Had myself a Diezelfest last night (Herbert vs VH4)

[spguitar]

The Herbert sounds like a $4,000 Crate amp with a Sonic maximizer in the loop.
(not even kidding, my first crate amp had distortion that sounded like that)

Definitely didn't spend enough time with the amp with the mid-cut off. Mine cuts through my band like the other guitarist's Marshall isn't even there. I hate Sonic Maximizers so there's no way i'd own a head if it sounded like that. The VH4 i tried sounded more like what you just described, really lifeless and cold. Maybe it was a cold biased head that we rented to record with. Who knows..

I'm exaggerating but only slightly.
I owned a Herbert for 2 months. Played it as much as possible and I wanted to love it.
I'm just not the right type of player for that amp I'm gonna assume. I like tight, unforgiving midrangey amps.

There had to be something wrong with that head. The midrange on mine is almost too much at 6. Will post a clip shortly.

 

[guitarman967]

The Herbert sounds like a $4,000 Crate amp with a Sonic maximizer in the loop.
(not even kidding, my first crate amp had distortion that sounded like that)

Definitely didn't spend enough time with the amp with the mid-cut off. Mine cuts through my band like the other guitarist's Marshall isn't even there. I hate Sonic Maximizers so there's no way i'd own a head if it sounded like that. The VH4 i tried sounded more like what you just described, really lifeless and cold. Maybe it was a cold biased head that we rented to record with. Who knows..

I'm exaggerating but only slightly.
I owned a Herbert for 2 months. Played it as much as possible and I wanted to love it.
I'm just not the right type of player for that amp I'm gonna assume. I like tight, unforgiving midrangey amps.

There had to be something wrong with that head. The midrange on mine is almost too much at 6. Will post a clip shortly.

Nah man, we just all hear things differently. I mean, I absolutely love my vht ultralead and I've heard people that hate it and say its too dry or doesn't have enough gain and I couldn't disagree more. It has more to do with technique or how u pick. Some amps love when you pick hard and some need more finesse. I have a hard time with the amps that play themselves.

 

[Motorpud]

The tone would get very metallic

That's the word I was thinking of that I couldn't figure out. I kept on wanting to say industrial sounding.

Then again I can't agree with you on the ultralead, I was very disappointed in that amp after all the hype. Had it in a room with like 5 or 6 high gainers and I liked it the least of all. It was just insanely dry. Reminded me of the Krank Rev1 that I owned.

 

[spguitar]

The Herbert sounds like a $4,000 Crate amp with a Sonic maximizer in the loop.
(not even kidding, my first crate amp had distortion that sounded like that)

Definitely didn't spend enough time with the amp with the mid-cut off. Mine cuts through my band like the other guitarist's Marshall isn't even there. I hate Sonic Maximizers so there's no way i'd own a head if it sounded like that. The VH4 i tried sounded more like what you just described, really lifeless and cold. Maybe it was a cold biased head that we rented to record with. Who knows..

I'm exaggerating but only slightly.
I owned a Herbert for 2 months. Played it as much as possible and I wanted to love it.
I'm just not the right type of player for that amp I'm gonna assume. I like tight, unforgiving midrangey amps.

There had to be something wrong with that head. The midrange on mine is almost too much at 6. Will post a clip shortly.

Nah man, we just all hear things differently. I mean, I absolutely love my vht ultralead and I've heard people that hate it and say its too dry or doesn't have enough gain and I couldn't disagree more. It has more to do with technique or how u pick. Some amps love when you pick hard and some need more finesse. I have a hard time with the amps that play themselves.

Strange because i love VHT heads too. If i didn't have the Herbert i'd have a CL50.

 

[spguitar]

Recorded with a Flip Video. I need a Zoom Q3HD... haha

 

[rottingcorpse]

i love my herbert. wanna try a vh4 and a hagen (badly). but i REALLY love my ultra lead.

i dial the bass and depth back on my herbert because i use the isp sub. i don't feel the bass tones are too slow at all. but it isn't as tight as the UL, which i think is the amp that works best for me.

with the mid cut on, it is kinda industrial sounding. but i kinda like that too. i never thought i would own a herbert, but am way glad i finally scored one.

 

[guitarman967]

Recorded with a Flip Video. I need a Zoom Q3HD... haha

Ch 2 was the best ch on the head for sure.
I didn't hate ch 2 for old school rock tones. Ch 3 was a different story. I think when you shell out those kind of bucks you have to love everything it has to offer and I couldn't find my voice on it. Hated the metallic high end not so tight super sub lows.

 

[guitarman967]

Awesome clip BTW sp.. loved that 70's show riff at the end! Haha

 

[spguitar]

loved that 70's show riff at the end! Haha

Gotta love Cheap Trick. Haha. That's almost the sound that i use in the pop punk band that i'm in. I cut the mids to around 12 o clock though so the Marshall can cut through at practice.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've spent a lot of time with both amps. And to my ears, the VH4 is more aggressive and ballsy for high-gain. That's mainly why I chose it over the Herbert. There are some features of the Herbert I like more, like the switchable series loop. But I can live without that. The VH4 also dominates a mix. The Herbert, not so much. As always, YMMV.

 

[cujo]

H A G E N

I owned all 3. All are great amps. But Hagen is the new king !

 

[Mrevol]

Ok so I will chime in. I have owned 3 vh4's and 2 herbs. Here's the shocker--- They all sounded different. Now understand that the Vh4's changed over the years so this will come in to play when you a/b with a herb. The older Vh4s (to me) were a little more compressed and a hair more scooped then the newer years but overall the Vh4s have a more mid growl then the herbs. The Herbs are also WAY more saturated then the Vh4s so this is a real deal breaker for players too. Some people just can not vibe with less gain once they have had that over abundance so it just automatically feels like crap. I deal with it every time I try a Vht pitbull (very dry gain).

I do the recording studio thing and will just say this. 2 times out of 3 we have gone with the Vh4 as it just sits in a mix perfect and maybe thats why some of the big players use them (weezer, bush, metallica, limp, tool, etc...). I tend to favor the Vh4 as I know what it does for recordings. The Herb is not bad it just is a little harder to dial in but it wins if I'm looking for a smooth gained out heavy sound. All in all I have sold a lot but kept one Vh4 so thats my vote.

Whatever all that means blah blah blah !!Peace!!

BTW if anyone wants. Click the link and see the "Coma Bloom" clip posted to hear a Vh4 mixed with a MarkIv for lovely goodness!! The clip is unmixed and unmastered as the project is still in progress. https://www.facebook.com/Proviewstudios?bookmark_t=page

 

[Ventura]

H A G E N

I owned all 3. All are great amps. But Hagen is the new king !

Must agree... The Hagen, albeit what may appear to be a simpler amp than, say, the Herbert, has it all.

 

[glassjaw7]

Ok so I will chime in. I have owned 3 vh4's and 2 herbs. Here's the shocker--- They all sounded different. Now understand that the Vh4's changed over the years so this will come in to play when you a/b with a herb. The older Vh4s (to me) were a little more compressed and a hair more scooped then the newer years but overall the Vh4s have a more mid growl then the herbs. The Herbs are also WAY more saturated then the Vh4s so this is a real deal breaker for players too. Some people just can not vibe with less gain once they have had that over abundance so it just automatically feels like crap. I deal with it every time I try a Vht pitbull (very dry gain).

I do the recording studio thing and will just say this. 2 times out of 3 we have gone with the Vh4 as it just sits in a mix perfect and maybe thats why some of the big players use them (weezer, bush, metallica, limp, tool, etc...). I tend to favor the Vh4 as I know what it does for recordings. The Herb is not bad it just is a little harder to dial in but it wins if I'm looking for a smooth gained out heavy sound. All in all I have sold a lot but kept one Vh4 so thats my vote.

Whatever all that means blah blah blah !!Peace!!

BTW if anyone wants. Click the link and see the "Coma Bloom" clip posted to hear a Vh4 mixed with a MarkIv for lovely goodness!! The clip is unmixed and unmastered as the project is still in progress. https://www.facebook.com/Proviewstudios?bookmark_t=page

Cool track! Sort of has a Queensryche feel but with a modern rock sound. Guitars sound great.

 

[spirit7]

Better for whom? Couldn't get rid of the Herbert half stack fast enough! Blueface '11 is here to stay and there is nothing dry about it.

I own both and agree with you wholly: the Herbert is the better amp. That said, obviously the VH4 Ch. 3 is legendary. Different strokes etc.

-C

Um, better for me? The cleans are much better on the Herbert, and the distortion channels are a matter of taste. Personally, I prefer the Herbert's slightly more massive, thicker tone to the VH4's superfast attack. Both great amps - but the Herbert works better for me.

I would, however, be interested to try out a 2007- VH4 (mine is 2005).

-C

 

[spirit7]

This is a good thread - seems like there's a definite balance as to who prefers which amp.

Diezel's fackin' own \m/

Anyone got a Schmidt? GASSING for one of those and/or an XTC so bad.

-C

 

[zuel69]

Exactly, there is no better..only personal taste and experience. To be honest before getting the vh4 and herbert I listened to so many videos of each that sounded exactly like some peoples descriptions and other videos that sounded completely opposite. My favorite tones are crunchy, juicy organic screaming types and this vh4 delivers on all the channels..if you really want to talk about cleans, this Cornford Hellcat sounds insane!

Better for whom? Couldn't get rid of the Herbert half stack fast enough! Blueface '11 is here to stay and there is nothing dry about it.

I own both and agree with you wholly: the Herbert is the better amp. That said, obviously the VH4 Ch. 3 is legendary. Different strokes etc.

-C

Um, better for me? The cleans are much better on the Herbert, and the distortion channels are a matter of taste. Personally, I prefer the Herbert's slightly more massive, thicker tone to the VH4's superfast attack. Both great amps - but the Herbert works better for me.

I would, however, be interested to try out a 2007- VH4 (mine is 2005).

-C

 

[cujo]

Diezel thread stay with it. Hold it hold it you can do it

 

[cujo]

All Diezel amps carry that " signature Peter Perfect tone" that said each is different vibe. My curiosity is those who have played vh4 n herb I wonder what you would say given the chance to play Hagen.

That amp simply has the best of the ladder two in it. Like a perfect blend yet also going further with its own " midrange marshallesque bite" that the ladder two do not have.
No war I love them all but Hagen makes me feel warm n fuzzy!

 

[PaulyPanacea]

Both amps are junk..so i bought a $200 Roland Cube to replace both them

After owning both for quite some time i leaned towards the VH4 only b/c of the midrange aspect of the amp. Both amps slay!! But the VH4 fit my needs better at the time. Now run in tandem...forget about it!!!