Einstein Combo questions

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littleguitars
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Hi folks. First time poster here. I'm really intrigued by the Einstein combo and am seriously considering purchasing one, but I'm looking to get some more info about this amp.

Were the early ones closed back? When did this change? Have there been any other changes to this amp since its inception?

How many here have successfully made the channel one modes footswitchable?

Thanks.
 
I have the Head, amazing amp. I really don't dig combos... From what I know they haven't changed the amp since it came out. I don't have the mod for the first channel, but hear its quite simple to do.

I can't recommend the Einstein enough. It can do everything, best amp I've ever played. Diezel is in a realm of its own...
 
Welcome to the board!!

Channel one mod is as simple as it gets if you know how to solder.

I have the head version. Einstein is definitely one of my favorite amps of all time. Once you go Diezel you'll want to throw away all your other amps. They truly are masterpieces. I say buy one and give it a go yourself.
 
After about 100 pieces we made the combo housings
in Germany and repalced the V30 with a K100 and
delivered it open back.
 
I have one of the very first ones built, serial # 04/016. It has a larger housing and the back is closed right up to the point where the tubes are seen, which is left open in order for the tubes and chassis to breathe.

Mine has not had the optional mod done to it, as my playing does not require that mod. I am also so bad with a soldering iron that I promised Peter that I would not go near my amps with one in my hand, even if the iron was not plugged in.

I cannot speak highly enough of the tonal versatility, feeling of the amp while playing, and the enjoyment I get each and every time I play it.

I have seen pictures of the newer versions Peter speaks of, but have never seen one in person. No matter how you slice it, however, you will be amazed at how wonderful the Einstein AND all the other Diezel amps are. Some of us here got our amps without seeing them in person or being able to try them out first, and no one who got their amp that way was ever dissapointed.

I received all four of my Diezel amps that way, and they were all beyond any superlative words that I could come up with to describe how great they all are.

You will not be the least bit disappointed. :rock:
 
I have just last week got the Einstein Combo, 2nd hand via Ebay. I got one back in October, (V30 model)bought from a shop but it had faults so I returned it, I might add that (IMO) the fault was lack of attention at the shop from where bought and I suspect courier mis-handling. In the very short time I owned it I was highly impressed and knew that the tone was monstrous. Took 18 months of sweaty palms to get to the point of buying it so was very disappointing ultimately. However I wanted this amp!!! Mucho desiro!!! So, next!!! New one delivered in person by seller. This is open back K100 model (March 2010 build). I have had one rehearsal with my band and it lived up to all expectations. Truly inspirational. Begin a very busy year of gigging tomorrow so test will begin in earnest now!!! Haven't looked at modding Ch 1 yet. I was told by seller that he had enquired and that it can produce volume fluctuations, I don't find it a limiting set up as is. I can get around most songs, and we have a very varied list.....

Please feel free to contact me if you want to know more. If you are in the West Yorkshire area (or indeed UK) check out the band gig guide at http://www.motusweb.net and you can come and hear Einstein and have a closer look.
 
What badgergman says is true. The mod does involve volume fluctuations between channel 1 modes. I thought I needed all those sounds at my feet while playing.. I found out I really don't. I use Texas mode on ch 1 with gain 3/4 way. If I need clean I play softer and roll guitar vol back a bit. If I need bluesy break up or classic rock I just play harder. If I need higher gain for solo or rhythm I goto channel 2. It took me 2+ years to figure out that using the amp as intended is really the way to go. It's very blissful whenever you get it figured out. Anyways good luck! Einstein is an amazing amplifier!
 
Thanks guys for the welcome and responses. Yes Diezel amps are awesome. I'm going to be getting a VH4 in the coming months. I borrowed one from a friend recently and I was totally blown away. I'm also looking to pick up an Einstein Combo right away.

Can Peter or anyone else tell me what serial number on the combo would indicate that it's a later, open back model. Thanks.
 
littleguitars":36z1g5gn said:
Thanks guys for the welcome and responses. Yes Diezel amps are awesome. I'm going to be getting a VH4 in the coming months. I borrowed one from a friend recently and I was totally blown away. I'm also looking to pick up an Einstein Combo right away.

Can Peter or anyone else tell me what serial number on the combo would indicate that it's a later, open back model. Thanks.
Click to expand...


Peter Diezel":36z1g5gn said:
After about 100 pieces we made the combo housings
in Germany and repalced the V30 with a K100 and
delivered it open back.
Click to expand...


The number after the "/" in the serial number should be a bit above 100. They're sequential.

I don't know what the number before the slash in the combos are but for example 004/120 Would be the 120th amp built of that model.
I would just look at pictures or see the amp in person before buying. That way you can tell if it's open back or not.
 
slyvren":pic6vwwh said:
What badgergman says is true. The mod does involve volume fluctuations between channel 1 modes.
Click to expand...

i disagree, there is a gain setting for my strat at 12-01 o'clock that leaves all modes at one volume... the clou is that the gain in mode1 leaves you with a change in distortion AND volume, while mode2 and 3 merely alter in the amount of distortion. so, there is a sweet spot where all mods are almost similar in volume.
i am lucky since i can live with the amount of gain in mode1 since it gives me a fat clean - just before breakin up - sound. :)

so it's easy. just follow these steps (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24857&hilit=unofficial) and remember to have the frontal mode-switch set to 2 (middle) if you use a midiswitcher such as nobels ms4 for switching these modes.
 
elfredoo":2jrlpodl said:
slyvren":2jrlpodl said:
What badgergman says is true. The mod does involve volume fluctuations between channel 1 modes.
Click to expand...

i disagree, there is a gain setting for my strat at 12-01 o'clock that leaves all modes at one volume... the clou is that the gain in mode1 leaves you with a change in distortion AND volume, while mode2 and 3 merely alter in the amount of distortion. so, there is a sweet spot where all mods are almost similar in volume.
i am lucky since i can live with the amount of gain in mode1 since it gives me a fat clean - just before breakin up - sound. :)

so it's easy. just follow these steps (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24857&hilit=unofficial) and remember to have the frontal mode-switch set to 2 (middle) if you use a midiswitcher such as nobels ms4 for switching these modes.
Click to expand...

If the gain is noon. Yes you are correct, but that doesn't mean the issue doesn't exist. Honestly for most players and most settings.. It does. If the gain is even between 1:00-2:00 at bedroom levels you can't really tell, but when you're playing in band situation it's a big difference. The band is adding dynamics and building intensity... and you switch to more distortion only to figure out you're really just more compressed and the volume isn't even close to what it was before you switched. If you like the gain higher to really crank Texas mode like I do.. (I live in Texas mode.) Then the other 2 modes are pretty much useless.. Clean is WAY too loud and mega is way too compressed. I'm talking about gain @ 3:00.. not even dimed.

So YMMV, but figure out how you're going to run your amp before you commit. I honestly think simplification is the best policy especially in a live situation. If you need more than 2 sounds.. get one of the other diezels or be prepared for a bit of a complicated midi setup or to compromise all of your sounds a bit.

Here's another kicker... If you run something like a G-Major in your effects loop it causes problems and sounds terrible unless all the mode/channel volumes are balanced. (Again gain at around noon.) Just some food for thought. The amp was designed as a 2 channel amp and that's what it excels at.
 
Regarding the open back version, and speaker change...
Do the closed back ones have more low end and punch? I've never bonded well with open back cabs.
Is the later K100 version completely open back, or half open?
 
Its semi open back.

eBayISAPI.dll


Not sure if you will be able to view this link?

I haven't been able to tell any difference between this and the closed back one I briefly owned. The Deep control is so powerful that you will never have a problem with bottom end.

I did notice that the K100 seemed to be warmer on Clean to Midgain tones, but in my experience V30's can be a little harsh.
 
thanks for the info. badgergman, any chance of trying to post the pic again? I'm curious to see just how open yours actually is.
 
I'm suprised they went with the K100! IMHO it's a terrible sounding speaker. One thing Mesa does right is use the MC90 speaker, the tweaked CL80. The Einstein combo is pretty small, a local store has one and i walked past it a bunch of times before i realized it was there. I wish they had the head because i want to try it out again. Sorry to say, i wasn't impressed by the combo. I was going to drag it over to a 4x12 but it was too much of a hassle. Nobody around has the head version, hopefully one shows up.
 
I'm having troyble getting a pic to post.

try this link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

This is the Ebay listing.

Played first gig with Einstein last night and it was truly monumental. Tone in my head is being achieved!!!! Disagree totally re the K-100 speaker. Seems to complement the amp perfectly. However I have never played a cab with this speaker before so can't vouch for how it may sound in other applications.

Let me know if you can't see this link and I can maybe send you a pic direct?
 
danyeo":usb20iip said:
I'm suprised they went with the K100! IMHO it's a terrible sounding speaker. One thing Mesa does right is use the MC90 speaker, the tweaked CL80. The Einstein combo is pretty small, a local store has one and i walked past it a bunch of times before i realized it was there. I wish they had the head because i want to try it out again. Sorry to say, i wasn't impressed by the combo. I was going to drag it over to a 4x12 but it was too much of a hassle. Nobody around has the head version, hopefully one shows up.
Click to expand...

Interesting ..... we had the best results with the German made
combo housings and the K100 but thanks for Your opinion.
 
I think it would be interesting to do an A/B comparison between the newer and older model combo. I'm guessing there would be some obvious sonic differences considering they not only feature different speakers but one is open back and the other is closed.

Anyone ever have the oppotunity to play both side by side?

Also, Peter, did you make the changes to the combo to achieve an improvement to a specific aspect of the amp? (maybe in the area of clean tones)?
 
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