If you have the choice between a VH4 and a VH4S, save the extra bacon and just go with the VH4. If there just so *happens* to be a VH4S for sale in yer hood and it's something you're frothing over, it'll definitely get the job done, bearing in mind it's not going to be as loud as a 100W head, and not as "big iron" feeling as the mono 100W head - instead, it's 2 x 50W heads in one headshell. Hope that makes sense.
Well now that extra bit of intel changes the narrative entirely here MasterSlater. All bets are off as to "tonal differences" now that you've mentioned this is an earlier blue-face iteration from the 90s of the Diezel lineage. You're no longer dealing with just tonal differences based on whether it's a "typical" mono vs stereo head, you're now dealing with the fact it's a different circuit altogether from the more contemporary VH4 models of the amp in addition to the fact it's stereo.
This is all true. The original Blueface and later Silverfaces are different animals and sound very different from each other. It might be hard to find someone who’s played both S and non-S version Blueface, but either way it should sound like one of the best high gain amps out there assuming it’s all functioning as should. The only guy I know of who’s tried both S and non-S Blueface is jonl, but I don’t know if he still is active here anymore. I’d imagine the same difference for the blueface (S vs non-S) should be similar to what they are with silver, but who knows. Maybe you should email Peter Diezel directly
I apologize, I should have been more clear on the question...I am aware of all the circuit differences between the older and newer ones. I meant the tonal differences between the stereo and mono of the same production period.
Thanks! I have discussed this with Jon plenty of times and he has helped a lot. I just wanted other’s opinions!
Jon seems to know a lot about those early VH4’s. Maybe you can also try Jason (EXPCustom). He also has had many Bluefaces and knows a lot about them