Haven’t even messed with tubes yet. Land on anything in particular? I’ll dive in once I get some more time. Honestly I’ve barely had time to play this since I got it. Definitely still getting familiar. Noticed today that having the fx loop on with the gate about halfway sounded different in a cool way
NAD: Bogner Snorkler 50
- Thread starter braintheory
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braintheory
Well-known member
For powertubes I liked Siemens, but the Mullard XF2's were also good, didn't like the Sylvania 6CA7's. I'd probably like my RFT and '50's Bugle Boy's even more, but not sure if they can handle it's PV. The very best would be my '50's metal base EL34's made in Holland, but again would be a little scared if they can handle it. I haven't messed with preamp tubes yet, but have a feeling I'll like most either my Siemens E83CC, '50's Bugle Boys or '50's Tungsram's, maybe also '50's Fivre. Yeah with loop on you can get it to sound quite good at very low levels. When boosted with my Klon it gives me one of my favorite, most unique grindy, chewy sounds I've had so far
braintheory
Well-known member
Not to me. I found it smoother, more polite, more modern leaning, and capable of more saturation maybe on the red ch. The Snorkler seems more raw, gritty, in your face/upfront/less background-y, midrange-y and chewier. Both have the signature low mid chewy Bogner sound, but the Snorkler has it most of any Bogner I've tried. The XTC would though sound bigger with more extended lows and headroom from its stronger power section and I believe higher plate voltage along with it. The Snorkler also has a stickier feel that is still liquid, while the 101B's feel were more just liquid and smooth from what I remember of them. I find the Snorkler's feel I think a bit more connected, but both have great feel as does the early Uber's, hate the feel of the UU
Totally understand that. I had a 3534 and really liked it, but missed that Marshall bite so I sold it and got a 76 Superlead which scratches that itch nicely.
hellzington
Well-known member
I agree w/ @braintheory. It's a totally different amp. The Snorkler has a much smaller low end than the XTC and is less polished. The XTC also doesn't have that raw midrange that the Snorkler does, especially that spike around 3-4k that gives the Snorkler "that sound." I mean, you could maybe put a 10-band EQ in the loop of your XTC and get a little closer on that point but I think it would still end up different. The plate driven tone stack in the Snorkler makes it wild and raw (and very cool IMO). It will have a much higher noise floor than the XTC because of this.
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braintheory
Well-known member
This to me is more aggressive than the XTC’s. Not the same type of sound as a stock Marshall like that, but closer to that end of the spectrum than XTC’s are IME
The Snorkler is very alive sounding. If you run the lower left switch to the left and the right hand switch to the right and dial back the treble and presence to 9:00 and bass and depth around 2:00 you get into the lower mid smoothness of the Ecstasy but the Snorkler is still livelier. I love that setting with both gains at 3:00. Big fat singing exploding tones.Harmonics and feedback at will and what a cool sound. I am using a Hendrix 4X12 A cab with G12Cs. Loud little fucker too. That said it kills at low volume too.
braintheory
Well-known member
All this 110%. It feels so alive (which I describe as a more organic, natural, raw quality), while the XTC’s, 20thA Shiva, and UU I was discussing before are to me more muted, dead or sterile in comparison (whatever way one wants to describe it) and I always saw that as a real negative quality for what I want in my amps and a big part of why I usually prefer vintage gear so much more, but not the case with this Snorkler thankfully. It’s a real breath of fresh from how uninspiring most recent amps are. It is loud like you said too with a good MV
It has a surprising amount of range too with its eq like you said that can capture a lot of what the XTC and Shiva’s can do if desired minus their polished and more muted response. I already had no desire to revisit the XTC’s or Shiva’s since getting the ‘90’s caveman and even less now since getting the Snorkler. I can see G12C’s being a great fit for it too. Fwiw, I like the 20w Greenbacks even more and they also sound great with the Snorkler