Need your help regarding the XTC 20th

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AndyKE

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I am considering to get an 20th XTC but am not sure if i should pull the trigger. I have played a XTC for some years ago but that was only for a couple of minutes. The thing is, i found some fantastic clip on the net but on the other hand there are some clips who seem to show the same shortcuts with the XTC that i found when playing it several years ago.
First of all the XTC classic i played had really to be played very loud to sound good.
The amp didn`t have too much sustain at lower volumes.

If you listen to GoodByePorkPieHat, the second clip in the following link:
https://www.myspace.com/136208822
That would be the sound i am looking for in an amp with regard to lead tone. Sounds a lot like the Hand on Heart intro from Vai which i am quite sure was recorded with an XTC.

Would love hear from you how the XTC compares to the Marshall JVM or a Diezel Einstein.

1. How does the XTC sound at lower volumes?
2. Has the amp a good FX loop? That seemed to be a problem with the earlier XTC`s?!?
3. Versatility: Blues, Satriani, Vai, SRV, Timmons. How does the amp this?
Sorry for asking but i want to be as sure as possible that i do the right thing before i pay 4000-Euro.
 
Same reason I have not pulled the trigger on a 20th Shiva. I like that with the Mod 50 I can get killer tones at all volume levels. that MEANS A LOT! What is the point of having a nice amp if you can't really use it! My VHT needs to get to 10:00 to get the goods. Luckily that is just about right between that and noon for gigs depending on speakers.
 
I have owned an Ecstasy Classic as my only amp for the last 5 years and have found it to be really versatile. I get great sound at low volume but yeah it sounds better turned up (like everything else). I owned a regular 101b before that and really like the Classic better. I've heard that the 20th Anniv. is like a combo of the best things of the two. I would love to play one but there aren't any near me for hours...I think its hard to go wrong with these - Bogner is building great amps. There are just so many choices out there - at this level there's no "best" just which flavor you like best. I'm really interested in a Suhr PT100 but that would require selling my Classic and I don't thnk thats gonna happen.

Good luck with your search.
 
What do you like better about the Classic? I guess the Variac or Old option helps at low volume? Keep in mind some amps are horrible ay low vols...like 9:00 or below!
 
AndyKE":2v5uqjzr said:
I am considering to get an 20th XTC but am not sure if i should pull the trigger. I have played a XTC for some years ago but that was only for a couple of minutes. The thing is, i found some fantastic clip on the net but on the other hand there are some clips who seem to show the same shortcuts with the XTC that i found when playing it several years ago.
First of all the XTC classic i played had really to be played very loud to sound good.
The amp didn`t have too much sustain at lower volumes.

If you listen to GoodByePorkPieHat, the second clip in the following link:
https://www.myspace.com/136208822
That would be the sound i am looking for in an amp with regard to lead tone. Sounds a lot like the Hand on Heart intro from Vai which i am quite sure was recorded with an XTC.

Would love hear from you how the XTC compares to the Marshall JVM or a Diezel Einstein.

1. How does the XTC sound at lower volumes?
2. Has the amp a good FX loop? That seemed to be a problem with the earlier XTC`s?!?
3. Versatility: Blues, Satriani, Vai, SRV, Timmons. How does the amp this?
Sorry for asking but i want to be as sure as possible that i do the right thing before i pay 4000-Euro.
Click to expand...

Go for the XTC 20th with the A/AB switch - this will allow you to knock your power levels down to almost a mere 7 watts if my memory serves me correct. Half power switch, new/vintage, a/ab - I think that get you down to sub 10W which means you could crank the shit outta that beast and still get the hot tones you'd want. Only problem is that the 4x12 cabinet loaded with V30's begs to be driven hard for them to really blossom.

I've gone ahead and made the decision to get one. And secondly, I would only buy stacks like this and the VH4S (Diezel) in order to crank them up.

Peace,
V.
 
I luv mine at all volumes. Yes it really opens up and is less compressed at air moving volume, but it also sounds great at bedroom level. I had the volume at 12:00,Les Paul,Blue channel (vintage) and nailed "Kashmir" by Zep. I run it through the Bogner XTC 4x12 cab. :D
 
I had one for a week to demo. Great amp and call do all the OP asks for except I did not use the loop and hence can't comment on it. Truly a phenominal amp.

My only criticism were the cleans weren't awesome but the blue and red channesl were.
 
IntenseJim":28rhnt7a said:
I had one for a week to demo. Great amp and call do all the OP asks for except I did not use the loop and hence can't comment on it. Truly a phenominal amp.

My only criticism were the cleans weren't awesome but the blue and red channesl were.
Click to expand...

:dunno: I find the cleans are exceptional...much better than previous incarnations.
 
IntenseJim":529lbzf8 said:
I had one for a week to demo. Great amp and call do all the OP asks for except I did not use the loop and hence can't comment on it. Truly a phenominal amp.

My only criticism were the cleans weren't awesome but the blue and red channesl were.
Click to expand...
I thought the clean channel on the 20th has been improved a lot?
 
My "clean" sounds great with Seymour Duncan SH2 Jazz and SH4 Jazz in my PRS. Also have the 6L6 tube in mine.
 
My xtc is the one Brad owned - the EL34 loaded 20th xtc in plexi headshell trim. Beautiful to look at, and even better sounding. Just a phenomenal amp all around. While the cleans are improved and sound great, I think 6l6's probably help that channel more than the 34's. That's just my personal opinion of course, but then I think Bogner cleans are a weak point historically in the higher gain amp line. That's why I'm impatiently waiting for my GoldFinger!! :)
 
Just my opinion on the clean. Sounded a bit stiff to me but some clearly love it.
 
2 things I'd like to mention....

Cleans - if it's 6L6 loaded, it'll probably always beat the EL34's for cleans. But if you have the EL34 option and are still pissed at the cleans not being that great, try a set of Gold Lion KT77's. Best of both worlds and I've heard AMAZING things about the 20thA with these tubes. Caveat - I have YET to get my amp and actually try this combo, but this is the info I have received through varied avenues.

IntenseJim - are you a skier?? Is that a pic of you nailing an AK line?? PM me - I live in a major ski town, I have a hankering for some serious ski talk....

Peace Y'All....
V.
 
IntenseJim":2innliwh said:
Just my opinion on the clean. Sounded a bit stiff to me but some clearly love it.
Click to expand...

I've talked to a couple people who had owned the 20th Shiva and 20th XTC at the same time and they said they were able to dial in nearly identical clean tones.
 
I have owned 4 bogners, and used a 6L6 Shiva as my gigging amp from 2000-2007. I owned a 101B in the 90's...they are all great amps. The anniversary XTC is the best as far as I'm concerned. The 6L6 tubes make the clean channel very Fender like, especially if you run a high end reverb in the effects loop. Remember, the loop is parallel, so your adjustments are crucial. If you set the controls on the effect and the mix control on the loop properly, it will sound killer. The Blue and red channels are more wide open with less compression on the Anniversary, and the 6L6 tubes fatten the bottom and top end. The amp uses a modified Marshall type circuit with better components, so the midrange frequencies will be strong anyway.

If I was gonna get an XTC, it would be that one. Very versatile and sounds great at low volume. You have half power and class B-AB options too so you can drop the power to about 7 watts.

that being said, I use an Egnater Mod 50 and like it better. With my SL2 module it sounds very similar to the blue and red channels of the XTC, and the TD gives me the Twin/Deluxe tones. I also have reverb, and it was about 800 less. But I still miss having one and will by one again...Bogners are among the best amps out there
 
The 20thA, as a point of clarification, offers both a serial and parallel loop with MV and MIX control (the latter specific to the parallel loop).

Hands down, it's f*ckin' brilliant... The only reason I'm sitting here tapping away at my keyboard is because I spent 8 hours playing my 20thA XTC today and I'm spent.

I've got tomorrow off too - and this is exactly how I plan to spend it... Playing.

V.
 
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