Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

[Diego]

I went to buy some strings at a new store that opened up, and I quickly noticed the stock wasn't common at all.

Seymour Duncan pedals (never seen one on the flesh before), tons of Duncan pups, G&Ls,
Taylors, and I'll be damned, there was only one amp in the house: A Bogner Shiva 2x12 combo sitting in a corner...

I'd never even seen one.
All the memories of what I've read about it for years here in this forum quickly burst into my head like a panic attack and all I knew was I HAD to try it ASAP. No excuses.

Took a G&L Legacy from the wall (great axe BTW), put a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic in between just for kicks, and fired the beast up...

HOLY ****ING **** MAN! :eyecrazy:

Every single tone I got out of that thing was incredible, with a guitar straight from the wall!

It loved the Twin Tube for sure. I dialed all sorts of tones and everything was simply amazing, warm, crunchy and fat, with incredible detail and no harshness. I could almost do no wrong with it.

The cleans were astounding. Even the store owner was laughing at the sounds. Took the master past noon and man, that was ridiculous.
Got many sounds, from Dire Straits to EVH, all with just a boost and a Strat.

Quite simply, that was a trip man. A serious trip. I was considering buying an Eleven Rack, maybe a Laney GH50L or a Lionheart, maybe a DIY amp made to my specs, maybe even a 6505+.
**** 'em all.
They would be nice, but playing the Shiva was something else. That's my next amplifier, it doesn't matter if I have to wait a few years.
I'll always crave it. Plus it should be a lifetime partner, right? I've had my humble Cube 60 for almost 7 years now, so I can say that with confidence.

I hate to flip gear every week, I like to stick to what works. And the Bogner felt like an extension of my own playing, rather than something that I have to work with.
Every sound I've had in my head for years came naturally out of that thing.
I'll try it again next week, with one of my guitars. Right now, I'm in the moon.

And BTW, the Twin Tube Classic is amazing.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Cool!! yeah, would be a lifelong partner! Ive never seen a Boggie in the flesh.. Lucky day bro!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

How much was it over there? My guess is around $6500.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

How much was it over there? My guess is around $6500.

Around $3500 I think. $1.6 million pesos, and the US dollar is currently around 460 pesos.
Expensive. But I can do better than that.
The currency change isn't hitting as hard nowadays.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

It's funny, I've spent so much time reading about tubes and wattage and this and that.
I don't even know what tubes the Shiva has, or how many tubes, or how much wattage.
And I don't care. It just does the right sounds, and it's got the right feel.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Around $3500 I think. $1.6 million pesos, and the US dollar is currently around 460 pesos.
Expensive. But I can do better than that.
The currency change isn't hitting as hard nowadays.

Oh, ok. I thought everything there was more than double the price than here.

 

[woemoejack]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

I'm selling mine, with an ata roadcase also... but i doubt you'd want to pay the shipping from Texas to Chile.

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Around $3500 I think. $1.6 million pesos, and the US dollar is currently around 460 pesos.
Expensive. But I can do better than that.
The currency change isn't hitting as hard nowadays.

Two months ago was more expensive (the amp) by A LOT, it's a great small store, but they only had indonesian made G&Ls not the real deal. Shiva is basicaly a modded jcm800, the cleans are fenderish, great sounding amp.

 

[crguti]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

I don't even know what tubes the Shiva has, or how many tubes, or how much wattage.

off the top of my head... it uses 6xECC83 and 2xEL34, if I remember correctly.

I have seen a used Shiva head selling locally at ~ $1880usd. :scratchch

edit: Shiva EL34 models are 80watts, and 6L6 models are 60watts.

 

[Animal]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Around $3500 I think. $1.6 million pesos, and the US dollar is currently around 460 pesos.
Expensive. But I can do better than that.
The currency change isn't hitting as hard nowadays.

That's still way cheaper than for what they cost new in Australia.

# Shiva Head (EL34 or 6L6) = $3990
# 1x12" Combo (Closed Ported) = $4500
# 2x10" Combo (Closed Ported) = $4750
# 2x12" Combo (Open Back) = $4800

from http://www.deluxeguitars.com.au/bogner-shiva.asp

And our dollar is now worth MORE than the USD.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

The owner told me it was 60 watts. Must have been a 6L6 then. Loved it.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Two months ago was more expensive (the amp) by A LOT, it's a great small store, but they only had indonesian made G&Ls not the real deal. Shiva is basicaly a modded jcm800, the cleans are fenderish, great sounding amp.

Maynardo to the rescue.
You know, the G&L might have been from Indonesia or whatever (I didn't ask or care, I was all about the Shiva at that moment)
but from a price point it's going straight against the MIM Fenders at least here in Chile,
and frankly I liked the G&L a lot more than any MIM Strat I've tried.
Better frets, better nutwork too, the funky trem does it's thing nicely, and a damn good sound too.

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Did he also tell you the amp use to be Spinetta's and so on?... BTW they were selling it for 2 million not too long ago, close to a grand more. Still if you have a JCM800 you can get the "shiva mods" ... I'm not sure at all, but I think those were applied to Jerry Cantrell's JCM800 by Bogner himself in the early 90s

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Yeah, he's proud of that story.
I'd have to see about that mod. But still man, I freakin' loved that amp.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Can you buy used from the US and get it shipped? Lately they've been going on eBay for $1400-1700. There's one on there right now for $1200 (see first link). Add shipping to Chile and it still should be much cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Bogner-Shiva-EL34-Non-Reverb-Head-Beautiful-/290568319018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a738b02a

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bogner-Shiva-Half-Stack-/310320801928?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48408fa888

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Don't think I'm not thinking of that one.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

whats the diff tween a Shiva and a XTC more or less? besides higher wattage?

Does Bogner still do mods?? I know Scott Splawn doesnt cuz he is focused on building his amps

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

whats the diff tween a Shiva and a XTC more or less? besides higher wattage?

Does Bogner still do mods?? I know Scott Splawn doesnt cuz he is focused on building his amps

http://bognerampforum.informe.com/need-help-shiva-or-ecstasy-dt1160.html

Don't know if the guy still mods amps, probably not.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

I was also reading about the 6L6 vs. the EL34 Shiva.
It seems the 6L6 is an overall favorite, both for dirty and clean.
Can't say anything was wrong about what I heard yesterday... and I tried a 6L6.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Tried a Bogner Shiva for the first time... (CC: Red_Label)

Glad you got to plug into a Shiva man! LOVED mine! Still miss it sometimes. But it's hard to miss her too much when there's an XTC in the man cave everytime I go in there!

I've never played a 6L6 version. Mine was an EL34. But both models are universally loved. There are certainly players out there who didn't gel with them. But there are VERY FEW amps out there that ooze "sex" like the Shiva. Same goes for the XTC. From my internet "research" over the past decade, the most-coveted three boutique channel switchers have undoubtedly been the Shiva, XTC, and SLO.

Anyways... I highly support what is probably a new obsession for you Diego! LOL. I've been there man. Ten years ago I plugged-into my first Shiva and was floored. I couldn't get it out of my head. But they aren't too common around here and on the rare occasion that there was one around, I never had that kind of money. It was just a year ago that I sold my car and talked my wife into letting me spend part of the proceeds on what had been my dream amp for so long. I picked it up on Ebay in mint condition for $1600. Had to do a complete re-tube though cause they were shot. So that cost me another $200+. After the new tubes were installed and I had it biased in the right range, it was everything I dreamed it'd be. And I'd still have it today if the XTC hadn't come along at the right time for the right price. As I've said, it's basically a Shiva with an extra channel (the red channel). But still... I do miss the Shiva and if it had been financially expedient I would have kept both. I ended-up selling the Shiva still in mint condition with great tubes to a guy for $1400 shipped. Lucky bastidge!


ETA: Oh man... you went and made me start to GAS for another Shiva (but I'd keep my XTC of course). LOL! This time, I'd probably get a 1X12 or 2X12 combo just to have something different since the XTC is a head. But I don't think my healing back would be happy about that! Also, I wouldn't mind getting a nice Duende combo either.

Let me post a pic of my old Shiva just fuel or new-found obsession...