Bogner Helios

[ttosh]

All good points on how many watts to go, etc... The Wizards I had was a big difference in feel, which for me went to the 100W by a large margin. YMMV of course, and for the size of places I play 100w is definitely not necessary. Hell I have gotten by on 30w Bogner Barcelonia head with a Red Pedal and had a great gig. However I still love the big iron, and it is so much fun LOL, again YMMV

 

[Ventura]

All good points on how many watts to go, etc... The Wizards I had was a big difference in feel, which for me went to the 100W by a large margin. YMMV of course, and for the size of places I play 100w is definitely not necessary. Hell I have gotten by on 30w Bogner Barcelonia head with a Red Pedal and had a great gig. However I still love the big iron, and it is so much fun LOL, again YMMV

"I love the big iron..."

That was sig worthy Bro.

 

[FourT6and2]

I don't see why anyone should expect something new soundwise
the amp is supposedly based on the mods Reinhold did back in the day
some of his main products, like the fish, ecstasy and shiva originated from those same mods
what is "new" about it is that it's simple handwired amp with fewer features, which may actually be a plus to some people (like myself)
I doubt the circuit is MUCH the different than the blue channel of the ecstasy or the strat channel of the fish (which are basically jose-like circuits)
my guess: 3 stages + cathode follower on hot input, plex input skips first stage making it a basic plexi; voicing switch probably uses different coupling caps to control the amount of bass
nothing different from Reinhold already has done on the Ecstasy circuit, technically speaking, and that's exactly what should be expected, not some ground breaking new tonal range
the only new thing I see about it is the eq bypass switch
now THAT should make a considerable difference on how the amp sounds

This is what I'm hoping for. A Bogner that is less complex than the Ecstasy to operate and has more of a Marshall bite.

Anybody know if this amp is a full-on production model or if it's a limited release type of thing?

 

[spirit7]

I don't see why anyone should expect something new soundwise
the amp is supposedly based on the mods Reinhold did back in the day
some of his main products, like the fish, ecstasy and shiva originated from those same mods
what is "new" about it is that it's simple handwired amp with fewer features, which may actually be a plus to some people (like myself)
I doubt the circuit is MUCH the different than the blue channel of the ecstasy or the strat channel of the fish (which are basically jose-like circuits)
my guess: 3 stages + cathode follower on hot input, plex input skips first stage making it a basic plexi; voicing switch probably uses different coupling caps to control the amount of bass
nothing different from Reinhold already has done on the Ecstasy circuit, technically speaking, and that's exactly what should be expected, not some ground breaking new tonal range
the only new thing I see about it is the eq bypass switch
now THAT should make a considerable difference on how the amp sounds

This is what I'm hoping for. A Bogner that is less complex than the Ecstasy to operate and has more of a Marshall bite.

Anybody know if this amp is a full-on production model or if it's a limited release type of thing?

Not to pick a fight, but the Ecstasy is extremely easy to operate: close your eyes, move all the knobs at will randomly, plug in. It will sound immense on any setting

-C

 

[rupe]

why stop at 100 watts? Why not get a 150 or 200 watt amp? How about 500 watts?...Now that would be tight with lots of low end.

 

[FourT6and2]

I don't see why anyone should expect something new soundwise
the amp is supposedly based on the mods Reinhold did back in the day
some of his main products, like the fish, ecstasy and shiva originated from those same mods
what is "new" about it is that it's simple handwired amp with fewer features, which may actually be a plus to some people (like myself)
I doubt the circuit is MUCH the different than the blue channel of the ecstasy or the strat channel of the fish (which are basically jose-like circuits)
my guess: 3 stages + cathode follower on hot input, plex input skips first stage making it a basic plexi; voicing switch probably uses different coupling caps to control the amount of bass
nothing different from Reinhold already has done on the Ecstasy circuit, technically speaking, and that's exactly what should be expected, not some ground breaking new tonal range
the only new thing I see about it is the eq bypass switch
now THAT should make a considerable difference on how the amp sounds

This is what I'm hoping for. A Bogner that is less complex than the Ecstasy to operate and has more of a Marshall bite.

Anybody know if this amp is a full-on production model or if it's a limited release type of thing?

Not to pick a fight, but the Ecstasy is extremely easy to operate: close your eyes, move all the knobs at will randomly, plug in. It will sound immense on any setting

-C

I've played a few of them. Too complicated for me. I'm more of a plug in, turn a few knobs kind of guy. XTC has too many voicing switches: Excursion A, Excursion B, Presence B, Gain Boost, Pre EQ, Plexi Mode, Structure, another Gain Boost, and two more Pre EQ switches. Add to that the half/full power, new/old, and Class A/B switch. That's at least a few hundred different combinations. Too many choices = me not playing guitar. I'd be spending all my time trying to EQ the thing.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Bigger tranny has more available power for immediate thump. No opinion, just science. Now if your cab can react and you can hear or feel it, another story.

I just want a 100. Half power switch, resale when rev 2 comes out.

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

 

[Ventura]

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

It's all in how you use it, Bro

I may have to man up and get the 100W so all you guys still think I'm cool.

 

[Heritage Softail]

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

It's all in how you use it, Bro

I may have to man up and get the 100W so all you guys still think I'm cool.

Get the one with the oversized OT that pushes the rear grille out. It's quite popular now.

I know. Tha was wrong....

 

[ttosh]

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

It's all in how you use it, Bro

I may have to man up and get the 100W so all you guys still think I'm cool.

Get the one with the oversized OT that pushes the rear grille out. It's quite popular now.

I know. Tha was wrong....

That was so wrong, in so many ways!

 

[ttosh]

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

It's all in how you use it, Bro

I may have to man up and get the 100W so all you guys still think I'm cool.

Your cool no matter what amp you play, don't let any of the kids tell you different!

 

[James_E]

Get the one with the oversized OT that pushes the rear grille out. It's quite popular now.

I know. Tha was wrong....

HA! Oh that thread is going to deliver for quite some time methinks. Should be fun.

 

[Ventura]

I know. That was wrong....

Your cool no matter what amp you play, don't let any of the kids tell you different!

But the big kids said they'd take my lunch and milk-money if I wanted to be friends with the Fractal guys

 

[glassjaw7]

Why isn't the SS100 getting this sort of attention? I guess they started shipping now.. I'm very curious to hear that amp also. Seems to be in the same ballpark as the Helios.

Maybe because the Steve Stevens affiliation is too narrow in the broader scope of marketing and appeal

Put it this way (and I have NOTHING against SS whatsoever, I think the guy's awesome), I'd prefer to have a Billy Howerdel signature amp called a "naked" than a Steve Stevens' amp called "steve stevens". Just like if Bogner put out a "cantrell" signature head, I'd prefer the generic head with the same guts.

IMHO, YMMV.

Yep.
Also, the Bogner is sort of (at least in my mind) attempting to deliver a sort of grail tone that has been wanted for years by many. Sure you can say its just another plexi, and it may very well end up being just that..but there are a LOT of people that wanted Bogner to mod Marshalls again over the years and even other builders who offered copies or close approximations of his Snorkler circuit, but now the actual builder is building a take on that circuit himself.

And it doesn't hurt that Bogner's modded jcm recorded an iconic guitar tone that was very unique among Marshall tones.. Or that Bogner generally builds amazing amps.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i see what you did there!

And I can tell Ventura mine is bigger than his.

It's all in how you use it, Bro

I may have to man up and get the 100W so all you guys still think I'm cool.

Get the one with the oversized OT that pushes the rear grille out. It's quite popular now.

I know. Tha was wrong....

 

[Badronald]

Sounds great.

Almost as good as the Friedman SS in the other thread.

 

[Ventura]

Maybe a 50 and a 100 watter.

 

[lespaul6]

the difference between 50 and 100 watts is only a few decibels right? why not opt for the 100 watt then...? the 100 watt will feel and sound bigger than the 50 watt and have about the same level of volume...for the most part

 

[Ventura]

the difference between 50 and 100 watts is only a few decibels right? why not opt for the 100 watt then...? the 100 watt will feel and sound bigger than the 50 watt and have about the same level of volume...for the most part

Because it takes a real man to own a 50 watter.

That's why.



Hell I can't say shit till these heads actually start to drop. It's been my experience that pushing a 50watter into break up/saturation is easier than a 100w and for recording purposes without going doppler on the SPLs, I'm assuming this holds true for the 50 versus 100 Helios.

But it's all conjecture and speculation at this time. Hell I just want one - I'm frothing, not just gassing, but absolutely fkn frothing for this thing.

 

[lespaul6]

Yes, the power section will give sooner on the 50 watter!