I'm really in a bind here, I got an offer to trade my Framus Cobra (no external bias, but has some sweet mods) for an Engl Powerball V1. I've always liked the sound of a powerball, only ever seen one band play one live, and I have no way to play one ahead of time, also the guy comin to trade it is taking a 2 hour drive coming from the U.S. and I know I'd be pissed taking a long drive for nothing.

I love my Cobra, and I think I grew to love the tone more when I started playing 7 string guitar, and there's not a whole lot I can complain about with this amp, it cuts through nicely at practice and no one around here owns anything from Framus. Also my whole band loves my tone. Me being a gear whore...well you know how that story goes. The only complaints I can have of the amp, is its been around the block (still in good condition though, ive had no issues in the year ive owned it) and I wasn't too hot on the tone when I was playing 6 string, too much high end bite, but that could have been because of the V30's in my mesa cab.

I've read some negative things about the powerball saying that the amp sound too compressed and the gain can sound digital, but then I watch the guitar world review and it makes that amp sound amazing (mind you Im pretty sure they reviewed the V2).

I need some unbiased advice.

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Framus Cobra
Mesa 4x12 Trad. (Slant)
LTD MH-401QM | LTD Deluxe EC-1000VB | LTD MG-250NT (EMG-81/B) | Schecter Damien-7 | Schecter Blackjack C7 | Jackson COW7 (Silverburst)
Dunlop DB01 | Korg DT-10 | Line 6DL4 | Boss NS-2 | Ibanez TS808 | ISP Decimator

I'd do it, but thats just me. I know where you're coming from though. Do you think you could get more amp then what you have now or be happier with something else? Those are really the questions you should ask yourself.

I heard a Powerball live, it sounded very fizzy to me... Could've been the way it was dialed, and I have seen that guitar world review, yea, totally made it sound awsome, but still a lot of highs, and can seem to get compressed, the usual cleans of a high gain head. I think a Marshall could do better. I accually was looking at a Powerball at one point, as I love Job For A Cowboy, Doom, they used a Bogner Ubershall, and an Engl Powerball.

If you think you can do better, start your quest for a new amp. If you like what you have, stick with what works for you. The Powerball is too much amp for me, my old Dual Recto was too much amp for me, but it all depends on what you're going for and what you need. Good luck in your quest for tone!

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well