Bogner Comparison Thread?

[topekatj]

I was trying to locate a thread someone posted a year or so back that gave detailed descriptions of the Bogner amps they’d been through over the years. I suppose it’s possible that the thread was deleted, but Any clues would be appreciated.TIA

[Tortious]

This one? https://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/96355-my-lovehate-relationship-with-bogner/

 

[topekatj]

1 hour ago, Tortious said:

This one? https://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/96355-my-lovehate-relationship-with-bogner/

 

Yes — thank you. I don’t understand why the thread title search including the word ‘Bogner’ didn’t find it. Thanks again, and thanks also to @santellavision for the manifesto on Bogner. 

[Tortious]

10 minutes ago, topekatj said:

I don’t understand why the thread title search including the word ‘Bogner’ didn’t find it.

As far as I can tell, when threads get 'archived', they no longer show up in the search from here.

One way around that is to use google advanced search.  So if you put: bogner site:https://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums in the google search, it gives you a list, even the archived ones.

[santellavision]

Yeah, that was my thread. If you have any questions about Bogners, I'd be more than happy to try to help! 

[topekatj]

@santellavision have you played through a Snorkler? 
 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Snorkler50--bogner-snorkler-50-50-watt-tube-amplifier-head-black-levant-tolex-with-gold-faceplate?_queryID=ff167b14364b89b9560f48755f47d830&_index=production_products

Was also impressed with the tones this guy got out of a Zuta rack unit but the video is play-synced to the tracks he laid down, though he does play real time late in the video. He’s got some nice guitars a whips on an 8 string at @ 20:00 in. 

The amp is a bit more sophisticated than I need but for a blues rock guy like me, his technique is fun to watch and hear. I’ve never heard EL-84s sound like this.

 

Edited September 18, 2025 by topekatj

[LucSulla]

I too would be happy to chime in, as I somehow have acquired three Bogners in the last year. I wanted to buy one Ecstacy 3534 and ended up with a Shiva, Helios 50, and an Atma. 

[RobB]

I got yer, “comparison”, raht chere (soon to be FS)!:

[LucSulla]

6 minutes ago, RobB said:

I got yer, “comparison”, raht chere (soon to be FS)!:

Killer amp, and you get the Rob stank for free. 

[santellavision]

3 hours ago, topekatj said:

@santellavision have you played through a Snorkler? 

 No, I haven't, but I have heard some great clips of it. I'm sure I would dig it. There's just something about all of Reinhold's pre-amp designs, they just sound great.

[RobB]

1 hour ago, LucSulla said:

Killer amp, and you get the Rob stank for free. 

For real. I tea-bagged both handles AND the eq knobs…

Edited September 18, 2025 by RobB

[jisham]

The Atma is a killer amp.

[LucSulla]

Figured I'd revisit this thread rather than making a new one. 

We played a frat party up here last night, and they were doing a "rock" theme. Since we weren't doing much country or R&B for this show and it was outside, I took the 50 watt Helios. I wasn't going to need much of a clean.

That amp is a fucking beast. It won't move as much are as my Splawn QR, but it also hits a sweet spot at a much lower volume than spay-&-neuter.

(A digression. Seriously - there was a sound guy in town who loved when I would bring that Splawn and a 4x12 and just let it eat at this open mic I used to help host. The stage as pretty shallow, and the bar had a long throw, so I didn't catch much of it. It was pointed at my ass. After one gig, I plugged it up at home and set it up where I had everything the night before. It was hitting 118 db in front of the cab according to my Apple Watch. There were two couples that sat at ear level 10 feet from the stage for the whole night. I've thought ever since that they are probably permanently deaf and sterile). 

I think I prefer the Shiva overall because it's just more versatile, and the Atma is easy to use as a small version of that. I wish the Helios could be set up to use the low input clean mode for Channel 1 and the high input for Channel 2. For what I like, the High/Clean is a little too much gain, but the Low/Dirty is a little too clean. Unfortunately, you can't switch between inputs with an A/B Box or similar. That's my only knock on that amp.

But for just straight up focking fury, it's tough to beat!