first year production Shiva's

[steve_k]

Who owns/has owned one? These would be the silver back models without reverb and with 34's.

I hear the higher plate voltage, lack of reverb circuit yields a more aggressive, rawer tone than the newer models. Yes, no, opinions?


Thanks,
Steve

 

[hunter]

Just listen to Radael Moreira, he has one of those and plays pretty heavy stuff with it. Not at bedroom volume though...

 

[SLOgriff]

Just asking....but why do you think he has the older ones? His tone on Rock Star INXS was killer for sure!

 

[SLOgriff]

Just Derrico looks to be using an older Shiva here (flat handle). Doesn't seem to be using an OD pedal and is getting a lot of gain out of it!

 

[hunter]

Just asking....but why do you think he has the older ones? His tone on Rock Star INXS was killer for sure!

No bright switches.

No second volume for boost on lead channel.

He's been using the red setup for ages.

 

[RockStarNick]

I think Steve is referring to the VERY first year ones.

From what I've read, here's the incarnations of them:

1. First Year / First Run. Higher plate voltage, silver back panel
2. Standard First Run. Silver Back Panel, Fan. Wacky Effects loop. No volume control for boost.
3. Green back panel, No volume control for boost
4. Green back panel, Volume control for boost, better effects loop (Currently the "Standard" issue Shiva)
5. 20th Anny Shiva, better effects loop

What I don't understand is why a manufacturer would purposely try to make an amp sound "worse". Well, I mean. I can understand Marshall doing it - but not Reinhold.
He's never been one to dumb down his designs or make them worse - he's improvements have always been just that - improvements.

Perhaps there was a higher tube failure rate with the first issue ones?

 

[steve_k]

I think Steve is referring to the VERY first year ones.

From what I've read, here's the incarnations of them:

1. First Year / First Run. Higher plate voltage, silver back panel
2. Standard First Run. Silver Back Panel, Fan. Wacky Effects loop. No volume control for boost.
3. Green back panel, No volume control for boost
4. Green back panel, Volume control for boost, better effects loop (Currently the "Standard" issue Shiva)
5. 20th Anny Shiva, better effects loop

What I don't understand is why a manufacturer would purposely try to make an amp sound "worse". Well, I mean. I can understand Marshall doing it - but not Reinhold.
He's never been one to dumb down his designs or make them worse - he's improvements have always been just that - improvements.

Perhaps there was a higher tube failure rate with the first issue ones?

The only thing Reinhold made worse was that tolex he is using now. Looks like a ladies purse

Yeah, Nick, I had seen a couple of Silverback's floating around and was wondering about them, as compared to the normal production (and 20th which I have owned). The Shiva is definitely an amp I would own again. Hell, if I could find my old one here, with the Plexi shell, I would take it back! Can't remember who I sold it to.

Steve

 

[RockStarNick]

I think Steve is referring to the VERY first year ones.

From what I've read, here's the incarnations of them:

1. First Year / First Run. Higher plate voltage, silver back panel
2. Standard First Run. Silver Back Panel, Fan. Wacky Effects loop. No volume control for boost.
3. Green back panel, No volume control for boost
4. Green back panel, Volume control for boost, better effects loop (Currently the "Standard" issue Shiva)
5. 20th Anny Shiva, better effects loop

What I don't understand is why a manufacturer would purposely try to make an amp sound "worse". Well, I mean. I can understand Marshall doing it - but not Reinhold.
He's never been one to dumb down his designs or make them worse - he's improvements have always been just that - improvements.

Perhaps there was a higher tube failure rate with the first issue ones?

The only thing Reinhold made worse was that tolex he is using now. Looks like a ladies purse

Yeah, Nick, I had seen a couple of Silverback's floating around and was wondering about them, as compared to the normal production (and 20th which I have owned). The Shiva is definitely an amp I would own again. Hell, if I could find my old one here, with the Plexi shell, I would take it back! Can't remember who I sold it to.

Steve

Hahah Agreed. I made sure to "complete" my bogner collection before the wheat grills were discontinued. The comet tolex is, well, eccentric, just like Reinhold himself. But damn, that mad scientist of a man knows great tone.

I've had a Silverback Shiva, and while I never compared it back to back with my EL34 20th that I own now, I can say that they sound damn similar.

 

[RockStarNick]

I think you sold it to Buckeyedog?

 

[steve_k]

I think Steve is referring to the VERY first year ones.

From what I've read, here's the incarnations of them:

1. First Year / First Run. Higher plate voltage, silver back panel
2. Standard First Run. Silver Back Panel, Fan. Wacky Effects loop. No volume control for boost.
3. Green back panel, No volume control for boost
4. Green back panel, Volume control for boost, better effects loop (Currently the "Standard" issue Shiva)
5. 20th Anny Shiva, better effects loop

What I don't understand is why a manufacturer would purposely try to make an amp sound "worse". Well, I mean. I can understand Marshall doing it - but not Reinhold.
He's never been one to dumb down his designs or make them worse - he's improvements have always been just that - improvements.

Perhaps there was a higher tube failure rate with the first issue ones?

The only thing Reinhold made worse was that tolex he is using now. Looks like a ladies purse

Yeah, Nick, I had seen a couple of Silverback's floating around and was wondering about them, as compared to the normal production (and 20th which I have owned). The Shiva is definitely an amp I would own again. Hell, if I could find my old one here, with the Plexi shell, I would take it back! Can't remember who I sold it to.

Steve

Hahah Agreed. I made sure to "complete" my bogner collection before the wheat grills were discontinued. The comet tolex is, well, eccentric, just like Reinhold himself. But damn, that mad scientist of a man knows great tone.

I've had a Silverback Shiva, and while I never compared it back to back with my EL34 20th that I own now, I can say that they sound damn similar.

for 2013, the new line up will have fur lined tolex....

 

[se7en]

I think Steve is referring to the VERY first year ones.

From what I've read, here's the incarnations of them:

1. First Year / First Run. Higher plate voltage, silver back panel
2. Standard First Run. Silver Back Panel, Fan. Wacky Effects loop. No volume control for boost.
3. Green back panel, No volume control for boost
4. Green back panel, Volume control for boost, better effects loop (Currently the "Standard" issue Shiva)
5. 20th Anny Shiva, better effects loop

What I don't understand is why a manufacturer would purposely try to make an amp sound "worse". Well, I mean. I can understand Marshall doing it - but not Reinhold.
He's never been one to dumb down his designs or make them worse - he's improvements have always been just that - improvements.

Perhaps there was a higher tube failure rate with the first issue ones?

The only thing Reinhold made worse was that tolex he is using now. Looks like a ladies purse

Yeah, Nick, I had seen a couple of Silverback's floating around and was wondering about them, as compared to the normal production (and 20th which I have owned). The Shiva is definitely an amp I would own again. Hell, if I could find my old one here, with the Plexi shell, I would take it back! Can't remember who I sold it to.

Steve

Hahah Agreed. I made sure to "complete" my bogner collection before the wheat grills were discontinued. The comet tolex is, well, eccentric, just like Reinhold himself. But damn, that mad scientist of a man knows great tone.

I've had a Silverback Shiva, and while I never compared it back to back with my EL34 20th that I own now, I can say that they sound damn similar.

for 2013, the new line up will have fur lined tolex....

And we can have these fellas with Reinhold in the Bogner booth...

 

[Seahawk2982]

As an owner of an older Cosma Shiva (serial #10) I can definitely attest to the added gain and aggressiveness of the amp over newer Shivas. I played a green chassis model recently and didn't quite have the gain and aggressiveness of mine. Still a kick ass amp though... it was a tad smoother/woolier than mine. Haven't played a 20th yet so no idea how it compares.

 

[steve_k]

As an owner of an older Cosma Shiva (serial #10) I can definitely attest to the added gain and aggressiveness of the amp over newer Shivas. I played a green chassis model recently and didn't quite have the gain and aggressiveness of mine. Still a kick ass amp though... it was a tad smoother/woolier than mine. Haven't played a 20th yet so no idea how it compares.

Thanks. That is exactly what I was wanting to know.

Steve

 

[hunter]

There also used to be a gain mod that Bogner did on request to the standard EL34 Shivas, I think it was to put the preamp at Cosma Shiva specs.

 

[marshallmel]

I have one of the earlier ones but not the first year. Mine has the fan and the wacky loop. A friend of mine has a newer green chassis model and mine definately trumps his.

 

[50MkII]

I have one of the earlier ones but not the first year. Mine has the fan and the wacky loop. A friend of mine has a newer green chassis model and mine definately trumps his.

Did you two compare the PV's for each of them and their tubes?

Anyone here check the PV on their Shiva? How about reporting this info here?

I will start.

Model: Shiva EL34NR, traffic green c.2005-06 with =C='s biased around 32+ma.
PV: 527

As I understand it, mine is on the high side. From what I remember the PV on them usually run lower than that, say in the neighborhood of around 510-515. Several years ago, I owned a c. 2002 version with the loud fan and ineffective fx loop.