Bogner Shiva KT88 vs 3534?

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team13chad

team13chad

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I play slightly de-tuned modern rock/hard rock stuff. (Breaking Benjamin, etc)

Which of these would you choose for this application and why?
 
Well, I don't think you can go wrong with the either for what your needs are. They are both awesome amps. For me it would come down to how much power you needed. The XTC is a bit more versatile as a three channel amp. Although you could rig the the shiva up to have the boost mode footswitch able. I like them both.
 
Emg77 said:
Well, I don't think you can go wrong with the either for what your needs are. They are both awesome amps. For me it would come down to how much power you needed. The XTC is a bit more versatile as a three channel amp. Although you could rig the the shiva up to have the boost mode footswitch able. I like them both.
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I ordered a 3534 I went to pick up a Bogner 2-12 cabinet from a guy that was also selling a Shiva 20th KT88 I heard the Shiva and canceled my order for the 3534 I could not believe how good the Shiva sounds Marshall tones plus all the heavy tones and the clean channel is unbelievable. I'm sold Just my opinion
 
Wow I'm surprised. I figured everyone would be saying the 3534 for the heavier stuff.
 
Mode buttons on the 20th KT88 Shiva gets it into nasty gain territory.
And it's LOUD AS PHUCK (when needed)
Track record of the Mini XTC seemed to get flipped a lot.
 
Ive had the 20th Shiva more than once. Great cleans and medium gain tones. The high gain sound is very specific, it has a certain midrange that is not familiar. It doesnt have a big lowend either. The bass can be "fuzzy" .....Its not a very clear and tight lowend that more modern voiced amps have. For hard rock sure , but I dont care for it for metal.

Dont get me wrong it is a great amp depending on what you like. The open and throaty aggressive nature of the gain is cool. Its got a nice bark to it. Its a nice amp for rock in standard tunning IMO.

Team13chad you have that 5153 stealth for sale ? I think the xtc 3534 would have more in common with that amp than a Shiva would. Ive had the 100w XTC 101b and have had the EVH 100w . They have a similar voice and compression/saturation level although the stealth probably has more gain on tap.
 
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gbsmusic said:
I ordered a 3534 I went to pick up a Bogner 2-12 cabinet from a guy that was also selling a Shiva 20th KT88 I heard the Shiva and canceled my order for the 3534 I could not believe how good the Shiva sounds Marshall tones plus all the heavy tones and the clean channel is unbelievable. I'm sold Just my opinion
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I hear you. I've owned the 20th shiva probably 4 times haha! It is a killer amp for sure. At one time it was my favorite of all time.

The XTC is no slouch either and as I said pending power requirements I would say the xtc is the better for lower volume playing. It's actually quite remarkable how much tone is retained at lower volumes.

If I were to choose for at home playing it would be the xtc. In a band it would be the Shiva.

Both will cop the tones the OP is looking to achieve.
 
Crazy story...

I had a 20th Anny Shiva that blew my mind for metal (thrash/death metal) when I first got. As the4thlast1 stated, super throaty unique midrange bark...awesome. The one I obtained had something wrong with it that affected the low end and gain. When you played it with the bass knob 0-11'clock it sounded as you expect a Shiva to sound. But when the bass knob went above 11'oclock it acted as both a bass and gain boost. It made that amp sound insanely good. HUGE tight low end and the gain thickened up considerably. I scratched my head as to what was causing this, but rocked the fuck out of it.

One day this effect just quit and the amp lost the low end/gain boost. I called and talked with Charlie and he believed there was a piece of solder or wire inside the bass pot that was shorting something when the bass was turned up past 11 o'clock and causing this "boosted low end/gain effect". The amp was still cool, but nothing like when it was "broken". Sold it very quickly thereafter.
 
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To me, the key to the 20th Shiva is the KT-88's. While I think the 3534 is probably more versatile tonally, the Shiva with those tubes and headroom bring the meat to the table. Both nice amps! Shiva w/88's and that is my choice. Shiva with 34's or 6L6 and my choice would be 3534. YMMV
 
ben uses a Soldano Slo a lot of the time, maybe the Slo 30?
 
I‘ve owned both. For the tones you described stick with the EVH or buy my Monomyth lol
 
I’ve had a 3534 since February and have played a 20th Anniversary Shiva on 4 or 5 separate occasions.

I really wanted to like the Shiva but I just can’t get on with the KT88 voicing. Something about the mids just never sat right. The 3534 on the other hand sounds a little tighter once dialed in and the mids have that Bogner signature musical chewiness that I love! I live on the red channel with the gain at about 10 o’clock and it gets plenty heavy.

The only downside for me is that it can be quite noisy at time, so a noise gate is a must.
 
panhead said:
I would say the shiva with a boost would blows it`s doors off.
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Old thread but curious why guys say the Shiva 20th with a boost?

I have a 20th Ann Shiva and was thinking of getting the new 50 watt XTC 3435 head.

Not worth it since I have a Shiva?

I still haven't found the best boost to make my Shiva very aggressive and modern. I want to try the Dire Wolf pedal.

Maybe an overdrive pedal blend with the Shiva gain, like the Bogner Burnley.

Side note, I've tried EL34s and 6CA7 tubes in my Shiva and the difference is very subtle but the KT88s make the amp sound bigger.

My Shiva with KT88s does sound huge have to be careful because with the bass and excursion it can easily have too much in the huge low end. Very adjustable. Great amp. One of my all time favorites.
 
panhead said:
I would say the shiva with a boost would blows it`s doors off.
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Why do some say the Shiva with boost would blow away the 3435?

I do know one guy who sold his XTC 3435 35w head after getting the Shiva 20th.

Im more interested in the XTC 3435 50 watt head.

If it's too much overlap with my Shiva, I'll go for a Friedman amp next.
 
LeftyCatton said:
I’ve had a 3534 since February and have played a 20th Anniversary Shiva on 4 or 5 separate occasions.

I really wanted to like the Shiva but I just can’t get on with the KT88 voicing. Something about the mids just never sat right. The 3534 on the other hand sounds a little tighter once dialed in and the mids have that Bogner signature musical chewiness that I love! I live on the red channel with the gain at about 10 o’clock and it gets plenty heavy.

The only downside for me is that it can be quite noisy at time, so a noise gate is a must.
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I know what you mean about the mids.
I know power tubes have a minor impact but I feel like I jived better with my EL34/6CA7 20th Shiva than my current KT88 20TH Shiva.
I may have it converted to 6CA7 tubes and see if it brings back the old magic for me.

I talked to Charlie, an engineer at Bogner who many on the forum know, and he said the 6L6 Shiva is his favorite. I've never tried that version.
 
I had a 3534 ..... and now I'm selling / have a 20th Ann. Shiva with the KT88's .......... the Shiva is a Monster in comparison ...
 
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