Recommendations for another head to pair with my stereo Diezel VH4S across two Diezel stereo 4x12 cabs...

[jdel77]

Kinda strange setup, which I'm nearly finished putting together...

Diezel VH4S. Stereo left and right split to the outside left and right pairs of two separate 4x12's. The cabs are Diezel rear loaded 4x12's with UK G12-75 Creambacks on the bottom and Chinese Reissue Vintage 30's up top in both. My FX are from a Fractal FX8 MKII.

I want another amp to run to the inside left and right pairs of these 4x12's.
So the Diezel 4HS will be on the outside 4 speakers (for stereo effects) and other amp to the inside 4 speakers for my main dry unaffected sound.
(There's probably be some phasing/ground issues I'll need to sort - I used to use a Fulltone True-Path for this when I was running JMP2203's and AC30's in my old band, worked well).

Anyway, I have a Soldano SLO which I'm thinking might be a good pairing for my main tone with the Diezel VH4S.
Any other stand out pairings out there?
I know the Marshall Superbass is often referenced for obvious reasons. Maybe a JCM800 2203 (I've owned a lot of these so I'm familiar with the frequency responses of these amps).
I've never actually owned a Mesa Rectifier (owned a bunch of Marks, still have an '85 Black Dot head). Is the Recto or Mark pairing any good?

So basically I'm looking at:

VH4S + SLO
VH4S + JCM800 2203
VH4S + Boogie Mark
VH4S + Rectifier
VH4S + ???

Any other recommendations? The band plays alternative/prog/metal influenced heavily by Deftones, Tool, Gojira, Porcupine Tree, Rush, Police etc...

Thanks!

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

I’m sure you could make any of those sound great with the Diezel. My preference would be for something raw and lower gain, like the 2203. Getting all your gain and low end from the Diezel, and your raw solid foundation from the 2203.

 

[cardinal]

Since you have the SLO already, I'd give it a ago with its crunch channel. It's not a bright/raw as a 2203 but it's in the ballpark for sure.

 

[BatmansRigTalk]

It isn't just a Marshall Superbass though. It is a hot rodded and moded one. You would probably do just as well to get a JCM or another Plexi in there and boost them with an SD-1 and or Klon clone with the Plexi.

Of course you could just get a Friedman BE-OD. ?

 

[jdel77]

I’m sure you could make any of those sound great with the Diezel. My preference would be for something raw and lower gain, like the 2203. Getting all your gain and low end from the Diezel, and your raw solid foundation from the 2203.

That’s what I’m thinking. I know 2203’s backwards too so that’s handy.
I use an SD-1 in the Fractal to boost the VH4 so boosting a 2203 with that as well should work well.

 

[Ventura]

I’m sure you could make any of those sound great with the Diezel. My preference would be for something raw and lower gain, like the 2203. Getting all your gain and low end from the Diezel, and your raw solid foundation from the 2203.

This. Raw, more chewy, and an amp that registers in a different area than the mids of the VH4 circuit. For the record, I run my Hagen with my Shiva, and my D-Moll with my XTC, and the VH4 usually as a stand alone or with the XTC Blue with boost (20thA version, so the built in boost). Might not be your cup of tea, but the offset of differing "mids" regions and open vs compressed - forward vs ambient - the melding of the frequencies to complement one another is where I find my best mixes. Taking two great amps at their "great sounding spots" and combining them rarely if ever offered me a sound I liked. I always did the yin-yang thing...and that works.

Hope this makes some kinda sense??
Unkle Mo

 

[jdel77]

This. Raw, more chewy, and an amp that registers in a different area than the mids of the VH4 circuit. For the record, I run my Hagen with my Shiva, and my D-Moll with my XTC, and the VH4 usually as a stand alone or with the XTC Blue with boost (20thA version, so the built in boost). Might not be your cup of tea, but the offset of differing "mids" regions and open vs compressed - forward vs ambient - the melding of the frequencies to complement one another is where I find my best mixes. Taking two great amps at their "great sounding spots" and combining them rarely if ever offered me a sound I liked. I always did the yin-yang thing...and that works.

Hope this makes some kinda sense??
Unkle Mo

Interesting - some great info here.
So you’re also suggesting that the 2203/VH4 pair could work? That’s what I’m leaning towards.

 

[jdel77]

It isn't just a Marshall Superbass though. It is a hot rodded and moded one. You would probably do just as well to get a JCM or another Plexi in there and boost them with an SD-1 and or Klon clone with the Plexi.

Of course you could just get a Friedman BE-OD. ?

I’d be keen to know what’s been done to that Superbass. Thing is a monster.

 

[BatmansRigTalk]

I’d be keen to know what’s been done to that Superbass. Thing is a monster.

It's voiced towards a Superlead instead of Superbass.

 

[Ventura]

Interesting - some great info here.
So you’re also suggesting that the 2203/VH4 pair could work? That’s what I’m leaning towards.

kinda - if you feel your ears feel that the 2 amps are existing within different but neighbouring real estate, than the sonics should work. But remember - this is about your ears, your choices, your preferences, not what some yahoo says on a forum. I've just personally found that whenever mating 2 amps and furthermore often 4 cabs with varying mics on varying cones, it's all about complementary tonal balance. This ones raw and chainsaw toothy / this ones compressed and smooth; this ones got shrill highs / pair it with the darker piano rounder sounding highs amp; but it's really for me the mids. Mids are where the guitar exists and sits - and finding the right puzzle-fit pieces here is where the magic happens (for me).

It'll work, and you'll also be surprised how little gain is actually needed to accomplish a crushing tone.

 

[Philhouse]

I’d be keen to know what’s been done to that Superbass. Thing is a monster.

https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/question-about-adam-jones-super-bass.80694/
Post #3 has the Dave Friedman info in here.

I like your idea and I'd be curious what the SLO-VH4 combo would be like. The 2203-VH4 sound is easy enough to achieve and might best nail the tones of those bands you listed. A SLO-VH4 W/D/W rig would look pretty boss.

You're in Aus?

 

[jdel77]

kinda - if you feel your ears feel that the 2 amps are existing within different but neighbouring real estate, than the sonics should work. But remember - this is about your ears, your choices, your preferences, not what some yahoo says on a forum. I've just personally found that whenever mating 2 amps and furthermore often 4 cabs with varying mics on varying cones, it's all about complementary tonal balance. This ones raw and chainsaw toothy / this ones compressed and smooth; this ones got shrill highs / pair it with the darker piano rounder sounding highs amp; but it's really for me the mids. Mids are where the guitar exists and sits - and finding the right puzzle-fit pieces here is where the magic happens (for me).

It'll work, and you'll also be surprised how little gain is actually needed to accomplish a crushing tone.

Love this. It’s refreshing to read info that clearly shows experience. Thanks ?

 

[jdel77]

https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/question-about-adam-jones-super-bass.80694/
Post #3 has the Dave Friedman info in here.

I like your idea and I'd be curious what the SLO-VH4 combo would be like. The 2203-VH4 sound is easy enough to achieve and might best nail the tones of those bands you listed. A SLO-VH4 W/D/W rig would look pretty boss.

You're in Aus?

Yep in Melbourne - I’ve thought about the SLO/VH4 combo but I feel the SLO is in that smoother camp. The 2203 is raw and bitey. Both classic amps.