Thinking about going Diezel, but I'm concerned.

[nbarts]

I plug into an Einstein or Herb and BAM! There's THE tone.

That's right. It's time to buy one now.

 

[petereanima]

**LET ME PREFACE THIS BY SAYING I AM NOT BASHING DIEZEL AMPS IN ANY WAY, NOR AM I TRYING TO STIR UP ANY TROUBLE!**

I've been wanting to pick up an Einstein or Herbert, but it seems like I've seen a lot of people having reliability issues when it comes to tubes, fuses, MIDI, etc.

I play Splawn amps, and while I love the tone, I want something with a more fluid lead sound...I plug into an Einstein or Herb and BAM! There's THE tone.

However, I've not had any issues with my Splawns after quite a while and have seen next to no one have issues with them. So I have to say I feel more confident in them thus far over the Diezels.

I play a lot of shows, and have plans to play over 120 shows this coming year. I really need something I can take out with me and have total confidence in it.

Can anyone offer any reassurance?

Thanks.

hey, as already everyopne mentioned - almost every issue is tube-related, and of course - exactly HERE it comes up to a pile because its the official forum and the easiest place to get in contact/help.

the only issue i had was that a fuse was blown, because (i thiink) one of the tubes got a little loose during transport (i carry the amp around several times a week - no way that i'll leave it in the rehearsal room ) - and even IF there had been a bad powertube, i could still have played that gig with 4 instead of 6 tubes - try that with a Engl or something. and if there really should be the most unexpectable case, that there is an issue, not tube related - there just is no better support than the one Diezel offers.

and as you said - plug into one of the Diezels, and -> there is the tone. so why are you still thinking about it instead of already tweaking the shit out of it?

 

[Anonymous]

I have owned a VH4, Herbert, and Einstein. I have been playing Diezel amps since 2002, and not one problem, even with tubes!
While tubes are the luck of the draw as far as life expectancy goes, every effort is made by Team Diezel to give the best that it can at the time the tubes and other parts are installed and broken in on each amp. No one can predict future events. And as we all know, only God knows what an amp goes through in shipment.

Rest assured that unless you plan on unloading your Diezel from a moving vehicle, you should expect that the amp will outlive you.

You can have confidence in Diezel like no other amp company on this planet. After playing for 53+ years, my experience tells me this is the premier amp company you will ever deal with.

 

[PBGas]

I bought mine last March and I've had 0 issues with it. I'm not expecting to, either. I've played a pile of gigs with it. I've been in the studio with it constantly running for up to 12 hours at a time depending upon what I was recording for PIxar or what we were scoring. It's a solid amp. No issues.

 

[scottph]

Had my Herbert since fall of 06. Not a single problem to report.

 

[mincy]

I've only had my Herbert since the spring, but I've had it out for half a dozen gigs and in and out of the studio a ton of times since. It's an older herbert (001/081) and I bought it from a guy who had gigged it all over. If he wasn't lying to me, he never had a problem with it either. Not to mention, he shipped it from Colorado to New York to get it to me. I've had it open to rebais it and I must concur with everyone else that the amp is built like a tank. I've got no worries.

 

[Kyemack45687]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. I'm definitely looking to pick up a Herbert or more likely, an Einstein. I don't think I'd need 180 watts!!!

 

[scottph]

Don't let the watts fool you. 180 is barely louder than 100, or 50 for that matter. To get double the volume you would need 10 times the watts...

Herbert is probably the best high-gain amp at low volume...and I mean low...

 

[van hellion]

you said it before i could get to it. more watts doesnt mean louder at regular or even gigging volumes
peace
A Wood

 

[scoeb city]

ive played 500+ shows over the last 3 years always using a herbert and never had a problem, easily the most reliable piece of guitar equipment i've ever owned. best purchase and investment i've ever made was hands down buying a diezel herbert.

 

[Sam Laming]

Remember, 99% of what you see on this forum is people's problems... that's what it's for, to resolve them, wittness how the problems get solved so well by the man himself and note there's probably tons and tons of Diezel owners who have no idea of this site who are happy with their amps.

 

[Kyemack45687]

Don't let the watts fool you. 180 is barely louder than 100, or 50 for that matter. To get double the volume you would need 10 times the watts...

Herbert is probably the best high-gain amp at low volume...and I mean low...

Yeah, I know this...I should have rephrased that to say I don't know if I want to have to deal with 6 power tubes!! LOL...either way the wattage/tube factor is not a factor in my decision, only joking around.

I am more inclined to the Einstein's simplicity, however. But then again, 3 channels of Herbert could be useful. The biggest factor in my decision is that I don't have the cash to buy a new Herbert, only a used one, whereas I could buy a new Einstein. Will I still get any kind of warranty/support if I buy a used Diezel?

Thanks guys. You all are a great bunch of dudes.

 

[Rob Tahan]

Ive had my Herbert for about 8 months so far, and have played at least 50 shows with it cranking and no issues yet. When i first got it at guitar center it had some kind of issue (most likely tube) that needed to be fixed. I told them to fix it before i bought it, otherwise i wasnt paying a lower price to find out there was a possible issue. Anyways, i know for sure that they changed the tubes, replaced the led light and something else, but i think that had to do with the poor shipping and it getting thrown around. When i first bought my Herbert i had the same concerns as you after reading stuff on HC and having this volume in and out droppage problem in the GC. But sure enough after they fixed the issue (and it was used beforehand)I have yet to have any problems. Knock on wood. But flexibility wise... its amazing. Never could i have imagined an amp being so flexible and intelligent. Not to mention the huge sound it has. I play lots of styles on guitar and it honestly does cover it all. One thing i dont really hear people say is how good the blues tones in it are. Some of the best blues tones ive ever gotten were from the Herbert and i own fender amps. WAY underrated in that department! In fact i didnt even buy it for the "metal" tones, i got it for the awesome feel that it brought out in bends, legato, and sure feel. My only complaint with it is that its not as easy to get artificial harmonics out of it as it is out of some of my other amps. But that could be because i like a really dark sound. With that said, im predomanantly a rock guitarist, and it meets my needs in just about every way. Its not too forgiving to let you play slop, but it has enough mercy to give you a little slack here and there. Overall so far, im stoked! Ive been waiting a little while to put my review up on Harmony Central. But im hoping when i do, it will bring to light whats really up with these amps. The most versitile amp ever! No joke

 

[steve_k]

your only concern should be which one to buy

steve

 

[Me]

I had countless problems with my Herbert. Tubes kept blowing. I replaced pairs with others I had sat about. Other sets went. Got sent more tubes. These went. Sent it to Germany where Peter checked it, retubed it and sent it back. More went. In the end got a replacement one. Was fine for a while, then tubes started misbehaving again. I then retubed the whole thing with Watford Valves tested EL34s as I'd become dubious that it had never blown any of my old EL34s I'd pulled out of my marshall, always the other sets. Fine. Nothing. Not a problem since. Ever. Not a peep.

It's for this reason I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, buy any f**king chinese f**king s**t valves. I've got a whole bag of Ruby tubes I'd like to insert into Mr Rubys bottom for the hours of messing about, and extra tubes I had to pay for.

So yes, Diezel AMPS are very reliable, but if you ask me, the first thing you need to do is put decent tubes in the power section. I think Peter may even sell them with different tubes in now after various tube problems people got. Maybe some were lucky and never had any problems with theirs, but I seem to have got a lot of bad luck and a LOT of bad tubes.

P.S. Yes, this amp is fantastic. Buy one.

 

[Duolos]

I had countless problems with my Herbert. Tubes kept blowing. I replaced pairs with others I had sat about. Other sets went. Got sent more tubes. These went. Sent it to Germany where Peter checked it, retubed it and sent it back. More went. In the end got a replacement one. Was fine for a while, then tubes started misbehaving again. I then retubed the whole thing with Watford Valves tested EL34s as I'd become dubious that it had never blown any of my old EL34s I'd pulled out of my marshall, always the other sets. Fine. Nothing. Not a problem since. Ever. Not a peep.

It's for this reason I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, buy any f**king chinese f**king s**t valves. I've got a whole bag of Ruby tubes I'd like to insert into Mr Rubys bottom for the hours of messing about, and extra tubes I had to pay for.

So yes, Diezel AMPS are very reliable, but if you ask me, the first thing you need to do is put decent tubes in the power section. I think Peter may even sell them with different tubes in now after various tube problems people got. Maybe some were lucky and never had any problems with theirs, but I seem to have got a lot of bad luck and a LOT of bad tubes.

P.S. Yes, this amp is fantastic. Buy one.

I am sorry you had this experience. On the flipside, I am thankful that you don't label an amp in conjunction with a bad chinese tube. I am glad you love your Diezel.

 

[axeman81]

hey, as already everyopne mentioned - almost every issue is tube-related, and of course - exactly HERE it comes up to a pile because its the official forum and the easiest place to get in contact/help.

the only issue i had was that a fuse was blown, because (i thiink) one of the tubes got a little loose during transport (i carry the amp around several times a week - no way that i'll leave it in the rehearsal room ) - and even IF there had been a bad powertube, i could still have played that gig with 4 instead of 6 tubes - try that with a Engl or something. and if there really should be the most unexpectable case, that there is an issue, not tube related - there just is no better support than the one Diezel offers.

and as you said - plug into one of the Diezels, and -> there is the tone. so why are you still thinking about it instead of already tweaking the shit out of it?

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I own both the Diezel Herbert and an ENGL Blackmore, the ENGL will also continue to work at 50watts if a powertube dies during operation.

To the OP, I wouldn't worry about reliability with Diezel, it is perhaps -the- most strongly built amp in the industry (and also the heaviest of them all! both sound & weight )