New 20th Anniversary Shiva vs EL34 Shiva

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CK007

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I had an older EL34 Shiva about 5-7 years ago that I ended up selling.

I've been told that the "New 20th Anniversary Shiva" is really a completely different amp and that they shouldn't have even called it a Shiva.

I could never bond with the overdrive channel on the Shiva. For lack of a better word, it always had a low mid buzzy sound to the tone that I could never dial out. I tried different cabs; speakers etc and nothing ever fixed the OD channel to my liking. My friend had the same problem with his Shiva and he ended up selling his too.

I just tried another newer Shiva, a current EL34 model and that same overdrive tone is still there.

So here’s the big question…

Does the new Shiva 20th Anniversary model have a different OD tone or is it still the same sounding OD?

Thanks
 
The 20th is much less fuzzy/buzzy that the regular shiva. I mean, I dig the fuzzy-ness in a weird way, on the original one. Very vintage and smooth. But if it's not your thing, you can't really dial it out.

Here's a review that I posted at the Bogner forum:

I just got back from Rudy's Music Stop in NYC, and was able to play the standard EL34 Shiva back to back, side by side with the new 20th Anniversary KT88 Shiva.

It was the perfect side by side situation. Identical Bogner oversize 2x12 closed back cabs with V30s. Les Paul classic with some sort of classic type bucker.

The only disclaimer that I'll make is that the amps are running different power tubes, so factor that in to the tonal descriptions. THAT being said, I played them cranked, AND non-cranked, and the tonal attributes still held. No bright switches were used for the comparison, and the resonance knob for the 20th was in a neutral sounding position.

I'm also comparing the gain channels with the 20th mode switch set to out (normal), not more gain.

STANDARD SHIVA: Great EL34 tone. Clean channel, in my opinion, edges out the 20th slightly, but that could be from the power tubes. Chimey, great smooth midrange, and that classic hazy EL34 treble response. The boosted clean channel was very cool, great for adding a hint of dirt for some bluesy solos. The overdrive channel, compared to the 20th, was fuzzier and a bit warmer and softer. Not as in your face. Less bottom end, less aggresive. Less overall note definition, but not in a bad way. In a nice, vintage, smooth kind of way.

20TH ANN. SHIVA: The clean channel on the 20th is 95% as good as the regular shiva. So that's good enough for a gain head like me. The boost on the clean channel 20th is different than the regular, keeping the tone stack intact. It does just like what they say, gives more of a gritty, boosted plexi tone. Very cool. The gain channel, with the "mode" switch DIS-engaged, has the EXACT same amount of gain and saturation as the regular shiva. But the character of the gain is toothier, more aggressive mids, bigger lows, a bit more bite. For any sort of rock leaning towards the modern side, this is the one to get.

I don't want to say that the 20th kicks the old Shiva's ass, because both Shivas have their own tonal attributes and their own unique character.

But the 20th REALLY is something special and unique. Great, great tone, albeit a bit more modern.

The regular Shiva will probably appeal more to the classic rock crowd who don't require the extra gain.
 
The regular Shivas sound pretty good to me when LOUD, but at any lower volume they are way too fizzy for my liking. Whether its the KT88s or the redesign or whatever I dont really know (or care), but the 20th is a huge improvement at all sound levels. I think the 20th sounds drastically more refined and clear.
 
20th sounds "bolder", for lack of a better term. Dare I say, it has a bit of that XTC "bite" thrown in.

Standard sounds smoother, more classic.
 
Nick, why do you say the standard sounds smoother? I dont think of fuzzy or buzzy as smooth sounding. To me it was kind of abrasive actually. Not a very round, cohesive sound like on the 20th (or XTC).
 
Guys,

Are there any good clips of the new 20th Shiva?

Also, here is the music I play...Maybe you could give your opinions if the new 20th Shiva would fit into my musical taste...My band plays music from the likes of Journey, Pat Benatar and Blondie up to current covers from Pink and even some country rock, like Carrie Underwood.

Thanks for the feedback :)
 
EWSEthan":2gu13enj said:
Nick, why do you say the standard sounds smoother? I dont think of fuzzy or buzzy as smooth sounding. To me it was kind of abrasive actually. Not a very round, cohesive sound like on the 20th (or XTC).
Click to expand...

I guess "fuzzy" is misleading. The Shiva EL34 is NOT buzzy sounding.

I guess to be more specific, I'm referring to the hazy upper-mid content of the EL34s, as opposed to the glassy-bite of the KT88s (and 6L6s, for that matter.)

The EL34s (on the Shiva EL34, anyway) have less lows and highs, and more of that smooth, hazy, midrangey crunch. To me, that's the smoothness I'm trying to describe.

CK007 - The 20th is, by far, more versatile, but moreso in the way that it can do *heavier* than the normal shiva.

If the highest range of gain you need is classic rock crunch, you may not need the extra gain of the 20th, nor the mid scoop option.

The EL34 version is a very "focused" sounding amp. The frequency range seems to be focused slightly narrower than the 20th, with less lows and highs. Which is why the 20th sounds bigger, with a bit more low and high end extension.
 
Here are some things that one may try to get the Shiva EL34 to improve - keep the master volume at max at all times, when you don't it does choke off some bottom end (same with uber blue) Play it through a bogner 4x12 straight. Use a OCD to kick up the front end. If you set it as a clean boost with a little bit of grit from the drive circuit you will be in shredder territory with this. Use a 8 guage spaeker wire to the cab. The bogner cabs use 10 guage wire internally, so anything smaller will choke off the low end. Expiriment with a set of KT77's. Did someone say more low end AND high end? The 20th does not have the same wide, warm and big tone that the trafficgreen 2+ does. Sorry to be contradictory, but the KT88's are not a good thing with this amp. The combination of the preamp re-design (which was taken from the "Japan Mod" that was done on the classic shiva) as well as the KT88's in the power amp section make this a strident sounding amp. The classic bogner sound IS EL34's. If the regular Shiva is not loud/gainy/versatile enough, rather than spending money on a 20th Shiva, go and get an ecstasy, which pushes 120/140 watts and is a better sounding amp, and as well more versatile.

Or just wait for the Goldfinger 90!

P.S. I discussed this with charlie at bogner and he said that the 20th shiva will take el34's.
 
Scooby -

It's funny you mention the "Japanese Mod".

I have a friend at Guyatone, and he was explaining last year, that they have to tweak some of their pedals for the Japanese market to give them more treble and high end. I couldn't wrap my head around the whole concept, but something about the Japanese are used to hearing things differently, and prefer a more biting sound...

So it makes sense that the 20th was based on that, since it IS more cutting and aggressive.

I can also envision the 20th with some EL34s in it, and it would be incredible... I might have to try this one day.
 
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