Just biased my Bogner w/ Amp-Head Bias Tester

[RockStarNick]

Just biased my Bogner w/ Amp-Head Bias Tester MPD.

Super, super easy.

Since Bogners don't have external bias test points or adjustments, you gotta open them up to bias them.

This unit from Amp-head is very easy to use. Plug the tester probes between your tubes and the sockets, plug the other ends into your digital multimeter (set to DC Volts - 2 Range), and with the flick of a switch, you have bias readings for each tube, and a plate voltage reading.

Better yet, the Bogner Duende that I biased has individual bias trimpots for each tube, so can can get them biased very precisely - no compromising between two tubes.

Great little unit. Since it gets the readings from the probes, you only have to stick ONE hand inside the chassis to adjust the bias pots. So it's a very safe way to bias.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to bias their Bogners.

http://www.amp-head.com/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=70

 

[jlbaxe]

Cool, I will have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Metlking]

I bought one of those a few years back (wow, the price went up a little!)

Great tool to have and it's paid for itself many times over!!!!

 

[RockStarNick]

I love the fact that I don't have to take it to a "tech" to bias it.

 

[TheMagicEight]

I love the fact that I don't have to take it to a "tech" to bias it.

Heh, that's how it started for me. "Well I figured out how to bias it; I could probably figure out how to mod the Red channel..."

It can be a lot of fun, though! I find that the more I learn, the better my tone gets and the more ways I find to use my gear. The VTM120 I have I'm using as a platform for learning. So far I've recapped it, modded the sound a little, and installed relays to make some of the switches available via footswitch. A few more weeks and I'm going to attempt building a simple 50s Fender. Anyway, that's one of the beauties of tube amps. Compared with digital or transistor circuits, they're not that complicated.

Back OT, not only do you not need to take it to a tech, but you probably have it at the exact right bias setting that you like to hear, vs. the tech who might not set it to the right spot.

 

[RockStarNick]

I love the fact that I don't have to take it to a "tech" to bias it.

Heh, that's how it started for me. "Well I figured out how to bias it; I could probably figure out how to mod the Red channel..."

It can be a lot of fun, though! I find that the more I learn, the better my tone gets and the more ways I find to use my gear. The VTM120 I have I'm using as a platform for learning. So far I've recapped it, modded the sound a little, and installed relays to make some of the switches available via footswitch. A few more weeks and I'm going to attempt building a simple 50s Fender. Anyway, that's one of the beauties of tube amps. Compared with digital or transistor circuits, they're not that complicated.

Back OT, not only do you not need to take it to a tech, but you probably have it at the exact right bias setting that you like to hear, vs. the tech who might not set it to the right spot.

That's actually what kinda brought me back to Bogner. I was using Egnater stuff for a while, and I got SO into modding it, tweaking caps and resistors, doing mods for other people, etc... that I was barely even *playing* anymore.

I can't forsee a day when I'm actually going to go inside my Shiva and mod it, but who the hell knows...

 

[Ventura]

I love the fact that I don't have to take it to a "tech" to bias it.

Heh, that's how it started for me. "Well I figured out how to bias it; I could probably figure out how to mod the Red channel..."

It can be a lot of fun, though! I find that the more I learn, the better my tone gets and the more ways I find to use my gear. The VTM120 I have I'm using as a platform for learning. So far I've recapped it, modded the sound a little, and installed relays to make some of the switches available via footswitch. A few more weeks and I'm going to attempt building a simple 50s Fender. Anyway, that's one of the beauties of tube amps. Compared with digital or transistor circuits, they're not that complicated.

Back OT, not only do you not need to take it to a tech, but you probably have it at the exact right bias setting that you like to hear, vs. the tech who might not set it to the right spot.

That's actually what kinda brought me back to Bogner. I was using Egnater stuff for a while, and I got SO into modding it, tweaking caps and resistors, doing mods for other people, etc... that I was barely even *playing* anymore.

I can't forsee a day when I'm actually going to go inside my Shiva and mod it, but who the hell knows...

I think we're all a bit consumed by this at times... I certainly am. It's OCD, man - gets me every time. I imagine tube and cap and resistor combos that can "do this" or "do that" and meanwhile, really, what I oughta be doing is cranking the piss outta my halfstack and making serious music But hey, it's a hobby - all hobbies come with their peripheral obsessions...

I just picked up a Weber Bias Rite a couple weeks back - same idea. I'm done with crocos and the shunt method and I'm done with techs mucking around the guts of my amps. I'm stoked to use it soon - just not that soon...hopefully

Peace,
V.

 

[Telefied]

Nick what power tubes did you swap for in that 20th anny Shiva exactly? What ma did you bias too. I just sold my Egnater MOD50 stuff and whattya know I landed on a Bogner 20th anny SHiva as my choice of new head too. Just wondering what KT88s you swapped for.

Thanks

 

[RockStarNick]

Nick what power tubes did you swap for in that 20th anny Shiva exactly? What ma did you bias too. I just sold my Egnater MOD50 stuff and whattya know I landed on a Bogner 20th anny SHiva as my choice of new head too. Just wondering what KT88s you swapped for.

Thanks

Tele, I actually biased the Duende that I have, I haven't biased the Shiva yet... PM sent.

 

[edgeofdarkness]

I love the fact that I don't have to take it to a "tech" to bias it.

Heh, that's how it started for me. "Well I figured out how to bias it; I could probably figure out how to mod the Red channel..."

It can be a lot of fun, though! I find that the more I learn, the better my tone gets and the more ways I find to use my gear. The VTM120 I have I'm using as a platform for learning. So far I've recapped it, modded the sound a little, and installed relays to make some of the switches available via footswitch. A few more weeks and I'm going to attempt building a simple 50s Fender. Anyway, that's one of the beauties of tube amps. Compared with digital or transistor circuits, they're not that complicated.

Back OT, not only do you not need to take it to a tech, but you probably have it at the exact right bias setting that you like to hear, vs. the tech who might not set it to the right spot.

That's actually what kinda brought me back to Bogner. I was using Egnater stuff for a while, and I got SO into modding it, tweaking caps and resistors, doing mods for other people, etc... that I was barely even *playing* anymore.

I can't forsee a day when I'm actually going to go inside my Shiva and mod it, but who the hell knows...

I think we're all a bit consumed by this at times... I certainly am. It's OCD, man - gets me every time. I imagine tube and cap and resistor combos that can "do this" or "do that" and meanwhile, really, what I oughta be doing is cranking the piss outta my halfstack and making serious music But hey, it's a hobby - all hobbies come with their peripheral obsessions...

I just picked up a Weber Bias Rite a couple weeks back - same idea. I'm done with crocos and the shunt method and I'm done with techs mucking around the guts of my amps. I'm stoked to use it soon - just not that soon...hopefully

Peace,
V.

I use a bias rite as well, the one that does 4 tubes at once, its a time saver.

 

[Ventura]

Well, as mentioned, haven't used it yet, but it seems like a pretty slick and simple device to get the job done right.

One day

V.

 

[zippy]

Reviving this old thread. What kind of 6V6's did you install and what did you bias them at?