Which Bogner Shiva do you prefer and why?

[4406cuda]

Early Silver Back
Green Back (EL 34)
Green Back (6L6)
20th Anniversary (KT 88)

I am having a hard time deciding and want to buy one.

I can get an older green back EL34 with reverb for $1400 or a newer mint one for $1500 or a 20th Anniversary (KT 88) with reverb for $1850

All are heads with reverb. I play in a cover band covering everything the Pretenders to GNR

Thanks!!!

 

[hatrick00]

20th by far, more gain, more modern, more versatile. And don't let the KT88s turn you off from it, they shine in that amp.

 

[GOHOINC]

Ive had the 6l6 and the 20th KT88. I liked both but think I prefer the 6l6. To sum it up I'd say the 6l6 was better at classic tones than the 20th is at modern tones.

Honestly though I didn't find much overlap between them, almost apples and oranges, hard to compare. The 20th is more suited to the heavier rock but is still not as good as an XTC, Uber or Diezel. The 6l6 through an open back bogner cab really had the classic rock and blues vibe thing going for it, both clean and dirty and in that respect its the only channel switcher I thought really pulled both off excellently. The thing is that 6l6 didn't do that great at giving me modern heavy tones and the 20th didn't do that great at truly classic tones. I'd pick whichever suits your style because both are great in their own right...

 

[hatrick00]

Ive had the 6l6 and the 20th KT88. I liked both but think I prefer the 6l6. To sum it up I'd say the 6l6 was better at classic tones than the 20th is at modern tones.

Honestly though I didn't find much overlap between them, almost apples and oranges, hard to compare. The 20th is more suited to the heavier rock but is still not as good as an XTC, Uber or Diezel. The 6l6 through an open back bogner cab really had the classic rock and blues vibe thing going for it, both clean and dirty and in that respect its the only channel switcher I thought really pulled both off excellently. The thing is that 6l6 didn't do that great at giving me modern heavy tones and the 20th didn't do that great at truly classic tones. I'd pick whichever suits your style because both are great in their own right...

i agree with this. but i will say that i had a Twin Jet and 20th Shiva at the same time and for me, the 20th Shiva actually did heavy modern rock way better than the TJ. Obviously just my opinion as it is very subjective.

 

[squank]

20th. Better cleans, and much more usable gain. As has been said, the 20th does modern high gain, and other Shivas couldn't quite get there.

 

[4406cuda]

How does do Guns N Roses type gain? Modded Marshall type gain?

 

[hatrick00]

How does do Guns N Roses type gain? Modded Marshall type gain?

20th Shiva nails the modded marshall gain.... I also own Splawn Nitro and Friedman JJ... it hangs for sure.

 

[4406cuda]

Thanks guys!

I just ordered the 20th Anniversary Shiva. It will be my first KT 88 amp.

 

[glip22]

Thanks guys!

I just ordered the 20th Anniversary Shiva. It will be my first KT 88 amp.

You can also get away with a hot pair of 6550. Use Winged C. If not you can piggyback a resistor in that amp. I think that is what I did. Sounded great.

 

[thiswaythatway]

20th. Sounds better, more gain, better FX loop. I still wouldn't exactly call it a modern high gain amp.