GF45-SL Goldfinger Superlead 45-watt Tube Head Review

Wow

I thought I had owned or tried a good chunk of the "best" amps out there, but I took a gamble on this and here I am 5 months later just absolutely blown away. This amp is still a bit of a "secret" as there is not a whole lot out there about them, but this is an absolute game changer. Typically, versatility is balanced with an inability to really do any particular tone VERY well,… read more but not in this case. You're essentially getting a history of guitar amps in one box, each of the 4 amps (blackface, plexi, 2204, modded) are done so well and are inspiring in their own right. I'm inspired every time I plug in, and this little beast has the tools to fit whatever style you're feeling on any particular day with ease and sincerity. 98% of the time, I don't even have any pedals plugged in- the onboard reverb, boosts, and EQ controls and switches provide everything I need to get lost in my guitar- and that's the whole point. While I loved the Helios, 20th Shiva, Uberschall, Telos, and XTC 3534, this GL SL is the one for me.

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Incredible, versatile, killer amp.

The title says it all. I’ve been a Marshall player for 30 years. The GF SL is an excellent alternative for that Bogner take on classic (‘77,68 modes) and more modern/ modded Marshall (‘81 mode) tones. It has that chewy, greasy feel to each mode, the touch sensitivity makes you want to play the amp continuously. It is difficult to put my guitar(s) down when I play through… read more this amp. All modes sound excellent. ‘77 is the most open, full sounding mode. If you ever owned a JMP 2203 or 2204 you will find Bogner’s take on those great amps worthy of them. Not as raw and aggressive as them, which is what makes them Marshalls, but a tad more refined. Not like a Friedman . This amp is not like that type of refined. It is Bogner refined... just the right amount of mids, chewy woodiness and mean sounding distortion . Never raw and unbridled, like the JMP’s, but definitely mean. Especially when you engage the Omega boost. That’s just in ‘77 mode. ‘81 mode is more like modded Marshall territory. No boost needed in this mode. Plenty of gain. But if you so desire more gain, it’s there in spades if you engage the Omega boost. This mode is more compressed than the other modes. There is a volume drop when switching to this mode, so compensate by turning up the volume . ‘68 mode is clean, crisp and again, Bogner’s take on a Plexi, done extremely well . This mode has the least amount of gain. But there is enough gain on tap if you want it. Especially with the Omega boost. The clean channel is just exquisite. Think Fender Twin Reverb-ish. The spring reverb is rich and lush sounding. Crystal clear chiminess. Really a beautiful sounding clean. I plugged my Taylor 714CE into it and it sounded absolutely gorgeous to my ears. This is the most versatile amp I’ve ever played or owned, and it is excellent at everything it was designed to do. If you are looking for Classic Marshall tones, with a bit of a modern touch , you can’t go wrong with this amp. It is an incredible amp. Bogner is a genius.

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Extremely Versatile Amp

First, there is a huge learning curve to this bad boy, so take the time to read the manual. Second, it's the shizz!!! The Alpha Channel will get you super clean tones (Very Blackface Fender like) and that alone makes it a good platform for any pedal enthusiast. The Omega Channel gives you 3 flavors of gain starting with the Plexi-like 69 tone (my favorite), to 77 (a little grittier)… read more to 80 (very mid-scooped metal like tones). I play Modern Country and was looking for a multi-channel amp that would get me all the tones I need and this amp covers all the bases. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for and it's built like a tank. My only complaints would be that Bogner doesn't have a comprehensive video to explain all of the features and settings of the amp (which should include the effects loop on the back panel) and there is a popping sound when engaging the boost function of the Omega Channel on the pedal controller (I'm using a Klon type pedal to boost it for leads, so no big deal). Kudos to Joel Helton and Sweetwater for their expertise and great service. Peace.

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The Best Swiss Army Knife

Bogner has hit it out of the park with the GF45-SL. Be warned, this amp takes a little time to dial in as the controls are not set up like a standard amp. For example, the Omega channel's master volume is sort of the opposite of a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, most of the volume is at the very end of the knobs range. This is actually a good thing as it gives a lot of control over lower… read more volume applications, but takes a little getting used to. Options: this amp has a lot of controls to tweak the amp for various applications. All tend to be pretty subtle in their effect on the tone, which I feel is a good thing. The Gain EQ knob on the Omega channel is also great; it's almost like it's a knob to dial in the level of "jumper" sound you might get on a four-hole Plexi amp (ie, more of the treble channel or more of the bass channel). All the switches do something useful, too: the bright switch is great for running humbuckers through the clean channel, and the fat / deep switches on both channels are nice when running a thinner sounding single coil guitar. You also get the era switch, which is like having three different gain channels. 68 will get you Plexi tones, 77 gets you into modded JCM 800 territory (probably the best JCM style gain I've heard), and 81 gets you into Jose Arredondo saturation mod territory (I believe this is the reason why the 81 setting also has lower volume, as that is a typical side-effect of the Jose mod). The only downside is you have to pick which gain style you want to use since all settings vary the output volume. Probably the best option, though, is the tweakable gain and level controls for the boost on the back of the amp. This allows you to dial in how you want the boost to behave on both channels. My own grip with this control is that the Alpha boost needs to have more variability as almost every setting can make the Alpha boost boomy. Tone: If you like gritty, vintage cleans and gains, this is the amp for you. Even if you like modern gain, this amp is also the one for you. While not as hi-fi as an Ecstasy, there is well enough gain for metal in this amp with the boost engaged. The amp's core tone can be found on both channels, which is what I think Mr. Bogner was aiming to do when he set out to create a 6V6 based amp... there is a harmonic richness and breathiness on both channels, especially when you get a little volume. The gain is also very touch sensitive, especially in 68 mode, which is great if you like guitar / amp interaction (I do). The clean stays remarkably clean even with my Les Paul (which will drive most amps), and it is one of the best cleans available today. It's rich and clear, and can go from jazz to rockabilly depending on your settings. I only wish the boost for the Alpha channel added a bit more grit as it seems more like a volume boost; it would be nice to get some pushed Fender style sounds out of it. The Alpha channel does sound good with a boost pedal in front if it, as does the Omega channel. The reverb on this amp is very good, but do not expect Fender-style surf. It's more like a really great plate reverb, and works well to enhance the tone across both channels. I typically leave it on about 9:00. You can get some spacey, ultra-cavernous sounds at the top its range if you like that. Overall: Not parting with this amp any time soon. It did take me a while to get to know it, but now that I do I am quite grateful it's part of my collection. The GF-SL is incredibly expressive, incredibly versatile, and very hard to get a bad tone out of. If you like boutique vintage Marshall sounds with a touch of 6V6 smokiness and one of the best cleans you've ever heard, this is the amp for you.

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Killer amp

This is my first Bogner amp and I couldn"t be happier. While it"s 45 Watts good and loud, it"s power can be reduced considerably, making it suitable for practice if need be. The clean Alpha channel is clear and bright but you can get a little grit out of it when you push. The Omega channel is like 3 channels in one because of its switchable gain structure. It"s not a high gain… read more amp but it"s definitely got enough for all rock genres unless you are getting into metal or hardcore etc. the reverb is lovely and the boosts on both channels give even more.

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