angelspade
Well-known member
It's been a long time since I posted here. Good to see a few of the old regulars are still around. I was just reading through the some of the recent Diezel posts the other day and it reminded of how much I missed my old Diezels. I owned a 2005 VH4 previously along with a Herbert MKI. I actually posted some very lengthy and overly verbose reviews and comparison here (and harmony central) of both way back when. I ended up loaning both heads to a studio out in Van Nuys about a year later for a recording project. The in house producers loved them so much that they made me an offer well above market, and I took it thinking I could always buy a VH4 or Herbert again down the road. Over the years, I cycled through some EVH heads, a Bogner, Marshall JVM, a Mesa triple crown, a KSR Colossus and a couple modelers. Well, nostalgia ended up getting the best of me this week. I never could quite get the Diezel tone out of my head. Particularly the VH4 channel 3, and the Herbert's channel 2 in + mode with the mid-cut engaged. I recently sold the Colossus and traded right into a 2022 Diezel VH4 that was for sale locally. A couple observations after a few days with the 2022 VH4:
- I know that the VH4 updates over the years have been described as minimal, but I have to say that it seems there's a fairly noticeable difference. This 2022 VH4 is definitely brighter. It also feels more present, a bit less compressed and more aggressive overall. Maybe my ears are deceiving me, but I don't thinks so.
- I never could make channel 4 work as a rhythm channel on the previous model. It was perfectly voiced for lead runs, but too thick, dark, chewy and compressed for hard rock / metal rhythm. On the 2022, its a great channel for riffing with the treble and presence pushed a bit and the mids set below noon. Sounds great, actually.
- Channel 2 seems to have a good helping of additional gain and attack. It's AC/DC with the gain at noon -1 O'clock, and pushed hard it's an amazing sounding 80's metal to 90's hard rock sound. I remember it as a great classic rock channel generally on the previous model, but seems capable of more aggressive styles when pushed on the 2022 VH4. Extremely versatile. Again, maybe my perception is being influenced by the "new amp" honeymoon period of enthusiasm, but I really don't think so.
- I can push the bass and deep harder on this amp without the bottom end starting to soften up. I would imagine that this is a function of the overall brighter character. In any case, it really allows me to dial the amp in rich and thick on channels 3 and 4 and still retain great clarity, which I love.
OK, now a couple questions for you Diezel guys: I typically run a dual amp set up. After the VH4 acquisition, I tried running it with my Koch Supernova head. I definitely am liking what I am hearing. That said, I may try a second Diezel head to pair up with the VH4.
- Would a Hagen (I've never played one) that is dialed in / EQ'ed differently than the VH4 be a good choice potentially? or will it be too similar in overall character to create the fullness and variance required for a good blended tone?
- Or should I try it blended with a Herbert MarkIII? For more obvious reasons as its seems to be more inherently different than the VH4?
I would appreciate all thoughts ant opinions. Finally, I want to congratulate Peter Diezel on the VH4. That channel 3 has always haunted me, and I strongly suspect that's because he (subjectively) creates quite possibly the finest amps on the planet. It's good to be back in the club.
- I know that the VH4 updates over the years have been described as minimal, but I have to say that it seems there's a fairly noticeable difference. This 2022 VH4 is definitely brighter. It also feels more present, a bit less compressed and more aggressive overall. Maybe my ears are deceiving me, but I don't thinks so.
- I never could make channel 4 work as a rhythm channel on the previous model. It was perfectly voiced for lead runs, but too thick, dark, chewy and compressed for hard rock / metal rhythm. On the 2022, its a great channel for riffing with the treble and presence pushed a bit and the mids set below noon. Sounds great, actually.
- Channel 2 seems to have a good helping of additional gain and attack. It's AC/DC with the gain at noon -1 O'clock, and pushed hard it's an amazing sounding 80's metal to 90's hard rock sound. I remember it as a great classic rock channel generally on the previous model, but seems capable of more aggressive styles when pushed on the 2022 VH4. Extremely versatile. Again, maybe my perception is being influenced by the "new amp" honeymoon period of enthusiasm, but I really don't think so.
- I can push the bass and deep harder on this amp without the bottom end starting to soften up. I would imagine that this is a function of the overall brighter character. In any case, it really allows me to dial the amp in rich and thick on channels 3 and 4 and still retain great clarity, which I love.
OK, now a couple questions for you Diezel guys: I typically run a dual amp set up. After the VH4 acquisition, I tried running it with my Koch Supernova head. I definitely am liking what I am hearing. That said, I may try a second Diezel head to pair up with the VH4.
- Would a Hagen (I've never played one) that is dialed in / EQ'ed differently than the VH4 be a good choice potentially? or will it be too similar in overall character to create the fullness and variance required for a good blended tone?
- Or should I try it blended with a Herbert MarkIII? For more obvious reasons as its seems to be more inherently different than the VH4?
I would appreciate all thoughts ant opinions. Finally, I want to congratulate Peter Diezel on the VH4. That channel 3 has always haunted me, and I strongly suspect that's because he (subjectively) creates quite possibly the finest amps on the planet. It's good to be back in the club.
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