VH4 Question

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braintheory

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I was wondering how VH4's from different years compare tonally. I've played versions that sounded too dark and compressed (I think they were from the mid-2000's) and one version (I believe from 2010, but could be wrong) that sounded incredible (very crisp, open, aggressive, and great bite). The years I'm particularly interested in are 2013 and the very early 2000's. Are the differences really that noticeable? Which one's are brightest, more open, and most aggressive?
 
To add to that question: is it actually possible to upgrade an older version to sound like a newer one (more saturation, more gain etc.)?
 
Im not a expert on the vh4 but i owned a 2002 and currently have a 2013, i didnt like the older vh4 at all but i love the newer vh4. To my ears the newer one is brighter and has more cut, less compressed and a little more gain. The older one was dull and darker sounding. It was really compressed and had more sizzle in the gain. I immediately retubed it with fresh el34 but i still didnt like it, so i tried retubing again with 6l6 and still didnt like it. So i sold it and wasnt impressed till a month ago when i played a newer one.

From what i have read from seaching old threads on the forum there been some slight changes in 2007 and again in 2011.
 
My 98 sounds open and very clear, no compression at all.
My old 2008 was amazing and was voice like the 98 but was more saturated and compressed.
Way more gain at noon on channel 3 at 12 o'clock.

More mids in the 98 with less treble and more grind.
Both have El34's

I love both amps but I am happy with my 98 right now.
All Diezels are amazing, but they will be a bit different from amp to amp. :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
My experience contradicts the ones posted.

The older VH4's I've played (and owned) were darker, yes. But they were less compressed and had less fizz. Every newer one I've played was more compressed, had more gain, and had more fizz/sizzle.
 
Uh oh :aww:

Here we go...

Sizzle = Good
Fizzle = Bad

Older VH4 can sound darker but do have inherent grind.
Newer VH4 is easier to squash with the gain, but it can be brighter and more open.

If I may be so bold - the nuances in the varied amps can almost completely be compensated by tube swaps and EQ'ing. Just IMHO, YMMV.
 
Agreeing with jonl and FourT6and2, but (unlike FourT6and2) I don't hear any "fizz" in the newer VH4 (just "sizzle").

Gotta disagree with Mo: in my experience (having owned both), EQing and tube changes will not make an early blueface sound like a new VH4. Both sound like a VH4, but the differences in compression, saturation, and attack between the amps seem more fundamental.
 
cardinal":1sd3dvpd said:
Agreeing with jonl and FourT6and2, but (unlike FourT6and2) I don't hear any "fizz" in the newer VH4 (just "sizzle").

Gotta disagree with Mo: in my experience (having owned both), EQing and tube changes will not make an early blueface sound like a new VH4. Both sound like a VH4, but the differences in compression, saturation, and attack between the amps seem more fundamental.
Click to expand...


I am going to agree with this statement.
 
MOOSEHEADS":15g9o14f said:
cardinal":15g9o14f said:
Agreeing with jonl and FourT6and2, but (unlike FourT6and2) I don't hear any "fizz" in the newer VH4 (just "sizzle").

Gotta disagree with Mo: in my experience (having owned both), EQing and tube changes will not make an early blueface sound like a new VH4. Both sound like a VH4, but the differences in compression, saturation, and attack between the amps seem more fundamental.
Click to expand...


I am going to agree with this statement.
Click to expand...
My statement didn't take into consideration the bluefaces. Just the silverfaces onwards.

YMMV.
 
FWIW: 2007-2010 were more compressed than 2011+ They also have more gain than pre-2007. IMO, the 2011+ are more open like the older ones, but with more bite and clarity. 2007-2010 sound more like an evil version of the best marshall you've ever heard.. I have limited experience with pre 2007, but the one I played (04) was dark, but with good midrange grind. Personally, I prefer 2007-2010, and 2011+ depending on what I'm doing. I own one of each. They're ALL wonderful amps, but I think its all in what your needs are. At the end of the day they're all similar and all sound like a VH4, it's just different seasonings of the tone.
 
Which VH4's are the most raw and organic? Like I said before, some of the VH4's I played sounded too distanced and processed (like I was hearing a recording of an amp), while others sounded very real and in your face. Honestly, these differences seem to be not as subtle as you guys are making them out to be.

Also, can the older VH4's be as bright and open as the newest version or are they just inherently darker and more compressed?
 
I think the in your face factor has more to do with guitar/cab/speaker selection and volume. The vh4 comes alive when it's LOUD.
 
The more aggressive ones I've played have been older ones, 2007 or earlier. More balls in the midrange and more pissed off. To me, that equals more aggressive and more raw. But they are a tad darker than newer ones. And yeah... really depends on speakers/cabs. I prefer V30s, Greenbacks, or G12-65s.
 
It's splitting hairs though. I've had several through the years and there's not enough difference to search for a particular year/model.
 
steve_k":1vfo0p6b said:
It's splitting hairs though. I've had several through the years and there's not enough difference to search for a particular year/model.
Click to expand...
+1
 
I own 2005 and have played older and newer versions. I could say there is small difference, but not anything significant. This is especially true if you take into account how much all other equipment in the chain will impact the tones. And most importantly, they all sound absolutely great!!
 
I wonder if these differences are due to the freshness of the tubes. I now have a 2002 VH4S (which you guys said is darker and more compressed) that's been recently re-tubed and it's very open and cutting, but still has a dark sound.
 
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