Bogner
Bogner is an American guitar amplifier manufacturing company founded by Reinhold Bogner in 1989 in Los Angeles, California.
[edit] History
- 100B (limited to 150 production units)
The first model the 100B was released in 1992. It was the time when most of the people where using external multi channel pre-amps to achieve a vast variety of sounds and multiple amp setups. Reinhold realized two things early on: A split system of pre and power amp can not give you the dynamics and response of a single circuit which incorporates both, and a need to make an amplifier head which covers a huge tonal pallet of tones but with the organic feel and tone of the good old amps from the 60's. The end result was the 3 channel Ecstasy with the possibility for the user to customize the amp to her/his taste via the multiple switches in pre and power amp. The 100B included an on-board "Variac" select, vintage/modern select, power amp mute select, effects line-level select, "air" select, "Plexi" select on channel 3, and "Excursion" (dampening) select.
- 101B "White Chassis" (limited to 100 production units)
In 1995 the 101B (aka "white-chassis" 101B) was introduced with features never before found in any guitar amplifier to date. This is considered by many to be the quintessential Bogner Ecstasy amplifier. The options included an assignable internal speaker cabinet switching system, a power attenuator loop, dual presence controls, 1/2 power select, vintage/modern select, Class A/AB select, series/parallel effects loop select, "Plexi" select on channels 2 and 3, individual line-out controls for all three channels, and dual-excursion (power amp dampening) select for both cabinet outputs. The clean channel was expanded with an additional gain stage; as well as a boost select function. Next to its sparkling cleans, one could get the dirty "tweed" tones of the small combo's of the 50's and 60's. Channels 2 and 3 received slight modifications to include a structure switch which lets you choose a lower or higher gain mode. The effects loop could be run in series or parallel with an added mix control. Note: The later 101B (white chassis) models were redesigned with a relocated load resistors/heat-sink assembly in a suspended position above the amplifier chassis. Cosmetically the amp was also offered with the for Bogner custom made basket weave faceplate. The 100B/101B vintage era "white-chassis" models are regarded by players to be the among the finest sounding high-gain amplifiers ever built. They are known to command large sums on the used gear market due to their limited production numbers.
- 1997 Revision
In 1997 the 101B was revised; rather then incorporate everything certain functions where offered as options. Available options where, Class A/AB, switch, individual line out controls for each channel, metal grill and the assignable speaker cabinet switching with the attenuator loop; which was shortly after discontinued due to the excessive cost of the cabinet switching relays. Along with option changes, the 1997 and up models were also fitted with newly designed transformers. The Chassis color was changed from the vintage white to a more modern black power-coating.
- 101B Classic
Reinhold wanted to offer a model with slightly less features which sits somewhere between the 100 and 101B.
- 101B Gain Mod
In 2003 the red channel of the 101B received a gain increase. Reinhold Bogner has stated that the side-effect to this revision resulted in a more compressed, and somewhat smaller tone. Customers were asking for more gain with an easy to play feel. Since there was the choice of the classic option for the more open sound, Reinhold decided to go forward with the modification.
ANNIVERSARY MODEL Finally now in 2009 a new model is here to celebrate 20 years of Bogner USA, the 20th Anniversary model.
- Überschall - German for "Super-Sonic;" a high-gain monster. Two channels.) 120 watt EL 34 powersection. 6 12ax7 preamp tube. Tube buffered effects loop. Three versions of this amp have been made to date: the original version, first revision, revision blue. The original version of the amplifier has a rubber handle, while the second version has a leather one. The revision blue has actual digits for serial numbers while the previous versions have symbols. The revisions dealt with issues pertaining to the gain taper of the high gain channel and descrepencies in the volume levels of the clean and gain channels. The revision blue contains the most significant updates to the amp. Currently the amplifier is only available as a head. The only option available on the head is a metal grill or a cloth grill.
- Metropolis - Class A amplifier, medium-gain blues amp.
- Shiva - Two channels. A Fender like clean to a hot rodded JCM 800 sound.
- Goldfinger 45 and 90 - Two channel amplifier with variable wattage select and reverb. The 90 is limited to half or full power select.
- Duende - Two channels. The channels can be used individually, one at a time, or combined together and played simultaneously. 15-watt amp with reverb and tremolo and two 6V6 output tubes.
- Caveman - Two channels, six position Schizo knob which changes the EQ of the amp. Made in limited release in the mid 1990s. Some say "Mojo" on the back. The Mojo was an amp Bogner had intended to make, but never made it to production. They ended up using the chassis they had made for the Mojo for some of the Caveman amps. There are two known prototype Mojo amps.
- Fish - Rare 4-channel all-tube preamp - the 'Holy Grail' of guitar preamps. Only 250 in existence.
- Serial Numbers
Bogner have an interesting way of numbering their amplifiers. Instead of using alphanumeric codes, they use symbols. They correlate to numbers in the following way - "/" (forward slash) Number 1 "^" (triangle w/no bottom) Number 2 triangle Number 3 "+" (plus sign) Number 4 "*" (asterisk) Number 5 solid dot/circle Number 6 square Number 7 "V" (capital v) Number 8 lightning bolt Number 9 "-" (bar) stands for 0 "P" stands for Prototype
