Herbert users ch2+ or ch3

[saxxamafone]

Mk1 owner, I prefer channel 3 for rhythms. More saturated, less dry. Yes it’s less tight but it’s also fatter, and nothing a boost can’t fix. The mk 3 version I like a lot as well, but the 2nd channel for sure is the rhythm channel on that thing. Channel 3 on the mk3 I would absolutely never use for rhythms, just leads. The mk3 is great, less cloudy in the low mids than the mk1 but I still love the mk1 model just as much if not more personally.

Good to know there's differences between the revisions here.

i have a Mk1

 

[MrFlexx]

Ch2+ is the channel I use 95% for both rhythm and lead.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I like the VH2 and VH4, they've got a specific sound that people either love or hate, but I like it

I was never a huge herbert fan, but as far as I understand the early prototypes sound very different from the first couple revisions, and the mark IIIs sound considerably different as well

I liked ch3 best. Very dry though, in my opinion.

 

[angelspade]

I like the VH2 and VH4, they've got a specific sound that people either love or hate, but I like it

I was never a huge herbert fan, but as far as I understand the early prototypes sound very different from the first couple revisions, and the mark IIIs sound considerably different as well

Yup...The VH4 is probably one of the most polarizing amps ever made. players seem to absolutely adore them or despise them, very little in between. In any case, I can say it's probably one of the most unique sounding / feeling amps on the planet. No other amp does a good job at "imitating" the Diezel VH series of amps.

 

[Techdeth]

I liked ch3 best. Very dry though, in my opinion.

For vh4 or Herbert ? Herbert ch 3 is rich . But I agree on vh4 ch3 is dry but it’s cool , you know me I like different flavors

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

For vh4 or Herbert ? Herbert ch 3 is rich . But I agree on vh4 ch3 is dry but it’s cool , you know me I like different flavors

Yes, I should have been more clear, it was the VH4?

 

[ChuggNorris]

Either. Love them both. Note that I don't use a boost, just and emg81.

Real men don't use boost.

Here's a question for you Herbert guys. Have any of you loaded yours up with several different types of tubes? As in 6l6s, el34s and kt88s all at once?

Yes, I've done it many ways. KT88, 6l6, el34, kt77, 6550, multiple combinations of 3 different types. Biased each time. I've spent many hours going back and forth in the herbert with combos.

I always came back to the 6l6.
I do currently have the 34BHS (el34b) in the middle 2 sockets.

I found it likes all tubes biased colder not hotter.

PDiddy also said mixing tubes is dumb because it's like using out of phase speakers. (Peter Diezel said this) I have the screenshot somewhere on my phone.

It makes sense. And I think they sound the most clear with TAD 6l6 tubes across the board.

 

[ChuggNorris]

when playing the rhythm brootz riffing, do you Herbert users tend to sit more on ch2+ or ch3?

I keep flip flopping myself

If it's the mkiii, generally on 2+

The 3 channel is cool with the gain around 10 o'clock. And mixes with other amps well. If I'm playing JUST the herbert, 2+ brings the goods.

 

[saxxamafone]

If it's the mkiii, generally on 2+

The 3 channel is cool with the gain around 10 o'clock. And mixes with other amps well. If I'm playing JUST the herbert, 2+ brings the goods.

I’m on a mk1

I’ve heard there’s a bigger different in ch3 of the mk1s vs mk3

 

[RedB4Black]

I’m on a mk1

I’ve heard there’s a bigger different in ch3 of the mk1s vs mk3

I’ve owned every version, multiple times, they’re all pretty close that can be compensated with EQ adjustments, though I’ve tended to like the mk3 the best.

Channel 2- with an outboard boost is my current preference…. Seems to help mitigate some of the compression

 

[Emg77]

I’ve owned every version, multiple times, they’re all pretty close that can be compensated with EQ adjustments, though I’ve tended to like the mk3 the best.

Channel 2- with an outboard boost is my current preference…. Seems to help mitigate some of the compression

This is what I have found 2- with a boost!

 

[ChuggNorris]

I’ve owned every version, multiple times, they’re all pretty close that can be compensated with EQ adjustments, though I’ve tended to like the mk3 the best.

Channel 2- with an outboard boost is my current preference…. Seems to help mitigate some of the compression

The mid cut at 9 o'clock seems to help that.

I don't boost. But I can't imagine boosting a herbert. Some amps, like a savage just sound worse with one. Seems like a herbert will do the same. But just to test this shit out, I'm going to pull out a boost later and try channel 2-.

This is what I have found 2- with a boost!

What type of boost cult is this?
This is like buying a Ferarri F-50 and running it in 2nd gear with a ceiling fan attached to its ass.

Y'all need to stop. ?️?

 

[RedB4Black]

What type of boost cult is this?
This is like buying a Ferarri F-50 and running it in 2nd gear with a ceiling fan attached to its ass.

Y'all need to stop. ?️?

Do you use high output pick up’s or PAFs? Everything makes a difference in the total signal chain. A boost with a PAF is really just like another guy using something like a BK Warpig…just adding to the signal in a different way.

 

[ChuggNorris]

Do you use high output pick up’s or PAFs? Everything makes a difference in the total signal chain. A boost in a PAF is really just like another guy using something like a BK Warpig

For me the issue with boost is losing the dynamics a little bit on picking hand.

I've also seen guys who pick like a lil soft bunny rabbit and the only way for them to get that to sound in any way powerful is to boost the shit out of their amp. That's fine of it works for their stuff.

I do enjoy a warpig. MOJO sledgehammer. Black winter. Sh6 pretty decent. Had actives and a few BKP before kind of settling in this area for now.

And while we're on pickups. I'm really considering trying the tone nerd Whiskey or Roxy. And my favorite arcane pickup is a 13k output. I consider that medium output. I didn't even boost rectifiers and they were tight enough for fast playing when dialed "weirdly".

. Everytime I try to boost an amp, I always go back to the amp itself and I think it has alot to do with how I palm and pick the strings heavily. If I play light handed with the amps they sound weak and not as tight. If I dig in and play precisely like I prefer they sound heavy and tight pretty much every time. To me this is dynamics. Not everyone dials for that or plays like that obviously. And it is more fatiguing if not used to it. A dry amp always sounds good under this type of playing to me also. Some hate that dry stiff feeling because it'd "hard" to play. I also understand boost can add some squish or give for those type of players.

But I'm still going to try that later today just to see what it sounds like for kicks.


Out of curiosity....
What pickups are you playing? You said paff but there's so many types of paff now. What is thr DC resistance range you enjoy?

 

[RedB4Black]

Out of curiosity....
What pickups are you playing? You said paff but there's so many types of paff now. What is thr DC resistance range you enjoy?

The beauty of a boost pedal is that it can be turned on/off. I’m not a boost all the time type of person. I really use when going into the low inputs on the amp or if I want razor tight. I prefer amps that are bright, dry, tight and uncompressed. If you get some volume most amps will open up and tighten up. Boosts are great at getting there at less deafening volumes. That’s especially true with an amp like the Herbert.

My guitars have… BK Ceramic Nail Bomb, EMG 57, EMG hot 70 and a custom Kent Armstrong in my Hufschmid. They’re on the hotter side, but I also like the Suhr Thornbuckerd…but recently sold my guitar with those .

 

[ChuggNorris]

The beauty of a boost pedal is that it can be turned on/off. I’m not a boost all the time type of person. I really use when going into the low inputs on the amp or if I want razor tight. I prefer amps that are bright, dry, tight and uncompressed. If you get some volume most amps will open up and tighten up. Boosts are great at getting there at less deafening volumes. That’s especially true with an amp like the Herbert.

My guitars have… BK Ceramic Nail Bomb, EMG 57, EMG hot 70 and a custom Kent Armstrong in my Hufschmid. They’re on the hotter side, but I also like the Suhr Thornbuckerd…but recently sold my guitar with those .

That's the one active I wanted to try was the 57. But I converted all to passive so that'd be a whole new guitar adventure there and I still have passives I want to try.

 

[Emg77]

The mid cut at 9 o'clock seems to help that.

I don't boost. But I can't imagine boosting a herbert. Some amps, like a savage just sound worse with one. Seems like a herbert will do the same. But just to test this shit out, I'm going to pull out a boost later and try channel 2-.



What type of boost cult is this?
This is like buying a Ferarri F-50 and running it in 2nd gear with a ceiling fan attached to its ass.

Y'all need to stop. ?️?

Lol. I wouldn't say I'm a boost kind of guy per se. I use all three channels. I like the 2- with a boost to get a more "raw" type crunch tone. 2 plus for a heavy rhythm tone etc. Its just another flavor. The band I play in covers quite a variety of genres.

 

[RedB4Black]

That's the one active I wanted to try was the 57. But I converted all to passive so that'd be a whole new guitar adventure there and I still have passives I want to try.

It's grown on me, but I'm not 100% sold on it. I had 2 ESPs with 57s so I changed the one to Hot 70 as that's supposed to be more passive with a ceramic magnet (which I tend to prefer). The 70 is alright, but I think I'm going to go with a BK Silos in that guitar and CBomb in the 57 guitar at some point.

 

[braintheory]

For me the issue with boost is losing the dynamics a little bit on picking hand.

I've also seen guys who pick like a lil soft bunny rabbit and the only way for them to get that to sound in any way powerful is to boost the shit out of their amp. That's fine of it works for their stuff.

I do enjoy a warpig. MOJO sledgehammer. Black winter. Sh6 pretty decent. Had actives and a few BKP before kind of settling in this area for now.

And while we're on pickups. I'm really considering trying the tone nerd Whiskey or Roxy. And my favorite arcane pickup is a 13k output. I consider that medium output. I didn't even boost rectifiers and they were tight enough for fast playing when dialed "weirdly".

. Everytime I try to boost an amp, I always go back to the amp itself and I think it has alot to do with how I palm and pick the strings heavily. If I play light handed with the amps they sound weak and not as tight. If I dig in and play precisely like I prefer they sound heavy and tight pretty much every time. To me this is dynamics. Not everyone dials for that or plays like that obviously. And it is more fatiguing if not used to it. A dry amp always sounds good under this type of playing to me also. Some hate that dry stiff feeling because it'd "hard" to play. I also understand boost can add some squish or give for those type of players.

But I'm still going to try that later today just to see what it sounds like for kicks.


Out of curiosity....
What pickups are you playing? You said paff but there's so many types of paff now. What is thr DC resistance range you enjoy?

All these pickups you mention I’d consider fairly high to very high output and to me sacrifice dynamics in the picking hand in some ways even more so than using low output pickups with a good boost, but both ultimately end up in a similar place in compressing dynamics. I mostly play low output vintage pickups without a boost and also play with an aggressive right hand. Some pickups I use are as low as 4k, but DC isn’t everything and some of them sound like how most 9-10k pickups would sound in power. I also like the Lundgren M6’s a lot for something more modern because they’re high output, but still decently dynamic for what they are

I think it’s a a balancing act of how much work the player is putting in vs the pickup. You don’t need to put as much in with higher output pickups or boosting. Put in too much with the combo of pickup/gain & playing technique and it’s overkill, sounds bad, but you don’t put in enough then of course it sounds to weak or lacking balls. Sorta like balancing the right gain levels of mics when recording I think. I admittedly sometimes get carried away and go too far in both cases (recording and the pickup scenario)

 

[ChuggNorris]

All these pickups you mention I’d consider fairly high to very high output and to me sacrifice dynamics in the picking hand in some ways even more so than using low output pickups with a good boost, but both ultimately end up in a similar place in compressing dynamics. I mostly play low output vintage pickups without a boost and also play with an aggressive right hand. Some pickups I use are as low as 4k, but DC isn’t everything and some of them sound like how most 9-10k pickups would sound in power. I also like the Lundgren M6’s a lot for something more modern because they’re high output, but still decently dynamic for what they are

I think it’s a a balancing act of how much work the player is putting in vs the pickup. You don’t need to put as much in with higher output pickups or boosting. Put in too much with the combo of pickup/gain & playing technique and it’s overkill, sounds bad, but you don’t put in enough then of course it sounds to weak or lacking balls. Sorta like balancing the right gain levels of mics when recording I think. I admittedly sometimes get carried away and go too far in both cases (recording and the pickup scenario)

I do use less gain on the amp than most which for me, makes a nice balance currently.

A good pickup cleans up well when you roll the volume down. The sledgehammer is louder than the others with a c8 magnet. The warpig is next. The duncan black winter is insanely dynamic and I use that guitar the most. But it really doesn't matter I pick the same through everything. Hard and percussive, with a cleaner amp setting not very saturated or gainy. And with these pickups, plus the way I set my amps you HAVE to play hard or it sounds weak and doesn't punch.

If you picked up my guitar and plugged into my Amps you might think they need a boost. Most would. Low and behold, give me the guitar, suddenly it sounds tight and chunky as shit with that pick attack overtone surrounding it on thrash or whatever we're playing.

I think it has alot to do with the amps gain levels. Every one of these pickups will produce a weak or strong tone depending on how you pick the strings through my amps, because of how I dial the amp.

I'm 100% always straight into anything and over the years this is just what I've found for myself to give me dynamics. And even dynamics might be different to some guys. To me it's about constant pressure applied to the picking hand. Heavy handed with less gain always sounds best to me. Long as it's not a sloppy heavy hand.

The pickup actually does little to add gain. Mostly adds slight volume and picks up the 68g strings I use better than a weak pickup wants to. When you get into stuff like the "power dozer" pickups... it's getting unmusical and I probably would not like having to balance that. Might as well boost at that point and sacrifice the dynamics. I feel like lead players like that shit better.

So many combinations but also why alot of amps get wrongfully labeled "loose" or "tubby". It's the players making it do that, not the amp and I'll stand by that conviction every time.