Which should I get -- 20th Anniv. Ecstasy or 20th Anniv. Shiva?

[phoenix 7]

I need a super-versatile amp for my new cover band. We play guitar-oriented stuff from the 60's through the present, ranging from blues and classic rock to heavier stuff like Weezer and Alice in Chains. I play a Tele, Strat and Les Paul. I use a Germino 2x12 or 4x12, both with greenback reissues. I've already got an '03 Shiva that I love and it will probably become my backup amp.

I've narrowed it down to these two. Which amp would you buy?

[rp108]

I played an Ecstasy years ago and I was really impressed with it. For versatility, that's what you want. I never played a Shiva but from what I have seen it's pretty kick ass too. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[phoenix 7]

Thanks for the responses so far. This is actually a really tough decision for me, so I appreciate people's thoughts.

[cg]

I would go Ecstasy. An amazing amp full of fabulous tones.

[phoenix 7]

Hmm...5 to 1 in favor of the Ecstasy. I think I may see what I must do.

But seriously, part of what makes this decision tough is the great reverb in the Shiva (I don't think you can get reverb in the Ecstasy as an option). Would have to get a killer pedal to put in the loop. The simplicity of the Shiva is also pretty attractive to me -- so many knobs and buttons on the Ecstasy!

On the other hand, the plexi sounds in the Ecstasy + the heavier high gain channel are what really draw me to that amp.

[schristie]

I've been using a Shiva for the same type of gig for years....easier to add a good boost pedal in front to get the heavier gain than to mess with verb in the loop...that said I rarely find I need/use verb on the gig.

I just like the simplicity of the Shiva and it always sounds great.

[phoenix 7]

Originally Posted by schristie

I've been using a Shiva for the same type of gig for years....easier to add a good boost pedal in front to get the heavier gain than to mess with verb in the loop...that said I rarely find I need/use verb on the gig.

I just like the simplicity of the Shiva and it always sounds great.

Yeah, the verb isn't needed at gigs, but I like it when practicing. And yeah, the Shiva's simplicity is great. Plus it's hard to get a bad sound out of it. Not sure if that's the case with the Ecstasy.

[SeanMc]

+1 for the Shiva 20th. It does everything I need, and then some. Both channels sound great, and the clean channel is especially killer. It takes pedals extremely well, too.

[RSRD]

I'll give my input on this ( i know we've talked some about the 20th before )

1- If an amazing clean channel is a must : 20th Shiva
2- If you need 3 channels: XTC (the shiva has a great volume controlled boost that works like a 3rd/ lead channel but the XTC is a TRUE 3 different tone channelled amp.
3-I personally think the Shiva, with the Mode button and the excursion, can get heavier in rhythm then the XTC.
4- The XTC will have more liquidy leads

But the biggest thing for me personally is I just cant justify spending another $1,000 for the 20th XTC. 20th Shivas can now be found for $1700 + shipping. I cant find the xtc 20th for under 2700.... so thats a huge price point difference. For $1,000 I cannot say the XTC is worth it unless you have money to burn (the 20th XTC WILLL come down more in the used market in 1/2 a year or so)

Thats my 2 cents

ps- I'll add that I have a shiva and a 20th shiva and I look at buying the XTC every day! but would not get rid of my Shivas for the xtc. The clean channel is too important.

[phoenix 7]

Thanks very much again, Big Country!

So the clean channel on the 20th Anniv. Shiva is significantly superior to the 20th Anniv. Ecstasy's? If so, I think that tips things for me in the 20th Shiva direction. Beautiful cleans are really important to me.

Wish I could find a place that has both to test out. I might need to take a long road trip and do exactly that.

[RSRD]

For the money you are spending it would be worth finding a place to try the xtc 20th out to see if the cleans work for you. Im very picky on my cleans. I could never have the XTC or the 20th XTC as my main amp for that reason alone. Now the 20th xtc clean is better then it was, more in lines with the xtc classic clean, but still it cant compare to the Shiva. But if you dont pull hairs about your cleans then it may work. For me, the shivas clean channel is worth the price of admission. Its just as good on the 20th IMO and you have a few more bells and whistles to play with on it now (bright button and it gets more grit/plexi -ish )

Now if you are holding on to your shiva and dont mind the extra $1k then you would LOVE the blue channel and have the red for liquidy leads.


I know....Im not helping. Maybe you can tell I want to add a 20th xtc to the stable. But I would never do it at the expense of losing my 20th shiva. So that's how I came to my decision anyways.

Really aren't that many 20th xtc owners out there to help either...

ps- 8 to 8. How is that helping you lol!

[phoenix 7]

Actually, that's exactly the kind of info I was hoping for, BC -- I'm super picky about cleans too. I may have to go with the 20th Shiva.

And yeah, the votes have pretty much validated my sense that it's a tough decision!

[RSRD]

I think it's also a matter of both amps being so darn good! Keep us posted. There is a 20th shiva on rig talk at a good price (if it hasn't sold yet)

[phoenix 7]

Basically, the question for me comes down to this: whether it's best to have two footswitchable drive channels (red-high gain and blue-plexi) of the 20th Ecstasy or the superior cleans + reverb of the 20th Shiva. It's tough because the extra drive channel is a huge asset.

[RSRD]

Thats why I started with the shiva and am still saving up for the xtc (Though It seems as if I'll never save up enough to have both 8( I had to have the cleans of the shiva first and foremost. The blue and red channels would be amazing but the gain on tap, with excursion knob and Mode switch on the 20th shiva is all the gain I really need. Plus the boost is now a controlled volume. So its works perfectly for leads.