Is there a way to make CH3 vh4 sound less compressed?

[batrah]

I am a very dynamic player, so i kinda feel a little limited. The amp itself sounds mindblowing. I just wish i could open it more.

Is there a pedal out there or something you can use or is it the circuit itself and you can't do anything about it?

 

[Pierre]

Maybe 6L6 power tubes

 

[valve]

low output PUs,
lower the gain,
use channel 2
lower bias,
reduce negative feedback

but yeah, on some days it's a tad too compressed for me too...

 

[ChurchHill]

Could try changing one of more of the preamp tubes to something with lower gain than the 12AX7 that come stock. Something like a 12AY7 (40% gain) or 5751 (70% gain) might open it up a bit. I'd start with V3, which will also affect channels 2 and 4, maybe try V1, which is the input stage for all channels.

V1 = input stage for all channels
V2 = channel 4
V3 = channel 2,3,4
V4 = all channels
V5 = mixer and send buffer
V6 = return driver serial and parallel
V7 = phase inverter

I haven't tried this with my VH4, but only because I don't feel a need to. I have done it with other amps, though, and it can help tweak the response without risking anything permanent.

 

[MARK2C]

What year is the amp ?

 

[Pierre]

I tried a TAD 7025 in the V1 of my VH2 .....more articulate , smooth , definition and open sounding at the end....

 

[batrah]

What year is the amp ?

2024

 

[batrah]

low output PUs,
lower the gain,
use channel 2
lower bias,
reduce negative feedback

but yeah, on some days it's a tad too compressed for me too...

What about lowering the gain on the amp itself and then slightly add some more with a boost/overdrive pedal? like archer silver or something.

I have a mindblowing vh4 tone with my helix stadium (it was cloned), and adding the minotaur overdrive(based on archer silver/klon centaur) first in chain had a big impact on polishing the tone

 

[Techdeth]

Maybe 6L6 power tubes

This is it . Plus crank it up and keep channel gain lower .’my channel 3 never gets compressed now . Channel 4 is a while different story . But for leads its perfect

 

[valve]

This is it . Plus crank it up and keep channel VOLUME lower .’my channel 3 never gets compressed now . Channel 4 is a while different story . But for leads its perfect

fixed.

 

[Techdeth]

fixed.

Well that can do it too . Both the channel volume and gain add compression . So that’s cool . You should ask @Omnipotent1 wgst my vh4 tone is like . He played my Larry my Hermanson . But he was blown away and shit from my vh4 tone .lower gain is bet imo for raw grind less compression

 

[valve]

since there is no master gain "channel" gain seemed redundant, so i figured...
yes both helps...

 

[MetalHeadMike]

put 10 band eq in the loop, boost the front end with a duncan 805, and keep the gain on the amp lower. Whole different amp (CH3) that way

 

[Techdeth]

put 10 band eq in the loop, boost the front end with a duncan 805, and keep the gain on the amp lower. Whole different amp (CH3) that way

Thus what I do but I don’t use a 10 band

 

[ChurchHill]

Thus what I do but I don’t use a 10 band

What do you use?

 

[Techdeth]

Well that can do it too . Both the channel volume and gain add compression . So that’s cool . You should ask @Omnipotent1 wgst my vh4 tone is like . He played my Larry my Hermanson . But he was blown away and shit from my vh4 tone .lower gain is bet imo for raw grind less compression

Oh and add master volume high do your chest gets beat up

 

[dougywarren]

Maybe 6L6 power tubes

Best option really unless you're comfortable with rolling back the volume on the guitar or Channel 3 gain a bit. I just put 6L6 in my VH2 and running a Tele through it with the gain maxed out it's still articulate and chimy and sounds distinctly like a Tele should. Impressive amp.

 

[Omnipotent1]

Well that can do it too . Both the channel volume and gain add compression . So that’s cool . You should ask @Omnipotent1 wgst my vh4 tone is like . He played my Larry my Hermanson . But he was blown away and shit from my vh4 tone .lower gain is bet imo for raw grind less compression

Punchiest & most percussive amp I’ve ever played. 1 that will completely change your writing style. Every palm mute rattled the gonads & hit you in the chest.. I like the way you have it voiced. It’s how I wanted a VH4 to sound & feel. When you sellin it to me?

 

[Techdeth]

Punchiest & most percussive amp I’ve ever played. 1 that will completely change your writing style. Every palm mute rattled the gonads & hit you in the chest.. I like the way you have it voiced. It’s how I wanted a VH4 to sound & feel. When you sellin it to me?

I almost sold once . I can’t lol

 

[MetalGOD84]

I am a very dynamic player, so i kinda feel a little limited. The amp itself sounds mindblowing. I just wish i could open it more.

Is there a pedal out there or something you can use or is it the circuit itself and you can't do anything about it?

without going into crazy tube changes, try to reduce the channel volume and gain and increase master volume. It's not like it's day and night but it works for me on my Herbert MK3.