Diezel VH4

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Generally speaking the VH4 is a very polarizing amp. Some are literally in awe of its tone and feel, while others cannot believe all the hype around it. There's not a lot of "in-between" with this amp. This video is a later model VH4 with the most recent revisions. It's brighter, tighter, a bit more aggressive....And Chan 2 is amazing, Some prefer the older, darker, more compressed models...But I'm not one of them.
 
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angelspade said:
Generally speaking the VH4 is a very polarizing amp. Some are literally in awe of its tone and feej, while others cannot believe all the hype around it. There's not a lot of "in-between" with this amp. This video is a later model VH4 with the most recent revisions. It's brighter, tighter, a bit more aggressive....And Chan 2 is amazing, Some prefer the older, darker, more compressed models...But I'm not one of them.
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the first time playing it was a pretty uninspiring event. it came across fairly cold and stiff. but the next time was with hotter pickups and effects and i saw the potential. this demo did a great job showcasing the best of the amp as i remember it.
 
angelspade said:
Generally speaking the VH4 is a very polarizing amp. Some are literally in awe of its tone and feej, while others cannot believe all the hype around it. There's not a lot of "in-between" with this amp. This video is a later model VH4 with the most recent revisions. It's brighter, tighter, a bit more aggressive....And Chan 2 is amazing, Some prefer the older, darker, more compressed models...But I'm not one of them.
Click to expand...
I’ve yet to be able to let mine go
 
angelspade said:
Generally speaking the VH4 is a very polarizing amp. Some are literally in awe of its tone and feej, while others cannot believe all the hype around it. There's not a lot of "in-between" with this amp. This video is a later model VH4 with the most recent revisions. It's brighter, tighter, a bit more aggressive....And Chan 2 is amazing, Some prefer the older, darker, more compressed models...But I'm not one of them.
Click to expand...
I still argue that the older models are actually less compressed based on the experience I had playing @hellzington 2000 and 2004 VH4s (at least I think those are the years). They were both much less compressed than the current model, but the 4 channels were not equally good between the both of them compared to the current version. Usually CH2 and CH3 would shine, but 1 and 4 would be just ok. The current version has all the channels dialed in well in terms of EQ and gain range, but IMO it’s a little too compressed. Too much negative feedback smoothed it out. My goal is to install a NFB pot in mine so I can control that.
 
My first VH4 was dark sounding and i think it was built in 2004, i put in fresh tubes and i kept it for a month and sold it because i hated it, then a few yrs later i played a 2007 VH4 and it was ok but didnt blow me away but i felt it was better sounding than my 2004 version, then a years later i played a 2011 VH4 and loved it haha, it was brighter and sounded really nice, so i bought one and ive been a fan ever since.
 
I will say this . If you play modern metal vh2 is better for that . But both are amazing
 
The eternal question is: "Which VH4?" They have changed slowly over time, getting brighter and adding more negative feedback. Like @pipboy90 said, my two older ones sound very different from his 2022. The older one is louder, punchier, and darker, with less gain (esp on Ch 2), less negative feedback, and an angry, raw midrange. The 2004 has way more gain and is smoother and more compressed, with a very "hot rodded" kind of sound across the channels. Current production model is very bright and thinner by comparison to these older ones, but it records exceptionally well with more open midrange and is clearer naturally in the mix.
 
Mine’s only a few years old and can confirm the later ones can get plenty bright enough if you run the presence and middle/treble up a bit. I also find the EQ knobs on mine have a pretty wide sweep - small adjustments can make quite noticeable differences. No doubt it can get dark/thicker if I set the knobs a certain way, but I was really surprised by how bright it can get.
 
Amazing amp! Obviously most known for its Ch. 3, but Ch. 2 is quite amazing and extremely versatile.
 
I have a hybrid. 2005 model with circuit board from 2024.

Zach made the one in the video sound VERY good!
 
spanny said:
Amazing amp! Obviously most known for its Ch. 3, but Ch. 2 is quite amazing and extremely versatile.
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Absolutely...This is one of the reasons that I strongly prefer the latest revisions. Chan 2 is now a great AC/DC up to 80's modded Marshallish sound (people seem to love it boosted as well)...And Chan 4 is now a great modern metal rhythm tone.
 
angelspade said:
Absolutely...This is one of the reasons that I strongly prefer the latest revisions. Chan 2 is now a great AC/DC up to 80's modded Marshallish sound (people seem to love it boosted as well)...And Chan 4 is now a great modern metal rhythm tone.
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Channel 2 is the unsung hero of this amp, but it's also the most different across the years.

  • My 2002 has way less gain on Channel 2 than either the 2004 or the 2022 and is also darker and looser than either of those. It's really only useful for low gain sounds. The gain only gets up to a vintage rhythm crunch. It's also a lot flubbier and you can only use the gain knob up until about 2:00-3:00 before it starts to get mushy.
  • Channel 2 on the 2004 couldn't be more different. It's compressed, juicy, and squishy like a hot-rodded JCM 800. It's not that useful for low gain sounds and kicks into high gear very quickly. It stays tighter across the gain knob but I don't know why you'd ever need to set it at more than 1:00-2:00. Channel 2 of my 2004 has more gain than Channel 2 on the 2002 or 2022. In fact, Channel 2 on the 2004 has more gain than Channel 3 of the 2002(!).
  • Channel 2 on the 2022 is the "goldilocks" between the 2002 and the 2004, but closer to the 2004 overall. It's brighter, tighter, and more raw/brash than the 2002 or 2004. It's "strident" and sounds more Marshallish than either of the other two. The gain knob is also useful throughout the whole sweep making it a very useful channel. I can understand why Peter arrived at this spec for Channel 2.
 
hellzington said:
The 2004 has way more gain and is smoother and more compressed, with a very "hot rodded" kind of sound across the channels. Current production model is very bright and thinner by comparison to these older ones, but it records exceptionally well with more open midrange and is clearer naturally in the mix.
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I agree 100%. Have you ever played a blueface model? Recently I've played the reissue and at first I didn't like how muffled it sounded to my ears but the aggression was kick ass. Hot rodded is the perfect term that you used to describe it. I kick myself in the ass I didn't jump soon enough on the deal. They are so rare.
 
PurityS.L.G said:
I agree 100%. Have you ever played a blueface model? Recently I've played the reissue and at first I didn't like how muffled it sounded to my ears but the aggression was kick ass. Hot rodded is the perfect term that you used to describe it. I kick myself in the ass I didn't jump soon enough on the deal. They are so rare.
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I'm 99.9% sure the 2002 is Blueface spec. It's wildly different from any other VH4 I've played. Darker, less gain, less compressed, less negative feedback -- just a completely different amp than the 2004 and 2022.

Fire up the 2002, plug in my 2000 Gibson Les Paul Classic with a 500T in the bridge, hook up the 1998 Mesa 4x12 with the pre-30000 serial (the old-school V30s), and use the AJ settings available everywhere on the internet and BOOM; instant AJ tone. Not always the tone I'm looking for but damn it's fun. It's earth-shaking, thick, angry, and punchy beyond belief.
 
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