Thank you Leo - I appreciate your reply so much. I think I‘m not the only one loving the VH4 and the Herbert and thus potentially fears that - if one saves up the money for the VHX - that it might not fully deliver their signature sounds and one is better off just getting the VH4 or the Herbert. Nonetheless, you seem quite convinced that it would pull of the balancing act between these accomplished amps. And I‘m sure that even if the VHX would sound a little different, it would still be amazing.
I guess a lot of potential VHX users would be interested in a video demo maybe specifically with emphasis on metal sounds.
For me, my dream-configuration would be an amp that could deliver the VH4 Ch3 in the sense of Tool and Metallica/Hetfield and could also perform a more modern Herbert-like high-gain sound for 7-strings/Downtunings whilst also having a very clean channel (like the Herbert).
Still some questions, if you dont mind:
1) how often would one a software update? What will these contain?
2) how long do you plan to supply this product with updates? With „digital“ products, I always fear that they will get lost in oblivion as soon as a successor of the series is on the horizon.
3) how does the VHX perform with low volumes?
4) are there specific cabs/speakers you recommend for the use of the VHX?
Thank you so much in advance
Dear Steven,
We developed the VHX to have no compromise that all the "normal" amp would have, i.e. being more suitable to a certain genre, or to play better with tick or thin guitars, pickup etc..
VHX addresses it with the customizable options, mainly SHAPE and VOICE, and of course with recallable presets.
VHX would be even more suitable to modern and downtuning because it can be set tighter and precise then Herbert, and the close customers that plays modern metal and have Herbert as well does agree with it, so that's why I'm pretty sure of that.
Clean channel is based on later Diezel clean channel as well (like Herbert, Hagen, Paul..), with the same customization option.
The most notable difference with the VH4, expecially on early one would be the SAG and compression that you would feel when playing it.
Early VH4 had much more sag and compression, attack was also faster so the feeling was an harder amp to play.
During the years (25!!) Peter made several change to address it and latest improvements can be found on the VHX, that is, according to Peter himself, the best sounding Diezel amp ever.
As christmast gift for all our VHX customer, there will be an update that will add a new voice that would make VHX capabable of EARLY diezel sounds as well, more mid-centric and with faster attack, for early VH4/Blueface/Einstein tone affectionados.
1) Public release are every 2/3 monts usually, while beta release are not really planned, sometimes are weekly, sometimes are montly based.
Common changes are added features, MIDI related, or effects, or general UI, or recently for example custom IR Loader.
Sometimes there are Sound related improvements, i.e. some configuration that are possible but not yet released (like the menitoned EARLY voice)
2) VHX is really a tube amp with sound coming from tubes, so it doesn't really need updates or support to improove it like it happens with classic digital device that would be replaced every few years to get more and more power for the algorithms.
We didn't plan to stop support anyway, we are still supporting 25yr old VH4, that's part of Diezel policy and quality.
3) It has an even improoved master volume control, plus global setting for master volume, so it allows for even finer adjustments.
Tone wise then it would mostly depends on speaker, pushed speker will always sound much better.
4) Not really, differently than other amps VHX could really sound like almost anything you want, so cab will mostly depend on what you like the most. To me, the best compromise to cover as much as possible is Diezel 212R with either V30 or G1265Hr, but it's really subjective.
VHX planned video all togheter is shifted again because of covid, I'll check with some close customers if they would be so kind to make a short clip of a more metal oriented tone.
Thank you,
Leo
