[sakeido]

I saw a band called 2 Cents live just awhile ago. The one guitarist was playing a 5150 I think and the other guy had a Herbert. The Herbert could not be heard for shit and it didn't sound $2000 better then a Rectifier, in my opinion. It was really gainy and fat and it was punchy, but very compressed with almost no dynamics. The tone on the whole was pretty lifeless and the 5150 sounded way better.

I would look into another amp man, especially if you are going by how it sounds on heavily produced songs. What is it you actually like about the tone that makes you want one? Otherwise it would be hard to suggest an alternative.

[budda]

i've heard a herbert live, and while i dont recall the exact tone (ie it sounds like x band y song), i did like the guys tone - it was the heaviest of all the bands. im fairly sure that the live tone is heavier then the studio tone - the band is the cancer bats, if anyone's interested. gotta A/B stuff like a madman until you find "your" amp - but isnt that half the fun!?

[Stitch]

Yup.

My opinion of the Herbert, having played it, was OMFG! I want it!

Its up there in the list of things to own, and in my opinion, it totally slays my 6505.

[DreamSound]

Thank you all for all the feedback. I can appreciate people that know what they're talking about and really pay attention in detail to different tones.

I am really looking for a characteristic tone. The response on boutiques amps was exactly what I was looking for. Now, I'm intrigued by the sound and I can't wait to try out some of the amps mentioned on the first page (Pitbull?) I've owned a Mark IV, a Mesa Triple Rectifier, the new VOX Valvetronix series, etc. The Mark IV and Vox are very good amps but again, I'm looking for a more characteristic 'modern' sound, such as Chevelle and Tool.

It definitely doesn't have to be a Diezel (the reason why I started this thread) and I agree it is not worth the money nor donating my testicles for cancer research, but I'll still get one someday

DOES ANYONE HAVE LINKS TO GOOD CLIPS OF SOME OF THE AMPS MENTIONED ON THE FIRST PAGE OF HIS THREAD?

[noodles]

Originally Posted by DreamSound

I'm looking for a more characteristic 'modern' sound, such as Chevelle and Tool.

You keep mentioning Chevelle. Peter is a Mark IV player.

[sakeido]

OOH one that comes to mind is the Rivera Knucklehead Tre! There is one for sale on harmony central right now for a good price. The cleans are great, the crunch is good and the gain channel is wicked - almost perfectly in between Mark IV punchiness and Rectifier sag and saturation.

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by DreamSound

DOES ANYONE HAVE LINKS TO GOOD CLIPS OF SOME OF THE AMPS MENTIONED ON THE FIRST PAGE OF HIS THREAD?

No, but honestly web clips of amps really are completely worthless. They never sound accurate, and are really of no help. There are countless factors which play into how a given amp sounds and is recorded, it's just a waste of time. Seeing a band play live that uses them is somewhat helpful, but there's still many variables which come into play there as well. With my VHT, I just went on reviews, reputation, the tone I heard from bands who used them live, etc. It was a risk but it worked out. I mean I got to play it in a store, but not at levels which would have really painted me the true picture (plus it had ancient tubes in it).

PS: I don't think we need an "in my opinion" disclaimer since that should be implied when we're talking about subjective topics such as this

[TMM]

Originally Posted by Rindgecore

Diezel = Not worth the money.

+ 2000

I had the chance to try both a VH-4 and a Herbert out for a couple hours 2 years ago. I brought my Soldano Avenger with me to a shop down in Brockton, MA, thinking I was going to trade the Soldano in toward something 'even nicer.'

Both Diezels were great sounding amps, and the Herbert definitely sounded better to my ears. After A/B'ing with my Avenger for a little while though, I moved away from the Diezels.

Then I plugged into a VHT Pitbull UL-100, and it absolutely laid waste to the Diezels. I wouldn't even call it a close comparison.

The Diezels just sound like a really good version of something that's been done before. The VHT has a real unique, signature tone, and it's really good. Same with the Avenger. I'd take either of them over a VH-4 in an instant.

Both the VHT UL's and the Soldano Avenger, along with a couple other amps, like the Bogner Uberschall, would probably suit you well if you like the Diezels. All those amps have a very open, 3-D sound, which admittedly the Diezel does have.

Other amps in the same 'tonal quality' range would be the nicer Engls (Invader, Savage, maybe the Powerball), Hughes & Kettner Triamp, the Framus Dragon, or the Cobra. Maybe even the Madison Divinity. This latter group all have a little tighter sound though, not quite as open as the group above. Just as good, just a little different.

... oh, end result of walking into the store was keeping my Avenger, and additionally getting a VHT CL-50H a little while later. And, now I'm on the Triple-X... it's not quite my old Avenger, but it does well.

[Rindgecore]

You farking tell me that that a VH4 sounds 4200 dollars good. Hell, it sounds 2500 dollars good, but not over 4 grand good.

[metalfiend666]

Originally Posted by Rindgecore

You farking tell me that that a VH4 sounds 4200 dollars good. Hell, it sounds 2500 dollars good, but not over 4 grand good.

One thing you have to bear in mind is it's made in Europe. Here it sells for £2200, exactly the same price as a Mesa Roadster. A Dual Rec is around £1700. Unfortunately the Dollar is fairly weak right now, so you end up paying proportionally more.