The NEW VHT AMPS reveiwed!!!!

[OrangeAD30TC]

I posted in another thread that the guys on the website "didn't seem particularly marketable or photogenic". The lead designer Justin saw my comment and thought it was funny and offered to let me come see there new facility and check out the new amp line. So I did...here are my impressions...

The Standard 12

VHT's standard 12 is their take on the 5e3. Take a look at the site for pictures. The amps in my opinion have a very clean look with the wood panel on the front and a sleek looking faceplate. Its simple, Four inputs, two volumes, one tone. The standard 12 uses a g12h30 70th anniversary speaker. This amp suprised me alot, as soon as I plugged in I played a full step bend and it sang. The amp had a great midrangey american sound. My initial note also never ended. It sustained and sustained and then blossomed a very pleasant feedback with harmonics and all. It barked, it chirped, whatever you want it was in there. One channel was darker than the other and even with the tone control on 10 I wanted a little brighter sound. The break up was located mostly in the midrange with little on top. With this channel it would have paired nicely with a bright chimey amp in a dual amp set up. The other channel did not leave me wanting for brightness. It was equally beautiful in a different way. It had more spank, but still midrangey. The charm of this amp is in its simplicity. I set the amp for an overdriven sound and with my guitar I was able to float all around the spectrum of dirt. When I set my guitar to single coils and eased the attack it was clean and articulate and beautiful. When I dug in it was sweet articulate single coily goodness. Great for blues or roots or rock. With a flick of a switch I turned to the bridge humbucker. I hit a "G". For me "G" meant Game over. It was overdriven, not like verge of break up but pretty dirty, when I eased up I could pull the dirt back a good amount. I even got a nice dark jazzier tone by setting the amp clean and using a neck humbucker with the tone control rolled off. If you cant tell, I liked this amp alot and was really impressed by its dynamics. I could do my church gigs with that amp w/ just some delay and no dirt pedals. This is one for all to check out.

The Standard 18

Here is an interesting amp. Take a look at the website for pictures since they are pretty nice looking in my opinion . Two el-84s, with two non footswitchable channels. The channels are out of phase as you might expect with similarly configuerd amps. The two channels have all independent controls except for a global master volume. The matching cab and the combos come with G12H30's in them. One channel has high and low inputs and is controllable by a single volume and tone control. Its a...You guessed it... 18 watt marshall style thing. It is the more spanky of the two channels. Its got that Marshally upper midrange voice characteristic going on. Its a full boar rock channel. The more you turn up the master the dirtier it gets. With a tele it owned, nice rootsy light crunch sound. Sorry didnt look for any BeanO tone. If you are looking for pristine cleans...enter the second channel. The second channel suprised me. I beleive Justin told me it was more Bassman like. I first played this channel with the master on full and it was going for it. Huge sounding chords and more gain possible with this channel than the first. I dont have much bassman experience but this channel was more squishy than the other channel. Which is exactly how Justin decribed it to me. I was able to dial in usable tones throughout the spectrum on the gain control. My favorite setting on this channel was trying to get as scooped a clean sound as possible then bumping up the gain a little more. Cut the Mids and boost the treble and bass, Matser open and gain nearly at about 9 or 10. That was pretty heavenly. It was like edge of beakup tone on steroids. It had balls but it was still pretty sounding. I reccommend you try this amp there are alot of tones in there and the ones I pulled out were very nice.


Overveiw

These guys have some really good stuff going on. They are handwiring the Standard series in Brisbane, California. They have some other lines that are made overseas but from what I witnessed the ones they make here are being tested against each other heavily. They are making sure the amps are consistant and built well. Obviously opinions on the whole situation of AXL accuiring the name VHT and about Fryette Amplification and whatever, aren't in short supply but I think we should judge these guys on their merits. The lead designer has alot of respect for Steve Fryette and his designs and was quick to point out that VHT is known for a certain sound and that the new amps arent copying the former stuff. These amps should be judged on their merits and not on opinions about a legal situation.

I strongly suggest you try these amps out when you have the oppertunity.

[anoobis]

I said it in the other thread- there are no Cl, UL, Sig X or Deliverance copies. They are doing their own thing. As far as the name, Fryette lost the rights to VHT and apparently it's all legal, so that's that. I have nothing against these new guys at all. I wish them and Fryette good luck. We alll need it in these tough times.

[OrangeAD30TC]

I am in favor of anyone who makes nice amps at affordable prices...

[HeeHaw]

Sorry, we just don't have any need for another 18 watt or 5e3 clone. It's been done to death and back.

[lionscut]

how does it compare to your budda 18?

[Sonic Emergence]

Good review, as long as they sound good that is all that matters..

[rwe333]

Originally Posted by HeeHaw

Sorry, we just don't have any need for another 18 watt or 5e3 clone. It's been done to death and back.

My first impression as well...

[Brian Maestro]

IF they want to judges on their own merits then they should use thier own name. I don't give a **** about the legalities and what nots. If you are gonna use the brand name "VHT" then you should either put out the same quality and line of products or not use the name.

Did CBS change Fender products?

[LocustXReign]

Originally Posted by Brian Maestro

IF they want to judges on their own merits then they should use thier own name. I don't give a **** about the legalities and what nots. If you are gonna use the brand name "VHT" then you should either put out the same quality and line of products or not use the name.

Did CBS change Fender products?

Well yeah CBS changed fender products; last I checked post CBS fenders were some of the least desirable vintage guitars on the planet until very very recently.

-DB

[teddy boy]

Made in China?

[daddyo]

Originally Posted by HeeHaw

Sorry, we just don't have any need for another 18 watt or 5e3 clone. It's been done to death and back.

Let's be honest - there seems to be an insatiable appetite for 5E3 and Marshall 18w clones.

[big mike]

Legal or not..it 'feels' wrong.

I dunno. Of course, I sort of know Steve Fryette, so that could color it a bit for me.

[OrangeAD30TC]

Originally Posted by HeeHaw

Sorry, we just don't have any need for another 18 watt or 5e3 clone. It's been done to death and back.

If you read my review you would know it is actually unique in a way. One channel 18 watt Marshall-esque the other channel isn't a AC-15, its more Bassman like. Warm and thick with nice big cleans in there too. Did you read my post? It is possible to produce multiple amps that put out 18 watts and not have them sound the same. A hundred watt twin doesn't sound like a 100 watt Dual Rec.

[OrangeAD30TC]

Originally Posted by LocustXReign

Well yeah CBS changed fender products; last I checked post CBS fenders were some of the least desirable vintage guitars on the planet until very very recently.

-DB

The amps were changed heavily as well. Ever heard of the Ultra-Linear twin? It doesn't sound much like the ones Leo made.

[nateco]

I don't understand why they can't stand on their own merit and build their own name.