VH4S Tone Issues

[btstratman]

Peter and Company,
I have a couple month old VH4S, SN 07A237 and I've been struggling with tone issues, so I am posting some symptoms asking for advice.

I have (4) Marshall 4 x 12 cabs, some with vintage 30's and others with 75's and I've changed cabinets around to eliminate speakers as my issue, so lets take cabinets off the suspect list.

I am having trouble getting highs out of my 4 channels, my rig sounds like I've covered it with blankets, it's a muffled tone. I've tried adjusting the presence, cranked the highs to max, and backed off mids and bass to the point where it should be ripping my face off and bleeding my ears, but it's not, so somethings up!

I noticed that channel 1 (clean channel) the bright switch makes a barely noticable very insignificant difference, and on channel 2 the bright switch makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. So something is definately up with the bright switches.

In summary, I know this amp is fully capable of producing treble that would make my ears bleed, and the bright switches will provide a significant difference on channel 1 and 2 which is why Peter installed them! So..... what do I need to do to fix my bright switche(s) and get the full range of tone including high end out of my VH4S.

Assuming you may want me to change my preamp tubes (bummer on a new amp)....what brand/model should I get? I understand how they affect tone, but the bright switches are not wired to or powered by preamp tubes are they? How do I fix the bright switches?

Diezel Tone Rules and this VH4S will be back kickin ass at full throttle very soon!

 

[guitarman967]

Sounds like the Bias is set to a very negative setting.
That would be the First place I'd check.
The VH4 has very smooth highs and can be considered a Dark amp but there is plenty of high end in that beast..
You will definitely notice it more if the bias is set right with good tubes and the master volume is up loud enough.

 

[Peter Diezel]

Peter and Company,
I have a couple month old VH4S, SN 07A237 and I've been struggling with tone issues, so I am posting some symptoms asking for advice.

I have (4) Marshall 4 x 12 cabs, some with vintage 30's and others with 75's and I've changed cabinets around to eliminate speakers as my issue, so lets take cabinets off the suspect list.

I am having trouble getting highs out of my 4 channels, my rig sounds like I've covered it with blankets, it's a muffled tone. I've tried adjusting the presence, cranked the highs to max, and backed off mids and bass to the point where it should be ripping my face off and bleeding my ears, but it's not, so somethings up!

I noticed that channel 1 (clean channel) the bright switch makes a barely noticable very insignificant difference, and on channel 2 the bright switch makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. So something is definately up with the bright switches.

In summary, I know this amp is fully capable of producing treble that would make my ears bleed, and the bright switches will provide a significant difference on channel 1 and 2 which is why Peter installed them! So..... what do I need to do to fix my bright switche(s) and get the full range of tone including high end out of my VH4S.

Assuming you may want me to change my preamp tubes (bummer on a new amp)....what brand/model should I get? I understand how they affect tone, but the bright switches are not wired to or powered by preamp tubes are they? How do I fix the bright switches?

Diezel Tone Rules and this VH4S will be back kickin ass at full throttle very soon!

Maybe You should send the amp to mike (at) 65amps.
We will help You out.

 

[btstratman]

Peter,
Thanks for responding. I'm in Florida. I spent $5K on an amp that failed in its first few hours run time. This is a DOA warranty failure. My expectation and my recommendation would be for Diezel to send me a new VH4S and have me return this DOA head. With all due respect for the holy grail of amps, I didn't expect to need the box to use for shipping for repairs of a brand new amp, so I threw it away with confidence! I don't think it's proper for Diezel to ask me to crate up my brand new amp and ship it a thousand miles across the country to California for repairs so I can hopefully receive back a repaired amp that will hopefully be good as new. Again, I feel the genuine thing to do is ship me a new VH4S (what I paid for) and I will pack this DOA amp in the new box and ship it wherever you like. As you know, this is simply a customer service issue.

Ship to:
Bruce Tindle
C/O Carroll Air Systems, Inc
1005 Orienta Ave
Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701

I am still an avid fan of Diezel amps and my real disappointment is that I have been waiting to introduce (show off) my new VH4S this month (replacing my Dual Rec) during our 7 outdoor shows for Daytona Bike Week where I would have potentially exposed about 100,000 music lovers to the wonders of my Diezel tone! I have another opportunity like this coming up at the Sturgis Bike Rally, so please hurry!!!!

 

[guitarman967]

Peter,
Thanks for responding. I'm in Florida. I spent $5K on an amp that failed in its first few hours run time. This is a DOA warranty failure. My expectation and my recommendation would be for Diezel to send me a new VH4S and have me return this DOA head. With all due respect for the holy grail of amps, I didn't expect to need the box to use for shipping for repairs of a brand new amp, so I threw it away with confidence! I don't think it's proper for Diezel to ask me to crate up my brand new amp and ship it a thousand miles across the country to California for repairs so I can hopefully receive back a repaired amp that will hopefully be good as new. Again, I feel the genuine thing to do is ship me a new VH4S (what I paid for) and I will pack this DOA amp in the new box and ship it wherever you like. As you know, this is simply a customer service issue.

Ship to:
Bruce Tindle
C/O Carroll Air Systems, Inc
1005 Orienta Ave
Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701

I am still an avid fan of Diezel amps and my real disappointment is that I have been waiting to introduce (show off) my new VH4S this month (replacing my Dual Rec) during our 7 outdoor shows for Daytona Bike Week where I would have potentially exposed about 100,000 music lovers to the wonders of my Diezel tone! I have another opportunity like this coming up at the Sturgis Bike Rally, so please hurry!!!!

Dude, they don't even know if there's anything wrong with the amp yet... Have you even checked the bias setting yet? Why doesnt the shop you bought it from offer any return policy on a DOA head?? Good luck with those requests btw

 

[zzzsleepzzz]

Hey Bruce!


I just wanted to post a message to vouch for the problem. I was down at the studio where his band practices in Florida last week and we had a good time cranking up his vh4 and my herbert. There is something for sure wrong with it, which does suck being brand new. I tried everything I could think of to get the bright switches to do anything and they just make no difference. (well the one does a LITTLE something...it's hardly noticeable.). I've played through a VH4 before at length and I know these switches for sure do something when you use them! I would agree with the bias being a little off, I didn't think of that, but surely getting the bias set right wouldn't make the switches start working would they? Could the bias somehow be affecting what the switches should be doing?

 

[guitarman967]

Hey Bruce!


I just wanted to post a message to vouch for the problem. I was down at the studio where his band practices in Florida last week and we had a good time cranking up his vh4 and my herbert. There is something for sure wrong with it, which does suck being brand new. I tried everything I could think of to get the bright switches to do anything and they just make no difference. (well the one does a LITTLE something...it's hardly noticeable.). I've played through a VH4 before at length and I know these switches for sure do something when you use them! I would agree with the bias being a little off, I didn't think of that, but surely getting the bias set right wouldn't make the switches start working would they? Could the bias somehow be affecting what the switches should be doing?

Yes of course it could. The switches would make a larger effect on the sound if the bias is set in the correct operating range. Its possible to have a bad tube in V1 as well.
I just think some investigation should be done before claiming a head is DOA and making demands.
I'm sure Peter will stand behind his product if it is indeed broken but again checking the bias is par for the course with tube amps.
BTW: where was the amp bought from?

 

[btstratman]

Peter,
If you need me to send this new VH4S to Mike at 65amps, please let me know the details on what you have set up with him for servicing this amp. Being in Florida, I do not know anything about 65 amps in California.

 

[btstratman]

Justin,
Thank you for vouching for me, I appreciate the support.
BT

 

[Peter Diezel]

Peter,
If you need me to send this new VH4S to Mike at 65amps, please let me know the details on what you have set up with him for servicing this amp. Being in Florida, I do not know anything about 65 amps in California.

Send an email to:

tyler (at) salwender.com and
mike (a) 65amps.com

They will take care of You

 

[btstratman]

Guitarman967,
I share your enthusiasm for Diezel and understand your defensive response. I purchased this amp new and it doesn't work properly. Since the issue came with the amp, it is an "arrival" issue and most manufacturers term an arrival issue "DOA" and they cover parts and labor and shipping on these issues "or" provide a replacement unit at their discretion. As the person that invested $5K in this amp, I would prefer to have a replacement rather than invest my time and $ in a repair. So my recommendation and request is to send me out a new amp and let the factory toil with repairs, not the customer. I try and purchase products that offer top quality and excellent customer service, even if they cost more, and Diezel is definately in that category.

With that said, lets just please wait quietly with me to see how Peter responds to his customers request.

 

[guitarman967]

Guitarman967,
I share your enthusiasm for Diezel and understand your defensive response. I purchased this amp new and it doesn't work properly. Since the issue came with the amp, it is an "arrival" issue and most manufacturers term an arrival issue "DOA" and they cover parts and labor and shipping on these issues "or" provide a replacement unit at their discretion. As the person that invested $5K in this amp, I would prefer to have a replacement rather than invest my time and $ in a repair. So my recommendation and request is to send me out a new amp and let the factory toil with repairs, not the customer. I try and purchase products that offer top quality and excellent customer service, even if they cost more, and Diezel is definately in that category.

With that said, lets just please wait quietly with me to see how Peter responds to his customers request.

Hell ya man I'm with you all the way and I know that having problems with amps is a major pain in the ass.
My position is not to Defend anyone but to give you some insight via these user forums.
In the past I've seen alot of situations where a simple tube change or bias check can solve alot of the symptoms that users have regarding tone problems.
Just a head's up before you go through a big hassle and down time without your amp man.
Good luck, let us know how it get's taken care of and what the problem turns out being..

 

[joshsage]

call me monday I'll mediate with you and salwender to get this settled for ya if needed!
Josh

 

[eddyrox]

Hey Bruce, best of luck in getting the tone issue resolved. Spending serious $$$'s only to have the amp suck tonewise absolutely blows.
FWIW, I'd take Josh up on the offer. He and Tyler/Uwe are tight! I've got a VH4 on order with Josh S, and he's highly recommended by all concerned. Let us know the outcome. We're all pulling for ya.
mike