Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Here's where I'm coming from:

One of my all-time favorite tones is on Alice in Chains' "God Am." The tone Cantrell gets is wholly unreal. I believe (though I may be mistaken) he's getting that tone from a Bogner.

I can't play a 100-watt -- or even a 50-watt -- amp; it's just too loud for my needs and my neighbors. Is there an amp capable of achieving similar tone at lower dB levels?

- Keith

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

lol, dont you know any better? :laugh2:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Mine is usually at a rehearsal studio owned by a friend, so I can only plug into a couple times a week. At home, I've found that the best head/cab for getting that sound at low volumes is the Vox Valvetronix AD60 head (or 120). The thing about the Vox is that it has about 3 or 4 great amps in it, but they're fully tweakable using the onboard OD models to shape the gain characteristics.
Another good amp would be the L6 147 (shiny chrome one), although that one's harder to tame the volume than the Vox. With a good Duncan humbucker running into the Recto patch with the tube screamer on, you can dial it in to be as heavy and growly as Cantrell's tone. A lot of people try out Valvetronix amps at the store and feel they don't sound that great. The trick is always using the OD gain and amp gain in tandem to achieve a real tubey sound. Also, the open back combos are a little loose sounding....buy modeling amps in the head version, and use them on a Celestion 2-12 or 4-12.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

lol, dont you know any better? :laugh2:

Well, let's be open-minded here: There's a ???????? of high-quality, low-wattage amp manufacturers out there. It's not out of the realm of possibility that a handful of those are trying to achieve this goal as well. Perhaps it's not physically possible, but I don't know that for sure. That's why I'm checking in here.

So the short answer to your question is "No, I don't know any better. You tell me."

- Keith

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Vox would be wise to offer ALL the Valvetronix amps with the rectangle/metal grill option, because I think a lot of 'rockers' are turned off by the overly retro blue diamond look. For all the metal, rock, and blues tones you can get out of it, I think more of them would buy it if it looked more like a Mesa or Bogner.

When I first got the Valvetronix AD60 head, I put next to the Bogner and modeled all of it's tones as closely as I could, and stored them. That amp is a real tweaker's delight, and with the variable wattage, I can get infinite singing sustain out of it at whisper levels.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Vox would be wise to offer ALL the Valvetronix amps with the rectangle/metal grill option, because I think a lot of 'rockers' are turned off by the overly retro blue diamond look. For all the metal, rock, and blues tones you can get out of it, I think more of them would buy it if it looked more like a Mesa or Bogner.

When I first got the Valvetronix AD60 head, I put next to the Bogner and modeled all of it's tones as closely as I could, and stored them. That amp is a real tweaker's delight, and with the variable wattage, I can get infinite singing sustain out of it at whisper levels.

Dizzam! Sounds like a pretty sweet amp. What are you playing into it (guitar, effects, etc.)?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Ahem, Bogner Duende anyone? Isn't that what Reinhold was going for with that amp?

"God Am" is an awesome song, one of my favorites from Alice In Chains :fing2:

I gotta figure out what Jerry uses through his Shiva/Fish setup to nail those lead tones.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Dizzam! Sounds like a pretty sweet amp. What are you playing into it (guitar, effects, etc.)?

When I'm going for that type of tone...Alice in Chains....I like my overwound 15.3K Custom 5 or JB. McCarty or G&L Legacy Deluxe. Since the Valvetronix already has reverb and FX, I just plug straight in for practicing at home. I have it on my Bogner 2-12 vin 30 cab.

Like I said, the trick to getting great modeling tones is to use the OD models on every amp, even the clean amps. It brings out the touch responsiveness of the amp when you've got one of the three OD models on. The most useful amp model is the Bassman 4-10 model. For higher gain, the 70's UK, 90's UK, and Recto are all good.

As much as I like tube amps, I still need a modeling practice setup, because of neighbors and family......I have to keep the volume low, so the AD60/Bogner 2-12 has proven to be one of the most useful rigs I've owned.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

OK now I am thinking about this Vox
Joe, YOU SUCK

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

OK now I am thinking about this Vox
Joe, YOU SUCK

:laugh2: I'm that little devil sitting on your shoulder, saying...must...buy...more gear! :6: :laugh2: :fingersx:

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

:laugh2: I'm that little devil sitting on your shoulder, saying...must...buy...more gear! :6: :laugh2: :fingersx:

He's kinda screaming it in my ear right now. :laugh2:

 

[CoolRails420]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

I was in a (non GC) music shop today, I am looking at those 60th anniversary standard strats. I played it through a few Fender amps (Blues Jr., Pro Jr.) also through a Peavey. Well the stock pickups sounded like crap to me besides the # 1 neck position and neck / mid which sounded kind of vintage (I'm being generous here).

Anyway, I ended up going back to the VOX AD50VT they had on hand (I have an AD30VT) and it was able to produce a sound equal and in some cases even better than the other dedicated tube amps they had on hand there. My uncle has been a studio musician for 30+ years and actually works for Fender, I went to him when I was amp shopping and he recommended the VOX. It's a steal for the price, all the modeling effects are great...

Especially the Clean Dumble, Blackface, and AC30 sounds. It nails them. The distorted channels sound nice too, especially the UK / Modern and the US Highgain (Recto) settings. I tried it in the store twice with crappy GC floor guitars and then I brought my strat in, after playing for 2 minutes I turned to the sales guy and said "I'll take it". He was a bit surprised.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Well, I just bought a brand-new AD100VTH (the 100-watt head version) from GC today -- about two hours ago. I haven't tweaked with it enough, but I've got thirty days to try it out. I also have an AD120VTH on order, in case that one turns out to be better.

I'll keep y'all posted...

- Keith

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

I think you'll like the Vox for low volume application.

Matamp is making a 2 watt tube amp called the Minimat that's supposed to be good for "stoner rock". It even comes with a built in attenuator and boost. Don't laugh, from what I understand, even 2 tube watts can krank enough volume for the neighbors to notice.

I'm kind of interested in these, but I've tried a few low volume tube amps in an apartment environment and keep returning to the Vox Valvetronix on the one watt setting for hi gain at neighbor friendly volumes.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

Must...Buy...More...Gear

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

I haven't tried that new 100W Vox head, but I like the fact that they updated the look a bit. Play it till the AD120VTH comes in, then swap'em. I'm pretty sure it's a better amp, only because it's got all the features that the 100 doesn't. Even still, you'll find that these modelers make better bedroom amps, and luckily, they're loud enough to sit next to tube amps in a rehearsal situation.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Low-Wattage Equivalent to Bogner

I'll keep you posted, Jonsey.