Busy Saturday - Test Run Bogner XTC, Shiva & VHT Sig X

Of all three of the amps you tried, probably the Shiva can be dialed-in to it's best sounds in one session. Those other two amps are so versatile I would imagine you just did barely break the surface of their full capabilities. I owned an Ecstasy 101B for almost two years and it took me a good 3-4 months of daily tweaking to find out everything it could do and it took more than two full sessions to get that nice compressed yet tight sound that I think you were looking for. I'm not doubting your dialing in skills, just letting you know one session, at least with the Ecstasy, will not show you even half of what that amp can do.

 

Geez, the GC near me doesn't have any of that stuff. I'm guessing places like Nashville and LA get the higher end stuff.

 

yeah, I can maybe help... also check out the Bogner Forum. Lots of knowledgeable folks there.

These settings were used in conjunction with my Bogner OS 2x12 closed back cab with english Celestion V30s.

Start with making sure the amp is in new style (switch on the back). Also make sure, if the amp has a Class A A/B switch, that it is switched to A/B mode. Set the Excursion switch for the Red and Blue channel to "T" (this is most important). Set the red channel's pre eq switch to B1, assign one of the presence controls to be shared by both the red channel and blue channel. On The Red channel set the presence between 1-3 oclock. set the treble between 11-1 oclock. set the middle between 10-1 oclock. set the bass to 11 oclock, gain between 10-12 oclock, volume to taste, but to get the goods it must be at least above 9 oclock.

this should get you pretty tight. the key to keep it tight is to keep it in new style, excursion on T (Tight) and then play with the presence and the gain knobs until you have enough compression but also enough cut.

good luck.

 

Just to add, the reason the excursion control setting of "T" was so important in the recommended settings is that is the Ecstasy's way of controlling the speaker cabinet dampening in order to give you that "tight" feel you were looking for.

Sounds like you need to drive back! Nirvana was laid out before you and you didn't realize it.

Or do yourself a favor and just buy one from an internet store that offers a 3 days no questions money back guarantee....and just get er done.

 

I was in that room on Saturday. They had some great stuff. I prefer the XTC, but there is a lot of knob turning to do. Great guitars in that room! Liked the Masterbuilt black Strat, and the PRS Modern Eagle.

 

I think he was saying he couldn't find 'his' tone, not that the amps were bad sounding

 

Use 6550s in it and rebias it! That will make it very tight, BUT the Blue Channel won't sound as warm and nice as it does with the EL34.. maybe that's what you're after!

 

Interesting... IME, I've found the opposite to be true. I put GL KT-88's in my XTC and, to my ears, the bigger bottles made it less compressed and warmer through all three channels. As a result, I lost of bit of that tightness in the bottom end, but with the XTC's excursion & pre EQ features, you can dial that in to taste. YMMV.

 

I love the EG5. Tough to beat for balls and balance.

 

I'm the same way, I haven't heard a lead tone that I like better than the EG5 on any amp.

 

A friend of mine has a MOD50 and raves about the EG5 module.

Thx Lution for the XTC settings. When I finally get to try one I'll use them.

 

Well...if you're using an M4-VHT2502 rig, than you've got your sounds. That's a killer rig. It can stand up to anything.