Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 06:30:19 PM

Title: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 06:30:19 PM
Lol, I can already anticipate the Axe FX bashing.

Well anyways, this was a steal. 100Bs are rare, they go for 3K in the US because they are said to be the best XTCs.
Amazing features

-3 Channels, Channel 2 and 3 with a boost
-Optional Plexi Mode in Ch3
-3 position pre EQ on each channel
-Air switch in Ch 2/3
-Master Tight/Loose switch
-Footswitchable serial loop with 2 levels for send/return and freely adjustable loop master
-Selectable Variac to bring down the voltage and make it more chewy (output -20%)
-Selectable Triode Mode (output -30%)
-Selectable to run on half power/two tubes (output -50%)
-So it can go from 100W to 50W to 25W to 7W
-Plate voltage is 570V  :o  well, but who cares ...
-Tone, did I say TONE?

This is running on 50W, 100 is just too much for at home! Anyways it's still running at 0.5 on the volume side  :lol:

Shiva is up for sale, make me offers please!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKqQYMeh3Wg


Edit: forgot to mention that it also has a switchable dummy load, so you can run it on full blast without cab and record the line outs through a speaker sim or send them to another poweramp/cab. This means power amp breakup/compression included in the line signal. Some of these features (Variac, dummy load) have disappeared with the switch to the 101B model.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 16, 2009, 06:38:25 PM
serious amp!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 06:51:43 PM
yep, serious indeed.

And seriously loud, too. Poor neighbours.

I forgot to mention that it has a dummy load. So you can run it without cab and record the line outs incl. master section breakup.

It's old though, from '95, a young timer so to say :O) And it has its quibbles which I need to get accustomed to. Not sure if I'll use it with the metal act, need to see if it can do the brootalz. But I wanted to have it anyways, guess I'm a hopeless ampaholic.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 16, 2009, 07:08:57 PM
I forgot to mention that it has a dummy load. So you can run it without cab and record the line outs incl. master section breakup.

This is a cool feature.
I think i too suffer from loving amps.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 16, 2009, 07:32:02 PM
LOL. That's all I'll say. PDT_008

Welcome back to the dark side!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Adam.M on June 16, 2009, 07:33:54 PM
I want it...

That + an Uber and i'd be set for life.

A steal huh? what'd you do, swap the Axe FX for it?

That plate voltage sounds insanely high!

It sounds like it's got just about every feature you could want. Sound wicked, too.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: dave_mc on June 16, 2009, 08:20:59 PM
awesome, i loved the ecstacy when i tried it :)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: HTH AMPS on June 16, 2009, 10:43:46 PM
570v plates is quite high for a modern amp, but around right for a vintage 100w Marshall.  Make sure you never skimp on output stage valves - it'll eat those Chinese valves for breakfast. 

Sounds really nice btw - bet that'll slay with the master on 3+

Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Twinfan on June 16, 2009, 11:00:47 PM
I'm saying absolutely nothing  :D  :D  :D
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: nfe on June 16, 2009, 11:10:48 PM
I'm saying absolutely nothing  :D  :D  :D

I am.

What happened to NASA's unmatchable engine of tone?
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Will on June 16, 2009, 11:30:23 PM
We knew it was coming. No big deal tbh... :lol:

Looks fecking awesome ;) soon you will be just running the axe's FX through it with no amp models though
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 11:34:03 PM
570v plates is quite high for a modern amp, but around right for a vintage 100w Marshall.  Make sure you never skimp on output stage valves - it'll eat those Chinese valves for breakfast. 

Sounds really nice btw - bet that'll slay with the master on 3+



Yeah. Two of the tubes that were in there when I got it red plated and it made a high frequency sweep when you switched off standby. I almost rejected it, but then had the idea to take the two good tubes and pull the fuse for the other pair to check it, and indeed it was working properly on those 2.

Imagine, the guy still had the first tubes in there. Never changed since early 90s. Preamp and poweramp!

I retubed it completely and it sounds at least twice as good as before.

At the moment this machine from hell is scaring me a bit. Very high temperatures going on there. Luckily power tubes have extra fuses pair wise, so if one tube goes, you can still continue the gig.

I will probably get a quad of Ruby EL34BHT, they seem to be the recommendation for XTCs, more reliable than SED =C= beyond 550V and less boomy too.I wanted to try a pair of SEDs I have lying around, but saw that at the lowest bias point they were at 42mA, so I took them out immediately.

For the two gigs with FreeLaunch this week it'll be the Axe FX. It's consistent and safe and in rehearsal today it was smashing. It's pumping and crushing like hardcore techno, which really does have something while you play.

Not sure yet if the XTC can pull it off for the metal act and also not sure I wanna lug the big rig around for 40min festival gigs. The Axe is pretty ideal for these occasions. Set up in 5 minutes and consistent, high quality signal going to FOH. We'll see.

I wouldn't have bought an amp, but I got this at significantly less than what it can be sold for if I restore some bits (proper retube, some plastic stuff, disintegrating fuse holders, dead power lamp, etc.) So I see it as kind of an investment. I still hope that Bogner can find one of those front panels (the black panel with the labels for the controls), as the fact that it's missing (and the Bogner logo) is a devaluing factor, even if the amp looks great as is.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Philly Q on June 16, 2009, 11:34:43 PM
I'm saying absolutely nothing  :D  :D  :D

I am.

What happened to NASA's unmatchable engine of tone?

 :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 11:40:54 PM
We knew it was coming. No big deal tbh... :lol:

Looks fecking awesome ;) soon you will be just running the axe's FX through it with no amp models though

Yeah I guess that would be a pretty killer rig. I could also use the Nobels MS-4 and switch amp and Axe FX all with programs from my Ground Control Pro. No more tap dancing and still tube head involved.

Or maybe I put the amp on dummy load, send line into the Axe and amplify it with the VHT2502, stereo into 2 4x12s. Haha, that would be a bit much for small club gigs, just maybe ...  :D

Or an idea for a smaller W/D setup would be to run the head dry, feed the Axe FX from the line outs and use the Axe' speaker emulation to put FX signal on my active 12/2 wedge.

Endless possibilities, too many I suppose.

Really gotta sell some stuff now!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 11:48:46 PM
Some pics and gut shots for the nerds:


(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/100B/front.jpg)

(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/100B/guts_all.jpg)

(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/100B/guts_L.jpg)

(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/100B/guts_R.jpg)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 16, 2009, 11:49:30 PM
PCB amp. Cool!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 16, 2009, 11:50:45 PM
Would look great with a cab like this:

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/splawn412white.jpg)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 16, 2009, 11:54:08 PM
Would look great with a cab like this:

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/splawn412white.jpg)

Ha! I had a similar thought:

(http://www.musik-schmidt.de/images/product_images/original_images/5150412I.jpg)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 17, 2009, 12:01:36 AM

which one should I go for?

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/thumbnails/images//Hardware/FPLR-120x100.jpg)

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/thumbnails/images//Hardware/FPLGR-120x100.jpg)

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/thumbnails/images//Hardware/FPLBL-120x100.jpg)

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/thumbnails/images//Hardware/FPLAM-120x100.jpg)

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/thumbnails/images//Hardware/FPLP-120x100.jpg)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 17, 2009, 12:04:15 AM
Please don't ask the 1s and 0s for advice!!

Get whichever one you want!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 17, 2009, 12:04:35 AM
blue lamp.
bosh!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 17, 2009, 12:04:47 AM
And what happened with the Fractal? Is that going?
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 17, 2009, 12:10:33 AM
And what happened with the Fractal? Is that going?

Never! It's my magic machine for everything.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Adam.M on June 17, 2009, 01:11:43 AM
Wow, the guts on that thing is very impressive. Nice!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: viking on June 17, 2009, 04:28:33 AM
Wow   8)!You almost got me with your micro Orange  :lol: Congrats,the XTC is supposed to be one of the best,if not the best !If you really want to sell your Shiva,PM me  :)   PS:would like to see your band live someday!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hamfist on June 17, 2009, 06:59:51 AM
Plate voltages like that and still PCB-mounted power tubes. That would frighten me a little bit, with all that associated heat.

Bogner do have a great rep for reliability though, so I expect all will be fine.

Note - why does everyone suspect that you have now gone off your Axe, now that you have bought another amp ?   
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: ailean on June 17, 2009, 02:10:56 PM
Looks sweet mate! You can never have too many options :)
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 17, 2009, 02:36:11 PM
Plate voltages like that and still PCB-mounted power tubes. That would frighten me a little bit, with all that associated heat.

Bogner do have a great rep for reliability though, so I expect all will be fine.

Note - why does everyone suspect that you have now gone off your Axe, now that you have bought another amp ?   

guess this is the reason for the big heat sync
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 17, 2009, 02:40:47 PM

guess this is the reason for the big heat sync

The heat sync is for the VariAC I was told.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 17, 2009, 03:05:05 PM
aaaah!
that makes even more sense
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 17, 2009, 03:07:38 PM
aaaah!
that makes even more sense

yep, makes also sense because the 101B doesn't have a heat sink ... and doesn't have the VariAC...
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: HTH AMPS on June 17, 2009, 07:47:26 PM

guess this is the reason for the big heat sync

The heat sync is for the VariAC I was told.

thats what I've have thought - and for the dummy load too, that'll generate lots of heat (that wattage needs to go somewhere and HEAT is where it goes).  that heatsink outdoes the Mesa ones hands down.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Dmoney on June 17, 2009, 08:57:36 PM
i totally forgot it had a variAC
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 17, 2009, 11:22:46 PM

guess this is the reason for the big heat sync

The heat sync is for the VariAC I was told.

thats what I've have thought - and for the dummy load too, that'll generate lots of heat (that wattage needs to go somewhere and HEAT is where it goes).  that heatsink outdoes the Mesa ones hands down.

ops you're right. It wasn't for the variac but for the dummy load. Today there was no sound, and it took me ages to find out that instead of switching the variac off, I had switched the dummy on  :lol:
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 18, 2009, 03:00:18 PM
Just discovered this: a mint one going for 4999,-, (http://tonetoys.biz/vintagetoys.html)

Now I feel GUUUT !

 :lol:
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: gwEm on June 18, 2009, 03:01:34 PM
gut gut super gut
gut gut super gut
gut gut super gut
alles super gut!

ecstacy is IN THE HOUSE!! bring the noise party people \o/ take off your shirts and wait for further instructions!!
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: hunter on June 18, 2009, 04:07:29 PM

It's getting better. The tubes the guy threw in for me, Duesentrieb over at Rig Talk identified them as RFT EL34s.

Those go for 149US$ a pair, and I have a perfectly matched quad.

LOL, what a steal. If the amp doesn't explode and burns the house, I think I made a good catch.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: HTH AMPS on June 18, 2009, 09:39:07 PM

It's getting better. The tubes the guy threw in for me, Duesentrieb over at Rig Talk identified them as RFT EL34s.

Those go for 149US$ a pair, and I have a perfectly matched quad.

LOL, what a steal. If the amp doesn't explode and burns the house, I think I made a good catch.

I noticed it had Siemens/RFT EL34s too - great valves.
Title: Re: Ecstasy is in the house
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 18, 2009, 09:41:37 PM
Siemens 12AX7s are THE SHIZ!!