New VH4 Owner - Can I check a couple things with you?

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Spiral90210

Spiral90210

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Hi all,

Just got my VH4 last night - been on a Fender HRDx for... 18 years now and while I still absolutely love it, I fancied a high gain amp for a change as I've been doing more distorted stuff recently. Plus I've always wanted one, I know you won't judge... Anyway as I say, it arrrived last night. The core sound is... HUGE. I cannot wait to get it somewhere I can properly open it up! Naturally with any expensive purchase though, I worry my ears are playing tricks on me, and I was hoping some fellow owners could confirm a thing or two about the sound/behaviour of the amp? Being in Northern Ireland, there isn't a handy dealer nearby with stock or anyone I know to compare to, and it's expensive enough that I want to be sure it's normal/ok, so I really appreciate a few minutes of your time to reassure me!

Firstly, the transformer hum. It's not... awful but I can hear it outside the room when it's running and feel it in the chassis, but you read posts like "the amp is whisper quiet" and I wonder if my definition of whisper quiet is different than theirs. I've put a short video on youtube, and would appreciate a comparison: . I've never ran high gain valve heads before so wanted to check.

Secondly, there feels something up with the distortion, at least on low levels - particularly noticable higher gain on CH1 and mid on CH2, but also feels like its underpinning CH3/4 as well, so it's very possible that's just how this is? It's the way it fizzes out when the signal is decaying - it feels very... wrong? It reminds me of some broken equipment I had in the past, so its got me a little paranoid. I can also hear it on low gain CH3 as well when the notes are decaying (not that you would ever use it that way). It could well just be I'm not used to it, but I'd apprecaite if someone wouldn't mind dialing in similar settings and having a listen to see if it's the same? Or even just listening to the clips I recorded and see if that tallys with your experiences? For comparison, I hooked up the HRDx to the same cabinet - maybe it's just paranoia, but the fender is a smoother transition back to clean, while the VH4 is not. Guitar was a Gibson SG, amp is connected to a 2x12 cab with Celestion V30s, recorded with a Thomann t.bone MB75-Beta.

I've uploaded the recordings to a dropbox folder, and attached a pic of the settings I've used - they don't really matter, it's just dialing in the gain the right amount for the guitar to get the "I'm JUST distorting when strummed" sound (hum video is in there too): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dyx7...ey=94etu9yi11j2wc7uywv67ikxu&st=ryu0ygbl&dl=0

So yeah, thanks for your time on this one, I appreciate it!
 

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Hi,

It´s difficult to judge from the video if this kind of hum is normal, but I can confirm that my VH4 also has from a feeling a certain amount of hum itself.
Will try to post a video and some sounds later today with you settings...
 
Hey, thanks for taking the time, I appreciate it a lot. If you rest your hand on the top of the chassis, can you feel it too?
 
Hi, not really, video from hum later... here very quick CH2, should be roughly your settings (gain/Volume).

I played this into DAW and V30 IR, as amp is currently at home... no effect or anything.. (Fender American Standard Strat Bridge HB)

hope it helps

 
@zeen that's exactly what I needed to hear! I'm hearing the same on yours, so I'm thinking that's probably just a charastic of the lower voume I've had to keep it in the house. Feel quite reassured, thank you!

I might pop the amp out later and poke the transformer a little, see if it's maybe just come a little loose in shipping or something causing the vibration.
 
Here is the HUM video..:



I personally prefer to have channel volume up and MV low playing at bedroom level.. but of course a matter of taste..
 
Alright then, seem like this is just perfectly normal! Yours does seem a little quieter, so will still make sure the transformer is properly attached, but I no longer have the fear that it's broken or a bad unit - thank you so much!
 
Hi, I had a similar sound, perhaps a little louder on my brand new VH4, from our friends in Germany, opinions varied on here as to how normal it was, but in the end I sent it back for a replacement.

Duly arrived and the hum was significantly less. Can't speak to the other channel volume issues, never noticed any such.

Here's the link to that thread/post hopefully that might offer some additional perspectives..

D

Thread 'Brand new Diezel VH4 Very Loud Hum in Standby'

Hi All,

I'd appreciate some guidance.

I've just received my brand new Diezel VH4. Before first powering up I visually checked all the valves and they seemed OK.

I noticed that with power on and in standby there is a very loud hum, like a transformer hum but way, louder.

This is my first VH4, but comparing it to other amps Engl E670SE and Friedman BE100DLX it is many times louder than them.

None of the tube check lights on the back are lit, it's the correct voltage for the UK and the noise is not really noticeable when taken off standby.

All the channels work, lights on the front...

As an aside have a really good play with channel 2 at the upper end of the gain! Made my Ibanez sound really full, warm no loss of note clarity.

It's a pricey piece of kit I hope you get it sorted, pretty sure you'll be pleased with it. Lots of interesting tones in there. Very inspirational, encourages me to play to suit the sound.

Definitely worth exploring the relationships between EQ and channel and master volumes.

Hope you get it so your happy.
 
@Daigaijin reading your thread did make me wonder! You didn't note the previous serial number? Not that I think they would send returns out as non b-stock, but you never know! If its handy, could you take a quick video of the hum on your replacement?

You're right, channel 2 is an absolute gem, think it's my favourite ;)
 
Spiral90210 said:
Hey, thanks for taking the time, I appreciate it a lot. If you rest your hand on the top of the chassis, can you feel it too?
Click to expand...
Mine does not really do anything humming imo . It pushes air fast so there that sound . Also the decay thing with the fizz is odd . Mines pretty tight and chunky . Chsnnel 4 gets fizzy with too much gain with all the compression . But not boosted and with a gate . Just my 2 cents
 
@Daigaijin any chance you could grab a quick phone vid of your current one, that doesn't have the hum issue? So I can compare to mine in the OP.

@Techdeth maybe the same from you?

Just can't shake that it's not quite right, I'm annoying myself :(
 
Spiral90210 said:
@Daigaijin any chance you could grab a quick phone vid of your current one, that doesn't have the hum issue? So I can compare to mine in the OP.

@Techdeth maybe the same from you?

Just can't shake that it's not quite right, I'm annoying myself :(
Click to expand...
Are you using a noise gate ?
 
Nope - that’s straight in. The hum in question though is without any input connected, and in standby too.

I do understand some is normal, I just cant shake that it sounds excessive.
 
Oh and I never mentioned in the video, but although it looks like I just turned the amp straight on, it was already warm - sound is the same warm or cold.

I guess an easier question to judge might be - if you rest your hand on the top of the amp in standby, can you feel the hum? Because I can.
 
Daigaijin said:
Hi, I had a similar sound, perhaps a little louder on my brand new VH4, from our friends in Germany, opinions varied on here as to how normal it was, but in the end I sent it back for a replacement.

Duly arrived and the hum was significantly less. Can't speak to the other channel volume issues, never noticed any such.

Here's the link to that thread/post hopefully that might offer some additional perspectives..

D

Thread 'Brand new Diezel VH4 Very Loud Hum in Standby'

Hi All,

I'd appreciate some guidance.

I've just received my brand new Diezel VH4. Before first powering up I visually checked all the valves and they seemed OK.

I noticed that with power on and in standby there is a very loud hum, like a transformer hum but way, louder.

This is my first VH4, but comparing it to other amps Engl E670SE and Friedman BE100DLX it is many times louder than them.

None of the tube check lights on the back are lit, it's the correct voltage for the UK and the noise is not really noticeable when taken off standby.

All the channels work, lights on the front...

As an aside have a really good play with channel 2 at the upper end of the gain! Made my Ibanez sound really full, warm no loss of note clarity.

It's a pricey piece of kit I hope you get it sorted, pretty sure you'll be pleased with it. Lots of interesting tones in there. Very inspirational, encourages me to play to suit the sound.

Definitely worth exploring the relationships between EQ and channel and master volumes.

Hope you get it so your happy.
Click to expand...
Sure, I'm trying to find out how to DM you the serial, video to follow when I'm back home...
 
Oh no rush, you're doing me a massive favour, I appreciate it!
 
I have a VH4 purchased last year that hums as well, which I've been told from Peter that it's expected. For reference, here's a link to how it sounds; recorded at the rear of the amp, close to the PT. (iIgnore the fan noise in the background, that's just my laptop)
 
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