Product: Bogner Jive Bomber 20 Custom
Price Paid: USD 150
Submitted
07/18/2009
at
07:31am
by
Dawgdaddy
Features
:
10
This Jive Bomber was built in 2008 by Mike Sabatini of MGS Sound Technology in Oregon. I bought it from David Bendix out of California. It is a converted Bogner CHB-20 PA amp from the 1950's. It is a single channel amp with Bass, Treble, Master Volume, and Gain. There is an Aux. knob but it does nothing. It has a 15" Magnavox speaker recycled from a 1950's stereo cabinet. Minimal features with the best tone and beautiful Matchless, Dr. Z, Top Hat, sound. It employs ECL86/6GW8 power tubes and a 6EU7 preamp tube. The ECL86 tubes are like a 12AX7 combined with a EL84. They are no longer in production but I have several sets of NOS. The 6EU7's are common. I wish it had a reverb and a standby switch but the sound that comes out of this amp are second to none. I have several tube amps including a Carvin XV-112E from 1983 that employs the legendary EVM 12-L that can't hold a candle to it. This amp rips and is loud and clear.
Sound Quality
:
10
I usually play a Gibson Les Paul through this amp and it sounds amazing but, every possible kind of guitar has been played through it and it still sounds amazing. I wouldn't trade this amp for a Two Rock. It's quiet when on and it's on all the time. As you increase the gain it goes from a sweet bell like tone to gritty overdrive. It loves pedals. The distortion isn't your brutal metal type but more gritty, bluesy.
Reliability
:
10
Built in the 50's...uh yeah, I'd say it's reliable. I gig it regularly without backup. I have spare tubes and fuses but haven't needed them so far.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
These amps appear on E-bay from time to time. If you see one get it. They're relatively inexpensive and sound like a Matchless. There is no customer support because ALL the people that built this amp are dead...for years.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 43 years and have had just about all the guitars and amps and gear any one person could have in a lifetime. The Jive Bomber is unique. It's my all time favorite. It's all I play and all but one of my amps are all tube. If you see one of these on E-bay, grab it. They're not very expensive for what you're getting...a Matchless clone.
