Bogner Helios owners, Killer amp or not so much?

[Beandust]

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."

I think that's acurate, there is a mod that was done to get something similar I guess u saw it?
I'm with ya man, the videos dont sound very good either, even with some of the allstars playing, just my opinion of course. The amp is really great sounding and very versatile. I took at it as the hot mode was a application used for lower volumes and not so much a live rig application if needing a clean channel or it could be used several ways for either. Just not both inputs. I cant get all the fuss over the 2 inputs. The amp has tons of options and tones. If going from clean to mean is what you want to accomplish it's very simple in the plexi input , and I didnt really see a huge tone difference with a transparent boost in plexi input vs hot input unboosted with more gain dialed in from the amp. I did an a/b and was quite surprised. Great amp

 

[Frehley12]

Bumpity. Any Helios owners play the Goldfinger 45 Superlead? Thoughts? My next amp is going to be one of these.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Bumpity. Any Helios owners play the Goldfinger 45 Superlead? Thoughts? My next amp is going to be one of these.

Tough one. Had both but at different times. More gain, versatility, eq shaping, reverb, spectacular clean channel, switchable boosts all go in favor of the wonderful GF SL. But raw authority and purity of tone go to the Helios. To be honest I think you could flip a coin. If volume is a concern, I'd go with GF SL. It you can push some air on a regular basis..maybe lean towards the helios.

I know we'd prefer to hear "Go with Amp X, it's the better one", but in this case - You could go with either I think and be really satisfied. I think all of the versatility of the GF SL makes it a more "fun" amp to own.

 

[Frehley12]

I'll drink to that. I don't have the opportunity to play before purchasing. On paper the GF is versatile with its features. I want an amp that delivers in spades that classic rock, hard rock of the 70's and 80's. AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, UFO, .38 Special, Foreigner etc. Nails early VH, Dokken, Ratt, Wasp, Crue, Def Leppard.





I heard remarks about the GF having a ton of gain. I have that covered with Mesa Mark IVa.

 

[tonedog]

I love the Helios 100. After owning a stock Goldfinger then the GF45 SL , then the Helios Eclipse and Helios 50, I came back to the stock Helios 100. I prefer it.Glorious amp. If you need more gain, that is an easy fix just hit it with a pedal. Tremendous amp.

 

[bubucci]

^ this.
I played GF90 and it has better clean channel, but gain-side of Helios is untouchable by any other Bogner amp and maybe any other amp on the planet .
I have 100 and have mod for switching clean-Plex input and dirty on Hot input. Library of Marshall sounds, push a little in front and it became metal monster.

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.

I also had Smallbox but it is not on same level as Helios. Very boring amp after few months.

 

[PDC]

I had a 50 watt Helios that I played for quite a while - I sold it while playing a serious game of ‘amp-go-round.’ It’s one of the amps that I do wish I still had in the stable. The 50 really gets to full power stage compression at ‘useable’ volumes for rehearsal and small venues. But it does lose a bit of the articulation at higher volumes. If I ever get another one (which I have very seriously considered) I would definitely spring for the 100 watter.

As a related thought - I lived in LA in the late 80s into the early 90s when Bogner was repairing amps and modding Marshalls for Andy Brauer. I remember when the first Ecstasy was released - the 100B with EL34s and the 100A with 6L6. I played a 100A 6L6 through a straight front Bogner 4x12 loaded with V30s at Andy’s shop and literally spooged. But there was no way in the world I could afford one back then. Flash forward - I snagged a 101A a couple of years back and had never been more excited about an amp purchase. I was like a kid in December waiting for the UPS truck. I tried and tried and tried to love that amp - but it literally did nothing for me. I wonder if my tastes in tone had changed that much or if the original 100 series was really that much better than the 2nd gen 101 series amps. I sold it for maybe $100 less than I paid for it and it was worth every penny to scratch it off of my obsession list. I would take the Helios over the second gen XTCs any day of the week.

 

[Frehley12]

I'm actually thinking about taking a road trip to Sweetwater and play both the GF45 SL and Helios side by side. It's a holiday weekend and need to get away if you know what I mean.

 

[panhead]

So much Lynch played on the Helios amp vids. Guess that means I need to get one

Where are these videos?

 

[scottosan]

I liked the tones, couldn’t stand the bad switching layout. I’d get the eclipse

 

[RockyStar]

The Helios Eclipse is a nice amp. I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounds all throughout the tonal ranges it covers. Clean, Crunch, Heavy...all very nice to my ears.