Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Thanks Rid. I can't wait to play it again.

I got the transformer and footswitch with the amp for €1500. I'm still a bit sceptical but I can't find anything wrong with it so I may have been very lucky.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

YESS!!! Good JOB! That amp will rip your balls off! and that price ain't shabby at all. Now go get a good cab!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Holy Friggin Crap!!!!! If that one in the picture is the one you now own, you scored bigtime!!! That's the 'white chassis model' that was an early white chassis metalfront.
The back panel looks almost the same as mine, which means it's the loaded one, with cabinet assigning. You may never use every feature the amp has, but it's definitely the model that was Reinholdt's brainchild, before they started building stripped down models. That amp, with new tubes, and a Bogner 4-12 under it, is the most incredible amp you could own. 2nd place is FAR from that amp.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

I'm not sure what the exchange rate is to U.S. dollars, but the amp in your picture is the 'holy grail' of Bogners, and it's value will go up from the $3500 it's worth now.
Once you start using it, you'll never sell it. You scored.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Your posts just made my day Gearjoneser! I knew it was a good deal but never realised it was that good.

I couldn't believe it when I saw the ad saying Bogner Ecstacy, 1500. I called up the guy who's selling it right away.
I heard so much raving about this amp, I had to try it. I figuered if I don't like it I can always sell it for more, lol. But I doubt I'll ever sell it.

I had to drive an hour to the north of the country to get it but I think it was worth it.
Yes the one in the picture is mine and it has a white chassis, I took the picture as soon as I got home. It's loaded with features. The guy who sold it said it's 3 years old but I think it looks a bit older. I have the feeling either something is seriously wrong with this amp or he had no idea what he was selling.

Do you happen to know what the weird signs on the serial sign spot mean, GJ?
I'd like to know how old this amp really is.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Wow! I'm curious to know who paid $3400 for it, then took it to Holland???
I can't imagine that there's a lot of those white chassis models floating around in your area, since Bogner made less than 200 of them. They have greek symbols for a serial number and the date on the transformer. Email Bogner and tell them what the symbols are, and they'll tell you what number it is. Mine is #138.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

I can tell by looking at the picture of your amp that it was made between 93 and 96, based on the fact it has the white chassis, all options, and the older rubber handle.
The new ones don't have Class A/AB, cabinet assigning, and they have a black chassis. Most are canefront nowadays. I still can't believe you found that amp in that condition, with a step up transformer, for that price. If I saw that amp come up for sale locally, I woulda sped to the bank, then straight to his house. Mine will never be for sale. I compared mine to a newer one, which I bought just to resell for more.
The earlier ones sound a bit better. I'm sure by now you've discovered that your new amp will give you every shade between crystal clean and Chernobyl meltdown. Ha Ha.

PM me, if you have any questions. There's a few confusing things on the amp, like assigning the second presence to either the green or red channel. Also, if a channel is changed into plexi mode or the boost is ON on the amp, the footswitch boost is defeated. That freaked me out at first, cause I thought my footswitch was broken. It's a complex amp, but once you know how to navigate it's controls, there's nothing you can't get it to do.
The Shiva and Uberschall are great amps, but the Ecstasy is another plateau.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Cool, I'll send them an email then!
The date on the transformer says 08 / 94 so it's 10 years old! That makes me wonder, all tubes minus 2 have the Bogner logo on them. The 2 outer power tubes (the sockets are red) look different then then inner power tubes which have the bogner logo. The pre-amp tubes have the bogner logo as well as a sticker with china on them.
I suspect the tubes were never replaced?! Damn...I'd better be buying some new tubes just to be shure. What would you reccomend? I read that Bogner himself advices Chinese pre-amp tubes and Svetlana Power tubes?

I didn't ask much questions about the amp's origins but he said it was bought in Frankfurt 3 years ago if I remember correctly. It very dusty on the inside, there's even a spider web in there!!! I should clean it before firing it up but I'm afraid to poke around the inside of a high power tube amp...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Get a set of =C= logo Svetlana EL-34's and if possible, put GT12AX7C's in the first 3 preamp sockets. On the inner 3 pre tubes, put Tesla JJ 12AX7's (ECC83s).
That way, you've got the Chinese for the gain channels, and JJ's for the Clean channel, Phase Inv, and FX driver. That's how I finally got mine setup, and I'll always do it that way. Take out the 4 bolts on bottom, and slide the amp out toward the back. It's a good idea to use compressed air and blow out the inside of the chassis, and use a rag to clean the rest. With an amp like that, you may be wise to have the bias adjusted to Bogner's specs given to your local guy. Bogners are really hard on tubes, which gives it that 'cranked' sound, but you gotta replace the power tubes yearly. I'm sure yours needs all new tubes.

 

[mrid]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

GJ-

Those JJ's worked like a charm in my Shiva...it biased perfectly! I'd recommend those as well as another power tube option. I had some "S" logo Svets that just went out of control bias-wise when I flipped on the power.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

MRID, that's the strangest thing! I had the same experience with my amp. Bogner says to use Svetlanas, yet those tubes seemed to fall outside the amps bias perimeter.
They ran SO hot in my amp, I thought the tolex was gonna cook. Then I popped in some Tesla JJ EL-34's, and it biased right up to 36mA, which is where mine sounds best. For that reason only, I've stayed with JJ's. Maybe Nightburst would be better off buying a quartet of JJ EL-34's and 3of the Chinese GT's, and 3 JJ 12AX7's for the Clean, PI, and FX driver. Do that, and that amp will sound it's absolute best.
Get a Bogner, Mesa, Marshall, or similar 4-12, and the tone you'll have will bring tears to your eyes.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Thank you so much for helping me out Gearjoneser, that's really cool of you.
I'll pm you if I have any further questions.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

well...well...well...

YOU HIT THE JACKPOT NIGHTBURST!!!!!


and in this case...and probably more than ever...

NEW STUFF ROCKS!!! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

well...well...well...

YOU HIT THE JACKPOT NIGHTBURST!!!!!


and in this case...and probably more than ever...

NEW STUFF ROCKS!!! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

Lol, thanks Hoss!
You know, I do feel like I have won the lottery.
It's not only the amp but it's also my new job and new girl that have turned my life around 180 degrees back into the right direction. I'm sooo freakin happy right now. :dance:
I just fired it up today, this amp rocks!!!
Now I need a new guitar, lol.

 

[Marcel]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Lol, thanks Hoss!
You know, I do feel like I have won the lottery.
It's not only the amp but it's also my new job and new girl that have turned my life around 180 degrees back into the right direction. I'm sooo freakin happy right now. :dance:
I just fired it up today, this amp rocks!!!
Now I need a new guitar, lol.

lucky boy!!! I just have my old job, no girl but an nice amp too
ok enough fftopic:

would like to hear clips of your new babe

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

I hope you have a rehearsal space or plan on having one soon. That amp is a monster. I've effectionately named my amp Mr. Volume. A C-5 loaded Les Paul into Mr. Volume is a beautiful thing.

I keep a EH Holy Grail or Alesis Nanoverb on top, dialed in for a natural verb.
The Bogner's mixable FX loop is great for getting a digital reverb to sound airy and natural. Then, the strats sound like they're plugged into a giant Super Reverb, on the clean channel.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

You know, after a few hours of playing with this amp I realised there was no reverb. I completely forgot, the cleans are that good.
I can only imagine what tone I will get with a Duncan loaded LP or SG, reverb and a good cab :32:.

I think the amp is quite plentyfull on the mids, I constantly find myself rolling back the mids a bit to get a bigger tone.
All those functions blow me away, this amp has rediculasly much features and settings to change the sound, and all of them are noticable too!
I think I need a year or so to get to know this amp better.

Yeah the amp is loud too! I do have a rehearsal space with my band, with the right settings (classA, 1/2 switch, old) I should be able to crank it there.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

lucky boy!!! I just have my old job, no girl but an nice amp too
ok enough fftopic:

would like to hear clips of your new babe

Well you allready got the amp, the rest should follow shortly?

In september my band will record 3 or 4 new demo songs, of course I'll post somethings here when I'm happy with the results.
At least this time they won't be as crappy as last time. :burnout:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

Even with all those features, I still find myself using it on full power, modern setting, and Class AB. I usually set the structure on Marshall-like, and get the clean to sound like a big Super Reverb, the blue channel set on plexi mode with some gain, and the red channel is set like a brutally heavy rhythm tone. Then, I have the choice of the amp's boosts, or my two pedals...Klon and T.Rex Mudhoney. Once you sink into that amp for awhile, you'll never be able to imagine being without it.

And, for you guys that are tired of all the Bogner talk....go to harmony and read the reviews on the 101B. It'll make you even sicker. :32: :laugh2:

 

[Marcel]

Re: Some Bogner Ecstacy Questions

hehe good cab is what makes me sick.... since i played the mesa
I think reverb isn't that important with great amps. imo for rythm reverb sucks and for lead you don'T need it coz the tone is full enough.