The guitar amp market is highly saturated nowadays, with companies releasing new models week in, week out. However, only a few of them have been able to make a mark in the industry. ENGL Ironball and Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier are among the market’s most widely used guitar amplifiers.
If you are a beginner, you may have a hard time choosing the right one for you. So, which one packs more features and offers more value for money? Which one costs more? Today, this article will compare these two guitar amp models. Read on to learn more about them and make an informed decision.
ENGL Ironball vs Mini Rectifier Comparison
Here is a detailed comparison between the ENGL Ironball and Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amps.
| Features | ENGL Ironball | Mini Rectifier |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Warm | Tight |
| Power modes | 3 | 2 |
| Power | 20-watt | 25-watt |
| Price | Moderate | Moderate |
ENGL Ironball vs Mini Rectifier
ENGL Ironball
Starting our comparison with the ENGL Ironball guitar amp, it is surely one of the best guitar amplifiers in the market. It is manufactured by ENGL, a company renowned for manufacturing high-end guitar amps. Based in Germany, the company started this business in 1983.
Talking about the ENGL Ironball guitar amp, it was introduced quite a long time ago but has managed to hold its own against its advanced counterparts. Let’s take a deeper look at it!
Performance
The ENGL Ironball guitar amp is a 20-watt amp and comes in a portable design for your convenience. The 20-watt voltage may make you think that it is not powerful enough. However, it turns out that it is fully capable of producing tones at high levels.
If you are a playing professional and looking for a guitar amp to play in gigs, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp is loud enough. The ENGL Ironball guitar amp certainly packs more features than you’d expect from a 20-watt amp. Whether you want to play it on stage, studio, or simply jam with your buddies, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp can do it all.
Construction
As far as its construction is concerned, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp boasts four ECC83 preamp tubes to go with two ELX84 power tubes. The tubes are highly durable and can last a lifetime. However, make sure not to overuse it, as it results in overheating, which can hurt the tubes and reduce their lifespan.
The ENGL Ironball guitar amp is caged in steel housing, which gives it enough rigidness. If you get to travel often, this amp is the right choice for you. It can endure wear and tear and has shown great resistance against scratches. That being said, it is always better to buy some amp cover to store it when not in use. That will also keep it protected from dust particles.
As for the layout, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp has 29 knobs on its panel. While it is a good thing that it gives you complete control over all the features, understanding their functioning may take some time. If you are a beginner, it may leave your mind in a tangle.
Having said that, the knobs on the ENGL Ironball guitar amp represent the best quality and are conveniently located on the front side. All in all, this amp is well-engineered and sturdy.
Power Modes
The best thing about the ENGL Ironball guitar amp is that it is an ideal choice to play at home. As mentioned above, it is a 20-watt amplifier. Of course, a 20-watt amp is too loud to play at home. However, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp brings a perfect solution to this problem.
With 20-watt, 5-watt, and 1-watt modes, it enables you to enjoy playing in all situations. Just set it to a lower mode to bring it to a bedroom level, and it won’t disturb your neighbors. What’s even better? You also get headphone input with level control so you can practice in silence without having to worry about your neighbors.
And yes, the ENGL Ironball guitar amp does not lose its tonal quality when playing on a lower mode. All these features make it a worthwhile investment.
Mini Rectifier
Next, we have the Mini Rectifier guitar amp. It is manufactured by Mesa Boogie and is undoubtedly one of the best-selling guitar amps by the company. Headquartered in California, USA, Mesa Boogie came into being in 1969 and quickly established itself as one of the industry leaders in the amp market.
Let’s see how it is different from the ENGL Ironball guitar amp.
Performance
The key difference between the Mini Rectifier guitar amp and the ENGL Ironball is that the Mini Rectifier is a 25-watt amp. Expectedly then, it can produce tones at a higher level than its ENGL counterpart. If you are sick and tired of using those quiet amplifiers that offer no sound, the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp is for you.
The Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp has a compact housing. Beneath this housing lies a feature-loaded amplifier that is not to be underestimated for its functionality and tonal quality. It is a younger sibling to the Rectifier amp by Mesa Boogie. Despite its compact size, it has the most features that you need to rock your gigs.
Now coming to its tonal quality, the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp is surely among the best-sounding guitar amps on the market. It offers a bit tight and British tone in the low end, and the Dyna-watt power feature takes it a step further. Moreover, it has two channels for the best playability.
Construction
The construction of the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp is pretty identical to the Rectifier amp. In the preamp section, you get five 12 AX7 preamp tubes. On the other hand, the power section consists of two EL84 power tubes.
These tubes amplify your signal to a great extent and define the tonal characteristics of the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp.
In addition to that, the materials used in constructing the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp are also the same as the other Rectifier amps. It’s a great thing that Mesa Boogie did not cut corners to construct the mini version.
Power Modes
Like the ENGL Ironball, the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp also offers multiple modes. You can easily activate the 10-watt mode and enjoy your playing sessions at a lower volume.
Final Verdict
The Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier and the ENGL Ironball are two highly sought-after guitar amps. Both have similar features and tonal characteristics. If you are a professional player and looking for an amp with a higher volume, the Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier guitar amp is right for you.
It is a 25-watt amp with more preamps for amplified performance. However, the ENGL Ironball is also a balanced offering and equipped with lots of cool features.