Revoiced and Revised for a German Death Metal Icon
Redesigned by ENGL technical mastermind Horst Langer, the Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition is engineered to meet the needs of German technical death metal legend Steffen Kummerer of Obscura fame. Fans of the original ENGL Savage 120 Mark II, fear not: Steffen’s signature amp largely retains the searing sound and all-encompassing functionality of the standard model, only with two major modifications: a revoiced midrange response and KT88 power tubes. These mods grant the 120-watt Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition’s quartet of channels — Clean, Crunch I, Crunch II, and Lead —enhanced headroom, sharpened clarity, and a greater degree of punch. Of course, this Obscura Edition head retains the far-reaching functionality of the original, including a seriously expansive EQ section, an onboard noise gate, dual effects loops, MIDI control, and even a power tube monitor. Plus, to better match the wild and aggressive-looking 6-strings that Steffen wields onstage, the Obscura Edition head is finished off with a custom red, black, and blue aesthetic refresh. Powerful, versatile, and unabashedly aggressive, the ENGL Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition is, in Steffen’s own words, “the perfect fusion of brutality and definition — exactly what I need for Obscura’s sound.”
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An aggressive rendition of an ENGL classic
What differentiates the Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition from its standard-issue predecessor? First and foremost, Obscura’s Steffen Kummerer worked with ENGL engineering mastermind Horst Langer to refine the amplifier’s midrange response, allowing it to better slice through a mix with cutting clarity without compromising on sonic depth. Moreover, Horst also swapped out the 6550 power tubes of the original for a duo of KT88s. It all comes together to provide you with a wholly unique twist on the Savage 120 Mark II formula, which, in Horst’s own words, pushes “the Savage 120 to new heights — more headroom, more punch, and more clarity.”
Cut out the noise
A high-performance noise gate is a must-have for any metal guitarist, and especially for any guitarist running a gain-laden amp such as the Savage 120 Mark II platform. Thankfully, ENGL built a superbly tuned noise gate right into the amp’s preamp section — the most effective and efficient placement for a gate. This gate completely cuts out unwanted noise on the Crunch 1, Crunch 2, and Lead channels, while leaving the lush response of your Clean channel completely unaffected. What’s more, the noise gate threshold control on the rear panel allows you to perfectly dial in the gate’s performance to your taste.
Packed with stage- and studio-friendly features
The Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition comes loaded with a plethora of functional features, allowing this 120-watt behemoth to excel in any stage or studio application. A MIDI input accommodates advanced control setups of all sorts, along with a MIDI-thru port to link up to MIDI-capable pedals and all sorts of other gear. Even the most complex of pedalboard setups are accommodated by the head’s dual effects loops, and you also get the ability to swap between the loops via an ENGL-compatible footswitch, MIDI, or from the front panel’s controls. And while Sweetwater’s tube amp adherents recommend regular checkups with a professional for any valve-powered amplifier, the Savage 120 Mark II Limited Obscura Edition boasts a power tube monitor that tells you when a power tube’s gone bad or when maintenance is required. Finally, this head’s vast collection of utility features is topped off by ENGL’s S.A.C. (Serial Amp Control) technology, allowing you to dictate amplifier functions remotely with an ENGL footswitch.
ENGL Savage 120 Mark II Features:
- Limited edition Savage 120 Mark II designed between ENGL mastermind Horst Langer and Obscura guitarist Steffen Kummerer
- 120W of fire-breathing tube tone, modifying the original Savage 120 Mark II with a revoiced midrange response and KT88 power tubes
- 6 ECC83 tubes in the preamp unleash rich, dynamic, and harmonically rich saturation
- 4 selectable channels (Clean, Crunch I, Crunch II, and Lead) dish out everything from warm, dynamic cleans to crushing gain-drenched fury
- Expansive control section includes dual midband EQ controls, 2 global presence controls, Rough/Smooth switch, 2 Contour switches, Preshape, Bright switch, and a vast selection of gain controls
- Onboard noise gate keeps even your heaviest tones crisp and noise free
- Lo/Hi input effortlessly accommodates both active and passive pickup configurations
- Powerful MIDI control for players running remote stage rigs
- Line output for easy recording into your audio interface or to plug straight into an IR cabinet emulator, front of house, and more
- Multiple output impedances to accommodate a wide range of cabs
- Power tube monitor displays when its time to swap out your tubes
- Dual effects loops make it a breeze to lock in your entire stompbox setup
- Redesigned aesthetics, boasting an aggressive red, black, and blue color combo
