Engl E635BO Fireball 100 Blackout

The Fireball 100 Blackout: ENGL’s High-Gain Icon in a Dark Finish

The Fireball series holds a special place in the ENGL universe: a direct, muscular all-tube head resolutely focused on massive modern tones. With this Fireball 100 Blackout E635BO version, ENGL brings back the uncompromising dark aesthetic that perfectly matches the amp’s character. Its black front panel, metal protective grille and compact format for a 100 W head make it a true stage tool.

Designed in Germany, this head retains the Fireball DNA: a clear architecture, immediately effective controls and tremendous authority in the low end. The Fireball 100 has firmly established itself among heavy rock, hard rock and modern metal guitarists, particularly thanks to its fast attack and its ability to remain articulate at high gain levels.

A 100 W Head for Metal Guitarists Who Want to Stay in Control

The ENGL Fireball 100 Blackout is aimed at musicians looking for a powerful tube head for band rehearsals, the studio and, above all, the stage. Its 100 W provide considerable volume reserves and sufficient headroom to retain impact when the drums and bass occupy a lot of space. Paired with a suitable cabinet, it responds with authority to down-tuned rhythms and fast palm-muted passages.

It is particularly well suited to modern metal, thrash, death metal, metalcore, hard rock and hard-edged alternative rock guitarists. Its Clean channel can also handle more spacious parts, while the Lead channel delivers the density required for heavy riffs and precise solos. Musicians already familiar with tube amps will appreciate its dynamic response, while its intuitive layout also makes it accessible to guitarists looking to step up to a genuine professional rig.

Two Effective Channels, Useful Boosts and a Complete Effects Loop

The Fireball 100 Blackout relies on a simple yet particularly effective configuration. The Clean channel has its own gain control and can range from a bright clean tone to a light crunch by pushing the preamp. The Lead channel also features independent gain, complemented by a dedicated volume control for precisely balancing the two channels before the power amp section.

The three-band passive Bass, Middle and Treble EQ allows you to shape the sound with precision. The Bright switch adds extra sparkle to the clean channel, while the Bottom switch boosts the low frequencies to give chords and riffs more weight. The Mid Boost, shared by both channels, thickens the mids to help the sound stand out in a dense mix or bring a solo forward.

Two general-purpose Master A/B volumes let you prepare two different output levels, which is highly practical for switching from rhythm playing to a solo or adapting the volume to each song. The Presence control affects the high frequencies in the power amp section to fine-tune the openness and bite of the sound. An adjustable noise gate on the rear panel, dedicated to the Lead channel, helps maintain clean silences between attacks, even with plenty of gain.

The variable effects loop easily accommodates delay, reverb, modulation or multi-effects units. It features Send and Return connections as well as a balance control between the direct signal and the effect signal. The Clean/Lead, Master A/B, Mid Boost and loop activation functions can be controlled remotely with compatible footswitches, making it easy to integrate the Fireball into a complete stage setup.

A Tight, Massive and Articulate ENGL Tone

Thanks to its preamp, built around four ECC83 tubes, and its four 6L6GC power tubes, the ENGL Fireball 100 Blackout delivers a powerful, tight and remarkably defined high-gain sound. Its low end remains compact and precise, even with down-tuned setups, while its punchy mids ensure excellent projection. This head prioritizes attack clarity, fast response and the ability to hear every note in complex riffs.

The Lead channel offers dense, modern and tight saturation, ideal for ultra-precise rhythm parts as well as singing solos. The tubes’ natural compression adds sustain without obscuring playing nuances. The Clean channel, meanwhile, retains enough clarity and dynamics for arpeggios, atmospheric introductions or more nuanced passages. The Fireball 100 can therefore move from a bright clean tone to a highly aggressive wall of gain while retaining the sharp character typical of ENGL amplifiers.

Technical specifications

Category	Guitar amp head	Number of channels	2
Technology	Tubes	EQ	3 channels
Effects loop	Yes	Color	Black
Amp tubes	4 x 6L6GC	Power output	100 W
Pre-amp tubes	4 x 12AX7

Type	all-tube guitar amplifier head	Dimensions	710 x 270 x 270 mm
Power	100 W	Weight	21 kg
Power amplification	4 x 6L6GC	2 channels	Clean and Lead
Preamp	4 x ECC83 / 12AX7	3-band EQ	Bass, Middle, Treble
Maximum power consumption	300 W	Two master volumes	Master A and Master B