Speaking of the Shiva. Still love it, but I spent this afternoon setting-up my TC Nova System through the effects loop (in parallel mode) of the XTC, and working some more on my tones. Actually, outside of the effects I mostly just flat-out ENJOYED every minute of playing -- spent mostly on the blue channel. If the Shiva is a Boy Scout, the XTC is a Marine -- Hooah! This thing is just blowing me away! After 26 years of searching, I'm finally "home". I've had some great amps (like the Shiva, H&K Triamp Mk I, Fender Twin, Marshalls, etc), but I never felt like I had arrived at a destination that could carry me through indefinitely. I always knew that something was missing, or that I was somehow just a bit short somewhere. I no longer feel that way. This is the place I've had in my mind for many years, and now I'm here and VERY happy that I'm here. Between the XTC and my new Eleven Rack, there's pretty much no tone I can't get. Time to just PLAY and ENJOY!
One thing that I thought the XTC came-up a hair short (and luckily, it didn't) -- the lack of adjustable solo volume boost. The Shiva has one, and it's very handy for setting the volume of solos (as well as adding a bit more girth and hair). Whereas the footswitchable boost on the XTC is more of a gain boost. Most amps that have boosts, seem to have gain boosts and it's usually a set amount. So I was slightly bumming that I'd be missing the volume boost on the Shiva. But with my Nova System running through the effects loop, it's got an adjustable solo boost and works PERFECTLY for the XTC. Kicks up that volume plenty loud -- even on the Red channel at max gain.
So I'm STOKED. Could not be happier. Want to get out and gig this rig now!
and im a picky bastard.
