VH4 Newbie with a Question

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lgehrig4

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I just received a brand spankin' new VH4 from from Wild West guitars. I only had a few minutes to test it out, but I have a question about volume. I play at home only, but I do play loud, which is why I had no issue buying this. I read a lot about how loud these are and even remember reading a post where someone said that it goes from bedroom to concert pretty quickly.

I tested all the channels with the tones and gain at noon and the channel volume at 10-12:00. For each I had the master at 10:00-11:00 and even up to 12:00 at one point but it wasn't too loud. I'm playing through a Mills 4x12 with Creambacks and I just want to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the amp. Nothing wrong with the tone, I was just expecting it to be much louder at those settings. With my Wizard Metal I can barely get the master to 10:00 with the gain around 9:00-10:00.

Perhaps the volume taper is much smoother on these newer models?
 
Loud is relative. But, with those settings you should be at full on stadium volume.
 
If you are standing in front of the cab at those settings, it should hurt your face
 
I'll try it again tomorrow and post again. In addition to the Wizard I have an SLO. I've also had a Roccaforte C80 and HG100, XTC and Quickrod among some others that I consider the benchmark for loud.

I wasn't standing in front of the cab, rather 5ft off to the side. It's in my basement so it really shouldn't make much of a difference, expecially since I'm looking for room shaking volume. I'll also dial in the SLO for what I perceive is the same volume and report back the settings.
 
Was it new in the box or a demo? If your chest isn't thumping from those settings, something isn't right. Best to email Peter, but I would be looking at swapping out tubes.You don't have anything in the loop and engaged do you?
 
I wouldn't dare to use that volume setting at home with my Herbert. It would punch a hole in the ground where demons will jump up into my living room :)
 
steve_k":3dfv86hn said:
Was it new in the box or a demo? If your chest isn't thumping from those settings, something isn't right. Best to email Peter, but I would be looking at swapping out tubes.You don't have anything in the loop and engaged do you?

Brand new in the box. Still had the staples from the original packing. Nothing is in the loop. A member pm'd me saying that he had a similar situation and it turns out the tubes were biased very cold. Once he biased them withing range the amp came alive.

You guys are convincing me that something is wrong because "bone crushing" is far from what I heard. More 50W plexi with the volume on 6-7.
 
lgehrig4":11ay33am said:
steve_k":11ay33am said:
Was it new in the box or a demo? If your chest isn't thumping from those settings, something isn't right. Best to email Peter, but I would be looking at swapping out tubes.You don't have anything in the loop and engaged do you?

Brand new in the box. Still had the staples from the original packing. Nothing is in the loop. A member pm'd me saying that he had a similar situation and it turns out the tubes were biased very cold. Once he biased them withing range the amp came alive.

You guys are convincing me that something is wrong because "bone crushing" is far from what I heard. More 50W plexi with the volume on 6-7.

Cold or hot, has nothing to do with loud. Could have a preamp tube unseated or possibly a power tube unseated from shipping. If you are local to Wild West, you might want to box it up and take it back down there. I know what I would do, but you need to first email Peter and let him know. He can either advise you of something to do (and protect the warranty) or he can arrange things at WW for you. Either way, it doesn't sound right.

Email Peter - peterdiezel at diezelamplification dot com before you do anything He will get back with you after his afternoon nap.... :D
 
Well, I had some more time with it today. Changed the settings a bit, set all the gains/volume set to noon and master at 9:00. Played it through a 4x12 with creambacks and another with a combo of Austin Speaker Works KTS-60/70s. Not sure what I was doing yesterday, but today I heard what I expected to hear. I only had about 10 minutes yesterday so I was rushing and must not have had the volume/gain as high as I thought. I also raised the deep and presence knobs to about 2:00. I don't think there is a problem.

Sorry, but I think I jumped the gun on this one. Real difference in sound between the two cabs. More so than my other amps played through the same two cabs. Thought I was set with speakers, but I may have to explore some more with this amp.

Thanks to all!
 
Can anyone tell me how the warranty works. Couldn't find anything on his site and there was no paperwork with the amp to register it.
 
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