Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: ailean on May 19, 2009, 09:41:23 PM

Title: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 19, 2009, 09:41:23 PM
WooHoo!

My VH4 is here! I'm still waiting on the cab to go with it, but for now I can slum it with my Orange 4x12 v30 loaded.

Sounds AWSOME. Really BIG and FULL sounding, very detailed. 4 channels of goodness.

1) Clean pretty much all the way up, pretty dark I suppose, but the bright switch fixes that if you need to!

2) Overdriven. Starts where 1 leaves of and goes up to a good crunch tone. Also has a bright switch.

3) This is very similar to my Orange Rockerverb dirt channel, nice and open, good classic rock sounds. British voicing I'd say.

4) High gain, this is a modern sounding compressed channel, american voicing, superb for your chunky metal requirements.

Each channel has it's own volume, gain, bass, mid and treble controls, plus the amp has a master volume, presence and deep control. The master volume control works well, but the amp seems to open up a bit more at room levels if I up the master a bit and then bring in the hotplate at -8ohms. Need to play with this more.

Haven't even scratched the surface yet, but I'm failing to see why I'd need another amp. (please note I didn't say i wouldn't want another amp, I just won't need one.)

Can't wait to get the cab now!
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Lew on May 19, 2009, 10:27:46 PM
Very jealous!!! Nice one :D
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: d1dsj on May 19, 2009, 10:29:11 PM
Cool, sounds like you like it!  :) Great when new stuff works out... looks great and I'm sure the cab will make it complete. So you keeping the Orange stack too? Congrats...... enjoy.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Nolly on May 19, 2009, 10:34:41 PM
Woo, finally! Congrats mate.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 19, 2009, 10:40:20 PM
Cheers guys. Yes the Orange is staying, I still like that amp, and since both me and Sue play (well I attempt to play) we can use 2 stacks. I may even have a crack at bi-amping.

I've just noticed the cat head sticking out of the side. I knew he was evil incarnate.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: d1dsj on May 19, 2009, 10:49:03 PM
Cheers guys. Yes the Orange is staying, I still like that amp, and since both me and Sue play (well I attempt to play) we can use 2 stacks. I may even have a crack at bi-amping.

I've just noticed the cat head sticking out of the side. I knew he was evil incarnate.

Wow, even better.... a family rock out! Nice one.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: dave_mc on May 19, 2009, 11:39:26 PM
awesome :D
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hamfist on May 20, 2009, 07:12:28 AM
Cool Rich !!

I WILL be coming around at some point to have a play on that one !

Has Axos christened it yet ?
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: noodleplugerine on May 20, 2009, 07:59:28 AM
Awesome man, am super jealous.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Antag on May 20, 2009, 10:49:28 AM
Very Nice! :)

What power valves did you get?  I understand the VH4 is available with EL34s, 6L6s, KT88s, my favouruite 6550s or pretty much anything else...
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hunter on May 20, 2009, 12:33:29 PM

Very cool. They are ripping amps with a very own sound, great buy!
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 20, 2009, 09:32:16 PM
Very Nice! :)

What power valves did you get?  I understand the VH4 is available with EL34s, 6L6s, KT88s, my favouruite 6550s or pretty much anything else...

I'm not actually sure what it has, I need to open it up. In theory it should be 6550's as all new Diezel's are shipping with them, and it is a new item. However, 'new' doesn't say how long it's been sat around. I'll probably open it up and have a poke around at the weekend :) Pics I promise.

This was actually supposed to be a used stock head, but as a compensation for the wait time on the cab James at Diezel UK upgraded me to a new head.  8) Can't argue with the service :D

Because it was suposed to be new I bought a new quad of Phillips NOS 6L6's, they are some weird variety that handle 35w each, so 140w the quad. Supposed to have a great clean sound, but since I now have a brand new head I guess I'll leave them until I need them. I might play with the pre-amp tubes though, I got a selection at the same time as the power tubes to try out.

One thing, this head gets bloody hot, the face plates are both uncomfortable to touch after it's been running a while.

Alan you are welcome to come round anytime, mail me when you are free.

I need to learn some bluesy stuff, channel 2 is supposed to be a great blues channel, any suggestions for a bluesy sounding track that can be played by an idiot?
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Johnny Mac on May 20, 2009, 10:41:49 PM
Good to hear you got at last! I bet you can get loads of good tones from 4 channels.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Ian Price on May 20, 2009, 10:45:19 PM
Very nice indeed - never tried/heard one but looks like it has lots of options for ifferent tones. Maybe I'll try one out one day and get some more GAS!
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hunter on May 20, 2009, 10:47:01 PM

I need to learn some bluesy stuff, channel 2 is supposed to be a great blues channel, any suggestions for a bluesy sounding track that can be played by an idiot?

Forget about blues. Crank the gain on Ch2 and enjoy some 80s hardrock heaven.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Adam.M on May 20, 2009, 11:59:52 PM
So you have a Rockerverb AND a VH4?! blimey.

I've never tried one, but I always thought of the VH4 being much like the laney VH100R, but much better.

A great all rounder, do everything amp.

I seriously want to try one at some point.

(though I do think the control surface, the bottom half, is a bit ugly and looked better when blue... )
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 21, 2009, 06:23:05 AM
Forget about blues. Crank the gain on Ch2 and enjoy some 80s hardrock heaven.

I haven't got enough hair to play 80's   :P  Def Leppard "Lets get, lets get, lets get rocked...."    PDT_001

I know I'm biased coz I own one, but I think the VH4 is an amp everyone should try if they can. Not everyone will like it, that's a given, and some won't like it enough for the price. But it is a very versatile amp. Trying one is quite hard though, not many people stock them, or have them in stock at least. We bought this one without trying it, based on clips and reputation, was a big gamble!  PDT_027 but it paid off I think.

Still haven't played with all the dials and switches yet, everything is still centered :) Oh well, I have a 4 day weekend to play with them  :guitar4:
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hunter on May 21, 2009, 06:45:56 AM
Check Hetfield`s settings please!

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Nolly on May 21, 2009, 09:39:46 AM
Check Hetfield`s settings please!

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

Should sound great, everything straight up or everything at 2oclock seems to work for most people.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hunter on May 21, 2009, 09:43:11 AM
Check Hetfield`s settings please!

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

Should sound great, everything straight up or everything at 2oclock seems to work for most people.

Errrm, not really, he is scooping the mids and boosting treb/bs, check again (o'clock settings):

CHANNEL     GAIN  VOLUME     TREBLE     MIDDLE     BASS           MASTER SECTION           
1                                  VOLUME    1    
2                                  MIX PARALLEL LOOP    12    
3          1    3    3    10    4         PRESENCE    1    
4            3    3    3-4    11    5         DEEP    12    
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 21, 2009, 01:24:13 PM
Cheers for that hunter! I'll try it out when I get home.

If Sue's read this then it's probably already being played :)
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: MDV on May 21, 2009, 01:53:58 PM
Check Hetfield`s settings please!

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

http://www.montyjay.com/jamesvh4settings.html

Looks really similar to my favourite settings when I tried one.

Its very much an everything-on-5-and-tweak-a-bit-from-there amp. Extreme settings of anything were way too much or way too little, they are very large-ranged controls.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Nolly on May 21, 2009, 03:31:28 PM
Quote from: Nolly
Should sound great, everything straight up or everything at 2oclock seems to work for most people.

Errrm, not really, he is scooping the mids and boosting treb/bs, check again (o'clock settings):

CHANNEL     GAIN  VOLUME     TREBLE     MIDDLE     BASS           MASTER SECTION           
1                                  VOLUME    1    
2                                  MIX PARALLEL LOOP    12    
3          1    3    3    10    4         PRESENCE    1    
4            3    3    3-4    11    5         DEEP    12    

Interesting, I was looking at the picture rather than the text. I'd assumed they were the same  :?
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Crazy_Joe on May 22, 2009, 01:30:06 PM
You're going to have fun with that! Lucky bugger :lol:
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: morgasm on May 25, 2009, 11:58:49 AM
Very Nice! :)

What power valves did you get?  I understand the VH4 is available with EL34s, 6L6s, KT88s, my favouruite 6550s or pretty much anything else...

I'm not actually sure what it has, I need to open it up. In theory it should be 6550's as all new Diezel's are shipping with them, and it is a new item. However, 'new' doesn't say how long it's been sat around. I'll probably open it up and have a poke around at the weekend :) Pics I promise.

This was actually supposed to be a used stock head, but as a compensation for the wait time on the cab James at Diezel UK upgraded me to a new head.  8) Can't argue with the service :D

Because it was suposed to be new I bought a new quad of Phillips NOS 6L6's, they are some weird variety that handle 35w each, so 140w the quad. Supposed to have a great clean sound, but since I now have a brand new head I guess I'll leave them until I need them. I might play with the pre-amp tubes though, I got a selection at the same time as the power tubes to try out.

One thing, this head gets bloody hot, the face plates are both uncomfortable to touch after it's been running a while.

Alan you are welcome to come round anytime, mail me when you are free.

I need to learn some bluesy stuff, channel 2 is supposed to be a great blues channel, any suggestions for a bluesy sounding track that can be played by an idiot?


i got my vh4 off james hes a top bloke, delivered my amp and spent hours showing me round the thing and showed me how to get the most out of midi presets and so on. amazing service! congrats on the amp, hope ur enjoying it as much as i am lol
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 26, 2009, 09:35:00 PM
Thanks morgasm. I took an extra day off over the weekend so I could have a play, and didn't even get to plug a guitar in the front. Oh well, it's not going anywhere.

Sue's been using it though, and it really does sound amazing.

Antag (if you read this thread again), fitted with 6550's. We've swapped out the stock pre-amps for some cryo's and made some small improvements, although I think it's more down to taste than quailty. I'm really noticing the bottom end and cryo's are supposed to enhance that, but the amp has great bottom end anyway.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: hamfist on May 26, 2009, 10:52:12 PM
Hey guys, I get to play on Rich and Sue's VH4 on saturday !!!

 I hope it's not too amazing. I simply can't afford any GAS.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: Philosoful on May 27, 2009, 09:47:52 AM
Very Nice! :)

What power valves did you get?  I understand the VH4 is available with EL34s, 6L6s, KT88s, my favouruite 6550s or pretty much anything else...

I'm not actually sure what it has, I need to open it up. In theory it should be 6550's as all new Diezel's are shipping with them, and it is a new item. However, 'new' doesn't say how long it's been sat around. I'll probably open it up and have a poke around at the weekend :) Pics I promise.

This was actually supposed to be a used stock head, but as a compensation for the wait time on the cab James at Diezel UK upgraded me to a new head.  8) Can't argue with the service :D

Because it was suposed to be new I bought a new quad of Phillips NOS 6L6's, they are some weird variety that handle 35w each, so 140w the quad. Supposed to have a great clean sound, but since I now have a brand new head I guess I'll leave them until I need them. I might play with the pre-amp tubes though, I got a selection at the same time as the power tubes to try out.

One thing, this head gets bloody hot, the face plates are both uncomfortable to touch after it's been running a while.

Alan you are welcome to come round anytime, mail me when you are free.

I need to learn some bluesy stuff, channel 2 is supposed to be a great blues channel, any suggestions for a bluesy sounding track that can be played by an idiot?


i got my vh4 off james hes a top bloke, delivered my amp and spent hours showing me round the thing and showed me how to get the most out of midi presets and so on. amazing service! congrats on the amp, hope ur enjoying it as much as i am lol

+1 to James being the most awesome bloke. He drove mine down to Victoria station, parked up at some red traffic lights, didn't worry when they went green, passed it out to me haha, the dude utterly rules, best customer service ever.
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 27, 2009, 01:31:31 PM
I hope it's not too amazing. I simply can't afford any GAS.

Maybe. Personally I think you're doomed :D
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: keith on May 27, 2009, 06:23:31 PM
Cheers guys. Yes the Orange is staying, I still like that amp, and since both me and Sue play (well I attempt to play) we can use 2 stacks. I may even have a crack at bi-amping.

I've just noticed the cat head sticking out of the side. I knew he was evil incarnate.
pity the neighbours when you both start rippin
cheers
keith
Title: Re: NAD (finally)
Post by: ailean on May 27, 2009, 07:36:18 PM
Cheers guys. Yes the Orange is staying, I still like that amp, and since both me and Sue play (well I attempt to play) we can use 2 stacks. I may even have a crack at bi-amping.

I've just noticed the cat head sticking out of the side. I knew he was evil incarnate.
pity the neighbours when you both start rippin
cheers
keith

Well I may be changing my mind... but the neighbours aren't safe, if I sell it will be to buy a Herbert and Diezel FL V30 4x12  :D :D :D   :guitar4: