Philhouse":29kiix4h said:
Hagen for sure out of the two, I've not played an Einstein to give a comparison there though.
I'm just giving mine a run right now to blow out the cobwebs. Ch1 sounds as good as I recall, Ch2 sounds a bit better on the Hagen than the VH4 to be honest, something I've always been a tiny bit amiss with VH4 ch2 just seems to 'ah.. that's better' when I play the Hagen ch2.
It's all as Uncle Mo said. I'd think anyone looking at a VH4 has to give the Hagen a test drive at very least. Fantastic amp.
Nice stack of options there, Phil
Ya, as for "lifting any blankets" and being a "wall of sound" - the Hagen delivers in spades when compared to the VH4. But this is *all* personal preference. One thing for sure is, it's a sensitive amp, not as inherently compressed, therefore, more detailed - it'll expose mistakes and such due to this "articulation". You can punch a sloppy chord through VH4's Ch.3 and it'll wet yer pants - just sounds amazing. You can't play that same sloppy chord through the Hagen's Ch.3, you'll hear the slop. However, given that you've got your chops down, and the nuances of technique, it does everything the VH4 does and then some. Ch.2 is a KILLER channel - I can't express this enough. Channel 3 cuts like a knife in any mix. Ch.4 can be whatever you want it to be - with a different mid-shelf to it. And Ch.1 is massive - again - the VH4 was piano/bell-like and beautiful. I can get the Hagen to be piano/bell like but also super chimey and crystalline - shimmering. And with a twist of the gain knob, can get it into crunchy breakup mode. Fucking love the Hagen.
It can be raw/refined, it can be compressed/open, it can be percussive/greasy, it can be thunderously potent in the low-end/or more sizzling mids. That's the word right there - it's got SIZZLE. And it can feel loose and greasy if ya want it to, but with a slight adjustment to the playing hand, get into immediate djent brickwall-of-sound pummelling.
But it *does* require some time to get used to the EQ, and find a cab that suits you, your preference of guitars, and playing. The Diezel FL-G12K100 is a great starting point (or ending point) as it's a "neutral" cab - G12K100 are known to be "consistent across the spectrum" - no V30'esque midspike, no G12T75 mid scoop, no G12M lack of bottom. Just great potent loud and frequency-consistent speakers. And the cabs are goddamn built like tanks, IF you choose to go the Diezel cab route. My preference for UberKabs is solely personal because they go well with all my high-potency heads. But the FL-G12K100 is a golden winner of a cab hands-down.
Hagen also tends to shift its EQ as volumes go up. This shouldn't be a surprise - some claim Fletcher Munson effect or whatnot - I just think when it really starts pushing, it just keeps adding more and more "blossom" and "overtones" to the notes being played. It's really a neat amp - and yes, should definitely be given a "lengthy with patience" test if deciding between the two (VH4 or it).
Can't say anymore.
Good luck!
Unkle Mo
(PS: The Einstein really is a gem, and I have a D-Moll as well, solely for the clean and mid-cut capabilities for nu-metal style music, although it can do a lot more than just that; but when plugging into the Hagen, the level of "refinement and sophistication" is quite apparent...trying NOT to sound like a corksniffer, apologies
)
... but from my memory.. CH1 & 2 on the Hagen feel less compressed to the VH4 respective channels. CH3 is pretty much the same as the VH4 one and Ch4 Hagen sounds better/improved than VH4 Ch4 to my ear too. It does feel like an improved and updated VH4 overall, all the things you like about the VH4, with a fresh update. Having the two Master's is cool.
. Thanks for this thread, its rekindled my love for the amp... I'm hooked and impressed all over again!
