VH4 Compression question.

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guitarman967

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VH4 can get a near perfect heavy distorted sound but I do wish I could get a little less compression from the gain Channels. I'd like to take away a bit of that compression and add some string to string clarity. If I can do that, and I think it's certainly possible, then I would say that the VH4 is the best heavy amp I've ever played. :rock:

I'm thinking about switching over to 6L6's even though I've always been a Die-hard EL-34 guy. I currently have the RUBY EL34B STR's in there along with the stock RUBY (Shuguang maybe?) Preamp tubes.
Any suggestions?
 
You can put KT88.
The amp will have more headroom, pronounced bass and high frequencies and this will 'open' up a bit your sound and will give you the impression that it has less compression.
However, IMHO always, it will sound more hi-fi like.
A friend of mine did this experiment and we came to this conclusion.

Or you can put a 12AT7 at V1 in the preamp section but you'll lose a lot of gain.
 
Thanks, gain in not an issue on these amps that's for sure... I love the sound of the amp, its the best amp Ive heard at loud volumes, It's very stable sounding and you don't have to redial your lower settings much if any at all but it still sounds squashed at loud volumes.

What I want is the open sound you get from Channel 2 but with more gain..
You would think Channel 3 would get you that but even with a lower gain setting Ch 3 is compressed more than I'd ideally like. You lose clarity with all that compression
 
Ok, I just tried a Mullard AT7 in a couple spots and I'm getting fairly close to the sound I want with it in V2 for some reason..
I tried it in V1 and the amp just seemed to lose it's edge and the bass wasnt as tight.
I tried V3 and the gain channels really werent as alive sounding. The compression was still very present..
V2 is really opening up some sonic doors however. The hugeness of the Distorted channels is still there but there is an improvement in clarity and openess.
 
Strange because V2 is used by the 4th channel only.
Maybe you should try V4 which is used by all channels too as long as you don't like it in V1.

However the 6L6 are more 'open' sounding than EL34 and KT88 even more (although I believe that KT88 do not compliment this amp).

Maybe is just a guitar/pickup combination issue?
Eg. A Les Paul type of guitar will make the amp sound more compressed and focused while a Strat with single coils or PAFs will make it sound more 'open' (especially if it's a Strat with ash body and maple fretboard).

VH4 is very guitar 'sensitive' and it's one of the reasons I really love this amp.
 
I to have been an EL34 fan because I always understood them to be more of a "metal" tube over 6L6 tubes. Out of curiosity, I recently replaced my Grove Tube EL34's to a JJ6L6 Tube in my VH4. I like the 6L6's better. It seemed to add something to the tone, a little more gritty but yet cleaner (to me). Definately give it a try, I think you might like the switch.
 
JohnRageOn":c3fn6uv0 said:
Strange because V2 is used by the 4th channel only.
Maybe you should try V4 which is used by all channels too as long as you don't like it in V1.

However the 6L6 are more 'open' sounding than EL34 and KT88 even more (although I believe that KT88 do not compliment this amp).

Maybe is just a guitar/pickup combination issue?
Eg. A Les Paul type of guitar will make the amp sound more compressed and focused while a Strat with single coils or PAFs will make it sound more 'open' (especially if it's a Strat with ash body and maple fretboard).

VH4 is very guitar 'sensitive' and it's one of the reasons I really love this amp.
Click to expand...
No. it makes total sense because I was using CH 4 for my Rhythm sound when I was doing these tests!!
So do you know what v2 is actually doing? Is it the first gain stage for CH4?
 
guitarman967":n7zt0148 said:
JohnRageOn":n7zt0148 said:
Strange because V2 is used by the 4th channel only.
Maybe you should try V4 which is used by all channels too as long as you don't like it in V1.

However the 6L6 are more 'open' sounding than EL34 and KT88 even more (although I believe that KT88 do not compliment this amp).

Maybe is just a guitar/pickup combination issue?
Eg. A Les Paul type of guitar will make the amp sound more compressed and focused while a Strat with single coils or PAFs will make it sound more 'open' (especially if it's a Strat with ash body and maple fretboard).

VH4 is very guitar 'sensitive' and it's one of the reasons I really love this amp.
Click to expand...
No. it makes total sense because I was using CH 4 for my Rhythm sound when I was doing these tests!!
So do you know what v2 is actually doing? Is it the first gain stage for CH4?
Click to expand...

LOL I only know the tube layout. Each manufacturer can do his own magic.
The only thing I can help you with is that each tube can produce up to 2 gain stages (meaning that from a tube we can make 1 and a 1/2 gain stages or even 1). The V1 is the first gain stage and is used by all channels and on all amps that's why it plays the most detrimental role in our sound.
Peter and Olaf can help with more technical info.
 
V2 is the second stage of channel 4.
If You have a solder iron we can do a small mod.
Please contact me be email.
 
I would certainly be interested in that Peter, Thank-you..
Could I please have your email address?
 
It interessed me well to ! :yes:

Is it a loud mod ? Does it change anything to tone ? :confused:
I'm not a solder's specialist !!
 
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