Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: hunter on July 15, 2006, 05:40:50 PM
-
Allright, I wanted to know it today, drove 200KM to a shop that had them all, and tested heads for 3 hours. Here's what i think:
Diezel VH4: Very Nice. I actually don't need more than Channel 1 and 2, but 3 is still nice, 4 is too much :) It lacks character though, although it does sound good!
Soldano HR50, SLO-100: Outch! This thing cuts through !!! There's not much bass at hand, but I guess it's VERY audible in band context. Very hard and direct, very nice in its own way, but it hurts my ears, sorry. I like the gain of the amp, but it's too bright for me, even with presence down. Liked SLO100 more than the HR50. Clean is OK, but just OK.
Custom Audio Electronics 50: Nice, refined. Nice cleans, nice crunch, nice overdrive. Where does all the hype come from? I guess this is something for pros, to me this is too boring and sophisticated, I need something more agressive.
Bogner Shiva: Aaaaahhhhhhhhh, now THIS is a nice clean sound. Wooohoooo, I am not a big clean player, but almost forgot that there is another channel. This is a VERY nice clean channel, the best I heard maybe? Switch to drive and ... THANK YOU. Man this thing has balls and crunch, I LOVE IT. No matter how you dial the it, it always sounds great. Really! On V30, on Greenbacks, different but always great. The boost channel finally is pure tone and fun. I understand now what people mean if they say that this is what Marshalls are supposed to sound like.
Bogner XTC Classic: Oh-Oh .... sh... I just thought I was happy with a 2,000 EUR amp, and now I play a 4,500 EUR one and all the happiness about the Shiva is gone. FXXX. This sounds awesome. Not better than the Shiva, just 20x more different sounds !!! Awesome. Again, there is not one bad tone no matter what the settings. Modern/Vintage? No problem. Class A or A/B? No problem, just flip a switch. 50/100 Watts? Easy. And then ... this ... arghhh ...PLEXI MODE! Goodness. I'm on my knees. This is AMAZING. NOOO, I DON'T WANNA SPEND 4,500!!! This is insane !!!!
Now I don't know. The Shiva was 100% satisfaction, I could have got it and been happy for years to come. But now I tested the Classic, and that's a different animal. Like going from B- to A League.
I tend to get the Shiva, because 4,500 EUR for an amp is crazy. On the other hand I might still be GASing if I got one. Will keep you posted, but let's vote, should I get the SHIVA or THE XTC Classic?
By the way, I will sell my Engl Screamer Top with Z5 as well as my THD UniValve with many tubes and yellowjacket adapter, if you're interested ...
-
it ain't called XTC for nothin'. however - i'd never spend that money on an amp unless i was completely sure it'd be my last.
-
I voted for the cheaper amp, because, well, there will always be GAS, no matter how much you spend.
-
I don't know because I haven't tried either- searcher is right in a way in that there'll always be GAS, but at the same time is it wise to buy something when you really want something else?
Damned if I know, I have GAS so bad right now... it's got to the stage where about 20% of the things I try, I end up GASsing for... :(
-
All I can add is experiance.
I own a DSL 1/4 stack and I do love it....However at the time when i purchased it I could have had anything and like I say I do love the amp but if I had my time again I would have got something far more amazing because you might not get the chance again.
-
Having a look at the specs they like totally different creatures (if the XTC is half as good as it looks on paper and on the mp3s) then the question is will the Shiva truely do all that you want ?
If it can't then you know the answer
Rob...
(I didn't choose any options as I don't have any right to express an opinion.)
-
It's a difficult decision. On one hand I would enjoy the versatility of the XTC, on the other hand I like amps with a simple layout, as otherwise you tend to get lost optimising settings.
It seems to me the Shiva is just what I need, but it could lack a little extra here and there.
On the other hand I could get the XTC and hate it for its weight, size and cost. I tested the XTC much shorter time than the Shiva, although there's much more to discover ... maybe too much.
-
only thing I can suggest is really take your time to make your mind up, and go again to try them if at all possible (this time only those two, to take more time with each). Don't feel pressured into buying something...
-
do you REALLY need all the features on the XTC? - decide what tones you really need and get the amp that gives you this.
:twisted:
-
^ ah, agreed. Features are awesome- if you use them. And as long as they aren't at the expense of tone.
:lol:
-
Dude..I have just been over to the Bogner site and my $%&#ing word..talk about tone!!!! Go for the XTC classic, not saying the other one was anything less then stunning but if your gonna do it ,do it properly!
YEAH! :twisted: :twisted:
The Plexi modes are so $%&#ing dirty!!!!
http://www.bogneramplification.com/XtcGV2.mp3
Anyone know where you can get one in ol blighty?
I am in love!!!
THE GAS HURTS SO BAD!!
-
The XTC101B EL34 is a beast aswell.
-
If I could buy a 4,500 euro amp I would buy it. You only live once.
-
^ ^ www.guitarguitar.co.uk
they're the new distributor- one in glasgow, edinburgh, and newcastle.
-
8) 8) 8) :twisted:
The circle is complete.
-
^ aye. I was annoyed, since I was in the one in edinburgh last year, and they didn't stock bogner then.. :(
-
Seriously, before you buy it, try out an orange rockverb 50 watt combo, unf**kingbelievable sound. But I did hear the shiva before and honestly it stunned me.
-
Really into the K.I.S.S. method here, and tis why opetd for the simple Screamer head.
That said, dos'nt stop me gassing for the Ultra complicated Engl Se :)
-
Agree with KISS. TZhe Shiva is layed out like the Screamer actually (except it has bass/treb for clean channel), just sounds way different.
-
would you really want to own the best amp in the world? coz u know in 3 years time u'd have sold it for something else, and for the rest of your life u'll regret buying a 4500 quid amp and selling it at somepoint.
this is the problem is the grass always greener on the otherside?.. yes and no.
-
Well 4500-2000=2500.
So, basically you could get a Shiva and then spend 2500€ on nice pedals :)...
or get a nice custom guitar :) :)...
or maybe buy the entire BKP range :D...
...just a thought
Anyway the samples on the Bogner page sound /§$% awesome!!!
I especially like those Greg V ones...what you can do with ton AND tastefull chops, sigh...
-
I don't know if you have already made your mind but here's my opinion.
This kind of a situations are always difficult. like when i was buying a tv, i first checked out the nicest tv in the store, and after that all the others didn't give me any satisfaction :)
If i'd have the money, i'd buy that XTC, because i know i would just spend the rest of the money on nightclubs and so on haha :D
But anyways, i ended up buying that expensive tv and i dont regret it one bit.
You'll have to think if there's something that would give you more satisfaction for the money than that amp.
I remember when i spend all my the money i got from my summer job on a guitar and amp. but i cant really think anything else that would have given me the same satisfaction.
-
'Morning Ilkka, agree with what you said.
In the end it was not a money decision (maybe a bit) but after another test (which was the only way for me to find out) I realised how confused I was with the XTCs many switches, options, potis etc.
With the Shiva I felt at home immediately and the sounds just got better everytime I plugged into one. I haven't regret the decision one second since then, and it's been some months now.
Which doesn't mean that this will be the last amp i got , there's still some space left in my house
:twisted: