Ecstasy: 20th Anniversary Heresy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rdodson
  • Start date Start date
Rdodson

Rdodson

Well-known member
I have owned two 20th Anniversary Shivas. Great amps. However, after playing an Ecstasy, I realized that the old-school Twin meets Modified 1959 Model SL was my sound. So I bought a 101b. After reading all the glowing reviews of the 20th Anniversary Ecstasy, I bought one yesterday (EL34 model). What do I think?

Uh...maybe I got a bad one.

I must have gotten a bad one, OR my tastes are completely anachronistic.

I rarely use my 101B RED channel, but when I do (with humbuckers), I like this tone (in which I try and approximate EVH's "transition tone" - Starfleet, 1984, Beat It, Wild Life, David Letterman appearance):

https://www.youtube.com/user/iamrondodson/videos (the EVH Wankery video)

The 20th didn't get that...weird. I swapped tubes and everything.

Ron
 
Something may not be right here, but it's also hard to imagine the head is 'off' or 'sour'.

High grade Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7 in all the preamp sockets.

Recommended Gold Lion KT77 powertubes biased in and around 32mA across the quad.

There should be no mistaking this amp's tone and character and incredible versatility. Again, if you'd never been a Bogner fan, I'd say it's simply not the amp for you. But seeing as you've been in the Bogner camp and know your tones, something tells me this is an oddity. What cabinet and speakers are you driving ???

Mo
 
I'm using a Bogner 2x12 with Scumback M75s.

That isn't the issue. This cab is amazing.

The issue is the circuit. Maybe the bias is contributing, but I know what crossover sounds like. I have the Chinese 9ths in there, even switched out to my old NOS EIs (my fave).

Just sounds cold and congested. I just think I'm a fan of older tones.

Ventura":i9etgvpl said:
Something may not be right here, but it's also hard to imagine the head is 'off' or 'sour'.

High grade Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7 in all the preamp sockets.

Recommended Gold Lion KT77 powertubes biased in and around 32mA across the quad.

There should be no mistaking this amp's tone and character and incredible versatility. Again, if you'd never been a Bogner fan, I'd say it's simply not the amp for you. But seeing as you've been in the Bogner camp and know your tones, something tells me this is an oddity. What cabinet and speakers are you driving ???

Mo
Click to expand...
 
Hmm, yeah sounds like the bias is off. Cold and congested are not words I'd associate with this amp.
 
Rdodson":3owiy0mu said:
I'm using a Bogner 2x12 with Scumback M75s.

That isn't the issue. This cab is amazing.

The issue is the circuit. Maybe the bias is contributing, but I know what crossover sounds like. I have the Chinese 9ths in there, even switched out to my old NOS EIs (my fave).

Just sounds cold and congested. I just think I'm a fan of older tones.

Ventura":3owiy0mu said:
Something may not be right here, but it's also hard to imagine the head is 'off' or 'sour'.

High grade Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7 in all the preamp sockets.

Recommended Gold Lion KT77 powertubes biased in and around 32mA across the quad.

There should be no mistaking this amp's tone and character and incredible versatility. Again, if you'd never been a Bogner fan, I'd say it's simply not the amp for you. But seeing as you've been in the Bogner camp and know your tones, something tells me this is an oddity. What cabinet and speakers are you driving ???

Mo
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Ya man, you know your language, obviously. Check that bias - it's gotta be something wiggy and HOPEFULLY it's just the tubes/bias and not a blown resistor or the like on the CB.
 
Sent it back. Will try again when I can try another with EL34s in person. This was a GC store transfer, and they shipped it without a power cord, without a footswitch, and the cosmetics were different.

Then it didn't sound good. It had JJs in the power section...I figured they all came with Winged Cs.

I really really like my 101B.
 
Nope, JJ's are the stock tubes. Sorry to hear about your bad experience...f'in Guitar Center...figures.

If you like the 101b, you'll love the 20th...
 
se7en":1f9rpnoq said:
Nope, JJ's are the stock tubes. Sorry to hear about your bad experience...f'in Guitar Center...figures.

If you like the 101b, you'll love the 20th...
Click to expand...
Ya, this is more or less the case... The 20thA just takes all the goodness of the 101B and ramps it up.

Sorry 'bout the shitty experience. Sounds like something wasn't right for sure :confused:
 
Yeah I'm bummed. I wanted it to be my 101b but better.
 
I, too, think something was very wrong with the amp you played/bought. It's a shame that your first experience with the 20th Anniversary XTC was so negative. I would strongly advise that you find another the try. I was blown away the first time I played one, and the amp still impresses me to this day. I loved it so much I bought a second as a backup.
 
I just spent 30 minutes playing a 6l6 20th.

Awesome. Gain of the 101b with the open nature of the 100b/Classic.

So bummed the EL34 one sucked so bad.
 
Rdodson":cvou4j53 said:
I just spent 30 minutes playing a 6l6 20th.

Awesome. Gain of the 101b with the open nature of the 100b/Classic.

So bummed the EL34 one sucked so bad.
Click to expand...

Mine are both EL34 versions. I love them. I'm convinced that something was either broken or defective in the specific amp you bought.
 
Tom,
I'm sure that was the case. I'm a Bogner fanboy.
Ron
 
Rdodson":4roik5dg said:
I just spent 30 minutes playing a 6l6 20th.

Awesome. Gain of the 101b with the open nature of the 100b/Classic.

So bummed the EL34 one sucked so bad.
Click to expand...

Mine's a 6L6 model and I can only agree! However, as previously mentioned, both incarnations are great so you must have got a dud.

-C
 
Something had to be wrong there, I love the 20th XTC as well. Great Amp!

Brad
 
I didnt like mine either i had the 6l6
Im stoked on the 20th shiva frikin beautiful..
 
just42dave":ik0apuat said:
I didnt like mine either i had the 6l6
Im stoked on the 20th shiva frikin beautiful..
Click to expand...
+1 unfortunately. I had the EL34 version and prefer the 101b / Classic. It was impossible to make the 20th sound bad, but I just couldn't figure out how to make it sound great, either. I had mine for about 6 months before admitting it just wasn't for me. Would be interested in hearing more clips, though. Perhaps I just never had mine set up the right way.
 
maybe some amps are just better with 6L6's - heard the 20th's are love/hate.
 
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. 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?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top