Description
Our Ecstasy series heads were designed to breath like sweet old amps…all living in one box. The standard features of our Ecstasy 101 allow the “DNA” of the 3 distinctly voiced channels to be radically morphed into sounds of the past, present and future. The Ecstasy comes with either EL34 or 6L6 power tubes and by using our foot-switch, you can access 6 tuned variations of these channels instantly. Imagine going from our notorious barking Plexi mode, to the greasiest, harmonically chewy overdrive and then washing it all down with the lushest most decadent clean tone. The Ecstasy 101 comes standard with an amazing array of controls: 1/2 power switch, Old/New style switch, 3-way Excursion switches to control speaker cabinet dampening, two presence controls (one assignable), gain boost, Plexi-mode, Structure, Three Pre-EQ switches, Tube buffered series/parallel FX loop. See our manual below for details.
20th ANNIVERSARY ECSTASY
In 2009 we celebrated our 20th year of Bogner USA and wanted to create something special for our amplifier line; enter the 20th Anniversary Ecstasy model. We consider this model to be the new “Flagship” in the Ecstasy line with the most organic and open sound yet.
Available as an option to the base model the 20th Anniversary has a plexi panel with gold background and is housed in a slightly larger head shell for an iconic and classic vintage vibe. To further celebrate our 20 year anniversary this series is offered in white tolex with a classic salt & pepper grill at no additional up charge which applies to the cabinet as well if ordered together with a head. All other color and grill options are available for the usual up charge, however the Metal Grill option is not available.
The 20th Anniversary is our finest evolution of the Ecstasy line that started with the 100B, then 101B, and Classic Options. However, the 20th Anniversary model features it’s own unique circuit and many refinements never before seen. In the past few years many new boutique capacitors have come on the market such as the Sozo brand which focus on replicating the vintage toneful capacitors from the 60’s. These new capacitors are very expensive and mostly hand made in their construction so we were intrigued to hear how they sounded. We purchased all the available brands and meticulously went trough the entire audio signal chain of our Ecstasy circuit incorporating these vintage style capacitors into the design. However, once this process started, we quickly realized that replacing the capacitors was only the beginning. Additional circuit adjustments and refinements were implemented to maximize the vintage tonal character of these new capacitors, which all together, give the new 20th Anniversary it’s massive, iconic Golden-Era of Ecstasy tone.
Now does this mean the other Ecstasy’s have lower grade capacitors? No not at all, we use the German made Wima capacitors and these are the best tonal choice for different circuit designs. Especially for pc mount construction in highly complex circuits where space is a concern. Look into your old Vox and you will see classic Wima branded capacitors. It’s not just about replacing components, but rather, how you integrate the components into the overall circuit making fine-tune adjustments to balance and blueprint the final design. Every component must be considered, and optimized depending on the circuit, to work effortlessly together in reaching our goal of creating an inspiring amplifier for you.
Additional refinements have been made including:
The pre EQ’s 2 and 3 have been shifted and a vintage modern style switch lets you decide the overall flavor of Channel 2 and 3, bypassed when in the plexi mode.
The plexi channel has slightly more gain and a foot controllable boost was added which expands the amp to have 6 sounds on tap via your foot. Boost is engaged with the same switch as for Channel 2 and 3.
The clean channel has been changed; special emphasis was taken to the boosted mode which gives you more gain with nicely balanced frequencies and compression.
Power amp dampening was adjusted to compliment the new pre amp design, the Excursion switches so to speak.
The 20th Anniversary amp was designed and features 6L6 power amp tubes but other configurations are available as a custom order.
THE ECSTASY STORY AND HISTORY
To start I want to tell you a bit about the history of the Ecstasy. The first model the 100B was released over two decades ago in 1992. It was the time when most of the people where using external multi channel pre-amps to achieve a vast variety of sounds, some used multiple amp setups. Reinhold realized two things early on, a split system of pre and power amp can not give you the dynamics and response of a single circuit which incorporates both, second there is a need to make an amplifier head which covers a huge tonal pallet of tones but with the organic feel and tone of the good old amps from the 60’s.
The end result was the 3 channel Ecstasy with the possibility for the user to customize the amp to her/his taste via the multiple switches in pre and power amp. At that time the Ecstasy was in a class by itself as the most flexible amplifier and defined the word boutique amp.
Eric Johnson a purist and the Godfather of multi amp setups tried the amp and bought one and took it immediately on the joint tour with BB King, it might be very well the only multi channel amp he ever owned. The Ecstasy became a favorite for every style and genre of music, Steve Vai, George Lynch, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Buddy Guy, Steve Farris of Mister Mister, Mark Goldenberg of Jackson Browne, Christopher Cross, producers like Dave Jerden (Rolling Stones, Alice in Chains), Michael Beinhorn ( Korn, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Silvia Massey (Tool), Mike Clink (Guns & Roses, UFO); you get the picture.
In 1995 the 101B was introduced with features never found in any guitar amplifier at that time; the channel assignable internal speaker cabinet switching system and power attenuator loop as well as the dual presence with our so called Excursion power amp dampening control. Further the clean channel was expanded with an additional gain stage as well as a boost function, next to sparkling cleans one could get the dirty tones of the small combo’s of the 50’s and 60’s. Channel 2&3 got slight modifications with the possibility to now also choose the Plexi mode on channel 2, a structure switch which lets you choose a lower or higher gain mode.
The effects loop could be run in series or parallel with an added mix control. The internal load resistor was taken out as nobody seemed to use it, the variac switch had to go as it was not possible to sustain the current to switch all the new functions consistently but a switch was added to choose between class AB or A. Cosmetically the amp was now also offered with the for Bogner custom made basket weave grill.
All in all with no competition Reinhold raised the bar to a new level. In 1997 the 101B was revised; rather then incorporate everything certain functions where offered as options. Available options where, Class A/AB, switch, individual line out controls for each channel, metal grill and the assignable speaker cabinet switching with the attenuator loop which was shortly after discontinued as there was no demand for it. The Chassis color was changed from white to black.
In 2001 the Classic option was introduced. Since only one hundred 100B models were built and the amp became rare Reinhold wanted to offer a model with slightly less features which sits somewhere between the 100 and 101B. The Classic featured a chrome front panel and a more open, organic feel and tonality.
In 2003 the red channel of the 101B received a gain increase since many customers were asking for more gain with an easy to play feel. This was not Reinhold’s optimal choice as it also made for a more compressed and focused tone. But since there was the Classic Option choice, for a more open and less compressed sound, he wanted to give the customer’s wish for more gain on the red channel.
2009 was a big year for Bogner Amplification as we celebrated 20 years of creation! To mark the special occasion Reinhold developed the 20th Anniversary Ecstasy. We consider this model to be the new “Flagship” in the Ecstasy line with the most organic and open sound yet. Incorporating many circuit refinements, vintage style capacitors and redesigned cosmetics, the new 20th Anniversary Ecstasy offers massive, iconic and inspiring tone.
