Is there a huge difference btwn 20th Anniv and 101b?

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keano

keano

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Now without going straight to the 20th kicks ass because its new etc. I have heard lots of clips of the bogner 101b and it sounds good. So the 20th anniversary version make it obsolete? Or what is different? Would love to hear clips of each on same settings.
 
As great as the 20th is (both the Ecstasy, and the Shiva version too), I don't think the Anniversary models can, or should, replace the standard models.

I doubt that Bogner would completely stop making either one of them too. Different strokes for different folks...

As incredible as the 20th Ecstasy is (I've played one at Tone Merchants), there ain't NOTHIN' wrong with a regular 101B. It's a classic amp in it's own right, and it's tone put Bogner on the map.

Common words used to describe the differences:

20th XTC: More open and woody and vintage
101B XTC: More compressed and "modern" sounding
 
The 20th Anni is more open, has more of an upper mid voicing than the 101B (much closer to a Marshall-like tone) and has more gain on tap. The cleans are better and there's much more bite to the Plexi channel as well.

I've played both side by side and don't know that I'd agree that one is more modern or more vintage sounding than the other. The Anni is an awesome amp too- wish I'd bought Cali68's when I had the chance. It will definitely be my next amp though.
 
keano":1rqbjwn5 said:
Now without going straight to the 20th kicks ass because its new etc. I have heard lots of clips of the bogner 101b and it sounds good. So the 20th anniversary version make it obsolete? Or what is different? Would love to hear clips of each on same settings.

I'm right there with ya!! I think the 20thA is definitely a slightly different animal than the 101B is... And I'm glad for that, as it seems Bogner & Crew aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, they're just making another wheel. I've yet to play both side by side - however, in speaking with some solid friends of mine in the industry who have had this opportunity, they've said that the 20thA has a different preamp staging, very good, easy to EQ for break up, and tonally, there's an equal spectrum of range available as in the 101B. With regards to the 6L6 and EL34, I've only chatted with one friend who said hands down, the EL34 loaded 20thA acts and speaks a lot like the 101B, but has the ability to be looser and found the lasting sustain to be really long and smooth. Further to this, he liked the grunt of the EL34 loaded head better than the 6L6, but said that the 6L6 ALMOST sounded like that of an EL34 loaded head. Where the 6L6 apparently shined was in the cleans - real glassy. He said the cleans that were like this were achievable on the EL34 head, but required more fiddling with the EQ and the guitar's controls to make it sparkle. Overdrive in the blue zone was equally as delicious in both the 6L6 and EL34 heads, with the EL34 being more like the 101B, and the 6L6 having more of a modern edge. In the red zone, the EL34 to him sounded fuller and more toneful, but the 6L6 killed it in the classic 80's metal style of music.

I'm just parlaying what's been told to me - I'm taking all of this pretty seriously as I'm close to making a decision on buying a complete rig; either the 6L6 head, the EL34 head or the 101B. At this point in time, I'm not yet sold on the 20thA even though I love the "complete package". I was getting SO CLOSE to pulling the trigger on the 101B and then all of a sudden, this puppy reared its head and is now confusing the crap outta me :doh: Having said this though, and having picked up the 411 I have from friends who know music and know how to dissect the nuances of boutique amps, my guess is I'll pump for the 20thA loaded with EL34's and take the cabinet as is - V30's - even though I've never historically been a fan of all V30's. According to reports, the head DOES make use of the midrange spike inherent in the V30's - the 6L6 head is more mid pronounced in the hi-gain arena, the EL34's more pronounced in the dirty/crunch/OD arena (blue channel perhaps). That's all I've got!!

Hope it helps...
V.
 
Do what I did - have Rob at TM hook you up with a 20th that uses the preamp section of a 101B. "Warmth, bite, breakup, 3D, sub-harmonic lows" and all of that. It will change your outlook on what a 101B can or can't be capable of. And the Blue channel on the 101B pre is more happening than the 20th. But the clean and plexi boost modes are what you won't get of the standard 20th. You can't have it all, but I am one happy camper!!!

I was told by Charlie at Bogner that the transformer/power supply combo that is used on the el34 version of the 20th is the same as that of the 101B. So, a 101B could be made to have this effect by changing the filtering in the power supply to mirror that of the 20th. Descriptions such as "tighter and more organic" would apply to this sound. The 20th doesn't have the blue channel gain, not even close.
You have to hear it to know the difference.
 
The 20th is more organic sounding and tighter, with a faster response. The 101b is more compressed, spongy in the feel with a slower/more lax response. The 20th has a plexi mode that can be boosted now and more grit/bite in general. The clean channel is excellent and there is now a Vintage/Modern switch...gone are the hi/lo inputs - replaced with just one input.
 
Thanks Se7en for the added comments and the PM's...

Here's a question, what's Bog loading the 20thA with when asking for EL34's? What are they using for preamps, same ol' Chinese??

Just a question - not a deal breaker...

Cheers,
V.
 
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