Shop Keyboard Deals, Financing, and More

Bogner Helios 50 - 50-watt Handwired Tube Head

50W Handwired Tube Amplifier Head, with 2 Footswitchable Channels and Effects Loop
$3,194.00

Or pay $532.33 for 6 months with Easy Pay

See all payment options
In Stock!

(Hurry, limited quantity available)

Add to Cart
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Bogner Helios 50 - 50-watt Handwired Tube Head
In Stock!
$3,194.00
Add to Cart
Add to list
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Based on One of the Hardest-rocking Amps Ever Made

Designed to sound just like a classic Plexi amplifier, the Bogner Helios 50 tube amplifier gives you high-octane tone. It's an aggressive 2-channel amp, and Sweetwater guitarists love the versatility of the separate Plexi and hot inputs. The Plexi input gives you Plexi-style gain on channel two and an ultra-clean gain stage on channel one. The hot input gives you a hot-rodded high gain structure on channel two with a clean to Plexi gain range on channel one. Whichever input you plug your guitar into, the Bogner Helios 50 rocks!

Bogner Helios 50 Tube Amplifier Head at a Glance:
  • Iconic, aggressive Plexi tone with versatility
  • Effects loop can be used as a volume boost
  • Control how punchy your tone is with the bottom switch
Iconic, aggressive Plexi tone with versatility

It's no secret that the Bogner Helios 50 is designed to sound like one of the hardest-rocking amplifiers ever made. But you've also got more tonal range than you'd expect, thanks to a 3-way voicing switch which gives you access to brighter, darker, and hyped amplifier tones. And if you're after the most aggressive tone possible, just flip the EQ bypass switch and send the preamp's tone full-bore to the power amp section.

Effects loop can be used as a volume boost

The Helios 50 comes equipped with an effects loop, including control over the return level to easily integrate your effects pedals. And if you're not using any effects processors, or if you put them in front of your amp instead of the loop, you can use the effects loop as a footswitchable gain boost (footswitch not included). Just use a guitar cable to connect the send to the return and then use the level control to dial in the amount of boost you want.

Control how punchy your tone is with the bottom switch

On the back of the Helios 50 is a bottom switch that essentially controls how loose or tight the low frequency response of the amp sounds. No matter what type of speaker cabinets you have connected to the Helios 50, the bottom switch helps you dial in just the right amount of punch and girth your tone has.

Bogner Helios 50 Tube Amplifier Head Features:
  • 2-channel, 50-watt tube amplifier based on classic Plexi amps
  • Plexi and hot inputs give you access to 2 different gain structures
  • Choose from 3 different sonic characters with the voicing switch
  • Control how tight or loose your tone is with the bottom switch
  • Footswitchable channels and effects loop (footswitch sold separately)
  • Make your tone even more vibrant and aggressive with the EQ bypass switch
  • Handwired with turret board construction
Tenacious tone is on tap in the Bogner Helios 50 tube amp!

Additional Media

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 2
  • Total Power: 50W
  • Power Tubes: 2 x EL34
  • EQ: 3-band
  • Inputs: 2 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 5 x 1/4" (4, 8, 16 ohms)
  • Effects Loop: Yes
  • Footswitch I/O: 1 x 1/4" (select, FX)
  • Footswitch Included: Yes, 2-button footswitch
  • Bias Type: Adjustable Fixed
  • Construction Material: Black Tolex
  • Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
  • Height: 9"
  • Width: 26"
  • Depth: 8.25"
  • Weight: 34 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: HELIOS50

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

What an amp!

This amp is superb! Pretty simple to use and has tone for days. The Hot input is where it's at and both 70s and 80s mode are stellar. My SSS Strat sounds sweet through the 70s Hot input and I can sound like Jimi with my volume rolled off. My P90- and Humbucker-equipped guitars sound majestic on channel 2 Hot 70s/80s. I can get all the classic rock, hard rock, and metal tones (Jimi, Led Zep, Van Halen, Alice In Chains) I want from this thing. Honestly, I don't play through the Plexi channel much, but it does sound nice…I just prefer a bit of dirt (or a lot of it) afforded on the Hot side.

The master volume is super good, I can get bedroom level volume and killer tone at the same time. It does sound better when you turn it up though. The bass/mid/treble controls all make a big impact too.

It's a wild amp that just oozes character; a tad bit impolite in a great way. I am so glad I bought it.

Shout out to my SE, Nick Graham!
Rated 5/5

I finally found my amp

I've had this for about six months now I played a few gigs and it is my favorite amp I've ever used to date.
I have had Marshalls, 5150's,jet city , Fuchs ODS, I even have a Ecstasy 3545, but this Helios is the end all be all. My favorite is the 70's setting gain set pretty high and I just use my guitar volume knob to clean up. I usually buy and sell gear but this one is staying.
Rated 5/5

Never Selling

I'm in love with this amp. Like everyone else, I kind of hate the two inputs and the inability to switch between them, but I'm perfectly happy using the Plexi mode for the best tones, and adding a dirty boost for that over-the-top grind. This thing sounds just freaking awesome, I never want to stop playing it. Even the clean does a great Hendrix/Frusciante tone. Amazing.
Music background: lifelong guitarist, violinist, and all around yutz
Rated 5/5

Holy Crap!

I received this awesome amp on New Years Eve and felt I needed to put a review out there after just 1 day. I had this sound when I was playing as an early 20 year old player in Austin. Just like most things, I sold that amp and have been looking for the sound ever since. Well, my wait is over. This thing does the Plexi JTM 45 thing. It does the 70s and 80s thing. It even does the country chicken picking thing along with an incredible clean almost as good as my Tone King Imperial. I thought my Friedman BE was the only way I would get close to the sound I had as a young player 30 years ago. I love my Friedman; its just this amp nails the sound. I will have this amp for the rest of my life and I will haunt my sons from the grave if they sale it. Just a little sad no one has the 2/12 CH cab in stock. Will wait until it is in stock. For now, I am playing it through a Dr. Z Z-Best Cab. I love this cab as well.
You need to buy this one.
Music background: 40+ years playing just about anything with just about anyone
Rated 5/5

Great Amp

Hand wired by the man himself. Gets beautiful cleans but I rarely use them because I love gain.
Music background: Guitarist
Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!