Bogner gear on the Anagram

Bogner Amplification was founded by Reinhold Bogner, a German-born amp builder who set up shop in Los Angeles. He built his name on hand-wired, high-gain heads for session and touring guitarists. The Uberschall, German for "supersonic", is his heaviest design.

Mercuriall Audio says Ubersonic Amp is inspired by the Uberschall Rev. Blue circuit. That is confirmed by the developer, and the same model is also in Mercuriall's desktop software.

The Uberschall is built for weight. It has a very large low end, thick, compressed saturation and a dark, heavy midrange. Compared with tighter high-gain amps, it sounds bigger and more wall-like. That suits slow, heavy riffing, drop tunings and extended-range guitars where you want the low strings to feel massive.

Because there is so much low end, the amp can get loose with down-tuned guitars if you push it too hard. Most players cut the bass control a little and put a boost or tight overdrive in front. A Tube Screamer-style block works well for this, as it trims the lows and adds attack.

Bass players are unlikely to use it as the only amp, but it can work as a dirty layer in parallel with a clean bass path. Keep its own low end turned down and let the clean side carry the bottom.

For cab pairing, a closed-back 4x12 keeps the low end focused. An open-back cab makes it looser and more vintage in feel.

Try Ubersonic Amp with the bass around ten o'clock and a free overdrive block in front, such as the 808 Overdrive Pro, to tighten the attack.