I've been offered a Herbert... Should I take it?

[Burn]

Hey guys,

I've given a lot of my old crap to a local music store a while ago. Now that they're all sold, the owner is offering me a mint condition Diezel Herbert instead of the money she owes me.

I could use the cash, but I've never owned a Diezel, and it's kinda tempting...

I don't play the really heavy stuff. The most gain I'm interested in is at Dream Theater level. I also need a really nice, singing lead sound, or the amp is not very useful to me.

What would you guys do in this situation?

 

[Mailman1971]

Herbert is a GREAT AMP!!!
Not sure how much your own.......but if you can get any Diezel....grab it.
Just a whole nother level.

 

[Burn]

Herbert is a GREAT AMP!!!
Not sure how much your own.......but if you can get any Diezel....grab it.
Just a whole nother level.

I own a Roadster and a Mark V, currently. Haven't owned, or even played most of the boutique amps.

How are the lead sounds on the Herbert?

 

[jcj]

Play it and decide?

 

[The Hoff]

The Herbert is a great amp. I really don't think you'd regret it.

You should definitely try it out first though.

 

[Burn]

Play it and decide?

Haha... good idea!

Seriously though, I've found that my opinion on a guitar or amp changes a lot after I've brought it home and played it for a few days. What sounds great in a store can get old pretty quick, and vice versa. To my ears, anyway.

I'm just looking for the opinions of people who are a lot more experienced with amps than I am.

 

[glassjaw7]

Play it and decide?

Haha... good idea!

Seriously though, I've found that my opinion on a guitar or amp changes a lot after I've brought it home and played it for a few days. What sounds great in a store can get old pretty quick, and vice versa. To my ears, anyway.

I'm just looking for the opinions of people who are a lot more experienced with amps than I am.

I agree with this philosophy. It's one thing to try an amp in a store, but you get a good idea of what an amp is all about by talking to people who have used the stuff extensively in different playing situations (live, studio, etc) That's what we're here for!

Never played a Herbert, but I say go for it! The worst that could happen is you won't like it and you can sell it. You mentioned that you like Dream Theater type of gain. I think the Herb can pull that off. Listen to Andy Wood's Herbert tones. Very progressive rock/metal.

 

[Burn]

Never played a Herbert, but I say go for it! The worst that could happen is you won't like it and you can sell it. You mentioned that you like Dream Theater type of gain. I think the Herb can pull that off. Listen to Andy Wood's Herbert tones. Very progressive rock/metal.

Hmm I've never listened to Andy Wood before, sounds really good. Great player too!

The problem is that I'll be in Istanbul until the end of the summer, and it's really hard to sell big ticket boutique stuff here. Which is probably why I'm being offered this amp. As I recall, it's been sitting there for at least a year.

Most people here - predictably - are only interested in Marshall/Gibson/Fender. Heck, even Mesa just got here a few years ago.

I won't be able to bring it with me when I go to school in the UK, and shipping it abroad from here will probably cost an obscene amount. Not sure though, I've previously shipped a guitar to the Netherlands, so maybe not...

 

[Tone Monster]

Send King Crimson a pm

 

[Burn]

Send King Crimson a pm

What about?

 

[dwizted]

Man the herbert is a great amp. Very nice cleans and everything in between. The high gain stuff is unbelivable. Just like every other amp out there spend some time with it and you can dial in just about any tone you would like with it. Well I take it back not every amp but I hope you get the picture...This amp for certain you will get all sorts of useable tones out of it.

 

[Deleted member 8761]

If you are heavily into Dream Theater, then keep the Mark V. The Herbert is a great amp and will deliver some serious good tones. In the end I liked the Mark V better for its gain structure, versatility and the way you can tweak it. YMMV.

 

[Burn]

If you are heavily into Dream Theater, then keep the Mark V. The Herbert is a great amp and will deliver some serious good tones. In the end I liked the Mark V better for its gain structure, versatility and the way you can tweak it. YMMV.

I do like Dream Theater, but I'm not especially looking for a Petrucci tone. I actually think the Mark V sounds a lot weaker than the Mark IV I've had previously. The Mark V kills it for lead tones though. Also the IV was a US version, so I was using it with a voltage converter. That felt a little sketchy.

Anyways, I'm really looking to get into the boutique amp thing, but maybe I'd be happier with something like a Bogner XTC. I don't have to get another amp right now after all...

BTW, if you've had both these amps, how would you compare the lead sounds/harmonics/complexity, etc.? I think the clean channel is mediocre, and channel 2 is utterly crap. The only reason I'm keeping the Mark V is the super juicy lead sounds in channel 3

 

[spirit7]

I play progressive metal and it's my favourite amp. I've also owned a Mark V (and still own a IV) - the Herbert (like all Diezels) is in a different league. Channel 2+ with a mild mid cut is the greatest heavy rhythm tone I've ever heard, Channel 3 amongst the best lead tones I've experienced.

I also have a 20th XTC - another great amp, but with a totally different gain structure. It does everything, though.

In summary: take the Herbert!

-C

 

[Burn]

Looks like I'll be getting the Herbert after all...

Thanks for the responses guys

 

[spirit7]

Looks like I'll be getting the Herbert after all...

Thanks for the responses guys

Awesome! Great choice. I also run a PRS through mine and I can tell you that you will NOT be disappointed.

Pics when you get it!

-C

 

[jcj]

Play it and decide?

Haha... good idea!

Seriously though, I've found that my opinion on a guitar or amp changes a lot after I've brought it home and played it for a few days. What sounds great in a store can get old pretty quick, and vice versa. To my ears, anyway.

I'm just looking for the opinions of people who are a lot more experienced with amps than I am.

For sure...I get it....and I wasn't trying to be an ass....the Diezel stuff was my first "Holy Shit" moment....I became a HUGE fan....my whole point was that the only way to figure out what works for you, is to experience a ton of stuff....I eventually fouund my way, but only by trying a ton of different stuff....in the end, there's no substitute for personal experience....

 

[glpg80]

I actually love herbert's under a mic over all of the other diezel's, but i cannot stand their live tone. Lots of EQ'ing capability but they leave a thin attitude to my ears that i cannot get over.

Love them - just not my cup of tea. I would still grab it - if you dislike it then they are easy to unload as they are always in high demand

 

[Deleted member 8761]

If you are heavily into Dream Theater, then keep the Mark V. The Herbert is a great amp and will deliver some serious good tones. In the end I liked the Mark V better for its gain structure, versatility and the way you can tweak it. YMMV.

I do like Dream Theater, but I'm not especially looking for a Petrucci tone. I actually think the Mark V sounds a lot weaker than the Mark IV I've had previously. The Mark V kills it for lead tones though. Also the IV was a US version, so I was using it with a voltage converter. That felt a little sketchy.

Anyways, I'm really looking to get into the boutique amp thing, but maybe I'd be happier with something like a Bogner XTC. I don't have to get another amp right now after all...

BTW, if you've had both these amps, how would you compare the lead sounds/harmonics/complexity, etc.? I think the clean channel is mediocre, and channel 2 is utterly crap. The only reason I'm keeping the Mark V is the super juicy lead sounds in channel 3

I don't care for cleans much, but the Mark V 's cleans are pretty good IMHO. Channel 2 did nothing for me too, whereas channel 3 delivered the high gain tones for me. I traded my Mark V for a Herbert and I regret that. The Herbert is a different animal. In comparison it sounds more compressed. The second channel with the plus setting gets damn heavy. Both are high quality amps. It is just personal preference at this level .Any bad sounds out of any of these two is user error. The Mark V wins for versatility IMHO, you just have to tweak it. BTW, do you need 180 watts of power? The power modes of the Mark is pretty cool. I think you really have test the Herbert for a hour or so, as it looks like you won't be able to sell that Diezel quick in the local market.

 

[glip22]

A very important question is how much does she owe you? It may be wiser to take the cash.
I have seen many Herberts selling below 3K used.