please help me with my decision

  • Thread starter Thread starter DvE
  • Start date Start date
D

DvE

New member
Hey guys,

I am planning to buy a new high gain head.

I am playing in a metal band and thinking of to buy a herbert or a vh4.

I normally need 4 different sound for my band and they have to be foot-swichable.

1: nice, warm clean tones
2: fat, tight, agressive rhythm (like for example killswitch engage)
3: good lead sound (thick and fitting for metal style, playing lead the most time)
4: good soloing sound with more mids and good response (kind of wha like)

If that helps: I absolutely prefer the "modern" metal sound...

Which amp do you recommend?
Herbert, VH4, or should I buy a completly different one?

Thanx for your help
 
well if you want modern... I'd recommend a Herbert or an Einstein, Vh4, from what I've heard is not as modern as a Herbert...but still, it's a modern amp.

name a few band whos tone you dig so we can help you out more. :)
 
Hey, thanks for the fast reply :)

Mh, Bands I like:

All That Remains
Amon Amarth
Anterior
As I Lay Dying
Chimaira
Dark Age
Killswitch Engage (lead and rhythm sounds)
Machine Head
Trivium (Ascendency only)

but also
Joe Satriani

and fat Powerchord Rock-Stuff like the last Nickelback album
 
I'd say Herbert. The VH4 could do it, but based on the bands you mentioned I'd imagine the thickness of the Herbert's channel 2 "+" or channel 3 may float your boat a bit more.
 
Hey cool, this helps a little bit.

I am only asking myself, if the herbert can get dry and tight enough - for more agressive rhythm stuff a la killswitch engage (I thing they use framus cobra). How important are the tubes for the tightness?

In clean and lead, there should be no problems, also the bass/depth.

Another question: What features can I save with the midi stuff?
Can I, for example, choose the same channel with 2 different eq settings on the amp and safe ist?
Or are the "only" things I can choose the 3 channels + midcut + master?

Thanks a lot :)
 
Oh cmon man! If you dont know how a tube amp works...google will teach you.

Herberts got 6 power tubes. If they are EL34 you have 180W! To make him dry and tight, you have to lower the gain and crank the volume and especially the mids. These are the basics and all you have to know. And in Herbert´s case you have to dial channel 2 in "-" mode. Your sound will be dry like a desert and tight as...choose yourself. :D

With midi you can save the channels, midcut, v2, mute and the switchable loop.
If you want to switch the channel 2 +/- feature you have to do a little simple mod.
You cant choose two different eq settings. There are no motor pots or programable pots like f.e. the H&K Switchblade has.
 
Sounds as if I had found my Amp ^^

What do you mean with "you can choose two different eq settings" ?
Per Channel? For example I want to use channel 2 for three sounds:
1. Rhythm with scooped eq settings
2. Lead with more mids in eq
3. Similar to Lead, but with higher volume and some more changes for soloing
How would I do this?

I asked for the Tubes and the character because of the Herbert vs VH4 theme:
"...If you are looking a for a tighter, dryer, more refined and brilliantly unique aggressive hard rock tone...you would most likely choose the VH4..."
Thats the main reason why I had problems with my decision, the rest stands out for herbert.

Thanks for the fast reply. Nice forum and cool people here, like it :thumbsup:
 
DvE":3jfzv3dg said:
Hey cool, this helps a little bit.

I am only asking myself, if the herbert can get dry and tight enough - for more agressive rhythm stuff a la killswitch engage (I thing they use framus cobra). How important are the tubes for the tightness?

Thanks a lot :)
Click to expand...

The Herbert can do the tight, agressive stuff w/no problem, but I wouldn't exactly say it's a "dry" amp. I definitely has some compression going on. Channel 3 of the VH4 is a bit more "dry" and tighter. Tubes can be a bigger factor for tightness, but either the VH4 or Herbert will be plenty tight enough.
 
Ok, I think I will start searching for a Herbert.

Seems to be the Allround-Talent - which also can handle Metal stuff very well - I was looking for.

Again, thanks a lot :)
 
And in Herbert´s case you have to dial channel 2 in "-" mode. Your sound will be dry like a desert and tight as...choose yourself. :D
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

... and get some earplugs!
 
DvE":2g2hh1ag said:
Ok, I think I will start searching for a Herbert.

Seems to be the Allround-Talent - which also can handle Metal stuff very well - I was looking for.

Again, thanks a lot :)
Click to expand...


You will be happy with the Herbert.

Channel 2 is great for rhythm playing. Keep the mids high, and then if you want to scoop it, you have the MIDI selectable mid-cut you can throw on the channels that works amazing. You won't regret the purchase!
 
i have an Einstein Head for sale; it has a pretty damn similar voicing to a Herb and a more modest price tag... check out the song "Heartworm" by us on
http://www.myspace/theembalmed.com
the track is all Einstein, gain at 1 o'clock no boost...
i could sell you the head and cab for less than what a Herb sometimes goes for by itself...
 
cool song Bloodsong, great tone! why are you selling the Einstein?
 
i live in PA, and pretty much every bar we play is a shithole (which can be cool AND horrifing lol) so i take out my trusty 2 channel Recto. it's financially hard to justify a boutique head for the places we're playing so i NEVER take it out (and truth be told, my wife is having some medical probs and a couple of surgeries- we have good not great insurance so the bills are pilling up) so i wouldn't mind freeing up the investment. i do the love way it sounds and its craftsmanship; both are second to none. i would really miss it to record... so we'll see what happens. would make a really killer rig for someone.
thx for the kind words on the song!
 
Sorry to hear the wife's not doing well...hope she gets better man, prayer sent.
 
Hey,

thank you for offering, but I need at least 3, sometimes 4 sounds footswitchable while playing.
And I dont want to carry boosters and other effects, so I will go for Herbert...
 
that's cool. you can mod the Einstein fairly cheaply to have 4 channels, btw. i never boost- it changes the character of the amp too much for me. let me know if you ever need a matching Diezel cab; $675+shipping takes it home...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top