Rig-Talk

I play blues, metal and fusion. Which one should I get?

Anyone?

If the changing the +/- mode with MIDI is important to how you perform live, then the MK3.
If not the MK1/2 is fine IMO.

They’re all amazing amps.

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NB

You want the switchable -/+. Trust me

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Recently purchased a new Herbert Mk3. Amazing amp. Definitely enough of a difference between the + and - modes on channel 2 to warrant being able to switch between the two via MIDI.

Herbert MK3 it is. Just chatted today with Eric Steckel and he is using the MK3, mostly the third channel. I think his tone is glorious. He is setting the volume fairly high (between 4 and 7 depending on the venue), but I think I can get it up to 4 in my studio room without getting the police called.

There's no difference between the MK2 and the MK3 other than the color. The transformers and circuitry are identical.

Try not to get sucked into the "Placebo Effect" a.k.a. the "Carbonaro Effect".

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Well, that's not true. The MK3 is voiced differently. It's not as dense and thick in the mid range compared to the MK2 and it's tighter. It's also considerably more dynamic.

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Markus

"A universe not without end but with an infinite number of endings."

"Well, that's not true.", too Mr. (or Mrs. or Miss). Rationalizations can be a bitch, sometimes. To each their own.

I've played both the MK2 and MK3 ad nauseum through all V30 RL V30 Diezel cabs. ME Don't know where you come up with this theory about having thicker mids, and or being tighter (whatever that means) + being "considerably more dynamic". We playing the same Electronic Arts video game?

If you're at all familiar with crossover distortion and setting the bias current on a Diezel amp (either in millivolts or milliamps) particularly a Diezel Herbert, then you know that Herbert sounds more compressed if you set the bias too high and then you will lose some of what you're calling dynamics. For a little more headroom and more balanced dynamics set the bias at ~60 mA. Don't believe me? Experiment with a bias current progressing through 50 to 80 mA with each pair of KT77s, 1&6,2&5,3&4. If you've got good tuned ears then the difference in tone, feel and articulation will be obvious to you.

I've only had my MK1 since 2003 (16 years), one of the original Herbert's hand crafted by Papa. I have both, my MK1 & MK2 together now and they love each other, unconditionally. The only slight difference between the two is that the schematics are a bit different. I found the MK2 to be "considerably" clearer on CHNL1 than MK3's CHNL1 and in my opinion the MK1 takes the overall prize. The MK1 is the master in my stereo Herbert rig to my MK2 slave.

And BTW, my slave is most certainly worth its salt!

Well, it's not a theory. I had both amps in the same room through the same cab. The differences are very obvious.

And of course both heads were biased correctly at the same settings.

Btw, the circuits are also not the same. You can easily see the changes comparing both boards. Just ask Peter

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Markus

"A universe not without end but with an infinite number of endings."

To you, the other Peter; I agree with you about the circuit differentiation - my mistake.

Peter emailed me this comment below a while ago when I queried him about the differences between the MK2 and MK3 when I was ready to pull the trigger on a second Herbert, among other things.

Mr. Papa:

"Hello David,

the MK2 Herbert has different transformers.
The MK3 has a different circuit and a black faceplate.
Channel 2 + and channel 2 - is midi switchable.

No concerns, your MK1 is good as it is.

Best regards,
Peter."

Finally, I can exhale . . .

David...

Back again with yet ANOTHER new RT handle, eh?? Nov.11, 2018 - how long ya gonna last this time around??

I knew it was you before even seeing the receipt - your pseudo-omnipresence and style of prose is detectable a mile away. Kinda like the scent of fresh dung.

But I'll keep it civil here.

And the Mk.3 is indeed different than the Mk.2 - and yes, I'm saying that just because I want to.

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Professional Hobbyist & Tonal Freakazoid
LESTERs | HORIZONs | DIEZEL | BOGNER | BKPs
...everything's better in stereo, everything!!

I am interested in the Herbert since months, but cant decide to buy a Mk1 or MK2. Can you describe the difference between both? Is the old Langer transformer in the MK1 which brings the magic in tone, or is the newer in the MK2 the one to go for? The external BIAS is convinient for sure, but i`m interested more in the Crunch and Gain sounds of Ch2 and Ch3. Clean is not that important. And soundwise, i`m more into lead playing like Eric Steckel, Marty Friedman, this type of sound is what i`m after. Complex, pronounced mids moreso than chug in the lows. Thanks

I'd opt for the Mk.3 - it's dropping jaws left, right and centre for those who've previously owned earlier revisions, and those coming in fresh to the Diezel camp.
2 cents.

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Professional Hobbyist & Tonal Freakazoid
LESTERs | HORIZONs | DIEZEL | BOGNER | BKPs
...everything's better in stereo, everything!!