Arts Entertainments

Bogner Amps – The Story of the World’s Best Amps

In 1989, Reinhold Bogner revolutionized the guitar amplifier after moving to the United States from Germany. It was during this time that the external multi-channel preamp configuration was widely used and Bogner seemed dissatisfied with the performance of it, wanting to return to the sound of real, powered tube amps. It may have been his meeting with guitar legend Eddie Van Halen that was the catalyst for his explosion on the music scene, as Eddie hired him to overhaul his original Marshall Plexi.

Over the years, Bogner amplifiers have changed considerably. In this article you will learn how Bogner guitar amps have evolved over time.

Bogner Ecstasy 100

In 1992, external multichannel preamps dominated the guitar amp market. This type of setup was widely used because various sound effects could be easily achieved. And so Bogner developed the Ecstacy 100A and 100B. This is considered to be the first production 100-watt Bogner amplifier. The “A” version represented the American-sounding version, using 6L6 power valves, the type of power valve traditionally used in American-made Fender amplifiers; with the “B” version representing the British-sounding version, using EL34 valves, the type of power valve typically found in Marshall amps.

Ecstasy 101 (aka The White Chassis)

Three years later, Bogner, still looking for a high-quality sound from the amp, decided to create another version of the Ecstasy, the 101, also known as the White Chassis. This guitar amp is considered by many to be second to none, even when compared to guitar amps made today. This amp was very similar to the original 100 model, but had more features to suit the demands of modern players. Over the years, the Ecstasy 101 underwent a number of changes, including a stripped down version very similar to the original 100 model known as the Classic. In 1997, the Bogner 101 had a total overhaul. Instead of just having the usual white chassis (which the amp is known for), it was now covered in a sleek black.

the cave man

This was introduced to the market in the mid-1990s, but had limited availability. The prototype was said to have the word Mojo on the back because this amp was originally a slightly different amp called Mojo. This two-channel amp had an interesting six-position Schizo knob that changed its sound a lot.

super sonic

Also known as the German Uberschall, the Super Sonic is a high-gain monster with two channels. A section of six 12ax7 power tubes gave way to an EL34 power amp to generate 120 watts, a massive amount of volume. Over time, the company released three versions of the amp: the original, an early revision, and what was called the “blue revision.” The different versions related to issues such as volume normalization between channels.

shiva

The Shiva is a more subtle and complete amplifier. It is designed to produce a bright, Fender-like clean tone and a gain tone similar to that of a vintage Marshall JCM800. This model possibly represented an attempt to expand market share by producing an amp that could be used by a wider audience and not just metalheads.

Bogner amps are played and loved by a who’s who of artists. Heavy bands like Slipknot and Disturbed have used Bogner amps to create incredibly heavy sounds. However, world-class guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani have also played Bogners to create some of the most beautiful and tonally complex music in the world. A Bogner amp is a real investment, so if you can get your hands on one… go for it!