The ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2 is an Engl amplifier. Close alternatives include the Laney LF-Supertop and the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Dual Super Lead 2-Channel. It pairs well with the Nobels ODR-1 and the Klon KTR.
ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2
Engl · amplifier
The ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2 is a signature all-tube guitar amplifier head from ENGL Amplification, Germany, developed with Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The v2 represents the second revision of the Blackmore signature line, refining the voicing and features of the original. Multiple channels cover the range from clean through vintage and modern overdrive suited to the tonal spectrum of Blackmore classic hard rock output.
What stands out
“Channel range covers from the open, bright clean characteristic of Blackmore tone through vintage breakup and moderate overdrive”
— from the reviews
“The v2 represents the second revision of the Blackmore signature line, refining the voicing and features of the original”
— from the listing
“ENGL German engineering quality and the refined v2 voicing provide reliable professional performance”
— from the community notes
“Players who want to capture the tonal character of Deep Purple and Rainbow — bright, percussive clean tones and natural-to-medium overdrive with a vintage British feel — find the Blackmore signature line a suitable professional-grade vehicl…”
— from the community notes
“Multiple channels cover the range from clean through vintage and modern overdrive suited to the tonal spectrum of Blackmore classic hard rock output”
— from the listing
- overdrive
- vintage
- bright
- tonal character
- tonal spectrum
- blackmore tone
- natural
- breakup
Good for
- Live
Genres the ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2 is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
Pedals that stack with the ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2
Nobels ODR-1
Nobels
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Nobels ODR-1 leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Goes in front of the amp
Klon KTR
Klon
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → medium gain)
Into a transparent tone, Klon KTR brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
21% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Into a transparent tone, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter
EarthQuaker Devices
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter after ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2 in the signal chain, clear of ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Electro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset
Electro-Harmonix
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb in ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2's effects loop, clear of ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Eventide Modulated Delay in ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2's effects loop, clear of ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah
Cry Baby
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Put Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah in front of ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Alternatives
Laney LF-Supertop
Laney
60% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, tonal character
Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Dual Super Lead 2-Channel
Marshall
55% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, wide range, hard rock
Orange OR60 Head (Black)
Orange
54% similaritySimilar voicing: high headroom, mid-forward
Hughes & Kettner TriAmp MkII Alex Lifeson
Hughes & Kettner
52% similarityShared character: vintage charm, clean
Marshall JVM Series JVM205H
Marshall
50% similarityShared character: clean
Bogner Ecstasy 101B
Bogner
45% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, wide range, vintage charm
Friedman Jose Arredondo
Friedman
45% similaritySimilar voicing: harmonically rich, high gain
EVH 5150III LBX II
Evh
44% similarityShared character: natural, clean
Hughes & Kettner TriAmp MK1
Hughes & Kettner
44% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, vintage charm, clean
Blackstar Artisan 30H Head
Blackstar
43% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, clean
Divided by 13 BW 1969 39w Tube Amp Head
Divided By 13
43% similarityShared character: tonal character, clean
PRS Archon Classic 50 2-Channel Head
PRS
42% similarityShared character: wide range, hard rock, vintage charm
See all alternatives to the ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2?+
The closest matches in character are the Laney LF-Supertop, the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Dual Super Lead 2-Channel, the Orange OR60 Head (Black).
What pairs well with the ENGL Ritchie Blackmore Signature v2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Nobels ODR-1, Klon KTR, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker — Nobels ODR-1 leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own.