Choosing Amp&Cab

[MalGanis]

Hello. This is my first thread on TB

I am planning on buying a new amp, it will be a head and a 2x10 and in the future a 1x15 too.

I need the amp for styles like Jazz, Country, Funk, Fusion... and it would be for bass guitar and also for upright.

I am between 2 heads and 2 cabs, I have tested Markbass and Genz Benz heads and I like both of them, but I haven't (and can't) test the cabs.

Here they are:

-Heads:
Markbass - Little Mark Tube

Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ

-Cabs:
SWR® - STEP UP!™

Markbass - CLUB 102


As you can see I want lightest as possible.


Pros of Genz Benz head:
-The lightest

Pros of MB head:
-Two inputs and valve blend.

Pros of MB cab:
-The lightest and it can be sat back.

Pros of SWR cab:
-105 dB!?!?


Can you give me some advices to choose my best cab & head? Important thing is that it have to "get along" with the upright bass

Regards and thanks very much.

[makohund]

Don't get a 2x10 and add a 15 later, or vice versa. Pick one or the other, and when the time comes to add another, get the same thing. Same make, model, everything.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by MalGanis

Pros of SWR cab:
-105 dB!?!?

Beware of "official" specs.

Shuttles get props amongst DBers. Many amps can be rendered more upright-friendly by using a preamp with a high-impedance input -- one of the simplest, least expensive yet very good devices is the unit made by TBer fdeck. You might get away with the 1 Mohm impedance of the Shuttle, but the Markbass has only 500 kohm, which can make things sound a little scratchy.

Edit: and a big ol' +1 to the matching cabs advice. Read all about it in any one of about 5000 threads.

[makohund]

I wish there had been 5000 posts on that 10 years ago, when I put together my old rig.

Or if there were, that I hadn't somehow missed them! I have one of each stuffed away in the basement now, while I figure out which one to sell.

[Russell L]

I have heard that the Markbass Club series, although the lightest, doesn't put out as much lows. Haven't played one myself, though. You might do best with two Traveler 102 cabs, or two 151Ps like I'm aiming for (already have one).

[MalGanis]

Hi.

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

Beware of "official" specs.

Shuttles get props amongst DBers. Many amps can be rendered more upright-friendly by using a preamp with a high-impedance input -- one of the simplest, least expensive yet very good devices is the unit made by TBer fdeck. You might get away with the 1 Mohm impedance of the Shuttle, but the Markbass has only 500 kohm, which can make things sound a little scratchy.

Edit: and a big ol' +1 to the matching cabs advice. Read all about it in any one of about 5000 threads.

It seems that the Shuttle is 500 kohm input too but have read nice things about the 3.0 with UB, would it be the same with the 6.0?

Thanks for all the advices.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by MalGanis

Hi.

It seems that the Shuttle is 500 kohm input too but have read nice things about the 3.0 with UB, would it be the same with the 6.0?

Thanks for all the advices.

It seems you're right about the Shuttle input impedance -- sorry about that. Agedhorse (TBer and Genz Benz engineer) has said that the Shuttle inputs are designed to work well with piezo pickups, and I guess I extrapolated.

I've used a 3.0 with my EUB and found I liked the tone, and I imagine I'd also like the 6.0. Some users have commented that they prefer the FET to the tube preamp, so would go for the ShuttleMax (offers both preamps) series if they needed more power than the 3.0.

Lots of information on these amps on the DB side.

[MalGanis]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

It seems you're right about the Shuttle input impedance -- sorry about that. Agedhorse (TBer and Genz Benz engineer) has said that the Shuttle inputs are designed to work well with piezo pickups, and I guess I extrapolated.

I've used a 3.0 with my EUB and found I liked the tone, and I imagine I'd also like the 6.0. Some users have commented that they prefer the FET to the tube preamp, so would go for the ShuttleMax (offers both preamps) series if they needed more power than the 3.0.

Lots of information on these amps on the DB side.

Hmmm the ShuttleMax seems very nice too, a little bit more expensive than the Shuttle 6.0 but still interesting... I will take a look at it.

Now I have to choose a cab that fits my needs: light, maybe 2x10, for electric bass and also UB... I will investigate in the internet

Thanks very much for the help!

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

It seems you're right about the Shuttle input impedance -- sorry about that. Agedhorse (TBer and Genz Benz engineer) has said that the Shuttle inputs are designed to work well with piezo pickups, and I guess I extrapolated.

I've used a 3.0 with my EUB and found I liked the tone, and I imagine I'd also like the 6.0. Some users have commented that they prefer the FET to the tube preamp, so would go for the ShuttleMax (offers both preamps) series if they needed more power than the 3.0.

Lots of information on these amps on the DB side.

The Shuttle inputs are >500k and the front end is designed to play nicely with piezo pickups. I used to design piezo pickups and the input stage is ideal for all but the very smallest of crystals (like those in a violin or viola bridge) which aren't going to be seen in the bass world for the most part. The desired input impedance is a function of piezo crystal area, and input impedance is one factor that can be used to improve damping as well as control the potential pickup of RF interference and noise.

The input impedance of our acoustic amps is a little higher since the typical crystal area is smaller on guitars, mandolins, violins, etc.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

The Shuttle inputs are >500k and the front end is designed to play nicely with piezo pickups.... The desired input impedance is a function of piezo crystal area, and input impedance is one factor that can be used to improve damping as well as control the potential pickup of RF interference and noise.

Thanks for clearing that up, and sorry again for the misinformation .

[MalGanis]

Hi.

I think I will finally go for this combo:

Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ

Any opinions about it?