FM3/FM9/AXE-FX III Patch based on Bogner Fish preamp

FM3/FM9/AXE-FX III Patch based on Bogner Fish preamp

The Bogner Fish is one of the most revered and elusive pieces of gear in the world of boutique guitar amplification. Designed by Reinhold Bogner in the early 1990s, the Fish isn't an amplifier in the traditional sense—it's a rack-mounted, all-tube preamp that became legendary for its exceptional tonal range, build quality, and influence on the emerging high-gain sound of the era.

The Fish was developed during a golden age of rack gear, when many professional guitarists were moving away from traditional amp heads in favor of modular setups that allowed for more flexibility and studio-level control. 

What makes the Bogner Fish unique is its four completely independent channels, each with its own distinct voice. Ranging from shimmering clean tones to searing high-gain distortion, the preamp covers a vast sonic territory. The Clean channel offers a rich, glassy tone with a touch of vintage character, perfect for articulate picking or ambient textures. The Shark and Strato channels—each named to reflect their tonal personality—deliver varying shades of gain, from crunchy British-inspired drive to more aggressive, focused distortion. Then there’s the Brown channel, the crown jewel of the unit, designed to emulate the iconic "brown sound" associated with hot-rodded Plexi-style tones. This channel became particularly famous for its saturated yet articulate character, making it a favorite among rock and metal players looking for that perfect mix of aggression and clarity. In our opinion, the Brown and the Strato channels were the most characteristic additions to this fab machine and that's why our Gymtar patch is deeply inspired by them.

Due to its boutique nature and limited production, the Bogner Fish became something of a mythical piece of gear. Only a small number were ever built (250 units, others say only 236), making original units highly collectible today. Its reputation was further solidified by players like Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, whose crushing yet articulate tones on early records were achieved in part through the Fish’s preamp channels. The unit has also been associated with a number of high-end studio guitar rigs from the 1990s and early 2000s.

SCENE 1: BROWN CHANNEL RHYTHM
SCENE 2: BROWN CHANNEL LEAD
SCENE 3: STRATO CHANNEL RHYTHM
SCENE 4: STRATO CHANNEL LEAD

Effects : wah, phaser, flanger, drive, delay, reverb