Experience on Genz Benz Streamliner with modern Basses

Tyand · #1 09-05-2011, 06:45 AM

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone have some experience to tell about the Genz Benz Streamliner with modern active Basses. Everytime I listen to samples on YT or here on Talkbass the used basses are Jazz or Precision type of basses.

How does the Tube input stage react to active Basses ?
Is ith possivble to get clean Sounds with hot basses ?
And is it possible to get a sound with growly tubish mids and pronounced highs?
Is the streamliner a "one tricky pony" for oldschool sound or are people even use it to get modern type of sounds?

I like simple heads cause i can get enough sounds out of my hands and the active Bass. So focusing I m on this head.

I would love to hear sample and expereineces in this topic

Greets Daniel

PS. Sry for my english, no native speaking person

waleross · #2 09-05-2011, 06:51 AM

I like my Genz Benz GBE1200, not the Streamliner but the biggest one they make. I say take a chance and get the amp play through it (at a music store first if you can) and see what it sounds like. All I can say is Genz Benz knows what they are doing on all fronts. Most likely you won't be dissappointed...............

Tyand · #3 09-05-2011, 07:03 AM

the problem with trying in the store is, that here in germany the streamliner inst as popular as in the us. The stor in my town doesnt have it and no town near me has it in store. So i need to buy online.

Cause the streamliner is so popular on tb i ask here for experiences. I even dont know a bassist who has played it by now.

fontez5 · #4 09-05-2011, 07:23 AM

I've got an active G&L L-2000 and it sounds great through the Streamliner. You can get a cleaner tone if you want with the head, but the beauty of this amp is the "tube" tone, so I can't see a reason to play this amp clean. The head is a little scooped out at the mids, but you can bring them back in nicely with some liberal eq-ing. The mid knob actually has it's own dedicated preamp tube, so you can definitely get some good warmth out of it.

With the gain button on the amp, you can bring down the amount of grit your bass will produce. The manual says to use it almost as a pad for when you want to run active vs. passive. I have it turned on for my passive P and off for my G&L. Works great!

I wouldn't call the amp a one-trick pony, but there are definitely better amps out there if you're looking to run a cleaner tone. Personally, I LOVE the way this head sounds, so I don't think you'll be disappointed in any way. I run mine with the gain around noon and it adds a nice tube warmth to my tone without sounding distorted. Think James Jamerson or Duck Dunn. Perfect.

Unfortunately, I don't have any sound clips to offer up, but I believe Ed Friedland has some on youtube that he's playing an active bass on. If you haven't seen them yet check them out. This amp has seriously blown me away in every possible aspect. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Darkstrike · #5 09-05-2011, 07:30 AM

I generally use modern/active basses with mine, and I'm very happy.

The large range of adjustment in the gain mean's it'll work well for clean or dirty sounds with both hot, or quiet basses, IME.

Tyand · #6 09-05-2011, 07:48 AM

thanks for the answers, trying at store is difficult cause the streamliner is not very popular in germany. There not many stores that have the head in store. So testing is not possible.
I love cleans tones with just a bit of grit and warmth to it. But i dont wanna lose the highs in my sound. i was afraid that the input distorts too heavy even with loww gain settings and the head cuts off the highs

Tyand · #7 09-05-2011, 08:27 AM

thanks for the answers, trying at store is difficult cause the streamliner is not very popular in germany. There not many stores that have the head in store. So testing is not possible.
I love cleans tones with just a bit of grit and warmth to it. But i dont wanna lose the highs in my sound. i was afraid that the input distorts too heavy even with loww gain settings and the head cuts off the highs

Red Planet · #8 09-05-2011, 09:37 AM

Does this count as Modern?

Do not let all the gushing about the Streamliner make your decision for you on whether to get one.

Ask yourself this simple question. Do I like the sound of an all Tube head or do I prefer the snap quickness of a SS head.

Do you like your tone squeaky clean or do you like some warmth----overdrive.

The Streamliner will get quite bright if you want it to and is a bit too much bright overdriven (you have to roll back the highs when playing dirty). It will do squeky clean as well but with that tubyness built in.

It will sound great with a modern bass if your preference is that warm gooey tube amp type tone. If your preference is that quick snappy SS type tone the Streamliner is not it.

The Shuttle 9.0 will do a little grit and is closer to that quick SS tone with a smidgen of warmth added in for good measure.

There are so many choices it is a good time to be a Bass Player.

Smallmouth_Bass · #9 09-05-2011, 09:44 AM

Other than the bass, your setup is the same as mine. I haven't tried it through the two HT stack yet though (one AE112 for the moment). How do you like it?

pablomigraine · #10 09-05-2011, 10:12 AM

I recently played a Dingwall combustion through my SL900.... sweet sweet!!

Mojo-Man · #11 09-05-2011, 12:02 PM

Stingray 5 through a Streamliner.
Sounded sweet.
It's all in the EQ.