20thA XTC Review - about 20 hours in...

[Heritage Softail]

Great to hear an amp that did not 'wear off' in the love phase. Seems like a few amps in one. Considering that, it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps. I love my SLO. But....if I can get that in another channel switcher and then some, it would be hard to resist.

Is there the classic SLO goodness in there??

 

[TheMagicEight]

it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps

That's been my experience. The ONLY thing I believe the EL34 Ecstasy 20th can't do exceptionally well is Fender-like shimmering cleans. The cleans still sound fantastic, but given the choice of anything for cleans, I'd use something 6L6. For every other sound you could want, this is the amp! This amp takes any guitar, for any gain level, and gives you the exact sound you're looking for!

Lately, one of my favorite things to do is run the amp in plexi mode, crank the MV, and use the gain knob to get cranked plexi tones and then some! Triode mode is also incredible. With an M75 loaded Bogner 4x12, triode mode gets some of the creamiest tones I've ever heard!

 

[Oz Hofstatter]

Not an intentional bump, but gotsta say...

Now that the 20thA 4x12 loaded with V30's has completely smoothed out with its break in period, this thing sounds out-f*ckin-rageous.

My love for this amp will never die... Imagine, it started perfect. Now, after several months, the cab when cranked and mic'd compared to what I was recording a few months ago?? Noticeably different - and I loved it as it was!!! But it just so happens, ya, it's done now - completely preened and pounded (with love). Sounds just bloody unbelievable, I didn't think it could get better - it did.

I've heard some rumors that KT77's (specifically Genalex/Gold Lion) are the bees knees in this head (the EL34 loaded version). I can't imagine it getting better. If and when my tubes go or blow, I may try them out, but I'll make sure to order another quad of EL34's as well - this thing is just perfect to my ears.

THANK YOU REINHOLD!!!!

The official end of my review.

V.

You should try a quad of NOS Siemens EL34..... Ridiculous good!
Cheers,
Oz

 

[glip22]

Gentlemen - the black tolex looks sooooooooooooooooooooo classy...

So last night I jammed - been a while. Nevertheless, one of my buddies who's adept at all instruments (don't ya just hate them kind?!?!?! ) asked to try out my '57GTDB with my 20thA. He couldn't stop. He just kept laughing and said "My gawd man, to not have to struggle with the guitar, the action, the neck, the feel, and most of all...the tone of the amp!!". He then went on to ask me "does this amp ALWAYS sound like this??". To which I responded there's a reason I don't like putting anything in front of the amp FX wise. He was blown away with the Blue and the Red - bar none - just amazed that even with his fiddlin', it sounded brilliant.

Just an FYI to Se7en and ttosh, I think I figured out the PM issue I was concerned about - no problem - just a complete oversight on my part... Duh It's fine - 100% fine...

Peace,
V.

V. Im gassing for the 20th each time I read your posts, you should be a Bogner salesman, dude you know how to convience people.

So I was hoping you could do a full audio/video review of the amp. for us, because there are hardly any videos (plus Ive seen em all) of this amp and what it can do.

I am especially interested in the blue and red channels, and how they can cope with say a Marsha or a PT-100 since those are the amps I am contemplating on buying.

Anyway congrats, enjoy the amp,
Regards,

Nico.

I cannot comment on the Marsha but the PT100 and the 20th XTC are both great amps. The PT100 kills on the clean channel pretty much any channel switcher I have heard. If you get the full options on both they can both cover a great deal of territory. I found the PT100 to be a bit dry overall compared to the 20th based on the gain channels. The PT100 will definitely get you into a more modern territory while the 20th gets close, just does not have the low end of the PT100, I would not be able to say either is better than the other, one would have to play both and decide what fit their style and needs best.

The Marsha seems to be a bit more limited than either of these amps, not to say it is not a great amp, with great tone and options. I just do not see a direct comparison of it as I do the PT100 and 20th XTC.

Put a quad of Gold Lion KT77 tubes in and you will have plenty of low end.Trust me. Bogner's love KT77's. Someone should let Reinhold know this.

 

[jlbaxe]

Yep still luv mine (6L6 version) I throw the Axe-Fx in the loop return and get the Fendery Vibe Oddly enough my '07 Cameron Mod'd Uber (EL34s) gets the Glassy cleans on Ch1 and the Axe sounds amazing in the return loop into the Bogner 4x12 Ecstasy Cab.

 

[Ventura]

it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps

That's been my experience. The ONLY thing I believe the EL34 Ecstasy 20th can't do exceptionally well is Fender-like shimmering cleans. The cleans still sound fantastic, but given the choice of anything for cleans, I'd use something 6L6. For every other sound you could want, this is the amp! This amp takes any guitar, for any gain level, and gives you the exact sound you're looking for!

Lately, one of my favorite things to do is run the amp in plexi mode, crank the MV, and use the gain knob to get cranked plexi tones and then some! Triode mode is also incredible. With an M75 loaded Bogner 4x12, triode mode gets some of the creamiest tones I've ever heard!

Ya, it's pretty bloody ridiculous how GOOD (no wait, AWESOME) this amp really is...

As for the shimmery cleans, the Gold Lion KT77's seem to be addressing this issue quite nicely, while not affecting the rest of the 'tonal perfection'. Ya, after several months, there's ZERO loss of GEE-WHIZZZZZ in this amp!! It still remains, IMHO, a masterpiece of an amp!!

Peace Y'All,
V.

 

[glip22]

it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps

That's been my experience. The ONLY thing I believe the EL34 Ecstasy 20th can't do exceptionally well is Fender-like shimmering cleans. The cleans still sound fantastic, but given the choice of anything for cleans, I'd use something 6L6. For every other sound you could want, this is the amp! This amp takes any guitar, for any gain level, and gives you the exact sound you're looking for!

Lately, one of my favorite things to do is run the amp in plexi mode, crank the MV, and use the gain knob to get cranked plexi tones and then some! Triode mode is also incredible. With an M75 loaded Bogner 4x12, triode mode gets some of the creamiest tones I've ever heard!

Ya, it's pretty bloody ridiculous how GOOD (no wait, AWESOME) this amp really is...

As for the shimmery cleans, the Gold Lion KT77's seem to be addressing this issue quite nicely, while not affecting the rest of the 'tonal perfection'. Ya, after several months, there's ZERO loss of GEE-WHIZZZZZ in this amp!! It still remains, IMHO, a masterpiece of an amp!!

Peace Y'All,
V.

You tried the GL 77's. They are killer.

 

[Ventura]

it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps

That's been my experience. The ONLY thing I believe the EL34 Ecstasy 20th can't do exceptionally well is Fender-like shimmering cleans. The cleans still sound fantastic, but given the choice of anything for cleans, I'd use something 6L6. For every other sound you could want, this is the amp! This amp takes any guitar, for any gain level, and gives you the exact sound you're looking for!

Lately, one of my favorite things to do is run the amp in plexi mode, crank the MV, and use the gain knob to get cranked plexi tones and then some! Triode mode is also incredible. With an M75 loaded Bogner 4x12, triode mode gets some of the creamiest tones I've ever heard!

Ya, it's pretty bloody ridiculous how GOOD (no wait, AWESOME) this amp really is...

As for the shimmery cleans, the Gold Lion KT77's seem to be addressing this issue quite nicely, while not affecting the rest of the 'tonal perfection'. Ya, after several months, there's ZERO loss of GEE-WHIZZZZZ in this amp!! It still remains, IMHO, a masterpiece of an amp!!

Peace Y'All,
V.

You tried the GL 77's. They are killer.

Just swapped a quad into the chassis of beat-to-shit 77's, I see where they're going to go... I agree, there's nothing wrong with this

V.

 

[glip22]

it may actually be cheaper to just get an EL34 XTC than have a few other amps

That's been my experience. The ONLY thing I believe the EL34 Ecstasy 20th can't do exceptionally well is Fender-like shimmering cleans. The cleans still sound fantastic, but given the choice of anything for cleans, I'd use something 6L6. For every other sound you could want, this is the amp! This amp takes any guitar, for any gain level, and gives you the exact sound you're looking for!

Lately, one of my favorite things to do is run the amp in plexi mode, crank the MV, and use the gain knob to get cranked plexi tones and then some! Triode mode is also incredible. With an M75 loaded Bogner 4x12, triode mode gets some of the creamiest tones I've ever heard!

Ya, it's pretty bloody ridiculous how GOOD (no wait, AWESOME) this amp really is...

As for the shimmery cleans, the Gold Lion KT77's seem to be addressing this issue quite nicely, while not affecting the rest of the 'tonal perfection'. Ya, after several months, there's ZERO loss of GEE-WHIZZZZZ in this amp!! It still remains, IMHO, a masterpiece of an amp!!

Peace Y'All,
V.

You tried the GL 77's. They are killer.

Just swapped a quad into the chassis of beat-to-shit 77's, I see where they're going to go... I agree, there's nothing wrong with this

V.

The notes jump out more. The highs are killer sweet. The mids growl more. More complex as well.The bass is chunkier and tighter. The cleans have more sparkle because of the nicer high end. The amp also has quite a bit more punch with the 77's. No glassiness like the KT88. You do lose a little of the el34 sag but the benefits more than outweigh it. Just my opinion.

 

[Ventura]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^....This

I still won't stray from my EL34's for quite sometime. I mean, hell, I've got several months on this baby and there's just no way I'm even in the slightest bit bored or needful of anything else. I just wanted to try it out, and I agree, there's some merit to the 77's, but for now, it'll be my EL34 rig for ALL the right reasons.

Maybe in, like, 5 years after gigging, recording and jamming with this thing, I'll want a change

But props - you're definitely onto something with this glass

V.

 

[steve_k]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

 

[Jay Strange]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

 

[glip22]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Better than the G12T mix? I have the cab with the X pattern. Do tell.

 

[Ventura]

The straight up all V30 20thA cab I have with my head runs perfectly well - love it... I'm always leery about a cab loaded exclusively with V30's...but in this case, PUMPS!!!

Peace,
V.

 

[glip22]

The straight up all V30 20thA cab I have with my head runs perfectly well - love it... I'm always leery about a cab loaded exclusively with V30's...but in this case, PUMPS!!!

Peace,
V.

What goes around.... At least 2 Vintage 30's is much more cost effective than a new Shiva 20th.

 

[steve_k]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Yeppers....4xV30's in a FL Ubercab is the skin ticket for the 20X.

Steve

 

[steve_k]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Better than the G12T mix? I have the cab with the X pattern. Do tell.

Way better. The T75's was thrown in the rear load Ubercab design to probably give the Uberschall some mid character. I had to spare 16ohm V30's sitting around and the soldering iron was hot, so I tore into the front loaded cab. BTW, Bogner doesn't leave much excess speaker wire. Resoldering from the front can be tricky. And, they use 10 gauge wire....dayum. But hell yes, the 20X sounds great through it. I am pretty much a V30 kind of guy.

Steve

 

[glip22]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Better than the G12T mix? I have the cab with the X pattern. Do tell.

Way better. The T75's was thrown in the rear load Ubercab design to probably give the Uberschall some mid character. I had to spare 16ohm V30's sitting around and the soldering iron was hot, so I tore into the front loaded cab. BTW, Bogner doesn't leave much excess speaker wire. Resoldering from the front can be tricky. And, they use 10 gauge wire....dayum. But hell yes, the 20X sounds great through it. I am pretty much a V30 kind of guy.

Steve

Steve, Do you think it will work with the TJ based on your memory of the amp? I know V's are good with the Shiva 20th.

 

[jlbaxe]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Better than the G12T mix? I have the cab with the X pattern. Do tell.

Way better. The T75's was thrown in the rear load Ubercab design to probably give the Uberschall some mid character. I had to spare 16ohm V30's sitting around and the soldering iron was hot, so I tore into the front loaded cab. BTW, Bogner doesn't leave much excess speaker wire. Resoldering from the front can be tricky. And, they use 10 gauge wire....dayum. But hell yes, the 20X sounds great through it. I am pretty much a V30 kind of guy.

Steve

Steve, Do you think it will work with the TJ based on your memory of the amp? I know V's are good with the Shiva 20th.

I haven't played that amp but my rev blue and 20th Xtc sound beautiful through the 20 xtc V30 cab. I believe Bogner designs most of his amps around V30s.

 

[steve_k]

Re-racked some heads last night and deciding what to run this weekend. Pulled the 20X out and plugged the 2290 into the loop. Sheeeeeeeit.........Channel 2 and 3 still have got it going on. I had replaced the two G12T75's in my front loaded Uberkab with more V30's, making it straight V30's. Fuck me running, I sat there for several hours noodling when I should have been doing something else. The 20X with 34's is still King of the Hill for thick, raw, ass-kicking, in your face, chest thumping tone.

Steve

I told ya bro!!All V30's in the FL put the levy on it.
Serious crunchers man.

Better than the G12T mix? I have the cab with the X pattern. Do tell.

Way better. The T75's was thrown in the rear load Ubercab design to probably give the Uberschall some mid character. I had to spare 16ohm V30's sitting around and the soldering iron was hot, so I tore into the front loaded cab. BTW, Bogner doesn't leave much excess speaker wire. Resoldering from the front can be tricky. And, they use 10 gauge wire....dayum. But hell yes, the 20X sounds great through it. I am pretty much a V30 kind of guy.

Steve

Steve, Do you think it will work with the TJ based on your memory of the amp? I know V's are good with the Shiva 20th.

Absolutely. I don't find that much bottom in the 100's and for the 75's anyway. The 75's smooth things over a little bit. The 100's just some added midrange honk and are stiff as a priest's pecker.

Steve