I'm Switching To ENGL (Zim Blasphemy Content!)

[Larrikin666]

I usually buy blind. As long as you get one new or find a used one cheap enough so that you can sell it for what you paid if it doesn't work out, you should be in good shape

Amen. I've NEVER had the opportunity to try out a high end piece of equipment before buying. Sites like this, Rig-Talk, and HC have ultimately ended up being the most important resource when buying. I talk to people I trust, try to make an educated decision, then take the plunge. It usually works out if you're patient.

 

[Dark Aegis]

Did anyone make any good clips of this thing yet?

 

[SlevenSlinger13]

clips indeed. MUCH NEEDED CLIPS!!!!

 

[guitar4tw]

Yeah clips would be awesome. I am seriously considering getting this amp in addition to my invader some time in 2010 (this or an axe-fx), so clips would be awesome.

 

[Stormingdust]

Congrats Nick. The Fireball 100 is truly one bad ass amp. By the way, what are your current settings?

 

[jcbakz]

my dream amp!
the only way I can buy one is to sell one of my kidneys

 

[RadStar]

Any news about the Powerball II? They're available in few places but I haven't seen any clips or reviews.

 

[Sepultorture]

Any news about the Powerball II? They're available in few places but I haven't seen any clips or reviews.

Nick already has the Powerball 2, he made mention of this on the axe palace facebook

still awaiting the pic and opinion porn

 

[iff]

Nick already has the Powerball 2, he made mention of this on the axe palace facebook

still awaiting the pic and opinion porn

I want a FB100 vs PBII!

 

[Fikealox]

Hahaha, "opinion porn"

I was lucky enough to try out a friend's FB100 yesterday afternoon. I'm not a massive metalhead, but it got my GAS flaring nonetheless. I don't think I've ever heard such amazing high gain tones. It really was kicking out the tones that I've always had in my head whenever I've gone through a metal phase, but have somehow never been able to find.

The adjectives that popped to mind immediately were fat, thick, tight, cutting, articulate, grinding, smooth, liquid, saturated, and open. Some of those adjectives I'd usually think of as mutually exclusive, but the FB100 somehow combines them perfectly (without the combination being a compromise). I guess it's to do with the amp's low-mid centred voicing. The cleans sounded nice, too, but we didn't spend much time playing clean, lol.

[edit: I just started watching clips on youtube... they really don't do the amp justice]

 

[zimbloth]

Congrats Nick. The Fireball 100 is truly one bad ass amp. By the way, what are your current settings?

The settings I use on the Fireball 100 is something like this (left to right):

Bass Boost: Off
Gain: 4
Bass: 3.5
Mid: 5
Treble: 5
Presence: 3
Mid Boost: off (except for leads)
Channel Volume: 5
Master Volume: 4 (or whatever the situation calls for)

Any news about the Powerball II? They're available in few places but I haven't seen any clips or reviews.

I love the Powerball II. It's a big improvement I think, it has a better midrange voicing and improved responsiveness, without sacrificing the usual Powerball tightness and punch. It still is pretty tight and somewhat compressed, but it sounds more natural this time around. It seems like it would cut better, The mid-boost feature with the independent controls is really awesome.

I posted a bunch of pics on the Axe Palace Facebook page (see my signature for a link), but here are a couple:

Nick already has the Powerball 2, he made mention of this on the axe palace facebook

still awaiting the pic and opinion porn

Haha

I want a FB100 vs PBII!

The FB100 vs PB II is an interesting discussion. They're definitely different but have some similar things I like about them. Overall the FB100 is a little darker and thicker while the Powerball is a bit brighter and cleaner. They're both extraordinarily tight and clear though. The FB100 seems a bit more forgiving, the Powerball II is a bit more 'precise' with some more sizzle. That said the PBII isn't as stiff as the original one was.

The feel and sound of the amps arent that different though. The gain structure and the way the controls react are pretty much the same. They both have immense headroom and volume, yet both sound amazing at low volumes - a rarity with tube amps. Of course when the master is pushed a bit it sounds exponentially better however.

Really it comes down to this. If you really only require a simple setup (clean and heavy), the Fireball 100 is arguably as good as it gets. If you want what the Fireball 100 does but a lot more (four channels - sweet/loud cleans, an excellent crunch channel, two heavy channels; a bunch of switching options, more tweakability and independent eqs/bright/boost/etc per channel, etc... the Powerball II is a great choice. I think they're both really good values for how they sound and what they do too.

The Powerball II is a good option for someone who wants something badass and flexible along the lines of an Invader 100 but without the MIDI and not quite as organic sounding. The Z-9 footswitch is a perfect for the amp (though I'll admit its a shame those don't come free with amps like Hughes & Kettner and Rivera do).

Hahaha, "opinion porn"

I was lucky enough to try out a friend's FB100 yesterday afternoon. I'm not a massive metalhead, but it got my GAS flaring nonetheless. I don't think I've ever heard such amazing high gain tones. It really was kicking out the tones that I've always had in my head whenever I've gone through a metal phase, but have somehow never been able to find.

The adjectives that popped to mind immediately were fat, thick, tight, cutting, articulate, grinding, smooth, liquid, saturated, and open. Some of those adjectives I'd usually think of as mutually exclusive, but the FB100 somehow combines them perfectly (without the combination being a compromise). I guess it's to do with the amp's low-mid centred voicing. The cleans sounded nice, too, but we didn't spend much time playing clean, lol.

[edit: I just started watching clips on youtube... they really don't do the amp justice]

I couldn't agree more man, my experience exactly. Both in terms of your description of the amp and also how elusive those sounds were prior to discovering the amp. Also...yes, as usual clips prove to be worthless

 

[SlevenSlinger13]

This needs clips. I'm sure you could pump out something totally badass and actually show off a nice tight tone with the thing

 

[zimbloth]

This needs clips. I'm sure you could pump out something totally badass and actually show off a nice tight tone with the thing

I'll try to make clips soon. I'm desperatly trying to find a web guy to help me finish my website, once I do that I'll focus on making videos/clips.

 

[SlevenSlinger13]

ahhh i see. I'm super stoked to see an actual representation of this beast.

 

[RadStar]

Thanks Nick, really helpful as always. I'm glad they're similar in many ways. Still more compressed though, huh? Now I have to make a tough choice between FB100, PBII and E-570 preamp.. GAS attack

 

[Hellbound]

Well I've had my Fireball 100 for a while now and have played it every day since and it just gets more and more brutal. My settings are pretty different from Zim's but then again I'm using a different guitar with active blackout's.
My gain is right at 12 o'clock. I love having my bass around 2 or 3 o'clock maybe even more believe it or not. My prescence is jacked up to 2 o'clock. Lead volume 1 o'clock. Master at the 4th notch. I can't remember where my mids or treble are at at the moment too lazy to get up and look,lol.....but let me say this amp sounds like the devil's voice.
Even my neighbors an acre away can hear this amp that is amazing.

Now I'm positive that if I was in a band situation I would have to tone it down it would just cut through too much no doubt.......but as is jamming alone it shakes my whole body and I can't tell you how many lamps and papers pedals you name it have fallen from shelves....even the curtains on the window fell off from the gain and bass response from this amp. This amp sounds about as pissed off as an amp can get and I honestly cannot compare the sound of this amp to anything else....it sounds like a Fireball 100.


Also just to add I added an ISP Decimator G rack to this thing and it just makes this amp even that much better. Total quietness to thunder.

 

[Hellbound]

Also I have the bass boost on but honestly it sounds just as fine without it and have the midboost off. My father has been in the music industry for over 30 years as a musician and eq'er, mixer for other bands and working with professional bands to get the sound just right. Even for someone like him that absolutely hates metal he has helped me get a perfect tone out of this thing through numerous settings and for him to be impressed this says alot......because when I'm doing some fast picking riffs all the way to low note chugging he is just amazed.....he has heard every amp you can think of and even knows the guy who does the voodoo amps and mods personally......this one needs no mods and it's absolutely perfect for metal.....yes both me and my father agree that this amp was the right choice over the Mesa Triple which I was so close to buying.......also the Eminence speakers from the Fryette fat bottom have me sold over V30's.:cool

 

[drezdin]

I'll try to make clips soon. I'm desperatly trying to find a web guy to help me finish my website, once I do that I'll focus on making videos/clips.

what do you need done on your site?

 

[zimbloth]

what do you need done on your site?

Certain fixes/additions made to the HTML/ASP code, mainly pertaining to the homepage and the product database. One major flaw is that when you visit individual pages on my site, it doesnt list the item on the title (ie: "Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 Emerald Burst"), it merely says "AxePalace" like it does on every page. This is hurting me in search engines. \

All I really need done is that fixed and an easier-to-update/better homepage template, so I can easily announce news, new featured products, etc. I know enough html to update things but the current setup is a huge pain. Unfortunately my web guy disappeared on me before everything was really finished. Attempts to hire him to fix it went ignored.

 

[iff]

Nick, will you have an opportunity to try the PBII with a band? Or even better, A/B the FB100 and PBII in a band situation? You definitely don't seem so pumped about the PBII as you were about the FB100, although that may be because you've already experienced the FB100.