NAD 20th Shiva

[richedie]

I never understood this amp burning through EL34 tubes. My EL34s last forever in this amp, playing everyday.
I tried the KT-88 version but hate the mid gain and high gain tones, too stiff, and the amp lost the gorgeous chewy Marshally tones.

My complaint is the mids are too in your face and hards. I use the Dumble switch because the mids are softer and the mids are more pleasant!

 

[richedie]

Best amp Bogner makes, in my opinion. It is my favorite amp. I love simplicity and I would be fine if this amp had even fewer knobs. I love how plug n play this mp is and how it works at both low and high volumes. The built in boot is the best I have heard for leads. The clean channel takes pedals like a Fender. Seriously, the 20th Shiva nd the Bogner Red pedal into the clean is the last rig I will need.

I know I love having other amps with different tones for variety, but I always come back tothe Shiva. I played an Egnater Mod 50 for years, an the 20th Shiva does what I was trying to get out of the Mod 50.

My Shiva works well with all of my speakers - Vintage 30s, Greenbacks, Lynchbacks, WGS ET65, Rtro30 and ET90. I tried te Creamback M65s but I prefer the tone of the Lynchbacks over the M65 as the Lynchback is warmer and has better lows.

 

[just42dave]

love mine

 

[supersonic]

Mine looks just like yours, except I have the big 2x12. I have to turn down the Excursion knob to tighten up the bass. I like mine with a 4x12 Greenback cab too. CONGRATS MAN!

I did have an OS closed back Bogner 2x12 a few years ago and I think I like the OB Shiva 2x12 better. Yes I am also running the excursion on zero (fully anti clockwise) it is just too thick otherwise. I am liking the 2x12 with V30s' ATM, they cut so much better in a band situation. As I mentioned in another post I am really liking a Bogner Blue in the clean channel also, I need to try a Red.

 

[Ventura]

love mine

Boom. Facts... True story.

 

[richedie]

Try a J&J OD into the clean channel. Wow!

Also....I prefer to keep the excursion all the way up clockwise.
best tubes I have found are JJ EL34s.

 

[Adambomb]

The 20th Shiva sounds more open than the 20th XTC. I hated the KT88s, so I run JJ E34Ls and they rock.

The amp is bright so I am replacing one or both of the V30s in my Bogner 212!

Not really. They're both pretty open sounding, as long as you go with the manufacturer's stock power tube choice. 34's get too compressed, boxy and sluggish for me in the 20th series. The compression kills it for me in a band mix and the dynamics are reduced. This is a big reason why I got annoyed with the 101b.

I agree, the EL34s are too boxy and compressed (congested) at loud volumes for me.
I also think that a Greenback type speaker sounds killer and much more rockin with this amp.

Someone said in post they had a OS2x12 Bogner they wanted to put Creamback 65-75's in it instead of the V30... That's exactly what I've been wanting to do for awhile. My 2 v30's are well broken in after a year and they still don't compare to Creambacks. I demo'd the amp before I bought it with Creakbacks and THAT was THE ROCK sound for me, but I got a killer deal on a matching Cosmo tolex os2x12 w/V30s so got that, but I'm gonna slap some Creambacks in there. To me my 20th Shiva even sounds better with my Splawn 4x12 with Small Blocks cause it's a "Greenback" type speaker.
And yea KT88's for me, atleast in this amp. Just made a post about actually thinking of selling my 20th Shiva until I switched back to KT88's and played it in a band again.

 

[richedie]

I hear ya bro. I just prefer EL34s in all my amps, even the 20th.

I love lots of different speakers with Greenbacks and Lynchbacks who are my current speakers and sound better than the Creambacks to me.

 

[Alex_S]

Shivas are great! Love mine after all these years. +1 for the EL34. I liked the KT88 as well, but the ELs are a little more classic sounding to my ears. KTs are ballsier otoh.

 

[richedie]

Shivas are great! Love mine after all these years. +1 for the EL34. I liked the KT88 as well, but the ELs are a little more classic sounding to my ears. KTs are ballsier otoh.

The KT88s have less mids.

JJ E 34Ls rock in the Shiva.

 

[Adambomb]

Shivas are great! Love mine after all these years. +1 for the EL34. I liked the KT88 as well, but the ELs are a little more classic sounding to my ears. KTs are ballsier otoh.

The KT88s have less mids.

JJ E 34Ls rock in the Shiva.

The JJ E34L's is actually the tube I tried, along with several EL34's, but I think my ears just tune in better with KT88s in this amp. Most every KT88 amp I've tried I didn't really enjoy, but either tube you go with in the 20th still sounds killer.

I've noticed a few 20th Sheevs "EL34" players really defend their tube choice, but it's all personal preference man. I will say that the EQ knobs on the amp seem to dial in tones a little easier with KT's.
This amp is getting near "Classic" status man. So many tones and very versatile. I think many forget to experiment with the modes, knobs, and Excursion circuit. I also can't see how anybody can turn the Exc knob past 2:30 cause it gets really bass heavy. I set mine around 11:00 and seems to be the sweet spot with all my cabs.

 

[Alex_S]

Shivas are great! Love mine after all these years. +1 for the EL34. I liked the KT88 as well, but the ELs are a little more classic sounding to my ears. KTs are ballsier otoh.

The KT88s have less mids.

JJ E 34Ls rock in the Shiva.

Agreed. It almost sounds as if the KTs have additional deep frequencies. Not sure if it is true, but there are some deep bass frees I don't hear with the ELs. Like a thunder. Love it, but still prefer the ELs overall...

 

[Alex_S]

Shivas are great! Love mine after all these years. +1 for the EL34. I liked the KT88 as well, but the ELs are a little more classic sounding to my ears. KTs are ballsier otoh.

The KT88s have less mids.

JJ E 34Ls rock in the Shiva.

The JJ E34L's is actually the tube I tried, along with several EL34's, but I think my ears just tune in better with KT88s in this amp. Most every KT88 amp I've tried I didn't really enjoy, but either tube you go with in the 20th still sounds killer.

I've noticed a few 20th Sheevs "EL34" players really defend their tube choice, but it's all personal preference man. I will say that the EQ knobs on the amp seem to dial in tones a little easier with KT's.
This amp is getting near "Classic" status man. So many tones and very versatile. I think many forget to experiment with the modes, knobs, and Excursion circuit. I also can't see how anybody can turn the Exc knob past 2:30 cause it gets really bass heavy. I set mine around 11:00 and seems to be the sweet spot with all my cabs.

Completely agree, the tubes are a matter of taste, not better or worse.

For the excursion: I actually put it down to zero most of the time. Too much bass for me. But that is also dependent on speakers and guitars of course...

 

[richedie]

LOVE this amp. I go back and forth between JJ EL34s and JJ E34Ls. I usually have the Excursion between 12:00 and Max!