New to the VH4s and the fourm ...

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Sixstring

Sixstring

New member
Hi all
I just steped in to the world of Diezel totaly blind and ponyed up the coin for a VH4s. I have no experience with this amp. I have demoed the Einstine and somewhat liked what I herd. But after hering some of the stuff on U-tube it seams like everyone that uses this head loves to drop tune their guitars. I dont play that style of music I'm more towards the classic hard rock side with standard tunning. Is their anyone that uses this amp for that style of music and does it work or is it just too stiff ...? To give everyone an idea of where I'm comming from I play through a Lee Jackson XLS100 (EL34's), VHT UL 120 (KT88's) and I run both in a wet/dry set up which is one of the reasons I bought this amp beeing stereo, I'm looking to shead some gear. If this amp works it will replace the VHT but it has to have some sag in it.

What say you ..... :dunno:
 
Welcome to the forum Sixstring.
I'm using VH4 (loaded with el34s) exactly for this type of music (Van Halen, Ozzy, Whitesnake, Accept, Priest, Maiden, Cinderella, Tesla, Blackfoot etc.)
The amp does a fantastic job, I guarantee.
Also try to keep the UL, is an awesome amp too.
 
The VH4 should be right between the Jackson and the VHT. So old school crunchy stuff paired with tightness. But of course there's a lot more like an excellent clean, a huge Plexi-ish ch2 and singing leads from ch4 - all midi switchable of course.

Congrats. Enjoy your beast. It is perfect for your style.
 
yeah

now shut up and play that damned thang.....LOUD :m22: :rock2: :moon: :poot:
 
Thank's for the welcom and the suport It was a big dission to make as far as money goes but if you want the best ... well need I say more. I should be reciving the amp on Friday, tomorrow at the time of this post for thoes of you on the other side of the planet. I need to add to my info as to where I'm at US, CA. As to keeping the UL I need to sell in order to help pay for the VH4s it sucks I know but if you had a choise which would choose ...? and the jackson you can't get any more and I like the tone of that amp even though it's somewhat noisy + it was owned by Paul Gilbert so it has some history to it. Anyway thanks for the feedback and I will post this weekend to let you know how it worked out.

Sixstring ...
 
Well it's all hooked up and sounds great, I had to tweak for a wile but I found the tone I like. Getting the level's to balance out for the effects unit is a little tricky. I found out that the send level for the loop is controlled by the Individual channel volumes. At this point I'm running the Rocktron Expression and in order to get 2 green LED's, channel volumes have to be at least 10 O'clock and the input knob on the expression has to be wide open. Quite the balancing act but it can be done.
I also have a few pedals in front of the amp and it seams to very picky as to what kind and how many you can use. The amount of cable didn't seam to be too much of an issue but I did go through my board and take out quit a bit (I’m using George L’s). The one pedal that seamed to suck a lot of tone was my MXR EVH phase 90. I was thinking of using it in an insert but I use it in more than one channel. I put a BBE stomp at the end of the chain in order to bring back most of the dynamics. It actually worked pretty well, after plugging in to the amp directly and running through the board it’s hard to tell the difference.
I may look into a bypass loop switch or just have the pedal modified for true bypass. I have to say the tone is more refined that the UL and I love the fact that all 4 channels are different from each other. It’s loaded with JJ’s all the way through, I think I might change out the power section for some Mullards, I have a set in my Lee Jackson and love the harmonic content they add. After reading through this mess if anyone has any other suggestions for my setup I’m all ears.

Sixstring
 
:|::QBB:
Sixstring":0562b said:
Well it's all hooked up and sounds great, I had to tweak for a wile but I found the tone I like. Getting the level's to balance out for the effects unit is a little tricky. I found out that the send level for the loop is controlled by the Individual channel volumes. At this point I'm running the Rocktron Expression and in order to get 2 green LED's, channel volumes have to be at least 10 O'clock and the input knob on the expression has to be wide open. Quite the balancing act but it can be done.
I also have a few pedals in front of the amp and it seams to very picky as to what kind and how many you can use. The amount of cable didn't seam to be too much of an issue but I did go through my board and take out quit a bit (I’m using George L’s). The one pedal that seamed to suck a lot of tone was my MXR EVH phase 90. I was thinking of using it in an insert but I use it in more than one channel. I put a BBE stomp at the end of the chain in order to bring back most of the dynamics. It actually worked pretty well, after plugging in to the amp directly and running through the board it’s hard to tell the difference.
I may look into a bypass loop switch or just have the pedal modified for true bypass. I have to say the tone is more refined that the UL and I love the fact that all 4 channels are different from each other. It’s loaded with JJ’s all the way through, I think I might change out the power section for some Mullards, I have a set in my Lee Jackson and love the harmonic content they add. After reading through this mess if anyone has any other suggestions for my setup I’m all ears.

Sixstring
Click to expand...

I mainly use my rack effects on the parallel loop and switch them on and off via the send 2 function. The channel volumes are set at 10 to 11 'o' clock and the mix level on the effects is on 100% (full wet). I adjust the amount of the original signal with the effected one with the mix knob on the head (usually set at 9 'o' clock).
Sometimes I boost the 2nd channel with a BSM Fireball stomp box (a range master replica) to get early 80's heavy sounds. This head takes pedals in front very well.
Glad you enjoy it!
 
I miss my VH4 more than any other amp I've ever had to sell. I needed the money and it was either it or an OLD late 60's Marshall Plexi... I knew I couldn't replace the Plexi.
Channel 3 on the VH4 would have to be my alltime favorite channel of any amp along with the Wizard Metal 100's gain channel, loved 'em both even tho they were VERY different.
The VH4 is everything you will need and more, GREAT AMP!

Plus, Peter is one of the nicest guys in the world!
A true gentleman!

Keith
 
Thank's for the info on the mixes. I'm running my setup in a wet dry configuration, Ch (B) I have the Rocktron unit in series loop2 and run the Midi Mate in controller mode, this way I can turn effects on and off without having to change the patch on the Rocktron unit and still be able to change channels on the VH4s. Do you think their is a better way to run this setup ...? If so I would like to hear how. I will have to check out the BSM Fireball stomp that sounds like somthing I might be interested in.

Thanks,

Sixstring
 
:|::QBB:
SQUAREHEAD":339f1 said:
I miss my VH4 more than any other amp I've ever had to sell. I needed the money and it was either it or an OLD late 60's Marshall Plexi... I knew I couldn't replace the Plexi.
Channel 3 on the VH4 would have to be my alltime favorite channel of any amp along with the Wizard Metal 100's gain channel, loved 'em both even tho they were VERY different.
The VH4 is everything you will need and more, GREAT AMP!

Plus, Peter is one of the nicest guys in the world!
A true gentleman!

Keith
Click to expand...

I would have done the same thing the plexi's are a rear amp for sure. I have talked to Victor Masen at Plexi palace quite a few times and have wached him uncover some real gems.
 
:|::QBB:
Sixstring":df5b9 said:
Well it's all hooked up and sounds great, I had to tweak for a wile but I found the tone I like. Getting the level's to balance out for the effects unit is a little tricky. I found out that the send level for the loop is controlled by the Individual channel volumes. At this point I'm running the Rocktron Expression and in order to get 2 green LED's, channel volumes have to be at least 10 O'clock and the input knob on the expression has to be wide open. Quite the balancing act but it can be done.
I also have a few pedals in front of the amp and it seams to very picky as to what kind and how many you can use. The amount of cable didn't seam to be too much of an issue but I did go through my board and take out quit a bit (I’m using George L’s). The one pedal that seamed to suck a lot of tone was my MXR EVH phase 90. I was thinking of using it in an insert but I use it in more than one channel. I put a BBE stomp at the end of the chain in order to bring back most of the dynamics. It actually worked pretty well, after plugging in to the amp directly and running through the board it’s hard to tell the difference.
I may look into a bypass loop switch or just have the pedal modified for true bypass. I have to say the tone is more refined that the UL and I love the fact that all 4 channels are different from each other. It’s loaded with JJ’s all the way through, I think I might change out the power section for some Mullards, I have a set in my Lee Jackson and love the harmonic content they add. After reading through this mess if anyone has any other suggestions for my setup I’m all ears.

Sixstring
Click to expand...

Please check out the Chinese 12AX7 for V2 thru V7. You will get
more clarity and definition.

:yes:
 
:|::QBB:
Peter Diezel":27aae said:
:|::QBB:

Please check out the Chinese 12AX7 for V2 thru V7. You will get
more clarity and definition.

:yes:
Click to expand...

Thank's Peter for the advise, It curently has a Chinese tube in V1 and RTF's in V2-V4 I thought they were all JJ but it turned out to just be the Power section only (E34L's). Quite a few people here seam to like the RFT's and I haven't had any issues other than a some light compression on CH 3 & 4 but I just backed off the gain and fixed that. :thumbsup: I had mentioned a fuse problem in another thred here but sence fixed that issue - Wrong fuse values in the tube fault section :doh: thoes little sucker's are hard to read :eek: .
So far it's the best sounding and most versatile l amp I have owned to date. :D

Thank's for all your hard work and dedication.

Sixstring.
 
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