NAD! (Bogner XTC & custom footswitch content)

[sahlomonic]

Picked up this Ecstacy 101B off of a really nice fellow TGP forumite. It arrived yesterday and I got to run it through its paces for a bit before bed. I really preferred playing my Fender HR '52 Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul Junior BJA model through it over my Peavey Wolfgang. Guess I'm more a single coil man these days, anyway. I ran it through my Bogner-labeled Avatar 2x12 OS cab loaded with older Marshall-labeled Celestion V30's with 444 cones.

First off - I'm not sure how anyone can say that the XTC's cleans aren't good. The cleans this thing put out were on par with some finer Fender single channel models I've heard. Warm, chimey, sparkly - it's there. Just be sure to set the green channel's master high and work the gain knob for volume.

The blue channel might be the finest OD I've heard. It ranges from sweet break up to screaming lead tones. The ground it covers is extremely impressive. Very chewy, rockin' tones.

The red channel is most likely more gain than I'll ever need, but it's cool to have it as a last resort dump for an over the top solo. It's more compressed than the blue channel but very usable if that's what you're looking for.

All in all, very pleased with it. The footswitch is HUGE, so I've ordered up a Hammond 1590DD housing and will be custom CNC drilling and engraving my own, smaller footswitch with only the channel and boost switches.

Quick pic before bed.

That's a great setup. I have one of those Avatar 2x12 cabs as well. VERY nice, even without considering how inexpensive they are. I actually received a Bogner headshell today just like yours. I'm going to be in the market for an Ecstasy in the next few months, and just in case I find one with the metal grille I can toss the chassis into the wheat headshell right off the bat. Got it for a damn good price so couldn't pass it up. It's all about planning for the future, right?

 

[Lublin]

Indeed! Ecstacy's are tremendous amps. You'll be very pleased when you finally make the move for one.

Footswitch engraving finished:

 

[RG955TT]

Hey Lublin, any chance I could buy one of those footswitches for my XTC 20th? They look awesome! Please PM me if we could work somehting out. Thanks

 

[Lublin]

These aren't for sale.....yet. Trying to see what the grand total would be for parts and labor.

 

[Ventura]

These aren't for sale.....yet. Trying to see what the grand total would be for parts and labor.

Pretty killer work to say the least. But you already know that Wouldn't have any problem moving those for a price I am sure...

Man, every time I see the main OP photo, I just think "perfection". Such a sweet, fine, set up.

 

[RockStarNick]

Rich, looks amazing. I'm lucky to have a friend who happens to own a metal-shop.

My graphics + your machining skills = balls mcgee.

 

[RG955TT]

Please let me know if/when you'd consider building an extra one....really great looking and just what I need. i gig w/my XTC 20th and stock controller takes up way too much space on my board right now. Thanx, Bob

 

[Lublin]

Rich, looks amazing. I'm lucky to have a friend who happens to own a metal-shop.

My graphics + your machining skills = balls mcgee.

Please let me know if/when you'd consider building an extra one....really great looking and just what I need. i gig w/my XTC 20th and stock controller takes up way too much space on my board right now. Thanx, Bob

Will do!

 

['63-Strat]

That's cool you guys are making those small ones. I don't usually use mine as I've got my g system set up to switch channels and boosts but still cool.

How do you like the G system with the XTC? Heard the loops can be finicky.

You mean the pedal loops? I really like the G-system but the only pedal I was ever using was a maxon 808 and lately haven't even been using that so went back to 2 cable method. I have it setup to switch channels and fx at the same time and can use the "boost" switch on the g system to turn the boost on/off on the amp etc. For me it's a godsend for when I'm playing and singing as it eliminates tap dancing.

 

[BlackRose]

Great amp I own as well! I agree the clean ch is fine. Love the amp and came to find a perfect setting that gives it the cut of my other amps.

What, no more blanket effect Carl ?

 

[RG955TT]

Mind sharing that "perfect" setting with us? Running high presence or somehting else? Thanks

 

[Rush Mayhem IV]

Sweet. One of the amps I GAS over all the time.

sweet avatar man!

 

[carlygtr]

Great amp I own as well! I agree the clean ch is fine. Love the amp and came to find a perfect setting that gives it the cut of my other amps.

What, no more blanket effect Carl ?

I'm on my 3rd 101b since the first one I got in the 90's.
No, I run it thru Greenbacks and the Treble and Presence got to be on or near 3:00.

 

[carlygtr]

Mind sharing that "perfect" setting with us? Running high presence or somehting else? Thanks

I don't use the Bright switches on Ch 2 or 3. I use the Loose Ex setting, keep the Bass low. Cut the Mid to 10:00, Treble and Presence around 3:00

This is the setting w/ a Strat but in the Tight Ex mode

 

[Lublin]

Mind sharing that "perfect" setting with us? Running high presence or somehting else? Thanks

The perfect setting for me was attained by Googling XTC cleans for a while and stumbling upon a guy that stressed using the clean channel a certain way.

From the Bogner Forum:

I've been displeased with the XTC clean channel and just endured it for the most part all of these years. I've dissected the blue and red channels down to each grid, plate and cathode but never took the time to look into the green channel. Today I got my multimeter out, pulled the chassis on the XTC and went to work. I have the XTC schematic so I was able to follow along.

The XTC's clean preamp is a Fender Super Reverb/Deluxe Reverb clone. If anyone has played a good Fender blackface like a Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb you know that the normal channel does not have a mid and presence control and the XTC has both mid and presences. Lets start with the mid control.

The XTC clean uses a 25k linear mid pot and the Fenders use a FIXED setting of 6.8k for the mids, no pot just a 6.8k resistor. So you have no control over the mids, its stuck on 6.8k. So where is 6.8k on the mid pot you say? I took a reading on the mid pot and the magic setting of 6.8k is around 10 o'clock on the XTC's mid control. For what its worth a Twin Reverb does have a mid control and its a 10k Audio pot.

Another component to the coveted Fender clean tone is the bright switch. The bright switch on a Fender is a 120pf which boost the extreme highs, the higher the value the more you start boosting the mids . On the XTC you have 3 choices B1=100pf, N=OFF, B2=220pf. 100pf is a lot closer to 120pf than 220pf so obviously you want to choose either B1 or N for the Fender tone. You will not hear the difference between 20pf's.

Presence control or lack there of on a Fender is easy on the XTC. Assign the presence B to the green channel and turn it completely off or down......thats it. Its as if its not there and take it out of the circuit.

Most people know this but its worth repeating. On a Fender there is NO master volume just a volume. Set the volume on the XTC to max and now your Gain control becomes your volume. This gives you the absolute best and complete mix of the pre and power amp.

Excursion setting. There isn't any type of bass boost in a Fender pwr amp so set the XTC to Tight which is OFF.

So a quick recap:
Mid control 10 O'clock (6.8k)
Bright switch either B1 or N
Presence turned all the way down or off
Volume maxed and use the gain for adjusting volume
Excursion set to Tight

Thats it! With these settings you can adjust the treble, bass and volume (gain control actually) to taste and you'll be in Fender heaven! The only thing missing is the Fender power amp and open back cabinet with Jensen Alnico speakers for the perfect Fender clean but that would really mess up the Marshally sounding lead channels.

I hope these tips help you get the most out of your XTC's clean!!

The OD channels are almost ready to rock with the EQ knobbies at noon. Just add whatever you need to rock and you're golden. I run my Blue gain at about 75%. My Red gain is about 50-60%.

 

[scottosan]

Mind sharing that "perfect" setting with us? Running high presence or somehting else? Thanks

The perfect setting for me was attained by Googling XTC cleans for a while and stumbling upon a guy that stressed using the clean channel a certain way.

From the Bogner Forum:

I've been displeased with the XTC clean channel and just endured it for the most part all of these years. I've dissected the blue and red channels down to each grid, plate and cathode but never took the time to look into the green channel. Today I got my multimeter out, pulled the chassis on the XTC and went to work. I have the XTC schematic so I was able to follow along.

The XTC's clean preamp is a Fender Super Reverb/Deluxe Reverb clone. If anyone has played a good Fender blackface like a Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb you know that the normal channel does not have a mid and presence control and the XTC has both mid and presences. Lets start with the mid control.

The XTC clean uses a 25k linear mid pot and the Fenders use a FIXED setting of 6.8k for the mids, no pot just a 6.8k resistor. So you have no control over the mids, its stuck on 6.8k. So where is 6.8k on the mid pot you say? I took a reading on the mid pot and the magic setting of 6.8k is around 10 o'clock on the XTC's mid control. For what its worth a Twin Reverb does have a mid control and its a 10k Audio pot.

Another component to the coveted Fender clean tone is the bright switch. The bright switch on a Fender is a 120pf which boost the extreme highs, the higher the value the more you start boosting the mids . On the XTC you have 3 choices B1=100pf, N=OFF, B2=220pf. 100pf is a lot closer to 120pf than 220pf so obviously you want to choose either B1 or N for the Fender tone. You will not hear the difference between 20pf's.

Presence control or lack there of on a Fender is easy on the XTC. Assign the presence B to the green channel and turn it completely off or down......thats it. Its as if its not there and take it out of the circuit.

Most people know this but its worth repeating. On a Fender there is NO master volume just a volume. Set the volume on the XTC to max and now your Gain control becomes your volume. This gives you the absolute best and complete mix of the pre and power amp.

Excursion setting. There isn't any type of bass boost in a Fender pwr amp so set the XTC to Tight which is OFF.

So a quick recap:
Mid control 10 O'clock (6.8k)
Bright switch either B1 or N
Presence turned all the way down or off
Volume maxed and use the gain for adjusting volume
Excursion set to Tight

Thats it! With these settings you can adjust the treble, bass and volume (gain control actually) to taste and you'll be in Fender heaven! The only thing missing is the Fender power amp and open back cabinet with Jensen Alnico speakers for the perfect Fender clean but that would really mess up the Marshally sounding lead channels.

I hope these tips help you get the most out of your XTC's clean!!

The OD channels are almost ready to rock with the EQ knobbies at noon. Just add whatever you need to rock and you're golden. I run my Blue gain at about 75%. My Red gain is about 50-60%.

The bogner forum post is not correct in regards to the excursion settings. Most Fenders do not have a negative feed back loop, By setting the excursion to tight, you are allowing the most negative feedback back into the circuit. The loose excursion has the least amount of feedback back into the circuit. Again Fenders have no negative feedback. Least is closer to none, than most, wouldn't you agree?

 

[Lublin]

The bogner forum post is not correct in regards to the excursion settings. Most Fenders do not have a negative feed back loop, By setting the excursion to tight, you are allowing the most negative feedback back into the circuit. The loose excursion has the least amount of feedback back into the circuit. Again Fenders have no negative feedback. Least is closer to none, than most, wouldn't you agree?

Good info! I'll try that out next time I fire it up! Thanks!

 

[Lublin]

Here's an updated photo of the XTC footswitch housing after nickel plating. BLING BLING!!! Now it's time to wire these puppies up. Should be done in about a week or so.

 

[BSRIAudio]

That footswitch looks killer!

 

[rlord1974]

VERY nice!