The Bogner Uberschall is a high-gain distortion pedal aimed at metal players, built by Bogner, the amp company whose Uberschall head is described by HeadRush as "a two channel amp that is a staple of extreme and heavy musical styles"1. Reinhold Bogner, the designer and namesake of the company, brought the high-gain character of that amplifier into a solid-state pedal, which MusicRadar's reviewers summed up as "Armageddon in a box"2. The pedal was hotly anticipated before release, with few details available as late as May 20123, and by March 2013 it was newly released and priced at £199 in the UK4.
What it does to your sound
MusicRadar describes the pedal as intended for metal players, with a fizzy distortion and a dark overall sound2. The tone controls work like an amp's EQ section rather than a simple pedal tone knob: MusicRadar notes the Uberschall "features the essential tone knobs, allowing you to scoop the mids and adjust your sound like an amp"4. That mid-scoop capability is the feature that separates it from a basic three-knob distortion box.
The controls: five knobs and a boost
The control layout is simple. Five rotary knobs handle volume, treble, mid, bass and gain, and there is a single preset that alters the volume in boost mode2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's overall output level2 |
| Treble | Adjusts high frequencies2 |
| Mid | Adjusts midrange, and can be used to scoop the mids24 |
| Bass | Adjusts low frequencies2 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion2 |
| Boost preset | Sets the volume level used in boost mode2 |
The boost is a second footswitch with its own volume knob, which MusicRadar describes as "allowing you to make any sudden dynamic changes as you wish, at your control"4. In practice that means a solo or lead-boost level you can hit instantly without touching the main volume knob.
Bypass, power and remote switching
The pedal is true bypass, with a digital control circuit that monitors battery voltage, blinks a color-coordinated LED as the power runs down, and then places the pedal into true bypass mode so a dying battery does not degrade your signal2. Power comes from a regular nine-volt DC supply through an external mains connector, or from a PP3 battery that sits behind a small aluminum flap fastened by a large-slotted machine screw2.
Besides the input and output jacks, there is a third jack for remote switching of both functions, so the on/off and boost can be triggered from a switching system rather than the footswitches alone2.
Build and finish
The enclosure is a tough two-piece aluminum clamshell box fastened by four machine screws, with a lacquer-coated metallic paint finish, ultra-sharp white screen-printed logos and lettering, custom miniature chickenhead knobs embossed with the 'B' logo, LED-lit preset pots and heavy-duty footswitches2.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's overall verdict was mixed. The reviewers found the pedal good, but felt it would face stiff competition2:
"We have to say that the Uberschall's promise of 'Armageddon in a box' didn't quite materialise for us. It's good, but other metal pedals will give it a hard time."2
Videos
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Questions
Is the Bogner Uberschall pedal true bypass?
Yes. The pedal has a true bypass on/off footswitch, so the signal passes through untouched when the effect is off. Its digital control circuit also monitors battery voltage, and when the battery runs low it blinks a color-coordinated LED and then places the pedal into true bypass mode.
Is the Uberschall pedal analog or digital?
The signal path is fully analog, so your guitar signal is never converted to digital. The only digital part is a control circuit that monitors battery voltage and blinks a warning LED as the power runs down, then drops the pedal into true bypass.
Can the Bogner Uberschall be switched remotely?
Yes. Besides the input and output jacks, the pedal has a third jack for remote switching of both functions, meaning the on/off and boost can be triggered from a switching system rather than only by the two footswitches on the box itself.
Who designed the Bogner Uberschall pedal?
Reinhold Bogner, the designer and namesake of Bogner amps. With the Uberschall pedal he brought the high-gain character of the Uberschall amplifier, a staple of extreme and heavy musical styles, into a solid-state pedal format.
Sources (4)
- Vagner Uber 1 amp clone, HeadRush (revalver.headrushfx.com), 2026
- Bogner Uberschall pedal review, MusicRadar, 2013-04-03
- Bogner Release Video Demo For New Ecstasy & Uberschall Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-05-15
- First look: Bogner Uberschall Pedal, MusicRadar, 2013-03-20
