Bogner Uberschall review and questions for other owners

[RSRD]

I'm an admitted Bogner homer. I've owned the shiva, the super shiva, currently own the 20th Shiva. I've had several 101bs, a classic ecstasy and the marvel mod 101b. So lets get that out of the way

I received Claudio Sanchez's Rev Blue the other day. It was his backup stage amp (he went to the Axefx rigs and got rid of all his tube amps ) Didn't have time to noodle with it until tonight. I have never really spent too much time with an Uberschall. Always thought they were for much heavier playing styles then my rock, prog rock and borderline metal band. Wow, was I really wrong there. Sure it can GET really heavy very quickly. But this amp is waaay more then a one trick pony. I almost think this amp is stuck in a stereotype.

To start with...the clean channel Better then the 101b. Better then the classic. its very full and nice. Dare i say it's close to a Shiva. And I've played toooo many shivas so Im not off my rocker. I know the shiva tone. Shivas might have a more 'woody' and organic tone but the Uber has a very full, lush clean. Takes pedals BETTER then the Shiva too.

The gain channel..... I was blown away on how nice a ROCK tone I can get from this amp. To be honest, this is what I always wanted the RED channel to be on the 101b. Its just crazy thick and hairy yet oddly the note definition is right there. Super sustain. This amp makes me sound better then I am

Looking foward to spending some real time with this amp over the next few days. I love the xtc but MAN am I glad I got this amp instead. This amp is like the xtc and a recto in one amp? Its a monster and I've only barely turned it up.

Couple of questions. The amp came loaded with Mesa STR 447s and Mesa 12ax7-As. Im not sure how that colors the tone and Im afraid to touch the tubes since I'm really diggin the tone. But what tubes have people had success with (and please tell me your playing style)

What pickups are you all sending into your ubers? I've only used my dual HB Tele so far. how do single coils or P90s sound? I'm almost scared to plug my LP into it

Some pics;

 

[steve_k]

You bought that? Saw it on eBay. Good score and good price. Love the Uber. Have owned a half dozen of them of all revisions. They are wrecking balls for sure and tougher than a brick shit house.

 

[Les Zombie]

ive used jj el34 and ruby el34 bstr in mine and both sounded good.

 

[steve_k]

Oh, the Uber loves JJ E34L's. IMO, its the best power tube for this amp. I've rolled a bunch through the Uber to compare. The preamp to me is not worth fooling with too much. People have their favorite preamp cocktail, but a JJ gold pin in V1 and Chinese 9's the rest of the way and a Sovtek LPS in the PI will get you an awesome tone, and not break the bank.

 

[RSRD]

No, I didn't get the one off of eBay. I think that sold for $2300 or so? I was fortunate enough to get this from them directly. And as If that wasn't enough they gave me , and the other 2 guys in my band, tickets to their sold out show in Austin TX the other night. Worth the plane ride for a day. Great show.


Okay, so typical tube fair for bogners. Thanks.

How does the amp sound when driven with single coils?

 

[Anonymous]

I've also owned a few and currently own a Rev Blue
I don't really care for the clean channel (maybe the Ecstasy Green channel trick would work; Volume on max and control volume with gain control)
Totally beastly lead channel, so rich and full. Bogner is truly a tone genius

 

[steve_k]

No, I didn't get the one off of eBay. I think that sold for $2300 or so? I was fortunate enough to get this from them directly. And as If that wasn't enough they gave me , and the other 2 guys in my band, tickets to their sold out show in Austin TX the other night. Worth the plane ride for a day. Great show.


Okay, so typical tube fair for bogners. Thanks.

How does the amp sound when driven with single coils?

I can assure you it will sound much better with some moderate to low output Humbuckers. Can't really comment on the single coils though. Channel 2 set up is crucial though. Presence and treble really control the sting of the amp. Also, with the gain around 1:00, play around with the channel master and the main master. This is where the goods are. Run the main master around noon and the channel master for volume control. Another cool trick on the Uber is to jump the loop and use it as a master with the return control. Careful with the bass on this amp. It's a V30 amp all the way. Works well with about any cab.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I run this combination:
v1 Tung-sol 12AX7 re-issue
v2 Shuguang 12AX7 9th gen
v3 Shuguang 12AX7 9th gen
v4 JJ EC803S
v5 Shuguang 12AX7 9th gen - balanced
v6 Shuguang 12AX7 9th gen - balanced

The Tung-sol RI and JJ ECC803S really open up the clean channel.

I tried all kinds of combination of pre amp tubes. I found the Tung Sol RI and the JJ ECC803 really opened up the clean channel, gave it a richer tone. I even swapped them with each other, but nothing touched how they sounded in this order. The gain channel sounded best with the Chinese tubes to me. For the loop and phase inverter the Chinese tubes are fine. I just went with balanced, although not needed, because they didn't cost that much more. The stock ARS tubes are relabeled JJ EL34 tubes. I went with the JJ E34L tubes for the extended bottom end they offer. This set-up works great for me.

Not looking to change this combination up any time soon, it's fucking killer.

 

[leib10]

I'm running all Chinese preamp tubes except for a JJ EC803s in V4 and JJ E34Ls. Very similar to Death by Uberschall's setup. This thing was made to run on those tubes. I've experimented with a lot and I came back to those nearly stock tubes. +1 on running the master volume high. The saturation and compression gets unreal once you crank it. Keep the gain around 1 or 2 o'clock for heavy tones and back it off for rocking crunch. Definitely explore the presence, treble, and mids. Scoop the mids by turning the presence down (it also makes it a bit tighter). Don't overdo the bass- I don't like mine past 1 o'clock and usually keep it around 10 o'clock or less. Crank the presence and treble on the clean channel for sparkly tones. Definitely use V30s and 75s in an X pattern, all V30s, or Greenbacks mixed with V30s.

I really want to try a Rev Blue again.

 

[Bob Savage]

I love the Uber.

 

[leib10]

Another thing if you're into metal- try backing off the gain to around 10:00 and then using an OD pedal to boost the amp. It gets really tight yet still easy to play.

 

[Ventura]

RSRD... I feel it too, Bro!! It's all good

SO good to have an Uber back in the da hizzy. Glad you're digging yours as much as it sounds. Rock on!!

Mojo

 

[Bronco]

No, I didn't get the one off of eBay. I think that sold for $2300 or so? I was fortunate enough to get this from them directly. And as If that wasn't enough they gave me , and the other 2 guys in my band, tickets to their sold out show in Austin TX the other night. Worth the plane ride for a day. Great show.


Okay, so typical tube fair for bogners. Thanks.

How does the amp sound when driven with single coils?

I can assure you it will sound much better with some moderate to low output Humbuckers. Can't really comment on the single coils though. Channel 2 set up is crucial though. Presence and treble really control the sting of the amp. Also, with the gain around 1:00, play around with the channel master and the main master. This is where the goods are. Run the main master around noon and the channel master for volume control. Another cool trick on the Uber is to jump the loop and use it as a master with the return control. Careful with the bass on this amp. It's a V30 amp all the way. Works well with about any cab.

Agree with Steve on every point here, though I thought my M75s were outstanding with it. I had a Rev Green version, and I miss it to this day.

 

[RSRD]

Thanks for the tube info, setting preferences, etc... will be doing a lot of Tinkering today. I want to get a good feel for the amp before I put the tube order in.

My Uber has Coheed setting etched on the faceplate.... so Im starting with claudios settings and then working from there. While Im not Coheeds biggest fan ( I do enjoy their music and guitar playing) I think they get some nice tone without getting over the top metal. I know that sounds backwards as the Uber shines with the metal tones. But Im still really, really digging it for hard rock tones too. Really fun to play.

Eric and Steve, so your saying I could get a super strat with an HB in the bridge and maybe singles in the middle and neck and should be okay? I've been itching for a strat guitar latetly. Maybe a Suhr Modern or CU24. Those guitars always didn't give me enough push with my Shiva but Im thinking they might fit nicely with the uber.

 

[Bronco]

Eric and Steve, so your saying I could get a super strat with an HB in the bridge and maybe singles in the middle and neck and should be okay? I've been itching for a strat guitar latetly. Maybe a Suhr Modern or CU24. Those guitars always didn't give me enough push with my Shiva but Im thinking they might fit nicely with the uber.

You know, it's really more of a pickup question than the guitar or amp...as you know, that amp is killer for rock tones for sure. I'm positive you could sound great with a super strat provided it had the correct pups geared to the sound you want.

 

[Ventura]

You know, it's really more of a pickup question than the guitar or amp...as you know, that amp is killer for rock tones for sure. I'm positive you could sound great with a super strat provided it had the correct pups geared to the sound you want.

Agreed. Take any of your current guitars and size 'em up. Which one could do with a pup swap? Go from there.

Peace

 

[RSRD]

You know, it's really more of a pickup question than the guitar or amp...as you know, that amp is killer for rock tones for sure. I'm positive you could sound great with a super strat provided it had the correct pups geared to the sound you want.

Agreed. Take any of your current guitars and size 'em up. Which one could do with a pup swap? Go from there.

Peace

I don't think you get it. I'm looking for a reason to go shopping for a suhr modern or a prs custom 24

 

[Bronco]

You know, it's really more of a pickup question than the guitar or amp...as you know, that amp is killer for rock tones for sure. I'm positive you could sound great with a super strat provided it had the correct pups geared to the sound you want.

Agreed. Take any of your current guitars and size 'em up. Which one could do with a pup swap? Go from there.

Peace

I don't think you get it. I'm looking for a reason to go shopping for a suhr modern or a prs custom 24

Oh. Well then yes...yes, either of those will be fine.

 

[SLOgriff]

Love my Revision Blue! It's so versitile and loves various pedals. I play mine at my Church gig as well!