Bogner XTC 101b Gain Mod Yes/No

[ttosh]

I am looking at Bogner XTC's right now and most are post 2004 and have the gain mod. I have a few that are pre 2004 without and am trying to make a decision. On Bogners site they state the following:

"Adding more gain will sacrifice definition and add slightly more compression to the feel. We feel the best balance of tone/feel has been engineered into the stock design. We do offer a gain mod to the red channel that we charge $150"

If it takes away definition and feel then why was it made standard after 2004?

Bogner owners chime in and give me some help here please.

 

[Bob Savage]

No

 

[MrDan666]

The only Bogner XTC's i have heard and liked are the post 2004 models with the gain mod as standard. IF anything.. judging from the clips i have heard, the post 2004 models seem to have even more definition than the ones without the mod

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I did the gain mod to my Classic and quickly changed it back to stock.

Yoo much mush and almost like it had a compressor in front of the amp...


Just my .02

I guess everything regarding tone is subjective...

Keith

 

[ttosh]

Owned 2 in the mid 90's, and had an 07 model with the gain mod.

I prefered the newer model.

My Bogner 3 channel vamp-

https://soundclick.com/share?songid=6460876

Cool clip. What was it about the newer model you preferred?

 

[ttosh]

I did the gain mod to my Classic and quickly changed it back to stock.

Yoo much mush and almost like it had a compressor in front of the amp...


Just my .02

I guess everything regarding tone is subjective...

Keith

I have heard this from others so far as well. Wanting to find out the reasons on the other side of the opinion.

 

[stratotone]

If you get one without the mod, I can add it in about 5 minutes. I much prefer the gain mod XTC over the 'non' version... the red channel IMHO is pretty weak without it.

Pete

 

[ttosh]

If you get one without the mod, I can add it in about 5 minutes. I much prefer the gain mod XTC over the 'non' version... the red channel IMHO is pretty weak without it.

Pete

Thanks Pete, I sent you a PM.

 

[FortinAmps]

I am looking at Bogner XTC's right now and most are post 2004 and have the gain mod. I have a few that are pre 2004 without and am trying to make a decision. On Bogners site they state the following:

"Adding more gain will sacrifice definition and add slightly more compression to the feel. We feel the best balance of tone/feel has been engineered into the stock design. We do offer a gain mod to the red channel that we charge $150"

If it takes away definition and feel then why was it made standard after 2004?

Bogner owners chime in and give me some help here please.

I like them both. The main part of the change is a .22uf cap in series with a 2.7k resistor piggy backed over the 10K, R12 if I remember correctly. Since it only affect the red channel, a cool idea might be to change the red channel's gain pot to a push pull to engage the mod.

Stock = pushed in gain pot
2004 mod = pulled gain pot

Best of both worlds.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[MrDan666]

I like them both. The main part of the change is a .22uf cap in series with a 2.7k resistor piggy backed over the 10K, R12 if I remember correctly. Since it only affect the red channel, a cool idea might be to change the red channel's gain pot to a push pull to engage the mod.

Stock = pushed in gain pot
2004 mod = pulled gain pot

Best of both worlds.

Cheers,
Mike

Now there's an idea! Good thinkin Mike!

 

[ttosh]

I am looking at Bogner XTC's right now and most are post 2004 and have the gain mod. I have a few that are pre 2004 without and am trying to make a decision. On Bogners site they state the following:

"Adding more gain will sacrifice definition and add slightly more compression to the feel. We feel the best balance of tone/feel has been engineered into the stock design. We do offer a gain mod to the red channel that we charge $150"

If it takes away definition and feel then why was it made standard after 2004?

Bogner owners chime in and give me some help here please.

I like them both. The main part of the change is a .22uf cap in series with a 2.7k resistor piggy backed over the 10K, R12 if I remember correctly. Since it only affect the red channel, a cool idea might be to change the red channel's gain pot to a push pull to engage the mod.

Stock = pushed in gain pot
2004 mod = pulled gain pot

Best of both worlds.

Cheers,
Mike

Very cool idea.

 

[ejecta]

All I know is a good friend of mine had one back about 5 years ago without the new mod and I had one about a year ago with it and prefered the tone of the newer ones. Im not sure the mod on the red channel made any difference on the rest of the channels but over all I liked the newer ones much better. That said I have a Classic now that I like better than the 1010b's.

 

[FortinAmps]

After thinking about it, the push pull pot might be too involved.
To do the pot thing, you'd have to do some involved disassembly, remove the gain pot from the pcb, etc.

The low input jack "L" isn't mounted to the pcb so it can be easily removed, place a simple on/off toggle switch in the input "L" hole and wire up the cap/resistor across the 10K. You could also insert a 1M resistor and wire the switch across the 1M for no popping when selecting between the 2 modes.

cathode-.22uf-2.7K-1M to ground.

For piece of mind, use shield cable for the switch to the 1M resistor.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[northern1]

I prefer the original 101B red channel, I have owned a 2006 and didn't like the red channel sounded to saturated and thinner than the original circuit, it made me sell the amp within 2 months. The channels are more balanced in tone on the original as well, the new ones blue and red channels don't sound good to me when switching between them.
Tone is subjective to everyone this is MHO. I have a 2000 model and I really like it, though I have a gas attack from time to time for other amps I just play the Bogner and it goes away.
My 2 cents

 

[Jdub]

It depends on what your after. Aside from the gain mod on the newer ones, I have found the new ones to be more agressive and in your face. Not nearly as dark and saggy as the older ones. If you want ultra smooth, but kinda flat sounding, then the older ones are better IMO. The are a bit more liquidy and definitely darker.

The newer ones seem to have more sparkle and can be dialled in to sound more like a great marshall. I find them more snarly and less compressed than the old ones. To me the earlier 101b's sounded kinda congested with a nasally head cold.

The old have the blanket over the speakers, the new ones don't. Which is right for you?? depends on your preference.

 

[jcj]

After thinking about it, the push pull pot might be too involved.
To do the pot thing, you'd have to do some involved disassembly, remove the gain pot from the pcb, etc.

The low input jack "L" isn't mounted to the pcb so it can be easily removed, place a simple on/off toggle switch in the input "L" hole and wire up the cap/resistor across the 10K. You could also insert a 1M resistor and wire the switch across the 1M for no popping when selecting between the 2 modes.

cathode-.22uf-2.7K-1M to ground.

For piece of mind, use shield cable for the switch to the 1M resistor.

Cheers,
Mike

Fantastic idea. I never used the low input anyway.

 

[stratotone]

I vote just modding it and seeing if you like it, people seem pretty polarized as far as liking it or not. Easier to remove too if you sell the amp or not like it.

Go here:

https://www.myspace.com/petesguitars

There's a bogner demo in my list of songs, play it and see what you think - it's the red channel of my 2004 101B. Doesn't sound thin to me!

Pete

 

[Hollywood]

All I know is a good friend of mine had one back about 5 years ago without the new mod and I had one about a year ago with it and prefered the tone of the newer ones. Im not sure the mod on the red channel made any difference on the rest of the channels but over all I liked the newer ones much better. That said I have a Classic now that I like better than the 1010b's.

I'm with you ejecta. I absolutely love the Classic. I had one a short while back, but I had to sale it as I purchased it for the initial motive of resale for profit. Which I did in less than a week. Made my wife happy but I wanted to keep it SOO BAD! I told my wife just last week, that the Bogner xtc classic is one of the few GOT TO HAVE IT, AND KEEP IT AMPS LEFT FOR ME!

 

[jcj]

All I know is a good friend of mine had one back about 5 years ago without the new mod and I had one about a year ago with it and prefered the tone of the newer ones. Im not sure the mod on the red channel made any difference on the rest of the channels but over all I liked the newer ones much better. That said I have a Classic now that I like better than the 1010b's.

I'm with you ejecta. I absolutely love the Classic. I had one a short while back, but I had to sale it as I purchased it for the initial motive of resale for profit. Which I did in less than a week. Made my wife happy but I wanted to keep it SOO BAD! I told my wife just last week, that the Bogner xtc classic is one of the few GOT TO HAVE IT, AND KEEP IT AMPS LEFT FOR ME!

You're in luck......they seem to be on sale

 

[jcj]

My updated two cents....just received the '01 I bought on ebay. I like the older red channel a bit better, at least for the moment. Certainly not lacking gain I'd love to do a side by side, but really don't feel like I'm missing anything. For me, it seems a bit more useable like this...like I said, at least for the moment!