Bogner Shiva guys...in here!

[chrisolson]

Guys...looking at trading my Orange Rockerverb 50 head (MK 1), for a 2007 Bogner Shiva EL34 combo. I haven't really bonded with the Orange, and it doesn't give me anything I need that my other amps don't.

Any Shiva guys wanna talk me into this? I love modded Marshall tones, and I always liked Jerry Cantrell's tones on his early solo stuff which was supposedly Shiva heavy. Advantages/drawbacks?

The Orange is a great amp, but not a great amp for me. The low gain stuff doesn't do much for me, and the high gain loses it's crunch and just gets too compressed.

What say you? This will likely go down today.

[chrisolson]

It went down today.



Super cool amp...lots of tweaking to do...

[levantin]

Well you didn't need to be talked into it did you! Congrats, what's it like?

[tonemonster]

COngrats!!!!!! Sorry I didnt see this thread sooner as I would have talked you into it!

Shivas frickin rule. period. I love mine. its a great amp, the gain channel is marshall on steriods all day long and sounds monster, but the amp truly shines on the clean channel. I mean the clean is amazing. If I had to only own ONE amp, it would be the shiva. and that is going up against my mesa road king and my splawn qr. they are just purely great amps.

does yours have reverb?

what speaker does it have?

is it the old style or the newer green chassis on the rear model?

hook up with me later today and I can give you some tone settings in your interested.

[chrisolson]

Thanks a lot for the prompt responses, ya bastages...
You were all BIG helps!

Yes, it's like a hotter (but not quite "really hot") Marshall JCM800 type amp. Probably more on par with the gain of a JCM900, but without a MUCH sweeter and refined tone. The clean is probably the best I've heard, but since I have very little use for cleans, it will not be utilized much...sadly. The lead channel is a smoother, more articulate Marshall sound, without the graininess of the JCM amps. The gain needs a little help to get into 80's territory - at least at bedroom volumes. The boost really helps it to get there, and makes a great classic rock tone - purring overdrive. I hit it with my Boss SD1, and that's where it really got good! I will have to start bugging local guys to try out their OD pedals.

Tonemonster -- mine is the EL-34 model, dual reverb, green chassis, and has a Celestion Classic 80 - at least I'm told. I got it from the original owner, and no mods have been made. Original tubes too. I may take it in for a full re-tube and bias, as I have heard they do come biased a tad cold. We'll see...

By all means, post up your settings! Do it here, and we can keep the thread out here just in case there are a few more of us out here. PM me your phone number, and maybe I'll give you a shout after I've had some time with it. I might look into getting a headshell too, and turn it into a head down the road.

[horns666]

I love Celestion 80s!!!

Doesn't JC use an Uber..just wonderin'. Bogners rule regardless.

Thinking about grabbin' a Fireball though. I'm REALLY diggin' Loomis' tone since he's been using one. I know..it's in the hands. But I knda get close just slammin' the front of the Bogner w/ a TS-9. Maybe I should save the coin and just do that. :think:

Y"know I was ALWAYS against slammin' high gain shit with a silly stomp until fairly recently. But they really do work some magic....especially for harms, squeals and tightens HEAVY palm muting up. Total different feel and vibe. Chris, consider that before swappin', if you haven't already.

I play really heavy handed and that really makes a difference how any amp I play sounds. I notice the louder it gets, the harder I play. When I concentrate on easing off..it does get tighter. But that's not how I play, and I'm not changing now..

[chrisolson]

Jerry Cantrell has used Ubers on the "D Trip" stuff, but it was mainly the Shiva on "Boggy Depot". He uses Marshas with AIC right now.

Already made the trade, Bill. That said, I think I likely came out ahead on this one. The Shiva has some potential for some MAGIC. I did run an OD and boost with the Orange, but it just wasn't my amp. I'm firmly stuck on the world of Marshall mods.

I could never figure out the use of OD pedals in front of high gainers either...until I tried it! I love them now. They tighten things up if you use them right for sure! It gives you a whole new sound to work with. Not many negatives to doing that.

[horns666]

Oh poop...Didn't read the thread closely..

Fuggin' Congrats Chris..and welcome to the Bogner club. You'll love it.

Yes, I'll always be a Marshall guy at heart. That's why I had these amps so long. I chased my tail forever and just went full circle to Marshall. Most Splawn clips stimulates blood flow to the penis too.

[horns666]

Chris/everyone ..money aside. What is your preference SD-1 or TS-9. I remember liking the SD-1 back in the day. I recently borrowed my kid's bud's TS-9 thru the Bogner and loved it...but I'd wish I could A/B it with an SD-1.

I don't care about silly boutique mods or flux capacitors that broaden freq range. I just want a easily replaceable pedal you can get at any grocery store. Bogners have PLENTY of lows/highs on tap to care less about lopping off freqs.

[Hellbat]

TS-9 and SD-1 are very similar circuits. I think it's a slightly different op-amp in them and a couple resistor value changes. The SD-1 is a bargain pedal, you can get them new under $50 and used under $35 and you get that relatively bullet proof boss build quality. The TS-9 has a bit more of a midrange bump, more of a low cut and tends to add distortion more to higher frequencies than lower. This helps keep the bass frequencies a little tighter so things don't get flubby.

My advice is pick up an SD-1 used at around $40 and if you think you need a bit more midrange or tighter bottom then flip it or use it as a paperweight and then look at spending $150-200 on a TS-9/TS-808.

[horns666]

Hellbro...thanks for the info. I think I'll take that advice. No, I don't like flubby...except for butts. I don't mind a few dimples and whatnots. I like it!

[chrisolson]

Yep. I agree with Hellbat to the word. I prefer the SD1 to the tubescreamer because I think the mid hump on the TS is a little harsh to my sensibilities. The SD1 seems a little smoother. That said, I have a friend with an OCD that I'd like to check out too.

One thing to think about -- Zakk used the SD1 for years before getting his sig stuff through MXR. The Zakk OD is based around the SD1 for about twice the price.

As far as settings on the OD, I run the volume high and the gain low - usually about 3:00 and 9:00 respectively. You don't need to get it too distorted. You just need to make the preamp louder! The rest is "the magic" of overdrive.

[chrisolson]

Oh...and my Splawn Quick Rod has magically changed into a Splawn Competition. Both of those amps kill!! Marshall KILLERS for sure! No way to lose with those. I've never played such a pissed sounding amp.

[horns666]

Thanks Chris..."smooth" is exactly what I want!! When Glen Drover came over for their rehearsal. He just plugged his SD-1, into John's rack and his sound was spot on and instant in a matter of minutes. He's got a really smooth vibe to his playing too. There's a synergy between good players and their gear!

I think it really started with Van Halen..he ruined..I mean changed our lives forever! That fucker!

[Twitch]

I love Celestion 80s!!!

Doesn't JC use an Uber..just wonderin'. Bogners rule regardless.

Thinking about grabbin' a Fireball though. I'm REALLY diggin' Loomis' tone since he's been using one. I know..it's in the hands. But I knda get close just slammin' the front of the Bogner w/ a TS-9. Maybe I should save the coin and just do that. :think:

Y"know I was ALWAYS against slammin' high gain shit with a silly stomp until fairly recently. But they really do work some magic....especially for harms, squeals and tightens HEAVY palm muting up. Total different feel and vibe. Chris, consider that before swappin', if you haven't already.

I play really heavy handed and that really makes a difference how any amp I play sounds. I notice the louder it gets, the harder I play. When I concentrate on easing off..it does get tighter. But that's not how I play, and I'm not changing now..

Bill, what gauge strings do you use?