experience with the KSR but the Driftwood Purple Nightmare I played was pretty modern, and a touch on the dark side. Also Omega amps seem to be a bit darker, but I haven't played one of those yet either.
 
Yeah I wouldn't call the Revv stuff dark. I have the 100p mk 2 and the mk 3..... They have a very modern and polished type tone like a recording of an amp. They are mix ready and cut really good live. They are pretty forgiving amps but not as compressed and digital sounding as ENGLs although the Savage mk1 was a bit different. I haven't liked the clips of the mk2 Savage. I owned a mk1 a while back but would still go for a Revv over it.
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Never played a Revv, but the original Engl Savage 120 is far from dark and modern, it's bright and has that Marshallesque 2203 vibe and it is not the most easy/forgiving amp to play. It's quite fast in response and somewhat stiff. Maybe the MKII is different? The FB100 would lean much more towards what your description of Dark/easy to play.

KSR might also be in the direction you're after or an Uber possibly.
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Right, the new Engl is much different. I have some close friends who have had the old and now the new. I haven't had a chance to play his new Savage yet, but he knows my playing and thinks it's the amp that will do it for me.
I shouldn't have said dark. I don't like too dark. I just don't like too bright. Truth is, any amp can be dark or bright with good EQ. I can make my Mark V glassy and bright or smooth and dark with the right tubes and EQ settings.
So my friend says the Savage 120 MKII is more forgiving on channel 4, and way more so that the first Savage amp.
He says it can be dialed in anyway I want. I've only watched demos but stores around here only carry basic stuff. I'll have to check his out.

I am going to check out the PRS Archon as well.

What's the FB100? Fireball? I hear great things about it but only two channels. I could easily make it work however. As long as I love the core tone.

I thought of an Uber too.

Apparently the red channel of the Revv 100R and 120, was sort of modeled off the Uber mixed with a Dual Rec.

Revv Red is the darker of the bunch.

Not sure I can swing the More expensive KSR models and never see them used.
I do see the Orthos pop up used. Thanks guys, good to know.

I'm also going to check out PRS Archon and a few others like the Diezel Einstein and D-Moll.

I would like to stay under $3000 if possible, so there is that. So, some would have to be used.

I just sold a Bogner Shiva.

My main amps are a Mark V 90 and BFG modified Dual Rec. Both of which, I love.

Thanks!
 
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Interesting, I don't hear anything digital sounding with Engls. They sound awesome to me. I've owned digital amps and they were not my thing.
The Engls I played - the Blackmore and I played the Artist were as good as any other high end tube amp I played. Not only thing digital like about them at all.
 
DragonCrestPC said:
Owned both ( mkII of Revv ), Engl hands down. Revv 120 mk II was kind of meh in my opinion.
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Thank you.
That's what my buddy says as well.
You mean Fireball or Savage?
Revvs are expensive, but the KSR, even more.

Have you tried any PRS Archon or Diezels?
 
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I owned the ENGL Savage 120 and loved it. I had a horrible customer experience with Revv so i would never recommend them. I have owned multiple Diezel's and owned the archon. Very different sounds and ended up being too compressed for my taste.
 
Why not get the flagship Revv that has all of the channels?

The NEW Savage is much different than the OLD Savage. I like both but the new one is more modern sounding and chugs nicely. Are you opposed to Bogner? Have you tried the Helios Eclipse? What about the Diezel Herbert or the Hagan? Both cover a lot of ground. The VH4 does as well but it sounds like you want more saturation that the VH4 offers. The Archon is great, a bit harder to find right now as they aren't being made anymore (100 watt). There is a generation 2 50 watt being made but the other choices above I feel would get you more amp.
 
I loved the Savage I had. The Revv stuff I've never plugged into, but never heard a clip that impressed me. It seems like their thing is tons of features, but uninteresting while still usable tone.
 
DragonCrestPC said:
I owned the ENGL Savage 120 and loved it. I had a horrible customer experience with Revv so i would never recommend them. I have owned multiple Diezel's and owned the archon. Very different sounds and ended up being too compressed for my taste.
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Interesting. Archon was too compressed and I know Diezel can be.

So, the Savage was not too compressed to you?

I wish the Fireball had an extra channel. I want to get that or the Savage.
I saw a new Savage 120 MkII sell on TGP for $1750.new, they are $2600, ugh.

I have to be honest, I love amps that sound big! My modified Dual Rec sounds huge in the room, almost like two amps at once. I do love that sound which is probably why amps like the Archon get my attention. Plus, I see them used for $1500-1600.

Thanks all!
 
RockyStar said:
Why not get the flagship Revv that has all of the channels?

The NEW Savage is much different than the OLD Savage. I like both but the new one is more modern sounding and chugs nicely. Are you opposed to Bogner? Have you tried the Helios Eclipse? What about the Diezel Herbert or the Hagan? Both cover a lot of ground. The VH4 does as well but it sounds like you want more saturation that the VH4 offers. The Archon is great, a bit harder to find right now as they aren't being made anymore (100 watt). There is a generation 2 50 watt being made but the other choices above I feel would get you more amp.
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Thanks Rocky,

I do like Bogner. My main gigging and jam amp was my 20th Anniversary Shiva which I sold. Great amp. It worked well with pedals. I would like a similarly thick, full, neasy to play amp that is more aggressive. I got this using an OD on the Shiva. The Archon seems like a more aggressive and snarly Shiva, in some ways, close to an Uber or Recto.
I see two used, mint Archon 100s out there for $1600 and I'm tempted!

I thought the Helios was a vintage plexi style amp? The Uber to me can be congested in the lows mids, so I haven't gone that route and worry that it only does high gain. Archon seems versatile.
The Uber Twin seemed congested. I never tried the older Uber Versions.

I loved it and got so many compliments on tone. That said, it was time to move on and wanted new. I loved the simplicity of the Shiva and two channels with the boost/gain modes, was more like a 3 channel amp.

I love that with my Mark V, I have 3 distinct tones and channels for jams and gigs. But, there are benefits to a more simple amp like the Archon and an OD pedal or two. The Archon takes pedals well and is fairly simple. I also know it's easy under the fingers, to play.
I have nerve issues that make some days harder to play than others, so saturated, easy to play, supportive amps help me feel more confident with my playing.

Yes, the Revv flagship amp was tops on my list and it's loaded with tones, but also tons of options I don't know if I would ever use. I don't want to waste money on features I'd never use. I know some guys say the Revv lacks low end in the Red channel. I like lots of lows so I can use a boost to shape my tone and I have more to work with, if it starts with massive lows. I get mixed answers about the Revvs. Some say very easy to play and supportive. Others, say the opposite. Some say too polished and produced sounding, but I hear that's amazing for live use however, and recording. So it's got benefits.

Can't afford a Herbert, but if I coild find a used Einstein or D-Moll, that could work.
 
Another amp I thought of is rhe Bogner Uberschall Rev Blue. I see older models for $1500 and less in mint shape.

But it's pretty much metal or nothing.
In clips, the Engl Savage 120 MkII sounds just as capable of heavy times but way more versatile, plus I would say it seems to sound juicier? Hard to explain. The Archon sounds like an updated Uber, with better clean and more versatile gain.
 
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PSGuitar said:
Thanks Rocky,

I do like Bogner. My main gigging and jam amp was my 20th Anniversary Shiva which I sold. Great amp. It worked well with pedals. I would like a similarly thick, full, neasy to play amp that is more aggressive. I got this using an OD on the Shiva. The Archon seems like a more aggressive and snarly Shiva, in some ways, close to an Uber or Recto.
I see two used, mint Archon 100s out there for $1600 and I'm tempted!

I thought the Helios was a vintage plexi style amp? The Uber to me can be congested in the lows mids, so I haven't gone that route and worry that it only does high gain. Archon seems versatile.
The Uber Twin seemed congested. I never tried the older Uber Versions.

I loved it and got so many compliments on tone. That said, it was time to move on and wanted new. I loved the simplicity of the Shiva and two channels with the boost/gain modes, was more like a 3 channel amp.

I love that with my Mark V, I have 3 distinct tones and channels for jams and gigs. But, there are benefits to a more simple amp like the Archon and an OD pedal or two. The Archon takes pedals well and is fairly simple. I also know it's easy under the fingers, to play.
I have nerve issues that make some days harder to play than others, so saturated, easy to play, supportive amps help me feel more confident with my playing.

Yes, the Revv flagship amp was tops on my list and it's loaded with tones, but also tons of options I don't know if I would ever use. I don't want to waste money on features I'd never use. I know some guys say the Revv lacks low end in the Red channel. I like lots of lows so I can use a boost to shape my tone and I have more to work with, if it starts with massive lows. I get mixed answers about the Revvs. Some say very easy to play and supportive. Others, say the opposite. Some say too polished and produced sounding, but I hear that's amazing for live use however, and recording. So it's got benefits.

Can't afford a Herbert, but if I coild find a used Einstein or D-Moll, that could work.
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Regarding the Bogner I had mentioned the Helios Eclipse which is more gain and more modern sounding than the regular Helios. The Helios Eclipse is a very nice amp. The Uberschall and the Twin Jet are two different amps. I am a big fan of the Archon, I have both the 100 watt and 50 watt. The Archon does have some familiar attributes of the Bogner but it is its own thing for sure. You mention easy to play under the fingers. You may want to look into a used Friedman Butterslax. You can find used Herberts and Hagans for under 3K. I would go that route over the others but that is me.
 
Helios eclipse seems more 80s sounding?

I will check out Diezel. I never see them come up used other than Einsteins but I'll keep a look out. D-Moll too.

Not the biggest Friedman fan but will have a look!
If I can stay under $2500, that would be great, but I think I can push it. Not sure.

That's a big reason the Archon is so tempting. I see them used for $1500!

KSR, Engl and Revv are very costly too.

Engl Savage 120 MkII, I never see used!
That's 2600 new.

I do see Herbert's but only the Mark I.
Which Diezel you recommend? Hagen you said?
 
I would go with the Engl if I had to pick one. I always go back to my Engl. Your Rectifier will be more forgiving than anything you listed.

I haven't heard a Revv in person, but I see YouTubers hyping them. In the shootouts, I almost never prefer the tone people get with them over other amps.

I can compare an Engl to a Hagen and Triple Rectifier (Rev G). They are totally different sounds, and you really can't go wrong with any of them as a "for life" amp. It really comes down to what tone you want, which I don't see much discussion about.

The Mesa is the brootalz. The Engl is more aggressive and cutting. It's more suited for metal even though it can probably do more. The Hagen is refined and can be used for modern metal, but it particularly excels in 80s metal type tones (channel 2). The Hagen is also super bass heavy and requires tweaking the deep/bass knobs much lower than you would expect if you don't boost it.

I will mention, with any of the amps you are considering, the cabinet will likely have a big impact on your tone (maybe more than the amp itself).
 
Thanks Fantom!

I am close to pulling the trigger on a mint PRS Archon 100.
It remnda me of my Shiva a bit, simple, easy to use, huge low end, smooth and aggressive at the same time.

Cabs are as follows:
Splawn 412 straight with V30/Redbacks
Bogner 412ST tilt baffle with V30/K100s
Bogner 212 OS with V30/K100
Stone Age 212 OS with Redbacks.

Amps:
Mesa Mark V
BFG modified Dual Rec (2002)

I love how huge my DR sounds and feels. Huge in the room, great with a boost and even the clean is great. Brian from BFG did great work.
My Mark V is so versatile. Love how between the options and tubes, I can do British rock to brutal metal.

I am replacing my beloved 20th Bogner Shiva.

I would like something that is as fun to solo on asy Shiva was, big lows that I can always dial back and shape with a boost or OD. Something that feels nice under the fingers and inspires confidence. My VHT UL destroyed my confidence, lol...even though they are killer amps. The SigX worked better for me. Still it didn't quite do the brutal heavy tones I want at times.

Must have good clean and the ability to switch channels for good British crunch or the ability to dial back gain for crunch tones and be really good too. :)
I would love something that somehow blends some characteristics of Marshall and Mesa. A few pro reviews of the Archon, talk about this.

Then I hear clips of the Engl Savage Mk II and some are jaw dropping to me!
This would be easier if I had a Revv, KSR, Engl, PRS and a few others, in one room. :)

Bang for huck, I close to pulling the trigger on a mint Archon 100.
 
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