P
peckhart
Active member
Quick back ground. Recently purchased a 20th Shiva head and tested it out with a Splawn 4x12 for a bit. Never messed with tubes nor played it through my Bogner cab. Pretty quickly decided it was cool but not really for me so I put it in the trade block. Got a local deal for a 101b lined pretty quickly and traded. I liked the XTC more but didn't see it as an amp to unseat my Helios or Mark IV and the other guy wasn't digging the Shiva so we traded back.
I knew the previous owner had put new pres in a year ago, but the power tubes had a bit of time on them. I figured I owed it a chance with some fresh tubes and some other cabs. I did just this week land a Bogner OS2x12.
Got the Shiva back Wednesday. Tested through the 2x12 and was still kinda meh overall.
Then I dropped in New JJ KT88s, biased it up and hot damn there it is!
Tightened right up and before the tube swap I noticed the high end was kinds harsh at high volume. While it wasn't terrible overall before, I am pleasantly surprised by the improvements. It turned it into an amp I may take out on a gig now.
I have had tubes make big differences before, but didn't have my expectations set too high. This is really a different amp now in a good way.
I knew the previous owner had put new pres in a year ago, but the power tubes had a bit of time on them. I figured I owed it a chance with some fresh tubes and some other cabs. I did just this week land a Bogner OS2x12.
Got the Shiva back Wednesday. Tested through the 2x12 and was still kinda meh overall.
Then I dropped in New JJ KT88s, biased it up and hot damn there it is!
Tightened right up and before the tube swap I noticed the high end was kinds harsh at high volume. While it wasn't terrible overall before, I am pleasantly surprised by the improvements. It turned it into an amp I may take out on a gig now.
I have had tubes make big differences before, but didn't have my expectations set too high. This is really a different amp now in a good way.