NAD: Bogner Snorkler 50

[MetalHeadMike]

Interesting that your UU was severely underbiased....if that's the case for those amps in general, that would explain the reason why many of the owners returned the amp.
Speaking from experience, if I receive an amp that sounds terrible I immediately check the bias and 100% of the time it's WAAY underbiased. Typically manufacturers would do that to protect against warranty claims as these modern tubes are shit and test at barely 80% on my tube tester, when I've bought any new amps(MT100, EVH stuff).

Bias was like 10mA/tube on one pair and 19mA/tube on the other pair. It sounded bad. I normally don't notice a difference between hot/cold bias Tom but in this case they were drastically low and it sounded like ass.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I bought a Uber Ultra EL34 when they came out. There are a lot of things about it I loved. Then a friend of mine took it to his studio and recorded it against various other high gain amps.

I was honestly shocked to hear how thin in the midrange it sounded in every clip. It has a large scoop in the middle that is odd to be honest. I didn’t notice it much in the room but it’s clear when you hear it recorded, especially in contrast to other amps. Check out clips online of comparisons and you will notice it too. Kyle Bull did one where he compares it to about 10 other amps.

Just crank the mids to 3 o'clock or full on, they're there...LOL! I play the UU with presence max treble near max and mids 3 o'clock to max, so definitely dialing with my ears not eyes. Its got full low mids and plenty of mid and upper midrange the way I unconventionally dial. Plus I'm boosting some treble and midrange frequencies with the trusty MXR 10 band in the loop, as I do every amp.

I think this is the key difference for me, using the mXR in the loop. I think every amp sounds like ass without it...LOL!

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Yeah these are good discussions and agree with a lot of that. It may not at all seem like it, but I actually don’t prefer the vintage flavor itself nor the dated or softer aspects of it, but I do absolutely prefer a more complex, nuanced, 3D tone and gear that feels more alive/connected to play and vintage gear just usually tends to be better in those departments, but thankfully some modern stuff can have it too, but not the warm or raw part the same way IME and I don’t prefer roundness at all for metal or most high gain styles. I like modern when it’s done well for me like the Hermansson, Dino or Hell Razor. Those amps are all about as tight and sharp sounding as it gets. You have a point that the vast majority of modern metal gear has those qualities I don’t like, but found some amps here and there for me that are still in their own very modern without the qualities I complain about

I think the perfect gear for me is stuff that is modern, but still very 3D/complex tonally. It’s a tall order since I’m asking for 2 things that typically go against each other, but it exists sometimes at least lol. This is also why I love Marchione and Tao guitars. They’re very modern and sleek but also to me have amazing tone. I don’t like that the ‘57 LP Jr is my best sounding guitar, never liked their look/vibe, but it is what it is and not many guitars can rival it

Yeah, I like our discussions. You are in tune with many of the nuances and adjectives I am and we tend to dive deeper than many in that regard. Not only are we filthy gear whores but snobs too...LOL! I'm like that with many other things, just my nature. Using beer as another example...put a can of domestic beer in front of me and I'd sooner dump it down the toilet than put it to my lips...LOL!!!

I get you on the 3D/complex aspect. Many of the new amps are sterile/2D in that respect but like you said, there are fortunately some new builders getting it right. Yes!!! tight, razor sharp attack...that's how I like them but they do need some warmth otherwise its just not musical and very uninspiring.

 

[Racerxrated]

Bias was like 10mA/tube on one pair and 19mA/tube on the other pair. It sounded bad. I normally don't notice a difference between hot/cold bias Tom but in this case they were drastically low and it sounded like ass.

That's bad. Ugh. I remember picking up a 1983 2203, complete with new looking GE 6550s and the bias was way down like that. Sounded like a bad AM radio station. Terrible.
Whole new sound after re bias.

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Just crank the mids to 3 o'clock or full on, they're there...LOL! I play the UU with presence max treble near max and mids 3 o'clock to max, so definitely dialing with my ears not eyes. Its got full low mids and plenty of mid and upper midrange the way I unconventionally dial. Plus I'm boosting some treble and midrange frequencies with the trusty MXR 10 band in the loop, as I do every amp.

I think this is the key difference for me, using the mXR in the loop. I think every amp sounds like ass without it...LOL!

I couldn't ever do max presence on that amp. Definitely like it very high but after 75% or so the sizzle gets a bit insane.

One thing I really liked about the amp is while it always has it's "core tone" you can shape it endlessly. Definitely some heavy stoner fuzz type to the absolute crushing zero mid OSDM that id never use but yes also it can be very present.

I've said it a bunch of times already but to me it's essentially a perfect amp. It could stand to get tighter and Definitely needs a "faster response" and a built in gate imo.

 

[braintheory]

I couldn't ever do max presence on that amp. Definitely like it very high but after 75% or so the sizzle gets a bit insane.

One thing I really liked about the amp is while it always has it's "core tone" you can shape it endlessly. Definitely some heavy stoner fuzz type to the absolute crushing zero mid OSDM that id never use but yes also it can be very present.

I've said it a bunch of times already but to me it's essentially a perfect amp. It could stand to get tighter and Definitely needs a "faster response" and a built in gate imo.

Yeah Uber EQ controls are a bit weird. I didn't prefer the presence that high either from what I remember, but needed it higher than on my Rev 1 Uber. I agree with all that. The amp could get very cutting and be shaped to work for such a broad range of styles, but the filtered, cardboard-y quality to the sound just for me ruined it. For tighter and faster I'd say the Hell Razor, Hermansson or Dorado, but all pricy or tough to come by

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Yeah Uber EQ controls are a bit weird. I didn't prefer the presence that high either from what I remember, but needed it higher than on my Rev 1 Uber. I agree with all that. The amp could get very cutting and be shaped to work for such a broad range of styles, but the filtered, cardboard-y quality to the sound just for me ruined it. For tighter and faster I'd say the Hell Razor, Hermansson or Dorado, but all pricy or tough to come by

The Wizard is really the only thing left on my must try before I die list.

Hellrazer would be amazing but I would not be upset to be able to try a MC or MTL either.

 

[braintheory]

Yeah, I like our discussions. You are in tune with many of the nuances and adjectives I am and we tend to dive deeper than many in that regard. Not only are we filthy gear whores but snobs too...LOL! I'm like that with many other things, just my nature. Using beer as another example...put a can of domestic beer in front of me and I'd sooner dump it down the toilet than put it to my lips...LOL!!!

I get you on the 3D/complex aspect. Many of the new amps are sterile/2D in that respect but like you said, there are fortunately some new builders getting it right. Yes!!! tight, razor sharp attack...that's how I like them but they do need some warmth otherwise its just not musical and very uninspiring.

Lol I never was a beer guy, but I did appreciate how much better it was when I was in Milwaukee (at least in some places). Not great in NY

Yeah for most modern metal I like it tight and sharp, but still organic and inspiring in tone. A few of my keepers amps can deliver for that. Most of these recent made pedals as boosts are even worse for me with the qualities I don't like. For almost 6 years now, I've been through almost 200 different boost type pedals and still mostly just used the Klon the whole time

 

[rsm]

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I couldn't ever do max presence on that amp. Definitely like it very high but after 75% or so the sizzle gets a bit insane.

One thing I really liked about the amp is while it always has it's "core tone" you can shape it endlessly. Definitely some heavy stoner fuzz type to the absolute crushing zero mid OSDM that id never use but yes also it can be very present.

I've said it a bunch of times already but to me it's essentially a perfect amp. It could stand to get tighter and Definitely needs a "faster response" and a built in gate imo.

Yeah I'm sure my ears are fucked. I run treble and presence stupid high to max on all amps. I just love that sizzle and the clarity and articulation it brings. Anything less sound dull, dark, and muffled to my ragged old ears.

Tighter and faster, really...are you talking straight in? I feel its one of the tightest/fastest amps straight in but I'll admit I do boost mine on certain settings. Try a Fortin TS9 into the Uber mode.

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Yeah I'm sure my ears are fucked. I run treble and presence stupid high to max on all amps. I just love that sizzle and the clarity and articulation it brings. Anything less sound dull, dark, and muffled to my ragged old ears.

Tighter and faster, really...are you talking straight in? I feel its one of the tightest/fastest amps straight in but I'll admit I do boost mine on certain settings. Try a Fortin TS9 into the Uber mode.

Yeah I preferred straight in on that amp but I only had an sd1 and 808

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Yeah I preferred straight in on that amp but I only had an sd1 and 808

I like the Fortin Ts9 and Duncan 805 with it best so far. I'll try the Buxom boost with it this weekend and I have a Tamura modded TS9 that the wife grabbed me for Xmas, so try that when the fatman comes.

 

[MrWoodchuck]

I mean, if you’re running those settings you literally set the NFB on the ultra opposite of the rev green. That’d give you a pretty big difference….

I go through every setting here:
I was personally never able to get rid of the filtered eq voice it has. You can definitely open it up rolling the density all the way counterclockwise but it still has that filter to it.

Here is a full mix of the amp I made as well. It sounds good in a mix because I consider it a very mix ready amp. It just is not very organic or alive sounding compared to the rev green.

 

[FourT6and2]

I go through every setting here:
I was personally never able to get rid of the filtered eq voice it has. You can definitely open it up rolling the density all the way counterclockwise but it still has that filter to it.

Here is a full mix of the amp I made as well. It sounds good in a mix because I consider it a very mix ready amp. It just is not very organic or alive sounding compared to the rev green.

Mix sounds pretty good! I've always wanted to get a guitar dedicated for drop tunings so I can jam every album from KsE lol

 

[Faded Abyss]

Yeah I'm sure my ears are fucked. I run treble and presence stupid high to max on all amps. I just love that sizzle and the clarity and articulation it brings. Anything less sound dull, dark, and muffled to my ragged old ears.

Tighter and faster, really...are you talking straight in? I feel it’s one of the tightest/fastest amps straight in but I'll admit I do boost mine on certain settings. Try a Fortin TS9 into the Uber mode.

when you listen to decent studio monitors (at ear level, decent setup) does a flat frequency response seem “bright” to you?

My high frequency hearing is decent and a I like to shelf down high frequencies because it seems too bright

 

[sloanthebone]

 

[B. Ste]

Awesome tones there. How would you say it compares to the 20thA shiva?

 

[sloanthebone]

Awesome tones there. How would you say it compares to the 20thA shiva?

That’s not me here, that’s Blake Mansfield. All the videos of this amp have been killer.

 

[braintheory]

Awesome tones there. How would you say it compares to the 20thA shiva?

I like mine much more than I remember liking that amp. I remember the 20thA Shiva being more smooth, polite and not as raw, gritty, organic or upfront/in your face, but from what I recall may have had more gain on tap and a bit more modern in direction. This Snorkler along with the early Uber’s and Caveman IME is Bogner at its best

 

[MetalHeadMike]

when you listen to decent studio monitors (at ear level, decent setup) does a flat frequency response seem “bright” to you?

My high frequency hearing is decent and a I like to shelf down high frequencies because it seems too bright

I don't listen to studio monitors so not sure there. Talking sitting in front of my amps/cabs.