Question for all the multi-Diezel owners

[stratjacket]

I bought a Hagen off here about a year ago. Absolutely love it. I can't ever see myself unloading it, I really can't. I have only felt that way about 1 other piece of gear (Axe-Fx II) after having it a year. I am proud to be in the Diezel family and love the amp to death. But I do want to try other amps just for the shear GAS if anything. Every time I start thinking about another Diezel, I think "well, I already have a Hagen, can the others be that much different, I should try something else"

I traded a guitar for a Bogner Uber and it's on the way. It's an amp I've always wanted, but never had. So I guess my question is for the people with a Herbert and VH4 or any 2 or more Diezel's, do they sound that much different to justify the cash? Do you break out the Herbert for a certain sound and then maybe a Hagen for something else?

I think I know the answer I'll probably get, but I have no way of trying any other Diezel's without buying/trading for one. I've read through these pages a bunch about the different amps. I've also youtubed to death. I have read the Hagen is the most versatile and it does have the whole spectrum across the 4 channels, but I ram really just curious about the other hi-gain channels on the other amps and how they stack up to the Hagen.

Thanks for any insights you guys can offer.

 

[Mailman1971]

I can only give my 2 cents from what I owned. Never had the Hagen.....but owned the VH4 and the Herbert.
Liked the Herbert....but LOVED the VH4.
Next Diezel gonna be a Lil Fokker. Which is what Pops describes as a mix of VH4 channel 3 and the Herbert 2+
(Both my fave channels on each amp) its a no brainer for sure man.

 

[stratjacket]

Thanks man for the help. So compared to the Herbert, it sounds like one of those things where the VH4 just fit right with you, like plugging it in, you just kinda knew that was the sound you wanted? That is good news to me if so, because it sounds like neither was bad, but they were different enough.

 

[Mailman1971]

Thanks man for the help. So compared to the Herbert, it sounds like one of those things where the VH4 just fit right with you, like plugging it in, you just kinda knew that was the sound you wanted? That is good news to me if so, because it sounds like neither was bad, but they were different enough.

Yeah....the Herbert to me was really HARD EDGED.....killed at it. The (+/-) of the channel 2 was so good. Never really dabbled into the lead channel much since 2 covered alot of bases. Same on the channel 3 of the VH4. Set the gain lower and it was good rock/metal and then kick it up...it just got more 'intense'.
Sounds like the new Lil Fokker is a great mix of both amps.

 

[slyvren]

Dude, I justified having 2 vh4's somehow. If you like hagen I think you will love vh4.

That said. Each Diezel has its unique voice but sounds like a Diezel. It's kinda like Marshalls sound marshsllesque and boogies sound boogerish. If Hagen is your favorite amp I'd say try some others. They are all amazing!

 

[stratjacket]

2 VH4's, wow, now my question seems dumb, haha

Dude, I justified having 2 vh4's somehow. If you like hagen I think you will love vh4.

That said. Each Diezel has its unique voice but sounds like a Diezel. It's kinda like Marshalls sound marshsllesque and boogies sound boogerish. If Hagen is your favorite amp I'd say try some others. They are all amazing!

 

[slyvren]

2 VH4's, wow, now my question seems dumb, haha

Dude, I justified having 2 vh4's somehow. If you like hagen I think you will love vh4.

That said. Each Diezel has its unique voice but sounds like a Diezel. It's kinda like Marshalls sound marshsllesque and boogies sound boogerish. If Hagen is your favorite amp I'd say try some others. They are all amazing!

Not at all man. I'll be the first to admit I think I'm ridiculous but it's what I love. I'm in 2 bands and do studio work on the side so my gear is usually spread out.

 

[JimmyBlind]

I've met people who properly hate Diezels. What people seem to hate about them, I really love about them. They're pretty dry & unforgiving, but they broadcast with amazing, rich clarity. I can see why players may warm more towards a 6505, Splawn Nitro or SE+ for example.

The hagen & D-Moll didn't exist when I bought my first VH4, but I knew I wanted more functionality than the Einstein & Schmidt offered & thought the Herbert was too much of a beast.

Diezel amps are expensive of course. I've not met many amateur players who owned several Diezels & weren't minted. That said, i'm also a keen golfer. If i didn't have any other vices, I might invest more of my disposable income on guitar paraphernalia.

So for me, i'd struggle to justify purchasing a second Diezel & i'd need a very specific idea of the tones I 'needed' that the VH4 doesn't currently deliver. I don't see the rest of the Diezel line satisfying those needs. I'd probably go looking for those tones in some of the more classic amps: JCM800, Dual Rec, Fender Twin, Plexi, 5150 etc.

 

[stratjacket]

@JimmyB, thanks. That completely makes sense and every time I start thinking seriously about getting another Diezel, I come to the conclusion that I should really try something different instead.

So I guess like anything, comes down to personal choice/taste. Diezel has a "sound" that defines it and if I want a variant of the sound, then another Diezel makes sense.

 

[ProgFree]

You can always get a Schmidt. It is at the other end of the spectrum in the Diezel line when compared to the Hagen.

 

[GtarLover]

My deal is simple, I love Diezel amps. They can cover A LOT of ground. I currently have Herbert, bought that one first and it's still my #1, then I also have a Hagen which I bought that after trying a VH4S and an Einstein.
Now, I also have other amps and pre's because I am a gear slut and want to play/try everything

That said, it really depends on what you are trying to achieve.
If you want completely different tonal diversity, then you may want to go outside the Diezel family. Yet I find I gravitate back to Diezel no matter what.
I like to play other amps for "a while," but then I want my Diezel back.
I enjoy Splawn QR's, they get me my Marshall fix...Nothing else sounds like a Bogner 20th XTC and similarly Soldano SLO is unique too.

In the end, I am playing a Diezel more days out of the month than anything else. Herbert is VERY versatile with channel 2's +/- switch and then mid-cut and then channel 3...I get most of what I need there.
I am not just channel 3 with mid-cut on chugging away either, I use a variety of tones that Herbert can provide. Yet I do have fun with the Hagen as well...4 channels of Diezel goodness.
I am in the minority because I didn't gel with the VH4. However, I would suggest trying Herbert, since you already have a 4 channel amp with the Hagen.

Regardless, more Diezel's is BETTER, right Peter

 

[shadowdevourer]

I have a VH4S and a Herbert and I think they are different but yet similar. For me they are justifiable and will never sell them. Herbert has that insane deep punch, all out metal and also, for me, the best clean tones I've ever heard. While VH4 is different it is so powerful as well and has a signature sound that I really love. It's so addictive. It's hard to describe, but if you have the cash you should at least try them out for sure. If you don't have the cash (like me) then still find a way and get them hhahahaha

 

[FourT6and2]

I've never played a Hagan. Only played a VH4, Schmidt, Herbert, and Einstein. I've owned the VH4 and now the Einstein.

VH4 is the flagship in my opinion. But it was too much amp for me. I only ever used channel 3.

Sold it and grabbed an Einstein. Same kind of sound, but maybe a little less dry and a little more forgiving. Same great Diezel tone, though.

Herbert was meh for me. VH4 was ballsier and more aggressive. Herbert was a little smoother. A little more "modern" sounding. But less of a mid-range growl.

Schmidt is a Class A amp. A very different thing. But not for me. Maybe on par with a Bad Cat Hot Cat 30 or something.

 

[stratjacket]

Thanks for all the insight into your thinking on this guys, very much appreciated. I think everything said here makes sense. Sounds like I should be open to going for another Diezel. I mean, of course I was always open to it, but when it came down to pulling the trigger, I'd always back off.

 

[RJF]

I'd recommend a Herbert. The Herbert can do so much, and it's unique in that it's the only Diezel with the mid cut feature. That alone makes it sound different than the others.

 

[slyvren]

I'd recommend a Herbert. The Herbert can do so much, and it's unique in that it's the only Diezel with the mid cut feature. That alone makes it sound different than the others.

D-Moll has midcut too.