XTC general questions

[vintagemusicgear]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good, that the distortion is dark and muddy. What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B, but any input on the classic would be appreciated too. Thanks!

 

[Man With Gas]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good, that the distortion is dark and muddy. What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B, but any input on the classic would be appreciated too. Thanks!

Get the 20th XTC and any (false/true) concerns are put to rest.

 

[roodyrocker]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good, that the distortion is dark and muddy. What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B, but any input on the classic would be appreciated too. Thanks!

My experience with my 101B is the opposite of what you listed above. Its cleans are nice and the distortion channels are great as well. I think its probably the most versatile multi channel amp. I use it mainly with a Bogner 4x12 loaded with British Greenbacks btw.

Rudy

 

[Deleted member 3520]

Clean channel is awesome. The trick is, dont use gain as gain and volume fore volume on clean channel. Crank to volume, and use the GAIN for the actual volume. It stays clean and sounds big and wonderful.

The blue channel is the most awesome rock rhythm channel EVER. Like the best modded marshal tone ever, that can double as an amazing lead. Seriously may be the best channel ever made.

The red channel is NOT muddy...It can have mild bass or SUPER BASS, but always stays tight in that frequency. If you want it to be bright, you can make it kinda bright, but in general I would not say DARK, but rather SMOOTH. IT is one of the only rounded smooth high gain channels around, and is AMAZING. Tons of options.

 

[Ventura]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good, that the distortion is dark and muddy. What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B, but any input on the classic would be appreciated too. Thanks!

The 20thA does pretty well lay everything flat...

But to the OP, Bogner is Bogner, baby. It's a tone that's made more songs than we can throw bones at. It's the chewy, rich, syrupy, over-the-top tone of the one and only XTC. It's a classic. One of the best. And in a league shared only by amps that need no introduction. Is it for you? Don't know. Won't make you a rockstar overnight. But a lot of rockstars use Bogners and specifically, the XTC.

I guess try it out for yourself and know it.

Cheers,
Mo

 

[TheMagicEight]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good, that the distortion is dark and muddy. What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B, but any input on the classic would be appreciated too. Thanks!

The Classic or pre-04 mod 101b XTCs are my favorite. Cleans are okay, though they wouldn't replace a Deluxe or anything. People say they're dark because XTCs use a different type of Treble pot than most amps. Want it to be bright? Don't use your eyes when setting it up!

They're great amps though. I'd personally take a cranked Plexi or 2203/4 if I could, but as for MV amps at volumes other than cranked, I don't think you can beat an Ecstasy.

 

[rlord1974]

I've been thinking of getting an XTC after seeing Lukather with one. I've heard so many mixed things about the amp. That the clean is not very good.....What IS the general consensus? I'm mainly talking about the 101B.....but any input.....would be appreciated.

Interesting reading in regards to the Ecstasy's Clean channel [from the Bogner Forum]:

I've been displeased with the XTC clean channel and just endured it for the most part all of these years. I've dissected the blue and red channels down to each grid, plate and cathode but never took the time to look into the green channel. Today I got my multimeter out, pulled the chassis on the XTC and went to work. I have the XTC schematic so I was able to follow along.

The XTC's clean preamp is a Fender Super Reverb/Deluxe Reverb clone. If anyone has played a good Fender blackface like a Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb you know that the normal channel does not have a mid and presence control and the XTC has both mid and presences. Lets start with the mid control.

The XTC clean uses a 25k linear mid pot and the Fenders use a FIXED setting of 6.8k for the mids, no pot just a 6.8k resistor. So you have no control over the mids, its stuck on 6.8k. So where is 6.8k on the mid pot you say? I took a reading on the mid pot and the magic setting of 6.8k is around 10 o'clock on the XTC's mid control. For what its worth a Twin Reverb does have a mid control and its a 10k Audio pot.

Another component to the coveted Fender clean tone is the bright switch. The bright switch on a Fender is a 120pf which boost the extreme highs, the higher the value the more you start boosting the mids . On the XTC you have 3 choices B1=100pf, N=OFF, B2=220pf. 100pf is a lot closer to 120pf than 220pf so obviously you want to choose either B1 or N for the Fender tone. You will not hear the difference between 20pf's.

Presence control or lack there of on a Fender is easy on the XTC. Assign the presence B to the green channel and turn it completely off or down......thats it. Its as if its not there and take it out of the circuit.

Most people know this but its worth repeating. On a Fender there is NO master volume just a volume. Set the volume on the XTC to max and now your Gain control becomes your volume. This gives you the absolute best and complete mix of the pre and power amp.

Excursion setting. There isn't any type of bass boost in a Fender pwr amp so set the XTC to Tight which is OFF.

So a quick recap:
* Mid control 10 O'clock (6.8k)
* Bright switch either B1 or N
* Presence turned all the way down or off
* Volume maxed and use the gain for adjusting volume
* Excursion set to Tight

That's it! With these settings you can adjust the treble, bass and volume (gain control actually) to taste and you'll be in Fender heaven! The only thing missing is the Fender power amp and open back cabinet with Jensen Alnico speakers for the perfect Fender clean but that would really mess up the Marshally sounding lead channels.


I hope these tips help you get the most out of your XTC's clean!!

 

[Ventura]

Worthy Post

 

[Setneck]

People say they're dark because XTCs use a different type of Treble pot than most amps.

XTC uses all Audio pots to make it darker, it seems to be intentional. See here:

When linear pots simply increases its ratio when being turned up, audio taper hasn't the same ratio when turned the same as linear. That is why XTC's tone doesn't brighten enough even if You turn Treble up. At 3 o'clock the tone starts to become harsh and ice-peaky, still not being bright-cutting.

So I plan to replace both Presence and also Middle & Treble pots for dirty channels to Linear. As it is should be, when the classic Marshall is concerned.

Regards, Andy

 

[Man With Gas]

So I plan to replace both Presence and also Middle & Treble pots for dirty channels to Linear. As it is should be, when the classic Marshall is concerned. Regards, Andy

I'm VERY interested to hear your results after the changes.

 

[Man With Gas]

 

[Setneck]

My tech Marvel is currently busy making amps in TAD HQ, so we'll have a chance to replace the pots in a week or two. I'll post the results for sure

Regards, Andy

 

[pizdycwele]

I have 2004 101b. I bought 20th 6L6 ver.
20th has better loop (perfectly transparent), much nicer clean channel and boost on it just make it louder and not changing the sound (as it should be). More gain that sings and sings and sings! is nice end even and just beautiful. I think Excursion switches are tuned differently unless they just react this way on the new preamp - all is nicely tuned though.
20th unfortunately does not have the same CHARACTER on the 2 & 3 channel. It is different amp. It is Bogner but different. Hybrid between Mesa Roadking and 101b I sent it back. I like 101B more although clean and loop is ''much worse'' than on 20th. I would ask Rainhold to build 101B with 20th clean channel and loop and two master volumes. It would be just PERFECT.

I wonder how 20th EL34 ver compares with 101b?