Ecstasy Classic

[jamme61]

those caps could be done by a tech, no problem, its just cost? You could send the pictures of the 20th circuit board, from this post and he should be able to give you a price. Used 20th xtc's are going cheap as low as - $2200 -$2500 sometimes. I bought my 2013 20th xtc used in mint condition for $2200 so it can happen

 

[Alex_S]

I have one of the very few Classics here in Germany
It´s a fabulous amp. I also have a ´95 SLO which I love. Both amps are great, but their feel is obviously completely different. The Classic has this organic, chewy tone to it. Maybe not suited for dropped metal tunings (don´t play that anyway), but it can get pretty heavy. The excursion and pre eq switches do A LOT in this amp. Played a 20th recently and didn´t fall in love with it. Has more features (the second assignable presence is nice to have), but less tone than the Classic. The 20th seemed a lot stiffer to me. I know for sure that I´ll never part with my Classic. Such a great amp.

Hey AmpManiac,

where in Germany are you living? I'm in the Munich area. Would be great to have a personal amp fest, as I could bring some interesting stuff as well ;-)

Ciao Alex

 

[shampoch]

My XTC Classic is one of my all time favorite 3 channel amps. Not going anywhere.

 

[GOHOINC]

I just got a 20th shiva and am running alongside my xtc classic. Aside from the difference of kt88 vs el34 I'd go so far as to say these are nearly the same amp aND compliment each other very well. Clean is great, more bass available on the 20th which I love, I'd say the 20th stays cleaner than the classic. The gain channel in normal mode of the 20th is damned near the spitting image of the blue channel on the classic. Hit the mode switch to moderN on the 20th and it's the red channel. You have boost available on both channels and all modes so you can get basically every tone of the classic. there are some differences but they are damn close to each other tone wise wit the 20th bwing perhaps a bit more "hi-fi" tHan the classic. My classic is running through a 412st with v30s and the 20th shiva through an os212 with one m and one h creamback. The combination of these two is where the magic happens. Any nuance that one lacks, the other has.

 

[BrentSP]

I just got a 20th shiva and am running alongside my xtc classic. Aside from the difference of kt88 vs el34 I'd go so far as to say these are nearly the same amp aND compliment each other very well. Clean is great, more bass available on the 20th which I love, I'd say the 20th stays cleaner than the classic. The gain channel in normal mode of the 20th is damned near the spitting image of the blue channel on the classic. Hit the mode switch to moderN on the 20th and it's the red channel. You have boost available on both channels and all modes so you can get basically every tone of the classic. there are some differences but they are damn close to each other tone wise wit the 20th bwing perhaps a bit more "hi-fi" tHan the classic. My classic is running through a 412st with v30s and the 20th shiva through an os212 with one m and one h creamback. The combination of these two is where the magic happens. Any nuance that one lacks, the other has.

This is kind of interesting and reassuring. I've been struggling with my Shiva 20th lately and recently installed KT88s (from some worn out EL34L) and am loving the tone now. Its still not chewy and fluid but more stiffer than an XTC but has a hellacious crunch. I have the 101B but the Classic isn't to far off from it. 101B is definitely darker for sure. The 20th and 101b do share some characteristics though.