Herbert VS VH4

[HumdinGer]

Hi folks. I'm sure there's been several topics of the same kind here, and I apologize for bringing it up again, but hope for some help here all the same...

I own a Herbert, and I've been satisfied with it, but I've always wanted a little more brutality in the mid range. I feel the Herbert is just a little too scooped, even with the mids adjusted to maximum level, and listening to some sound clips on youtube makes me feel that the VH4 channel 2 or 3 perhaps would suite me better. Listening to clips on the net are always difficult, cause one has no reference to compare it to. So... Considering the following issues the question is as follows...
I'm NOT a fan of scooped mids. I DON'T want tons and tons of liquid gain for great solos. I want BRUTAL mids with that extreme CRUNCH with lots of headroom. I HATE compressed sound!!!
Will the VH4 be THE amp for me? And no... I don't have any chance of testing it before buying...

By the way... Must mention that Peter Diezel is a great man that really cares about his customers! This is really one of the main reasons to buy a Diezel, in addition to the SOUND of course

 

[Kev]

Stick with the Herbert. The VH4 does brutal mids as well, but most people say that the Herbert is more evil. But if you feel that the Herb is not doing the the Job properly, then get the VH4. (Maybe buy it used and keep the Herb, then compare, then sell what you don't need) btw: The Einstein is brutal too.

 

[Ventura]

Hi folks. I'm sure there's been several topics of the same kind here, and I apologize for bringing it up again, but hope for some help here all the same...

I own a Herbert, and I've been satisfied with it, but I've always wanted a little more brutality in the mid range. I feel the Herbert is just a little too scooped, even with the mids adjusted to maximum level, and listening to some sound clips on youtube makes me feel that the VH4 channel 2 or 3 perhaps would suite me better. Listening to clips on the net are always difficult, cause one has no reference to compare it to. So... Considering the following issues the question is as follows...
I'm NOT a fan of scooped mids. I DON'T want tons and tons of liquid gain for great solos. I want BRUTAL mids with that extreme CRUNCH with lots of headroom. I HATE compressed sound!!!
Will the VH4 be THE amp for me? And no... I don't have any chance of testing it before buying...

By the way... Must mention that Peter Diezel is a great man that really cares about his customers! This is really one of the main reasons to buy a Diezel, in addition to the SOUND of course

What's your cab loaded with?? Secondly, I'd lay off the gain and increase the volume - get some real overdrive happening, not just preamp based gain. This can change the complexity of the tone tremendously. Judging from what you're explaining, you're wanting more gnawing, chewing, gnarling, snarling middy attack. To me? That means less gain, more volume, EQ the mids/presence/etc and push it harder.

Just my 2 cents,
V.

PS - the V is undoubtedly the beast of sonic hellfire too, just a different playing amp compared to the Herb.

 

[Mailman1971]

I owned both the Herbert and the VH4.....
if I was to choose right now from what you say.......
its VH4 all the way!!
When I go back to Diezel......it will be another VH4S!

 

[Mizati20]

Sounds to me like you want a VH-4, however, that fact that you don't like compression is a bit of a problem, the VH-4 is super compressed, much more so than the Herbert, but other than that it definitely seems like you would be happier with the VH-4...

Here's a video I made testing the iPhone4's speaker inputs, this is channel 3 with the gain on noon, much more gain to be had, in fact, most of the settings are at noon I believe, with may a few small tweaks.

This is just rumor as well but I hear the brand new VH-4's are a bit less compressed, but don't take that to heart, I will admit I have no experience with them....

Make sure and watch in the highest quality, and I apologize in advance for the completely mindless playing, I had just gotta off work

 

[HumdinGer]

Secondly, I'd lay off the gain and increase the volume - get some real overdrive happening, not just preamp based gain. This can change the complexity of the tone tremendously. Judging from what you're explaining, you're wanting more gnawing, chewing, gnarling, snarling middy attack. To me? That means less gain, more volume, EQ the mids/presence/etc and push it harder.

Couldn't agree more. This is just what I've been doing the last couple of years. That's also some of the reason I feel the Herbert may not be the right amp for me. There's just so much gain that one very early get that compressed liquid distortion, and that's, like you've understood correctly, NOT what I want. I almost never use channel 3. Channel 2 is much better, but I find it very difficult to adjust that balance between just enough gain to be brutal, but still enough to not be "nice".

Because of my economy I may have to give up my Herbert in order to afford to buy a VH4, but it sounds here like that's probably a chance I should take. Thanks a lot for all replies and sound clip here. All advices are appreciated

 

[HumdinGer]

By the way... I've bought 6 brand new JJ EL34L tubes. I'll give it a try with these first before I come to a final conclusion on my Herbert...

 

[Peter Diezel]

The JJ´s are great sounding tubes but I
have no good experience with the reliabilty.

 

[spirit7]

Haha - I am having the exact same issue but in reverse!

I got my VH4 a couple of months ago, and love it but...there's something missing. I think for me, as primarily a metal player who has previously used ENGLs, there's not enough of that 'fizzy' or 'grainy' gain in the VH4 - it's too middy and smooth! This is even the case with a Maxon OD-808. The Herbert, on the other hand, sounds exactly my thing - more gain, more grind.

So - persuade me to keep my VH4! Alternatively, let me know if you fancy a trade

 

[HumdinGer]

The JJ´s are great sounding tubes but I
have no good experience with the reliabilty.

Thanks for your input Peter I had already bought them, so I might as well give them a try...

 

[HumdinGer]

Haha - I am having the exact same issue but in reverse!

I got my VH4 a couple of months ago, and love it but...there's something missing. I think for me, as primarily a metal player who has previously used ENGLs, there's not enough of that 'fizzy' or 'grainy' gain in the VH4 - it's too middy and smooth! This is even the case with a Maxon OD-808. The Herbert, on the other hand, sounds exactly my thing - more gain, more grind.

So - persuade me to keep my VH4! Alternatively, let me know if you fancy a trade

PM sent

 

[spirit7]

Replied!