Bogen Presto VP-10 Tube Amplifier
Archived listing from the original vintage-amplifier.com. Prices, seller details and purchase links have been removed; this page is a reference record, and nothing here is for sale. About this archive.
An excellent working vintage Bogen Tube Amplifier, Presto Model VP 10 in wonderful condition! All of the tubes work and are included…
1) 7355
1) EZ81/6CA4
1) 12AX7
1) 6AV6
The front panel features separate Volume Control knobs for Microphone and Phono inputs, plus separate controls for Bass and Treble. There’s also a 1/4″ Mic (Guitar) input and an RCA Speaker output on the front, as well as a Phono input on top of the chassis. This amplifier sounds amazing (really)! We used a microphone and a guitar to test the 1/4″ input, and a CD player to test the phono input with an 8 Ohm speaker for output. All inputs and controls work smoothly and quietly as they should. I couldn’t get over how this great amplifier sounds (it’s VERY loud for only 10 watts, rattles the windows)! It has a surprisingly smooth vintage tone with excellent detail! There’s no background hum or hiss and the transformers and capacitors all stayed nice and cool during our testing. The chassis is also in excellent shape as you can see in the pictures. All you need is a speaker and you’re ready to go! It includes the bottom cover and measures approximately 13 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ and weighs about 12lbs.unpacked.
All tube amplifiers are brought up to full power slowly with a variac to avoid damage and to reform the capacitors. Although I test them to the best of my ability, I am not an expert!
About this model
The VP-10 comes from the years between 1956 and 1962 when Bogen and Presto Recording were run together as one division. It is a small amplifier rated at 10 watts, with separate volume controls for microphone and phono, bass and treble controls, a quarter-inch microphone or guitar jack on the front and a phono input on top. The listing gives the complete tube set: a 7355 output tube, an EZ81/6CA4 rectifier, a 12AX7 and a 6AV6.
A single 7355 means this is a single-ended output stage, unusual for Bogen. The seller tested it with a microphone, a guitar and a CD player through an 8-ohm speaker and found it quiet and loud for its size. Dimensions: about 13½ × 3¼ × 5½ inches, 12 pounds.
| Maker | Bogen-Presto, USA |
|---|---|
| Type | Small integrated amplifier |
| Rated output | 10 W (listing) |
| Tubes | 7355, EZ81/6CA4, 12AX7, 6AV6 (listing) |
| Inputs | Microphone/guitar ¼-inch, phono (listing) |
| Size and weight | About 13½ × 3¼ × 5½ in, 12 lb (listing) |
Questions collectors ask
Is the Bogen Presto VP-10 single-ended?
The archived listing names a single 7355 output tube, which implies a single-ended output stage.
What is the EZ81 tube in the VP-10?
A miniature full-wave rectifier, also sold as the 6CA4. It converts the transformer's AC into DC for the plates.
Sources: Wikipedia: Single-ended triode; FundingUniverse: Bogen Communications history.
