Diezel Einstein, thoughts??

[shane159]

I got a chance to score a 50 watt Einstein with the bias test points. What is the opinion from members that have actual experience with them? I was not a fan of the VH4 at all, but I have been told the Einstein is a different beast. The one that I am looking at has the mod that allows you to footswitch the modes on the channels as well as the Dekompression mod from Kruse control. Went to buy a Kemper, left unimpressed for the third time, so I want to add a new flavor to the amp collection, but I want something more modern as I have the vintage Marshall tones covered with a 77 JMP 2203, and a 20th Anniversary Shiva with KT88's.

 

[jcj]

Diezel is what led me to Rig-Talk ten years ago.

I was living in Texas at the time, and went to the Arlington show, where I tried a Diezel for the first time; ended up leaving with the Einstein, after doing a bit of online research and finding Rig-Talk.

The Einstein is definitely not a modern amp, so if that's the direction you're trying to go, I'd look elsewhere. If you didn't dig the VH4, the Herbert may be more your speed; there's one for sale on the cheap in the classifieds.

Have you played the Herbert?

I loved the Einstein and Herbert, but didn't dig the pre 2007 VH4.

The early one I owned worked for me, but I only really dug channel three, and only then at high volume; the newer ones are easier to dial at a more reasonable level, from what I've experienced, and sound a bit better across the board.

Good luck!

 

[shane159]

My main amp is a 20th Anniversary Shiva with KT88's so I am looking for something that is a little different sounding from the Shiva, maybe a little more aggressive but nothing extreme.

 

[ProgFree]

You won't regret it. The Texas mode in ch 2 is one of the best sounds you can find on a channel switching amp. Had an Einstein 100 and sold it to get a vh4. I regret the maneuver, should have kept both...

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Love my einstein, super versatile and spongy enough yet still brutal.

 

[jcj]

I prefer the VH4 and Herb over all of the others, but that being said Einstien is a great amp.

Right.

The Einstein is not a "modern" sounding amp, to my ears.

 

[braintheory]

I prefer the VH4 and Herb over all of the others, but that being said Einstien is a great amp.

How do you like the Paul compared to the vh4 and Herbert?

 

[phil b]

The later amps have less gain than the older versions. That may or may not be a factor for you but it took some getting used to for me. With the Kruse Dekomp mod its definitely something to play around with depending on what volume your at. Contrary to whats been said before it not only changes the tone of the amp slightly but also the feel as well. At higher volume its quite a bit more subtle so dont expect major differences. The channel switching mod is great and I wish Peter incorporated that design from day one. Like whats been said here already mode 2 on channel 1 {Texas Mode} is really kick ass for a medium gain channel. It destroys channel 2 on the Mark IV Boogies if that helps paint a picture. Channel one clean mode {Mode 1} is nice and thick and never gets brittle. Channel 1 mode 3 is the gain channel. The older amps had tons of gain and I doubt you would ever play with it full on. Later models still had a lot of gain, but seemed a bit more tame compared to the older versions. That also goes for channel 2 as well. Overall the versatility of the amp made it my #1 over my Boogies and I am still happy after years of use. YMMV of course.... Good luck!!

 

[JimmyBlind]

Amazing amp. Annoying options.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

The later amps have less gain than the older versions. That may or may not be a factor for you but it took some getting used to for me. With the Kruse Dekomp mod its definitely something to play around with depending on what volume your at. Contrary to whats been said before it not only changes the tone of the amp slightly but also the feel as well. At higher volume its quite a bit more subtle so dont expect major differences. The channel switching mod is great and I wish Peter incorporated that design from day one. Like whats been said here already mode 2 on channel 1 {Texas Mode} is really kick ass for a medium gain channel. It destroys channel 2 on the Mark IV Boogies if that helps paint a picture. Channel one clean mode {Mode 1} is nice and thick and never gets brittle. Channel 1 mode 3 is the gain channel. The older amps had tons of gain and I doubt you would ever play with it full on. Later models still had a lot of gain, but seemed a bit more tame compared to the older versions. That also goes for channel 2 as well. Overall the versatility of the amp made it my #1 over my Boogies and I am still happy after years of use. YMMV of course.... Good luck!!

ive been through two of them, wondering if my new one sans external test points has less gain than the older one. i seem to set the gains to about the same place though, if they were different Id say neither is lacking gain.

 

[tripstan]

Underrated sleeper amp. Does ALOT of tones. I've used one in a country band, fusion group and a hard rock cover band (classic's to Tool, AIC etc. . ) With the right cab/speaker combo it will sound great for any genre. Doesn't excel at modern br00tz tones but it will do it with some speaker/eq/boost tweaking. I'd agree the older has have more gain. Being able to swap tubes and bias yourself is game changer that will really help you taylor the amp to your needs. Id also agree it's got a much spongier vibe than most of the other Diezel's. The ch. 1 mode mod is awesome for gigging. IMO a must, at least for my needs. Between the spongy-ness and not using midi it's my favorite amp in there line. "Texas" mode if frigging tit-tay I like to keep the gain around 10-11 o'clock, boost the master and crank the mids on ch. 2 for leads, very liquidy/singy tone.

 

[jcj]

Underrated sleeper amp. Does ALOT of tones. I've used one in a country band, fusion group and a hard rock cover band (classic's to Tool, AIC etc. . ) With the right cab/speaker combo it will sound great for any genre. Doesn't excel at modern br00tz tones but it will do it with some speaker/eq/boost tweaking. I'd agree the older has have more gain. Being able to swap tubes and bias yourself is game changer that will really help you taylor the amp to your needs. Id also agree it's got a much spongier vibe than most of the other Diezel's. The ch. 1 mode mod is awesome for gigging. IMO a must, at least for my needs. Between the spongy-ness and not using midi it's my favorite amp in there line. "Texas" mode if frigging tit-tay I like to keep the gain around 10-11 o'clock, boost the master and crank the mids on ch. 2 for leads, very liquidy/singy tone.

Completely agree.

 

[cardinal]

What about the VH4 didn't you like? You might just not like the Diezel sound. The VH4 is a very unique feeling amp. I hated it the first time I plugged in because it felt so strange, like it was pushing back against me. But you get use to it. However the Einstein feels more like a normal amp. Still sounds like a Diezel though.

 

[jcj]

What about the VH4 didn't you like? You might just not like the Diezel sound. The VH4 is a very unique feeling amp. I hated it the first time I plugged in because it felt so strange, like it was pushing back against me. But you get use to it. However the Einstein feels more like a normal amp. Still sounds like a Diezel though.

To me, the older ones are a totally different beast than the newer ones.

The older ones seemed to need a lot more volume to give up the goods.

Newer ones, not so much.

 

[garey77]

What about the VH4 didn't you like? You might just not like the Diezel sound. The VH4 is a very unique feeling amp. I hated it the first time I plugged in because it felt so strange, like it was pushing back against me. But you get use to it. However the Einstein feels more like a normal amp. Still sounds like a Diezel though.

Funny, that's what my Bogner Ecstasy was like; like it would fight the palm muting.

 

[Joeytpg]

I owned an Einstein, and it was a very nice amp, I'd buy it again for sure if I was playing more rock music.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've had a VH4 and an Einstein. Both were nice. But ultimately not really my sound. The Einstein is a bit more spongy compared to the VH4. But other than that, they both have the same clean, crunch, and OD for the most part. Slightly different feel/response. But the tone is identical.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I've had a VH4 and an Einstein. Both were nice. But ultimately not really my sound. The Einstein is a bit more spongy compared to the VH4. But other than that, they both have the same clean, crunch, and OD for the most part. Slightly different feel/response. But the tone is identical.

I agree. Fokker channel 2 also fits this description though a hair tighter than einy.

Figured out the character and compression of channel 2 are variable with the channel one mode switch which makes complete sense. Its a two channel amp meant to be set for rythym and lead. A guy using the clean channel.doesn't was screaming compressed leads he needs something a little tamer and the Einstein delivers that way.

The feature set of this amp is perfect, it is that people hoped for and expected it to be a replacement for vh4.


However with the mod, a midi switching control box and a midi boost pedal in loop for volume adjustments this amp is capable of SIX unique sounds. The MOST of any Diezel albeit I haven't tried dmoll, may be similar in terms of the mode switching.

 

[ericsabbath]

I've had a VH4 and an Einstein. Both were nice. But ultimately not really my sound. The Einstein is a bit more spongy compared to the VH4. But other than that, they both have the same clean, crunch, and OD for the most part. Slightly different feel/response. But the tone is identical.

THIS
I never bought the "not modern, classic sounding amp" bullshit
It actually sounds a lot like the VH4S, but a little more spongy
The third mode on channel one is pretty close to the vh4 ch3 and the Einstein lead channel is pretty close to ch 4
The Einstein sounds nothing like a Shiva, for example, which is a true classic sounding modern amp with fender clean and hot rodded jcm tones

 

[FourT6and2]

I've had a VH4 and an Einstein. Both were nice. But ultimately not really my sound. The Einstein is a bit more spongy compared to the VH4. But other than that, they both have the same clean, crunch, and OD for the most part. Slightly different feel/response. But the tone is identical.

THIS
I never bought the "not modern, classic sounding amp" bullshit
It actually sounds a lot like the VH4S, but a little more spongy
The third mode on channel one is pretty close to the vh4 ch3 and the Einstein lead channel is pretty close to ch 4
The Einstein sounds nothing like a Shiva, for example, which is a true classic sounding modern amp with fender clean and hot rodded jcm tones

Agreed. The Einstein can definitely get heavier and more modern than a Shiva. Not saying it's better than a Shiva. That's subjective. But the Einstein can get every bit as heavy and modern as the VH4.