Bogner Helios

[IntenseJim]

Thanks for the good natured responses.

 

[rlord1974]

Can someone explain to me why there is so much buzz about this amp? I'm not being antagonistic but curious what I'm failing to perceive.

Many men have been waiting many moons for Bogner to release an amp that has his lower mids but with more Marshall upper mid bite. Something more like his old Marshall mods. This amp is seemingly just that. Add to it the fact that it is handwired, and the WIN score increases exponentially.

Thanks Jim...you took the words right off of my keyboard. The tone in the clips was good but nothing that I haven't heard many times over. From the comments, you'd think "hot-rodded Marshall tone" was something new and different.

Yes it sounds great but nothing new compared to current or prior Marshall-flavored Bogner Goldfinger or Duende, Friedman, Marshall YJM, Metropolous master volume, Suhr SL68, Bray, Landry, PWE, etc.

The amps you quote, such as the Suhr, Landry, PWE have enjoyed their own tremendous levels of hype online. In fact, no "modded Marshall" style amps have been hyped online more than the Friedmans. I guess my question back to you is: why should the Friedmans, Suhrs, Landrys and PWEs get more hype online than a similar product from Bogner, which is a bigger name brand to begin with?

Because they've all been doing it for many years now, perhaps?
Sorry, but this brings absolutely nothing new to the tone party that I can see/hear...just another brand name applied to an old concept (a good one no doubt, but an old one nonetheless).

I can't disgree with the bolded item above, Bill. But if all of these builders are just rolling out the same old tired concept, why is everyone picking on the hype around the Bogner offering? Some of the hype threads around some of the other builders are enough to make a person sick, yet they go ON and ON and ON and ON and ON ad nauseam!

 

[rupe]

Can someone explain to me why there is so much buzz about this amp? I'm not being antagonistic but curious what I'm failing to perceive.

Many men have been waiting many moons for Bogner to release an amp that has his lower mids but with more Marshall upper mid bite. Something more like his old Marshall mods. This amp is seemingly just that. Add to it the fact that it is handwired, and the WIN score increases exponentially.

Thanks Jim...you took the words right off of my keyboard. The tone in the clips was good but nothing that I haven't heard many times over. From the comments, you'd think "hot-rodded Marshall tone" was something new and different.

Yes it sounds great but nothing new compared to current or prior Marshall-flavored Bogner Goldfinger or Duende, Friedman, Marshall YJM, Metropolous master volume, Suhr SL68, Bray, Landry, PWE, etc.

The amps you quote, such as the Suhr, Landry, PWE have enjoyed their own tremendous levels of hype online. In fact, no "modded Marshall" style amps have been hyped online more than the Friedmans. I guess my question back to you is: why should the Friedmans, Suhrs, Landrys and PWEs get more hype online than a similar product from Bogner, which is a bigger name brand to begin with?

Because they've all been doing it for many years now, perhaps?
Sorry, but this brings absolutely nothing new to the tone party that I can see/hear...just another brand name applied to an old concept (a good one no doubt, but an old one nonetheless).

I can't disgree with the bolded item above, Bill. But if all of these builders are just rolling out the same old tired concept, why is everyone picking on the hype around the Bogner offering? Some of the hype threads around some of the other builders are enough to make a person sick, yet they go ON and ON and ON and ON and ON ad nauseam!

I can't disagree with that. As to why the hype around Bogner, I have no clue...I suppose the masses need to anoint something as the "latest/coolest" thing. Combine that with Bogner's brand name recognition and reputation and it's certainly going to generate more hype than most of the lesser-known brands mentioned.

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

 

[rlord1974]

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

Just speculation here, but it might simply boil down to the fact that people are more willing to put their money into a Bogner product than a similar product being manufactured by a lesser known and/or lesser established and/or smaller builder (?)

 

[Ventura]

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

Just speculation here, but it might simply boil down to the fact that people are more willing to put their money into a Bogner product than a similar product being manufactured by a lesser known and/or lesser established and/or smaller builder (?)

Ya, there is a bit of that going on for sure.

My bit on this is, here's a guy who really never has gelled well with the Marshall'esque camp of amps - sure - they're great and all, but they're done to death. I've avoided them for that particular reason. I like unique. Now, we've seen the Friedmans, the Brays, the Fargens, the list goes on forever. But out of the Bogner lineage? We haven't seen something like this available. And what it presents to me is a bit more than just "Bogner doing Marshall". I hear that signature Bogner chew in that amp - which is pretty awesome considering the lack of clips. I hear lots of headroom, nothing paper thin or shrill, no - I hear Bogner doing what I love that Bogner amps do.

So for me? A simple, well priced, hand-wired head from Bogner delivering back-to-the-basics tone? I'm so in.

Peace,
Mo

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

So for me? A simple, well priced, hand-wired head from Bogner delivering back-to-the-basics tone? I'm so in

Been in - then threads like this sway me, but hard to argue with Bogner chewy grind. Looking forward to this amp, sooner than later I hope
+1

 

[rupe]

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

Just speculation here, but it might simply boil down to the fact that people are more willing to put their money into a Bogner product than a similar product being manufactured by a lesser known and/or lesser established and/or smaller builder (?)

Could be, but I don't think anybody here "fears" those other builders that were mentioned...all have stellar reputations from what I'm aware of (Cameron wasn't mentioned, were they? ).

I guess when I see something like Steve's Cherry Bomb get a bunch of love from the peanut gallery yet not much in the way of actual sales to members of this forum (that I'm aware of), and then something comes along from Bogner with much less to offer in the way of versatility as well available clips and info, yet many people are lining up to throw money at it, it makes me scratch my head.

Additionally, as a former Bogner owner and dealer, I'm hearing nothing whatsoever that points to a Bogner-exclusive "chewy grind" (which the XTC definitely has)...the clips that we've been privy to are basically straight up hot-rod Marshall-esque tone. I've heard nothing that I don't think that I could cop with a variety of other amps. Time wil tell, but there seems to be a lot of wishful projection going on.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

Just speculation here, but it might simply boil down to the fact that people are more willing to put their money into a Bogner product than a similar product being manufactured by a lesser known and/or lesser established and/or smaller builder (?)

Could be, but I don't think anybody here "fears" those other builders that were mentioned...all have stellar reputations from what I'm aware of (Cameron wasn't mentioned, were they? ).

I guess when I see something like Steve's Cherry Bomb get a bunch of love from the peanut gallery yet not much in the way of actual sales to members of this forum (that I'm aware of), and then something comes along from Bogner with much less to offer in the way of versatility as well available clips and info, yet many people are lining up to throw money at it, it makes me scratch my head.

Additionally, as a former Bogner owner and dealer, I'm hearing nothing whatsoever that points to a Bogner-exclusive "chewy grind" (which the XTC definitely has)...the clips that we've been privy to are basically straight up hot-rod Marshall-esque tone. I've heard nothing that I don't think that I could cop with a variety of other amps. Time wil tell, but there seems to be a lot of wishful projection going on.

What you brought up is exactly why I was asking Steve about a P90 type old rock and blues standard demo. Something like Kix, or ZZ, Stones... A simplistic song we all know played well to bring out what the amp does.

The Helios sounded great. No doubt.. Player and guitar were huge components in the great sound too.

 

[carlygtr]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As a 70's player I find it cool folks are going for old Marshall style amps, regardless of builder.
The Bogner sounds like an old Marshall w/ some gain and Bogner's sonic footprint. This amp, IMO is what the 101b's Plexi ch should have sounded like.

In the day we stuck MXR Distortion +'s into the old JMP MV amps and got much the same vibe, although the newer amps are more refined tonally.

 

[ampjunkie]

The official video sounds much better than what I was hearing in person at the LA Amp Show. I wish I had a chance to hear it set like that.....

I think alot of people have been waiting for a more 'true' Marshall voice from Bogner. I think this will sell well.

 

[ttosh]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As a 70's player I find it cool folks are going for old Marshall style amps, regardless of builder.
The Bogner sounds like an old Marshall w/ some gain and Bogner's sonic footprint. This amp, IMO is what the 101b's Plexi ch should have sounded like.

In the day we stuck MXR Distortion +'s into the old JMP MV amps and got much the same vibe, although the newer amps are more refined tonally.

This ^^^^^

Marshall style tone with Bogner sonic footprint is a big reason for the hype. I like others have been wanting to see this from Bogner for a long time, so this is exciting for me personally. I have always loved Bogner tone but wanted more upper mids in general from them. Add getting that to hand wired amp from Bogner at a price below $3K and it is a win/win. Especially when the competition that does get so much hype is asking about a grand more overall.

In the end it is just another take on an old thing, but so is most amps that are favored today. I am just glad that there are choices that sound good and give us all options. Besides hype is fun, ignore it if it bothers you.

 

[Ventura]

Here's part one of the additional video I'd embedded above the other day - some tele finger pickin' goodness
Some chat about the design too.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Interesting for sure.

 

[RG955TT]

Bogner low mids + more upper mid bite = XTC 20th EL34 IMO, has that exact thing over the regular 101B which I also own. Will have to hear this one in person before I can say what this brings to the party for me.

 

[jamme61]

I like the small box 50 and simple, use your guitar volume. handwired bogner got to be good.

 

[Schaf]

Can someone explain to me why there is so much buzz about this amp? I'm not being antagonistic but curious what I'm failing to perceive.

Many men have been waiting many moons for Bogner to release an amp that has his lower mids but with more Marshall upper mid bite. Something more like his old Marshall mods. This amp is seemingly just that. Add to it the fact that it is handwired, and the WIN score increases exponentially.

Thanks Jim...you took the words right off of my keyboard. The tone in the clips was good but nothing that I haven't heard many times over. From the comments, you'd think "hot-rodded Marshall tone" was something new and different.

Yes it sounds great but nothing new compared to current or prior Marshall-flavored Bogner Goldfinger or Duende, Friedman, Marshall YJM, Metropolous master volume, Suhr SL68, Bray, Landry, PWE, etc.

The amps you quote, such as the Suhr, Landry, PWE have enjoyed their own tremendous levels of hype online. In fact, no "modded Marshall" style amps have been hyped online more than the Friedmans. I guess my question back to you is: why should the Friedmans, Suhrs, Landrys and PWEs get more hype online than a similar product from Bogner, which is a bigger name brand to begin with?

Because they've all been doing it for many years now, perhaps?
Sorry, but this brings absolutely nothing new to the tone party that I can see/hear...just another brand name applied to an old concept (a good one no doubt, but an old one nonetheless).

I can't disgree with the bolded item above, Bill. But if all of these builders are just rolling out the same old tired concept, why is everyone picking on the hype around the Bogner offering? Some of the hype threads around some of the other builders are enough to make a person sick, yet they go ON and ON and ON and ON and ON ad nauseam!

I can't disagree with that. As to why the hype around Bogner, I have no clue...I suppose the masses need to anoint something as the "latest/coolest" thing. Combine that with Bogner's brand name recognition and reputation and it's certainly going to generate more hype than most of the lesser-known brands mentioned.

I'm sure it's a cool amp...I just don't see/hear it bringing anything remotely new to the tone party from what we've seen/heard so far.

You know, maybe Peter is just responding to something his customers want or have been asking for. How many times have we all heard, I love the Bogner sound but I wish it were more open sounding, or less compressed, etc, etc. So he creates a simple, great sounding amp (from what I here from the demo) for a seemingly reasonable price.

 

[rlord1974]

Who is this Peter fellow you speak of?

 

[Anonymous]

Who is this Peter fellow you speak of?

Peter Chelios

Duh!

 

[LP Freak]

Peter Piper

 

[TrueTone500]

Here's part one of the additional video I'd embedded above the other day - some tele finger pickin' goodness
Some chat about the design too.

Listen to that amp sing!