1960s Bogen tube amps

mortatort · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject: 1960s Bogen tube amps

These seem to be popping up all over the place. Is this amp worth checking out for a guitar player?

tw001_tw · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

I got one in a package deal. I think originally it was a PA amp, but
it was converted to a guitar amp before I got it. I think mine is a
'challenger 20'. I only used it about 3 times thus far. It was a pretty and
clean sounding amp. Not real loud, good for home use.. running 2 ECL86
power tubes and 1 6EU7 preamp tube. Like I said, I wouldn't use it while
playing with others, but for some variety, and a decent clean tine (and
rather cheep), its nice to have.

mccorp · Sea Monkey Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 10

Mortatort: While nostalgic, the 60s Bogen amplifier was not designed for guitar. At best, having used them for a number of years, they were a mediocre tube amplifier for PA systems. They did not do this well for Rock Music, but were quite adequate for the folk "coffee house" circuit. They had a nice tonality but were quick to distort given their limited power.

In summary, a museum piece with much nostalgia, but I don't think you will be happy using this as a guitar amplifier. Against even the most sensitive drummer and bass player you will be "strumming upstream." They were adequate for what they were designed to do for the PA.

Exothermia · Not So Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

There is an excellent article on Geofex about converting PA amps to guitar use. It involves cascading the gain stages to get a fair amount of preamp gain, rewiring the tone stack to values suitable for a guitar and changing input/outputs for guitar use. If you do all that, and the amp you choose has tubes with decent tone you can make yourself a nice all-tube for almost no money. That's why there's so many of them selling on ebay these days, there's becoming a market for guitarists wanting to do this.

mccorp · Sea Monkey Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 10

Extro: Very interesting comments. There is no accounting for the genius of humankind when it comes to making the best out of less. I will keep my eyes open for one of these conversions and have a listen.

johnny · Not So Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

I have many fond memories of using a Bogen Challenger tube PA head in the 6o's for vocals. I believe it was a 50 watt but we had homemade cabinets with altec 15's and a small horn and it did the trick for the CYO and high school dances. It is a great circuit and will distort nice if overdriven with guitar, very sold amp.

Johnny

Cool

troy · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: 1960s Bogen tube amps

Terry Kath of Chicago was a proponet of Bogan Challengers. I'm sure if you researched it you could find more on this subject.

* FREE FORM GUITAR was performed on a Fender Stratocaster guitar through a Showman amplifier equipped with a twin 15 bottom utilizing a Bogan P. A. amplifier as a pre-amp. No electronic gimmicks or effects were used in the recording of this selection, the intent being to capture as faithfully as possible the actual sound of the performance as it occurred.

Troy