Bogner Shiva owners; cpl questions...

[rust_in_peace]

Interested in getting a Bogner Shiva (older, EL34 version), but had a couple questions:

1) On most of the clips I've heard, the amps seems a little "muffled", like there's a blanket over the speaker. Is this common? I've read that these amps tend to be on the dark side, is this what people are referring to?

2) How does the dirt channel clean up? Does it respond well to rolling off the volume knob, i.e. not get thin and loose a bunch of volume?

I would love to be able to try one in person, but this is SD. Options are pretty limited out here.

 

[thiscalltoarms]

I think the volume roll off is very balanced and works for me. It'd be hard for me to judge the clips but I know from experience that it is a darker amp and, most importantly, that the tone controls sound best unconventionally placed. For instance- I run the presence knob between 75-90% cranked! while cutting the gain channel treble way back and pushing the bass and mids on the gain channel up a bit. It isn't what you expect from most EQ stacks. Tweak with your eyes closed and get these amps turned up and it is absolutely magic.

 

[gtrs]

Interested in getting a Bogner Shiva (older, EL34 version), but had a couple questions:

1) On most of the clips I've heard, the amps seems a little "muffled", like there's a blanket over the speaker. Is this common? I've read that these amps tend to be on the dark side, is this what people are referring to?

2) How does the dirt channel clean up? Does it respond well to rolling off the volume knob, i.e. not get thin and loose a bunch of volume?

I would love to be able to try one in person, but this is SD. Options are pretty limited out here.

Not sure I'd call it dark but rather full. Speaker choice will obviously influence that greatly.

For all shades of Classic Rock all you need is there. Adjust the guitars volume knob and go. I found the dirt channel cleaned up fine.

For anything heavier find an original Fulltone Fatboost. It matches up nicely with that amp.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I've had 3 different Bogner Shivas.
I really like that amp.
It's a warm amp, not dark. Can be as bright as a Marshall JCM800 if you dial it in that way. It has full bass n mids. Likes Celestion V30s.
I really like the way the gain channel reacts when backing off the guitar volume. That channel with an od to hit it is about all a person needs to go from light crunch to singing leads.

The only thing I didn't care for was the lack of attack on the dirt channel. It feels soft, not as tight and articulate as a Marshall JCM. Definitely nothing like the Friedman BE100 that I have now.
That said, I could see having a Shiva again some day. Great amp.

 

[rust_in_peace]

The only thing I didn't care for was the lack of attack on the dirt channel. It feels soft, not as tight and articulate as a Marshall JCM. Definitely nothing like the Friedman BE100 that I have now.
That said, I could see having a Shiva again some day. Great amp.

Hmm... this concerns me. I like a pretty punchy attach. Thanks for the insight.

 

[LPMojoGL]

^ Yeah, the attack is not very percussive.
Still a killer amp that can be had for a good used price (~$1300 in good shape). Easy enough to flip if it's not your thing.

 

[RSRD]

Great, great amp. Definitely a darker voicing. Key is watching the mids. It's such a mid heavy amp as is. Play woth the presence high and don't have the mids with gain up high simultaneously. Cleans up nicely with the volume knob. Also agree it doesn't respond to pick attacks as well as some other amps like a soldano.

Cleans are out of this world organic, woody greatness!

 

[GuitarGuy3]

IMO one of the best amps out there. I had the original Shiva and then sold it when I heard the 20th Anni Shiva. The original is a great amp but it wasn't as versatile as the 20th. My original didn't sound muffled or dark. The 20th Shiva is very comparable to my XTC. The crunch sound is awesome and the clean is crystal clear.

 

[ksandvik]

Just use it with the right cab/speaker combination (V30s are really nice.) Also, if you play with the master channel down and the channel volume up, there's less clarity than the other way around (IMHO.)

Shiva is my workhorse. From R&B/funk to close to metal.

 

[lkft]

I have a 2004 Shiva with the gold footswitch and silver chassis. It's the EL34 w/reverb model. IMO one of the best MV/channel switchers out there if you're into Marshall crunch and Fender cleans. Extremely well made, nice beefy traces on a quality PCB construction with flying leads off the pots and quality components. Massive iron, the head weighs in at 50lbs! As far as the tone goes think JCM800 w/o the upper mid harshness for the drive channel and Fender Twin-ish w/a little Vox-ish chime for the cleans. I use mine w/a Bogner OS 2X12 cab w/V30s and the sound is articulate w/nice, tight bass response. Can be on the dark side w/humbuckers but really pairs up well w/single coils. Using the reverb takes a little of the upper presence away from the tone so I usually run a delay in the loop instead of reverb and a little compression up front. No need for anything else as far as pedals go. Has a boost for the drive channel but not for the clean channel, this was revised w/newer models (green chassis) to allow the boost for the clean as well to get some nice plexi tones. The BEST master volume I've ever used...PERIOD! Some concerns would be the hot FX loop which requires a special ducking cable to use w/stomp boxes. A two-speed fan that blows on the OT that makes a whirring sound that some ppl complain about but it's really not noticeable. The clean up w/the guitar's volume isn't as responsive as I'd like. It can't do high gain. However none of these negatives outweigh the awesome tone that the Shiva puts out and has never let me down after almost 10yrs of gigging. Great amp!

 

[gtrs]

Both my Shiva's (a EL-34 & a 6L6) sounded really good with a Weber Silver Bell.
Lead 80 is also a great choice.
If you want more bite but still have that organic Classic Rock tone with more gain available then look for a used XTC Classic. Cleans are not as good but the OD channels delivered everything I ever wanted out of both my Shiva's.
Mine won't be going anywhere anytime soon unless I score a 100B someday and find that it's way better.