Ecstasy Blue Mini Overdrive Pedal Review

Authentic Bogner Tones!

In the early 2000s I owned a Bogner Ecstasy 101B with all the bells and whistles. I gigged with it through various cabinets and it was the most incredible smooth distortion that eclipsed the Boogies, Fenders, Marshalls, Dr Z, and other amps I've owned over the years. Nothing has really come close until playing this little pedal. Although I was skeptical and researched it for months,… read more I've been pleasantly surprised with results. Amazingly, although it sounds great into tube amps, it actually sounds really good into my Roland JC-22 which was totally unexpected! As others have mentioned, it takes time to dial it in but is well worth the effort. Also, there's seems to be a break-in period because the tone was evolving over the first 10-hours or longer. Pros: Great replica of the 101B blue channel but with slightly more gain Very effective treble, mid, and bass Touch sensitive dynamics (for a pedal) Lots of knobs/switches to adjust the feel and sound Works well with other pedals Love the soft-touch true-bypass actuator! Cons: Slightly annoying placement of the AC power jack (in front of instrument input) Very sensitive controls and learning curve Will need to tweak when switching amps Is it exactly like playing a Bogner 101B? No, but I've not played any pedal that sounds as good as full-on tube distortion. However, for a small fraction of the size, cost, and weight, it is definitely a great investment - definitely staying on my board.

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Satisfying Distortion

I own a LOT of distortion pedals. The Ecstasy is something really different. It's got a rich creamy character that is so satisfying and fun to play with. I spent the entire afternoon noodling with my Les Paul Special and this distortion pedal driving a solid state Marshall. If the Bogner sounds good through that amp it's an incredible distortion pedal. The Ecstasy is a great contrast… read more to something like a Boss Blues Driver. The Ecstasy is thick and chewy compared to the bright thin bite of the Boss. Comparing the Ecstasy to a Boss Waza Metal Zone the Bogner has a smoother, less harsh high end. Still very responsive and tight but less irritating. The Ecstasy is surprisingly low in noise considering the massive gain on tap here. Even with the Gain knob wide open this little blue box stays nice. I am using Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups. One last quick comparison, the MXR 5150 distortion vs Bogner Ecstasy, the high frequencies of the Bogner are warmer, the MXR is brighter. The Ecstasy is going to be a goto for distortion tones. It is literally a blast. Good Music To You!

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Really great sounding pedal

I waited a while before posting this review in order to get to know this pedal. This pedal definitely delivers on its promise. There's so many ways to tweak your sound, but basically, you can't get a bad sound out of this pedal. It sounds great through my amps, but I also use it to record direct into my DAW and it sounds fantastic. You can get some good crunch or roll the distortion… read more off to about 11:00 and get a great, singing sustain without being heavily distorted - think Larry Carlton. I'm quite happy with this pedal, if you're on the fence about buying it, just go for it - you won't be disappointed.

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Very pleased.

I bought it as an add on to my Bogner New Yorker. I figured it'd be a cheap sweet way to add a channel to it at best and another pedal to throw into the drawer at worst. Well, I got lucky. Literally... I added a separate channel to my amp... incredible. Even through my Marshall 20 original it makes it sound like a Bogner...or Bogner-ish.

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WOW!! says it all.

I"ve read about this pedal for years, but couldn"t sacrifice board space for the bigger version. Then the "mini" pops up, so I ordered one. I"ve always read reviews saying "amp like / second amp channel, etc" and YES it really is! I have a lot of boutique OD pedals, (three I just recently bought) and this thing blew em" out of the water! Very big and full sounding. After playing… read more it for a while it makes my other ones sound sterile. Really! So impressed with Bogner, I just ordered the Burnley pedal and have the La Grange on my wish list.

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