That is my opinion also! Def. better overall amps than friedmans. Gain that you really can controle, cleans are I think best in the class. Better than every fender in cleand, overdrive are something like vintage marshall with a bit of modern touch, more gain and better structure of gain and modern stuff.
I feel the same way. Even today got to try a BE-100 deluxe vs an Ecstasy and the Friedman just had a very generic quality to the overdrive but the Ecstasy immediately was a gas to play through and I found the voicing switches to be more instantly effective on shaping the saturation. I don’t like how the BE-100 loads up the back with the mini toggles. A real pain in the ass to get to. I have enjoyed the Dirty Shirley and like some clips of Friedman’s I’ve heard but in person I can’t get past a few minutes where I’m still tweaking and yet to get that grin. Fire up the Ecstasy and the grin is fairly immediate and then you dial in for your guitar and style. I have a memory of playing a BE-100 about 4 years ago and liking it but maybe it’s revisions are taking it away from what I like, because I haven’t played one since that lifts my skirt.
@@Skoora I just bought my dream amp, 10 minutes ago. Bogner Shiva with EL-34s, combo, with reverb. I know the 20th anniversary with KT88's can pull off a more modern high gain tone, but as a tone smith I think I can push this beautiful amp wherever I want with the right pedals. I've never been more excited over a music purchase!
I’ve owned both of these amps, still have the XTC. The Shiva never did it for me the way the XTC does, I could never get exactly what I wanted out of it after owning it for over a year. With the 101B I had it dialed in within a minute or two. Both amps kick serious ass but the XTC is on another level.
Hello Nick. Nice job and appreciate this video. I have the Xtc 101B head and Bogner 2-12 closed back with V30's and is my favorite amp. The 101b definitely has a slighty throaty midrange which for me I prefer. I tried the Shiva and even though I liked it, man for about the same price I was able to get a 1 year old Xtc head in pristine condition so I had to do it! I am glad I did! I play downtown Nashville when I am not doing school or playing on the road and it's always a surprise to people when you see Fender, Dr Z, Boss Katana... yeap Boss Katana is pretty popular downtown and Fender again. And of course that depends where you play too. I've brought my Xtc head and cab and it is a beast of a tone from clean to hi-gain and everything in between. The buffered effects loop is very clear and clean. Take care
Both very good, very GOOD. Slight difference, the Shiva is more open and Marshall like, the XTC has more low mids and push which is very helpful for soloing. Lukather is using the XTC!
Thanks for making the time to make this video. Love the Shiva. The shamers just run their mouths, probably suck at guitar, and have a crappy rig. Sounded great buddy
They both sound great and to my ears pretty similar. The xtc has a bit more meat behind it I think but the Shiva may be a tad clearer. It would be sweet if you'd also compare/demo different gain settings, channels and cleans for a full idea or spectrum of what both amps can do. ;) great playing!
Thanks for the comparison! I like the girthy bloat/punch of the Shiva personally (at least for all these rhythm licks). Hope you bought a taller chair in the past 8 years though
Yeeee!! Brutal sounds and very good played!! I think that Shiva have a litle more tone, and i prefer his raw, but 101b have more bass power. I prefer Shiva 😋 You has compare Shiva with Helios?
Two stellar amps but apart from the first clip where i preferred the Shiva, the rest was dominated by the Ecstasy 101b. No contest for mid- to high rock tones. The shiva was clearer sounding so more of that strat rock n roll overdrive stuff.
Thano, I agree with you. I still own a 101B, but sold the 20th Shiva. I will say this - it recorded incredibly well, because of the naturally tighter bottom end. But in the room, the 101B just feels like a sledgehammer. It's a classic for a reason. Just a stellar amp.
@@NickPierro I agree, the Shiva was tighter but you cant top a 101B. I still have mine and its a keeper. What tubes did you put in yours? I have Tung Sols but have heard that Reinhold prefers SED wing C's in them, the old Svetlanas but since they are super expensive, I was gonna call and ask what the better alternative would be.
This was a LONG time ago, but I recall having the knobs set at "noon", to give a proper A/B comparison. I do agree - I could have EQ'd the 101B a bit brighter and more aggressive.
Yea it seems fuller im a hairy, fuzzy way. The shiva sounds dry...hollow overdrive...(i prefer the more basic tone). I feel in the mix the shiva would dominate.
I played a silver back Shiva for about 4 years. The 20th Anniversary is a little more versatile with a few more tone shaping gadgets. But I prefer the regular Shiva. I wouldn't mind having both. Shivas have more string to string definition than the XTCs. To my ears the XTCs get a little muddy.
you lost me when you started playing 90's song by those douchey guys who sing that one song. Ya I speak in riddles sometimes. But the amps were shamed by that song
