The Bogner Ecstasy

[billm408]

What are you using that is meaner and has more growl? Uberschall? My Uber cuts pretty well in the band mix. Although when my other guitarist uses his 5150 iii they kinda meld. I found that pretty interesting. Haven't tried the Ecstasy in the mix with his 5150 iii yet.

Splawn Quick Rod. My band plays hard rock/classic metal and kind of requires that upper mid kerrang. I gigged with a 101B and then the 20th XTC for almost 3 years and every time I'd listen back to a recording or watch a video from the show, I was totally lost in the mix. My leads would come through but mostly because of the volume increase. Fills, harmony parts and rhythm variations were absent. I don't have those issues with the QR.

 

[sjk]

My favorite amp I have owned.

DITTO

 

[Atropos_Project]

I've now owned one for a year and it hasn't stopped blowing me away, day after day.

I'm in the same exact boat.

 

[glassjaw7]

Possibly the best I have ever heard/played. Haven't played a Marsha yet though...


BTW, XTC (in various forms) is definitely the rig talk flavor of the month. Thanks to the Blue and Red pedals is my guess.

 

[Red_Label]

That's pretty steep. I sold my mint XTC Classic AND matching Bogner Uberkab to a fellow Rig-Talker last winter for $2750 shipped and PP'd across the country (cost me $250 to ship).

where was i when you sold this?! Great deal!

You were around man! You and I PM'd back and forth about it several times. In the end, you told me to get back to you if it didn't sell. It did.

 

[glassjaw7]

That's pretty steep. I sold my mint XTC Classic AND matching Bogner Uberkab to a fellow Rig-Talker last winter for $2750 shipped and PP'd across the country (cost me $250 to ship).

where was i when you sold this?! Great deal!

You were around man! You and I PM'd back and forth about it several times. In the end, you told me to get back to you if it didn't sell. It did.

 

[GtarLover]

Low volume and at gig levels it just sounds incredible but the thing that I love most is the feel

This couldn't be more correct. It's the amplification equivalent of a worn-in pair of slippers and a pipe: comfortable, warm and welcoming. It can still melt your face off though!

-C

YEP!! That's the 20th, it sounds awesome AND can kick your ass

I definitely agree about the "feel" of the 20th. It feels so...right

 

[Red_Label]

What are you using that is meaner and has more growl? Uberschall? My Uber cuts pretty well in the band mix. Although when my other guitarist uses his 5150 iii they kinda meld. I found that pretty interesting. Haven't tried the Ecstasy in the mix with his 5150 iii yet.

Splawn Quick Rod. My band plays hard rock/classic metal and kind of requires that upper mid kerrang. I gigged with a 101B and then the 20th XTC for almost 3 years and every time I'd listen back to a recording or watch a video from the show, I was totally lost in the mix. My leads would come through but mostly because of the volume increase. Fills, harmony parts and rhythm variations were absent. I don't have those issues with the QR.

I've heard this several times. I know that Pete Thorn has expressed similar views/experiences with Bogners. I never noticed any issues cutting through with my XTC Classic or EL34 Shiva when I gigged them in single and dual guitar bands. But I'll admit, I never really went through videos or sound clips after the shows to check. I was likely just living in my own ivory tower, standing in front of my cab. I have no reason to doubt your experience and the experiences of others.

A friend still owns his 101B (after 10-15 years with it), but his 2012 Quickrod is definitely giving it a run for its money and he was talking about the possibility of selling the Bogner at one point (something that would have been heresy for him to have even thought of before the Splawn showed-up). I went over one day and spent a lot of time A/B'ing back and before between the two and the Splawn sounded pretty massive compared to the Bogner. That was mostly in terms of low-end grunt though. Compared to the Splawn, the Bogner seemed to live entirely in the mid-range to my ears.

 

[ibenhad]

While we are at it anyone have a metal grille for one they want to get rid of?

 

[ibenhad]

What are you using that is meaner and has more growl? Uberschall? My Uber cuts pretty well in the band mix. Although when my other guitarist uses his 5150 iii they kinda meld. I found that pretty interesting. Haven't tried the Ecstasy in the mix with his 5150 iii yet.

Splawn Quick Rod. My band plays hard rock/classic metal and kind of requires that upper mid kerrang. I gigged with a 101B and then the 20th XTC for almost 3 years and every time I'd listen back to a recording or watch a video from the show, I was totally lost in the mix. My leads would come through but mostly because of the volume increase. Fills, harmony parts and rhythm variations were absent. I don't have those issues with the QR.

I've heard this several times. I know that Pete Thorn has expressed similar views/experiences with Bogners. I never noticed any issues cutting through with my XTC Classic or EL34 Shiva when I gigged them in single and dual guitar bands. But I'll admit, I never really went through videos or sound clips after the shows to check. I was likely just living in my own ivory tower, standing in front of my cab. I have no reason to doubt your experience and the experiences of others.

A friend still owns his 101B (after 10-15 years with it), but his 2012 Quickrod is definitely giving it a run for its money and he was talking about the possibility of selling the Bogner at one point (something that would have been heresy for him to have even thought of before the Splawn showed-up). I went over one day and spent a lot of time A/B'ing back and before between the two and the Splawn sounded pretty massive compared to the Bogner. That was mostly in terms of low-end grunt though. Compared to the Splawn, the Bogner seemed to live entirely in the mid-range to my ears.

Guess I should fire up my Nitro and see if it holds it's own against the Classic. Not really a fair comparison in my opinion but what the hell. I probably have blinders on and think the Classic has more tones but I will see.

 

[Red_Label]

Guess I should fire up my Nitro and see if it holds it's own against the Classic. Not really a fair comparison in my opinion but what the hell. I probably have blinders on and think the Classic has more tones but I will see.

Having had no experience with the Nitro, I wouldn't hazard any guess as to how it turns-out... except for one thing... the cleans. I've got to think that the XTC's cleans soundly whip the Splawn's, because that was pretty clear immediately when I compared the 101B to the QR. And I do remember digging the cleans on my Classic quit a bit. Not as much as the cleans on my Shiva, but close.

 

[billm408]

I've heard this several times. I know that Pete Thorn has expressed similar views/experiences with Bogners. I never noticed any issues cutting through with my XTC Classic or EL34 Shiva when I gigged them in single and dual guitar bands. But I'll admit, I never really went through videos or sound clips after the shows to check. I was likely just living in my own ivory tower, standing in front of my cab. I have no reason to doubt your experience and the experiences of others.

A friend still owns his 101B (after 10-15 years with it), but his 2012 Quickrod is definitely giving it a run for its money and he was talking about the possibility of selling the Bogner at one point (something that would have been heresy for him to have even thought of before the Splawn showed-up). I went over one day and spent a lot of time A/B'ing back and before between the two and the Splawn sounded pretty massive compared to the Bogner. That was mostly in terms of low-end grunt though. Compared to the Splawn, the Bogner seemed to live entirely in the mid-range to my ears.

I was exactly the same for two years. Loving the amp and gigging in my own little world w/o giving it much thought. It wasn't until someone started to post some vids of the band that I noticed certain things were getting lost. Then of course it's all I could think about!

I started tweaking again. Using T excursion, B2, etc... (I always had presence up around 3:00 and mids almost dimed) and still was fighting with the bass for frequency room. Even had the bassist re-EQ his rig for a while too. In the end, even though I loved the amp and tone, came to a conclusion that it was time for a change. Swapped my 20th XTC for a Friedman modded Reinhardt and cash and 6 months later ended up with the QR. I still miss the Bogner tone though and am looking for a 6L6 NR head to replace the one I never should have sold, but doubt that I'll own another XTC. The Splawn just fits my needs better today.

 

[Anonymous]

A friend still owns his 101B (after 10-15 years with it), but his 2012 Quickrod is definitely giving it a run for its money and he was talking about the possibility of selling the Bogner at one point (something that would have been heresy for him to have even thought of before the Splawn showed-up). I went over one day and spent a lot of time A/B'ing back and before between the two and the Splawn sounded pretty massive compared to the Bogner. That was mostly in terms of low-end grunt though. Compared to the Splawn, the Bogner seemed to live entirely in the mid-range to my ears.

Tell your friend to ship that thing over here

 

[spirit7]

Wow, great response!

I think we can safely say it's in RT's top 3 amps? Certainly at the top of mine for anything but the most brutal metal. A masterpiece of engineering. THANK YOU REINHOLD BOGNER!

-C

 

[jlbaxe]

I've now owned one for a year and it hasn't stopped blowing me away, day after day.

I'm in the same exact boat.

Had mine (6L6) for 4 years so far Definitely a keeper for me. Total heaven when I plug in. With the flip of a switch like (B1,N,B2) and it totally changes.

 

[spirit7]

I've now owned one for a year and it hasn't stopped blowing me away, day after day.

I'm in the same exact boat.

Had mine (6L6) for 4 years so far Definitely a keeper for me. Total heaven when I plug in. With the flip of a switch like (B1,N,B2) and it totally changes.

Mine is the 6L6. I love how easy it is to shape the tone on it.

-C

 

[RSRD]

That's pretty steep. I sold my mint XTC Classic AND matching Bogner Uberkab to a fellow Rig-Talker last winter for $2750 shipped and PP'd across the country (cost me $250 to ship).

where was i when you sold this?! Great deal!

You were around man! You and I PM'd back and forth about it several times. In the end, you told me to get back to you if it didn't sell. It did.

Damn. See what happens when you sit on the pot too long. I blame you for my purchase of my classic shortly thereafter. Actually i THANK you. Great amp

I still contend that the 20th Shiva is a better pure tone amp. Clean is much better and with the mode button it gets heavier (with KTs anyways)

 

[ibenhad]

I say get a Classic and an Uberschall and have the best of all worlds...

 

[spirit7]

That's pretty steep. I sold my mint XTC Classic AND matching Bogner Uberkab to a fellow Rig-Talker last winter for $2750 shipped and PP'd across the country (cost me $250 to ship).

where was i when you sold this?! Great deal!

You were around man! You and I PM'd back and forth about it several times. In the end, you told me to get back to you if it didn't sell. It did.

Damn. See what happens when you sit on the pot too long. I blame you for my purchase of my classic shortly thereafter. Actually i THANK you. Great amp

I still contend that the 20th Shiva is a better pure tone amp. Clean is much better and with the mode button it gets heavier (with KTs anyways)

The 20th Shiva is a killer amp, no doubt, but I played both and preferred the 20th XTC's lower-mid focus to the Shiva's more Marshally feel. The clean tone is most certainly NOT better, to me!

I've ordered a modded Marshall to get THAT tone ;-)

-C

 

[Ventura]

For all the glory, praise and commendations this amp has received thus far in this thread, I echo it all 100% entirely.

It's one of the world's finest amps - period. And for me, one of only 2 or 3 amps that I've played IN MY LIFE that never ceases to amaze me. It may even be "the one".

As well, I think I'd go as far to say that if one is yearning for the ultimate in Bogner tone, sell whatever scraps and other amps you're "so so" with, and just get one. It's that good.

Great thread!
Mo