Bogner Shiva Experience?

[marcg71]

Ok folks need your help! For those of you with experience with Bogner Shivas. Can one achieve a hard rock/metal sound without adding pedals to the mix? To show you what I'm thinking, think of foo fighters, STP, Buckcherry, Candlebox, Velvet Revolver, Puddle of Mud (Control). I play in a cover band and these about the extremes where gain is concerned. I've read very differing reviews. I do understand things are relative, one person saying a Shiva is not a metal is may be vastly different than what someone thinks, this is why I've listed some bands as a frame of reference. Your help is greatly appreciated.


I have a unique opportunity where I can purchase a Shiva EL34 at a cut rate price from a reputable store, but have to act quickly and don't have the opportunity to play it.

Thanks,
Marc

 

[jimlp]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

From the limited amount of time I have played a Shiva 1X12 combo at a local store I would say that you are going to need a pedal, gain wise it sounds like it will get into JMP territory.

 

[marcg71]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

Thanks. I thought this may be the case. I've gone thru a few amps recently that had enough gain and some to spare but the cleans and mid level gain didn't sound good, sounds like I'm swing back the other way - great cleans and mide level gain. I've got a Keeley DS-1 ultra wonder if that would do the trick.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

I own a one 12 combo EL34 model. Have owned it for about 1½ years now. It is one of the best channel switching amps I have ever used period. Now I am more a Blues/ rock kind of player so I can't really answer your question, but I am going to say you will need a pedal to get you into the "metal" zone. I can get some very good Slash tones and some great Hendrix/SRV type of sounds with a Strat, but to take it way beyond that I would say a pedal is going to be necessary. What you might want to consider is the Extacy. That should get you where you want to go with no help!

 

[marcg71]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

funny thing is I also play in a blues band - sounds like this would be perfect? I wonder how the guy from CBS Rock Star got such a varying array of sounds for that show, he must of used some front end pedals.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

funny thing is I also play in a blues band - sounds like this would be perfect? I wonder how the guy from CBS Rock Star got such a varying array of sounds for that show, he must of used some front end pedals.

I A/B mine with another amp, and I use a TubeScreamer in the clean channel only and this gives me a few added voices. If you think how the Shiva works it is really simple. You have volume for clean, and drive the EQ for both channels are seperate and then it has a master volume and master presence. The way I use the TS is more like a clean boost. I have the gain set fairly low and the volume on the TS to give me a good push in volume. This allows me to get a very slight natural tube OD in the clean setting. In the Drive channel I use it as is and the boost ONLY works with the Drive channel. So I have the normal clean, the clean with the TS, The Drive and the Drive with the boost (the boost just adds a little more volume and a slight increase in gain). My Shiva is an older model which required a special cable for the Effects loop. I run a CH1 Chorus and a DD3 into the loop. It works really well now that I have the cable. On Bogners website they have instructions on "how to" make the cable yourself. It really helped a lot. The Nwe Shivas have been "fixed" so you don't need a special cable. They also have a mod available so the boost will work with both channels if you felt you need this. I elected at this time to leave it alone, but may do it in the future.

This is a really great amp and I plan on keeping it for quite some time. For me and what I do it is a great amp.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

I shoul also mention that before I owned the Shiva I was A/Bing a Fender Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb (depending) and a MArshall 900. I still have the 900 and bothe Fenders, but they don't see much playing time now. I leave the 900 at my bands rehearsal space. The Fenders I use occasionally, but more just to excercise them. The Cleans and the Reverb on the Shiva is as good as any Fender I have played thru and in some ways better. The Drive took me a little while to dial in the sound I was looking for but once I got use to it and familiar with it. There really is no going back. The Deluxe Reverb will get som playing time when we play small gigs. The MV in the Shiva should allow me to use it anywhere.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

Just buy it. It'll probably be your favorite amp you've ever owned, and if it's not, it's easy as pie to sell.

Are you talking about the head or combo? For rock/metal, the head/cab might be the better route. For bluesrock, the combo does just fine.

 

[BlueSky]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

Why not look into a bogner ecstasy?

 

[marcg71]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

Yes it is a combo & extension cab is part of the deal. I went ahead and bought it - it was too good of a deal to pass up. I have a ds ultra keeley/ modded ts9 and an OCD, I'm hoping one of them can push the bogner into that hard rock sound.

 

[pixelpusher]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

i love my shiva and play mostly hard rock into metallish territory but i use pretty gainy tones . in the mix with the band and the shiva cranked up through a 2x12 with the boost on it sounds like there is a fire breathing dragon in the corner.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bogner Shiva Experience?

It's the amp Jerry Cantrell uses, so it does sound heavy without a pedal....maybe just it's boost. The OCD will work great with it, if you want endless gain.