Played a Bogner Ecstasy 100B this weekend.

[TNJ]

Into a Bogner OS 212 (CL80/V30) at a fellow TGP'ers place yesterday.
He also had a 101B to compare through the same cab.
T-Rex Replica in the loop for both heads.
Gibson R7 Darkback with Burstbuckers for both amps.

Result...OMG...the 100B KILLED me!!!
It sounded so thick and juicy in the Blue Channel, I didnt want to stop
playing! The lead riff tones were so defined and milkshake fat that I was just wanting to go for it...and not play any chords.
The 101B blue channel sounded great also, but just a tad brighter and a bit
thinner to my ear, than the 100B.

I didnt play the clean channel of either amp...as we had a clock ticking and I was getting hungry for lunch.
But that 100B would be a NICE addition to my Bogner arsenal...I currently have an Ecstasy Classic that I love also.

I have not played an Anniversary Ecstasy, but that 100B dropped me in my tracks.

S.
j

 

[suparsonic]

Yep they are a special amp, I'll never sell mine. Now go back and play the red, you'll never want to play another amp.

 

[Ken]

I always enjoy listening to Ecstacy soundclips...I hope some day to play one...But the weight of the head (about 51 pounds I believe) is just not feasible for my back and shoulder.

 

[Phil M]

I have not played any of the other Ecstasys, but I love the stock 101B.

 

[Killcrop]

Jato, how does the Classic really compare to the 100b?

 

[Steve Snider]

Jato, how does the Classic really compare to the 100b?

Not Jato but the Classic does not compare at all.I find it a variation of the 101B (different flavor) that some prefer and others don't but having owned a 100B and 100A and several Classics there really is no comparison as the 100 is much better in my opinion. I had a few 101Bs over the years as well and the one I got from Lou Vena smoked any Ecstasy Classic I had ever played.

 

[TNJ]

Well Dave and Steve...
I can't comment on the differences between the
classic and the 100B. I would really have
to have them in the same room.
Also, I didn't check the cleans out on the 100.
Cleans...GOOD cleans...are very important
to me. The classic owns in this regard.
Mark (100B's owner) told me he thought
the blue channel was alot better than
the clean channel. I love the green channel
and blue channel equally in my classic.
And the efx loop is also killer in the
classic. So, the verdict is still out for
me. That said, I could easily live with
the blue channel of the 100B!!!

S.
j

 

[Leftyman]

Forgive me, but what is the difference between the 101B and the 100B. I have a Shiva but no little about the Ecstasy?

 

[Killcrop]

Not Jato but the Classic does not compare at all.I find it a variation of the 101B (different flavor) that some prefer and others don't but having owned a 100B and 100A and several Classics there really is no comparison as the 100 is much better in my opinion. I had a few 101Bs over the years as well and the one I got from Lou Vena smoked any Ecstasy Classic I had ever played.

I wonder why Bogner just doesn't reissue the 100 series? I think everyone thought the Classic was the "Reissue".

 

[pluto]

Forgive me, but what is the difference between the 101B and the 100B. I have a Shiva but no little about the Ecstasy?

the 100b preceded the 101b. Obvious differences include less knobs on the 100b (one global presence control, master is on the front), a variac option on the 100b, series loop only on the 100b, an "air" switch on the 100b, etc. Less obvious differences include a crappier loop on the 100b (when on, the amp pops when switching channels), a green channel with higher headroom (stays clean), and a more aggressive sound on the blue and red channels (but less gain if that makes sense). I love all versions (never played the 20th anniversary though), but the 100b is special to me. I've read one person state emphatically that 100b owners claim that the 100b sounds better just to keep the price up. I can't speak for other 100b owners, but that's not the case for me-the 100b sounds different. I can't say it sounds better because that's subjective, but it definitely doesn't sound or feel like my 101b or any other ecstasy that I've played.

 

[Steve Snider]

I wonder why Bogner just doesn't reissue the 100 series? I think everyone thought the Classic was the "Reissue".

Not as easy as it seems and perhaps not as cost effective. The New 20th Ecstasy intrigues me a bunch and I would dig the 6L6 more than the 34 I bet as I like the slightly larger sonic footprint. Either way Bogner amps are great in my opinion!

 

[pluto]

Into a Bogner OS 212 (CL80/V30) at a fellow TGP'ers place yesterday.
He also had a 101B to compare through the same cab.
T-Rex Replica in the loop for both heads.
Gibson R7 Darkback with Burstbuckers for both amps.

Result...OMG...the 100B KILLED me!!!
It sounded so thick and juicy in the Blue Channel, I didnt want to stop
playing! The lead riff tones were so defined and milkshake fat that I was just wanting to go for it...and not play any chords.
The 101B blue channel sounded great also, but just a tad brighter and a bit
thinner to my ear, than the 100B.

I didnt play the clean channel of either amp...as we had a clock ticking and I was getting hungry for lunch.
But that 100B would be a NICE addition to my Bogner arsenal...I currently have an Ecstasy Classic that I love also.

I have not played an Anniversary Ecstasy, but that 100B dropped me in my tracks.

S.
j

Glad you enjoyed playing it Steve. The 101b just sounds smoother to me. I can't get either the 101b's blue and red channel to sound quite as mean like the 100b. Other differences though could be the preamp tubes, as I really tried putting different preamp tubes in the 100b and finding the right combination that I liked. With the 101b, I haven't done as much tweaking, and I also am stubbornly keeping the Mazda 12AX7s in the V2 and V3 positions which I should change.

 

[pluto]

Not as easy as it seems and perhaps not as cost effective. The New 20th Ecstasy intrigues me a bunch and I would dig the 6L6 more than the 34 I bet as I like the slightly larger sonic footprint. Either way Bogner amps are great in my opinion!

Do you think the different transformers on the 100b make the difference between the 100b and classic (I think I've read that the 100b's transformers are hand wound by Bogner)?

 

[Steve Snider]

Do you think the different transformers on the 100b make the difference between the 100b and classic (I think I've read that the 100b's transformers are hand wound by Bogner)?

If that is the case it could certainly have an impact but overall the amps do not sound alike to me at all and it probably has more to do with the sum of all ports and circuit layout etc.

 

[ChicagoFraize]

I played Lou's 101B and remember thinking, man, I would buy this in a heartbeat, totally rich sounding amp, but alas...it was already spoken for, to be shipped to the west coast (to Snider).

&%^#*(@%&#*@(%&#*(@

 

[Steve Snider]

I played Lou's 101B and remember thinking, man, I would buy this in a heartbeat, totally rich sounding amp, but alas...it was already spoken for, to be shipped to the west coast (to Snider).

&%^#*(@%&#*@(%&#*(@

You got it and I flipped it immediately as it was a trade in and missed it every day since. That was a killer amp my friend!!! When I talked to Bogner about the amp they said the only difference would have been tubes. I am not sure. Could have been a happy accident by a solder guy who bent some wires differently.

Everything makes a difference. Happy New Year !