Diezel VH4

My DIEZEL is a VH-4 made in 2006. 4 Channels with seperate eq per channel.
1: Clean sound, I dont use clean sounds very often so I dont really know what a clean sound should be like. In fact, I like the sound and with an EMG- Humbucker u can get sum nice crunch sounds here.
2: Amazing, it sounds about 10 times better than my Marshall TSL sound. By putting in sum bass, you can almost cry cause it's so warm and... it sounds like it ****** should sound!
3: This is the best distorted rhythm channel ever. I play sum Punkrock and its just awesome. 2 years ago I went to the next music store to try one and even without using the EQ, it sounds great. I dont need an amp which can get a good tone after 10 hours of trying out, just to realize that it still sucks one day later. I dont wonder why guys like Hetfield or Ian D'Za play this amp without getting paid for using it.
4: High gain channel, perfect for Solo parts and looots of gain.

MIDI: First I thougt: Damn, why dont they make a footswitch like Marshall or Mesa. Finally, I must say, the midi controller offers lots of possiblities you wouldnt have when using a footswitch. I can easily make 8 different sounds just by using the effect loop for every channel, the Amp has more possibilities than I could ever use. And I just need a Midipedal and if it breaks, I simply buy a new one. Its definately very versatile.

I use a Fender USA Deluxe strat with a seymour duncan Hot Rail, a Gibson Les Paul with P100, a Heritage Gary Moore signature with 81 EMGs and a Gibson SG Guitar. It doesnt matter which guitar I use, the Amp always sounds awesome. But never without being "coloured" by the type of guitar I use, it simply does what it has to do and nothing else.
Another advantage towards the other amps I tried is, that you never get sum muddy tone, even if you "overgain" your sound. The chord stays clear and they simply have "big balls". For me it fells like combining the best sounding Marshall with the power of a Mesa Recti. Simply the perfect mixture, a warm and defined sound with lots of power. What else do you want?

Currently there are some problems concerning the tube quality in general. My VH-4 did his job quite well for the last year, but after having changed the tubes he burned. No problem anyways cause Peter Stapfer simply gave me a new VH-4 for the time mine got repaired. But in fact the problem is not the amp but the ****** tubes, they simply cant stand what they should. You cant compare a VH-4 with a Marshall, it's a genius work and build with lots of passion and not screwed together by sum mexican workers. It's build on the limit, every part of it has to give its best to make this sound possible. And the sound is worth it, no doubt. So as you can see, if one part of the system fails, it simply breaks down. Is this Diezels fault? No, they cant build the tubes, they have to buy them. And its a fact that the tubes lost quality, so its simply unfair to blame DIEZEL for this problem most of the high gain amps currently have. And I'm sure this will change soon.
To sum it all up, its a masterpiece of work and if you want to have an amp that never breaks down, just dream on or dont buy a tube amp, every amp I owned (Marshall, ENGL, Mesa) broke down at least once.

If you got any problems with ur Diezel Amp, they repair it for free. They even send another amp if you need one, geat service and all those guys who say they wouldnt take care of their customers simply lie or are not able to write a friendly email. They love their amps and they will always try their best to help you as fast as possible. Just remember, DIEZEL is not a big company. Its Peter Diezel and Peter Stapfer, 2 guys for all the amps around the world and they are here in Germany. They will not visit you in Canada or the USA and they might be very busy sometimes. If you write an email and dont get an answer, write another one or call them. Believe me, they will do their best to help you as they did when my VH-4 burned down. This is the best and friendliest support I ve had in my entire life so dont believe anyone who tells you it sucks, it simply doesnt.

DIEZEL is an impressive company with a great ideology and lots of passion and love for these Amps. The VH-4 is the best amp I have ever played and I tried almost every amp existing. For me it's worth every penny, although I had to save money for about 1 year to afford one. If you are looking for a great and special amp you should try the VH-4, maybe you get the same awesome felling that I got when I first played it. It simply sounds like it has to sound and you dont need to make any tradeoffs.
I thank Peter Diezel and Peter Stapfer a lot for creating this Amp and finish the endless quest of finding the perect sound for me.

Great concept, just unreliable, MIDI channel switching, 4 great metal channels, has potential to be awesome, when they iron out all the bugs..... I have been playing 19 years, so I feel valid to offer this review

Brutal metal sound, perhaps so heavy it may be unusuable when you go through mic preamps on a desk and through a P.A system. Sounds great at bedroom level, again unreliable

Can we go into - numbers here. This unit suck sucks sucks in this area. My chassis got loose from it's housing, and tube failure was unquestionably high. Fuse blew 3 times, LED light flickered on and off. Ok, so I call their distributor, wow, what jerks, they spoke to me like I was a 3 year old. Trying to justify the amp's failure as user error, just stopped short of saying the amp is next to God, and it cannot go wrong. They suggested I email Peter Diezel himself, well now 5 weeks late..no reply.

Read above, terrible, poor, unqualified, and lack of follow up. Only one place to ship this amp to when it goes wrong, and it WILL go wrong... Thats $200 for return shipping, and it will happen more than once...forget about it!!

Exactly as the title says, What a hunk of junk, I would feel more comfortable with a Brujera amp by Behringer, and thats REALLY saying something, as Brujera are well, yeah, you can figure that one out!!

Ok, there seems to be a lot of slagging this amp going on here, and I thought I'd state my personal opinion

I'm pretty sure mine is a 2004 issue VH4, but I'm not 100% on that being that it's at my jam space, and I'm at home.

I play in a hard rock band, and need to have a great variety of tones, almost all of which i get purely from this amp, and my guitars, with occasional use of a few effects.

4 channels - clean, crunch, distortion, crazy, effects loop with two mixing options, no headphone jack, but if you're buying this as a practice amp for low volumes, it's not what you want.

I don't actually have an issue with the midi footswitching, it is very smooth, and very easy to program, and you can get an old midi controller for under $100 on ebay most of the time.

I use the amp in live shows and jamming with a full band, and depending on the size of the room, sometimes I have to run it at 50W instead of 100, it has plenty of power, you'll never be lacking in terms of power.

I have 4 main guitars that I play live and they are as follows:
Gibson Les Paul Custom - 2007 silverburst - stock
Gibson Les Paul BFG - 2008 silverburst limited edition - stock
1990 Fender Telecaster Plus - stock
Fender Stratocaster Frankenstein with many customizations, but the ones that matter here are Tom Anderson soapbar pickups and a solid maple body.

The amp sounds amazing, but one of the keys is to make sure you aren't letting it take control of you, almost every dial on my head lives at 12:00 for settings, I think many people's problems with sound quality are coming from poor settings, this amp is not meant to be dialed to 10 in many (if any) of it's controls, as it's tuned to sound good naturally.

It has almost no noise coming from the amp, and there is plenty of difference in distortion tones. I find with my mostly dark sounding pickups though, that it is important to use the bright switches on channels 1 and 2...

Channel 1 is generally always clean for me, and some of my guitars have very hot pickups...

Channel 2 breaks up a little where i have it set, if you up the gain, you can get a bit more crunch, depending what you're looking for out of this channel

Channel 3 has some very brutal distortion if dialed up, or a wonderfully even tempered sound (best i can put it) where it's always easy to hear your notes, but the gain adds a great touch.

Channel 4 has gobs of gain, just gobs of it, great solo channel i don't use it for much else...

Important to remember if you're looking into this amp is that it doesn't have the most Saturated tone, when i want something really saturated, i'll add some fuzz into my sound ahead of the amp in the chain.

It's never had a problem for me, built like a tank, and holds up like one too.

Peter Diezel and Uwe Salwender (i think that was his name) were very helpful in assisting me when I needed to re-tube the amp and was trying to make sure it was the best compliment to the sound i like out of it.

If it were stolen or lost, I'd probably cry, cause in the 15 years I've been playing, nothing has ever sounded this good, and it would be hard to afford/find a replacement with the rarity of the vh4 in canada.

it sounds like itself, and not really anything else, it's a unique sound, and if you like it, it's all you'll settle for

4 channels, but the channel 3 and 4 were pretty much the same, the channel 4 had a bot more dust noise and slightly more gain, but no bug difference, channel 1, clean, channel 2 crunch, channel 3 and 4 Distortion and lead. t suits for hard rock and metal, I wish channel 4 would be more different, it's almost the same as channel 3.

one of thebest distortion I have heard, it's just flawless, top of the calss in sound. channel 2 is great, you can have classic crunchs and if you crank up the gai you will have a great distortion so you can have a vintage and a moder heavy crunch. Channel 1 sounds as good as as the best Fender amp, its just great.

the worse amp ever! Do not buy this amp if you will use it on tour, This thing blew a fuse right after i opened the box and played for the forst time, them it blew 2 fuses in 3 days. then in a week it blew 2 more. this thing just keeps blowing fuses, and the worse thing is that it blew the first day using it in a room temperature. Simply this thing was build to last nothing. I rate it a Zero! I pay the biggest money you can pay for an amp and I couldn't even use it in a live gig fearing it would blow another fuse! a cheap peavey amp is 100 times more reliable than this chep build piece of crap

Zero, Zero, Zero! I called Diezel, nobody answered the phone when I called Diezel, send an email, nobody respoded, I damn you Diezel! good I still had warranty and got my money back.

This amp produces probably the best sound ever for Rock and Metal, but what is all this great sound for if you cannot even use it in a full gig without blowing a fuse? it's like trying to drive a Ferrari Enzo in a small french town with stone roads and speed bumpers every 100 meters.

As stated hundreds of times here already

Follow up to review below - see below
However, since Peter re tubed the amp, the sound has become more defined, and the cleans sound a lot better. I still need to find a balance between the clean sounding thin, and breaking up a bit too much, but it's getting there.

This is a follow up to my earlier review. I sent the amp off to Diezel, and got it back within two weeks. The repairs did not cost me a thing, and I believe they replaced the circuit board and all the tubes.
The customer service at Diezel is second to none, and although for the price of the amp, I maintain that it should not have had any issues, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the company to others.
Consider this an apology for my hastiness to point out the few negatives of an otherwise fantastic and entirely reliable company.
Also, the warranty on the amps is lifetime. I admit that I was mistaken in believing that it was a one year warranty.
Although the amp did break down within 6 months of ownership, the problem was very quickly and conveniently solved, even with the shipping costs to Germany.

Couldn't have wished for better service from Peter and the team. Best customer support I have ever received. Thank you Peter!

See below - Sounds fantastic. Lets just hope it doesn't break down again!

I've had this amp for a year now, and thought I would be completely honest about it's positives and negatives.
As stated before - 4 channels with Fx loops for each, also a master serial and parralel Fx loop.
Points taken off due to the lack of a simple channel switching device. The amp doesn't come with a footswitch, and only allows midi footswitching. You know what this means?! You have to buy another company's footswitch and hope it works, so you can do somethihng really simple like... urrr... change the channels on a 4 channel amp! Ridiculous. With the price this thing costs, you would think that a simple jack connector would be appropriate, as well as the midi stuff.
I was looking for a simple 4 button midi footswitch for months, until I found that Randall is the only company who makes them. However, Randall have now changed the spec on them so they use 6 pin DIN cables instead of the 5 pin cables, hence, they now don't work with the VH4. I then had to shell out over ??150 for a footcontroller with way more buttons than I will ever use. Sounds daft?! Believe me, I was P1SSED!
Controls on the amp do what they say they do. Prescence and Depth are very handy features.

Good clean sounds. A little dark sounding but very Hi-Fi. Some good tones to be had here, but nothing noteworthy really. 7/10 for clean sounds.
Crunch - Sounds a little flat, but breaks up very nicely. This covers a lot of ground, and although still a little dark sounding, covers early Marshall territory quite nicely. Another 7/10 here
Channel 3 - Great Palm mute sounds here! You can dig into the srtings and the amp sounds like it is crushing under your hand, before blooming into wonderful, pure sounding distortion. Fantastic harmonic overtones and a great clarity and punch to this channel. Not too tight though. 'Machine gun' palm muting isn't quite 'there'... If anything I would want a little more attack on this channel, but each to their own. It does sounds fantastic, and brings a smile to my face when played alone, or in a band situation. Cuts perfectly through the mix. An 8.5/10 here
Channel 4 - More of the same here. Too much gain, less mids, doesn't cut as well as channel 3. I don't use this one too much, as the ammount of gain just gets lost in the mix, and it starts to sound a bit "too much" - even for "TEH BR00TALZ METULZ" Riffs. A bit "Meh" with this channel. 7/10
Very satisfied with the sound. NOT ??2000 satisfied though. I would pay ??1400-1500 for this amp if I was asked to make an offer, but what can I say?! I was irresponsible with my cash!

NO I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT RELY ON IT.
Long story short - I had the amp for about 6 months, when it started having all sorts of weird volume issues. I changed all the tubes to no avail. I took it to a tech, who said there was likely a broken track on the circuit board, and it couldn't be fixed without days worth of work unsoldering everything to get to the underside of it.
For ??2000 this should absolutely not be happening. I paid for a reliable amp, apparently built with "Military Spec Components", and I got a f***ing lemon.
Not happy with this. After 2 months of re soldering all visible connections, changing tubes and getting incredibly frustrated with the amp running at about the level of a quiet radio when completely dimed, I decided that I would have to cave in and pay the huge shipping fees to send it back to Germany.
The amp is with Diezel at the moment, who don't pay any shipping fees, and who intend to charge me for any new tubes they decide to put in the amp.
Go figure...

All the staff are very friendly, and very helpful.
As the previous reviewer stated before, they certainly talk a good game, but let's see how they play it.
5/10 due to prompt replies to questions, but yet more charges for fixing an amp that is broken due to poor manufacturing.
1 Year warranty is a joke for something this expensive.

If it were stolen I would jump for joy, claim the insurance,buy a Marshall JVM or similar workhorse and spend the change on a holiday. The only reason I don't sell this amp is because the sound really is great.
The resale value on these amps is so low (Around ??1300) that if I wanted to get rid of it I would run over it with my car and claim it on insurance.
If it breaks down again, I will probably smash it to pieces and claim insurance. What other choice would I have, except to spend another ??300-400 shipping it and buying new tubes?!
Having ranted on about this, though, it is a great sounding amp. Just not worth the price, the hype or the hassle.
Feel free to email me about any of this, or if you want clips of it working, or clips of it broken.
Gaaaa I can't believe the d**n thing is broken! Look at the Rig-talk forums and see how many other people are having problems with this amp! I am not amused.

This is a follow-up to below: Peter & Uwe came through with a new VH-4 as a replacement for my `02 head;this so I could finish these session dates and still get this head repaired. Now, that's customer service! So, here's an amended review.

As regards features, the one thing that might put the amp over the top, assuming it could be done without messing with the audio path too much, would be the addition of a lush reverb. Of course, reverbs always seem to crap out and go down. So, really, a feature-set at around the 8.5 mark (MIDI with EQ for each channel) is probably as good as any head will get.

Again, and as noted, I rate this at 9. It's balls on,though the clean tones may be a little harder and more harsh than one may want in a perfect world. If you're looking for a `64 VOX-like chime, you're probably not going to get it here. As such, the head, while extremely hip for most styles and tones, isn't going to be a chime or surf machine, per se.

Yeah, the only issue has been this strange problem with how the MIDI board has been receiving voltage. It's a fresh problem and isn't related to durability, per se; as it appears to be a problem that may be rooted in a bad batch of parts Peter received. The build strength and quality of the head itself is high--it weighs a ton relative to many other amps and is solid.

Well, customer support has gone above and beyond the call of duty here; with Peter shipping over a new VH4 as a backup/replacement for my head.

Been playing for quite some time and own quite a few different axes and amps. The VH4 serves me well for a number of reasons. I would venture to say that for 70-80% of the players out there, the VH4 would be anideal amplifier. Of course, for many of the others, the VH4 is simply more amp than they need. And for some they require the specificity of a `65 Twin or really are solidly wed to the tone of their `71 SL-100 or something. But for the mass majority, this one amp would most likely do it all. Of course, it isn't inexpensive, so it cannot be rated a 10--Fantastic Value. But it's close.

Here's a follow-up to the last post: Peter has gone out of his way to ship a new VH-4 to me as a replacement for this head; thus allowing the sessions to continue full speed ahead. As noted, the sound/tone of the VH-4 is very good, and if there was some way to develop a smart chime-like reverb system, the features set would be about as good as it gets, as well.

The sound quality is as noted before: near the manifestation of a Platonic form in the material realm. I've never heard an amp that was a 10--I've had heads that had channels that qualified as 10's, but never an entire head. As such, a rating of 9 is as good as it comes from this player.

My original VH-4 seems to have a very odd and elusive issue. Odd insofar as it has been spot on perfect for years and then just went down.

After a rare problem with the head, and balls-deep in various session projects, Peter has sent me a new VH-4 as a substitute for my injured amp. Now, THAT'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT!

Me? I've been playing since Les Pauls were $500.00 new. The VH-4 is a good fit for my rig insofar as I use it together with an old Bruce Egnater MICA TOL-100 head, each split side to side with a 4x12 & 2x12 cab apiece. Because each head is MIDI, it's a no brainer. So, the VH4 is great because it makes utilizing a deep rack rig easy. It also allows for 4 channels which I find is really important. The clean may be a bit too chrisp for some tastes, but the gain is good and doesn't come off like the buzzy, preamp-driven crap that many builders seem to shoot for these days. Of course, the VH4 is not inexpensive, so the bang for the value ratio may be a subjective element. As far as other gear...I have enough to get the job done.

Amp has crapped out and nobody seems to respond to email; though they have my $4000.00 amp. We'll no longer recommend Diezel products to clients here.

Well, they talk a good game, but over three weeks and no report on the issue with this amp, and a week with no response to email concerning the problem that required the initial repair. At these prices, some word as to a preliminary bench analysis should be forthcoming within 10 days.

Well, anymore, apparently hype trumps reality. It's a George Bush world. But when I shell out serious dough for an instrument, it needs to function as designed. And if not, it needs to be rectified in a timely manner. This head is a large waste of time and money.

The features have been said 50+ times. I will focus on the interaction. It is layed out so good, I can easily dial in tones... I mean more than one! I have the independent controls over each of the four channels and then I adjust the DEEP knob to fill out the low end after I get it where I want it. Man, this is the only amp I will ever need. 4 Channels and.... (see next section)

THEY ALL FU<KING ROCK! I was turned on to this amp by one of the producer's of my album, Kris Singh, and I will never turn back. It has more balls than any Marshall and it always maintains a clarity that can't be messed with. We used it on our recording sessions and we tried hard to beat it. We put up vintage Plexis, Bogners XTC and Ubershall, Engl, Soldano SLO, New Marshalls, Modded JCM 800s, we tried pedals, we tried everything. At the end of the day, NOTHING could touch the Diezel for our sound. We do range from classic Rock, Blues Rock to Classic Punk and Modern Heavy Metal. My band is "Stereo Transmitted Disease." You can hear the Diezel all over our songs at our myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/stdthebanddotcom

We did not use any pedals for added distortion. All Diezel. Various channels though.


The Bogner Ecstasy was the second best amp for us and we used that a little too.

I had to buy a Diezel after the sessions and I don't regret it. It is my #1 amp! I wish I could rate it higher than "10"!!!

Took it on the road. No problems. It is solid as hell.

Never needed their support, that is the best kind ;-)

Best heavy rock amp I have ever used (and we tried a lot of the top ones next to it in the studio). Great for classic rock, clean, AC/DC on up. It can ever get you that Joe Walsh sound. Amazing. I cannot believe that many sounds are all in one box. My producer called it the swiss army knife of guitar tones. and it is. I am their biggest fan. They brought the sound out of my head, through my fingertips and out the speakers. What more can you ask for???

I hate to give all 10's but this amp earns it.

Mde in 2004. I bought it from someone and traded my brandnew Dual Recto in.
I play metal.
I use a Boss FC50 to switch between channels.
Mine has new JJ EL34L in it, and of course a bias job.

I don't know if the ESP Kamikaze guy was def or just jealous, what a bullsh*t review!!

I play a LTD EC1000 with JB and a Ibanez ICJ100WZ (EMG81, now JB).
Amps i've owned:
Marshall JCM800
Marshall 2550 Jubileum series
Crate Stealth
Mesa Boogie Mark III
Mesa Single Recto
Mesa Boogie Mark IV
Mesa Triple Recto
Engl Powerball
Mesa Dual Recto


I will not review channel 1 and 2, because i don't use them. I'm a redneck metalplayer, sorry.

Channel 3 is why i bought this amp.
The thing with Recto's is that i love the brutal sound, but it needs a tubescreamer/overdrive (with passive pickups)to be tight! And those pedals just eat low end and body. The VH4 is supertight WITHOUT pedals in front!! I now play with JB's cause i love the dynamics of it together with the VH4. Channel 3 has enough gain to be a solochannel.

Channel 4 has more gain, is different voiced and great for solo. It is still very tight and can be used as a rythmchannel. I've had tight palmmute sounds with a dark PAF-like pickup.

When i bought it used there was a single powertube broken. I just noticed this because a led at the back was on. You can still play this amp with one powertube!! Have had the VH4 now for 8 months, being used on stage and rehearsalroom. No problems.

Just check the Diezel forum!!!


You will love the owners.

So i've owned some pretty good amps but would only buy another VH4 if it was stolen. No more pedals in front or recto's lacking tone.
I like Recto's, but the Diezel is just so much better. The Recto distortion is in the highfrequenties section, while the Diezel's is more in the midlow section. Recto's scream like a pig, Diezels bark like a big mad Danish Dog. (my 2 cents)

Mine is made in 2003 and i own it for about three years now, still on the original Ruby's (EL34). My other amps are a Marshall JCM800 2204 and a DSL100 head, which i will mainly be comparing it to in this review. I use a Mesa STD. 412 cab with V30's and Gibson LP's. It doesn't get any more versatile as this, you know the feature's. Parallel AND series loop AND seperate channel insert loops for each 4 channels. WOW. Instead of boring you with how fantastic this amp is (it really is!!!(;), i'll tell you about the things that i less like. First, you can only switch this amp with a MIDI floorboard. Beeing a big fan of analog pedals (and alot of them) it's a mess in front of me with everything connected. I'd wish Diezel would make a compact fitting footswitch for it like the Mesa Recto or Marshall TSL footswitches. Not everyone likes digital rack effects, to my ears they always sound thin and fake, even the real expensive ones. Also, the lack of a spring reverb really dissapoints me. No reverb sounds better as the ones built in Marshall or Fender amps. Therefore i knock 2 points off. (though i can't really justify that with all the other features this amp has)

Channel 1, clean. Reminds me of a Hiwatt 100. VERY clean, personally i prefer the "bell" like "under the bridge/Peppers" cleans of my JCM800 better. It's just a little TOO clean and open sounding for my tastes. But that's just me (:
Channel 2, raw. Great for that breakup sound that goes well with chording alternative/pop/rock music. or with chorus and delay, some pretty nice ambient sounds think U2 or (later)Pink Floyd. With the gain all the way up, it has about the same amount of distortion as a JCM800, the AC/DC territory.
Channel 3. The reason i bought this amp. The massive low end paired with tons of gain without getting brittle and muddy, like all main production high-gain amps do, just made the hairs in my neck rise when i first played it. I knew i had to own this. It "Thumps" like thunder with palm-muted riffs (also due to the deep control), >HINT< Don't place your bottle of beer on top of your amp or anywhere close, also don't play it out loud when you have diarrhea. Brown sound x 2! (;
Channel 4, lead. Great as a solo channel, again it has that "dark brown" vibe goin' on that doesn't pierce your eardrums like main production amps do on high notes. And it's great to have a seperate lead channel with it's own volume/gain control AND channel inserts for some delay/verb. Metal players would like this channel as a "rhytm channel" as it has even more gain as the third channel.

this amp isn't noisey at all compared to my Marshall's or any other amp i owned/played, even with everything past noon (don't try this at home, kiddies(:).
It has that "open, in your face" like vibe to it. That's great on the 3/4 channels, but not (though very good) on the first 2 channels. I like my cleans to be more "organic" (god i hate explaining sound in words) So i would rate channel one at 7, channel two at 9, channel three at 13, and four at 11. (:

I'm sure you can drop it from a 2 story building and it would still work...

BUT...

The metal parts on the housing (corners and handle) are showing rust-speckles. They did so since i hardly owned it a year. I clean all of my stuff reguarly and even my '84 JCM 800 looks brand new and i never even dusted it since the early 90's when i got "mature". Maybe has nothing to do with reliability but still for the price these things go for you might expect something better.

Never tried.

This amp is all about versatility. The third channel is the best crunch channel i have ever heard. I play alot of music varying from rock to grunge to alternative to pop to stoner. This amp delivers in every catagory. If i had it my way it would be a JCM800 as channel one, a Vox AC30 as channel 2, and the Diezel VH4's channels 3/4 for crunch/lead. I don't think i will come any closer to my ever illusive "perfect amp"

2002 model with every feature an amplifier could have. Multiple FX loops, independant channel controls, channel select buttons, mute, 7 Chinese 12AX7's, and TONS os power through 4 6L6's. I use this amp in medium to large venues, and tour with it 7 months out of the year. It's got everything you'd need, except a footswitch.

I use this amp with a variety of Les Pauls, and a Splawn 4x12 cabinet. I tour with a hard rock band, and do lots of studio work. I wanted to get one amp that would "do it all". This is about as close as you can get to the perfect all round amplifier. It is dead quiet on every channel.

Channel 1: Stiff, super clean sound. Almost impossible to break up. I find there is not enough low end on this channel, and it has a very bright tone even without the bright switch on. Sounds incredible with reverb and chorus on it, though.

Channel 2: Nice broken up clean to JCM 800 territory. Sounds great with an overdrive in front. Not my favorite, but very good.

Channel 3: Big, FAT, rhythm sound. Lots of gain, but like channel 1, it feels a bit stiff. I also have a Splawn Quick Rod, and a EL34 modded 5150. Harmonics explode off the fretboard easily with both of those amps, but I just can't get that feeling from this channel. It is great for doing rhythm work, and complex chording, but for super tight "chugging", I prefer the Splawn head.

Channel 4: This channel is incredible. Violin like sustain, and lots of punch. It reminds me of my old Mesa MK-2C+, but way beyond. The gain does not need to go past 11:00 for any reason. I tends to squish a bit past that. This is a tighter channel than channel 3 in my opinion. I like this channel better for tight rhythm work.

I plan on switching the tubes to Ruby EL34B-STR's very soon. I've messed with SEVERAL preamp tubes and combinations, but the stock Chinese 9th generation 12AX7's seem to work the best so far. I grew up playing Marshalls, so I'm used to that tight upper midrange EL34 sound. The 6L6's don't really do it for me, but I've been trying to give them a chance.

One of two Diezel amps I own. They are incredibly well built, and HEAVY. Only problem I've had was a burned out preamp tube. Very dependable.

Salweinder company has been incredibly helpful. The warranty is a bit of a joke to me. A $4000+ amp should have a lifetime warranty. My Soldano SLO has a lifetime transferable warranty. I'd think Diezel could do better than a one year warranty. I've never heard one bad thing about the company's service, and have never heard of any problems with the amps. Hopefully I won't ever need the warranty.

I've been playing for over 20 years, and own MANY boutique amps as well as run of the mill Peaveys, Marshalls, etc. Every amp does something different for me. I can't say one is better than the other, but there are attributes of each one that I prefer. My Splawn and my Diezel Einstein are the ones I enjoy playing the most. The VH4 is a great "all round" amp that does everything very well. I like to use it on the road for that reason, and that it is MIDI controllable. I don't feel that this amp is as "open" sounding as the Einstein, but is close. The Einstein is incredible!

Born in 2006:
This is the amp I have dreamt about having all my life.
It has four channels of diversified flexability and TONE./
No reverb but a Quality pedal should solve this.
I use this amp @ home for practice and gigs.
More than enough power and gain for anyone
Individual channel inserts
Needs to have an external bias adjustment for changing tubes without taking in for service

Clean channel is PRISTINE. The amp harmonicaly changes with tubes used and the variety is outstanding for a tube head. Four channels . Spin the knobs get different characteristics and tones that I could never get with any other head . The gain is unreal , Mad defined and bad to the bone. I have never heard any other amps make this type of growl without the use of effects. No need for a distortion pedals @ all to get high gain . DEFINITION and CLARITY is incredible .Thumbs up for this config. of an amp.I play Gibson les pauls with 12-52's and it is a killer combo. Gibson Gothic

Seems like it is built extremely well and I do gig without a backup.Mine has the ruby red el 34's.

I called Salawender in Cali. and was amazed they had time to talk to me and answer my Questions. I am very satisfied that I was treated so well. You guys are great!!!!!!!!!!!!!A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+

I have been playing for over 20 years and finally decided that it was worth the money to buy this piece of gear. I have had Mesa boogie triple rec solo, Marshall Tsl 100, Peaveys ,Fender. I play alvarez acoustics and mainly Gibson Les Pauls. I wanted an amp that could do it all this is the one. I mainly play alternative rock but this amp will do them all. If someone stold it I would have them on camera @ my house and would handle it myself when I found them. not big on thieves or cheaters. I wish the amp had an external bias so I could change tubes whenever I felt like it . It is very nice to have the best sound out there .Thanks Diezel you rock!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a public service announcement: the Randall 4-button MIDI footswitch (#180290) works great with the Diezel. It is pretty basic (4 channels only), but it is very solid. MF has them for $50; I bought two.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Randall-4Button-MIDI-Footswitch?sku=180290

I use the on my VH4-S, but I have friends who use them on the regular VH4.

All the "nuts and bolts" have been covered already, I think...this head more than easily covers all of the "essential" sounds anyone would want to ever attain from any live rig...scoops out of the head like ice cream...

Ibanez w/buckers
Tele w/ single coils
It fits EVERY- and ANY- THING, just spin the knobs - if there's a bad tone, you need to dig for it. I still haven't found one.
Surprisingly quiet, even on high gain, channel 4.
Overall, it's very smooth. You might wanna pair it with a Marshall cab to sharpen it up. It's SOOOO thick, like a milkshake...damn right, it's better than yours...

I can't imagine that I'll eveer have a mechanical problem with this amp - it's built like a tank! I wish it was slightly smaller and lighter - but I'm willing to trade that for the heavy-duty-quality!

The warranty is 5 years, as far as I can tell. I bought it from Chuck Levin's Washington Music in Wheaton, Maryland, and although the salesman (Bill) treated me quite fine, I kind of expected a a little more service considerering I bought the VH4 off the floor, no box, no warranty, no manual. I carried it out in a Hefty trash bag, which is kind of disgraceful, considering what I paid for it.

I need to add that plugging into this head has been like fucking the prom queen every night since I picked it up, even without effects...it is indeed the shiznit...

Been playing for almost 30 yrs
I've insured it (duh), so I'll never, EVER be without one ever again - it's that good. Don't be afraid - it's the last amp you'll ever need - no need to eff around...
I LOVE that it's tone is 3-dimensional...it's got EVERYTHING (and fellow players will hate you for the tone you have that they can't cop - THICK)
Tried a mess of other heads - Bogner Uber, Shiva (which is great, just diff), Hughes, Duo and Tri-, various Mesa Rectifier dealies, etc...the VH4 is the SHIT. I didn't want to spend this much on an amp head, but I wanted the best I could find - this head was it. Period.

A lot of nice features which you can read about in other reviews posted below or above - so
I'm not gonna bother you......
I got this about 3 weeks ago and I still can't believe how good this amp sounds. I've never really liked these multi channel amps - not because I don't like the concept but because I never really tried a multi channel amp that blew me away on all channels!.....but to my ears this is the best one made so far. That's way I have almost always gone for 1 good basic sound in my amps having a lot a pedals in front them - but I don't need all those pedals anymore. The VH4 does it all!

I play rock n'roll, Rn'B, Blues, Pop, Jazz, Heavy metal etc. - I have owned a lot of high end and vintage stuff like:

1. Fender 1974 deluxe reverb
2. Fender 1965 super reverb
3. Fender blackface 1966 bassman top
4. Fender pro junior
5. Fender tonemaster top
6. Marshall 200 watt KT88 Major 1969
7. Marshall JTM-45 1965 top with kt-66 tubes
8. Marshall acoustic amp
9. Orange OR-80 with matching cab
10. Bogner Metropolis combo
11. SWR California Blonde
12. Mesa Boogie mark IV with matching cab
13. Hugh and Kettner ? Zentera amp
14. Laney 100 watt top
15. Laney 50 watt top

Well....The diezel VH4 has totally blown me away. It does it all very very good. I play in many different bands and this amp simply covers all my needs. Sounds fantastic with the 212 matching diezel cab. Go get it if you want the world most versatile and best sounding amp!

No problems yet. Built like a tank!

I've talked with Peter Stapher quite a few times and he has always been very friendly with me taking his time to answer my questions etc. Probably the best customer support I've tried so far.

I've been playing for over 15 years and I'm very picky about my gear - I want the best and in the Diezel I've found my dream amp!!!
If it was lost I'd had to get another one.

Every feature you'd ever need in an amp, except for a footswitch. That is my only complaint about this amp. At $4200.00, a simple footswitch would be nice. This amp can cover every style of music perfectly, and accomidate every type of pedal or effects unit with excellent clarity. There is tons of volume and headroom in this amp. Cool feature is the individual tube fuses that will keep your amp working if a tube goes out during a show.

I use Les Paul Standards, and PRS Custom 24's through this amp.

Ch. 1- The most magical clean I've ever heard in 20 years of guitar playing. It has exceptional feel, and is so rich that pedals and reverbs are not necessary.

Ch. 2- This can cover blues to 80's hair metal. I use this channel exclusively. I've got it dimed with the bright switch on, and it's more gain than most rockers will ever need. After all that, it cleans up better than most amp's clean channels.

Ch. 3- Massive 3D sound. This amp is VERY bass heavy, and I never turn the bass past 11:00 ever. Gain is insane at 12:00, yet still very refined with excellent harmonics and overtones.

Ch. 4- Almost too much gain. I don't know why anyone will ever need this much gain, but you can hold notes as if you were using an Ebow. Maybe some people like that, but it's not for me. It is not easy to tame this channel. At 10:00, there is already too much going on.

Diezel. German made. Long lasting Ruby tubes. Super sturdy chassis. Tube failure feature. To me, all of these features equal reliability.

Some of the best in the entire amplifier business.

In 20 years of playing, and being an amplifier freak, I think this is in my top 10 of amps. My '79 Plexi is on the top of that list. I also own a Splawn Quick Rod which I think is one of the best sounding amplifiers I've ever heard as far as being a rock/metal amp. The Diezel is definitely a one trick pony that can be used for any type of music, but it's price is the only holdback. Is it worth the $4250? I'd say no, but if you have the cash to burn, and you're a working musician that's playing a variety of music styles, go for it.

4 independent channels, all tube, midi-switchable, each power tube fuse protected, handcrafted, built-like-a-tank amphead. 100 Watts.

There isn't any other head on the market with these features - and its sound ;-)

I'm using all kinds of guitars, LPs, Strats, heavy Strats . . . my style is classic rock - old school heavy metal. Playing over 25 years now.

The amphead fits those styles perfectly.

Ch1: either bright sparkling or fat Hiwattish cleans. The bright switch and the 3 band eq makes it pretty easy to find your sound.

Ch2: a super organic nice - either warm or crisp - full sounding channel, which goes from a light break-up to good crunchy amounts of gain. It makes your style breathe like very few amps out there.

Ch3: the Diezel trademark channel. You need a ultra fat overdriven heavy crunch? Use this. Bites, kicks your belly, shakes the wall. Set the pots to noon and enjoy. A masterpiece, unavailable in other amps. Nothing comes close to this. A neo-classical channel - and the standard for crunch of the new millenium IMO.

Ch4: does either more (DM like) super heavy rythms (dime the gain to 10 o'clock) or creamy singing leads. Think a perfect not oversizzling and unfuzzy SLO ;-). Very adorable IMO.

Its a Diezel. Built like a tank, excellent features to protect the amp and player in all situations . . . never failed of course. I'm running mine with EL34s of course.

Again: its a Diezel. Just contact one of the Diezels (Peter or Peter) via mail or telephone - they will respond or even help you on the fly. Uwe Salwender also is a class act when it comes to service, support and customer relations. The Diezel company is known for their outstanding customer support.

To the previous poster:

If you came here to bash Diezel and recommend your favoured company all I can say that it is childish and ridiculous. It seems that the huge majority of reviewers is seeing things obviously completely different than you and I'm under the impression that "us" are not the guys who are deaf, but you. If you are unable to dial in the right amounts of presence you've either forgot to hook a cab to the amp - or you are deaf and/or dumb.
A simple phone call to Peter would have solved your problem (although I doubt that you ever owned a Diezel, you probably just looked at it in a shop).

My overall rating is pretty simple: One of the best ampheads on the markets, a neo-classic already. Unbeatable when it comes to versatility and options/features, unbeatable when it comes to rock/hard rock sounds. Diezels other heads, Herbert and Einstein, are focussing on different styles and players, but all three share one common thing: very very hard to beat :-)

Others have already listed. (Too many to list.)

I used an ESP Kamakazi custom with Duncan distortion at bridge, Duncan ssl-1 at the neck. My music style is eighties metal/rock. Ibought this amp because of hype and reviews in guitar player magazine.... Now I know (The hard way) not to buy based on these things. The clean was pretty good. Second channel was fat, but dark (I wouldnt say warm) and no presence. The third channel sounded the same, just a bit thinner with a little more gain... Again, no presence. The same goes for the fourth channel. Despite other reviews, this amp has no chance of getting any brown sound! The gain does not even crunch when you mute chords. ( Get an Engl amp if you like this!) very disappointing, and I thought it was way over priced. I had my amp tech check it out, and the first thing he said was, "It's too dark and has no presence." I couldn't help but agree. the more I turned up the treble and presence, it just got harsh.

I din't keep it long enough to have any. But my amp tech says, "The way it is technically built, your looking at serious service problems in the future."

Very helpful and friendly.

If you want alot of presence and crunchy gain, (Think VH-1 or Dokken "Back for the attack", this is so NOT it!.

I read somewhere that this amp was optimized to sound really good at70-90dB. It does. I have played hundreds of small clubs and I have never really been able to turn up loud. I have only ever played one stage that was big enough to really crank a non-master head. We were the ubiquitous "opening act". So once again I stood on my postage stamp with my amp blasting into my pants with a mike on it. The main bill had already sound checked and there was no changing the PA system. So... yep took right in the balls again. My point here is that this amp is really great for a working guy playing small clubs. I, while tempted, did not buy the 4X12. Mostly because I am fairly smart and once I have made a mistake the requisite twenty to one hundred times, I learn. I bought the Diezel 1X12. I was a littly hesitant to spend six bills on a 1X12 but really out of the four cabs I tried it really was the best. The actual features of the amp are listed ad nauseum elsewhere, but I consider the fact that this amp was designed to sound really great at lower volumes is the best feature this amp has.

I considered buying a Komet amp, a JSX Head and 5150 4X12, a Marshall TSL100, and a Flexi 50 from THD. I really liked the JSX but alas the Diezel is way better and WAY more versatile.

I play two strats with humbuckers in the bridge position. I use this amp for blues style music,it's really rock when I play it. I also do classic rock. It does a great AC/DC and Van Halen. Hell I just used the sample sounds page. Classis Aerosmith etc... It really shines at the Texas tone on channel 2. Think "Texas Flood".

I try to write reviews that are actually helpful to a potential buyer. So with that in mind; here goes. This amp is truly like taking four amps to any gig. Doing the blues/rock thing covering Stevie, Jimi, etc... you can get away without bringing a switch and use only channel 2 and your volume pot. The clean channel or channel one is very nice. It is not however, very good for real jazz. That is to say harmonic, improvisational music like Jobim, Kern, Rodgers, Parker, Coltrane et al. In a pinch though it would do.

Great for legato players which is why I bought it specifically. I suck at picking but I can play pretty fast and proficient using legato. There's a sample on the sounds page. I find it works for me but you really need to have right hand muting together.

Buy the way this is a preliminary review I will update this in the future.

Too soon to tell.

Too soon to tell.

I have been playing since I was eleven. I am now forty, didn't get serious till I was nineteen.

I would buy it again if it were lost or stolen.

What I really love about this amp is its versatility. While one could use it as a four channel amp the individual channels are so flexable one could do a whole blues/rock gig with just channels 1 and 2. A classic rock gig channels 2 and 3. Even on channel 4 the amp responds very well to changes at the volume pot on the guitar.

There is nothing I hate about this amp. I am giving it a 7 though because of the price tag. I am not really complaining but for the cost of this amp one could buy two or three amps and a head switcher and a cab and maybe a few pedals to boot. It sure is convenient to only have to carry one head though.

I BOUGHT IT ON JUNE 2002 DIRECTLY FROM PETER DIEZEL; THERE ARE NO OTHER AMP IN THE MARKET WITH SO MANY FEATURES ( SEE OTHER REVIEWS )
NO COIL REVERB OR STANDART FOOTSWITCHES : NOT A BIG DEAL SINCE I PREFER DIGITAL REVERB AND DELAY RACKS ( TC ELECTRONIC ) RATHER THAN COIL REVERBS. ADD A GOOD CHORUS PEDAL IN THE INSERT CHANNELS AND USE A CHEAP MIDI PEDAL TO CHANGE ALL THE PRESETS AND CHANNELS AT THE SAME TIME AVOIDING FLOOR TAP DANCING, NICE FOR LIVE SITUATIONS !

THE VERY FIRST THING YOU WILL NOTICE IS THAT'S NOT ANOTHER MARSHALL, FENDER OR BOOGIE CLONE AMP ( THANKS FOR THAT !). IT'S A DIEZEL AMP, SO ALL YOU WILL HEAR IS A PURE ORIGINAL DIEZEL TONE. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT BY YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS. I BELIEVE THAT 50% OF THE GUITAR TONE COMES FROM THE FINGERS AND THE OTHER 50% COMES FROM THE AMP AND GUITAR COMBINATION.TONE IS VERY PERSONAL, BUT THE STRONGESTS CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS AMP ARE :TONE CLARITY, TONE ARTICULATION, VERY FAT TONES, VERY SILENT ( NO NEEDS FOR NOISE GATES ), NO MUDDY OR BUZZY TONES ( IN THE DISTORTED CHANNELS )
THE FOURTH CHANNEL CAN GET VERY COMPRESSED WHEN YOU SET THE GAIN KNOB OVER 1:00 O CLOCK, BUT WHO NEEDS SUCH GAIN LEVELS, EVEN ZACK WILD WOULD NOT USE MORE GAIN THAN THIS, I BET ! EVEN FOR THOSE WHO USES GAIN LEVELS ON MAXIMUM IN FOURTH CHANNEL WILL NOT NEED TO USE ANY NOISE GATES, THE TONE WILL NOT BECOME BUZZY OR MUDDY, ONLY OVERCOMPRESSED
THE CLEAN TONES CAN BE USED TO PLAY JAZZ ( A LA BENSON ) OR BLUES ( A LA ROBBEN FORD OR LARRY CARLTON ) WITH NO OVERDRIVE OR BOOSTS PEDALS
I THINK THAT VH4 TONE CLARITY IS THE MAIN CHARACTERISTIC THAT DIFFERS IT FROM OTHER AMPS I HAD TRIED BEFORE !
I USE SEVEN DIFFERENT GUITARS, GIBSON LES PAUL, CUSTOM FENDER, GUILD SEMI HOLLOW BODDY, OLD AMERICAN CUSTOM KRAMER, EPIPHONE JOE PASS, GIBSON CHET ATKINS NYLON STRINGS AND DI CASTELLI'S CUSTOM STRAT ( MADE IN BRAZIL ALL BY HAND BY TOM DI CASTELLI - A MASTERPIECE ! )
I HAVE TRIED SOME PRS CUSTOM GUITARS TOO WITH THE VH4 ( VERY NICE )

THREE YEARS USING IT AND NO PROBLEM UNTIL NOW !

PETER DIEZEL IS A VERY NICE AND FRIENDLY PERSON. I WAS IN MUNICH IN 2002 AND BOUGHT IT DIRECTLY FROM HIM; HE SPEND ABOUT 90 MINUTES WITH ME, MAKING THE LEAST ADJUSTMENTS AND GIVING ME SO MANY TIPS AND EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE AMP. HIS PARTNER PETER STAPFER EVEN GAVE ME A RIDE BACK TO THE HOTEL LATER ! SOMETIMES I HAVE SOME DIFICULTIES TO GET MY E-MAILS OR FAXES ANSWERED, MAIBE BECAUSE DIEZEL'S COMPANY IS GETTING BIGGER EVERY TIME. ANYWAY I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY DIEZEL AMP AS I SAID BEFORE !

DEFINITLY A CLASSIC HEAD, LOTS OF TONE PERSONALITY, NO TONE CLONING, BUILD YOUR OWN TONE ! I STILL HAVE A RIVERA KNUCKLEHEAD 100 WATTS HEAD FOR BACKUP ( VERY GOOD AMP BUT NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS DIEZEL ) I HAVE TRIED : SOLDANO SLO 100 AND HOT ROD 50 XL PLUS HEADS; VHT PITT BULL ULTRA LEAD HEAD ( VERY NICE ), BOOGIE MARK FOUR HEAD; RIVERA KNUCKLEHEAD REVERB 100 HEAD; CUSTOM AUDIO PRE AMP; BOOGIE TRIAXIS PRE AMP; EGNATOR PRE AMP; BOOGIE 2:90 POWER AMP; MARSHALL JMP-1 PRE AMP; TWO MARSHALL JCM 800 REISSUES MODDED BY JOHN SUHR AND HARRY KOLBE ( BOTH NICE FOR HEAVY METAL ); MARSHALL JCM 900 ( AWFULL HEAD ) I'M PLANNING TO SELL MY RIVERA HEAD AND MAYBE BUY A NEW DIEZEL EINSTEIN HEAD

Head with four complete independant channels. ( indep. gain,vol.,treb.,mid.,bass)on each channel and they DO SOMETHING!!
Power section with master and deep switch. A lot of loops on the back
( you can set a loop as second master volume,..great).No reverb.

Main guitars used:Lag Roxanne with Duncans,Gibson Lespaul with Bareknuckle p.u.'s,. Hamer special with P-90's.
channel 1 : sparkling clean with gain low and chorus in the loop.
Very dumble like with gain allmost maxed.
channel 2:Very,very bluesy,reminds me on ROBBEN FORD's tone.I mostly set the gain at 75 %,treble at 4 ,mids6, 6.5 ,bass 4.5, wooaw..
channel 3: very dry ,awesome leadchannel!, i keep the gain at about 6.5 to 7,and it never becomes mushy. Sounds incredible with the P-90's. Screams like Satch .
Channel 4: my favourite!!, fatter than chann. 3,very fluid.Gain at 4 is enough.I use the loop for lead boost.Gambale comes to mind.
I play for allmost 20 years ( am 49,pff),and i think there is no sound you cannot produce with this head.I had an Orange AD 30 -combo that was a little crunchier on lead,but the VH-4 second channel comes very close!I hope that my wife will forgive me to have spent that amount of cash for an amp.It was worth it for shure!!

Seems built like a Benz ,I use a Framus -cobra too,(also great amp!)
Gonna care for it,so we'll see.To new to rate

Great! I have some problems with the foot- switch,and Peter mailed me to send it to him directly.The shop "Feedback" in Rotterdam where helpfull too.I don't think there is a dealer here in Belgium,but Rotterdam is not so far from my place.

I play 20 years,in 3 bands.Mostly technical,fusional to jazzy-blues.
Try to improve myself.You have to work hard to play what comes to mind,but playing through good equipment inspires you.I found my sound in the Diezel.I am not gonna say it is better than,.....,but it surely is more versatile than some 3500-dollar "vintage" amps.
I hope i'll never have to buy it again,...that's gonna cost me a divorce!

This amp has more features than I know what to do with. Four channels of pure bliss to begin with.

Channel one has an amazing clean tone. I don't use it that much, but when I do, I love it. I had a Triple rectifier before and while owning this, and this clean sound is actually clean. Very warm and not a tinny sound like the Mesa seemed to have.

Channel two is great for a warm overdrive tone that I use for blues, or even playing covers of bands like Pearl Jam or Zep. Very warm and thick sounding.

Channel three is where I spend most of my time. It is such a big, thick, mean, raunchy, and I'll say it again, thick sound. Very warm, and yet mean at the same time. Just what I was looking for. BIG BIG BIG! Some of my influences are Tool (reason why I tried Diezel in the first place), The Melvins, Faith No More, Etc. Works great for those types of musical styles.

Channel four is quite the very high gain sound. A bit more punchy, and mid driven than channel three, but it rages with tone and overdriven distortion. I can play things like Slayer or Meshuggah sounding things on this channel. All of that, but not a thin tinny sound, or overcompressed.

As I said I had a Triple rectifier before and for a while after getting the Diezel. I sold it. I just could not compare. It took a little while to get used to justplaying the Diezel, I think because I was used to the Mesa's tone, but after about a week or so, I could not play through the Mesa anymore. Sorry Mesa, you guys do make great cabs though. hard to believe this amp has all of these tones and sounds all in one unit.

Then you have the effect loops that I almost forgot to write about. Each channel has it's own separate loop you can use. Also it has a serial loop and a parallel loop for the amp as well. It ismind blowing what you can do with it. I play around with the loops a lot, and every combination I have used sounds great. Incredibly versitale.

Well, I guess I worte about the soundsunder features. I will learn to follow directions better one of these days. But great for anything from blues, to rock (modern or vintage), to metal, to whatever. I love it.

I use mostly Gibson Les Pauls through it. I have several different models, with several different pickups in each. The 490 and 498 series, '57 classics and classic plus, burstbucker 3's, an origianl PAF, and the 500t ceramic series. They all sound great through it, and each sounds different.

The amp responds well to different pu's and different guitars. Makes it even that much more versitale. The Alnico pickups all sound very warm, and mean and nasty through the channel 3 and 4. The ceramics sound very ballsy, and a bit more compressed in channel three and four. And that is what they are designed for, overdriving amps. They all sound great through it.

Quite reliable. Occasionally I loose my midi presets, but if reboot it, and it works fine. Not sure it is the amp or my Ground Control pro. It could also be me, as this is the first and only midi device I use. Other than that it is great. I give it a ten because like I said, I am not sure the cause. I am guessing it is me.

Had it for 3 or 4 years now, and it still runs great.

Everyone I have dealt with before and after getting the Diezel has been great. Uwe, and his partner out in CA have been quite helpful on the phone. They don't ever sound like you are bothering them, nor do they rush you off the phone. They spend time talking with you about effects advice(not that you really need any with this amp) to tube advice, to whatever you ask them.

I bought it at Motor City Amps in Detroit. I live in Cleveland, so they were the closest. I am glad, because Martin is awesome. His studio was under construction, so he invited me to his house for the demo. He walked me through everything the amp had to offer, and there was no pressure at all. There didn't need to be actually becauseI wasin love from the beginning. And I love it now more than then!

Martin is always quick to reply to e-mails, phone calls, and even stupid questions. The guy is great, and so is the amp. However, great does not even begin to describe either of them!

It has to be a 10 because nothing else I have playedor owned comes close. I have been playing for 20 years or so, and it is the first time I have been 100% satisfied with my sound.

I use a Dunlop 535Q wah, straight into it, and a couple other effects. I fool around with set ups, different loops and such, to try different sounds. they all sound great. It is almost like it has too much stuff, beacauseit makes me want to go out and buy a bunch of different effects to run in all the different loops, just to say I have them all used! Very cool set up!

It is expensive, but worth everypenny. I have insurance on it,and if something happened to it, I would be on the phone with Martin ordering another. One of these days I will get another, well just because. I can keep one at the house, and one with whoever I am jamming with at the time if it is not at my place. Itis hard to play through even small practice amps, because I just always want that Diezel tone and sound.

I have a feeling they don't make many of these which is cool. If you get one you will have a very unique tone. An advantage of it costing a lot and being in small numbers, not everyone has one like a Mesa or a Marshall, or Peavey, or whatever the hell else people are using these days. Makes no matter to me, I have my Diezel!

This amp has everything you need including for chanels wich is awsome.plain and simple if you want it this amp has it.

WOW!!! Igot interested in this amp when I saw Adam Jones from tool playing it.Nowdays it's hard to find an amp that has it all.That's what I was looking for.Messas have tons of low end Marshalls have huge roar but if you put them by there selfs theres something big lacking.Even when you get three or four great amps running at one time they still can't match the complete tone of the Diezelvh4.Bottom line-THE ONLY CONPLETE PERFECT AMP OUT THERE.

This thing is built like a tank.I'ts almost indestructible.Amazing.

Diezel definitly has the best custemor suport out there.They will gladly help you wether you have a supid question or a complex problem.They are never to buisey.

I usually plat real heavy stuff like tool or korn.I'm not sucking upwhen I say this i'ts the truth-THE BEST AMP EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please read other eviews or visit www.diezelamplification.com

Well, I'm not going to rate this category for the simple fact I only tried this amplifier in a little shop in Bassano, Italy for about 15 minutes. I tried it with a bad Epiphone SG (150 euros), but the sounds from this amp were amazing. I tried Channel 1 first: it's a very good clean channel, deep and sparkling in the same time, even if it can't compare to a good fender... however I liked it very much. I didn't try Channel 2. Channel 3 has a great amount of gain and I think it's perfect for rhythm, although it isn't very smooth. Channel 4 is instead very smooth, perfect for solos, and has got an enormous amount of gain, too much i think to play rhtythm parts when maxed. But solos are great with this channel.
The thing that surprised me was that this amp sounded very very very well at low volume (I was trying it in a small room), even the distortion was big and defined. This amp has got a very tight distortion, specially on channel 4: I tried also a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and an Engl Powerball, but their distortion weren't tight and focused at all, specially the Engl. But I must say I hadn't time to try them very well. However I think Diezel VH4 it's the best hi-gain amp if you're searching for an amp which must sound perfect at any volume. This fact is, I think, the reason for which a guy wrote it sounded like a transistor amp... but I definitely say that this is the better amp I played, and, having played it at low volumes, I only hope for better things when you turn up volume

I'm gonna try it another time when I return down to Bassano, and compare it to a Soldano, a Mesa Dual rectifier, a Marshall JCM900 and others.

Can't say, only tried in a store

I don't own this amp, but I definitely go for a 10. You can contact Peter Diezel and get your amp modded when you want. He also in person answer the messages you write on the forum of he's website (www.diezelamplification).

Can't rate it, I should own it

I waited a while to wrote this review for the vh4. I wont say anything about what has already been cover. 4 channels of beautiful tone....Period......Hands down the best amp I have ever played. I have owned a vh4s and the current 2004 vh4 im running. What is most outstanding to me is the fact that this amp will truly give you YOUR SOUND.No other amp truly forces you to be a better player. The amp is very unforgiving in that it does not have the buzzy lose gain structure. It is very in your face and focused.

No other amp truly forces you to be a better player. The amp is very unforgiving in that it does not have the buzzy lose gain structure. It is very in your face and focused. vh4 works with you to truly bring out your playing. If you miss a note in a fast run on most amps, it's not that noticeable. Vh4 does not hide this at all!! Also I know of no other amp that cuts through like this in the high gain sounds. I got to sleep thing about the sound of this amp.
Channel 1 is beautiful dark to bright clean tones. Took a little while before I liked it since I was used to crappy mesa amps. Truly a very open natural clean that can even get a little gritty with higher gain. Channel 2 is a good one but I don't use it to much. Great for a bluesy classic rock sound. Very vintage "fat" sounding!! Channel 3=This is worth the 4K alone!! This is the sound.....period. I have to give it to Peter with this channel. The best sound ever from a amp. Channel 4 is also great for leads and very extreme. Not as open as channel 3 but stands on it's own. I play this amp and my Herbert with Diezel 4x12 front and rear loaded cabs. The only cabs that can stand up to these tone machines. The vh4s I had KILLED the Mesa Recto cabs I had. They started farting out cause they could not handle the bass. I also play with Paul Reed Smith guitars(custom 24's and singlecuts).
The one thing that is good and bad is it is very responsive to different pickups. I wish it would sound a little more accepting off different ones.

You know I hate to do it but I got to give only a 9 here. The only thing I have ever had a problem with is the midi. My first vh4 got midi freaky every now and then. It would sometimes switch to the wrong channel with midi changes. Not very cool when your at a show. It still worked and Uwe and I could not figure it out. These things happen and I thing everything else is a 10.

HANDS DOWN THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYWHERE! Ive never met Peter but hope to sometime. Uwe Salwender is the coolest guy ever! He has always helped with the tons of questions I call him about. Never to busy to talk to you and help to make sure your getting the most from your amp. I bug him constantly ; )

.

Playing 9 years and tried Mesa,Bogner,Marshall,Vht.....Not cutting it. Diezel is the way to go. sold the other crap and got more DIEZEL. I am a happy owner of a VH4 and a Herbert. I also own 2 Diezel 4x12's front and rear loaded. If I buy another amp.......I will be the next Diezel.

This VH-4 was made in 2003. I waited eight months for it. I owned tons of amps, and this is the only one that addressed all my needs as a funk player who also plays blues and hard rock.This amp has 4 channels, each with it's own EQ, stompbox insert, assignable parallel
loop, and global series loop. I love that this amp only switches via midi, and powers the footswitch. This amp never pops when switching channels. I wish the master volume boost was separate from the parallel loop, but it is a very transparent boost. Personally, I believe this is the most versatile amplifier available to date.

I use Fender Strats with Bridge Humbuckers, and an Anderson Swap Ash
Drop top Classic, all SSH. Over my 27 yrs of writing, playing, and recording, I've come to realize I need four basic tones. High headroom
clean with good highs and lows, and in-between Spin Doctors hairy clean that morphs into defined crunch in Humbucking mode, Delicious Heavy Crunch for rock riffs and power chords, and a Gary Moore style
"Pretty Woman" style lead. This amp can do all of this with very little tweaking, if you have a killer guitar or great pickups.
Ch-4 was too compressed, so I had Uwe modify Ch-4 to have less gain and more cutting power. I also had the Deep frequency set to match the Herbert for bigger lows and the Presence moved to @6k. I found 4k a little strident to hear all the time. These guys care about tone. I'll play my Bogner XTC and switch to the Diezel. The Diezel says
"so what". I'll play an Aiken Sabre, go home and plug in the VH-4
and again the Diezel is just badass. These other amps are incredible,
but the four tones I need exist without compromise in the VH-4.
The Herbert is not better, in my opinion, just different. To me the
VH-4 is the Flagship amp by Peter Diezel.

The most Reliable amp I've ever owned. Period

Lifetime Warranty to original owner. Best customer Service by far.
Uwe Salwender gave me amazing response times, And listened to my ideas,and did the mods.

Incredible Amp. I will never sell it. I've stopped plugging in at Music stores everytime I go, or researching new amps. Quite frankly, it's up to me now. I've got no excuse. This amp is worth the money.
I've been waiting 27 years for this amp. Stop spending money on amp after amp, and get a VH-4

I left a review a while ago, this is just an update on the Customer Support. One of the coolest features on this is that for each tube there is a little light and a fuse, when that tube goes out it blows the fuse, but it doesn't kill the sound. So if your in the middle of a set, you will hardly even notice at all, so no embarassing moments. Another cool feature. If you want to have a boost button you can. Just use Send Loop 2 and the efects loop knob on the front acts as a second Master Volume. Totally killer!!!

Super reliable. Not one problem yet.

I delt with Uwe and he was amazing. I have never imagined in a million years that I would call and order tubes from him and he would tell me that when I received them that he would teach me to BIAS MY AMP OVER THE PHONE!!!! If that isn't customer support than I don't know what is. I noticed someone saying that the only Service place for these is in Germany. That is not true Uwe is in L.A. and would be more than happy to work on your amp as long as you pay for shipping.
Diezel USA
Salwender International
1140 N. Lemon Street #M
Orange, Ca 92867
714-538-1285

Just a point of clairification for Craig below....the VH4 is not point to point wired....it is PCB.

This model is probably 2003.It has Peter Diezel's initials written with a sharpie on the back panel.4 channels and you have a send/return on each channel! Brilliant design and flawless workmanship! It is 100 watts,6 ecc83's electro harmonix's and 4 el34's electro harmonix tubes, but it will take 6L6 and EL34 and 6550 and KT88,5881 and every other power tubes I didn't mention.The Engl Savage 120 I own is versatile too, but with send and returns on each channel,can it get any better than this???

I use & play Jackson's & Ibanez's & Washburn's & ESP's and that's it, mainly.I have over 40 instruments.My style of music is "Christian Progressive Metal" original music and hopefully,GOD WILLING,I will be recording my first CD within a year's time.I LOVE THIS AMP! It is truly EXPENSIVE,BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR,and that is an old and true saying most of the time.This amp has ZERO noise,handwired point to point and the distortion/gain is MORE than any of the other so called "high gain amps".The DIEZEL has a killer clean sound and this amp's third and fourth channels just sing with a violin type smooth creamy overdrive that is BETTER than any amp, and I've tried them all or most of them anyway.
I own:Framus Cobra head,a Marshall/Splawn modified head,ENGL POWERBALL 7 SAVAGE 120 & Krank Revolution series one head, Mesa Mark 4 Head,Carvin X100B head, and many other Rocktron power and preamp units.This head just KILLS anything and I'm really happy with the Diezel VH-4 head.What else can be said that hasen't been said already???

AWESOME HEAD, I DON'T HAVE TO GIG WITHOUT ANOTHER AMP BUT I WOULD WITH THE DIEZEL.NEVER BROKE DOWN, THIS IS A DIEZEL HANDMADE FROM GERMANY....I'VE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN.IT'S MADE LIKE A TANK AND HAS THE BIGGEST AMP CABINET I'VE EVER SEEN.

Emailed Peter Diezel and he emailed me the next day.Seems very cool and happy that I own his line of amps.He stands behind his amps 100% and that's the way it should be.Besides that, it's a DIEZEL!!!

PLAYING SINCE 1979, SO THAT'S 25 YEARS.I OWN 40+ ELECTRIC GUITARS AND A FEW BASSES AND BASS AMPS.I OWN REALLY GREAT AMPS(SEE ABOVE) AND THERE IS NOTHING I HATE ABOUT THE DIEZEL, EXCEPT THE PRICES,BUT HEY, NOW I OWN ONE AND IT WILL BE MINE FOREVER! IF THERE IS ANYTHING, IT COULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE LOW END, BUT THAT'S BEING SUPER CRITICAL.MY FRAMUS COBRA AMP HAS A LITTLE MORE LOW END THAN THE DIEZEL BUT THE DIEZEL HAS MORE GAIN, A LITTLE MORE THAN THE FRAMUS.THE ONLY AMP I CAN EVEN COMPARE THIS TO IS:FRAMUS COBRA HEADS.I OWN A CUSTOM ONE IN RED AND I'M REALLY ENJOYING THAT AMP TOO! ENGL AMPS SOUND GREAT TOO! BUT THE DIEZEL FITS ME AND ALLOWS MY PLAYING STYLE TO SHINE BECAUSE THE SOUND JUST JUMPS OUT OF THOSE SPEAKERS WHEN PLAYING RYHTHM OR LEAD.LET ME MENTION THAT THE CLEAN TONE IN THIS AMP IS CLEAR,AND DISTORTION FREE, WITH MASSIVE HEADROOM.ALL YOU FENDER FREAKS CAN'T TOUCH THE DIEZEL CLEAN.YES, IT'S THAT GREAT OF AN AMPLIFIER IN MY OPINION AND THEREFORE,I'M MARKING ALL THE CATEGORIES A 10, BECAUSE THIS AMP IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF AMP TONE.IT CAN DO ANY GAIN AND SOUND FROM THE 60'S ALL THE WAY UP TO DEATH METAL TO JAZZ, TO PUNK MUSIC TO PROGRESSIVE MUSIC.MANY PLAYERS MAY ENDORSE OTHER AMPS BUT I KNOW THAT BANDS ARE FINDING OUT WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS OVER THESE, BECAUSE ALLOT OF BANDS HAVE NOW BOUGHT THESE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH PETER DIEZEL, FOR MAKING ME SUCH AN INCREDIBLE AMP HEAD THE VH-4...........

4 channel with independent EQ, basically. With the ability to control through midi or pro tools off stage. The only thing I would love to see added is reverb...otherwise I would rate this a 10. But you can get it added inside the head.

I am a professional player. I use several Diezel heads. I use 2 or 4 Mono heads (for big shows with lots of equipment) and I also have a Stereo head for smaller venues.


This is a great head! Probably the most versatile head out there. One thing that gets me, when I read some of the review (mainly VH 4 reviews) is they don't know how to use them. If you buy a mono head, guess what it's not going to sound as large because it's one signal, hence the name Mono. Or when they say the channels are great but I'm not to happy with the first one for whatever reason. You have to keep in mind they make the amps kind-a at a level that suits most players. If your not to keen with something, you can call Peter Diezel and "he'll" modify it for you exactly the way you want right in front of you. With that said there is no reason why the amp can't sound the way you want it to sound. Really what we are taking about is quality of construction and design, and that is 10. Sound is awesome, 10.

I would say extremely dependable.

Diezel, is a great company. I've seen Peter treat kids as good as me~ and that's very rare in LA

10

I've been playing over 10 years and have went thru alot of gear over the years. The last head that I had was a Mesa Road King. The Diezel does not have the power amp and speaker switching capability that the Road King has, but I have seldomly used these features. I have become very accustomed to a 4 channel head, and the Diezel delivers. The built in MIDI functionality is an excellent feature that is easy to use and I greatly appreciate it. My current set-up requires that I change effects presets and amp channels with one hit of my MIDI footswitch. The Road King required a separate device to convert the amp channels to Midi and there were alot of extra cords to deal with. The VH4 is simple because you just plug a MIDI cord right into your footswitch or effects unit. The Diezel will also supply phantom power to your MIDI board----so throw away that bulky AC adaptor.

I've found this to be the best all in one amp to date. By this I mean, it's an amp that can produce a variety of sounds due to the fact that it has 4 channels. There is no perfect amp, but if you had to choose just one amp and stick with it, this is IT. In comparison to the Road King, the Diezel wins out on every single channel. The clean channel is way better and get get alot more sounds, the second channel is somewhat better for that light distortion sound. The third channel absolutley detroys the Road King. There is no comparison. Leads sing thru the Diezel. The Road King cannot touch this and comes out vey flat in comparison. Channel 4, which I use for the heavy distortion (high bas and treble, low mid) is a little better and more focused than the Raod King. How they do this without the rectifier tubes, I don't know, but it is definetly better.

So far, so good. This seems to be put together pretty well and with quality parts. The Road King, on the other hand, is really a problem. They have so much stuff crammed in there that they use crappy parts.

N/A.

THE BEST in this genre of amps.

2001 2nd hand VH4. The amp has a new set of unbiased 6L6's in it with various 12ax7's in it. (Chinese and Russian)

Great amp! It is a lot "squishier" on the gain channels than I expected. I didn't like that at 1st, but I have really started to love this amp. he 2 clean channels sound good but not as good as I had hoped for (after trying a Diezel Herbert). Channel one has a clean channel that I think compares to most high gain amps- just okay. It works. Channel 2 has more gain and works great for when you don't want to roll your volume down on a gain channel (or don't have time)It works great for "SHE @#$^in' HATES ME" by Puddle of Mudd.
This amp has killer tones; both LIVE and at home at any volume. Channel 3 and 4 are what I think this amp is about! Awesome and very warm, it reminds me of a Bogner Fish preamp. A very "organic" gained out natural tone. I just can't express how much I crave this tone. I go thru the day craving to play some power chords thru it! Really awesome. Channel 3 has a little more "tone" to it but is just enough gain for me when the gain is cranked.... it's enough, but I've been using a ?ZVEX Super Hard On? pedal in the series loop lately to boost it a little more... than it's KILLER. But when I need a little more gain I'll use Channel 4. It sounds similar to Channel 3, not as much tone as Channel 3, but similar and with more than enough gain. I think I have it set up less than 1/2 up. Both channels work great for leads and rhythm and it depends on the circumstance which channel I choose. I gig and play professionally and I have used Soldano's, Bogners, Marshall's, Mesa's, Matchless's etc. I own many high end amps and have played and owned most everything out there.

This amp has a MONSTER size box. I've never seen such a MONSTER amp!! It looks better in person than in the pics- I think it's a REALLY cool looking amp. The logo is just KILLER.
I found it difficult to change the preamp tubes without taking the amp out of the box. (4 screws no biggie)

I hear it's very good. Although the factory is in Germany!

This amp is killer. It'd be perfect if the 1st channel was as good as the Herbert. Thats another Killer amp I'm looking to own. Diezel- what a great amp company. Believe the hype!!

I have this amp only for a few days now, so i haven't really been through all the MIDI options right now, but from what i have read from the manual, there will be nothing left to wish for in this beast. There are Rubytubes el34's in mine. One major let-down is the missing of a spring reverb though... there's room enough for it inside the head. Now i will be forced to buy a tone-degrading digital reverb or a $$$$ hard to take-along spring reverb unit like Fender. So i'll take two points off there. Furthermore the series/parallel loops and channel inserts are something i dreamt of having in an amp for years... I play different styles of music so with four completely different sounding channels it's like i bought four new amps for the price of two.

My main guitars are a Gibson LP custom '57ri with Duncan distortion and '59 and a Ibanez s540fm with diMarzio X2N,Fasttrack and PAFpro. My cab a Mesarecto std. I play in a pop/rock band, a modern metal band and a grunge/rock band. At home i play alot of clean stuff also so the versatilaty of this amp was just what i was looking for. I'll run through the channels;

1) very articulate, warm sounding on the right settings. I prefer it with bright switch on. I like my clean on the edge of beeing clean so i turn the gain fairly high up here and when i want pure clean it cleans up nicely when rolling back the volume on my guitar. Really miss a spring reverb here though.................

2) Well it sounds okay but i don't think i will use it quite often. I use it now as my E-bow channel with some delay.

3) Yeah... Unfortunatly i haven't been able too crank the volume up real loud since i have only used it at home 'till now but i can hear already this thing is gonna blow some people's heads of my first coming gig. My other amp is a DSL 100 and after comparing those the Diezel sounds much more defined and less shrill on high gain settings. There's an incredible pumping low end that doesn't fart out. I really like this channel, Like a Marshall, but much more focused and dead quit when needed.

4) Sounds kinda like the third channel with even more gain. It has more high-end and less lower-mids too imo. Wouldn't use it as a rhythm channel only for leads. A little noisy on high gain settings but nothing to worry about.

I can't comment on that since i have only had it for a few days.

I can't comment on this either 'cause i never tried. (And hopefully won't ever need too)

I am playing for about 14 years now and it's the most expensive piece of gear i ever bought. If someone tried to steal it from me he would also take my 4x12. Up his tailpipe!!!!! I love it's versatility and it sounds very good. Perfect is something impossible to achieve 'cause tastes differ. I think this will be a keeper maybe for as long as i live or someone else makes an amp that's even more to my tastes.

Too much to sum up. It has everything you'll ever need, and then some.
4 channels of tube power: from clean to crunch to high gain to lead.
You can switch between the channels by means of a MIDI-footboard, or the new Diezel-footswitch.
2 sends, 4 insert loops,parallel & serial returns
send 2 FX, ....
4,8 or 16 ohm speaker out.
100 watt. Loud enough to bring down the house, but also great sounding at lower volumes. Cuts through in any band situation, gigs...

Mine has 6l6-tubes, but it's compatible with just about every type of tube out there. The EL-34's I had in the beginning were too compressed, the 6l6's open everything up nicely and give you some nut-cracking low-end.
I play mostly metal. Lately I'm very much into Killswitch engage, Soilwork, fear factory, trivium, mnemic,... Pretty hard stuff.
I hear that a lot of people are using channel 4 for extremer metal, which makes absolutely no sense to me. Channel 3 is the rythm channel, and it has enough gain for ANY style of heavy music. Hell, you can make single coils sound like beasts on this channel with the right tweaking. It can go from a small crunch to AC/DC to Van Halen to Metallica to fear factory to whatever you can think of.
My current sound is almost identical too Killswitch Engage's sound on "the end of heartache", if not even more defined. And all I use is my guitar and channel three, that's it. No boosts, nothing!
Channel 4 does what it's supposed to do as a lead channel. Do NOT use it as a rythm channel, channel 3 is a masterpiece and will cover all your rythm needs (think of a hotrodded JCM 800, but with extreme versatility and definition)
Channel 1 provides you every type of clean out there. I play a lot of clean stuff aswel which it does perfectly. The melodies that flow from this channel bring tears to your eyes. From juicy gibson-jazzy type-sounds, to the brightest fender clean (just flip the bright switch!). Channel 2 I almost never use. I guess it would be great for bluesy type stuff, but I don't know enough about that stuff.

It always keeps its clarity. It sounds insane at low tunings!! The tone never turns to mud, always keeps its clarity and definition.

The amp is pretty unforgiving also. very fast attack.

It's a tube amp, so it's never solid state-reliable, but it definetly is the next best thing. It has a tube fault system that tells you if a tube is causing problems. If a tube breaks down on you (which usually happens 10 minutes before a gig), you can just take the bad one out, and continue on the remaining three! It's the only amp, I would ever consider gigging with, without a backup.

I gave it a 9, because it still is a tube amp.

Excellent. You're dealing with Peter Diezel. that's all you need to know.

If your reading this you probably know all of the specs. This amp is GOD!!!! Hands down the best sounding amp I have EVER heard. You can do everything with it. I bet it would do my dishes if i hooked it up to the sink.

I use Les Paul guitars. I play mostly hard rock and thrash metal (Alice in Chains, Tool, Slayer, Megadeth, 80's cock rock). This thing doesn't make sounds, it sings. It rich and WARM, I had to turn the air conditioner on this this is so warm. Sounds great at low and high volumes. The distortion is what it distortion is suposed to be. Not that mesa boogie crunch that sounds like rocks in a blender.

Brand new. Can't answer yet, feels like a tank though.

I dealt with tone merchants and Ed was great.

I have been playing for 10 years. I have owned Mrashalls, Crates, I have a Mesa Boogie Triple Rect. I have two Gibson Les Pauls, Standard and Custom. I have a few boss pedals, a Line 6 POD, and a Digitech GNX3. I do wish it had reverb, but thats ok, I can manage with out it.
Don't waste your time getting something in the middle, save the extra money and buy one. If i could give this thing a 12 I would.

This amp was born in 2003. I play metal, aggressive music with plenty of palm-muting. I am mainly a rythm player, though I do occaisionally play leads (I handle all the guitar chores in the band). This has all the features I could possibly need. Just for the hell of it, here we go: Serial and Parrallel (which can be midi controlled) effects loops. Channel inserts for stompboxes on each channel. A thru jack for plugging into a second head. LOUD (or quiet, if desired, much better master control than most tube high-watt amps). The Deep and the Presence controls really makes this amp stand out in dynamic control. I'm too lazy to go on in this section.

I feel this amp is definitely geared towards METAL. And, in my opinion, that's a good thing. I use two Studio Gibson LP's (one gothic) loaded with a Duncan JB and a Jizz. I also own an ESP Grynch with EMG 81 and 60, and a Gibson gothic SG with the Duncan combo. I don't bother playing the latter two any more. To reach this amp's true metal potential, nothing beats a LP. This amp really need to have the right guitar and the right pickups, the amp really lets each different guitar shine through, with all their faults exposed. This amp sounds much tighter and has much better tone with PASSIVE pickups. With any quality handbuilt amp, EMG 81's are unnecessary (but they are necessary for a Triple XXX or a piece of crap rectifier (I hate those things!-- had to vent)), and will make the amp much, much harder to tame. With the JB I can turn the gain up on the fourth channel to 3 o'clock (or so), with the bass maxed out and the depth at noon (using more on the bass control than the depth control makes the sound much tighter), the presence at one, and have a massive tight sound that still responds to your playing dynamics. If you set the gain above 3 you get a more compressed sound. The fourth channel is where it's at for me, comparable (but with even more gain) with the Uberschall's distortion channel. I should note that I did have the amp modified so that the fourth channel is eq'd like the third channel for maximum clarity since I'm mainly a rythm guy.
It has a better clean channel than anything but say, a roland jazz chorus, better than any other high-gain tube amp I've played except for the VHT Ultra-Lead, this amp did have a nice clean channel (but got squashed when it came to high-gain channel).
I don't use the second channel, and use the third channel only occasionally.
I play in a band, but I also like to play by (with) myself at low volumes, and the amp's master control makes both a cinch, and it always sounds great (I keep the channel volumes at noon).
This only amp I could consider putting in the same category as this amp for metal tonewise would be the Bogner Uberschall. No solid state or mesa or peavey can compare. This things eats those for breakfast, and eats VHT's Ultra-Leads (sorry!) for lunch. The low end of the VHT couldn't compare. I do play this amp through a VHT Fatbottom straight 4x12" loaded with P-50e's (better than celestion V-30's in my opinion),however, and that cab really brings the amp to life. I have played it through Mesa rectumfire cabs, and those sound dead (or vainly struggling to live) in comparison.
This is not a blues amp, or an amp for the fender fan (PLEASE!). Make sure this amp suits your style of music before you buy it, and make sure you have a good guitar and if you really want the most out of it, a good cab! Throw those EMG's away! You won't miss them with this amp. Even James Hetfield doesn't use EMG's with this amp (he uses this amp live and in the studio, the rectumfiers on stage are just for show).
This amp will rattle your chestcage and balls like no other!

Gonna give them a pass on this one, it did develop a problem shortly after I got it, and had to be repaired, but since I've got it back there have been absolutely no problems. Read below. Now that it's been fixed I feel like it's utterly reliable (even if a power tube blows, I'll still be playing).

No other amp company can compare in customer service. Period.
I got the amp and after a month or two it started wigging out. I called Uwe, and shipped it to him (in California) for repairs. I figured since it was there, I might as well ask to have the fourth channel modified to suit my style of playing better. Uwe told me Peter Diezel was flying in the next week, so I waited a week and Peter Diezel personally repaired, retubed, and modified the amp.
These guys will take care of you!
The amp has operated flawlessly since, and Peter- I really love what you've done for my amp. Thanks!

I've been playing for 11 years. I have owned a Mesa Dual Recifier (what a piece of crap--fizzy mud), a Peavey Triple XXX (Better than the Dual Rec, but still squashed!), and a VHT Ultra-Lead which I sold after I got this amp. I also own a Bogner Uberschall, which is a great amp (I love that amp too). I have a hard time deciding between the two. If you only need a high-gain metal channel, you should check that amp out, too. I will never sell the Diezel, though, I play it all the time and record with it, too. It's a lifetime amp, a keeper. I'm not a yuppie hobbyist, I use this amp with a band at shows and recording, I have spent a love of time and tried a lot of things to get the best sound, and the only amp I've heard that would compare is the Bogner Uberschall. The Herbert sounds good, too, from what I've heard, but I think the VH4 sounds more organic and pure. I mainly just play guitar straight into the head for the best tone, with no processors, and occaisionally use a stompbox through the channel inserts.
The only thing I wish it came with is a footswitch, midi or otherwise. This amp is expensive, so if it got lost the only other amp I would consider would be the Uberschall. If I had the dough, though, I would get it again. With the Bogner, however, I would (do) pair it with a Roland Jazz Chorus.

Tons of features. Well thought out, midi capable. 6l6 version. Doesn't come with a footswitch (pretty cheesy for a amp this expensive).

4-ch amp. Channel 3 is very good. Channel 4 was the let-down. Channel
1 is very good clean like I said and ch2 was okay. Sorry, I sold it after 6 months.

Good clean sounds on ch 1. 3-d like and chimey. Ch2. - very good distortion sounds from ac/dc style crunch to more intense metal. Ch3. somewhat disappointing, it doesn't take you over the top, like you might expect. My least favorite channel and a major let-down. The amp is good, not great! If you think you are getting great you will be very disappointed. This amp is a perfect example of HYPE. You would think this amp represents the best out there but it is no better than amps half its cost. Some of the comments on this site are just kids with no experience or better yet they are the from the manufacturers and dealers taking advantage of people making them believe this amp is worth over $3500plus. It is not worth the money, period!

Seems very sturdy and reliable.

Very good. call and speak to a real person.

A decent amp but at these prices there are many better choices. I wanted to love this amp, but it just doesn't deliver the goods that a amp in this price range should. Over-rated.

This is an ammendment to my review found below

The very next day after posting the below review, which was critical of th amp, I got an e-mail Peter Diezel himself. WOW! No that's outstanding support. I didn't even buy the amp, and he felt it necessary to modify the amp to my liking. I have purchased amps from Bogner, Soldano, and have tried almost all the other high end boutique amps...and spoken with the people who build them, and although have had great service from all of them, none like this. Peter reads the reviews, and listens. My review was based on my personal opinion and is totally subjective. Tone is subjective anyway...I now guys who think Marshalls are still the best...go figure. I didn't think I could be blown away by an amp guru's desire to serve the little guy, but Peter Diezel did it. I've had great service, but none like this. He is comming out with a new amp this year, and I will be sure to check it out.

As previously discussed, very versatille with lots of features. Great idea in theory. No footswitch for channel switching, need to buy a midi pedal for that ( how silly is that! ) This is ridiculous, so take away 3 points.

I'll go channel by channel:

Channel 1 - Clean alright, but no character and quite sterile. Both my Bogner Shiva's and Fenders have far more depth and warmth. I compare this channel to that of the Ecstacy, or Marshall JCM 2000. I'm a snob, so I say garbage. With effects, it could be ok.

Channel 2 - Like a Reissue Plexi, ok but nothing special.

Channel 3 - Killer. This channel rocks! Tons of harmonics and sustain. Reminds me of channel 3 of the Ecstacy. Outstanding.

Channel 4 - Over the top. Really good I guess, just something I wouldn't ever need. Like a Ubershall, or like a Dual Recto is supposed to sound like. Drop D, chest thumping power. As a novelty to piss off the neighbors, 10 Fantastic value...as a classic rock style musician, I'd never use it. But it is sure good at what it does.

Built like a tank with the best parts. No knocks here. Heavy as hell, good tubes, wired very well.

N/A

If you buy a midi pedal for channel switching and use digital effects, this amp could function as a one amp does all amp. I personally don't need to do a whole bunch of things at once, I like to go for just two great tones, clean and overdrive, which the Shiva does better for me. This amp has the compression of thew Bogner Ecstacy, and lacks the overall tonal complexity I like for a guitar into amp setup. Well built, quiet, very expensive for the sound it puts out in Channels 1 & 2. I tried it several times and wanted to buy it based on it's design, but I'd much rahter use a Shiva for gigging or recording. What it does it does way better.

4 channel amp, channel switching, lots of tubes, features discussed by other reviewers.

I'm using a variety of professional instruments with the amp

The amp is harsh and very solid state sounding. It's way over priced but is built very well. I play a variety of styles and am on the road and in the studio quite often being a professional guitar player. My producer got me this amp thinking I would like it. He had heard it was a great sounding amp. It has one clean channel that sounds just like an old Crate amp, so it's very clean and decent sounding, just not warm, rich and deep like an old Fender or even a Mesa.
The other channels are just not any different, just more the same, a bit britlle and harsh, but distorted. It's a very good amp for crunch, but it can't do any more than what a Crate SS amp can do and I can get those for $150 used

It worked just fine for when I had it, but it was unusable for the kind of money my producer paid for it. He was able to sell it to some rich hobby player who couldn't tell his ass form a hole in the ground and had the chops that fit with that take on him, and got his money back and a few hundred extra.

Never bothered to find out.

Way over priced. I've been a professional guitarist for 30 years. I own enough gear, all of it more usuable and more musical than this over-priced white elephant.

If it was stolen, I am sure Dave would have been happy to use the insurance money to take a long vacation in the tropics, I'd get along fine without it. I wish it had a really nice musical sound, but it's harsh and nasty.

1998, custom tolex, other preamp- and presence section than today`s VH4s.
4 channels, 8 ECCs, 4 EL34s, midi-built-in, four channel-inserts, 2 master-loops, 16, 8 and 4 Ohm outputs, individual fuses for each EL34, toggle switch for 6L6, 6550 and EL34s use, . . . .

ch1: sparkling clean, the bright switch adds even more. Mucho headroom, very very good
ch2: like an old non-MV Marshall. Same organic feeling with the Master set to >50%.
ch3: whow. better than any modded 800s Marshall I had.
ch4: forget Soldano. This is the sh*t - sustain for ages, smooth - the perfect lead sound of all time.

Never use a backup. Built like a tank, heavy as a tank (30 kilos).

the best customer`s support in the world. Just contact Peter and he helps - whereever you are . . .

This (old model) came without a bias-pot and Peter helped me to install one (on the phone). Excellent !!!!

I`m playing for more than 25 years now and this is amp is a dream, which came true fortunately. I got the matching cab (everything in blue leather tolex) too for a steal-price of 2.500 Euros, just changed the speakers to the famous "Uberschall" combination (G75T and V30s, X-pattern) and LOVE this rig.

Feel free to have a look at my website for even more infos, pics and details about this and other Diezel amps:

www.thinlizzy.de

Diezel VH4... assembled early/mid 2003. Same features as those listed below, but if still curious, here you go:

100w (mono) w/4 EL34s (electro harmonix); 4 channels (bass/mid/treble/volume/gain), master section: deep, presence, mix (loop send 2 - parallel), volume. 1 serial loop, 2nd loop is parallel (switchable). All midi, mute, channel inserts for each channel, store function, thru jack right next to input for direct feed to another unit (tuner, amp, etc.), midi channel selection (1-16 / omni, learn mode), phantom power for midi via 5-pin, ch1/ch2 bright switches, channel push buttons. Tube-fault bypass system relieves the faulty duet out of the chain via individual fuse per tube; allows you to finish the set with 2 tubes instead of no amp. Very clean cut, well-arranged, easy-to-use, can outfit absolutely any style, without question. Only debate would be that channels would have individual deep/presence knobs rather than the section, but the current arrangement keeps things in better balance and harmony.

Using a PRS Standard 24, no effects, amp run through Mesa Std. (tall) 4x12 w/V30s, very clean at low volumes, breathes nicely at stage levels, feel the air under your fingers, exposes flaws, forces growth in playing ability. Channels are very distinct, all very usable, sparkling clean ch1, ac/dc or rolling stones dirt/shine with ch2, even a fender/parallel tone chime, ch3 roars and rolls off clean very nicely, much more body than any old marshall, great dynamics, not compressed at all, ch4 gives singing leads, slightly compressed due to high gain nature, but very full and round, plenty of body, and can even roll off clean, very tasteful, can sound like a violin at low gain or shred like metal. Gains are never turned up all the way, always satisfying. It's no death metal amp, which is why the Herbert is here. Very quiet, no hum/buzz/clicking of any sort, even when turning on/off channel inserts/loops. Solid.

Follows the pricy side, but compare it to four $1000 amps in the US, and couple that with midi functionality, loops, mute, tube-fault bypass system, all in an attractive large head, and you really can't beat it. No need for a backup, German made, built better than a tank.

Friendly and resourceful relations with the Diezel company, US distributor, and retailer were made far before the purchase, all very informative, helpful, genuinely kind, and concerned people. Questions always answered in a prompt, detailed, and friendly manner.

Been playing under 10 years. I tell myself that I don't deserve to have this amp, but it will definitely be something to grow and learn with. As an upgrade from a Mesa/Boogie Tremoverb/Dual Rec., this amp has unmatched tone, great hi-fi character, very modern, all the clarity desired, very easy to dial-in sounds (all eq dials at noon = very playable), plenty of body, power, punch, life, and will always put a smile on your face. Do not create opinions based on clips and samples. Must play to own! Will be the sole touring amp of my future. 10 all the way, there is nothing better.

Probably the most versitile head around. 4 Channels each with its own effects insert (lots of routing possibilities here) and eq, serial and parallel master fx loops w/mix pot for the parallel, mute button (really cool), midi switchable and programable, a host of output jacks to accomodate any type of speaker configuration, bright switches on channels 1 and 2, power amp eq(bass, presense) a thru jack on the front panel for routing your signal elsewhere.... I mean how much can you ask from a head in terms of features?

I use the VH4 with a Warrior guitar (mahogany neck and body, maple top and ebony fretborad with gibson Iommy and Burstbucker pickups) and an Ibanez 7-string. I also use fx but who cares. My speaker is a 4X12 VHT cab. I've had the VH4 for about a year and a half now and have tried most tubes in it (6L6's, KT88's and El34's) having settled with the EL34's as my favorite. I'm basicly a metal-rock player but I love to experiment. As far as tone goes the VH4 is really a marvel. I'm not saying its the perfect amp, there is no such amp, but it realy realy realy is satisfying. Even if you tweak the knobs randomly you will still end up with a usable AND musical tone. All four channels sound extreemly good and they all have something different to offer. From beautiful, solid cleans (keep in mind though this is not a fender type clean), to blues crunch, to heavy rythm and ultra high gain leads. It realy doesn't sound like any other amp (why should any amp for that matter?.....anyone play a POD?). You could get a "brown sound" type thing if you want in channel 3 but it doesn't sound like an old marshall. That's because it's not, it's a modern amp made by Diezel. You can't get every sound you've ever wanted but it can sing like an angel and scream like the devil....convisingly. This is a very good amp indeed!

No problems so far. I use it mainly in the studio but have giged 30 or so times with no trouble. That includes the midi!

This is a very solidly constructed head (it's expensive and it's German!) It has killer tone, a bunch of features, is very versitile and looks awesome (whoever says eye candy isn't important is either a liar or shouldn't involve themselve in any art). Is it worth the price tag? Is it the right amp for you? You should ask these questions of the gear you already own anyway. I am usually very qucik to replace gear if I don't like it. I don't see myself selling this though. Check one out!

Cheers!

Too many to talk about.I am really amazed by all of the options this amp has,but there are a few thing that make me scratch my head.Why there is no footswitch is a mystery to me.Peter Deizel has said that channel switching circuits adds noise to the amp,but I'm sure that it is nominal and would be worth it(at least to me).Anyway with channel 4 cranked up you will hear noise like it or not.Now if Deizel had an easy to use footswitch you could hit the mute button on the floor and solve that noise problem between songs.I'm just not a fan of the Midi thing.Sorry I want to keep it a simple as possible(that's why I like tube amps.Right?).Also a reverb would have been nice.I personally will take a good spring reverb over an outboard unit anyday(it just sounds warmer to me).I know that I am a picky bas**rd,but I am sure that other Deziel owners can see my point.The owners manual is something they sould be ashamed of.Cheap looking photocopy with a staple in it.Not a whole lot of info in it either.Sorry, but If someone pays 4 grand for the thing,they shold get high class everything.Oh yeah speaker inputs in the back can be confusing until you get used to it.I would have prefered a simple ohms select switch like the one on my Dual Recto.Don't get me wrong I am very impressed with it just not "blown away"

I play mostly harder rockin stuff so the amp suites my needs very well.Channel one has an amazing clean sound.For sure the best I have heard.Channel two to me is useless.Sorry I just can't find a usefull sound on it,but that's me.Channel three is great for crunchy tones and Van Halenesque tones.,but it sounds different than a cranked Marshall.Putting in some high quality EL-34 tubes will greatly improve it's ability to cop Marshall tones.Now the legendary channel four.OH MY GOD!!! It is freakin amazing.Tight as a virgin.Thick as a brick and with some good 6550 power tubes will blow your head off your shoulders.Lets not kid each other this is what the amp was built for and what most guys are buying it for.The other channels are just a plesant surprize.Bottom line killer tones from this monster.

Have not had it long enough to know for sure,but I have kept it cranked for extended periods with no problem.Oh yeah,did I mention that channel four gets noisey what cranked.I have tried changing tubes and everything but it still makes the noise, maybe something is wrong with it and I just don't know.No biggie,comes with the territory I guess.

No opinion really.I think that the web site is no good.Not much information(kind of like the owners manual)It's in German and that's fine but I'm willing to bet that most of their customers are English speakers.So when in Rome!!!!

I have been playing for twenty years and own over 20 amp heads(I got em all)If I could go back in time I would do it again.It is awesome,but I am a little suprized at some of the reviews that sing only praises and dare not make mention of some of the amp obvious short comings.Almost as if they fear looking stupid by questioning the mighty Diezel.My favorite amp is my Bogner Ecstacy the Deziel being a close second place.Just my humble opinion.I hope this review has been helpful.Good luck. Happy amp hunting...

The specific amp was made in 2002. This amp perfectly suits my needs, for sure. My guitar playing style varies from classic rock to heavy metal, so I m considered as a rock guitarist. It has 4 channels, MIDI switchable, 4 individual serial loops one per channel and 1 master parallel loop with mix control on the front faceplate. I use all the features of this amp, and is extremely easy to use. I use this amp at home for the time being with its Diezel 4X12 (very masculin huh, ask my neighbors), and in the studio. It's all TUBE, mine came with 4 Electro-harmonix EL34s (excellent tube, although i love EL34 I ve never used an Electro-harmonix) and 7 Svetlanas 12AX7. Mine is the Mono head 100W, but there is a second version VH4S which is stereo 50W per side.

Kicks ass. The arsenal of Diezel players grows stronger every day. From Frankie Sullivan and Neal Schon to James Hetfield and Wes Borland. If rock/metal is your thing, Diezel is the dirty deed! I am leaning towards the Neil Schon style, but when I bought it something struck me and I started to become more agressive day by day.

Built like the Luftwaffe Aircrafts. If it has a broken tube an indicator lights up, the set of two goes out and you carry on your gig with the second pair. In other words it never stops!

It has a three year warranty and as we all know Peter Diezel is a very kind and helpful person and I ve never heard of someone being disapointed.

EVIL!!!!!!!!!!

THE DESISION OF BUING THIS HEAD WASN'T DIFFICULT.THIS TANK WAS THE DREAM THAT CAME REAL AFTER 2 YEARS.I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS AMP.MY FRIEND FLOUROS PROPABLY LOST HIS MIND WHEN SOLD IT TO ME.BUT I'M HAPPY ANYWAY.FULL MIDI, FOUR CHANNELS(CLEAN,CRUNCH,RHYTHM,LEAD) ALL TUBE AND READY TO ROCK THE PLACE OUT.MY MAIN GUITARS IS A CHARVEL 650 SOLOIST DELUXE(DIMARZIO TONE ZONE AND TEXAS SPECIAL) AND A CHARVEL 6(JACKSON PICKUPS).THE REST OF MY GEAR IS A TC ELECTRONIC G-MAJOR AND BBE SONIC MAXIMIZER.I KEEP IT ON A FRIEND STUDIO.THE PEOPLE THERE GET INSANE WITH HIS POWER AND GAIN.

MY MAIN GUITARS IS A CHARVEL 650 SOLOIST DELUXE(DIMARZIO TONE ZONE AND TEXAS SPECIAL) AND A CHARVEL 6(JACKSON PICKUPS).ALSO USING IT WITH A GIBSON EXPLORER AND SOME OLD KRAMERS.I PLAY FROM 70'S ROCK TO HEAVY ROCK/PROGRESSIVE METAL.VERY QUIET AND COMFORTABLE WHEN THE VOLUME TURN UP.NOT NOISY AT ALL IN ANY DIFFICULT SITUATION ON STAGE.EXPEPT WHEN I USE IT WITH HIGH OUTPOUT PICKUPS I GET SOME HUM NOICE.FAT RHYTHM SOYND WITH RICH HARMONICS AND AMAZING STRING DEFINITION ON 3RD CHANNEL,STANDS UP ANY CHALLENGE.NICE MIDLLES WITH BALANCED BASS, GIVES EXACTLY WHAT I NEED:POWER AND TONES OF SUSTAIN.4RTH CHANNEL BRINGS THE HELL ON EARTH!TONES OF GAIN GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SCREAMING LEADS AND POWERFULL SOLOS.A TRUE DYNAMITE ON YOUR HANDS.2ND CHANNEL GIVES YOU THE CLASSIC CRUNCH SOUND ALA AC/DC/RAYWAHN.NICE WORK I THINK THAT 2ND CHANNEL MAKES THIS AMP UNIQUE AND GIVES HIM THE 1ST PLACE IN HIS GATEGORY.THE 1ST CHANNEL GIVES YOU A RICH AND FULL OF TONE,CLEAN SOUND.NICE WORK GUYS

NO PROBLEM HERE.BUILT LIKE A TANK AND RELIABLE LIKE MY DOG STATHIS.

NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM.

I OWNED A ATTAX 100 HEAD(HUGHES & KETTNER)THE SAME TIME WHEN I BUY IT.NO COMMENTS.AT FIRT PLACE I FELT THE NEED TO SMASH IT (THE ATTAX).I SOLD IT AFTER ONE MONTH AND I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT WHICH WORTH THE MONEY I SPEND FOR IT.A STATE OF ART.

This is a follow-up review of the Diezel VH4 after having owned and played it for almost a year.

I gave a reivew of this amp in November of 2001. I heard manny nay-sayers tell me tat I couldn't have heard all the tones in it after having it only a few days.
Well, I'm hear to say that this amp is the most amazing amp I have ever played in my 47 years of playing! I have come to appreciate and love the amp more every time I use it. No words can describe accurately just how much I have come to appreciate the versatility, quality of tone, build and all that it delivers with ease!
It is so powerful with EL-34's in it that I have purchased a set of Smicz TADS to add to 2 of the EL-34's to tame it down a bit to 52 watts from 100 watts with the 4 EL-34's in it. What this has done is allow me to open up te amp a bit more, still getting insane power and volume, but now releasing even more of what the amp can deliver!

I have since sold all my other amps and am going to get a VH2 as a companion amp which I will use for the smaller gigs where the 4 channel VH4 would be wasted on the crowd.

I find that this amp plays any style of music, makes any guitar sound just the best it can sound and does it all effortlessly. It loves effects and can handle anything plugged into the effects loop, bringing out the best of the tone the effect can put forth.

I have read on the forum where other players have purchased what they have thought was the amp of their dreams only to sell it off later on due to finding that it does not deliver the goods as they wanted to hear them delivered. My only reply would be to try a Diezel amp, as you have tried everything else and have been dissappointed. Move up to the last amp you will ever need, unless you like them so much that you cannot resist having more then one Diezel!

2002 Diezel VH4. 4 channel amp: clean, crunch, hi-gain, and lead. Separate eq and volume for each channel and bright switch on channel 1&2. Midi switchable and super-ez to assign channels to any midi footswitch. Serial and parallel effect loop, with two send channels which gives great flexability to turn on/off f/x's from your midi pedal board. There is a general presence and deep knob to help zero in your sound and the handy "send 2" mix control (dry/wet) for the parallel f/x loop. Each channel also has a dedicated channel insert for f/x's, tuners, etc....and yes you can easily assign the insert on/off via your midi pedal board. Example, on my clean channel I like to use my vintage MXR phaser, so I set it up on channel one, channel two I set up a guitar tuner (as recommended in the manual) which is active only when I enable the channel insert control, in other words I can go from channel to crunch, then hit a button to mute the channel and tune the guitar. For channel 3 no f/x's (when you hear it you won't want to color that tone) and I have my favorite delay pedal set up through channel 4...this set up is simple and sweet and works perfect for me, but remember if you like multi-f/x's processors they work well to. Also, the amp accepts virtually any type of tube you can think of, it comes with 6l6's and can be easily switched to el34's and others. Check the Diezel website. The bottom line is total flexability to accomodate any guitarist.

I play mostly humbucker guitars, les paul classic and PRS Custom 22. My amp cam with el34's and I love it. The channel eq's are very responsive and the tonal intergity is simply amazing. The amp also sounds great at low volumes, which is rare in hi-gain amps. The clean sparkles and has so much harmonic girth, you'll swear there's reverb built in, and the gain channels are in a word fantastic,v ery rich with lush overtones. Virtually any level of gain can be accomplished to satisfy the mildest to heaviest players out there. The only slightly disapointing thing is the lead channel it a bit more midrangey than channel 3..cool, but the gain doesn't inspire that effortless finger flying lead style, I found channel 3 actually feels better for lead playing, however I put a slight delay on channel 4 and it works very well. I feel when I play with the band that the lead channel should be set at a slightly higher volume than the rhythm 'channel 3' in order to really cut through. This is why I use channel 4 for leads 'live', however when I record with this amp I will likely use channel 3 for leads, it just feels better to me. I acutually tried using channel 4 for rhythm and 3 for leads but ultimately channel 3 works much better for rhythm. I have ownerd Marshalls, Bogners, Soldano's, and even line 6, and this amp sounds better than the best of each of those others. Overall, this amp truly out-performs any amp out there in the bang for your buck catagory. I

I have had the amp for a bit over a month, so there have been no problems. The construction of the amp is very sturdy. I'm giving this amp a 10 for dependability despite not having it very long because there is another factor to consider under reliability...that is the sound from day to day. I play this amp 4-5 times a week for aprx. 3-4 hours each day and from day to day the sound is consistent. I turn it on with the previous days settings and the amp sounds like it did the day before, not kinda like or close enough, it sounds exactly the same! Try that with other amps, "not gonna happen. " Reliable? you bet!

Customer support: Great! called Uwe in California on some tube questions and biasing info and he was generous with his time and totally helpful and patient towards me. Also, email reponse time is very quick. Diezel stands behind their amps. The warranty is 5 years.

Don't buy an amp then complain about the price, that just not right. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. A BMW costs more than a Toyota and they will both get you from point A to point B, but it's 'HOW' you get there, certain refinements that are desirable to those that can appreciate them. There are good amps out there, that mostly specialize in one sound. This amp has 4 channels of very tweakable sounds that sound great at any volume. Each channel has special qualities and don't under-estimate the value of separate eq's for each channel. I've been playing for 25 years and have never played a better amp period.