Need help deciding between a Diezel VH2 and VH4!

[cardinal]

Channel 4 is definitely fun for certain things. It's very over the top, but sometimes that's what you want.

The VH4 definitely does not IMHO nail any sort of Marshall tone. It's just different. But channel 2 has a nice thick, mid gain tone that works in any situation where you might want a crunchy Marshall.

 

[Techdeth]

I agree with you on channel 4. I feel like it gets overlooked next to the legendary channel 3 but also enjoy ch. 4 with a boost infront for heavy riffing

It’s never talked about but it works great with a boost ! IMO

 

[the other John Browne]

It’s never talked about but it works great with a boost !

I know, right? A buddy of mine was like "it's pretty much only for leads" all the while I'm hacking away at my knuckledragger riffs, happy as a pig in shit!

 

[spguitar]

Channel 4 is definitely fun for certain things. It's very over the top, but sometimes that's what you want.

The VH4 definitely does not IMHO nail any sort of Marshall tone. It's just different. But channel 2 has a nice thick, mid gain tone that works in any situation where you might want a crunchy Marshall.

Iono. This old one does some nice Marshally tones on CH2!



Boosted:

 

[Techdeth]

I know, right? A buddy of mine was like "it's pretty much only for leads" all the while I'm hacking away at my knuckledragger riffs, happy as a pig in shit!

Especially loud . It gets so punchy . And then cut the gain back and let the power tube make the distortion

 

[FLUXX]

I think everyone has already said it, but get the VH4 because CH2 is the most amazing Medium Gain , and Ch 4 is the ultimate Hi-Gain channel.
The VH4 is really "Mouth of God" tone from every channel.
I will never sell my VH4, because it can do so many genres, so well.

What cab will you be playing it thru?

 

[Soundstorm]

I think everyone has already said it, but get the VH4 because CH2 is the most amazing Medium Gain , and Ch 4 is the ultimate Hi-Gain channel.
The VH4 is really "Mouth of God" tone from every channel.
I will never sell my VH4, because it can do so many genres, so well.

What cab will you be playing it thru?

I have three cabs- a '74 and a '75 Marshall cab, each with original creambacks. Then I have a Bogner OS 112 with a Celestion Redback in it. This will be my first modern high gain style head in many years (had a 101B but don't consider that modern ymmv), and I guess my cabs reflect that.

 

[Soundstorm]

I’ve never owned either but have had the Hagen and Herbert. But my advice by the way you’re writing, you sound like me. If you go VH2, you’ll always have that sinking doubt feeling that you’re missing the “real thing” and end up getting the VH4 down the road. I’d just bite the bullet and go VH4, they hold value and can resale if needed.

What's your thoughts on the Hagen. Did you end up selling it?

 

[Philhouse]

For me the VH4 is a great jack of all trades. The classic Ch3 gets the most love, but the other three channels are underrepresented on YT. They can all sound great. Ch2 and Ch4 initially took me the longest to tweak to what I wanted and I found Ch4 was too compressed and saturated so I put a 12AT7/5751 into V2 to tame it back a bit. I tend to prefer Ch2 with a slight boost or overdrive to push it into that Marshally top end crunch. A Boss BD-2 into Ch1 can also to a great job. I find it overall a kind of compressed darker amp, which isn't a totally bad thing, but I did an easy NFB mod which opened it up a touch just nicely for me. If you've played a VH4 and found you needed some changes then...

The Hagen is a VH4 MKII effectively, to me. Same core with 20 something years of little updates and minor tweaks to a VH4 platform, without the need to overhaul the VH4 and re-release it. Ch1 clean is a bit sweeter and nicer. Ch2 has a bit more crunchy kerrang to it. Ch3 sounds just like the VH4 one but perhaps a touch less compressed. Ch4 is easier to get along with and dial in than the VH4 Ch4 was. It also has some practical updates like the switchable loop, losing the channel inserts, easier bias points and a switchable second Master Volume. I find it less compressed than the VH4 overall, maybe a little less tight and a looser feel too. The VH4 has its iconic look, but I also think the Hagen looks like a sexy bitch, on a superficial aesthetic POV

It's really hard to hear or feel the differences from video clips unfortunately, and individual choices on how they're dialled in by the operator can nullify any difference the video or sound clip might present. I acknowledge it's hard to have both in the room to directly compare, but naturally it's the best way to 100% know for yourself, if that's what you want of course. I love both amps and they're more similar than not. They both play well with others when blended of course, as many do, and typically with an amp with the higher and brighter Marshally type tonal zones.

I don't have any experience with the VH2 to comment sorry.

TL;DR - IMO - The VH4 is an iconic modern classic, with more to it than most YT clips show. The Hagen is an update on that.

Gratuitous amp porn

 

[Soundstorm]

For me the VH4 is a great jack of all trades. The classic Ch3 gets the most love, but the other three channels are underrepresented on YT. They can all sound great. Ch2 and Ch4 initially took me the longest to tweak to what I wanted and I found Ch4 was too compressed and saturated so I put a 12AT7/5751 into V2 to tame it back a bit. I tend to prefer Ch2 with a slight boost or overdrive to push it into that Marshally top end crunch. A Boss BD-2 into Ch1 can also to a great job. I find it overall a kind of compressed darker amp, which isn't a totally bad thing, but I did an easy NFB mod which opened it up a touch just nicely for me. If you've played a VH4 and found you needed some changes then...

The Hagen is a VH4 MKII effectively, to me. Same core with 20 something years of little updates and minor tweaks to a VH4 platform, without the need to overhaul the VH4 and re-release it. Ch1 clean is a bit sweeter and nicer. Ch2 has a bit more crunchy kerrang to it. Ch3 sounds just like the VH4 one but perhaps a touch less compressed. Ch4 is easier to get along with and dial in than the VH4 Ch4 was. It also has some practical updates like the switchable loop, losing the channel inserts, easier bias points and a switchable second Master Volume. I find it less compressed than the VH4 overall, maybe a little less tight and a looser feel too. The VH4 has its iconic look, but I also think the Hagen looks like a sexy bitch, on a superficial aesthetic POV

It's really hard to hear or feel the differences from video clips unfortunately, and individual choices on how they're dialled in by the operator can nullify any difference the video or sound clip might present. I acknowledge it's hard to have both in the room to directly compare, but naturally it's the best way to 100% know for yourself, if that's what you want of course. I love both amps and they're more similar than not. They both play well with others when blended of course, as many do, and typically with an amp with the higher and brighter Marshally type tonal zones.

I don't have any experience with the VH2 to comment sorry.

TL;DR - IMO - The VH4 is an iconic modern classic, with more to it than most YT clips show. The Hagen is an update on that.

Gratuitous amp porn

*GAS intensifies*

 

[Soundstorm]

For me the VH4 is a great jack of all trades. The classic Ch3 gets the most love, but the other three channels are underrepresented on YT. They can all sound great. Ch2 and Ch4 initially took me the longest to tweak to what I wanted and I found Ch4 was too compressed and saturated so I put a 12AT7/5751 into V2 to tame it back a bit. I tend to prefer Ch2 with a slight boost or overdrive to push it into that Marshally top end crunch. A Boss BD-2 into Ch1 can also to a great job. I find it overall a kind of compressed darker amp, which isn't a totally bad thing, but I did an easy NFB mod which opened it up a touch just nicely for me. If you've played a VH4 and found you needed some changes then...

The Hagen is a VH4 MKII effectively, to me. Same core with 20 something years of little updates and minor tweaks to a VH4 platform, without the need to overhaul the VH4 and re-release it. Ch1 clean is a bit sweeter and nicer. Ch2 has a bit more crunchy kerrang to it. Ch3 sounds just like the VH4 one but perhaps a touch less compressed. Ch4 is easier to get along with and dial in than the VH4 Ch4 was. It also has some practical updates like the switchable loop, losing the channel inserts, easier bias points and a switchable second Master Volume. I find it less compressed than the VH4 overall, maybe a little less tight and a looser feel too. The VH4 has its iconic look, but I also think the Hagen looks like a sexy bitch, on a superficial aesthetic POV

It's really hard to hear or feel the differences from video clips unfortunately, and individual choices on how they're dialled in by the operator can nullify any difference the video or sound clip might present. I acknowledge it's hard to have both in the room to directly compare, but naturally it's the best way to 100% know for yourself, if that's what you want of course. I love both amps and they're more similar than not. They both play well with others when blended of course, as many do, and typically with an amp with the higher and brighter Marshally type tonal zones.

I don't have any experience with the VH2 to comment sorry.

TL;DR - IMO - The VH4 is an iconic modern classic, with more to it than most YT clips show. The Hagen is an update on that.

Gratuitous amp porn

How do you like the VHX compared to the other two?

 

[anomaly]

The VH4 is one of those amps I've always wanted to own some day. Seems like there's a lot to learn with these amps. It's gotta be one of the very few amps out there with 4 channels.

 

[Candiria]

I owned a VH2 briefly. Picked up a used one at guitar center and returned it after about 2 weeks. Way too much money for a simple 2 channel amp.

I've borrowed a buddy's VH4 before and Channel 3 was my least favorite channel on the amp. The clean was great, Channel 4 was an excellent lead sound, and Channel 2 was awesome. Channel 3 was kind of stuffy sounding with a weird midrange. I think with some more time and an EQ pedal could have gotten it where I wanted it though.

If you can swing the extra $1k for a used a VH4 I would go that route. It's got the potential to be a special amp and the VH2 just doesn't in my opinion.

 

[Philhouse]

How do you like the VHX compared to the other two?

It's far, far more versatile. It can do those Diezel sounds and many more. I especially love the ability of having presets rather than tweaking knobs on the VH4/Hagen each time I want to get a new tone. Also the three volume controls; the individual channel volume, the global volume/almost attenuator and the output main volume that all come into play to get great sounds anywhere from around 65-70dB practice volume to 115dB neighbour endangerment volumes. It has many other next gen Diezel features too.

 

[Soundstorm]

For me the VH4 is a great jack of all trades. The classic Ch3 gets the most love, but the other three channels are underrepresented on YT. They can all sound great. Ch2 and Ch4 initially took me the longest to tweak to what I wanted and I found Ch4 was too compressed and saturated so I put a 12AT7/5751 into V2 to tame it back a bit. I tend to prefer Ch2 with a slight boost or overdrive to push it into that Marshally top end crunch. A Boss BD-2 into Ch1 can also to a great job. I find it overall a kind of compressed darker amp, which isn't a totally bad thing, but I did an easy NFB mod which opened it up a touch just nicely for me. If you've played a VH4 and found you needed some changes then...

The Hagen is a VH4 MKII effectively, to me. Same core with 20 something years of little updates and minor tweaks to a VH4 platform, without the need to overhaul the VH4 and re-release it. Ch1 clean is a bit sweeter and nicer. Ch2 has a bit more crunchy kerrang to it. Ch3 sounds just like the VH4 one but perhaps a touch less compressed. Ch4 is easier to get along with and dial in than the VH4 Ch4 was. It also has some practical updates like the switchable loop, losing the channel inserts, easier bias points and a switchable second Master Volume. I find it less compressed than the VH4 overall, maybe a little less tight and a looser feel too. The VH4 has its iconic look, but I also think the Hagen looks like a sexy bitch, on a superficial aesthetic POV

It's really hard to hear or feel the differences from video clips unfortunately, and individual choices on how they're dialled in by the operator can nullify any difference the video or sound clip might present. I acknowledge it's hard to have both in the room to directly compare, but naturally it's the best way to 100% know for yourself, if that's what you want of course. I love both amps and they're more similar than not. They both play well with others when blended of course, as many do, and typically with an amp with the higher and brighter Marshally type tonal zones.

I don't have any experience with the VH2 to comment sorry.

TL;DR - IMO - The VH4 is an iconic modern classic, with more to it than most YT clips show. The Hagen is an update on that.

Gratuitous amp porn

I think i'm gonna put an order in for a Hagen today. Then at some point down the road, I'll get a VH4 and just compare the two myself, and then I'll have to sell one off. I hear in a lot of reviews how the Hagen channel 2 sounds more Marshally. Maybe it's the quality of demos (or lack thereof), but to me the Hagen sounds much more modern in all channels, and the VH4 much more vintage. But that could simply be the way the demos were recorded. Since I'm going for heavier, lower tuned sounds, I'll go for the Hagen first. But judging by everything I've heard so far, I'd probably be happy with either amp. The Hagen just has this chainsaw/growly mid thing going on that I want to explore and see how it sounds for my style.

 

[the other John Browne]

I think i'm gonna put an order in for a Hagen today. Then at some point down the road, I'll get a VH4 and just compare the two myself, and then I'll have to sell one off. I hear in a lot of reviews how the Hagen channel 2 sounds more Marshally. Maybe it's the quality of demos (or lack thereof), but to me the Hagen sounds much more modern in all channels, and the VH4 much more vintage. But that could simply be the way the demos were recorded. Since I'm going for heavier, lower tuned sounds, I'll go for the Hagen first. But judging by everything I've heard so far, I'd probably be happy with either amp. The Hagen just has this chainsaw/growly mid thing going on that I want to explore and see how it sounds for my style.

I'll be making a video comparing the Hagen and VH4 shortly. I tried them out back to back for the first time with an amp switcher the other day and I agree with Philhouse for the most part.
However the Hagens Channel 3 is more agressive and the Hagens Channel 4 has insane amounts of gain on tap. I would say the Hagen has more compression and not less than the VH4. It is easier to play and less dynamic. The Hagen is just more forgiving than the VH4. Tonally, the biggest difference is in the high end. The Hagens high end is more open while it's a bit rolled off on the VH4.
Overall I'd agree that the Hagen is a bit of a VH4 mk II with less bells and whistles. Their characters and channel topographies are very similar

 

[Soundstorm]

I'll be making a video comparing the Hagen and VH4 shortly. I tried them out back to back for the first time with an amp switcher the other day and I agree with Philhouse for the most part.
However the Hagens Channel 3 is more agressive and the Hagens Channel 4 has insane amounts of gain on tap. I would say the Hagen has more compression and not less than the VH4. It is easier to play and less dynamic. The Hagen is just more forgiving than the VH4. Tonally, the biggest difference is in the high end. The Hagens high end is more open while it's a bit rolled off on the VH4.
Overall I'd agree that the Hagen is a bit of a VH4 mk II with less bells and whistles. Their characters and channel topographies are very similar

Looking forward to that comparison!