20th anniversary Shiva or 20th anniversary XTC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Everyonesdarling
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Everyonesdarling

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My next and last amp (probably :) ) will be the 20th XTC (EL 34) or the 20th Shiva (EL 34). I just cannot decide which one to take.
So my question is where does the difference between these too amps lie. I play Blues ala JB otherwise foremost instrumental rock ala Satriani, Timmons, Malmsteen. Which of the two amps fits the bill best for these applications and why?
 
They're both great. I like the 20th Ecstasy a little better (tone and feel)... it has a wider midrange that cuts well in a band mix and also has (obviously) more options, ie. you can get some breakup on the clean channel, whereas the Shiva is super clean and has more of a nasal, focused midrange. But, for the price that the new Shivas are going for, you can't go wrong. Ask yourself whether you need the extra options that the XTC offers, if not the Shiva will do just fine for what you're shooting for. I'd suggest EL34's though, as KT88's can be a bit too glassy and not as warm/smooth for the blues stuff...
 
se7en":1alfls1n said:
They're both great. I like the 20th Ecstasy a little better (tone and feel)... it has a wider midrange that cuts well in a band mix and also has (obviously) more options, ie. you can get some breakup on the clean channel, whereas the Shiva is super clean and has more of a nasal, focused midrange. But, for the price that the new Shivas are going for, you can't go wrong. Ask yourself whether you need the extra options that the XTC offers, if not the Shiva will do just fine for what you're shooting for.
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Thanks for answering. You hit the nail on the head. I do not need the extra features the XTC has compared to the Shiva. I need two things: A good clean channel (which i guess both have) and a crunch channel that sings and has a Marshally flavour ala this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwKSL3YAKsU&ob=av3e or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwKSL3YAKsU&ob=av3e
Do the two amps deliver differently when it comes to these tones- different flavour better suited for that styel than the other? I am leaning a bit towards the XTC but am not sure. HAve both played an XTC and a Shiva earlier on, but not the 20th.
Thanks
 
You can't compare the 20th's to the earlier models....they're different beasts. I'd go 20th Shiva. :yes:
 
Yeah, the 20th Shiva is based on the Japan custom Shiva, which had KT88's and more gain and grit, versus the smoother nature of the original Shiva. 20th has some useful switches to get it back into vintage territory. KT88's and 6550's don't have as smooth of an EL34 high end, but are tight with a big bass response.
 
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