Would I like The Bogner XTC?

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gibson5413

gibson5413

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I have post tons of clips around here for a couple of years now. I like heavy tones but have noticed over the past year and a half that I am starting to get more into hard rock tones than modern metal tones. I love my Cali modded Marshall. I am just curious how the XTC might compare. I would like to add some plexi'ish type tones to my rig. I have heard they are hit or miss from version to version. Is the low end flubby. I am not looking to replace amps, just add to the stable. I am not GASsing for anything new, just curious.
 
Ive owned 3 different ones...currently dont own one. They sound fantastic! Incredible amps. But to me...it ended up getting stale quickly. Maybe check one out for an extended period of time if you can.
 
I'll have mine in about a week. I'll do some comparisons with the Cali to show you where it stands tonally.
 
Well I have owned the XTC 101b twice and a Classic once and I will add my 2 cents .

First I will say that the XTC red channel has one of the best lead tones of any high gain head I have owned !!! Just a singing liquid lead to solo for days !

While the blue channel was not my thing there are many who really dig it , but i found it lacking for gain for doing 80's metal i always had to boost it .

The clean channel was very fender clean too my ears depending on the speakers used .

The biggest problem though for me was the note separation in the red channel as the note always seemed to blur together with too much compression and the bottom was not tight enough , but the tone was always there , but I couldn't make it work in the feel department .

And... yes , I'm an amp whore :doh: :lol: :LOL:
 
The more I think about it the XTC might not be up my alley. I would like to add a simple yet clean amp as a compliment to my Cali mod. I was thinking of adding a clean channel to the Cali mod but thought it might be fun to add a cleaner type of amp instead. I would much prefer an all in one solution. Decisions!!
 
Don't do it...!

I had one and solid it fast... needed alot of volume to sound decent and was not brutal enough by a long shot...

JVM and a OD-9 meng...

G.
 
There are a number of versions of the XTC, so you would need to know they are different. There were fairly recently 2 different versions of the 101B (I believe the date the original was revised was in 2004). In relation to that revision, the only difference I am aware of is on the red channel. In the earlier model, there was less red channel compression and there was more on the revised amp. There is also the Ecstasy 101A (6L6 tubes vs. the EL34's in the "B" version), the Ecstasy Classic (more open sounding, much less gain, and the overall consensus from what I've read seems to be that it has superior cleans but that the blue and red channels are ususally not as favorable-- though some people disagree about the distortion channels being worse, as it is all obviously based on personal taste). There is also a rare Ecstasy 100(A or B???) version, etc...

I have only played the pre-revision 101B, and I absolutely love its sound. I played through the Bogner 2x12 oversized cab, and it sounded amazing. (That cab smoked the Mesa Recto 2x12 I also played the amp through, in my opinion-- sounds MUCH more organic and full). The cab will make a big difference.

The Bogner sound can go from what I call a very nice clean (though not quite up to par to... say a Matchless, but still VERY good when you adjust it to get "fender cleans," which is a trick with the EQ and gain knob settings that is on the Bogner forum which VASTLY improves what I think was already a good somewhat chimey clean. The blue and red channels are amazing-- a darker, organic sound-- very full. Red can get very brutal. Very brutal. An amazing rock amp, if you want a somewhat darker, organic sound. I also never found the bass or low end flubby. I played through a PRS Custom 22 and a Gibson LP studio. I know many country players use the 101B, too... but it has absolutely no problems covering light rock, extremely hard rock, etc...

I've never played any other Ecstasy models, love that 101B. Now, the SLO-100 was also suggested, above, in the similar price range. That amp is also an absolute beast. Even more harmonics than the Ecstasy, and I love the crunch and the clean channel. Less versatile live, since it's 2 channels and Ecstasy is 3. Not as many tone tweaking options, either-- though I rarely used many of the switches on the Ecstasy after I found "my" sound on the amp (though other might like the freedoms those switches all allow).

Slo is voiced brighter than the Ecstasy, so that's a big difference-- probably the biggest difference, in my opinion. Do you like dark, organic, and lots of harmonics (Ecstasy) or do you like brighter and even more harmonics (SLO)? But, that being said, the SLO is still plenty versatile, drips with harmonics, sounds great no matter how you set it (on all channels, IMHO), and will hit you like a freight train when you hear it. The Ecstasy and SLO are the two amps I've heard that have honestly stuck out and blown me away.
 
Moshaholic-- what version did you have? If you were looking for gain, I would guess a 101B... I can't imagine this amp not having enough gain, as I like hard rock, and it's almost too much for even me. I also thought it sounded great at low volumes. Maybe you had different tubes, a different cab, a different biasing point... Or maybe it's just a difference in taste, which is all good, too... To each their own.
That being said, the Ecstasy has a ton of switches (thought not as many as those Mesa's...). But I found it easy to get the sound I like. And once you do that, you only have to fiddle with switches for fun, if you feel like it... Also dig the plexi mode, very when you pound the master volume and drop the gain.
 
The biggest thing about any Bogner is that they have a prominent low mid voicing. It's a unique tonal quality and gives them that chewy/woody/organic growl. There's also a nice natural sag that Marshall type amps don't have. The 20th Anniversary XTC has more top end bite than the 101B and more gain available on the plexi channel. IMHO, they're great versatile amps for hard rock, but lack the gain for the br00tz. I love my 101B and, while other amps have come and gone, the XTC has always been a mainstay. Right now I go back & forth between the Bogner and a SLO (there's a no lose scenario!). You could also look into a PT100. Similar features to the XTC with more of the upper mid bite.
 
Add a clean amp?
Get a Matchless Chieftain, man. Chimeeeeee...
Unless Fender's more your thing...?
 
gibson5413":23rj2s7n said:
The more I think about it the XTC might not be up my alley. I would like to add a simple yet clean amp as a compliment to my Cali mod. I was thinking of adding a clean channel to the Cali mod but thought it might be fun to add a cleaner type of amp instead. I would much prefer an all in one solution. Decisions!!
Click to expand...

Go for the added Clean channel on the Cali. Mike does an awesome Clean channel which would make the amp even more versatile :thumbsup:
 
MrDan666":213lqxr4 said:
gibson5413":213lqxr4 said:
The more I think about it the XTC might not be up my alley. I would like to add a simple yet clean amp as a compliment to my Cali mod. I was thinking of adding a clean channel to the Cali mod but thought it might be fun to add a cleaner type of amp instead. I would much prefer an all in one solution. Decisions!!
Click to expand...

Go for the added Clean channel on the Cali. Mike does an awesome Clean channel which would make the amp even more versatile :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


I think that's the direction I'm going. I spoke to Mike about it and he is good to go. Just waiting to hear back from him on shipping. I want a dedicated clean channel I can play on.
 
If you like your current amp my advice would be to add a clean channel. I own both an XTC and Slo as talked about here, both are right at the pointy end of the all time best amps list IMO, BUT when it comes down to it stick with what you're happy with and don't complicate things.
 
The 20thA XTC is in a league unto itself... Absolute sonic masterpiece.

Just sayin',
V. :yes:
 
I sold an XTC 101B pretty quick i had. Blue channel was nice, hated the red channel. And i had the marvel mod install. Put it this way, the Cali modded Marshall i had shit all over the XTC's red channel as far as leads are concerned.

And i tried my friends Cameron modded XTC which to me, wasn't really all that much different from a regular XTC.

For hard rock tones i think an SLO would be a better sounding amp, although volume might be an issue.


And for a good sounding hard rock amp that won't break the bank, check out the Egnater Renegade.
 
ssyrjamaki":3p2dgpb5 said:
Moshaholic-- what version did you have? If you were looking for gain, I would guess a 101B... I can't imagine this amp not having enough gain, as I like hard rock, and it's almost too much for even me. I also thought it sounded great at low volumes. Maybe you had different tubes, a different cab, a different biasing point... Or maybe it's just a difference in taste, which is all good, too... To each their own.
That being said, the Ecstasy has a ton of switches (thought not as many as those Mesa's...). But I found it easy to get the sound I like. And once you do that, you only have to fiddle with switches for fun, if you feel like it... Also dig the plexi mode, very when you pound the master volume and drop the gain.
Click to expand...


I had a pretty pimp XTC.. 2008 or 2007 had the red channel mod boost or somthing... not brutal at all... cool amp but could not hold my interest at all...
 
The Ecstasy 101B lacks a little in the higher gain channel... especially on the low end. Remember it is voiced pretty dark... so it doesn't have that high mid kerrang, although it still sounds Marshallesque...
The Clean channel is really good!!!
 
Moshaholic":1n13urtu said:
ssyrjamaki":1n13urtu said:
Moshaholic-- what version did you have? If you were looking for gain, I would guess a 101B... I can't imagine this amp not having enough gain, as I like hard rock, and it's almost too much for even me. I also thought it sounded great at low volumes. Maybe you had different tubes, a different cab, a different biasing point... Or maybe it's just a difference in taste, which is all good, too... To each their own.
That being said, the Ecstasy has a ton of switches (thought not as many as those Mesa's...). But I found it easy to get the sound I like. And once you do that, you only have to fiddle with switches for fun, if you feel like it... Also dig the plexi mode, very when you pound the master volume and drop the gain.
Click to expand...


I had a pretty pimp XTC.. 2008 or 2007 had the red channel mod boost or somthing... not brutal at all... cool amp but could not hold my interest at all...
Click to expand...


Yes, the XTC is NOT a Mosh inducing amp.
 
Nico":2j2ke4w2 said:
The Ecstasy 101B lacks a little in the higher gain channel... especially on the low end. Remember it is voiced pretty dark... so it doesn't have that high mid kerrang, although it still sounds Marshallesque...
The Clean channel is really good!!!
Click to expand...

That's why I got rid of mine, I loved the amp on it's own, but got buried in the band mix.
 
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