So the Shiva just isn't for me...suggestions?

[guitarded_1]

So after initially struggling with the Shiva to find a tone I dig, I finally retubed and biased today thinking that would change things considerably. Bottom line...although it is a cool amp...it just isn't my thing. I'm not running it with V30's as others have suggested, but even if I did, I can just tell that the fundamental voicing is not my cup of tea. Between the low mid focus and the top end sizzle, I can't bond. Ah yes...the search continues.

So I'm stuck in the $1600ish price range...50 or 100 watts. My taste in tone ranges from Zep and Thin Lizzy to Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains. I think that I'm looking for a dual channel amp with great cleans (I like my cleans slighly broken up), and a gain channel that is like a souped up JCM 800 meets Plexi. I don't need uber high gain (as I hate modern metal), but I want enough gain to stray into modern rock territory. I don't want an amp that has too much midrange snarl, nor can I tolerate even a hint of sizzle. I just want solid low end, punchy mids and, clear highs. I definitely dig a more open and less compressed amp.

Suggestions?

[Deacon]

Marshall DSL 100?

Mesa Lone Star?

Rivera Tremoverb Dual Recto?

Originally Posted by guitarded_1

So after initially struggling with the Shiva to find a tone I dig, I finally retubed and biased today thinking that would change things considerably. Bottom line...although it is a cool amp...it just isn't my thing. I'm not running it with V30's as others have suggested, but even if I did, I can just tell that the fundamental voicing is not my cup of tea. Between the low mid focus and the top end sizzle, I can't bond. Ah yes...the search continues.

So I'm stuck in the $1600ish price range...50 or 100 watts. My taste in tone ranges from Zep and Thin Lizzy to Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains. I think that I'm looking for a dual channel amp with great cleans (I like my cleans slighly broken up), and a gain channel that is like a souped up JCM 800 meets Plexi. I don't need uber high gain (as I hate modern metal), but I want enough gain to stray into modern rock territory. I don't want an amp that has too much midrange snarl, nor can I tolerate even a hint of sizzle. I just want solid low end, punchy mids and, clear highs. I definitely dig a more open and less compressed amp.

Suggestions?

[Deacon]

Oh ... another idea

Orange Rockerverb 50

GREAT sounding 2 channel amp.

[Jimmydeez]

Go find a Budda Superdrive right away. Trust me.

[sickboy79]

Originally Posted by Jimmydeez

Go find a Budda Superdrive right away. Trust me.

I was just about to type that!!!! I couldn't agree more!!!!

[guitarded_1]

Originally Posted by sickboy79

I was just about to type that!!!! I couldn't agree more!!!!

Based on descriptions, that was the first thing that came to mind for me as well. I'm not into EL84's, so I reckon that I would be looking at the 45 or the 80, right? Wouldn't the 80 have a more modern voicing? I hear people say that the 80 is almost unusable as it's so freakin' loud, as well as issues with balancing volumes between channels. Comments?

[Jimmydeez]

I have the 18 and love it... It's all about the voxy cleans and voxy/marshall on steroid dirty channel.

I'm not sure what the 45 or 80 sound like.

[jamison162]

I owned a 6L6 Shiva, like it much better than the EL34. Still, as suggested I really dig the Budda SD amps and own an Orange Rockerverb 50. Go with the Orange man, it'll rock your world!

[rdamato]

I'm at the same point with my Shiva. Just too loud. I'll lurk and see what people come up with.

[aroman]

Budda Superdrive- own
Top Hat Emplexador- owned
Aiken Sabre-read
Marshall Vintage Modern sounds cool LOUD- played

[wrightdude]

Originally Posted by guitarded_1

I hear people say that the 80 is almost unusable as it's so freakin' loud, as well as issues with balancing volumes between channels. Comments?

The 80 is pretty freakin loud!

Balancing the channels "volume" actually is very easy in that the clean channel has its own gain knob... the problem lies in how do you "like" your cleans?

If you like your cleans clean then you will most likely have no problem dialing in a spot that puts the balance where you like. If you like your cleans dirty and want to crank the clean gain knob, then that will make the clean channel very loud by comparison... There are mods for that though...

I tend to like my cleans clean, then roll back guitar vol knob for "crunch" in the OD channel, crank the guitar vol for sweet sweet thick OD!!!!! oh yeah!

[edit BTW the channel bal issue is all the SD's not just the 80..../edit]

[Leo27]

Ah yes, the Superdrives...but which one???

[ohshait]

used bad cat? hot cat maybe, if you're into the British chime and matchless type overdrive

[snoggin]

If youwant to rock go with the 18.. It is killer and really plenty loud

[Darkburst]

A recent Splawn Quickrod should do the trick.