What do you all think of the XTC 101b??????

[richedie]

I can't afford to buy a used XTC 20th Anniversary....especially after buying a 20thg Shiva.

What is the next best thing?" The 101b?
I have heard that the 20th is a huge, huge step forward in every way, loop, tone, functionality, everything.
I aldo talked to Stu at Fat Sound Guitars and he says the older ones get lost in the mix.....new ones are voiced better.

So, am I out of luck?

 

[RG955TT]

I don't really agree with that generalization. I own 2 20th's, a 6l6 and an EL34 and a older 101B (2003). To me and for what I do I like the 101B the best believe it or not. Maybe it's just mine but it's thicker and fatter with all the right frequencies in all the right places. Check out our Dancin Days cover on You Tube at SPL Band. The other guitar player in my band is using a Marshall Preamp and Boogie power amp, I am playing the Bogner 101B. I am mostly panned left, all the slide work is my other guitar player on the right. The key to that amp is running the presence control much higher than I would in other amps, 3 oclock or even higher makes it jump out in the mix. Yes it's still a full sound lower mid voiced amp so if you compare to bright amps like Marshall or Boogie it is a little less biting but my 101b is a great amp and I will not ever sell it. Super versitile and full of juicy tones, add plenty of presence and don't use too much gain and it's a killer. My band does everything from Metallica to U2 to STP to velvet Revolver to Foo Fighters to Zeppelin to Van Halen and the thing just has just great tone in my opinion. I also own an Elmwood M90, a Diezel Einstein and various Boogies and this is the amp for me. The pre 2004's are less gainy and less compressed so if you're concerned about this maybe look for an older one. While the 20th's sound great in their own right, I am constantly changing tubes etc to make it sound closer to my 101b. I honestly do not think it's that huge of a difference, again, my opinion. Good luck!

 

[richedie]

Thanks man. I was considering a used Twin Jet or maybe a used PWE Event Horizon for something different but in light of what you said...I might look a used XTC. So you recoemmend a pre 2004? I don't want too much overlap. Right now I have a 20th Shiva with EL34s which I much prefer over the older Shivas and a new reborn dual rectifier.

Thanks!

 

[RG955TT]

No problem. I just saw one sell on Ebay for under $2k, the change in 2004 is easily modified by snipping one side of a cap or resistor so if you wanted a newer one I don't think it's that big a deal to make it like an older one. Mine also has Mercury Magnetic OP transformer which may have something to do with it's sound as well. The XTC will get a bit more modern on red channel and a bit more old school on the blue channel than your Shiva...Shiva is a bit more Marshally. If you pick one up used for under $2k you could always flip it at no real loss if it wasn't your thing. It is a very versitile head and I use all 5 sounds on mine and it doesn't want for anything on any of them for me...of course your mileage may vary. Good luck!

 

[TheMagicEight]

I'm going to step in here and say I prefer the 101b as well. Owned the 20th Anniv. for about 6 months, and before that had the 101b for about 2 years. There are things I really like about the 20th - its features are very usable, and it's difficult to get a bad tone out of it - but where it falls short for me is with its flat, somewhat lifeless tone at high volumes. Where the 101b could really sing when cranked; the 20th sort of.....spits.

For many applications, I'd probably want the 20th. But in terms of amps which have that incredible sound, the 101b is hard to beat.

 

[se7en]

I liked the tone of the 101b, especially on the blue channel, but the clean and red channel left something to be desired. The feel is ultimately what made me sell it...it felt somewhat disconnected. Also, it wasn't as responsive to pick attack as my other amps at the time. It tends to suit lead / legato playing best and could've had better string separation for fast runs. To me, the XTC Classic and 20th allow for more variation in attack/dynamics. Pick soft and they sound cleaner...dig in and they 'kerrang'...To me, they breathe better - more open and more cut in a band mix. The plexi mode was also more usable to me on those amps. YMMV.

 

[LP Freak]

I hated the 101B. All I can say is it's way too compressed. I haven't had a chance to compare it to a 20th Ann. but I can say I like the 20th Ann. Shiva way better.

 

[Nico]

I have a 101B and love the amp!

What are you going for that you don't get in the shiva? That is a great amp!!!

 

[richedie]

I have a 101B and love the amp!

What are you going for that you don't get in the shiva? That is a great amp!!!

Good point.....my SHiva may get all I need.

PLayed my friend's Mesa Mark V the other night and now I am in LOVE with that amp.

 

[Nico]

I have a 101B and love the amp!

What are you going for that you don't get in the shiva? That is a great amp!!!

Good point.....my SHiva may get all I need.

PLayed my friend's Mesa Mark V the other night and now I am in LOVE with that amp.

You'll get more overlapping in sounds with the Ecstasy and the Shiva than with the Shiva and the Mark V for sure!

 

[LP Freak]

I have a 101B and love the amp!

What are you going for that you don't get in the shiva? That is a great amp!!!

The Shiva us much more Marshall like than the Ecstasy. The Shiva is slightly different with the KT88's but that's a good thing. If it had the EL34's in it, i think it would be too similar to my Marshalls and wouldn't be worth having. The 20th Ann. Shiva is alot more open sounding than the 101B. To me, the red channel is pretty much usless. I owned 2 different 101B's and a 101A. I didn't care for any if them but that's just my opinion. I hear the 20th Ann. 101A sounds great though. Nico, have you tried a 20th Ann. Shiva?

 

[Nico]

Paul, I haven't tried the 20th Shiva. I hear its a wicked amp especially with 6550... I am eager to try one out!

 

[LP Freak]

Paul, I haven't tried the 20th Shiva. I hear its a wicked amp especially with 6550... I am eager to try one out!

If you like the Marshall flavor with a slight twist of Bogner, you'll love it. Didn't mean to piss on your parade with the 101A but that's the way I saw it. But then what do I know?

 

[hunter]

I haven't played the 20th, but the Classic, 101B and 100B.

to me I prefer 100B > Classic > 101B

I've been on and off about selling the 100B because it's so HUGE and LOUD, and I am a bedroom player at the moment. But when you play it you realise that there's a reason that amp established the name "Ecstasy".

 

[Rev]

I came across this video the other day and never heard a 101b sound like this. This 20th sounds incredible!!

 

[TheMagicEight]

I came across this video the other day and never heard a 101b sound like this. This 20th sounds incredible!!

Actually, both of those are through the VHT cab. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Rev]

I came across this video the other day and never heard a 101b sound like this. This 20th sounds incredible!!

Actually, both of those are through the VHT cab. Just something to keep in mind.

The second video says they used a Bogner cab with Scumbacks. Either way, I love the way this amp sounds in this combo.

 

[LP Freak]

I'd like to hear something mic'd a little closer and not tuned to Z.

 

[se7en]

I hated the 101B. All I can say is it's way too compressed. I haven't had a chance to compare it to a 20th Ann. but I can say I like the 20th Ann. Shiva way better.

Yeah, the 20th Shiva is pure class. If you thought the 101b was too compressed and dark, you would definitely dig the 20th X more. I'm contemplating putting 6550's or KT77's in mine, just to take it over the top. 'Ventura' put 77's in his and said it's even more lively and fuller than 34's.

 

[Dr. Swamp]

I'd like to hear something mic'd a little closer and not tuned to Z.

The second vid is in Drop Db.