Transformer Input wiring (230v -> 120v USA) Herbert MKII

[bzncokr]

It was quite an easy task. Everybody who buys Diezel from Europe and wants to rock in the US should DIY !!!!
All you need is a soldering kit. I wanted to provide this pic info for all new hesitaters.
I've played my amp for 6 hours non stop today! I just can't stop playing with Herbie!

BTW, I have a few questions about this new amp.
Does Intensity on Mid cut all the way down to zero mean 'no mid cut'? or 'mid cut boost'?
I wonder if the zero point is at noon or not.
I wouldn't use Mid cut scoop for my sound since I don't play Metal. but am interested in mid boost when I do solo.

Also, How do you guys use the second master volume control when you gig?
Do you guys boost it whenever you feel like? I'd like to hear actual usages from different users.
Secondly, can channel 2 have exactly the same sound like channel 3 by tweaking? if there's any difference in gain staging, I want to hear about more in details on this.
Thank you.

 

[Kev]

Hey!

midcut intensity on 0% = no mid cut
midcut intensity on 100% = maximum mid cut

(Lil' tip: If you crank the level to max, the tone focuses more on the mids. Its like the sound of a cranked power-section.)

How to get a mid-boost: crank the mids in the channel eq and then turn the midcut intensity to around 40% and level 0%. Then you get a nice mid-boost by turning the mid-cut off.

(Lil' tip2: Fool around with presence and treble. Both affect the highs, but presence also affects the high mids at 2k. So by running high presence and low treble you get more 2k and the other way around (i use run my presence rather low).)

Until recently i never used the 2nd master, but now i turn my ch1 mid, treb and level to max to get a plexi-like crunch. So now I use ch1 with master 1 (set very low to attenuate the high channel output) and ch2/3 with master 2 (set usually around 30%).

The mid-cut is not only to get a metal like scooped sound. You can use it slightly for rhythms to give the vocals more room or you can give your clean-sound more shimmer. Just explore, you'll find a lot different applications for it.
(i have mine on all distortion-sounds: intensity around 40% and level at 100% with ch2 (rhythm) mids at 75% and ch3 (lead) mids at 100%)

Cheers

 

[bzncokr]

Oh Shoot..After I read your experience, I can't really fathom how I will reach the sound I want..LOL. There are toooo many possibilities and my brain became null.
Wait. so the Level on Midcut is a makeup gain for the whole frequency range like a shelving eq? I felt that way if I turned it up. 0% intensity and 100%level could be another master volume?
yeah I like the mid cut on my clean channel for sure. Thanks for the good tip !!!!

What is the difference between cranking up the level of each channel setting the master level low and cranking up the master keeping the level of the channel low.
I was always curious and never have gotten a clear answer. If I can, I really would like to see how all EQs and gain staging data change when I turn it up and down, I kinda believe the data better than my ears before I act after years of playing.
you know, my eye sight is getting worse. I had fought with my girlfriend yesterday over a blanket that she has, was moss green but I insisted it's grey.

 

[Kev]

so the Level on Midcut is a makeup gain for the whole frequency range like a shelving eq? I felt that way if I turned it up. 0% intensity and 100%level could be another master volume?

The level is just make-up volume, because your sound appears not as loud when scooping out the mids. But in my experience you can get some tube in there to clip slightly, when the level is at max and the channel volumes are high. The best way to find this out is with ch1.

What is the difference between cranking up the level of each channel setting the master level low and cranking up the master keeping the level of the channel low.

-ch2/3 vol 100%, master low = ch2/3 vol low, master 10%-50% (there are very very subtle differences, but nothing really noticeable)
-ch1 vol 100%, master 10%-40% = low gain classic plexi-like gainstructure
-ch1 vol 10%-60%*, master 10%-60%* = completely clean

In my Herb the master section starts clipping at around 70% when the ch2/3 volumes are at 50%.
The Herb mark2 ch1 has even more headroom, so maybe you can not get it to crunch (it is not designed to clip, but I love that sound).
I use a Les Paul with high-output pu and I use my pod xt for a clean boost (good trick to get less noise with high-gain sounds). So thats why I can run my Herb like that.

I don't recommend powertube clipping on the Herb. It's way too loud and does not sound pleasant. The channel volumes of ch2/3 have enough headroom, so they won't compress, saturate or clip your tone. However if you additionally crank up the mid-cuts level, then you get a "cranked poweramp"-like "saturation".

Also at times I'll take out 2 of the fuses and run on 60 watts, if I need to be quiet.

 

[Peter Diezel]

It was quite an easy task. Everybody who buys Diezel from Europe and wants to rock in the US should DIY !!!!
All you need is a soldering kit. I wanted to provide this pic info for all new hesitaters.
I've played my amp for 6 hours non stop today! I just can't stop playing with Herbie!

BTW, I have a few questions about this new amp.
Does Intensity on Mid cut all the way down to zero mean 'no mid cut'? or 'mid cut boost'?
I wonder if the zero point is at noon or not.
I wouldn't use Mid cut scoop for my sound since I don't play Metal. but am interested in mid boost when I do solo.

Also, How do you guys use the second master volume control when you gig?
Do you guys boost it whenever you feel like? I'd like to hear actual usages from different users.
Secondly, can channel 2 have exactly the same sound like channel 3 by tweaking? if there's any difference in gain staging, I want to hear about more in details on this.
Thank you.

I assume it was you I sent a service manual.

Just let me say we don´t recommend any DIY because of the
high voltage inside the amp. Just for the records.

Best,
Peter

 

[bzncokr]

I assume it was you I sent a service manual.

Just let me say we don´t recommend any DIY because of the
high voltage inside the amp. Just for the records.

Best,
Peter

[/quote]

Hi. Peter! I understand. It might explode but I think many people can do it easily if there's A to Z guide.
I was afraid to open Herbert cause I coudn't see the example pic of the result? People shouldn't be turned down when they have eagerness to do it by themselves.

Moreover, we all can save Amp service charge from not taking in our amps to get a Columbus in the future!!
Probably, those amp service guys charge $100 for transformer rewiring.
Im getting serious purchasing a Columbus footswitch since I get to know the ability of this beast!!
I'm thinking if Tech21 midi moose can fulfill my requirement..

I just appreciate that this amp is with me in my life!

 

[bzncokr]

The level is just make-up volume, because your sound appears not as loud when scooping out the mids. But in my experience you can get some tube in there to clip slightly, when the level is at max and the channel volumes are high. The best way to find this out is with ch1.

-ch2/3 vol 100%, master low = ch2/3 vol low, master 10%-50% (there are very very subtle differences, but nothing really noticeable)
-ch1 vol 100%, master 10%-40% = low gain classic plexi-like gainstructure
-ch1 vol 10%-60%*, master 10%-60%* = completely clean

In my Herb the master section starts clipping at around 70% when the ch2/3 volumes are at 50%.
The Herb mark2 ch1 has even more headroom, so maybe you can not get it to crunch (it is not designed to clip, but I love that sound).
I use a Les Paul with high-output pu and I use my pod xt for a clean boost (good trick to get less noise with high-gain sounds). So thats why I can run my Herb like that.

I don't recommend powertube clipping on the Herb. It's way too loud and does not sound pleasant. The channel volumes of ch2/3 have enough headroom, so they won't compress, saturate or clip your tone. However if you additionally crank up the mid-cuts level, then you get a "cranked poweramp"-like "saturation".

I haven't tried my amp with 4x12 yet so I cant really judge what it is like.

with 2 x12 in a moderate volume, I love Channel 1 and Channel 3. I felt like Channel 2 with + has the same as Channel 3 but is thinner? I'd like to know why it sounds that way.
just less current, I assume? My MKII came with 6 KT77 tubes.

Mid cut is really great on my clean channel, by tweaking in a way, I can make my strings sound more prominent. I love that.

ch1 vol 100%, master 10%-40% = low gain classic plexi-like gainstructure => I'll definitely try this.

Also at times I'll take out 2 of the fuses and run on 60 watts, if I need to be quiet.

I didn't know if it can work like that. Is it ok using the amp without 2 fuses? How are those fuses (1/6, 2/5, 3/4) connected to each channel?

 

[MARK2C]

Lord !!! Do not run the amp with just two power tubes. The plate voltage without the draw of the other four would be 540V+ !!!!! It's 477V with 6 EL34 at 35mA each. Most plates can handle that, but the screens will surely want to die. Keep adjusting the channel and master volume until you get familiar with balancing them.

Channel 2+ should not be thin at all. Turn the bass up to 1-2:30 and it's huge. Channel 3 has always been a bit more focused to my ears, but never 2+.

 

[bzncokr]

Hey!

midcut intensity on 0% = no mid cut
midcut intensity on 100% = maximum mid cut

(Lil' tip: If you crank the level to max, the tone focuses more on the mids. Its like the sound of a cranked power-section.)

How to get a mid-boost: crank the mids in the channel eq and then turn the midcut intensity to around 40% and level 0%. Then you get a nice mid-boost by turning the mid-cut off.

(Lil' tip2: Fool around with presence and treble. Both affect the highs, but presence also affects the high mids at 2k. So by running high presence and low treble you get more 2k and the other way around (i use run my presence rather low).)

Until recently i never used the 2nd master, but now i turn my ch1 mid, treb and level to max to get a plexi-like crunch. So now I use ch1 with master 1 (set very low to attenuate the high channel output) and ch2/3 with master 2 (set usually around 30%).

The mid-cut is not only to get a metal like scooped sound. You can use it slightly for rhythms to give the vocals more room or you can give your clean-sound more shimmer. Just explore, you'll find a lot different applications for it.
(i have mine on all distortion-sounds: intensity around 40% and level at 100% with ch2 (rhythm) mids at 75% and ch3 (lead) mids at 100%)

Cheers

Dear lord! I love the plexi sound from channel 1 a lot!!!!!!
and from my 4 x12, I think channel 2 sounds better than channel 3.

after trying out Herbert for a while, I noticed 2 things that I had trouble with.
1. How do you deal with the noise from the amp?
I didn;t turn up that loud, (for ex, master level 30 %, channel 3 volume at 4-50 %). had this noise from the cab. I need to mute everytime I don;t play.

2. How do you match the dynamics between channel 1 and channel 2,3 ?
Especially, when I make plexi sound on channel1 under your suggestion, the dynamic difference between a clean channel and a distortion channel is so huge.
I feel like channel 1 can take over all other channels.

any suggestion?