We often wonder whether the amp we have in our hands is the best option we could have, or what amp a given guitarist we like is using, or simply whether we should swap it for the trendy one. Sometimes our amp does everything we need; other times we want more versatility; other times, more color. What has been happening lately? For some time now, boutique amp brands such as Bogner have appeared, offering high-quality gear that stands the test of time.
Today we have in our hands a Bogner Shiva 80W head, with two channels and a boost, but no reverb. It looks very attractive. It gives off a vintage boutique feel and you immediately want to plug in your favorite guitar.
Technical Specifications
The amp comes with its channel-switching footswitch, which is shared by several models. The footswitch includes a reverb on/off option, which this unit doesn't have. You can also switch from channel 1 to channel 2, and toggle the boost on/off. The footswitch connects to the amp with a simple stereo jack, which makes switching from a footswitch much easier, plus another simple jack for reverb on/off. The amp comes with completely vintage-style knobs, big enough to turn in any tricky situation on stage and to see from a distance. Also, the control layout is boutique/vintage style, that is, at the top of the front panel. Let's go through each of the controls on the front:
1) Volume: sets the volume of the clean channel.
2) Bass/Treble: controls the bass and treble of the clean channel (note that there is no midrange control on the clean channel).
3) Bright Switch: a switch that boosts the higher frequencies, moving the sound much closer to a Fender.
4) Gain: sets the gain of the second channel, where the overdriven sound lives.
5) Bass/Middle/Treble: EQ controls for the second, overdriven channel. They don't work the same way as on the first channel; the controls have a different kind of sensitivity.
6) Volume 1: affects the second channel without the boost engaged.
7) Volume 2: the volume of the second channel with the boost engaged.
8) Bright Switch: as on the clean channel, it boosts the highs for a slightly brighter sound, although its effect is less noticeable compared with channel 1.
9) Master Volume: the amp's overall volume.
10) Presence: power amp presence, as on any other amplifier.
As we can see, this isn't an amp with a huge number of controls, nor is it really hard to handle, which is worth appreciating. One reason it sounds so good is that the signal doesn't have to pass through too many knobs or controls.
The rear panel packs a large number of options that make the amp very interesting.
1) Power inlet, where you plug in the power cord and, in turn, add two fuses to guard against any power irregularities.
2) Speaker outputs: There are two outputs, one of them marked as the primary. There is also a selector that sets the impedance to 4, 8, or 16 ohms. The two speaker outputs are wired in parallel. So if you're going to use two 16-ohm cabinets, you should select 8 ohms; and if you're going to use two 8-ohm cabinets, you should set it to 4 ohms. You should not use two 4-ohm cabinets or cabinets of different impedances.
3) Effects loop: The Shiva gives us two inputs and two outputs. The two outputs are the typical loop return and an output to the power amp, in case you want to use only the amp's power stage, where only the master volume and the presence control would work. The Shiva's loop is built in series and has two send outputs, one for pedals and one for rack gear, depending on how much gain and volume we need.
4) A footswitch input consisting of a stereo jack, as well as a switch for selecting which channel you want to use if you don't have the channel-switching footswitch connected. On the switch you have:
a. 1 -> Clean channel.
b. 2-> Overdriven channel.
c. 1+ -> Clean channel plus boost.
d. 2+-> Overdriven channel plus boost.
The amp looks thoroughly rugged and gives the impression of handling gigs without breaking a sweat. It isn't excessively heavy, nor are its dimensions too big for transport.
Sound
Within the range of options available on the Shiva model, we can choose EL34 or 6L6, depending on the sound we're after. In our case, we went with EL34, a much more British sound, where the crunch wins on every front and which gives us an exaggerated dynamic response. This model has a lot of Marshall in it, especially in the overdriven sound, thanks to the power tubes.
If we get into the tonal detail, it has a truly distinctive character because, although it sounds like a Marshall, it doesn't have that aggressive a sound. Let's say it would be pretty close to a JCM 800, but with a touch more thickness. The clean channel sounds truly surprising, perhaps not so much for the sound itself, which is great, but because an amp with an overdriven channel like that doesn't usually have such a crystalline, almost Fender-like clean channel that lets you shine clean.
The boost option is very useful, mainly because we have two independent volumes on the overdriven channel. On the clean channel, it never really breaks it up; it simply raises the volume. This is perfect for that typical part where you need the clean line to be heard above the band. As for pedals, it's quite receptive; that is, you can stack pedal after pedal and you won't have any problem, since the amp has enough bandwidth to deliver all the information from the guitar along with the pedals. So it's a completely creamy sound, easy on the ears and, above all, one that blends perfectly with the rest of the band. Of course, although you can play practically anything with this amp, it's designed especially for a rock register.
Conclusion
The amp sounds really good, especially if you want to hear a more modern Marshall. The combination of the clean sound with the overdriven sound makes it a very attractive option. Another matter to consider is the price: this is not a really cheap amp. Even so, if you're looking for a rock amp that meets all your expectations for well-made classic tone, and as long as your budget reaches this high, don't hesitate to check it out.