Calling Diezel VHX users ...Can it Herbie ?

[drumdude]

Hey fella's , so I used to own both a Herbert and a VH4....Loved them both , probably a bit partial to the Herbert as the VH4 can be too dry at times , but again , loved em both.
Was considering Another Herbert , but frankly , my studio is so small (and mostly dominated by synths at this point as I mostly do film/tv now) that I can barely fit a Herbie , SO I came across the VHX and it really peaked my interest.
I LOVE the idea of having both tones in one amp , so my question IS , how close can it get to Herbert ?..Is it primarily 'dry' like a VH4 or can it really get that other Herbie tone happening ? I certainly don't expect to be spot on exact, but I'd be pretty satisfied with 'close' ..and even MORE so if I can come close to nailing both tones in one package ...Any feedback ? (Thanks in advance)

 

[JerEvil]

Hey fella's , so I used to own both a Herbert and a VH4....Loved them both , probably a bit partial to the Herbert as the VH4 can be too dry at times , but again , loved em both.
Was considering Another Herbert , but frankly , my studio is so small (and mostly dominated by synths at this point as I mostly do film/tv now) that I can barely fit a Herbie , SO I came across the VHX and it really peaked my interest.
I LOVE the idea of having both tones in one amp , so my question IS , how close can it get to Herbert ?..Is it primarily 'dry' like a VH4 or can it really get that other Herbie tone happening ? I certainly don't expect to be spot on exact, but I'd be pretty satisfied with 'close' ..and even MORE so if I can come close to nailing both tones in one package ...Any feedback ? (Thanks in advance)

I though it was supposed to do all the amps?

 

[CrystalSky]

I though it was supposed to do all the amps?

“Supposed” and “does” ofter are not the same things

 

[VHTStark]

My answer from having both a 2022 VHX and mkiii Herbert at the same time is "kinda".

It can do a pretty good job of copping the overall vibe (response, feel and tonality) of a Herbert. But the Herbert will really outshine the VHX in 2 places: 1. At volume and 2. Using downtunings. In both cases, the Herbert stays together much better and really projects the low end! I would also say my mkiii overall, was a bit tighter a clearer, especially in the higher gain settings (2+/blue; 3/red).

 

[Yehuda]

I don’t think it even does a proper vh4- I don’t even like modern vh4s, but I shot a vh4 out against a vhx and the vh4 smoked it. The dmoll is a Herbert preamp with a weaker power amp and doesn’t sound or feel like a Herbert- the Herbert sound is high wattage, and the dmoll, and definitely vhx, are never gonna capture that sound

 

[drumdude]

My answer from having both a 2022 VHX and mkiii Herbert at the same time is "kinda".

It can do a pretty good job of copping the overall vibe (response, feel and tonality) of a Herbert. But the Herbert will really outshine the VHX in 2 places: 1. At volume and 2. Using downtunings. In both cases, the Herbert stays together much better and really projects the low end! I would also say my mkiii overall, was a bit tighter a clearer, especially in the higher gain settings (2+/blue; 3/red).

Thanks so much for your input .
Would you say the VHX leans towards a dry tone like a VH4 or is it able to get more 'wet' (probably not the right word to describe a Herbert but I'm at loss here lol)
I should also mention most of what I do will be IR based I don't mic cabs much anymore nowadays .

 

[PurityS.L.G]

Question; do you ever use amp sim plugins? If so, look into Herbert and VH4 amp sims. There are a few of them available that sound and feel like the real thing. You'll save a ton of money and space.

I was sold on an all in one Diezel amp collection with the VHX but it fell short of my expectations. The amp does pull off the character of the amps and you can even kind of create your own tones but it lacks some of the feel and it sounds like an advanced modeler overall, which it pretty much is.

 

[Jumpbackgeno]

I liked my VHX for 2 weeks then sold it for a M Zero and still have the Mezz

 

[Torgo2003]

Not really IMO - can't duplicate Herbert's massive 180W power section which really keeps that amp clean and tight under high gain

 

[drumdude]

Question; do you ever use amp sim plugins? If so, look into Herbert and VH4 amp sims. There are a few of them available that sound and feel like the real thing. You'll save a ton of money and space.

I was sold on an all in one Diezel amp collection with the VHX but it fell short of my expectations. The amp does pull off the character of the amps and you can even kind of create your own tones but it lacks some of the feel and it sounds like an advanced modeler overall, which it pretty much is.

Yeah I've tried pretty much all the plugs and have 3 modelers (FM9, TNP, QC) they're all great tools no doubt and 'get the job' done but quite enjoy real amps with good IR's mo' betta .

 

[drumdude]

So far this amp ain't getting a lot of love around here lol .

 

[VHTStark]

Thanks so much for your input .
Would you say the VHX leans towards a dry tone like a VH4 or is it able to get more 'wet' (probably not the right word to describe a Herbert but I'm at loss here lol)
I should also mention most of what I do will be IR based I don't mic cabs much anymore nowadays .

You mean saturated? Well, when you set "shape 1, classic" which I was told was Herbert (shape 0 = VH4 = tightest; shape 2 = Hagen = loosest....all classic setting), it can definitely get more saturated in the red channel, or highest gain channel.

That said, all the high gain Diezels have a unique response in that they are very compressed but also pretty dry. They have an almost gated feel to them. The VH4 is certainly more pronounced with this than the Herbert, which does have a bit more give when you play it.

 

[VHTStark]

So far this amp ain't getting a lot of love around here lol .

It is a cool concept, no doubt. But it is absolutely a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of deal.

If you want a ton of different Diezel flavors, including some that are exclusive (ex. Modern setting), you may dig it!

However, most guys....especially the gear nuts on a board like this, already have multiple high end amps and probably want a Diezel (or Diezels) to excel at their specific thing.

 

[drumdude]

It is a cool concept, no doubt. But it is absolutely a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of deal.

If you want a ton of different Diezel flavors, including some that are exclusive (ex. Modern setting), you may dig it!

However, most guys....especially the gear nuts on a board like this, already have multiple high end amps and probably want a Diezel (or Diezels) to excel at their specific thing.

Thanks man , all good points indeed ...When I produced rock/metal records for a living in LA , I had a commercial studio and had about 30 heads at one point (Diezels, Wizards, Bogner's , everything) I did nothing but produce 'Gtr centric' records and recorded damn near every marquis guitarist on the planet. My point being I know how subjective and personal guitar tone is , and I certainly wouldn't have had any interest in an amp like the VHX back then , but it's not mainly what I do for a living anymore (write for tv/film nowadays) so really ,amps for me at this point are a little 'indulgence' (I can the job done with my FM9 or QC...hell I can get the job with plugins lol) I have an XTC , UU , and a Wizard MC2, And I miss having some Diezel tone in the stable so this amp peaked my interest...Like anything else , I'd have to try it in person I guess , but it's been interesting to get some feedback round here .

 

[mightywarlock]

Thanks man , all good points indeed ...When I produced rock/metal records for a living in LA , I had a commercial studio and had about 30 heads at one point (Diezels, Wizards, Bogner's , everything) I did nothing but produce 'Gtr centric' records and recorded damn near every marquis guitarist on the planet. My point being I know how subjective and personal guitar tone is , and I certainly wouldn't have had any interest in an amp like the VHX back then , but it's not mainly what I do for a living anymore (write for tv/film nowadays) so really ,amps for me at this point are a little 'indulgence' (I can the job done with my FM9 or QC...hell I can get the job with plugins lol) I have an XTC , UU , and a Wizard MC2, And I miss having some Diezel tone in the stable so this amp peaked my interest...Like anything else , I'd have to try it in person I guess , but it's been interesting to get some feedback round here .

Are you still in LA? I still have my VHX and think it’s pretty good once you learn how to actually dial it in correctly.

 

[Philhouse]

might be some helpful info?

 

[drumdude]

Are you still in LA? I still have my VHX and think it’s pretty good once you learn how to actually dial it in correctly.

I'm not actually , back in New York now...any tweaking tips be appreciated though ...thanks man

 

[rsm]

My VHX was delivered today; only had time to make sure it worked, plan to spend more time with it this weekend. I'm more Marshall, but the VHX should cover my high gain forays beyond Marshall, Bogner, JP-2C and Engl Artist 100.

I was considering a VH4, but all the options in the VHX sold me; jack of all trades is fine with me, I also have and like my JVM410; also have modelers (Helix and FM9), and use software plugins more than anything else...but it's great when I want blast a 100W tube amp to have options I like.

 

[VHTStark]

My VHX was delivered today; only had time to make sure it worked, plan to spend more time with it this weekend. I'm more Marshall, but the VHX should cover my high gain forays beyond Marshall, Bogner, JP-2C and Engl Artist 100.

I was considering a VH4, but all the options in the VHX sold me; jack of all trades is fine with me, I also have and like my JVM410; also have modelers (Helix and FM9), and use software plugins more than anything else...but it's great when I want blast a 100W tube amp to have options I like.

Congrats man! The VHX is a great amp! Between a VHX and JVM, you can cover a TON of tonal real estate!

 

[drumdude]

My VHX was delivered today; only had time to make sure it worked, plan to spend more time with it this weekend. I'm more Marshall, but the VHX should cover my high gain forays beyond Marshall, Bogner, JP-2C and Engl Artist 100.

I was considering a VH4, but all the options in the VHX sold me; jack of all trades is fine with me, I also have and like my JVM410; also have modelers (Helix and FM9), and use software plugins more than anything else...but it's great when I want blast a 100W tube amp to have options I like.

Congrats man , look foward to hearing your thoughts on it I'm about to just buy one and give it a whirl myself .