Rockerverb 50 vs. Shiva - and a NAD!!

[Chris O]

I'm looking at a trade -- my 2009 Orange Rockerverb 50 (Mk 1) head for a 2007 Bogner Shiva EL34 112 combo. I have always really liked the Shiva's recorded tone, but have heard that they maybe don't have as much gain on tap as one might think. That said, boosting an amp is a regular thing for me. The RV is a cool amp, and covers some territory somewhere between where a Marshall and Mesa meet, but I'm not a classic rock guy, so the lower gain stuff doesn't do much for me, and as you get further into the gain, it gets compressed pretty quick.

I'm big into Marshall tones, and have a Metro Plexi w/Friedman mods, Splawn Competition, and a Mesa MK IV. The Mark covers the saturated stuff in spades, and the Splawn & Metro have two distinct (yet different) Marshall tones.

Think that the Shiva will offer a new tone in the Marshall vein that I don't have? Will I be able to get a nice crunchy tone out of it that the Orange just doesn't seem to want to do? Would it be a trade you'd jump on? I'm pretty stoked, but just want another voice in my head besides my own...

 

[blackba]

Are you having trouble getting crunch out of the Orange RV50? When I had my RV50, the gain knob on channel 2 I thought was great, I loved the range of the knob. It was the clean that left me a little disappointed on the RV50.

Never tried a Shiva, but I would do the trade if the Shiva was a head.

 

[Chris O]

Not having trouble getting crunch - it's just not a crunch that my ears enjoy. Not too worried about clean tones, although I hear the Shiva rocks those. We'll have to see I guess...glad I get the opportunity to try it out first!

 

[TX6Strings]

I owned, played and gigged a Shiva for about six months. Great, great cleans but I couldn't get along with the gain channel. It's not that it doesn't have enough gain, but is too saggey and doesn't have enough bottom end. I tried boosting it with several different pedals to tighten it up only have a horrible mess. I'd look for another trade personally.

I've since tried a 101B and a Goldfinger and neither did it for me...guess I'm just not a Bogner man.

 

[Chris O]

Are we all talking about the EL-34 version, or did some of you use the 6L6 version?

 

[Chris O]

I'm feeling a crush in my soul...

 

[ericsabbath]

shiva all the way for me

you can always use a booster if you want more gain
people get a ton of gain out of stock JCM 800's
the shiva is already a heavily hot rodded JCM

 

[glip22]

The Shiva 2oth has allot of gain and sounds and feels great.

 

[marshallmel]

I own an EL-34 Shiva head and it is the best amp I have ever owned or played. The OD channel is finicky with which boost pedal you use but you should be able to find something fairly easy. The MXR '78 pedal works quite nicely. The Shiva also loves V-30's. The Shiva head into the Bogner OS 2x12 closed back with V-30's

 

[Chris O]

As far as boosts, I have a trusty Boss SD1, which has always done well for me, and I also have a CAE/MXR Line/Clean Boost. I should be able to get one of those to work. I always keep the gain down around 9:00 or less, and the level around 2-3:00, so it doesn't color a lot. If it has more boost than a stock 800, I think I have something to work with.

I thought I'd be demoing it today, but it's not happening. Hopefully in the next day or so. We'll see what happens.

Good to hear it isn't 100% NO at least!

 

[gibson5413]

I think both amps sound great. I found this gal over at the Anderson forum that plays an Orange Rocker and think it sounds great.

 

[Chris O]

I don't think we're into the same thing...

 

[strungup]

I own an EL-34 Shiva head and it is the best amp I have ever owned or played. The OD channel is finicky with which boost pedal you use but you should be able to find something fairly easy. The MXR '78 pedal works quite nicely. The Shiva also loves V-30's. The Shiva head into the Bogner OS 2x12 closed back with V-30's

Put me down for the Shiva vote. I have had a ton of amps over the years and the two amps that I got the best live tones the most consistently were the Shiva and a Quickrod. Oh I found the xotic pedals went well with the Shiva. I used the rc booster the most.

 

[daveg62]

I had the Shiva el34 version for about 6 months also. Thought it was pretty good, not quite enough gain on the lead channel but I told myself it sounded great. Then I went back to my mesa mark III and sold the shiva really fast. It's a nice sounding amp but if you're used to a mark series amp I honestly don't think the shiva is for you. Maybe the 20th, I don't know I haven't played one. All I know is it wasn't for me. That being said, I am extremely happy with my Fryette head.

 

[LP Freak]

I'm pretty sure I know your Friedman mod, and am a former QR and Shiva owner. I wouldn't do the trade. I don't think you'd be gaining anything. Now if it were a 20th Ann. Shiva?........... that would be a different story.

 

[gibson08]

I think both amps sound great. I found this gal over at the Anderson forum that plays an Orange Rocker and think it sounds great.

Kinda like Vernon Reid doing Sky Is Crying, that chick dancing was cracking me up

 

[gibson08]

I don't think we're into the same thing...

What are you into?? I dunno, I dont think the Shiva will offer much that you dont have already.

 

[Chris O]

I'm pretty sure I know your Friedman mod

Yes...YOU DO! I need to talk to you about a footswitch for it some time...

 

[Chris O]

I don't think we're into the same thing...

What are you into?? I dunno, I dont think the Shiva will offer much that you dont have already.

Not that...and you're probably right!

 

[se7en]

The Shiva 2oth has allot of gain and sounds and feels great.

This, if you can swing it. I prefer it over the Rockerverb...just my opinion.