The Bogner Uberschall is a Bogner distortion pedal, currently around $176. Close alternatives include the Wampler Dracarys and the JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Hiwatt Custom DR20H.
Bogner Uberschall
Bogner · pedal
The Bogner Uberschall pedal is modeled after the Bogner Uberschall amplifier, one of the most revered modern high-gain amp designs. Five discrete Class A gain stages with no diode clipping or op-amps produce a high-gain character that remains musical, articulate, and non-fizzy at extreme gain settings. Each note retains definition and the gain responds to picking dynamics rather than compressing everything into a uniform wall. Suited for modern metal, progressive rock, and high-gain blues-rock applications where extreme gain must remain controllable and musical.
What stands out
“Five-stage Class A high-gain distortion modeled on the legendary Bogner Uberschall amp, producing an aggressive but articulate and non-fizzy high-gain character distinct from conventional diode-clipping distortion pedals”
— from the community notes
“The five Class A gain stages produce a naturally compressed sustain , which gives the high gain a smooth, organic feel”
— from the reviews
“five discrete class a gain stages with”
— from the listing
“Used for modern metal, progressive rock, and high-gain lead playing where extreme gain must retain note definition and dynamic response”
— from the community notes
“Suited for modern metal, progressive rock, and where extreme gain must remain controllable and musical”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“and non-fizzy at extreme gain settings”
— from the listing
- high gain
- stage
- articulate
- class a
- distortion
- dynamic response
- progressive rock
- modern
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Bogner Uberschall is commonly used in
- Metal
- Blues Rock
- Progressive Rock
- Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Bogner Uberschall
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Peavey VTM-120 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Custom DR20H
Hiwatt
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Stack Hiwatt Custom DR20H on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Bogner Uberschall
JAM Pedals Tubedreamer
Jam Pedals
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
JAM Pedals Tubedreamer pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Origin Effects Cali76 MK2 Bass Compressor
Origin Effects
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Origin Effects Cali76 MK2 Bass Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Keeley Red Dirt Overdrive
Keeley
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Keeley Red Dirt Overdrive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress's shimmer voice goes after Bogner Uberschall in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Bogner Uberschall's own high gain character
Comes later in the signal chain
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Meris Mercury7 Reverb after Bogner Uberschall in the signal chain, clear of Bogner Uberschall's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay after Bogner Uberschall in the signal chain, clear of Bogner Uberschall's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put MXR CAE Wah in front of Bogner Uberschall: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor goes in front of Bogner Uberschall in the chain
Cheaper alternatives
Tone City Wild Fro Rabea Massaad Signature Distortion
Tone City
50% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Mooer Micro Preamp 017 Cali MKIV
Mooer
46% similarityShared character: high gain settings, lead
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
44% similarityShared character: metal, smooth, distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, aggressive playing, lead
Blackstar HT-Metal
Blackstar
47% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, distortion
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
45% similarityShared character: high gain settings, smooth, distortion
Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects
Fortin Amplification
44% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, distortion
Mad Professor Supreme Overdrive
Mad Professor
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Browne Amplification Alkene Nashville Overdrive
Browne Amplification
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, definition, wide range
JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion
JHS Pedals
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, distortion
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, smooth
Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Electro-Harmonix
45% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, distortion
Fulltone OCD V2
Fulltone
45% similarityShared character: high gain settings, distortion
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
45% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, smooth
See all alternatives to the Bogner Uberschall (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bogner Uberschall?+
The closest matches in character are the Wampler Dracarys, the JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion, the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition. Budget picks: Tone City Wild Fro Rabea Massaad Signature Distortion, Mooer Micro Preamp 017 Cali MKIV, Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Blackstar HT-Metal, Strymon Riverside.
What pairs well with the Bogner Uberschall?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Hiwatt Custom DR20H, EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo — Peavey VTM-120 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight.
How much does the Bogner Uberschall cost?+
Around $176 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).