Shiva or lonestar

[Pwurst67]

Is there any one who has owned both ? I find myself now getting more into the playing style of guys like Andy Timmons , Andy James , Marco stofgl and I find myself wondering if the shiva is the amp or is the messa the way to go ? I’ve seen guys say the lonestar is not for all with it’s less gain. Is there a messa that’s voiced similar with a touch more .. I like simple. Never been into the mark series. Like the tone just prefer simple amps !! Or is the shiva more in the vain of that style of playing ? I’m using a quickrod now. So I have the high gain amp end covered. I want a big fat warm tone

 

[maddnotez]

Haven't played the Lonestar so I can't say. While the Shiva is awesome, if it is only more gain you are after there are a lot of transparent boosts out there that will give it a kick in the ass.

 

[Pwurst67]

Very true. Andy Timmons get a great distorted tone with a boost pedal , having never had the chance to play one. I can’t honestly say it isn’t enough gain for me. This is only something I’ve read in reviews and opinions by others , I keep searching the local guitar centers to see if they get a used one in to try. Lol

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Is there any one who has owned both ? I find myself now getting more into the playing in style of guys like Andy Timmons , Andy James , Marco stofgl and I find myself wondering if the shiva is the amp or is the mess the way to go ? I’ve seen guys say the lonestar is not for all with it’s less gain. Is there a mess that’s voiced similar with a touch more .. I like simple. Never been into the mark series. Like the tone just prefer simple amps !! Or is the shiva more in the vain of that style of playing ? I’m using a quickrod now. So I have the high gain amp end covered. I want a big fat warm tone

Maybe the 20th Anny Shiva? I thought the one I had could be dialed in to be fairly warm and fat. Fat low mids But like maddnotez said, pedals if your like your tone and just need to juice it a bit. The Timmy is really good for that.

 

[cardinal]

Lonestar ‘s overdrive is very thick and dark. The word “syrupy” comes to mind. Very difficult to get any bite or bark from it IME. It’s very fun for some things, like legato lead work.

If you want a searing, aggressive gain sound for rhythm or lead, the LoneStar would need some type of pedal to push the voicing in that direction. To me, it has plenty of gain. It’s just voiced in a very particular way. It won’t “crunch” by itself; it “drips” if that makes sense.

I’ve not played a Shiva in a long time or for more than a few chords, so I can’t really comment on it.

 

[Pwurst67]

Thanks for the input guys ?. The dark tone is appealing to me. I think I’m just going to buy a used one and see. Lol. Having another amp is never a bad thing.

 

[brianiac5150]

JHS Andy Timmons @ pedal into my 20th Shiva is glorious. It's really the only pedal I've put into the Shiva which I like. Super easy to pull out the sizzle, while keeping the clean channel bright switch engaged. Shiva 20th clean channel is to die for, IMO.

To the OP: I have no comparison experience.

 

[splatter]

I've owned both . The shiva is MEH IMO . I wasn't impressed at all .
The lonestar on the other hand is one of the only amps I truly regret selling .
There is a caveat to the lonestar though. Don't get the head and cab get the single speaker combo.I usually don't like combos but this is the exception . Then do the bias mod .Here is a thread created by me a long time ago https://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45632. it has all the info you need . I think I also changed the speaker to a v30 and I also did the pot swap mod .
The lonestar sounds good on its own even without the mods It beat the shiva hands down IMHO and If you like the timmons tone he plays through a stock lonestar with a bb preamp in front .

 

[Pwurst67]

Cool. Thanks man. I was actually going to buy the combo Lol. I figuired with it being voiced for the
Lonestar. lol lus I have enough cans.