Diezel VH4 VS Hagen (Comparison)
Our pick: The Diezel Hagen
With two specs sheets that are all but identical, we'll take our chances with the lesser-known but equally awesome Hagen and save $400 in the process.
This is a comparison page for the Diezel VH4 and the Diezel Hagen, two high-powered tube amps from the Germany-based boutique amplifier builder. If you're trying to decide between the two, this page will show you each amplifier side-by-side with a quick look at pricing, specs, and highlights of the major differences between the two.
In the case of the VH4 and Hagen, there aren't a ton of differences to highlight.
Both of these amplifiers are extremely similar in a direct one-to-one comparison, both from a tone and features perspective.
Nevertheless, we'll show you were there are differences and help give you an idea of which one would be better in your particular situation.
We'll start with our comparison tool and a side-by-side specs table.
Diezel VH4 VS Diezel Hagen Comparison Tool
If you're just looking for product descriptions, we'd recommend checking out the Sweetwater entry for each amp. It's an easy way to give you a helpful resource and support our site at no extra cost to you.
You can also see some quick basic features and price comparison using the compare buttons in this table.
Amp | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Diezel VH4 Amp Head | 97.0 | |
| Diezel Hagen Amp Head | n/a |
Detailed Spec Sheet for the VH4 and Hagen Amp Heads
Header | VH4 | Hagen |
|---|---|---|
Amp Type | Tube | Tube |
Channels | 4 | 4 |
Power | 100W | 100W |
Preamp | 7 x 12AX7 tubes | 6 x 12AX7 |
Power Amp | 4 x JJ KT77 tubes | 4 x JJ KT77 |
EQ | 3-band EQ, Presence, Deep | 3-band EQ, Presence, Deep |
Effects Loop | Yes | Switchable, Serial, Parallel |
MIDI | Yes | In/Thru |
Height | 12" | 10.75" |
Width | 29" | 29" |
Depth | 11" | 11" |
Weight | 47 lbs. | 55 lbs. |
Diezel VH4 VS the Hagen. Power for days.
Diezel VH4 Details
Four channels and 100 watts seems to get the job done.
The VH4 is Diezel's most popular amplifier, as it has regularly appeared in pro guitarists' rigs since the early '90s.
But when compared to the Hagen, there isn't much to set either amplifier apart.
The VH4 has four channels with gain, volume, and a three-band EQ dedicated to each one.
You also have a deep and presence control at the power amp level.
The back panel of the VH4 is simpler than the Hagen, providing an effects loop for each channel, speaker outs, MIDI connections, and not much else. The Hagen gives you a little more here, like the compensated output, tuner output, and the Columbus footswitch XLR connection.
But overall, the VH4 is just not that different from the Hagen.
Read more: Diezel VH4 review
Diezel Hagen Details
Another 100 watt four-channel amplifier, but with a more involved back panel.
The big features in the Hagen match the VH4 include the following:
- 100 watts
- Four channels
- 12AX7 tubes
- KT77 tubes
As we mentioned in the VH4 section, you have some additional i/o options from the back panel that are missing in the VH4:
- Tuner out
- Compensated out
- XLR out for Columbus footswitch
We should also note that the controls on the front panel are setup/arranged differently on the Hagen. For example, all four gain controls are stacked vertically instead of horizontally. It's a small difference, but still worth noting.
A more important difference is the price tag of the Hagen, which comes in $400 less than the VH4.
While this isn't a massive discount, it's significant enough that we'd probably take a gamble on the less reputable Hagen, over the VH4.
VH4 VS Hagen Summary
With amplifiers, we're usually focused on just a handful of things: Overall tone quality, circuit type, and number of channels.
Since those all match up in the VH4 and Hagen, we could be totally fine with either one.
But, since the Hagen seems to knock a significant chunk of money off a rather expensive price point, we'll give it the nod and make it our official recommendation, if you're trying to decide between the two.
Questions and Comments
For questions or comments about the VH4 or Hagen, hit the comments section below and we'll chat about it.
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