| Even from childhood, in his native Germany, Reinhold | | | | plate selectable via the appropriate switch. |
| Bogner was already skillfully welding his soldering iron | | | | Given the number of switches, there should be a lot of |
| to create his own guitar amplifiers. After he moved to | | | | sonic "alchemy" possible ... Let's check it out! |
| Los Angeles, his models and amp modifications began | | | | The Sound |
| to attract famous names from the six-string world | | | | For starters, you can take a look at Bogner's website, |
| including Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, and Eddie Van | | | | which has many audio samples. You'll hear that the |
| Halen. So when it was announced that he was putting | | | | Alchemist sounds great when played with single-coil |
| out an amp made in Line6's factories that would cost | | | | pickups and slightly overdriven ... It quite nicely |
| less than $1500, it made a big noise. | | | | reproduces the typical Stratocaster sound and the |
| This new model, called the Alchemist, a | | | | Nocaster Twang! No problem with crunch sounds and |
| handsome-looking 40W tube-amp, is exactly what we'll | | | | the amp responds well to picking variations (thanks to |
| be testing. It comes in three models: two combos: the | | | | the tubes ...): a good flick of the wrist gets the |
| first equipped with a 12-inch loudspeaker and the | | | | Alchemist to crunch in a nice way, tasty! This |
| second with two different 12-inch speakers; and an | | | | undoubtedly adds more expressiveness to one's |
| amp head + 2x12 cabinet. This review is about the | | | | playing. The example with a Les Paul doesn't do |
| 2x12 combo model. | | | | justice to this magnificent instrument, its characteristic |
| It's pretty bulky, (two 12-inch speakers take up a bit of | | | | roundness is missing a little bit... |
| space!) heavy (80 lbs), and has a very nice | | | | The samples recorded with a Hamer reveal a rather |
| neo-vintage look to it. Everything looks solid and ready | | | | fat and gritty sound, but slightly muddy, which may |
| to take a beating. Even though it's manufactured in | | | | please some and annoy others ... It's a matter of taste! |
| Line6's shops, it's still a Bogner! Other more expensive | | | | This amp is recommended more for fans of stoner |
| models of the brand therefore become "Custom | | | | rock rather than shredders who usually prefer a very |
| Shop" class. As for looks and finish, the grid, the logo, | | | | precise and cutting sound. The amp has a tendency to |
| knobs and small diodes all look well made and give the | | | | lose definition in the low-mids. You get the impression |
| amp a respectable look. Everything about the amp | | | | that it responds more like a vintage amp rather than a |
| exudes the quality of the brand. | | | | modern hi-gain amp. |
| But let's see if the Alchemist can really transform lead | | | | With regard to my own sound samples, a Gretsch |
| into gold ... | | | | G5129 was used, equipped with DeArmond single coil |
| Inside the alembic | | | | pickups and a Sennheiser MD421 microphone placed in |
| One look at the specs is enough to see that it's really | | | | front of the amp. A tip for mic placement with this |
| got 40-Watts (class-AB power) under the hood, but | | | | amp: there's a wooden bar placed vertically in the |
| you can also reduce the power by half. This is very | | | | center of each speaker, which is convenient as a |
| handy when you want to stay in good relations with | | | | marker for placing the mics in front of the speaker |
| your neighbors while pushing the amp a little... Careful | | | | cones, since the covering is opaque. As I am not |
| however, because even at 20 watts, the Alchemist | | | | permitted to publish on this article links which point to |
| produces some serious sound! As for tubes, it's got | | | | my sound samples, you can check them out on the |
| two 6L6 power tubes and five 12AX7 preamp tubes; | | | | original Bogner Alchemist article published on You can |
| pretty classic. As for the two 12-inch speakers, this | | | | hear a definite difference between the two speakers |
| amp features a Celestion G12M Greenback and a | | | | which in turn multiplies the tone possibilities. |
| G12H Anniversary Celestion. This configuration is rather | | | | Not too many surprises, the samples confirm what |
| interesting, because you'll be able to get two quite | | | | was said above. The delays are pretty classic |
| different sounds during recording: nice touch! The | | | | sounding and can give your sound a nice coloring if |
| Alchemist therefore includes conventional, but quality, | | | | used sparingly. Same for the reverts: quite nice |
| components. | | | | sounding and very appropriate for most situations. |
| In terms of inputs and outputs, there's of course the | | | | These sound examples were designed to enable the |
| guitar-in on the front panel, plus two speaker outputs (8 | | | | reader to hear the difference between each switch of |
| 16 Ohms and 4 Ohms) on the back panel. An XLR | | | | the amp. |
| connection is used to connect a 4-button foot switch | | | | Bogner set out to make an accessible amp and it |
| (included) to control channels, boost, delay, and reverb. | | | | seems he's succeeded. We are in the presence of an |
| Lastly, there's an FX loop and blend knob. Note that | | | | amplifier that costs less than $1500 (for the 2x12 |
| the loop is buffered and non-by passable so the "dry" | | | | model) with two channels with very different |
| signal never leaves the amp, so as to not to degrade | | | | personalities and two speakers that considerably |
| the signal with an external element. | | | | expand its sonic palette. Add to that a small |
| Mixing the Elements | | | | neo-vintage look, a clean sound that crunches as it |
| As for settings, keep in mind that the amplifier provides | | | | should and a fat distorted tone and you get an amp |
| two channels: the "Gold" channel which is intended to | | | | that's built to please. |
| excel at clean and crunch sounds, and the "Mercury" | | | | Conclusion |
| channel, which turns to higher gains. For the first | | | | Of course, those who love to complain will say that it |
| channel there are typical knobs: gain, bass, mid, treble, | | | | weighs a ton, that you'll need tweezers to tweak the |
| volume, plus various switches: Clean/Crunch, Bright, and | | | | tiny switches, and that it's impossible to get a modern |
| Deep (to add low-mids and bottom-end). Above the | | | | shred-like distortion tone out of it. They wouldn't be |
| Gold/Mercury switch there's a Boost switch which, | | | | wrong. But the Alchemist has personality, and that |
| when applied to the Gold channel, adds gain and | | | | means it probably won't please everyone ... But what |
| thickness (with more low-mids to your sound). On the | | | | guitar amp does? The big pluses: |
| Mercury channel, the boost adds gain and fattens your | | | | - A Bogner for less than $1500! |
| sound without necessarily increasing its volume. For this | | | | - Manufacturing Quality |
| second channel, there are also gain, volume, and EQ | | | | - Good clean/crunch sounds |
| knobs but also a Punch switch which, when set to the | | | | - Two different speakers |
| left, gives a more classic Californian tone, and when | | | | - A wide range of tone possibilities |
| set to the right, a more British high-gain tone. The Mid | | | | - The choice of 40 or 20 watts |
| Shift switch will cut mid frequencies. | | | | - The look |
| In terms of effects, the Alchemist features a delay | | | | - Quality of the reverb and delay |
| (with a tap delay button that lets you quickly adjust its | | | | Drawbacks... |
| speed to tempo) with three types: ducking (quick cuts), | | | | - Not easy to carry: heavy and bulky |
| analog, and tape (tape delay). It's also possible to | | | | - Switches: small and not easy to get to |
| adjust the number of repetitions via the 'Repeats' knob. | | | | - Distortion sounds that won't appeal to everyone! |
| The amp also features three reverbs: spring, hall, and | | | | |