Bogner Shiva 112 Combo

I have the EL34 1-12 combo with reverb; the first generation, before Bogner made changes to the effects loop and the "boost" control. It's a very loud 85 watts.

It has two channels. Channel 1 is clean and has simple volume, bass, and treble controls, and can run from dead-clean to the verge of breakup with a little compression. Channel 2, the overdrive channel, has bass, mids, treble, gain, and volume controls. It can range from nice soft crunch to fully saturated moderately-high gain. There is a separate reverb setting for each channel. Comes with a 3 button footswitch for channel switching, reverb, and boost (which kicks up the gain and level on channel 2 only). There's a master volume and master presence control, and a two-speed cooling fan. The tone controls on both channels have a broad, usable range allowing you to get a very wide variety of tones.

There is an unbuffered f/x loop that is frankly a pain in the ass to use with pedals, but apparently works great with rackmount units.

This is a combo with speaker enclosure that is closed in the back but is ported in the front.

I use this amp with a Grestch 6120, a G&L ASAT, and a G&L S500. The only pedal I ever use in front of it is a T-Rex Comp-Nova compressor.

The Shiva does not get into super-high-gain tones. Dead-clean to pretty raunchy rock but no rectoshredorama.

Both channels are simply gorgeous. The clean channel is full and complex; maybe a little hi-fi for some people's tastes, but it compresses nicely if the volume on channel 1 is pushed up pretty high. Gobs of clean headroom and dynamic range; that's why I use the compressor sometimes. There is so much bottom end available that you can shake the fillings right out of your teeth. Not as much brightness on tap as, say, a Twin. But plenty of clear highs and almost rediculous amount of bass available in case you want to rattle the china of the neighbour three doors down.

The O/D channel is creamy smooth and full and has its own unique voice. It never gets buzzy or harsh in the upper mids; the lows are full and tight; no matter how much gain or how much low end you dial in, it never gets flabby. Even at high gain settings there is excellent note definition; hit an open chord and you can hear every note clear as a bell. My previous amp was a Marshall Silver Jubilee, and there is simply no comparison; the Bogner's distortion character is infinitely smoother and more refined. I have tried a few overdrive pedals in front of it but they all make the amp sound muffled and constipated; the amp's natural distortion is all the dirt you will ever need.

The reverb is also stunning, with a rich 3-D quality. There is a true bypass on the reverb, so when you disengage it you get a slight bump-up in volume and a more open sound. It's also nice to be able to set the reverb separately for each channel.

But probably the best thing about this amp is the master volume circuit. I have NEVER played an 85W amp that sounds this good at low volumes.

It's kind of a joke how many reviews on HC give really second-rate amps a "10" in this category. But this amp really is a "10."

Extremely well made amp. I have only owned it for less than two years so I can't speak to reliability. But it is solid.

Never had to have it repaired; never needed customer support. As a small boutique company I am sure they are great.

I have been playing for over 25 years, in clubs, and have owned a lot of amps, but never been 100% satisfied. A couple of years ago I went amp hunting, and tried dozens of different boutique amps: Matchless, Carr, DrZ, Aiken, Allen, Goodsell, Boogie, Soldano, Orange, Bad Cat, etc etc. I ALMOST settled on a Carr Hammerhead, which has a similar rich overdrive character (in a much smaller package) but then I (actually, my wife) found this Shiva on eBay for the right price and I jumped.

I have no regrets whatsoever.

The only thing I would wish for is a more usable effects loop. Not that I use any rackmount or time-delay effects, but maybe I might want to some day. I understand that Bogner have made some design improvements to their effects loop, so the newer models should be about perfect.

One other minor annoyance: the power cord is not detachable and there really is nowhere to tuck it in back of the amp without risking displacing or damaging the tubes.

This is a 2006 amp, purchased in September of this year, 2007.
I play many styles of music...jazz (all flavors), blues, r&b (the old stuff, not the modern BS), reggae, etc...etc...this Amplifier (I have the EL34) is simply the best sounding amp I have owned since my first amp back in 1974.
Two Channel, switching...one clean, one gain...FX loop
I see NOTHING lacking in this amplifier at all...I could not wish for a better sound. It is VERY powerful at 80 watts and clean all the way to the top without loss of tonality.

This amp translates every guitar I own to a better place. The single coil sound is glassy but warm in the clean channel, and rips in the gain channel. I play a 1981 John Suhr...that's right...this is like the third one he ever did custom and it is marvelous (thanks John, Oh Guru)..and the Shiva brings out every nuance in the instrument and in one's playing. I also play a Gibson L5 Signature for straight-ahead and most jazz gigs...some other gigs as well...very versatile instrument. The Shiva is the ONLY amp I have used that makes the L5 sound like the classic archtop it is. Forget the Fenders or Polytones for jazz, folks. This amp speaks archtop. In addition I have a Gibson CS 356 for more aggressive humbucker stuff...Carlton, Rit, Zingg, Herington, Sco, etc...forget it, the amp is GOLD.

n/a - - it's too new. But if it were to die or get stolen, I would buy a replacement and opnly hope that it was as good as this one.

Nice folks at Bogner...they answer the phone and have a sense of humor. That alone speaks volumes. Thanks guys.

I have been playing for over 35 years. There is, in my opinion, no better amp out there. I also love the Guytron and Matchless gear...and would put this in the same catagory. Is is better? There is no 'better' at this level...there is only 'preference'. Hear the Shiva before you buy the others...then get the one you like...but hear the Shiva.

It weighs a lot, so what. Don't be a girly-man. Get a cart. BUT GET THIS AMP !!!

Mine is the 60 watt, 6L6 version. Never played the 80 watt so I don't know how it compares. All I know is this one is plenty loud for me. I took and chance and bought mine used without playing it or any other Bogner. I was looking at a Budda Superdrive but kept hearing people that had those saying the only thing they would trade out for their Budda is a Bogner, so I took a chance and it definitely paid off. I used it at a gig last year where there were a bunch of other nice amps on stage (Marshalls, VHTs, Mesa Boogies, etc). The Shiva was the talk of the gig as most people had never heard of it, but were mainly raving about the sound.

I previously owned a Mesa Boogie DC-5 50 Watt Head, 2x12 Combo. That was a great amp with a lot of versatility but soundwise it doesn't compare to the Bogner, clean or distorted. I mainly play a PRS Standard 24 with the Vintage Bass and HFS Pickups and man does it scream through this thing! When I first got it I took it to my guitar teacher's studio and we cranked it. His description was that is sounded like a Marshall on steriods and I totally agree. I mostly play classic rock and jazz fusion and this is great for both(or anything else). The clean channel is great as well, but my favorite thing is even when distorted, you can roll back the volume on the guitar and the amp cleans up nicely. This is great for when you want to back off during singing parts of a song, and then turn the guitar volume up for solos. A lot of the time I don't even need to use the extra boost for solos. As others have said, the only thing it may not be able to do is metal, but I think with the right guitar you could get pretty close. I also own a Peavey Wolgang and it gets pretty hard sounding with that. The one thing I will say that was a wakeup call for me is that this amp does not cover up anything. If you play sloppy, it will come out sloppy. I also own a Vox modeling amp and use it to practice with, but I have to be careful because it covers up a lot of holes in my playing that come to light when playing the Bogner. To me this is a good thing because it shows how clear and accurate this amp is, but if you are not ready to hear how you really sound then you may want to get something else.

Of course a backup would be nice but that would be a lot more money and a lot more weight to carry, haha. Other than the normal stuff like tubes, I would definitely trust this amp when gigging. It has never broken down on me and it is as solidly built as they come.

Never dealt with them but they are small and from what others have said, it sounds like they are pretty easy to deal with. Don't think I have a warranty since mine is used.

I've been playing 14 years now and own an American Strat, Peavey Wolfgang, PRS Standard 24 with a Custom 24 on the way. This is only my second tube amp so I'm by no means an expert. All I know is that I no longer have the desire to keep searching for another amp, which is pretty rare when it comes to guitar players and their equipment. I really researched these before buying because I was tired of buying something and not being satisfied, and I really wanted to avoid going through a bunch of amps before finding what I wanted. Is it a lot of money? Yes, but as one of the other reviewer's said, you usually have to spend more to get more. To me, the only way to get both the quality clean and distortion sounds of this amp would be to go buy a vintage Fender for the clean and a vintage Marshall for the distortion and end up spending way more than the Bogner anyway. If it were lost or stolen I would cry and then rush to the nearest Bogner dealer to get another one.

As an owner of a Bogner Ecstasy, I was expecting much of the same but slimed down in terms of features due to reduced cost. This is a completely different animal. Two channels but the boost features make this amp far more flexible. The reverb is luscious and can be independently set for each channel. It seems to come out of the signal chain when not engaged which beefs the sound up. Best part is the effects loop. My EL34 model has a special send for stompboxes -- the line level send is way too hot for most stompboxes and seems to be designed with rack mounts effects in mind. Great for blues/most rock. Even played a country type gig with it and it was superb.

Clean channel isn't the glassy clean of a Mesa Boogie MK4 or Fender Twin..it seems to my ears more 3D and full in the midrange. Boost function takes the tone stack out and you really hear the identity of your guitar. Like my THD Flexi it seems to respond to the different pickups in various guitars. The dirty/crunch/lead channels just make you want to play. It's not forgiving to sloppy technique..which I think is a good thing. Never wanted to wail as much on a guitar since I got bitten by the bug as a 12 year old.

Never had to enquire about backup. Spoke to them once about my Ecstasy re-new valves. That's all.

They are super friendly and seem to really enjoy their work -- all the time. How many of us can say that? I envy them.

I've owned an awful lot of equipment over the years trying to find that "sound". It really seems to work best just plugging in and playing. No pedals (maybe a delay in the loop and a Wah in the front). I switch between my Ecstasy/THD but always come back to the Shiva as a pick up and play/record/gig. As Mr Bogner says, if you don't "hear it" don't buy it. Couldn't agree more.

6L6 version. reverb. has a ton of pre amp tubes. Pretty green light on the front. 60w.

The features are standard...2 channel...better to look at the web site than for me to list the features.

I worked at a guitar store for seven very impressionable years and have played tons of amps...tons. You name it...I've probably played it over and over. Bar none - this Shiva amp is the most amazing amp that I have ever had the pleasure to own. Cleans are beautiful and the overdrive is perfect. How can I describe it? Just play one and if you are as crazy as I am...you will overlook the price tag and get the thing. You know, it is kinda like this... most amplifiers assist the instrument. This amp actually is part of the instrument. You know you found the right amp when it jumpstarts your musical ideas...this amp does that for me.

Built like a tank. You know, there are only 11 people who work at this shop. I called there. They picked up and were able to figure out who built it by the serial number. The guy that built it got on the phone and told me everything about what he looks for in the tone.

Another thought... this amp does have a circuit board...it is not point to point. But the deal is this... they use very high quality circuit boards. I spoke to the guy about this at length. Point to point is not very reliable. wires move around in transport and over time change the tone of the amp. This amp is going to sound this good for my whole life.

Like I said...call them and talk to the guy that built yours.

Playing for eighteen years.
Play a Fender 57 reissue strat.
No FX.
Own various tube amps, but only play this one.
I suppose you could say that it is heavy, which sucks if you have to carry it for more than 20 miles.
Bad Cat came in second... but a very distant second.
Could use tremolo, they make one with trem, but not the shiva.
Go play one.

see below

The reverb is just mind-blowingly good.

Mine is the EL34 1x12 ported combo version.

The best clean sound I've ever heard -- so many amps have a kind of good surface sound but not so deep in terms of harmonic depth but this amp, with the 'verb off, is deep, lush, 3-D and beautiful.
You can push the clean channel to give some nice, subtle grind at low volumes and the lead channel is perfect -- not muddy at all and not brittle or shrill.

Even though this think is rated as an 80-watt amp it is made with such excellent components that you can get very good cranked sounds at levels you can damn near watch TV over. But it has a lot of volume for gigging situations, no problem there.

So, good for live playing and studio work. Very versitile

Had it now for about 4 years and like it more as time goes by. Never a problem at all.

Mostly studio use these days.

Called them once asking some question about impedance and external cabs -- left a message and they called me back in about 10 minutes.

Well, I sold a lot of gear (including amps) to get this Shiva (they are not cheap) and about the only other amp I'm considering is the Bogner Duende because it is such a different type amp...with the combination of Duende and Shiva all bases could be covered except probably the blackest of cookie monster music.

Been doing this for 26 years...played in a lot of bands and have been recording since the late 80s. If I had to buy all new gear a Shiva would be top of the list.

I've owned every guitar you'd expect from Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, etc.
Right now I play a highly-customized Parker NightFly SA (non-factory pickups) and it sounds terrific in the Shiva...plus an assortment of other guitars with SD humbuckers, etc....everything you put though it sound great.

I love this amp. I've been playing professionally for over 30 years and have found nothing that sounds better. My only wish is for a little better control between the regular and the boost function of the high gain channel. It's difficult to get a light crunch on the unboosted gain channel and then an highly overdriven singing tone on the boost. They are somewhat mutually exclusive. This is a very small matter on such a great amp and I've never seen an amp that can do what I'm talking about anyway. It's sort of a have you cake and eat it too situation.

The sound of this amp is ambrosia. You can't believe the fantastic tone this thing produces. I have many guitar amps and I don't want to use anything but my Shiva. This baby is phat and sweet. 10 is not a high enough rating!

Never had any sort of problem. To quote another reviewer "this thing is built like a tank".

I have had not experience with customer support but I have spoken with some who have and the report is all very good.

I've been playing since I was 10 and I'm now 49, wow that's 39 years. I made my living for many years playing guitar when I was younger, now I mostly do session work for local artists and small time radio and I play a lot at my church. I have too much gear to mention, (39 years worth!) but I currently use my Shiva with a modified Strat. If this amp were lost or stolen, I'd sell all my other amps to buy another. No kidding.

The Model i'm playing is the one with the reverb option and I can say it has pretty much anything and everything you can really need. The clean ch. is great - the reverb is also fantastic. The Treble and Bass knob provide enough room to provide a range of tones. The main channel is also great, with your standard knobs you'd find on most any amp of course..and the reverb can be set at different level, which is my favorite feature about the amp. I love adding some more reverb to the gain channel to give almost a delay like reverb. The gain is amazing, i've thrown out all pedals except my Fulltone FulDrive. Amazing.

It can be the cleanest clean, and it can be the most overdriven disortion. With my PRS Hollowbody its so warm and rich and gives such a great tone. The controls give you great range to create the tone you're really looking for. Great All Around

The amp is a tank. When playing live i don't ever worry about it breaking on me or anything. I do change the tubes a couple times a year, but that's not abnormal for amps. My only complaint is that in my situation i've had the tubes come lose a couple times. Reason Being: It's in an ATA Flight Case which fits the amp really tight so that it doesnt slide around, well I have no place to put the power cord, except inside the small amp cavity which houses the tubes. If the cord moves around sometimes the tubes will get lose and it always gives me a huge scare when the amp isn't producing a lot of power and sound. Of course, that can easily be adjusted and isn't a big deal at all.

Never had to call up Bogner before.

The amp has been nothing but amazing. It never fails to impress, and it never breaks down, which is great for someone who doesn't want to be taking his amp in every other gig to get it tuned up. I would highly recommend this amp to anyone of any style - there is no way you cannot be satisfied with this amp. I have no reason to buy another amp ever again

Mine is an earlier model. I'm not sure of the year. One input but footswitched to a high gain channel. It has EL34's in the output and separate reverb, treble, and bass, for both channels. It has a middle on the overdrive and one presence for both. It has an FX loop but I've never used it.

I've owned the gammut of amps from tweeds to boutiques. This one is a keeper. Very full bodied on the clean. It's bright and glassy to slightly muffed for jazz. The overdrive goes from thick and creamy to ragged and raunch. It is comfortable with single coils, P90s,
and H-buckers, but really shines for me with the P90s.

Mucho gigs. From the cold trailer to smokey clubs and back. No worries.

I never needed the pleasure.

I've been at this for forty years now and I've traded, swapped, finagled, pawned, bought, Ebayed, and begged my way thru almost every amp known to man. There are only three that I place on the highest of high. The Shiva, Swart AST, and a Bedrock BC75. These are the cream.

2004 EL34 tube amp. Were still making them with the weird effects loop that forced me to employ an electrically capable co-worker to fashion a patch that buffers the input to floor effects. I hear they've fixed that idiosyncracy. Smart.
All other features the same - clean and gain channel, separate reverb settings for each (but one stomp on-off), boost function on floor pedal that takes the amp to 11 as required - great feature for cutting a little further into a hairy live situation.
The eq on the clean channel has no mid, which i'd like, but that's not a huge deal.
As others have said, it is friggin' HEAVY, I think 72 lbs.

I play a 2004 Les Paul custom (with WCR Fillmores - yes!) through some things - compressor, blues driver, crybaby, then chorus, flange and delay in the loop - and i think i can literally do anything with it. (the Les Paul kind of limits rythmn-playing flexibility, but that's not the amp's "fault").
I play classic rock (stones, allmans, dead, VU, Floyd) and blues mostly, but have an appetite for almost anything. This amp is VERY powerful for its size and has handled any live situation I've put it in.
The clean channel is really something. It can be so bright it shatters glass or so growly you're looking over your shoulder.
The gain is not as warm and bluesy as i'd like at the lower settings (hence the BD2) but screams at high levels such that no off-board stuff could possibly be necessary unless you're a metal player (and even then...).
The reverb is great, though I don't use it heavily. I like a small dose and some delay so the sound "sticks" but too much reverb--which you can definitely dial up here--sounds too affected for me.

Always a risk but it's never caused me any trouble in roughly three years of gigs and prax.

Called a few times about the effects loop cable and spoke to Greg V, whose playing was featured on some of the clips on their website (he's very good). He was courteous and informed. Is there something else I'd prefer?

Mentioned most of my gear up top. I also have an SG and a PRS with P-90's in it; both sound great through this amp.
I compared it Vox, Mesa and Fender amps and just liked its power and clarity better.
Now that they've fixed the loop buffer problem, there's nothing I would change (wish I'd bought it post-fix).
It is a real honey. Would definitely buy another.
Since my review is so glowing, some might wonder why I put it up. Well, Bogner seems relatively boutiquey and I like to give guys who make a great product props in hopes that they can keep doing so, rather than go dark doing the right thing.