SLO versus XTC versus VH4

[RG955TT]

Own 2 of the 3, Bogner is my vote

 

[jape23]

I've played the SLO and the VH4 a lot in recent years. I borrowed a friend's 101B for a while, but I didn't feel like I needed to own one. It is a very versatile amp that does a lot of tones well, but there wasn't that ONE tone that knocked me out.

The VH4 I used to be a big fan of, but now I've kind of fallen out of love with it. I've tried it with EL34s and 6L6s. It's a little compressed, and a bit dark and stiff for my tastes these days. Still a great amp with great features, but not really my thing anymore.

Of the three amps listed, I would go with the SLO. The overdrive channel is killer. And this amp is not a one trick pony to me. The clean channel with the crunch and bright switch engaged, with the gain at about 4 or 5 is really great. If you're looking for pristine cleans, then yeah, the SLO is kind of sterile and blah sounding. But if you're looking for some nice semi-clean, mild crunch kind of tones, it can do that pretty damn well.

 

[duodecim]

Tone = SLO

Versatility = VH4.

A bit of both = XTC.

Yes. These are all good amps that do something different... It feels like having to pick one of your children to live. Well, perhaps not that bad, depending on whose children we talk about here...

 

[stefvorcide]

Very tough choice !! Let's say I could play SUPER LOUD and only solo for the rest of my life, it'd be the SLO without a doubt...bogner is really cool, even I havent spent much time with the xtc... but since heavy chuggin' count as well... the VH4 was my pick !

 

[joepete77]

The ecstasy is the one of the bunch that comes the closest to the classic Marshall tones be it with bogners smooth eq and versatility. I prefer the od channel of the bogner over the Soldano anyday.

 

[mooncobra]

20th xtc, feel like i lost a limb or a child since its untimely departure!!!!

 

[Ventura]

You won't be able to look your xtc in the grill anymore. It knows you have chosen the D.

She won't let you insert any cables for a while

To upgrade my choice - if it was between the VH4 and the 20thA, I'd actually have to side with the 20thA.

As mentioned before, the 20thA is exceptionally versatile and offers awesomeness at all levels. You can't make it sound bad - it's next to impossible. It covers a HUGE range of styles and tones, and kills all of them. It's the Swiss Army knife of amps. Add to this all the EQ'ing and adjustments - Class A/AB, half power, Vintage/Modern, Excursion, etc - and you're set for, well, life. So long as you dig the tone that Bogner offers, you're literally set for life.

The VH4 isn't as versatile in the sense of offering "tremendous range of perfect tones", but in the areas it does play well in - it screams. But you've gotta LIKE the Diezel tone if this amp is for you. I love the Diezel tone, but it doesn't offer that perfect range of tonal bliss as great and as wide as the 20thA. But what it does do - it smokes. Ch.3 will flatten anything else out there, and Ch.2's crunch is killer. Those two alone are worth the price of admission.

So - 20thA wins if it had to be between the two. But thank goodness it's not a choice I have to make.

Mojo

 

[supersonic]

As a SLO and 100B owner I voted the XTC. It's has a more Classic tone. I owned a Herbert but I do not like the Diezel tones.

 

[LukeCurd]

Vh4

Its the tightest, meanest in the bunch. I play with aggression!

I have tried xtc's and never like the tone at all for some reason.

 

[rlord1974]

I have tried xtc's and never like the tone at all for some reason.

That's because you're stoned out of your gourd!

 

[Anonymous]

I have tried xtc's and never like the tone at all for some reason.

That's because you're stoned out of your gourd!

I used to think that about people who can't dial Mesas, but I guess everyone has their own tastes.

 

[LukeCurd]

I have tried xtc's and never like the tone at all for some reason.

That's because you're stoned out of your gourd!

I used to think that about people who can't dial Mesas, but I guess everyone has their own tastes.

Mostly I think it was the newer bogner cabs with the H30 V30 mix. Tried the 100b and 20th and could not dial in a tone that I thought was worth the price tag in short. With the all v30 2x12 it sounded better but still boxy. I try to do demo's with either Greenbacks or all V30's. Its hard for me to judge a amp with other speakers since it colors the tone way to much.

 

[Anonymous]

Mostly I think it was the newer bogner cabs with the H30 V30 mix. Tried the 100b and 20th and could not dial in a tone that I thought was worth the price tag in short. With the all v30 2x12 it sounded better but still boxy. I try to do demo's with either Greenbacks or all V30's. Its hard for me to judge a amp with other speakers since it colors the tone way to much.

Indeed. Sometimes, it's just a case of "bad tone day", when everything sounds bad and you can never get satisfied with your tone.

 

[Atropos_Project]

She won't let you insert any cables for a while

LMAO!

 

[LukeCurd]

Mostly I think it was the newer bogner cabs with the H30 V30 mix. Tried the 100b and 20th and could not dial in a tone that I thought was worth the price tag in short. With the all v30 2x12 it sounded better but still boxy. I try to do demo's with either Greenbacks or all V30's. Its hard for me to judge a amp with other speakers since it colors the tone way to much.

Indeed. Sometimes, it's just a case of "bad tone day", when everything sounds bad and you can never get satisfied with your tone.

Not a bad tone day. Played the Twin jet Rev Blue and Shiva stack and combo. I played all the amps and thought it was me. Brought in my buddy Bryan who is a real guitar player with the same results. This was a month later. Shitty tone in the bogner room. Played the entire bogner line of amps from their custom usa shop and all sounded lack luster to my ears and his.(we brought his guitar so and cable)

The xtc red channel on the 20th was the best sounding bogner I have ever heard. Still not my cup of tea these years.
The Friedman Dirty Shirly Killed the Shiva and the BE-100 made the xtc sound like a poop. Bogner has its own sound like anyone elses amps.

So for me its either the SLO or VH4. Both I have yet to play cranked to I will have to see based of clips of both amps I go Diezel for customer service and building tank amps. The SLO lead channel isnt that much different than the VH4 channel 4. Plus you get the famous Diezel Channel 3. Not to mention Channel 1 and 2.

 

[RSRD]

Pretty close results

 

[supersonic]

Mostly I think it was the newer bogner cabs with the H30 V30 mix. Tried the 100b and 20th and could not dial in a tone that I thought was worth the price tag in short. With the all v30 2x12 it sounded better but still boxy. I try to do demo's with either Greenbacks or all V30's. Its hard for me to judge a amp with other speakers since it colors the tone way to much.

Indeed. Sometimes, it's just a case of "bad tone day", when everything sounds bad and you can never get satisfied with your tone.

Not a bad tone day. Played the Twin jet Rev Blue and Shiva stack and combo. I played all the amps and thought it was me. Brought in my buddy Bryan who is a real guitar player with the same results. This was a month later. Shitty tone in the bogner room. Played the entire bogner line of amps from their custom usa shop and all sounded lack luster to my ears and his.(we brought his guitar so and cable)

The xtc red channel on the 20th was the best sounding bogner I have ever heard. Still not my cup of tea these years.
The Friedman Dirty Shirly Killed the Shiva and the BE-100 made the xtc sound like a poop. Bogner has its own sound like anyone elses amps.

So for me its either the SLO or VH4. Both I have yet to play cranked to I will have to see based of clips of both amps I go Diezel for customer service and building tank amps. The SLO lead channel isnt that much different than the VH4 channel 4. Plus you get the famous Diezel Channel 3. Not to mention Channel 1 and 2.

To say the BE makes the XTC sound like poop is silly talk, they are both great amps and have their place.

 

[Jofipe]

Out of those, SLO. Had several Diezels.. the feel and tracking annoyed the shit out of me every time. Never had a XTC, but I seriously doubt it would beat the SLO.

 

[carlygtr]

Just having sold an SLO and 101b (both destroyed by my Landry) I'd opt to try the Diezel

 

[Shark Diver]

The SLO lead channel isnt that much different than the VH4 channel 4.

Um, no.