Tell me more about the Bogner Duende.

[Gnarlly]

OK, I've done a search here and read all of the posts with "duende" in them. Also searched HC (not much posted there about it from the "brootalz" guys) and the web in general.

I'd like to really know how it compares to the Shiva and a Deluxe Reverb (both of which I have). My Shiva is too heavy for regular gigging for me (I do break it out for outdoor/loud gigs), and I would really like an amp with two channels and master volume(s) to replace my DRRI for lower-volume gigs (we mic, so that would mean most gigs). Also, I have never been able to get used to using dirt pedals with that amp; they never sound and feel as "natural" to me as an amp's distortion.

I'd love a "mini" Shiva (fat cleans, thick Marshall crunch), but realistically I doubt it can be that close (6V6's, a lot less wattage, open vs. closed back cab). I'd also love it if it could get clean tones similar to my DRRI with some nice reverb and trem.

So, for those who have tried one, I'm "all ears." Thanks.

P.S. (just won this with a 8%/$100 eBay coupon: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&it em=230350444180 . Hoping I don't get burned like with my last high-dollar eBay purchase . . .)

[Gnarlly]

bump

[dr.morton]

Maybe you should wait for the new Goldfinger which is supposed to hit the stores in July.
I doubt that it will be lightweight but it should feature a built in attenuator making it suitable for all kinds of practising/gigging.

[AY4966]

The goldfinger and shiva are both much higher gain (although the goldfinger is supposed to be very versetile). The duende is a two channel amp, and these channels are blendable. One channel sounds like an "american" style amp, and the other "british" oriented. It has reverb and tremelo, and to me, this amp sounds really great. 6v6's and 6l6's for 18w or 30w of power. Definetely versetile, and a great sounding amp. very high quality, and it is not like the shiva or deluxe really. If you bought this, you'd probably end up selling the deluxe, let alone the shiva(unless you still need a channel switcher).

[Gnarlly]

Thanks for the comments. I already have one on the way, so I guess I'll find out soon enough how it compares. I plan on selling my Marshall 2554, and hope that it will replace my DRRI as my main practice/gigging amp (if so, the DRRI will most likely also get sold).

[Dexter.Sinister]

I am not sure I have much to add beyond what you probably read in your search, as I have posted about the Duende several times. I traded away my Shiva, sold my Deluxe Reverb, and gig and record with the Duende. It is a great pedal platform, but does not need pedals. The ChA, ChB and CHA+B settings are all musically useful. It is not light (especially since I replaced the G12H30 with an ASW KTS60), but is a manageable one hand carry up stairs and onto the train (get a cover). I like it with my Les Paul (PAF style pickups), my ES335 (Pat# pickups) and my Strat ('64 pickups). It is a great amp. I use the swamp switch in mine in the swamp setting 90% of the time and switch to the tighter/louder power supply setting when I need to cut a bit more.

Try one in your primary playing situation and see if its voice speaks to you. The clips at the Bogner site are accurate, though there are other sounds in there for sure. Extreme settings are very interesting with this amp...especially the low end...sick...and pulling the PS hard enough to get some ripple...sicker...

Love it.

DS

[cbguy]

I have both a Duende and a Shiva. Both high quality builds and both take pedals well. Other than that they are different amps. The Shiva is a great two-channel amp with one great, fat, clean channel and a creamy lead/gain cannel. It has very musical reverb, also. The Duende can have a little more "fur" to the sound. To get the sound of a Duende is about (at least for me), Check out the sound of Mark Goldenberg on Jackson Browne's PBS Soundstage show. I saw that he had a rack of stuff next to his Bogner Duende (don't know if he was using any of it) but, to me, the sound he was getting in that show was all pure Duende. Rich, round tones. He even threw on the tremelo. Those tones nailed what my Duende does for me.

I agree with Dexter, Sinister about checking out the clips. They are very good.

[FlamingTop]

Hmm something I can hopefully shed some light on especially because I owned a Shiva once and currently own a Duende and 65 Deluxe Reverb.

I absolutely loved the clean tone of the Shiva. Full and rich, very 3D. The reverb was usable. The driven tones were rich and creamy ... but almost too creamy that it didn't have that marshall "rawking" tone. Sounded great on boost though, with a very usable MV. Sold it because I couldn't get the marshall tone my head was looking for.

1965 all orig BFDR for me has a clean tone with character. The orig speaker makes the tone fat and a bit hairy at edge of breakup. The speaker though fails on me at higher volumes ... i think it needs to be reconed or changed altogther? (Incidentally, if you know of the best speaker replacement for a DR, please let me know) So I really can't say much about its driven tone. With a pedal though, it sounded sweet. I could get some warren haynes like tones out of it. Nothing close to the Marshall tone in my head though ... but a very classy tone to my ears

Here are some samples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO9bT...e=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ulv-...eature=channel


Now the Duende...

As a guitarist, I have a bad case of GAS. I always want to try something new when I hear about it. With the duende though, every time after a gig, I remember why I do not want to sell it and my GAS for 18watt gig amps disappears.

For the gigs I play, the 18watt duende combo is always more than enough with its 2 6v6's! Channel A gives me a killer clean tone ... very 3D, much like the 3D quality I experienced with the Shiva. Bogner must have done something right with their cabs and amps cos it sounds so good despite being small. Push channel A farther though and you can get a tweed like tone in break up. i really like this channel ... very usable

Channel B is the dirt channel. It tends to sound like bogner overdrive if you know what I mean. Compressed to my ears and very gainy ... has a pull gain switch for even more gain by the way. Not really my favorite channel.... my favorite channel is the channel A + channel B channel. This is where the duende really hits it for me which the Shiva wasn't able to do.

On this channel, you can get the airy kind of rawking overdrive like that of a marshall if dialed in right (it takes a while though to get it). I am normally able to get it with Channel A volume on 2oclock, gain on channel a at 2 oclock and channel b volume as needed and gain boost up with gain knob around 9 oclock.

What I love about this amp:

It can really cut through mix
the air and body (i think) knobs on it function great
Full and 3d clean tone
Versatile overdriven tones you can dial to taste
Wonderful tremolo nice and lush
Fat tone with great sustain

What i do not like:

Really heavy for its size (installed casters in it myself to make life easier for me)
The reverb is nothing close to the BFDR
You need to crank it up to really get the glorious tones out of it (may be too loud for smaller bars)

I play this amp with an r7. i use marconi tubes in it and rft 12ax7 in stages 1-3. The rft's rally help with the marshall tone.

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HJTPYO8p1k

lousy recording but this should give you an idea of the tone i can get with it. pardon my band hehe

Hope this helps

[Gnarlly]

Thanks for the great info everyone! Can't wait to try this amp out!

[cbguy]

Click on the link below. That's exactly what I was referring to. Click on th "VIDEO" link.

http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/jbrowne/bio.html

[mesa1360]

Duende reverb is more of the subtle variety. Duende reverb dimed = BF fender reverb at 4 (at least with my duende). I haven’t tried any other duende and I’m not sure if the reverb is really this “weak” vs BF fender. Also when reverb knobs are tweaked past 1200, I get “reverb noise” (I don’t know exactly what to call it) when switching between channels. Do you guys also experience this or perhaps is something wrong with my duende reverb?

[cbguy]

I don't use my verb past 12 o'clock. I have enough on the channel A (clean) to add something noticeable but use only a little on channel B. No reverb noise, although I can get a pop occasionally from the footswitch just by the channel switching. If you're feeling that your reverb isn't very strong, maybe there is something going on with your reverb (tube?).

[dr.morton]

Originally Posted by cbguy

Click on the link below. That's exactly what I was referring to. Click on th "VIDEO" link.

http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/jbrowne/bio.html

Thanks for the link. I've never been a big Jackson Browne fan but this performance blew me away. The whole band was so relaxed and groovy...
I would have loved to see the whole concert.
And the guitar sounded great as well!

[mesa1360]

Originally Posted by cbguy

I don't use my verb past 12 o'clock. I have enough on the channel A (clean) to add something noticeable but use only a little on channel B. No reverb noise, although I can get a pop occasionally from the footswitch just by the channel switching. If you're feeling that your reverb isn't very strong, maybe there is something going on with your reverb (tube?).

So is the duende supposed to have as strong a reverb as a fender when both are dimed? Yeah I also don’t dial reverb past noon on my duende in channel a and dial much less in channel b but I thought it would be cool if it also could do strong reverb sounds like a fender.

About the “noise” when switching channels, it’s not really noise like fizzing, humming, or anything like that. It’s more like a reverby popping sound. That’s a better description. It’s more noticeable when switching to channel a and reverb is set at 1200 or more.

[cbguy]

Originally Posted by mesa1360

So is the duende supposed to have as strong a reverb as a fender when both are dimed? Yeah I also don’t dial reverb past noon on my duende in channel a and dial much less in channel b but I thought it would be cool if it also could do strong reverb sounds like a fender.

About the “noise” when switching channels, it’s not really noise like fizzing, humming, or anything like that. It’s more like a reverby popping sound. That’s a better description. It’s more noticeable when switching to channel a and reverb is set at 1200 or more.

I'll check it out next gig and try to get back to you. The popping on a channel switch is such a temporary thing and, like I said, I don't remember it all the time. I'll try to pay attention next time (reverb on?, settings?, amp warmed up?).