Damn, I think I have Bogner Helios GAS!

[WizardSouth-JP]

Helios 100 Boosted can get plenty mean
buddy's clip

 

[napalmdeath]

I bought one! I got a 50 watt Helios from Sweetwater, a smokin' deal on a demo.

 

[gbsmusic]

I bought one! I got a 50 watt Helios from Sweetwater, a smokin' deal on a demo.

I almost pulled the trigger on that thing last night but I couldn't do it. Congrats!!

 

[gibson5413]

I would be interested in the combo version of this amp. Lance Lopez is an awesome guitarist and he kills on this video. Love the tones when he goes into the High output jack towards the end.

 

[jlb32]

I've had GAS for a Helios for a while but don't know if I could give up my Mark IV or Soldano Hot Rod 25 for one. That has kept me away.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've had GAS for a Helios for a while but don't know if I could give up my Mark IV or Soldano Hot Rod 25 for one. That has kept me away.

Hot Rod 25 was on my radar as well. Seems like a killer amp!

 

[Badronald]

I've loved all the clips I've heard of the Helios.
I think it's right in the ballpark for me.

 

[Jdub]

I've had GAS for a Helios for a while but don't know if I could give up my Mark IV or Soldano Hot Rod 25 for one. That has kept me away.

Had Helios MesaMK5 and HR 25 all at the same time. Helios FTW by a margin for me.

 

[BadCat]

 

[stratjacket]

Good info, I've never checked out the Helios, I didn't realize it was hi-gain. I thought it was a clean Fener type amp for whatever reason, will definitely check it out now, thanks.

 

[jlb32]

I've had GAS for a Helios for a while but don't know if I could give up my Mark IV or Soldano Hot Rod 25 for one. That has kept me away.

Hot Rod 25 was on my radar as well. Seems like a killer amp!

The Hot Rod 25 is a awesome amp IMO.

 

[jlb32]

I've had GAS for a Helios for a while but don't know if I could give up my Mark IV or Soldano Hot Rod 25 for one. That has kept me away.

Had Helios MesaMK5 and HR 25 all at the same time. Helios FTW by a margin for me.

I can see that depending on the music you play and the tone you are after. The Helios definitely seems like a great amp. I love the Hot Rod 25 so much though I would have to own both.

 

[Jdub]

I hear ya man. I would not get rid of the HR25 to buy something else if you love it. That is silly rabbit hole that so many chase... (guilty) I liked The HR25 but found it kinda fell apart at above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.. I love the Soldano sound and am fond of Mike personally as well. Not knocking any of his amps by any stretch. I am long time advocate of Soldano and still am.. If I want the Soldano tone, I will get another SLO.. ( which I want to do someday ) It is still in my top 5 amps I ever owned.

I just have found that I like the distinct Marshall flavor and more brassy tone of the Helios. I can get any "Marshall" tone I hear in my head with that amp and then some.. Cheers Jim

 

[Jdub]

I above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.... Cheers Jim

The Bogner 100b does this phenomena too. Those had Deyoung transformers too. coincidence? I had an original Bradshaw Od100 also with Deyoungs, but it caused more pain and misery than joy at those levels.

Back on topic though the Helios. Amazing amp that does so much so well, granted it has a few quirks and limitation functionally, but compared to a good old Marshall it is feature laden and sounds killer.. Hard to regret that purchase ever so to the OP .. I would Fart up a storm and buy that thing if i was in your shoes..!

 

[napalmdeath]

I above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.... Cheers Jim

The Bogner 100b does this phenomena too. Those had Deyoung transformers too. coincidence? I had an original Bradshaw Od100 also with Deyoungs, but it caused more pain and misery than joy at those levels.

Back on topic though the Helios. Amazing amp that does so much so well, granted it has a few quirks and limitation functionally, but compared to a good old Marshall it is feature laden and sounds killer.. Hard to regret that purchase ever so to the OP .. I would Fart up a storm and buy that thing if i was in your shoes..!

I did! 50 watter inbound. Be here Wednesday.

 

[jlb32]

I hear ya man. I would not get rid of the HR25 to buy something else if you love it. That is silly rabbit hole that so many chase... (guilty) I liked The HR25 but found it kinda fell apart at above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.. I love the Soldano sound and am fond of Mike personally as well. Not knocking any of his amps by any stretch. I am long time advocate of Soldano and still am.. If I want the Soldano tone, I will get another SLO.. ( which I want to do someday ) It is still in my top 5 amps I ever owned.

I just have found that I like the distinct Marshall flavor and more brassy tone of the Helios. I can get any "Marshall" tone I hear in my head with that amp and then some.. Cheers Jim

I know what you mean about the Marshall tone. IMO Soldano does Marshall great to a point but Soldano is just way more high gain and in your face that most Marshall tones.

To me the HR25 really shines all throughout the master volume, all the way up to 11. It does seem after you get above 7 or so though it really needs to be EQ'd differently than at lower volumes. Saying that I've never felt it fell apart at any point. To me it stays articulate and killer sounding all throughout the volume knob. When gigging I usually run mine around 7 to 7 1/2 and it sounds amazing.

The Helios really does seem to be a killer amp though. I've been listening to clips and kind of GASSING for one for the last year or so. Just have not pulled the trigger yet. I do hope to own one in the future!

 

[jlb32]

I above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.... Cheers Jim

The Bogner 100b does this phenomena too. Those had Deyoung transformers too. coincidence? I had an original Bradshaw Od100 also with Deyoungs, but it caused more pain and misery than joy at those levels.

Back on topic though the Helios. Amazing amp that does so much so well, granted it has a few quirks and limitation functionally, but compared to a good old Marshall it is feature laden and sounds killer.. Hard to regret that purchase ever so to the OP .. I would Fart up a storm and buy that thing if i was in your shoes..!

I did! 50 watter inbound. Be here Wednesday.

Congrats!! Definitely give a review and clips if possible!

 

[Jdub]

I above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.... Cheers Jim

The Bogner 100b does this phenomena too. Those had Deyoung transformers too. coincidence? I had an original Bradshaw Od100 also with Deyoungs, but it caused more pain and misery than joy at those levels.

Back on topic though the Helios. Amazing amp that does so much so well, granted it has a few quirks and limitation functionally, but compared to a good old Marshall it is feature laden and sounds killer.. Hard to regret that purchase ever so to the OP .. I would Fart up a storm and buy that thing if i was in your shoes..!

I did! 50 watter inbound. Be here Wednesday.

Hell yeah!! Congrats!

 

[Jdub]

I hear ya man. I would not get rid of the HR25 to buy something else if you love it. That is silly rabbit hole that so many chase... (guilty) I liked The HR25 but found it kinda fell apart at above 6 or on the master. That is right where the SLO turns into the animal of all animals and really does go to Eleven. You know what I mean... that point when the SLO become like no other amp on the planet.. I love the Soldano sound and am fond of Mike personally as well. Not knocking any of his amps by any stretch. I am long time advocate of Soldano and still am.. If I want the Soldano tone, I will get another SLO.. ( which I want to do someday ) It is still in my top 5 amps I ever owned.

I just have found that I like the distinct Marshall flavor and more brassy tone of the Helios. I can get any "Marshall" tone I hear in my head with that amp and then some.. Cheers Jim

I know what you mean about the Marshall tone. IMO Soldano does Marshall great to a point but Soldano is just way more high gain and in your face that most Marshall tones.

To me the HR25 really shines all throughout the master volume, all the way up to 11. It does seem after you get above 7 or so though it really needs to be EQ'd differently than at lower volumes. Saying that I've never felt it fell apart at any point. To me it stays articulate and killer sounding all throughout the volume knob. When gigging I usually run mine around 7 to 7 1/2 and it sounds amazing.

The Helios really does seem to be a killer amp though. I've been listening to clips and kind of GASSING for one for the last year or so. Just have not pulled the trigger yet. I do hope to own one in the future!

Maybe that was it. I noticed right at a point on the dial all of a sudden whoomph something changed radically and yes it was more like 7 or so. I had the amp at a time that I was super immersed in my commercial fishing operation and really only had it for less than a month. I was very preoccupied by work etc. so i cant comment with great conviction.. I had a few things at the time none of which getting used much because I was at sea all the time. The HR 25 helios and MK5 and something had to give. Ironically I sold the helios and the hr25 and kept the mk5. (even I had sworn off mesa boogie once and for all in 1996 for various reasons ) Later traded MK5 for a deca which is sold. Have helios again. Such is the the rabbit hole!!

 

[bbaug14]

I've always been curious about this amp and finally bit the bullet and bought one. Should have it next week.

I don't need a true clean channel and prefer my cleans to be Plexi bark that I roll back for cleans, so I believe this will still work for me on the hot input using the clean for classic rock and the drive for 80s/etc rock.

Really looking forward to finally trying one.