Engl E670 User manual

Operator´s Manual
Please, first read this manual carefully!
Full Tube
Guitar Amplifier
with MIDI-Control
Special Edition

Tube
Amp
Technology
Tube
Amp
Technology
R
R

Table of Contents page
Introduction
Features and Functionality at a Glance
Contents
Front Panel Features:
Rear Panel Features:
Practical Info and Tips
Glossary,
Troubleshooting
Technical Data,
Tube Map, Tube Exchange Service
Mains Configuration
Wiring of Principal Connectors
Remote Control Options
Front Panel Diagrams for Noting Settings
Front Panel and Rear Panel Layout
Note:
:
BIAS-Control-Panel
Handling and Care
Tube Driver; Clean and Crunch Channel Control Features
Power Amp EQ: Presence A/B, Depth Boost
Mega Lo Punch, Reverb, FX Loops
Input; Lead I and Lead II Channel Control Features
Power Amp section: Master A/B
Modern/Classic, Lo/Hi Power, Speaker A/B
Noise Gate
Write/Copy
Stand By, Power
Mains, Mains Fuse
MIDI Section and Footswitch Ports
Detailed Specifications and Ratings
You'll find an ancillary pamphlet accompanying this owner's manual entitled
Instructions for the Prevention of Fire, Electrical Shock and Injury. Be sure to read it
before you plug in and power up the amp!
Technical specifications are subject to change without notice.
Noise Gate: Mute Depth, Threshold Level
FX Loops I, II and Serial: Send, Return, and Balance
Balanced Line Out: Level, Overload LED, Line Out Status,
XLR Ground, Line Output Frequ. Comp.
Power Amp Output B: B1, B2, Impedance Selector
Power Amp Output A: A1, A2, Impedance Selector
Ground Lift Switch
Tube Driver: Level, Contour, Bass, Mid, Treble, Sensitivity
Impedance Check System
Checking and Adjusting Bias
CAUTION! Please read and heed the following:
Status-LED: Indications
4
4,5
6
6 - 10
10,11
11,12
12 - 15
15, 16
16, 17
18
19
20
21
21 - 23
23, 24
24, 25
25, 26
26, 27
27, 28
28
29
29 - 31
31 - 33
32, 33
33 - 37
38
39, 40
40, 41
42
43
44, 45
46
47
48
49
3

Congratulations! SpecialEditionE670 most
advanced versatileampheads
sophisticated guitar amp all-tube technology
state-of-the-art
microchip circuitry a vast range of
great fundamental tones controlledremotelyviaMIDI
ease of use remarkably intuitive
handling
excellent sound-shaping options greatest flexibility
a gigging workhorse
studio home recording
finely-tweaked, MIDI controllable sound-shaping functions
wealth of disparate sounds
four basic sounds , , and
switching power amp output on the fly
ultra-advanced tone-generating machine
playing pleasure value to boot
Four basic channels
Tube Driver circuit
Modern and Classic sound-shaping buttons
Two Gain variants
Three voicing sections
Withthe ,younowownoneofthe
and availabletoday!
This marries the unrivalled tone of to
the awesome sound-shaping might of control features powered by
. This elegant combination puts at your fingertips
and an all but inexhaustible reservoir of compelling
variations allofwhichmaybe .
What's more, the amp boasts a host of hip & practical features a bias switch that lets
yourun6L6GCorEL34poweramptubesand
;aquick-checksystemforspeakerimpedance
and cords equipped with1/4 " jack plug; and three different types of FX loops, to
mentionjustafew.
1. a logical control feature array, utmost and
;
2. and courtesy of the many
voicing options and special features, and 128 MIDI presets offering a bevy of
programming options;
3. that also sports a speaker simulation system, making it
a handy tool for and ;
4. a combination of
providing instant access to a ;
5. the ; with two variable and
switchable Gain levels and two voicing options ( and )
for each basic sound, you actually have 16 fundamental sounds to choose from;
6. the option of . The ability to go from
Hi Power (100 watts) to Lo Power (50 watts) via MIDI while playing is yet
another novel sound-sculpting tool that you have at your disposal!
7. an that will give you years of
and .
-> : , , and with separate Gain, Treble
and Volume knobs.
-> for effect devices; it also serves as a separate fifth channel
that can be selected directly (with or without EQ) in reciprocation with the four
channels.
-> : Determine the basic voicing of
all four channels, giving you a broader, deeper tonal spectrum to work with.
-> for each of the basic channels: and
let you active directly two different gain settings for every channel.
> : one EQ for and (Main Channel 1),
one for and (Main Channel 2) and another for the .
As a special feature, every channel sports a dedicated Treble knob.
This affords you:
Features and Functionality at a Glance
Clean Crunch Lead I Lead II
Modern Classic
Clean Crunch Lead I Lead II
Gain Boost Hi Gain
Clean Crunch
Lead I Lead II Tube Driver
-
abiasindicatorthatletstechnicianknow
whichconfigurationiscurrentlyselected
4

-> tuned to match the tonal requirements of
the given channels: and for and ,
and for the two Lead channels.
-> for very natural-sounding reverb, with separate
knobs for the two Main Channels.
-> and are variable, switchable effect
loops, while in series
with two main effect loops. Each effect loop may be activated for each channel
as well as for the circuit.
Various sound-shaping buttons
Large spring reverb
Three effect loops:
Bright Ultra Bright Clean Crunch
Contour Mid Edge
FX Loop I FX Loop II
Serial FX Loop
Tube Driver
-> , accessible via MIDI.
The amp can also be muted via MIDI controller 7.
-> (50 or 100 watts) with hot
impedance adjustment (that is, on the fly); with
separate impedance selector for connected speaker systems.
-> for routing preamp or
power amp signals to mixers or recording gear.
-> and ports serve to integrate the amp into a MIDI system.
-> , accessible via 16 MIDI channels.
-> The
The Serial Amp Control Port accepts the Custom Z-9 Footswitch (optional); use it
as a conventional switcher to select channels and two sound-shaping functions
directly. Then there's the MIDI In, which accepts the Z-9 for use as a simple MIDI
footcontroller or any other MIDI footcontroller. Finally, the amp is equipped with
a stereo jack that takes a dual footswitch, allowing you to switch the four
channels remotely.
-> for suppressing noise in the ,
and channels.
Among the hallmarks of this fine amp are painstaking workmanship and finishing as
well as rigorously tested and carefully selected quality components. You'll find
guidelinesoncareandmaintenanceoftubeampsonpage41.UndertheheadingTips
from the designer, you'll come across practical tips on the aforementioned features
throughout the manual. All critical information concerning the operation of this amp
is preceded by "NOTE", "CAUTION", "Read and heed" or some other eye-catching
comment.We're calling yourattention to theseremarks for reasonsof safety orother
compellingmotives,sopleasegivethemdueconsideration.
Everyone at ENGL is confident that the
and aresuretodelightyou:
Though this amp head is relatively easy to handle and you're probably raring to give it
a go, I recommend that you read the owner's manual thoroughly before you power it
up. It is equipped with several safety features that require further explanation to
preventmalfunctions.
Variable, MIDI-switchable power amp output
A/B speaker switching
Balanced, frequency-compensated XLR line output
128 MIDI presets
Special Edition offers three different remote interface ports:
Programmable Noise Gate
Special Edition tube amp's extraordinary
versatility outstanding features Simply plug in, play and
beinspiredbythetoneofyourENGLamp!
Afewwordsofwisdomfromthedesigner:
MIDI In Thru
Crunch Lead I
Lead II
is a separate circuit that can be used
Two each power amp Master and Presence knobs
is a separate circuit that can be used
Two each power amp Master and Presence knobs
5

Contents:
Front Panel Features
1. ENGL E670 Tube Amp Head;
2. mains cord;
3. this manual;
4. a pamphlet entitled .
At the back of the manual, you'll find fold-out diagrams of the front and rear panels.
As you're reading the descriptions of the amp's features, you'll gain a better
understandingofthetopicofdiscussionifyouunfoldandrefertothemaswego!
Activates the onboard , a circuit similar to a very simple preamp channel.
Think of it as an active, tube-driven preamp defeat circuit. Pressing this button (1)
activates the . Note that this circuit can be selected in reciprocation with
thefourchannels,wherebyreciprocation meansthatyoucanactivatethe
irrespective of the currently active channel and vice versa. The LED above the button
lightsuptoindicatethe isactive.ItcanalsobeactivatedviaMIDIprogram
changeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.Itscontrolfeaturesareonthebackoftheamp.
Thisnewfeatureoffersacoupleofcoolapplicationoptions:
1. Use it as a pre effect device tube preamp stage (two triode stages) to enhance the
dynamicrange of your instrument's signal. The internalpreamp and its , ,
and channelsarebypassed,andapracticallylinearsignalisroutedtothe
effectsendjacks.
This lets you employ the without EQ as a preamp defeat or bypass, for
example,ifyouwanttouseaneffectdevice'spreampstagetodrivethepoweramp.
2.Use it as anindependentfifth preamp channelwithouttone controls to geta signal
with very nearly linear characteristics. When you activate the without EQ,
solely the power amp Presence knob and Depth Boost feature influence your the
sound, giving you yet another tonal alternative to the Clean channel. Use the rear
panel Sensitivity (85) and Level (80) knobs to set gain and volume levels, or the effect
loops' send levels, for the activated Tube Driver channel. You can saturate the Tube
Driver circuit by dialing in higher gain settings (depending on your guitar's pickup).
ThisgivesyouanotherdefactoCrunchchannelwithtotallydifferenttonalproperties!
that because this circuit takes a direct path from input to the effect loop,
you cannot use the amp's preamp control features to shape its signal. The list of
disabled features includes (22), (21), the (45)
and (42). Power amp functions such as , ,
(20), (43) and (44) remain enabled and have
thesameeffectonthe astheywouldonanyotherpreampchannel.
Instructions for the Prevention of Fire,
Electrical Shock and Injury
Tube Driver
Tube Driver TubeDriver
TubeDriver
Clean Crunch
LeadI LeadII
Tube Driver
Tube Driver
Reverb Mega Depth Punch Noise Gate
Modern/Classic Master A/B Presence A/B
Depth Boost Power Lo/Hi Speaker A/B
TubeDriver
A tip from the designer:
Please note
1 TUBE DRIVER
6

2 T.D.EQ.(TUBEDRIVEREQUALIZER)
3CLEANGAIN
4GAINBOOST
This function activates the onboard , a circuit similar to a very simple
preamp channel. It could also be described as an active, tube-driven preamp defeat
circuit, in this case with passive tone controls. Pressing the button (2) activates the
with EQ. Note that this circuit can be selected in reciprocation with the
fourchannels,wherebyreciprocationmeansthatyoucanactivateitirrespectiveofthe
currentlyactive channel and viceversa.TheLEDabovethe button lights uptoindicate
the Tube Driver plus EQ is active. The Tube Driver with EQ can also be activated via
MIDI program change or Custom Z-9 Footswitch. Its voicing knobs are on the back of
theamp.
Thisnewfeatureoffersacoupleofcoolapplicationoptions:
1. Use it as a pre effect device tube preamp stage (two triode stages) to enhance the
dynamicrange of your instrument's signal. The internalpreamp and its Clean, Crunch,
LeadIandLeadIIchannelsarebypassed.
This lets you employ the with EQ as a preamp defeat or bypass, for
example, if you want to use an effect device's preamp stage to drive the power amp,
andtoshapetheTubeDriversignaltotasteusingthepassivethree-wayvoicingsection
ontherearpanel.
2. Use it as an independent sixth preamp channel with dedicated tone controls.
Becausethis circuit features a differentdesign as well as independent voicing options,
it gives you yet another tonal alternative to the Clean and Crunch channels. Use the
rear panel Sensitivity (85), Treble (84), Mid (83) and Bass (82) knobs as well as the
Contourbutton(81)toshapeitssignal.
that because this circuit takes a direct path from input to the effect loop,
you cannot use the amp's preamp control features to shape its signal. The list of
disabled features includes (22), (21), the (45)
and (42). Power amp functions such as , ,
(20), (43) and (44) remain enabled and have
thesameeffectonthe astheywouldonanyotherpreampchannel.
Clean channel Gain control. This knob determines the preamp's input sensitivity in
Cleanmode;useittosetthedesiredinputlevel.
The amount of distortion depends on your guitar's pickups and the Gain Boost (4)
setting.InClean mode, single-coil pickups maybeginsaturatingthe preamp when the
knob is set to about the two o'clock position; pickups with very high output levels
(humbuckersor active pickups) will evoke mild overdrive at even lower settings. If you
wantsqueakycleantone,simplybackofftheGainknobaccordingly.
Boosts the input sensitivity of Main Channel 1, and . The red LED above
this button lights up to indicate is on. can also be switched via
MIDIprogramchangecommandortheCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Tube Driver
Tube Driver
Tube Driver
Reverb Mega Depth Punch Noise Gate
Modern/Classic Master A/B Presence A/B
Depth Boost Power Lo/Hi Speaker A/B
TubeDriver
Clean Crunch
Gain Boost Gain Boost
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Please note
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7

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CAUTION:
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As its name would imply, serves primarily to up Clean and Crunch channel
input levels, extend both channels' gain ranges. In effect, this feature gives you two
additional variations on these two channels' basic sounds. For example, you could set
theCleanchannelGainknobtothehighestsettingatwhichyourguitarsignalremains
distortion-free, just under the preamp clipping threshold. Then when you activate
, you will overdrive the Clean preamp slightly, yielding a grittier tone well-
suitedforrockriffs.
AnotherCleanchanneloptionistousethe asavolumebooster.Todothis,
activate anddialina Clean Gain knob setting,makingsurenotto push the
preampintoclippingzone.Consider thisyourhigh-volumeclean tone,sayforclucking
lead lines. Switching off gives you a softer clean tone for chord work.
Switchbackandforthbetweenthetwoasdesired.
Gain control for the Crunch channel. This knob determines input sensitivity in Crunch
mode;useittodialinthedesiredamountofpreampdistortion.
Extremely high gain and volume levels in Crunch mode can produce
powerfulfeedback.Avoidfeedbacksqueals;theycanleadtohearinglossanddamage
speakers! At higher volumes, back off the Gain, Treble and Presence levels in order to
preventuncheckedfeedback!
Single-coil pickups will evoke mildly overdriven sounds at settings somewhere
between 11 and 3 o'clock. Try settings between 9 and 1 o'clock for pickups with high-
output humbuckers or active pickups. Bear in mind the Gain Boost function. You can
activateitviaanENGLCustomZ-9FootswitchorapreprogrammedMIDIpresettoget
anevenbigger,beefiercrunchtoneonthefly.
This is the preamp voicing section's passive low-frequency EQ for Main Channel I's
CleanandCrunchmodes.
This is the preamp voicing section's passive midrange frequency EQ for Main
Channel I's Clean and Crunch modes.
This is the preamp voicing section's passive high-frequency EQ for Main Channel I's
Cleanmode.
This is the preamp voicing section's passive high-frequency EQ for Main Channel I's
Crunchmode.
To help you get acquainted with the amp's fundamental sounds, I recommend that
yousetall tone controls toorslightly higher than thecenteror 12 o'clock position.For
Gain Boost
Gain Boost
GainBoost
GainBoost
Gain Boost
5CRUNCHGAIN
6BASS
7MIDDLE
8TREBLECLEAN
9TREBLECRUNCH
8

higher-gain Crunch sounds, your best bet is to turn the Treble Crunch knob down to
prevent the pickups and speakers from generating feedback (a setting in the 10-to -1
o'clockrangeisrecommended).
The Clean and Crunch channels are equipped with dedicated Treble knobs so you can
tweak the top end of each of the two channels separately to suit your taste and the
given sonic scenario. You will find that grittier tones generally sound better with a
touch less treble because preamp saturation makes higher frequencies figure more
prominently in the signal. Bear in mind that you also have the two Normal Bright (10)
andUltraBright(11)buttons,aswellasthetwopowerampPresenceAandPresenceB
knobs, at your disposal for shaping the high frequency range. I suggest you get into
the habit of dialing in lower Treble settings. That way, you can program various MIDI
presets with higher Presence settings and activate them, as well as one or both Bright
options,remotelyandhaveplentyoftonalvariationsatyourfingertips.
This feature boosts the upper end of the high frequency range in Main Channel 1,
and . Its effectiveness decreases as Gain settings increase. The red LED
above this button lights up to indicate the Normal Bright function is on. This feature
canalsobeswitchedviaMIDIprogramchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
For a crisp or glassy tone, activate the . This setting brightens the sound
of humbucking or muddy pickups. Don't let the names confuse you:
actuallyaddressesa higher frequency rangethan .Note also that theGain
knob influences this sound-shaping function's intensity. Furthermore, its tonal impact
varies slightly in Modern and Classic modes, particularly when you are driving the
preampintotheclippingzone.
Locatedin the Cleanand Crunch preampstage of MainChannel 1, thissound-shaping
functionboosts slightlylowerhighfrequencies.Unlike (10), its intensity
remains the same irrespective of the Gain knob setting. The LED above the button
lightsuptoindicatetheUltraBrightfunctionison.Itcanalsobeactivatedremotelyvia
MIDIprogramchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Thisvoicingoptionupsthetwangfactorinherentincertaintypesofguitars,andletsyou
putasetofsoniccowhornsonthosethatlackit.Feelfreetocontrolthissound-shaping
functionremotelyviaMIDI.Butwhicheverwayyouchoosetouseit,Irecommendthat
youdon'toverstatetop-endfrequencies.BackoffthetwoTrebleknobstoavoidharsh,
cuttingorover-the-topbrightness.InClassicmode,high-frequencypeaksaredampened
anywaywhentheampstartsclipping.InModernmode,thetonecanbecomeverygritty
andraw,particularlywhenBrightfunctionsareactivated.That'snotnecessarilybad;for
some sounds, this effect can be quite compelling. I suggest you literally play it by ear
experiment freely and you are sure to discover many interesting and inspiring top-
drawertones.BesuretogivetheModern/Classicsound-shapingfunctions,aswellasthe
powerampPresenceAandBknobs,agoodworkout.Isuspectyou'llbedelightedbythe
arrayoftones,particularlyasyouadddifferentguitarsandpickupstothemix.
Clean Crunch
Normal Bright Normal Bright
UltraBright
NormalBright
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10NORMALBRIGHT
11ULTRABRIGHT
9

12REVERB
13CLEANVOLUME
14CLEAN
15CRUNCHVOLUME
16CRUNCH
17PRESENCEA
18PRESENCEA/B
Reverb intensity knob. Twist it to adjust the amount of reverb for Main Channel 1
. Activate (22) and twist the Reverb knob clockwise to increase
the effect's intensity. The signal remains completely dry when the knob set to the 7
o'clockpositionor (22)isdeactivated.TheredLEDabovethisbuttonlightsupto
indicate ison.Inaddition,itcanbeactivatedanddeactivatedviaMIDIprogram
changeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Determines the Clean channel's level. Use this knob to adjust the Clean channel's
volume and dial in the desired balance in comparison with the other channels' levels.
Becausethisknobislocatedpreeffectsloop,italsodeterminestheeffectssendlevelin
Clean mode. The green LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate the Clean
channelison.
Pushthis button toactivate the preamp'sClean channel directly (in reciprocation with
, , , and ). The green LED to the right of the
Clean Volume knob (13) lights up to indicate the Clean channel is active. The Clean
channel may also be activated via MIDI program change, the ENGL Custom Z-9
Footswitch,oradualfootswitch.
Determines the Crunch channel's level. Use this knob to adjust the Crunch channel's
volume and dial in the desired balance with the other channels' levels. Because this
knob is pre effects loop, it also determines the effects send level in Crunch mode. The
yellowLEDtotherightoftheknoblightsuptoindicatetheCrunchchannelison.
Press this button to activate the preamp's Crunch channel directly. (in reciprocation
with , , , and ), The yellow LED to the right of
the Crunch Volume knob (15) lights up to indicate the Crunch channel is active. The
Crunchchannelmayalso beactivatedviaMIDIprogramchange,theENGL CustomZ-9
Footswitchoradualfootswitch.
Power amp Presence A knob. This knob determines the power amp's high frequency
response when is activated. The red LED next to the knob lights up to
indicate isactive.
Switches back and forth between and . The LED next to the
givenPresencecontrollightsuptoindicateitison;redsignifies ison;green
signifies ison. mayalsobeswitchedviaMIDIprogramchange
orCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Clean/Crunch Reverb
Reverb
Reverb
Crunch Lead I Lead II Tube Driver T. D.EQ.
Crunch Lead I Lead II Tube Driver T. D.EQ.
Presence A
PresenceA
Presence A Presence B
PresenceA
PresenceB PresenceA/B
10

19PRESENCEB
20DEPTHBOOST
21MEGALOPUNCH
22REVERB
Power amp Presence B knob. This knob determines the power amp's high frequency
response when is activated. The green LED next to the knob lights up to
indicate isactive.
The two Presence knobs afford you a host of interesting and worthwhile options for
shaping sounds: You can dial in different settings on the Presence A and B knobs (for
example,set to10o'clockand to3o'clock)andassignthesetwo
knobs to different preamp channels and sound modes ( & ) in various
MIDI presets. Note that simply switching from to while the
preamp setting remains the same yields different sonic results, not to mention all the
otheroptions.Again,Irecommendthatyouexploreandexperimentfreelytodiscover
theuntoldcombinationsandconfigurationsatyourfingertips.
Push the Depth Boost button to beef up the bottom end by about 6 dB. The red LED
above the button lights up to indicate the power amp Depth Boost feature is
activated. It can also be activated remotely via MIDI program change or Custom Z-9
Footswitch.
In contrast to the preamp feature (21), is wired into the
power amp circuitry (specifically in the feedback circuit). Though they both boost
bottom-end frequencies, these two functions have different effects. In combination
with the Presence A and B knobs, forms a separate power amp voicing
section that you can mix and match with different preamp channel settings and the
TubeDriver circuit,addingdifferenthuesto yoursonicpalette,andtweaking tonesto
suityourtaste.
Whenactivated, this function boosts low-end frequencies inallfourpreampchannels.
The red LED above the button lights up to indicate this function is on.
does not influence the Tube Driver circuit. It may also be activated remotely via MIDI
programchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
effects vary, particularly in Lead channel Modern and Classic
operating modes. When is on, it boosts the bottom-end much in the way of
the power amp feature , meaning that it audibly increases sound
pressure.WhenClassicmodeisactivated, theeffectdependsonthe Gainknobsetting
andisnotnearlyaspronounced.AtveryhighGainsettingsanddependingonthetype
of pickup, the signal's low end may become rather muddy. When you configure the
amp in Classic mode and dial in a high gain level, I strongly suggest you deactivate
MegaLoPunch.
This button activates and deactivates the onboard spring reverb system. The red LED
above the button lights up to indicate is active. This button is important when
you're programming MIDI patches. Use it to assign the internal reverb signal to the
Presence B
PresenceB
PresenceA PresenceB Modern Classic
Presence A Presence B
Mega Lo Punch Depth Boost
Depth Boost
Mega Lo Punch
Mega Lo Punch's Modern
Depth Boost
Reverb
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11

desired MIDI preset. Adjust the wet signal for the two Main Channels using the
assigned Reverb knob (12, 35). can also be switched via MIDI program change
orCustomZ-9Footswitch.
This button switches to and fro between and . The red LED above
the button lights up to indicate is on. You can also select loops via MIDI
programchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Both effect loops can be configured in series (that is, 100% processed signal when
is set to ) or in parallel (1% to 99% mix of preamp and effect signal when
is set somewhere between and ), or be bypassed altogether (0 % wet
balance when is set to ). You can connect an effect device to each of the
effect loops and switch from one effect device to the other using the FX Loop I/II
function, or employ just one of the two effect loops (for example, FX II Loop) and use
to activate the effect. In the latter case, serves as a bypass (set
its knobtothe position). You could alsoconnecta further effect deviceto
the and alternate between it and the effect device connected to
(and , if it is in use), or combine the two. Note that in the signal path,
and arepost andprethetwomasterknobs.
Press this button to activate and deactivate the . The red LED above the
button lights up to indicate is activated. You can also switch the
onandoffviaMIDIprogramchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
The is an auxiliary effects loop. As its name would indicate, it is wired in
series with and . This setup lets you insert two effect devices in
series, that is, one after the other, between the Special Edition's preamp and power
amp.Anotherneatoptionistoputalleffectloopstogooduse.Forinstance,youcould
insert three different effect devices into the amp's signal path, with one device
connected to each loop. This lets you enable the devices (two of which can then be
activatedsimultaneously)bysimplyswitchingloops.
¼"unbalancedinputjack.Plugyourguitarinhereusingashieldedcord.
Depending on the type of cord and its shielding, you may occasionally encounter
interference from sources such as radio stations or powerful magnetic fields. When
this occurs, try connecting your guitar to the amp using different cords. What's more,
to minimize signal degradation due to high-frequency loss, use the shortest cords
feasible (as a rule, the shorter the cord, the less susceptible it is to high-frequency
attenuation).
Reverb
FX Loop I FX Loop II
FX Loop II
Balance wet
Balance dry wet
Balance dry
FX Loop I/II FX Loop I
Balance dry
Serial FX Loop FX
Loop II FX Loop I
FXLoopI FXLoopII SerialFXLoop
Serial FX Loop
Serial FX Loop Serial
FXLoop
Serial FX Loop
FX Loop I FX Loop II
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23FXLOOPI/II
24SERIALFXLOOP
25INPUT
12

26LEADIGAIN
27HIGAIN
28LEADIIGAIN
29BASS
This knob determines the Lead I channel's input sensitivity and preamp saturation
level. Extremelyhighgainand volumelevelsin Leadmodecanproducepowerful
feedback. Avoid feedback squeals; they can lead to hearing loss and damage
speakers! At higher volumes, back off the Gain, Treble and Presence levels in order to
preventuncheckedfeedback!
Thetwo Lead channels' fundamental tones are not worldsapart: boastsslightly
less gain and bottom end, but its speedier response makes it a great choice for brisk
riffingandlightningleadruns.
Pressing this button ups input sensitivity, thereby increasing the amplification factor
and the amount of distortion in both Main Channel 2's Lead I and Lead II modes. The
LED above this button lights up to indicate is active. This feature can also be
switchedviaMIDIprogramchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
When activated, supercharges the amplification factor, switching from
to and putting both Lead channels into high gear. This doubles the
number of basic sounds in Main Channel 2. The Soft Lead setting suffices for high-
output pickups - even for playing leads - so you can leave off if your guitar is
shred-approved. settings also work for chugging rhythm riffs or as
alternative crunch sounds, so give 'em a try. But by all means, for scorching ultra high-
gain lead sounds with truckloads of sustain or for power chords with a monster
bottom-end,gofortheHeavyLeadvariantwith activated.
This knob determines the Lead II channel's input sensitivity and preamp saturation
level.
The two Lead channels' fundamental tones are not worlds apart: boasts a bit
more gain and bottom end than , and works very well for fat, in-your-face solos
and chunky riffs with a big bottom end with plenty of low-frequency punch. Its
response is not quite as speedy as , and the low-end can turn muddy at high
Gainsettingsincombinationwithhigh-testosteronepickups.
This is the preamp voicing section's passive low-frequency EQ for Main Channel 2's
LeadIandLeadIImodes.
CAUTION:
Atipfromthedesigner:
Atipfromthedesigner:
Atipfromthedesigner:
LeadI
Hi Gain
Hi Gain Soft
Lead Heavy Lead
Hi Gain
Soft Lead
HiGain
Lead II
Lead I
Lead I's
CAUTION:Extremelyhighgain andvolumelevels inLeadmodecanproducepowerful
feedback. Avoid feedback squeals; they can lead to hearing loss and damage
speakers! At higher volumes, back off the Gain, Treble and Presence levels in order to
preventuncheckedfeedback!
13

30MIDDLE
31TREBLELEADI
32TREBLELEADII
33CONTOURACTIVE
34MIDEDGE
This is the preamp voicing section's passive midrange EQ for Main Channel 2's Lead I
andLeadIImodes.
Thisisthepreampvoicingsection'spassivehigh-frequencyEQforLeadImode.
Thisisthepreampvoicingsection'spassivehigh-frequencyEQforLeadIImode.
To help you get acquainted with the amp's fundamental sounds, I recommend that
you set all tone controls to about the center or 12 o'clock position. For higher-gain,
high-volumeleadsounds,yourbestbetistoturntheTrebleknobdowntopreventthe
pickupsandspeakersfromgeneratingfeedback(asettinginthe9-to-1o'clockrangeis
recommended).
The Lead I and Lead II channels are equipped with dedicated Treble knobs so you can
tweakthetopendofeachofthesetwochannelsseparatelytosuityourtaste.Though
this passive voicing section's controls range is narrower than that of a comparable
active system, its EQ curve is tweaked specifically for its designated purpose, and will
give you satisfying results. What's more, in combination with the two sound-shaping
buttons and , you have heaps of voicing options for tailoring basic
soundstotaste.
shapes midrange frequencies for Main Channel 2's Lead I and Lead II modes.
When activated, Contour boosts low mids from 300 to 600 hertz as well as the
frequency at 1500 hertz. Note that the Contour setting influences the functionality
and range of the Mid knob (30). The LED above the button lights up to indicate
is activated. This feature may also be switched via MIDI program change or
theENGLCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Though this voicing section is passive and its control range is therefore somewhat
narrower, with and you have two additional tools available for
shaping the midrange. And for good reason music is made in the mids, and these
frequenciesare critical to dialinginhappeningleadtones.You can employ to
scoop mids radically and conjure rabid heavy metal tones or boost them to elicit
assertiveleadsounds.
This sound-shaping tool addresses midrange frequencies by slightly lowering the Mid
knob'sfrequencyspectrum.TheLEDabovethebuttonlightsuptoindicate is
activated. This feature can also be switched via MIDI program change or the ENGL
CustomZ-9Footswitch.
Like , is a passive voicing feature. Consequently, its effect on the
soundscape is rather subtle. Technically speaking, it actually re-voices the Mid knob.
Activating smoothes out lead tones' rough edges. Deactivating
Atipfromthedesigner:
Atipfromthedesigner:
Atipfromthedesigner:
Contour Mid Edge
Contour
Contour
Contour Mid Edge
Contour
MidEdge
Contour Mid Edge
Mid Edge Mid Edge
14

and thins out the lead tones' midrange, creating a more brittle tone. This
brandof tone isbetter suited for rhythmwork because itis not asaggressive or overly
assertive.Differentcombinationsof and yieldfouradditionaltonal
variants in Main Channel 2, and these variations can be programmed, stored and
accessedviaMIDI.
Reverb intensity knob. Twist it to adjust the amount of reverb for Main Channel 2's
LeadIandLeadIImodes.Activate (22)andtwisttheReverbknob clockwiseto
increasetheeffect's intensity. The signalremainscompletelydry when the knobsetto
the 7 o'clock position or (22) is deactivated. The red LED above this button
lights up to indicate is on. In addition, it can be activated and deactivated via
MIDIprogramchangeorCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Determines the Lead I channel's level. Use this knob to adjust the Lead I channel's
volume and dial in the desired balance in comparison with the other channels' levels.
Becausethisknobislocatedpreeffectsloop,italsodeterminestheeffectssendlevelin
Lead I mode. The red LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate the Lead I
channelison.
Pushthisbuttontoactivate thepreamp'sLead Ichanneldirectly(in reciprocationwith
, , , and ).TheredLEDtotherightoftheLeadI
Volumeknob(36)lightsuptoindicateLeadIchannelisactive.Itmayalsobeactivated
viaMIDIprogramchange,theENGLCustomZ-9Footswitch,oradualfootswitch.
Determines the Lead II channel's level. Use this knob to adjust the Lead II channel's
volume and dial in the desired balance in comparison with the other channels' levels.
Becausethisknobislocatedpreeffectsloop,italsodeterminestheeffectssendlevelin
Lead II mode. The red LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate the Lead II
channelison.
Pushthisbuttontoactivatethepreamp'sLeadIIchanneldirectly(inreciprocationwith
, , , and ).Thered LED to the rightoftheLeadI
Volume knob (38) lights up to indicate the Lead II channel is active. It may also be
activated via MIDI program change, the ENGL Custom Z-9 Footswitch, or a dual
footswitch.
Master A volume knob. Located post effect loops, it controls power amp output. The
red LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate is enabled and
determiningthe master level.Youcanalsoset the masterlevelto0via MIDI controller
7.Tolearnhowtodothis,seesection55inthe chapter.
Contour
MidEdge Contour
Reverb
Reverb
Reverb
Clean Crunch LeadII TubeDriver T.D.EQ.
Clean Crunch LeadI TubeDriver T. D.EQ.
Master A
RearPanelFeatures
35REVERB
36LEADIVOLUME
37LEADI
38LEADIIVOLUME
39LEADII
40MASTERA
15

41MASTERA/B
42MASTERB
43MODERN/CLASSIC
Switches back and forth between the Master A and Master B knobs. The LEDs next to
the knobs light up to indicate which Master knob is active the red LED for ,
the green LED for . can also be switched via MIDI program
changeortheENGLCustomZ-9Footswitch.
Master B volume knob. Located post effect loops, it controls power amp output. The
green LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate is enabled and
determiningthe master level.Youcanalsoset the masterlevelto0via MIDI controller
7.Tolearnhowtodothis,seesection55inthe chapter.
Remote control via (MIDI) footswitch is a nifty little utility: You can dial in different
levels for and and assign these settings to any channel and mode
thattheamphastooffer.Thisgivesyouarangeofvariationsthatyoucanprogramfor
differentplaying styles and musicalgenres to greatdramaticeffect. You canuse Main
Channel 1 Clean & Crunch modes for rhythm or cleaner lead lines and the Main
Channel 2's overdriven preamp stage for power chords and soloing, and go from soft
toloudatthetouchofabutton.Youcanalsobroadenthevolumeandtonalrangesby
working your guitars' volume knob. If your arsenal includes MIDI gear - for instance,
theENGL Z-15 MIDI Footcontroller -youcanusetheamp'smaster volume mute circuit
toswiftlyandconvenientlysetthepoweramp's levelto0 duringshortbreaksorwhen
switchingaxes.
This sound-shaping feature voices the basic tonal character of the four Clean, Crunch,
LeadIandLeadIIchannels,the choices being a more contemporary soundor vintage-
approved tone. The LED above the button lights up to indicate is activated.
and can also be activated via MIDI program change or the ENGL
CustomZ-9Footswitch.
Whensetto ,theamp'sresponseisatouchlessdynamic,withfewermidrange
frequencies in the mix. This voicing is particularly prominent when the preamp stage
( , )isoverdriven,making therightchoiceforheavierstyles.Classic
mode is the way to go for vintage tube tone. If you want your lead lines to pack a
mightier punch, I recommend that you activate in Lead/Modern mode, or
generally opt for Classic mode. When in Classic mode and at higher Gain settings,
deactivate foramorefocused,tighterlowend.Thoughthedifference
inthetwovoicingsismoresubtleintheCleanchannel,youwillnoticethat elicits
amore dynamic response; this is attributable to the ECC 83 triode stage. The result is a
slightly smoother, less edgy tone. Here's a hip configuration for you:
Set up your rig so that the preamp is right at the cusp of clipping that is, the point
where the clean signal begins to break up and transition to a dirtier tone and turn up
the Treble knob. In Classic mode, higher frequencies are dampened - an effect known
assoftclippingyieldingamorehomogenous,balancedtone.Youcanachievethiskind
of tone by dialing in higher Gain knob settings for the Clean channel knobs or
Master A
Master B MASTER A/B
Master B
RearPanelFeatures
Master A Master B
Classic
Modern Classic
Modern
Crunch Lead Modern
Contour
MegaLoPunch Classic
Classic/Modern
Atipfromthedesigner:
Atipfromthedesigner:
16

activating . The Crunch channel also puts out mild, rock-approved grind:
Activate anddial in lowergain levels bysetting somewherein the
9-1o'clockrange.
Switches the power amp's output level from low (Low Power: 50 watts) to high (High
Power: 100 watts) and back. In the former, the power amp operates with two power
tubes; in the latter, with all four tubes. The LED above the button lights up to indicate
HighPowerison.LowandHighPowercanalsobeactivatedviaMIDIprogramchange
ortheENGLCustomZ-9Footswitch.
The ability to vary the power amp's output comes in very handy, particularly at gigs:
LowPowermodeisgreatwhenyouwantpowerampdistortiontospiceupyourtone.
Thepowerampsaturatesmuchsoonerathalftheoutputpowerandyoudon'thaveto
dial in ridiculous levels to get it to break up. Besides, 50 watts is more than enough
sonic muscle for many venues. If massive clean headroom is your thing, go for the Hi
Powersetting. It's also the better choice ifyou're running the Lead channelin Modern
mode at higher volumes. That way, you can exploit the power amp's greater dynamic
range.Notethatwhenpushedtotheirlimits,powerampstendtooverstatemidrange
frequencies; you can avoid this by opting for greater headroom afforded by Hi Power
mode.Best of all,you can switchfrom Low toHigh Power onthe fly, going from 50 to
100 watts while you're playing! In combination with the two Master knobs and the
various preamp channels, this feature harbors a tremendous amount of sound-
shapingpower.
Only the two exterior V1 and V4 power tubes operate in Low Power mode. If you
frequently run the amp in this mode, these two tubes are of course subjected to
greater wear. In this case, you may find that the two external tubes require sooner
replacement.
Thisampisequippedwithamicrocontroller-driven,powertubemonitoringsystem.
In the event that an active power tube fails when the amp is in Low Power mode, the
appropriate interior tube is automatically activated, switching from V1 to V2 or V4 to
V3inordertomaintainthe50-wattoutputlevel.
This feature is very useful if you want to make the most of the vast range of sounds
offered by the amp. It lets you match specific cabs to specific amp sounds. Alongside
theampitself,thespeakersand even the cabinet's housing (say E412 vs.
E410) play a pivotal role in shaping sounds, so you can configure rigs to
best match the sound you have in mind. For instance, the aforementioned E410 is a
Gain Boost
Crunch CrunchGain
Atipfromthedesigner:
Notealso:
Atipfromthedesigner:
SwitchesfromspeakeroutputAtoBback.
The LED above the button lights up to indicate is
activated. can also be controlled via MIDI program change or the ENGL
CustomZ-9Footswitch.
Speaker B
Speaker A/B
44 LO POW./HI POW.
45 SPEAKER A/B Aspeakermustbeconnectedtothe
, orthe ,B jackbeforeyoucanactivatethe
respective output.
Power
AmpOutputA1 A2 PowerAmpOutputB1 2
aclosed-back
an open-back
17

great choice for clean or edgy rock riffs, while the E412 (Vintage) smokes for heavy
rockshredding,wailingleadsandchunkymetalrhythmworkinLeadmode.
We endowed this baby with an electronic surveillance system to monitor
, , and . If a plug is not inserted into one of these ports, the
monitoring system automatically shuts the power amp down to ensure it is not
operated without a connected load. The red Status LED above the Write button (47)
willflashbrieflyinadistinctivepatterntoalertyouthatthishastakenplace.Ifyouplug
a cord into either or , the speaker switching option is disabled
and that output is selected automatically. If you use a MIDI preset whose
programming does not match the currently selected speaker output, the monitoring
system automatically switches to the currently selected output. For example, if you
programmed for Preset 1, but have connected a speaker to
,theampwillautomaticallyselect .
Press this button to activate an onboard and suppress excess noise in the
Crunch channel or the two Lead channels. Control the Noise Gate using the two Level
Threshold(59)andMuteDepth(58)knobsonthebackoftheamp.TheLEDabovethe
button lights up to indicate the is activated. This feature can also be
switchedviaMIDIprogramchangeortheENGLCustomZ-9Footswitch.
: The may open up inadvertently
whenthe isactivated,ahigh-gainLeadchannelisselected,andthevolume
exceeds the Threshold knob setting. At very high volume and gain settings, this may
generate instant feedback, particularly if your guitar is facing the speakers. Rather
than musical and controlled, this is the shrill, unpleasant and potentially harmful
variety of feedback squealing that sends your audience and fellow musicians packing.
Thoughtheampisnotmoresusceptibletofeedbackwhenthe isactivated,
the fact that it suppresses extraneous noise means you can't hear those telltale signs
that feedback is swelling and consequently can't take measures to suppress it. For this
reason, make an extra effort to be careful when the is activated: Before
you approach the amp and speaker cabinet with your guitar in hand, turn the guitar's
volume knob to the far left position (to 0 so that no signal is audible) to prevent the
pickupsandspeakersfrominteracting!
Noise is a definite no-no in many situations. For example, studio etiquette demands
that you keep a lid on extraneous noise during short breaks. It's in the nature of high-
gain rigs to generate undesirable peripheral noise in overdriven channels. This is
attributable to the physical properties of an amp's constituent components, in
particular its active components. That's right; those cherished tubes are the culprits.
The Noise Gate is a tool that lets you silence this noise during breaks by way of signal
mute circuit. Note that electric guitars pick up interference signals, and these are
amplifiedtremendously at highgainlevelsinLeadmode. The most commonsourceof
noise is 50 or 60 hertz mains hum, particularly when the guitar is positioned near
transformers and power units. Because in worst-case scenarios this humming can
attain extremely high levels, the Noise Gate can hardly distinguish between the
Headsup,importantnote:
IMPORTANT note; please read and heed
Atipfromthedesigner:
Power Amp
Output A1 A2 B1 B2
Power Amp Output A B
Speaker B/Output B
OutputA OutputA
Noise Gate
Noise Gate
Noise Gate
NoiseGate
NoiseGate
Noise Gate
46NOISEGATE
18

musical signal and noise. This makes it hard to find the right Threshold setting. It is
entirelypossibleforthishummingandothernoisetorisetoalevelthatdeactivatesthe
and therefore becomes audible. My advice is to stay as far away from
transformersandpowerunitsasspaceallows.
Noise Gate
47WRITE/COPY
Press this button to store the modified setting of a programmable feature to a MIDI
memory slot (generally called a preset). Here's how to distinguish between and
:withtheformeryou'reactuallyprogrammingorwritinganewMIDIpreset,with
thelatteryou'remakinganexactduplicateofanexistingpreset.
ThesystemwillselectaWriteoperationwheneveryoueditaMIDIpreset,thatis,when
you have modified a programmable feature. You'll know that this is the case because
theStatusLEDflashessteadilywhenyoueditoneorseveralprogrammablefeatures.If
you press the button and did not edit a MIDI preset, the system will select . This
means that the given preset becomes the source, and its contents are dumped to
anotherpreset and stored there. Thesystemquits modeautonomously
ifyoudonotselectanewMIDIpresetwithinabout30seconds.
The preset programming process -- the Write command, that is -- is not carried out as
soon as you press the button. Pressing the button merely initiates the process. You
must hold it down for about a second until the Status LED flashes three times in rapid
succession.Thismechanismisdesignedtopreventinadvertentprogramming.Youcan
cancel the programming process at any time before the Status LED first illuminates by
releasing the Write button. Again, the preset will only be programmed successfully if
youpressandholdthebuttonuntiltheStatusLEDflashesthreetimes.
:
MIDIpreset 1 activates when the amp ispowered up. If you wantto edit and/or store
other MIDI presets, you must connect a MIDI foot board or another MIDI send device
tothe port(53) and use thisoutboarddeviceto select the desiredMIDIpreset
ontheamp.
Note that the Status LED also indicates the status of components unrelated to
and . The microcontroller runs a short system check after you switch the amp on.
Shoulditfind a defect inthememory chip (EEPROM), theLED
PresstheWrite/Copycopybuttontoconfirmthatyougotthemessage.Onceyouhave
done this, the system will be ready to run, although you may encounter problems
whenattemptingtoselectorstoreMIDIpreset.
The Status LED serves a third display function. As described in section 45 on pages 17
and18,itindicatesthatnospeakerisconnectedtothepowerampoutputs.
Write
Copy
Copy
Copy
MIDIIn
Write
Copy
IMPORTANTnote;pleasereadandheed
Moregood-to-knowinfo:
Whenyou press this button, theStatus LED lights up
continuouslytoindicate isactivated.
You'll have to go through a similar routine to copy a preset once you select a target
preset:When theStatusLEDextinguishes,the copy operationisunderwayand can no
longer be cancelled. The LED flashes three times to indicate the preset was copied
successfully. You can cancel the copy operation by releasing the key, but only for as
longastheLEDlightsupcontinuously.
willflashin a pattern of
fiveshortbursts.
Furtherindicatorfunctions:PowerTubeMonitor;descriptioninsection48.
Copy
19

48STANDBY
Moregood-to-knowinfo:
Atipfromthedesigner:
49 POWER
Power amp standby switch: Use this switch to silence (0 position) the amp when you
take longer break. The amp's tubes stay nice and toasty, and the amp is ready to roll
immediatelywhenyourampitbackuptofullpower.
Ontheone hand, the amp'ssurveillance system monitors ifspeakercords are plugged
into , , and (78,76,75,and73).Ifnoneoftheseportsis
in use, flipping the Standby switch will not activate the power amp. This ensures the
ampisnotoperatedwithoutaconnectedload.
Inaddition, an electronic surveillance systemmonitors the active power tubes(that is,
two or all four tubes depending on setting). The Status LED flashes to
alertyoutoadefectivepowertube,blinkingindifferentpatternstoidentify thegiven
tube. Specifically, it lights up briefly at regular intervals - once for V1, twice for V2,
thrice for V3, and four times for V4. Because the tube monitoring system only works
when the power tubes are up and running, this indicator is not enabled until you
activate the power amp by flipping the Standby switch. To reset the power tube
monitoringcircuitry,pressthestandbyswitchbriefly.
I suggest you get into the habit of using standby during short breaks. In this mode,
currentisnotpipedthrough thepowertubes,so theydon'tgetas hot(duetothe lack
ofanodedissipation)andaresparedconsiderablewear.Theampisreadytorunwhen
youfliptheStandbyswitchbecausethetubesarealreadywarmanddon'trequiretime
toheatup.Forbreaksof30minutesandlonger,Irecommendthatyouswitchtheamp
offinordertoconserveenergy.
Mains power on/off.
OutputPowerAmpA1 A2 B1 B2
Lo/Hi Power
20