I really want a VH4

[mraajr]

I really want to get a VH4 but am not sure if it will be DIezel overkill if I do. How much different are they?

 

[zuel69]

Thats the one I want to try, had the herbert and einstein..great amps but from what I've seen and heard here the VH4 is the one.

I really want to get a VH4 but am not sure if it will be DIezel overkill if I do. How much different are they?

 

[PaulyPanacea]

go for it!! the worst that could happen is you end up selling it down the road to someone on the Forum!!

 

[nbarts]

How much different are they?

A lot.

 

[RJF]

I really want to get a VH4 but am not sure if it will be DIezel overkill if I do. How much different are they?

From what I've been told, Herbert is the better choice for strait up metal.

 

[The Udo]

Hey!! There´s no such thing as a Diezel overkill!!

I´ve owned them both, first the VH4 and now the Herbert. IMO they are both awesome amps with different tones If I had to simplify the discription tonewise the Herbert would be modern, versatile and large.
The VH4 would be rock n' roll, tight and unforgiving (in a good way)

I also think that the Herbert has more options to it, but that´s up to you how you use your amp and what you´re expecting from it

Good luck!!

 

[RedB4Black]

I just sold my VH4. For awhile I liked it better than the Herbert, but ultimately, the Herbert is my favorite.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm in the same boat - torn between the VH4 and Herbert. I'll be playing them both, side by side, tomorrow before I buy one of them. So, I can let you know how they compare when they're fresh in my mind.

 

[Bato]

If you play them side by side you´ll have a huge problem dude!

But i would like to have one too. And a Schmidt of course!

 

[PaulyPanacea]

thats what happened to me. played em side by side...and now own em both!

 

[FourT6and2]

I just got home from a 5 hour stint at Guitar Center, where they had a VH4 and a Herbert. I played them side-by-side for a very long time. I brought in three guitars with me: '79 Les Paul Custom, PRS Singlecut and a gutted Jackson Dinky with EMG 85/81, tuned down a step. Both amps were played thru the same Mesa 2x12 cab with V30's in the store's loud room.

I got to crank both of these amps up and ran them thru the gamut of sounds. Without going into too much detail, the Herbert has a better clean channel. It is slightly less tight than the VH4's and a little warmer. It is like a cross between the bell-like chime of a Vox and the crystal twang of a Fender. Channel 2 (-) and Channel 2 of the VH4 are similar, but again the Herbert is a little less tight and the VH4 is more compressed. Gain structure is similar and both can cop equally nice low-gain to mid-gain sounds. Channel 3 on the VH4 is just... well... it's probably the best high-gain sound I've ever heard in my life. It's tight, punchy, mid-heavy, slightly more compressed than the Herbert and just has balls, balls, balls. The Herbert in Channel 2 (+) is equally awesome, but it is a bit more open sounding and slightly more scooped in its voicing, even with the mids cranked to 3:00. For the most part, I played both amps with the EQ flat (Set to 12:00 across the board), except for the mid control, which I tended to crank. Herbert Channel 2 (+) is great for pretty much any high-gain sound, but would tend to shine for modern metal. VH4 Channel 3 is great for metal as well, but has a unique sound and feel which you tend not to hear in modern metal music. It's great for the stuff that I play (progressive rock and metal).

Channel 3 of the Herbert and Channel 4 of the VH4 are both way-over-the-top gain and compression. They are totally useable for leads as well as insane rhythm if need be. But, I didn't spend much time with these channels compared to the others. I'd say my home was channel 3 of the VH4 and channel 2 (+) of the Herbert. The Herbert's mid cut feature is nice for playing at low volumes during practice and such, but I don't see it being used live because it will decrease the amp's ability to cut in the mix. On recordings, it's totally useable.

I also tried both amps out with a Boss DD-3 in the FX loops. The Herbert has three (yes, three) different types of loops: serial, parallel, and switchable. I didn't really spend a lot of time tweaking the amp on each FX loop, though. I tried it in all three, but briefly. The loops are good, but I THINK my Framus Dragon had a better loop. But, I can't be sure until I test it out more. The VH4 has a series, a parallel and individual channel inserts. I don't think the VH4 has a switchable loop? I don't see anything on the amp that would indicate that it does. To my ears, the VH4 has a better loop.

I'm pretty sure I sat there for a good hour trying to decide on which amp to get, after I had packed up my guitars. Initially, I decided to go with the Herbert. But, as the manager was packing it up for me, I felt an urge to go with the VH4 instead.

I only wish I could take them both. They are both very similar, yet very different at the same time. It's unnerving.

I decided to go with the VH4 because it is a more simple amp (I'll spend less time tweaking and more time playing), channel 3 is just incredible and the Herbert sounded like it may have an issue with preamp tubes (a slight metallic ping/squeal sometimes) or some other problem and since used amps don't have a warranty, I decided to play it safe and go with the VH4. Although, I do have a 90 day period to play with the VH4 with the option of swapping it out for the Herbert at no penalty. So, that's where I'm at right now.

I am now the proud owner of a VH4 and a new Mesa 2x12. Goodbye Bad Cat!

 

[Gainiac]

when is Amp overkill a bad thing?????!!!!? or exist??!??

 

[mraajr]

Awesome review...thanks brah I cannot wait to try a VH4. I think the Herbert is sensitive to preamp tube choice. Sometimes I can a mechanical whirring type sound that is definitely coming from the preamp if I do not have the right tubes in the right slots.

 

[FourT6and2]

Awesome review...thanks brah I cannot wait to try a VH4. I think the Herbert is sensitive to preamp tube choice. Sometimes I can a mechanical whirring type sound that is definitely coming from the preamp if I do not have the right tubes in the right slots.

That's sort of similar to what I was hearing. But, it definitely had a slight (barely noticeable) squeal or metallic ping going on. I wanted to open up the amp to "tap test" the preamp tubes, but they wouldn't let me do that at the store. We checked the power tubes, though, since we didn't have to remove the chassis to get to them and they seemed fine.

 

[RedB4Black]

The loops are good, but I THINK my Framus Dragon had a better loop. But, I can't be sure until I test it out more. The VH4 has a series, a parallel and individual channel inserts. I don't think the VH4 has a switchable loop? I don't see anything on the amp that would indicate that it does. To my ears, the VH4 has a better loop.

The parallel loop is MIDI switchable as are the channel inserts. The serial loop is not.

 

[RaulTx]

Congrats my friend!! Anyway, you couldn't be mistaken with any of them

I also went for a VH4 a couple of months ago, and the more I play it, the more I like it (same cab as yours!).

Enjoy your new treasure!!

 

[FourT6and2]

The loops are good, but I THINK my Framus Dragon had a better loop. But, I can't be sure until I test it out more. The VH4 has a series, a parallel and individual channel inserts. I don't think the VH4 has a switchable loop? I don't see anything on the amp that would indicate that it does. To my ears, the VH4 has a better loop.

The parallel loop is MIDI switchable as are the channel inserts. The serial loop is not.

Yeah, just figured out that Send 2 is switchable. Didn't notice it while at the store. Also, reading the manual helps.

 

[FourT6and2]

Congrats my friend!! Anyway, you couldn't be mistaken with any of them

I also went for a VH4 a couple of months ago, and the more I play it, the more I like it (same cab as yours!).

Enjoy your new treasure!!

Thanks, you too!

 

[PaulyPanacea]

congrats on your purchase...now start saving again...LOL

 

[James Lugo]

I just got home from a 5 hour stint at Guitar Center, where they had a VH4 and a Herbert. I played them side-by-side for a very long time. I brought in three guitars with me: '79 Les Paul Custom, PRS Singlecut and a gutted Jackson Dinky with EMG 85/81, tuned down a step. Both amps were played thru the same Mesa 2x12 cab with V30's in the store's loud room.

I got to crank both of these amps up and ran them thru the gamut of sounds. Without going into too much detail, the Herbert has a better clean channel. It is slightly less tight than the VH4's and a little warmer. It is like a cross between the bell-like chime of a Vox and the crystal twang of a Fender. Channel 2 (-) and Channel 2 of the VH4 are similar, but again the Herbert is a little less tight and the VH4 is more compressed. Gain structure is similar and both can cop equally nice low-gain to mid-gain sounds. Channel 3 on the VH4 is just... well... it's probably the best high-gain sound I've ever heard in my life. It's tight, punchy, mid-heavy, slightly more compressed than the Herbert and just has balls, balls, balls. The Herbert in Channel 2 (+) is equally awesome, but it is a bit more open sounding and slightly more scooped in its voicing, even with the mids cranked to 3:00. For the most part, I played both amps with the EQ flat (Set to 12:00 across the board), except for the mid control, which I tended to crank. Herbert Channel 2 (+) is great for pretty much any high-gain sound, but would tend to shine for modern metal. VH4 Channel 3 is great for metal as well, but has a unique sound and feel which you tend not to hear in modern metal music. It's great for the stuff that I play (progressive rock and metal).

Channel 3 of the Herbert and Channel 4 of the VH4 are both way-over-the-top gain and compression. They are totally useable for leads as well as insane rhythm if need be. But, I didn't spend much time with these channels compared to the others. I'd say my home was channel 3 of the VH4 and channel 2 (+) of the Herbert. The Herbert's mid cut feature is nice for playing at low volumes during practice and such, but I don't see it being used live because it will decrease the amp's ability to cut in the mix. On recordings, it's totally useable.

I also tried both amps out with a Boss DD-3 in the FX loops. The Herbert has three (yes, three) different types of loops: serial, parallel, and switchable. I didn't really spend a lot of time tweaking the amp on each FX loop, though. I tried it in all three, but briefly. The loops are good, but I THINK my Framus Dragon had a better loop. But, I can't be sure until I test it out more. The VH4 has a series, a parallel and individual channel inserts. I don't think the VH4 has a switchable loop? I don't see anything on the amp that would indicate that it does. To my ears, the VH4 has a better loop.

I'm pretty sure I sat there for a good hour trying to decide on which amp to get, after I had packed up my guitars. Initially, I decided to go with the Herbert. But, as the manager was packing it up for me, I felt an urge to go with the VH4 instead.

I only wish I could take them both. They are both very similar, yet very different at the same time. It's unnerving.

I decided to go with the VH4 because it is a more simple amp (I'll spend less time tweaking and more time playing), channel 3 is just incredible and the Herbert sounded like it may have an issue with preamp tubes (a slight metallic ping/squeal sometimes) or some other problem and since used amps don't have a warranty, I decided to play it safe and go with the VH4. Although, I do have a 90 day period to play with the VH4 with the option of swapping it out for the Herbert at no penalty. So, that's where I'm at right now.

I am now the proud owner of a VH4 and a new Mesa 2x12. Goodbye Bad Cat!

Congrats. Yeah I'm a VH4 guy now. It's the perfect crunch sound IMO.