Bogner Helios owners, Killer amp or not so much?

[sjk]

Updated, picked up a used Helios! Killer amp indeed, no hype as far as I'm concerned

 

[Rdodson]

The Helios is the Bogner version of the SLO. It doesn't sound like the SLO, but it is just killer at that one thing like the SLO. You don't get an SLO to sound like a Fender Twin, and you don't get a Helios to sound like anything other than the best late Plexi/early metalfront with an extra tube you've ever played. Like those Marshalls, and like the SLO, you need to move some air to get it singing. And when singing, it KILLS. Just don't expect it to be swiss-army-knifey (though it has several good sounds in it, and one incredible one).

 

[sjk]

The Helios is the Bogner version of the SLO. It doesn't sound like the SLO, but it is just killer at that one thing like the SLO. You don't get an SLO to sound like a Fender Twin, and you don't get a Helios to sound like anything other than the best late Plexi/early metalfront with an extra tube you've ever played. Like those Marshalls, and like the SLO, you need to move some air to get it singing. And when singing, it KILLS. Just don't expect it to be swiss-army-knifey (though it has several good sounds in it, and one incredible one).

70's mode plugged into the hot input I assume you are talking as it sounds as good as any gain channel on any amp I've owned. Took me 2 or 3 days after getting the amp to know it but now I know
Also I would not say that channel does just 1 thing. The gain has a great sweep to it and sounds great set anywhere from 9 oclock to 5 oclock. Many different plexi sounds in that range.

 

[chumbucket]

According to Bogner, there may be a mod in the future to allow you to use Plex ch1 and Hot ch2. I never tried an AB-Y switch to see if that would work although somebody said that it did.

 

[se7en]

According to Bogner, there may be a mod in the future to allow you to use Plex ch1 and Hot ch2. I never tried an AB-Y switch to see if that would work although somebody said that it did.

Gotta love the revisions of these amps...

 

[Killcrop]

The Helios is the Bogner version of the SLO. It doesn't sound like the SLO, but it is just killer at that one thing like the SLO. You don't get an SLO to sound like a Fender Twin, and you don't get a Helios to sound like anything other than the best late Plexi/early metalfront with an extra tube you've ever played. Like those Marshalls, and like the SLO, you need to move some air to get it singing. And when singing, it KILLS. Just don't expect it to be swiss-army-knifey (though it has several good sounds in it, and one incredible one).

I think it's more flexible than the SLO. The crunch tones of the Helios are better than the mid gain stuff on the SLO. I do like the SLO high gain better but I think that might be the best high gain tone ever. The cleans on the Helios are way better than the SLO too. The SLO cleans and crunch were ice picky bright. IMO.

 

[Medronio]

So anybody has an idea how to mod the helios (50) to use the plexi clean and hot inputs gainchannel with a footswitch?

 

[Medronio]

My Bogner Helios is my Holy Grail tone monster. It's foot switchable between channel 1 & 2 and I switch between the plexi & hot inputs with a Morley A/B Y for the clean/dirty thing. Simple.
Depending on the venue, if ground hum is an issue by plugging into two inputs then use the Radial ABY it has a switch for phase canceling.

Everybody says you cannot use an AB switch to change inputs.
So how comes you can? Did you modify your amp?

 

[napalmdeath]

I had a 50, and it is a killer amp. I had a Splawn at the time as well, and couldn't justify keeping the Helios, (at a price-tag of $2600). Thought the Splawn had very much the same tones, maybe not as dark, but certainly more aggressive.

For what it is/does, I can't justify the price. Hell, a Runt 50 is kinda close at $1000 less.

 

[peckhart]

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=207609

You will need a tech, but it is possible.

 

[Kidkramer71]

I have one ans have had it since 2015.
I love it ! I also have an extacy 101b that I've had since the late 90's.
The helios has less gain , but a raw grittiness that makes it sing !
My only complaint is that the clean is not very clean on the hot side.
The plexi side is great and has an amazing clean !
But you can't switch back n forth.
If you like 80's hard rock or 70's hard rock it is hard to beat!
It does more then that, but not as versatile as an extacy.

 

[MrFlexx]

Yeah.

Sounds great

Can't decide


Small box


Helios


Hmmmmm......

I've owned the Smallbox and own the Helios 100. Both are amazing amps. The Smallbox is more compressed and the Helios is more raw sounding. So if you're after more in your face with ridiculously good attack and string separation, the Helios is the amp to go for. Best Hot rodded Marshall out there.

 

[MrFlexx]

The Helios is a killer amp! IMO it has more livelier tones than the BE100 and a little more versatile. Unfortunately, Bogner kinda mucked up the marketing on the Helios and the delay of production seemed to put a weird vibe on the amp. It really is a cool amp and has some great tones!

No way... The B100 is far more versatile than the Helios.
You cant have a high gain sound on one channel and a clean on the other channel
with the Helios..
To me, the Helios is a ONE channel amp.
.

Tone wise the Helios is more versatile, but as for channel switching the BE100 kills the Helios.

 

[MrFlexx]

I got one about a week ago. I like it so far. There is more tweakability than I first realized. It's really in your face. For those that think some of the Ecstasy tones are "Blankety", the Helios is the antithesis.
It rips. I instantly felt like I needed to play some Scorpions. It's very vintage Marshall without all the spiky highs you get with the older amps.

I also own a tricked out 101b. The Helios is tighter and faster to respond. It does the classic bogner controlled feedback at any volume. Still the same great master volume. What I like about the Helios is it's less fizzy sounding than your typical high gain amp. It's cleaner or maybe more pure sounding. It doesn't have as much gain as the Red channel but since it's tighter and faster it can seem more aggressive sounding. I think the 101b does a better AIC tone ala We Die Young and is a tad fatter sounding overall. The Helios would do a better job of covering vintage Maiden, older Metalica or even Peace Sells era Megadeth. The 101b can cover those but sags a little to much to nail those tones.

The Plexi tones on both amps are close. The Helios can take the eq section out of the amp and offer some interesting variations. However my 101b can do the Class A option as well. However as good as the 101b is at the plexi tones the Helios can do the early AC/DC a tad better. A touch more kerrang! if you will.

Clean tones on the Helios are really nice. I have yet to really unlock everything they can do. I am one of the guys that has figured out how to harness the clean (Green) tones of the 101b.

Anyway, I like the Helios. If you like vintage high gain Marshall tones, there isn't much to not like. I like both amps a lot and will likely keep both. There is some overlap but they excell in different areas.

Great description of the Helios. And all that from only one week of tweaking and noodling. I've had my Helios 100 for 7 months and still find new ways of dialing it in. It's extremely versatile, soundwise. I also own a Bogner Ecstasy 101B post 2004...and both amps are great, but as you stated, the Helios is more angry, raw, in your face than the XTC. It's the ultimate Marshall with absolutely no fizz or harshness. Killer amp

 

[Beandust]

Plexi input, boosted. U all know how clean the clean is going into the plexi input and how vintage the plexi input is un boosted. More versatile than what I had read, unless you dont like boost it's fairly simple to get 3 applications from the plexi input, and one being high gain.ymmv. hackin101!!!

https://youtu.be/1TEck7xv9A0

 

[peckhart]

Plexi input, boosted. U all know how clean the clean is going into the plexi input and how vintage the plexi input is un boosted. More versatile than what I had read, unless you dont like boost it's fairly simple to get 3 applications from the plexi input, and one being high gain.ymmv. hackin101!!!

https://youtu.be/1TEck7xv9A0

Sounds fantastic!

 

[riffsfordaze]

My Bogner Helios is my Holy Grail tone monster. It's foot switchable between channel 1 & 2 and I switch between the plexi & hot inputs with a Morley A/B Y for the clean/dirty thing. Simple.
Depending on the venue, if ground hum is an issue by plugging into two inputs then use the Radial ABY it has a switch for phase canceling.

This to me looks like an excellent solution as well. What are the drawbacks if any of doing this?

 

[riffsfordaze]

My Bogner Helios is my Holy Grail tone monster. It's foot switchable between channel 1 & 2 and I switch between the plexi & hot inputs with a Morley A/B Y for the clean/dirty thing. Simple.
Depending on the venue, if ground hum is an issue by plugging into two inputs then use the Radial ABY it has a switch for phase canceling.

Everybody says you cannot use an AB switch to change inputs.
So how comes you can? Did you modify your amp?

Is this true that you can't use a Radial ABY for switching between the Hot & Plexi inputs on a stock Helios?

 

[Beandust]

My Bogner Helios is my Holy Grail tone monster. It's foot switchable between channel 1 & 2 and I switch between the plexi & hot inputs with a Morley A/B Y for the clean/dirty thing. Simple.
Depending on the venue, if ground hum is an issue by plugging into two inputs then use the Radial ABY it has a switch for phase canceling.

Everybody says you cannot use an AB switch to change inputs.
So how comes you can? Did you modify your amp?

Is this true that you can't use a Radial ABY for switching between the Hot & Plexi inputs on a stock Helios?

Not sure I'm with you. If using the radial to switch between plexi and hot inputs you have no option to switch to the clean channel, or use another footswitch once switched to the hot or plexi input then switch to clean from one of the 2 with another footswitch? Seems excessive to me. 4 channel amp from 2 channels?

 

[riffsfordaze]

Thanks Beandust, i see what you are saying.

In the Bogner Helios "Video Manual" of Controls and Features with Reinhold Bogner on Youtube...

Reinhold says, "Those two inputs cannot be foot switched via an AB box."