Bogner amp advice needed

[heinz_57]

I just got a 65amps Empire last weekend. It does Marshall tones like you described wanting…from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Here is a vid … this guy is playing through a bogner cab, so maybe it fits your criteria . It’s 20 watts of awesomeness.

 

[Old School Steve]

After hours of research and listening to all the great comments you guys have shared, here are my observations/notes:

TELOS
Pro's:

• Schizo voicing options offers wide tonal range
• Lots of gain variations; good high gain that stops short of saturation
• 40w/20w power settings for lower volume option

Con's:

• Lack of true clean tones
• Single channel
• No reverb

ECSTASY 3534 (50w)
Pro's:

• 3 channels (dedicated clean + 2 gain options) for wider
• Reasonably good clean tones (a bit modern voiced)

Con's:

• Single channel
• No reverb
• The tones may be too polished/compressed (a glorious recording amp)

HELIOS
Pro's:

• 2 channels (clean, dirty)
• Dual inputs per channel (Plexi, hot) + bright switch for each channel
• 70's & 80's voice switch
• PTP hand wired
• 100w version has 30w power setting

Con's:

• Master presence control (both channels)
• No reverb
• Clean channel may not be the best as a pedal platform

GOLDFINGER SUPER LEAD
Pro's:

• Incredible clean tones (very spatial/natural)
• 2 channels
• 3 voice settings (68, 77, 81)
• Boost switch for each channel for further gain
• Reverb (glorious sounding)

Con's:

• Gain sound is not quite as rich as Helios (Gain switch might close the gap; or I could always use a gain pedal like an Ecstasy Red, etc. on clean channel if I needed more)

===========[ My Initial Conclusions ]==========

If I were to compare amps against the requirements I posted (I don't play a lot of pure clean tones), the Helios wins. The Ecstasy is an incredibly capable amp, but I never play my Boogie Recto-verb amp anymore as I've moved on from scooped modern high gain. Thus, I fear that the Ecstasy is "more of the same" from similar amps (including old ENGLs that I've owned) and may lack the organic/raw feel of the other amps on the list.

Three things sway me towards the GF SL:

1. Reverb (I've given my Shiva to my son and I'm selling my Mesa Recto-o-verb, so I need reverb)
2. Lots of gain flexibility with the 3 different voicing options + gain boost
3. A truly beautiful clean channel could be useful in the future, should my playing style change; and it might offer an awesome pedal platform (Helios owners can comment whether its Clean channel can do the same)

Feel free to share your thoughts.

 

[bubucci]

Golfinger is best 2 channel Bogner, just great transition between clean, pushed, crunch and plexi higain.
3534 is too modern and stiff for plexi/hendrix stuff, it didn't have typical Bogner low mid bloom like Helios or Goldfinger. Shiva is too muddy and almost impossible to match clean and dirty. With right cab with G12-65 or Scumback it is almost perfection.

 

[Old School Steve]

If you dont want metal, it isn't a bogner, but it is better made and has the perfect crunch imo. It is also low wattage, which I generally say with a sneer on my face...but I digress

Maz 18

Definitely a rich/sweet tone.

I'm wondering if this amp offers anything beyond this one tone?

 

[Geo]

If you dont want metal, it isn't a bogner, but it is better made and has the perfect crunch imo. It is also low wattage, which I generally say with a sneer on my face...but I digress

Maz 18

Sounds thin.

 

[Old School Steve]

I just got a 65amps Empire last weekend. It does Marshall tones like you described wanting…from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Here is a vid … this guy is playing through a bogner cab, so maybe it fits your criteria . It’s 20 watts of awesomeness.

Unfortunately, the single coil pickups in the video didn't offer me a good comparison point given that I use humbuckers and guitars with heavier body weight. I didn't hear anything in the video that sounds near as bold/spatial as the Bogners I'm considering. That's not to say the 65amps Empire isn't a great amp -- I'm just commenting that the video didn't show it off IMO.

 

[Jdub]

I didn't like the Atma and the JB45 is a bit too vintage for my liking. That leaves Ecstasy 3435 (50w version) vs. Helios 50w.

What do you like/dislike that puts one of these amps "over the top" as the best option?

Tha Atma is cool for what it is and because of it's size earned a recommendation but sonically I dont think it innerly the amp the others are. Helios 50 is great, but It is squarely in Marshall camp, as is the JB45 but it had more versatility. I have been on a tear lately buying and trying all of Renholds latest creation this year. I have had UU, Snorkler, JB45, and Ecstacy 50( the new one with the added voicing switches). If I had to pick one I would go with XTC 50 since I have several Marshalls already, so the Helios variants are more crossover. and the XTC 50 is all Bogner.. All the amps I mentioned are fantastic in my opinion, but of all of them I would suggest XTC 50. ( the new one)

 

[Jdub]

I didn't like the Atma and the JB45 is a bit too vintage for my liking. That leaves Ecstasy 3435 (50w version) vs. Helios 50w.

What do you like/dislike that puts one of these amps "over the top" as the best option?

I reread your initial post. If you really crave the Marshall voice, then Helios or Jb45 and of those, I would take the Jb45 for sure. The Jb45 has very powerful voicing switches for both the pre amp ad power amp so you can dial it to be vintage or not. I think these power voicing switches are largely overlooked or underestimated in their effectiveness of radically changing the whole feel of the amp. With the power section set in Modern setting,it really makes the amp sit somewhere between an XTC and a Marshall. It is capable of being much more modern, aggressive and tight than the Telos. That was a cool amp and the JB will do those tones, and a whole lot more. I should have kept it. But the XTC is killer too. I would like to have both and yo simple can't go wrong with either.

 

[heinz_57]

Here is a clip of the Empire with a Les Paul. Make sure to skip to the 3:54 minute mark the beginning is not about the amp…