Bogner Ecstasy Classic?

[JackButler]

So, had 6L6 Shiva, cool amp, but not for me.
I am specifically checking out a Classic mod one.
What can you tell me? I know, been done to death, but what the heck. I've tried darn near every amp out there!

 

[MikeyG]

Some of the best lead tones ever. For rhythm, it's on the looser side, but with certain settings, you can tighten it up nicely. (VHT,for example, tends to be dry and tight, the XTC is loose and juicy). I like VHT's too, just using for comparison.

Plexi mode rocks!! I use it just for Plexi cleans and light crunch.

I've found that it's pickier about guitars than most amps. I prefer strats with it, humbuckers tend to magnify the looser nature.

 

[Sniper-V]

I'm on the market for a new Hi Gain amp...

I just tried out the XTC 101B and Classic for the first time this past weekend. I played the 101B before a while back but wasn't really in the mood to spend the dough for a new amp like that plus at the time I didn't think it was all that much of an improvement over my marshall stuff at the time. For a while, I was aiming towards the Classic because I just dug on the clips so much. Turns out I liked the 101B more.

With the Classic, I found it hard to get a decent tone right away starting at the typical "flat" settings. It sounded kinda on the thin side and somewhat bright in bad way and I like plenty of highs and mids. This just sounded harsh and thin. The cleans right away were very blah to me. With some tweaking I eventually got something decent and then started to like the amp and found very usable tones. The Blue Channel was very nice in both Plexi and normal mode. The Red was sweet too anf it covered the ground that I am looking for in Hi Gain. I was thinking that having a decent volume with this amp is definitely going to open it up more. I may want to try it again with more volume...

I plugged the 101B right after and immediately seemed warmer, thicker, and beefier. The tones were easier to grasp at the noon setting and with some tweaking sounded better. I seemed to enjoy it more so. I mirrored the settings I ran on the Classic and I preferred the 101B. I guess the voicing just meshes with my playing better. It costs a lot less too.

So, I like the 101B after that comparison but still looking at other lines for Hi-Gain.
But,
I'll keep my I out for a 101B...anyone got a 101B?

 

[sg love]

I really like the settings I have now on my Ecstasy.
So much so that I don't think I'll ever sell it.
I got the cleans to exactly my taste and the gain is amazing.
I even tried it out with an ESP LP copy.. whatever the call numbers are.. with the EMG's 81/85 combo in it and it still sounded good.
Not as good as my Strat or SG mind you, but still workable.
However when I switched to the Red channel, it got flubby for some reason or another.
Still, it's extremely versatile and sounds amazing.
The only amp I'm looking at that might give it a run is the VHT SIG X

 

[MikeyG]

the 101B and Classic are very similar in tone. The biggest differences are the lower compression in the Classic, and a better clean tone in the Classic.

Otherwise, they can be dialed to be virtually identical.

Something was wrong with the Classic you tried, Sniper. It's the antithesis of thin. More like a thick chocolate shake that you have to eat with a spoon!

 

[Greazygeo]

You won't like it.....:BEER

 

[geetarman]

Something was wrong with the Classic you tried, Sniper. It's the antithesis of thin. More like a thick chocolate shake that you have to eat with a spoon!

I agree I couldn't get a thin tone out of my Classic if I tried.

 

[1973Marshall]

While the clean of the Shiva is still a TO DIE FOR tone for me both in practical use AND in my own head....

The XTC Classic is the most UNREAL amp I have ever played. I like it much MORE than the 101B, its got the chewy mids, smooth tone with just enough attitude and hair. The PLEXI mode is as good as an old school Marshall, and the clean is nice and OPEN! The WHOLE AMP IS OPEN!

The sound is HUGE!

 

[JackButler]

Great info, and spot on what I need for this possible decision.
From this reading, I think the Classic is more my girl here.
Keep it coming and thanks so much!

 

[MikeyG]

If you're gonna buy new, I'd call Stu at Fat Sound. He's been using a 101B for years, but tells me he'd probably switch to a Classic now, based on how he plays.

I've never done a comparison of the 2 amps, I'm only relaying what I've read as the differences. Stu has actual experience with both, and won't just sell you a Classic if it's not suited for you.

You might also contact Braciola via PM. He did some clips a while back that compared both versions. I think they may have even been made a sticky on the Bogner forum ... BrentSP runs it, he can tell you. (BTW, that Bogner forum is a great place to ask this same question).

 

[Sniper-V]

the 101B and Classic are very similar in tone. The biggest differences are the lower compression in the Classic, and a better clean tone in the Classic.

Otherwise, they can be dialed to be virtually identical.

Something was wrong with the Classic you tried, Sniper. It's the antithesis of thin. More like a thick chocolate shake that you have to eat with a spoon!

That's something I forgot to mention. I did consider that there may have been something going on with the Classic. Possibly bad or microphonic tubes that makes it sound anemic and thin. Even though at this particular dealer, the Classic was brand new shipped in about a week ago and the 101B has been out for a while.

I haven't given up and I have a feeling there was something wrong with the Classic I played. Because from descriptions and clips, I should be digging the Classic by far.

Well see...

 

[Sniper-V]

I agree I couldn't get a thin tone out of my Classic if I tried.

Well, I guess I need to really look into trying another.

Especially when the cleans should be far superior than the 101B and that wasnt the case during my last demo.

 

[Lution]

Here is the link to some comparison clips from the Bogner Forum:

http://bognerampforum.informe.com/differences-between-the-xtc-101b-and-classic-dt26.html

Feel free to join. Lots of great info there.

These clips pretty much sold me on the 101B over the Classic based on my playing style (legato), but you really cannot go wrong with either.


~Oh I should add when I went to try both these amps out I did not see any superiority over the other going on in the clean channel. They both had similar sounding cleans. They both sounded great if you work with them to dial them in.

 

[MikeyG]

Here is the link to some comparison clips from the Bogner Forum:

http://bognerampforum.informe.com/differences-between-the-xtc-101b-and-classic-dt26.html

Feel free to join. Lots of great info there.

These clips pretty much sold me on the 101B over the Classic based on my playing style (legato), but you really cannot go wrong with either.


~Oh I should add when I went to try both these amps out I did not see any superiority over the other going on in the clean channel. They both had similar sounding cleans. They both sounded great if you work with them to dial them in.

Yes, those are Braciola's clips, I referred to them earlier in the thread.