VH4 Ch.3 and Mak4 "Crunch" ALMOST TWINS!!! CLIPS IN!!

[Ventura]

I'm not bullshittin' ya folks. I was running the Mak4 through the Diezel again last night, and also playing the VH4S as a stand alone amp. The rack gear shows up today, so that'll be the end of playing the Mak4 through the V, but I have to say... During the EQ tweaks last night, and hammering through some great power riffage, it became very obvious that the infamous Ch.3 of the VH4(S) and the "Crunch" channel of the Mak4 are almost identical. I'm sure this will change when the Mak4 gets paired with it's own poweramp and cab, but I was pretty surprised to hear the similarities.

I'll post some clips of this comparo later today - Ch.3 straight up into a Diezel FL 4x12 G12K, and the Mak 4, Crunch, through the Diezel's power section, same cab. Incredible likeness to one another.

Who woulda thunk it

Peace,
V.

 

[CaseyCor]

That's really interesting....I'd like to hear these clips! I wonder how similar they are on the inside?

 

[JackBootedThug]

channel 3 was the shit on my vh4. loved it.

 

[Ventura]

channel 3 was the shit on my vh4. loved it.

Channel 3 is the shit, period!! It's what makes the VH4 and VH4S the most amazing amp above and beyond all its other voicings

I was just SUPER surprised when I listened back to some tracks, that the CRUNCH of the Mak4 offered a LOT of similarity to the notorious and infamous Ch.3 of the V. In the room, there were qualities too - not just on the mic. But for sure, the V starts to take on true Diezel format once the MV gets pushed...that's the major difference. They branch off into different animals once the SPL starts getting heavy.

Clips to follow, just rigging up the mics now

V.

 

[Mailman1971]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

 

[Ventura]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

The "S" is for YesssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ROOOOOL!!!!

Mo

 

[Mailman1971]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

The "S" is for YesssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ROOOOOL!!!!

Mo

Mo............your NOT HELPING ME...........on Diezel Gas my Friend!!

 

[Ventura]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

The "S" is for YesssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ROOOOOL!!!!

Mo

Mo............your NOT HELPING ME...........on Diezel Gas my Friend!!

Can't help it man, been recording for the last couple hours and I'm trying to put together a comparo between the V's Ch.3 and the Mak4's "Crunch" channel. Everything's going superbly, but there's one issue - I can't manage to get off the Diezel VH4S yet

Went from a '57 GoldTop dark back Lester, now using my NT-II loaded with BKP PK's and the PK's are SLAYING it on the recording. Cutting through like f*ckin' fire man!!!

Sorry, but this amp is the epitome of ridiculous - in a good way!!

 

[Mailman1971]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

The "S" is for YesssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ROOOOOL!!!!

Mo

Mo............your NOT HELPING ME...........on Diezel Gas my Friend!!

Can't help it man, been recording for the last couple hours and I'm trying to put together a comparo between the V's Ch.3 and the Mak4's "Crunch" channel. Everything's going superbly, but there's one issue - I can't manage to get off the Diezel VH4S yet

Went from a '57 GoldTop dark back Lester, now using my NT-II loaded with BKP PK's and the PK's are SLAYING it on the recording. Cutting through like f*ckin' fire man!!!

Sorry, but this amp is the epitome of ridiculous - in a good way!!

Love to let you plug in my FJA Metal mod.......

It simply rules......

 

[ericsabbath]

the mega mode on the einstein sounds pretty close as well

 

[Inca Roads]

Clips Mo, or it's a Crate Blue Voodoo.

 

[Ventura]

Alright cats, CLIPS are coming... I just finished about 4.5 hours worth of recording, and my original statement of the Mak4's CRUNCH coming in like a likely contender to the Diezel VH4's Ch.3 turned out - at the recorded via mic level - an EPIC fail. No dice. It sounded very similar in my room, at moderate volumes, but when mic'd with similar SPL, and moving that mic all over hell's half acre, AND the fact I fucked around with Makoplex and Dorado channels too, no, the Crunch channel cannot whatsoever get the meat of the Diezel's Ch.3 whatsoever.

Goes to show you, ears can play tricks - mics don't

Lemme cut through the plethora of recorded clips, edit the bastards, and make sense of what's what - they'll be posted shortly. Furthermore, just a heads up, I used a Lester '57 GTDB and an ESP NT-II loaded with BKP PK's. The BKP loaded ESP throttles the VH4S like nobody's business. Cuts like a razor and sounds absolutely INCREDIBLE when mic'd as opposed to the '57GT. Not that the '57GT sounds bad, it just doesn't have the teeth gnashing snarl that the Painkillers offer. Second to this, the Mak4 seemed to like the Lester better on the lower gain settings and the ESP better on the higher gain settings. The Mak4 has got a WAY fatter low end on it, even though I tried to taper it to match the frequency range of the VH4S, it still comes across as pretty thick in the bottom end. I'll pull together the clips - this will be my mission for this evening.

Bottom line?? I am stoked to get the Mak4 into its own rack and with its own cab as I feel it's not really shining as well as it could through the back of my Diezel's power section. It does come off like a beast - through and through - and I'm super glad to know it's different than my Diezel...similar in dryness and percussiveness, but completely different. And man, as per a reply I just did to danyeo, the Diezel tone is 100% irreplaceable. It can't be copied or duplicated. Through a mic, it's something that ya just can't describe, and it's sweet as honey

Gimme some time folks!! Clips coming

V.

 

[Ventura]

Clips Mo, or it's a Crate Blue Voodoo.

Damn straight man... I'm a Traynor TS-15 kinda guy!!

V.

 

[glpg80]

i had a sneaky suspicion that they might be similar, thanks for taking the time to do your best in comparing them on recordings Mo

 

[glpg80]

Yup.........Channel 3 and 4 on the Diezel VH4S.......

The "S" is for YesssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ROOOOOL!!!!

Mo

Mo............your NOT HELPING ME...........on Diezel Gas my Friend!!

uh oh. the VH4S strikes again! its only a matter of time before the venom circulates throughout your body and you are on the verge of VH4S ownership, at last!

 

[Bevosss]

Had me going for a minute there V! I wonder which you'll prefer after you play it through some 6550s?? That's what your new power amp has right?

3-5 weeks to go here before I plug her into a 6550 loaded Herbert, I'm counting the days man...

 

[Ventura]

Had me going for a minute there V! I wonder which you'll prefer after you play it through some 6550s?? That's what your new power amp has right?

3-5 weeks to go here before I plug her into a 6550 loaded Herbert, I'm counting the days man...

Honestly, I wasn't putting ANYONE on.... I was hammering the Mak4 through the back of my VH4S (loaded with 6550's) and the Mak4's Crunch channel exhibited a LOT of similarity to the Ch.3 of the Diezel. No shit. I was pretty in awe myself. Anyway, I ended up recording a mess of stuff, which is killing me to edit it and get it posted tonight (sorry Inca!!), it's coming. The similarity could be because I am running the Mak4 through the Diezel's power section, this could be, that's why it's not going to truly be a fair test until I get the Mak 4's own amp.

So - to clarify, my Mak4 has only been run through the back of my Diezel VH4S. It is GOING TO BE RUN through a Fryette 2/90/2 power amp (loaded with KT88's) and a Fryette 4x12 Deliverance - which was all supposed to be delivered today, but for whatever reason, it didn't show (might very well have but I've been jammin' all day ). So just to clarify, the Mak4 hasn't had its own poweramp yet - and that's coming - REAL soon (was supposed to be today).

In the room I record in, without the eargoggles, the Crunch on the Mak4 and Channel 3 of the VH4S sounded a lot alike. It was only when I tried mic'ing them today that I noticed there's no way in hell they're the same... There are SOME similarities, but not nearly to the extent my naked ears originally thought.

Hope this dispels any potential confusion!!
V./Mo

 

[Bevosss]

In the room I record in, without the eargoggles, the Crunch on the Mak4 and Channel 3 of the VH4S sounded a lot alike. It was only when I tried mic'ing them today that I noticed there's no way in hell they're the same... There are SOME similarities, but not nearly to the extent my naked ears originally thought.

So that's same power amp/quad/exact same mic and position you compared? Cause you know just moving the mic an inch will change the sound a LOT. You don't sound like a recording novice, just checking that it's a fair test...I'm a trained engineer and I'm jonesing to try double tracking the Dorado Ch on one side with one of the others, I was thinking the Makoplex before, but if you have Adam Jones qualities coming out of that Crunch Ch, it is a contender for sure!

And no I didn't think you put us on, I got to the thread late and got excited and then less excited in a very short frame of time...it's all good though. But maybe what you heard in the room IS real, and you just need to capture that source...only you can answer that! It's got me excited for sure, I never forgot FastRedPonyCar said the Crunch was his favourite Ch!

KT-88s eh? Now you really will sound like FRPC...

and now, back to the waiting game.....

 

[Ventura]

In the room I record in, without the eargoggles, the Crunch on the Mak4 and Channel 3 of the VH4S sounded a lot alike. It was only when I tried mic'ing them today that I noticed there's no way in hell they're the same... There are SOME similarities, but not nearly to the extent my naked ears originally thought.

So that's same power amp/quad/exact same mic and position you compared? Cause you know just moving the mic an inch will change the sound a LOT. You don't sound like a recording novice, just checking that it's a fair test...I'm a trained engineer and I'm jonesing to try double tracking the Dorado Ch on one side with one of the others, I was thinking the Makoplex before, but if you have Adam Jones qualities coming out of that Crunch Ch, it is a contender for sure!

And no I didn't think you put us on, I got to the thread late and got excited and then less excited in a very short frame of time...it's all good though. But maybe what you heard in the room IS real, and you just need to capture that source...only you can answer that! It's got me excited for sure, I never forgot FastRedPonyCar said the Crunch was his favourite Ch!

KT-88s eh? Now you really will sound like FRPC...

and now, back to the waiting game.....

I'm still on the clips, editing, but I needed to go to bed last night

Should be up today...

As for the mic'ing procedure - yes, everything was done with placement, volume, sweetspots, etc. in mind. And you know?? Crunch on the Mak4 - as per your thoughts and perceptions - DOES have the JonesTonez at the ambient room level. And capturing it might require a close mic and then a nice bigass NT1000 in 'the room' to capture the more human aspects of the tone. I typically record with 2 to 3 mics, one always being ambient (Rode NT1000), but last night/yesterday was a test drive of my Zoom H4n as well - as I wanted to see how well it recorded and picked up.

So yes, the Fryette 2/90/2 is KT88 driven, HUGE MEGA headroom (as Andrew from Mako said "NO" to power section saturation with the Mak4). But for now, the Mak4's only been pumped through the Diezel back - and yes - same cab, same power section, same everything for the recording of the VH4S and the Mak4.

The Dorado is one PISSED OFF sounding channel
Makoplex?? Killer... Roll back the treble, pump up the mids and you're in super plexi mode, but without the rapid decay that the true Marshalls exhibited.
And Crunch?? Well, I guess much like FRPC, it's a surprise channel unto itself.

See y'all soon - I'm heading to the office and will get the tracks sorted there

V.

 

[Ventura]

Yo Cats...

Still sifting through the streams of mindless chugga chugga and noodling... However, here are 3 clips that show the VH4S Ch.3 up agaist the Mak4 Crunch channel.

Diezel Ch.3 straight up:


Mako Mak4 Crunch straight up:


Mako Mak4 Crunch slightly scooped:


These were recorded using a Zoom H4n in Stereo mode, an NT-II loaded with BKP PK's. I'm going through some more to find direct comparos to some solo lines and so forth, this is what's taken the most time - finding similar sections of playing amongst the stuff I laid down last night. Each amp invokes a different style of playing, and once set up, it wasn't like "oh, hey, let's do a direct side by side of these 2 amps" as it was "make it sound good and let 'er rip...".

More to follow.

Peace,
V.