The ESP Guitar Company

How often do you see a guitar player that gets an equal level of respect in genres of classic rock, progressive rock, jazz, country, blues, and metal? It's pretty rare, and that's just one reason why Steve Morse is a very special musician. From his groundbreaking work in Dixie Dregs to his amazing musical output as a solo artist and then a member of legendary bands like Kansas and Deep Purple, Steve Morse is inarguably one of the most respected musicians on the planet. This stylistically diverse guitarist can do everything from chicken-pickin’ shred to mind-blowing prog, and his ENGL Signature E656 amp is all he really needs to get those jaw-dropping tones.

ENGL worked with Steve for over a year in carefully putting together the nuances that would become his signature amp head, the ENGL E656. The EQ section is unique, featuring four (yes, four!) controls! In this way, the mid-range, which is so important in a full band context, can be shaped to perfectly meet the needs of the moment, making it versatile enough for nearly any genre of music. With two switchable master volume levels, two effects loops, a noise gate and MIDI on board, nothing can stand in your way. Whether it’s crisp rock riffs with Deep Purple or a variety of sounds in complex solo lines, the E656 has been an integral part of Steve Morse’s rig for more than a decade.

Side note: we send Steve all of our best wishes while he's temporarily on hiatus from Deep Purple to help care for his family's health and well being. As wonderful of a guitar player he is, he's even better as a person, and ENGL is proud to continue our long association with this master of six strings.

Features:
• 3 Channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead
• All Tube Head
• ENGL Mid Control Matrix with 8 different Midrange voicings
• 2 Tube buffered FX Loops (each with Balance control)
• Noise Gate
• Master A/B
• Power Tube Monitor
• Ground Lift Switch
• MIDI: MIDI in / MIDI thru
• Engl MIDI-Footcontroller Phantom Power Switch
• MIDI Channel Assignment and Controller Enable Switches
• Write / Copy (for MIDI programming)
• All functions accessible on the front panel are MIDI programmable
• S.A.C.: Serial Amp Control port

Sound Options:
• Tone
• Hi Gain
• ENGL Mid Control Matrix (Mid Lo 1/2, Mid Hi 1/2)

Controls:
• Gain (for each Channel)
• 3-Band EQ (Channel 1 / Channel 2)
• Bass, Lo Mid 1 / Lo Mid 2, Hi Mid 1 / Hi Mid 2, Treble (Channel 3)
• Volume (for each Channel)
• Lo Volume / Hi Volume (Channel 3)
• Presence
• Depth Punch
• Master A
• Master B
• Noise Gate Threshold Level
• FX Loop I Balance
• FX Loop II Balance

Outputs:
• Poweramp Output (1 x 4 Ω, 1 x 8 Ω, 1 x 16 Ω, 2 x 8 Ω ||, 2 x 16 Ω ||)
• Pre Output
• Line Out

Footswitch:
• Z4 (Channels)
• Z9 (Channels, Master A/B, Hi Gain, Lo Mid, Noise Gate, Hi Mid, Amp Mute, Tone, FX Loop)
• Z12
• Z15

Preamp Tubes:
• 4 x Engl ECC83 / 12AX7

Output Tubes:
• 4 x Engl EL34

Output Wattage:
• 100 W

Dimensions:
28"x10.6"x11.4" (71 x 27 x 29 cm)

Weight:
48.5lbs. (22 kg)

ESP distributes ENGL amplifiers in the USA and Canada. Find a list of our ENGL dealers here!