Helios Eclipse - 100-watt Handwired Tube Head Review

Beast

This amp was required to provide the growl I was looking for. A 100 watt cross between the Friedman JJ jr and Orange dual dark terror - so thick

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Reinhold designed a divine amp for the Gods!

In the Oxford Dictionary there is a picture of the Bogner Eclipse under PERFECTION! The CLEAN CHANNEL (#1on the footswitch) is much more than adequate with a single volume knob (is that too complicated for you?). Yes it as additionally 3 fixed modes, selectable from a three way switch, below the volume knob. There is where somebody may have a problem, as this requires the switch… read more to be pushed to the left or to the right to change the mode. My favourite is the Scooped mode (switch to the right) which is close to a blackface Fender clean sound, and with my Landgraff clean boost engaged absolutely fantastic and loud. The two main channels: CHANNEL 2 and CHANNEL 3 (#2 and #3 on the footswitch) have the standard Marshall set up of BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE and VOLUME + GAIN. The gain goes not to 11 but to 215, and miraculous the amp remains incredibly quiet with perfect note definition and dynamics even at insane levels of gain. The PRESENCE is at the beck of the head together with a BOTTOM knob. CHANNEL 2 and 3 have each a pair of 3 way mini-switches. One mini switch changes the voicing of the channel and the other the level of starting gain. In no time you can work out what you like best for your style of playing. I like "open" voicing on both channels and the ECLIPSE MODE (Maxiumum starting gain) on both channels. In fact the ECLIPSE mode on channel 3 is not just ECLIPSE but ECLIPSE +, which means it has additional compression. The additional compression makes the Eclipse the absolutely the best choice for DETUNED GUITARS or CELLOBLASTERS. I doubt that Country players will use this amp, but Metal players will in a permanent orgasmic state. Everybody else in between will still adore the enormous versatility of this amp. You can dial in any sound, from Clapton's famous Beano record bluesbreaker sound to Van Halen, etc., etc.. There you have it! I give the Eclipse an additional 300 stars!!! Additionally Mr. Bogner is the snappiest dresser on the planet and that very much matters when you are designing innovative product!!!

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Confusing Amp

This amp may be the most confusing amps I’ve tried to play. Trying to dial in the 5 pin sized switches on the front to mix with the ones on the back of the amp will take a long time to figure out your sound. Trying to figure out what channel you are on to actually dialing in is hard too.... Once you have the sound that is suitable, it’s not anything to write home about. … read more Two stars because someone else may like the switches and sound besides me. But for me not worth the money when theirs plenty of amps to choose from at that price point.

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