VH4 with tubescreamer in front?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dan G
  • Start date Start date
D

Dan G

New member
Any of you guys use a tubescreamer (such as Ibanez Ts9 or Maxon OD808) in front of the VH4 on channel 3 or 4?

This is common practise on high gains amps such as mesas, and especially 5150s, but how many of you use a 'boost' in front of the VH4s drive channels?

I'm talking about for slightly detuned (D to C), pristine, modern metal tones - similar to newer Testament (or anything else Andy Sneap produces for that matter)



EDIT: could a mod move this to the diezel forum please?
 
I don't think you really need it, but again, to each his own right? :)
 
I had no problem getting ultra tight metal tones out of my VH4 without a boost. If you did on channel 3 it would simply be for the change in tone it imparts because it certainly doesn't need it to tighten things up. Channel 4 I could possibly see but I think it would compress an already very compressed channel. However, there have been a few tweaks since I had mine so who knows, but I still think if you did it would be because you liked the tone change and not because it needed it.
 
I really like channel 3 boosted with my BB preamp. :rock:
 
Nah, the VH4 doesn't need a boost for channels 3/4. I was a huge fan of boosting with an OD before I got my VH4, so I tried it right away, and found that it took away more than helped. Using a tubescreamer or something else to make channels 1/2 more gritty is a different story though. All the VH4 boost you need is the master volume :thumbsup:

PS If you're not playing more than 2 notes at a time, I'd use channel 4 for Testament style stuff.

Cheers!
 
Thanks for the tips guys. Musically my band is quite a crossover, mixing classic thrash, Meshuggah-esque groove metal, but at the same time I use a lot of 5 note chords often with close 2nd or 7th intervals, so I need the clarity. Hence channel 4 for leads, not rhythm!

One of the reasons I was asking about the boost was noisegate related! I run the maxon OD808 in the loop of the boss NS2 noise gate, and have that in front of my amp... I've seen a lot of big bands actually do this, but not with Diezel amps, which I know were designed for classic gear rather than EMG pickups etc. (I'm guilty of using guitars with EMGs as well..)

But I recently saw a question on the Diezel forum asking whether to have the NS2 in front of, or in the loop of the VH4. Peter Diezel himself responded with "please put it in the loop". Implying that in front of the amp is baaaad. Now I can't have the NS2 in the amps loop and the maxon in the NS2 loop, because the maxon would have to be in front of the amp!

Now I'm no n00b and I'm pretty happy with my tone, and I'm also willing to experiment with this - but my rig isn't handy at this minute, and I always like others opinions to take on board.

(it's probably irrelevant but I bought my VH4 just over 3 years ago now)
 
I actually have channel 4 set to about 8:00/9:00 gain, and channel 3 set to 11:00/12:00 depending on the venue, and/or master volume requirements.
 
I use one on channel 3 and 4 and it makes the amp more nasty/not so smooth.
 
zuel69":1by13ctw said:
This guy's answer to everything :lol: :LOL:

nbarts":1by13ctw said:
Drop the gain on CH4 to 8:00 or less & try again.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I don't see you coming up with anything!! :D


No definition = too much gain or too hot/wrong set of pickups

if not the 2 above - playing technique.
 
Touché :D Butttttt, you can use more gain then Adam Jones and not assume someone has gear issues or simply can't play. Low post counts really don't mean lack of ability...or do they?
:D :confused:


nbarts":19yw774a said:
zuel69":19yw774a said:
This guy's answer to everything :lol: :LOL:

nbarts":19yw774a said:
Drop the gain on CH4 to 8:00 or less & try again.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I don't see you coming up with anything!! :D


No definition = too much gain or too hot/wrong set of pickups

if not the 2 above - playing technique.
Click to expand...
 
Low post count = busy at work :lol: :LOL:

I have no clue how much gain Adam Jones likes to use, so I can't comment on that one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top