Herbert vs Uberschall

[defpearlpilot]

I've played Ubers several times. After I played a Herbert, I got one immediately.

Either way, best of luck with your Uber!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Ok, my Uberschall Rev2 review........

Got it, reinstalled the tubes (they were shipped in bubble rap), set it on top of my Mesa 2x12 C90 open back and 2x12 v30 Recto cabs, put my trusty old ADA 128i digital delay in the loop, warmed her up, plugged in my Hamer Californian Elite (flame maple body, EMG 81/SA pups, same guitar shown in my avatar pic <--, very mid/bright sounding) and started turning knobs.

First impressions........

Clean Channel - Very surprising, most reviews (not all) I read about this channel made it sound like an afterthought and useless. Yes it is lower on volume than the gain channel, but it was not a problem for me. I just dimed the channel volume and brought the gain up to the volume level that matched the gain channel, stayed crystal clear with normal playing and had no problems. This channel is surprisingly "BIG" and full sounding. Presence at 11:00, Treble at 12:00, Mid at 2:00 and Bass at 3:00 made a very good clean tone with the EMG SA. Playing hard on the 81 brought in a little grit. Add a little delay and it was great. Now keep in mind, I'm not trying to describe a Fender Super Twin Super Deluxe Super Reverb clean, but is definately usable. More fine tuning to come, but this was an easy dial in, no real thought or hard work to get a really good sound.

Gain Channel - I would think this would be what Hell would really sound like . Several things come to mind immediately; TIGHT, FOCUSED, IN YOUR FACE ASSAULT. The hype is right on with this channel. I tweaked on it through most of our 2 hr practice last night. Not because I couldn't get a good sound, but because of the range of tone available. One thing that I noticed quickly is that the presence knob for this channel is definately not the norm. Rather than being a high end presence it seemed to be more of a low/mid/high sweep control that really changes the voice of the amp. Bass is thunderous, just what I was looking for. Going from rhythm to leads "worked", especially with a little delay to fill it in, but I might want to run an eq in the loop for a little extra tone shaping when needed. This channel is amazingly quiet for as much gain as it has. I took the gain up to 3:00 and got a very thick sound, but it never lost it's clarity and definition, very cool. I dimed the Bass and it never mudded out or lost it's punch. My gibson Gothic LP w/EMG 81/85 might be a different story as it's much warmer than the Hamer. Another thing I really liked about this channel is that even with it's focus and tightness, your still get that cranked tube amp quality that just colors the sound in that special way.

The loop is also very nice, once I got the on/off level matched there was no tone difference or loss with it on, off it just bypassed with no signal going thru the delay.

This amp will be sticking around for a long time.

Oh, and even my bass player told our singer (behind closed doors hehehehe) "That amp sounds really good". Only comment about tone I ever got out of him.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

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[RustyMcTavish]

I'm glad it got there in one piece and you're digging it. The amp was very good to me!!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I'm glad it got there in one piece and you're digging it. The amp was very good to me!!

Thank you very much.

 

[joshsage]

herbert all the way...

I am not just saying that because I am a dealer....

 

[Death by Uberschall]

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???

 

[moronmountain]

I used to own the V1 and I felt the gain channel was a bit on the noisy side. Not bad noisy, but there was a hiss there for sure. Is the V2 quieter due to the gain sweep you think, or maybe you're used to noisy amps? Not that the Uber is "noisy", but mine wasn't quiet either. I also felt like the amp is tight enough, but not super tight. I was comparing it to my UL though, so that may have something to do with it. When the amp first came out everyone raved about the clean channel other than the fact that it was hard to match the volume of the lead channel. I guess I missed the era where people considered it an afterthough. I'm glad you're digging your amp. I hope I get to replace mine soon. Peace!

 

[nbarts]

Congrats, Uber is unique brutal sounding amp & I love super warm clean channel on mine.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

It's not totally quiet with the gain dialed up, but it's quieter than my SLO which was surprising. The amp is very tight, but as stated, not super tight. Definately not solid state tight. It still has that tube amp vibe. By comparison, my SLO with saturate sooner on the power amp side where the Uber will stay focused.

I did some research while looking and of course went to HC user reviews. Seems as though nobody gives much thought about the clean channel other than it's ok or dissapointing compared to gain channel making it sound like a "one trick poney". I totally disagree with that, the clean channel is very good. As with any review, it's subjective and the quality of guitar, pups, cables, cabs, etc can make or break an amp. I have no complaints.

 

[King Crimson]

I already know what most are going to say, "Get Herbert".

I'm tossing around getting either an Uberschall or Herbert. What I would like to know is if the Herbert can match the sonic goods that an Uberschall can dish out in the hard/heavy realm? I already know the Herbert will definately be more versitile. But I'm looking at the Uberschall for it's ungodly ability in heavier styles of music.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Mike.

Apples and oranges. Rice and pasta... Tomato, Tomato.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I totally disagree with that, the clean channel is very good. As with any review, it's subjective and the quality of guitar, pups, cables, cabs, etc can make or break an amp. I have no complaints.

This is the point where Wizard of Ozz would show up and say that because you have to crank the clean channel volume and keep the gain channel volume low to balance the two channels that it's a serious design flaw.

I liked the clean channel as well.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

This is the point where Wizard of Ozz would show up and say that because you have to crank the clean channel volume and keep the gain channel volume low to balance the two channels that it's a serious design flaw.

I liked the clean channel as well.

I guess it's a good thing Bogner put the master volume control on there. I mean, that's what it's there for anyway, right.

 

[moronmountain]

This is the point where Wizard of Ozz would show up and say that because you have to crank the clean channel volume and keep the gain channel volume low to balance the two channels that it's a serious design flaw.

I liked the clean channel as well.

I guess it's a good thing Bogner put the master volume control on there. I mean, that's what it's there for anyway, right.

Yeah but if you really crank the dirty channel I don't think the clean one can match it. It seems like mine had that quirk about it. At more normal volumes it's not an issue though IIRC.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Yeah but if you really crank the dirty channel I don't think the clean one can match it. It seems like mine had that quirk about it. At more normal volumes it's not an issue though IIRC.

I never cranked my gain channel when I had one, even at loud rehearsal volumes. I just cranked the MV up so even up loud the two channels were still balanced

 

[moronmountain]

Yeah but if you really crank the dirty channel I don't think the clean one can match it. It seems like mine had that quirk about it. At more normal volumes it's not an issue though IIRC.

I never cranked my gain channel when I had one, even at loud rehearsal volumes. I just cranked the MV up so even up loud the two channels were still balanced

I had mine cranked (every knob on 10) a time or 2. I always do that when I get a new amp to see what it does at full tilt. Then I turn it off where it sits with a cloth over it while I play the acoustic or some Line 6 thingy.

 

[nbarts]

I had mine cranked (every knob on 10) a time or 2. I always do that when I get a new amp to see what it does at full tilt. Then I turn it off where it sits with a cloth over it while I play the acoustic or some Line 6 thingy.

You still have your hearing? Man I don't even want to try that.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Yeah but if you really crank the dirty channel I don't think the clean one can match it. It seems like mine had that quirk about it. At more normal volumes it's not an issue though IIRC.

I never cranked my gain channel when I had one, even at loud rehearsal volumes. I just cranked the MV up so even up loud the two channels were still balanced

I had mine cranked (every knob on 10) a time or 2. I always do that when I get a new amp to see what it does at full tilt. Then I turn it off where it sits with a cloth over it while I play the acoustic or some Line 6 thingy.

Ouch!! The highest I've had this thing so far was gain channel volume at 11:00 & master volume on 2:00 and I thought the cones were gonna punch thru the grille cloth!!!

 

[nbarts]

I own both & there is no way I can get one to do what the other does. They sound different & play different, both superb amps. Personally I use Uberschall more than Herbert, but that's just a taste thing & those are 2 peaces of gear in my studio that I will sell the last if I really REALLY have to.

I take this back. After messing more & more with 3rd channel of Herbert I was able to totally nail the Uberschall tone, it's so close that it's frightening! Maybe Uber has something more to offer live, but in studio Herbert can do it 99%.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've been contemplating getting another Uberschall (sold mine a few years ago) or buying a VH-4, Herbert, Nitro, or Mako.

So many good amps to choose from.

Congrats on the new amp!

I've actually never ran my Uber through a 4x12; only had a THD 2x12 with CL-80's. Loved that sound. CL-80's made the Uber sound very raw and sort of 80's thrash with a nice modern smoothness about it.