Genz Benz GBE 1200 Buying Decision

MetroBass · #1 09-20-2012, 11:28 PM

There's a couple of good deals on this amp in the classified - (no affiliation). I'm only interested since yesterday when I saw The Revivalists in concert, good band btw. The bassist was using one and it sounded pretty decent. Does anyone know what other amp this most closely emulates that I may compare it with or does it have a tone all to its own? Any similarity to the 9.0 or 9.2 which I don't like? Close to a Shuttlemax or anything else out there?

KsPiNeSh · #2 09-23-2012, 09:37 AM

IME, the 1200 is just a bit crisper and "oomphier" than the 9.0 or 9.2, so if you didn't like those you probably won't like the 1200. The Mesa M6 and M9 Carbines can achieve a very similar sound, but have a bigger bottom and very flexible voicing presets. The thing I really like about the 1200 is the ability to mix the preamp channels and dial in whatever degree of preamp tube distortion you like and have it limited to the high-end, low-end, etc.

Ed Friedland used to do most/all of his older reviews through a GBE 1200/NEOX-212T pairing - check out his videos for a good taste.

Isotonic · #3 09-23-2012, 10:48 AM

I have a 1200. My only complaint about it is that it lacks a voice of it's own, which is also a good thing. It is VERY powerful, with loads of headroom, so deep notes bloom beautifully. The tone controls are powerful and useful. It has lot of tone options with two channels of EQ and a couple of adjustable presets. The foot board is excellent. Construction is first rate. I auditioned it next to the digital versions of Genz Benz amps and I felt that the traditional amp topology was far superior. It is heavy. I don't like lugging it around, but the sonics sold me on it. I will never sell this amp. I can't imagine a better, more versatile amp.

El Slap · #4 11-26-2012, 09:42 AM

I just ran across a vid by "the Bass Whisperer", Ed Friedland, where he demos a GB cab using a Streamliner 900 and a GBE 1200, switching halfway through. Not the exact comparison you were looking for, but a useful one, nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bNZN...I4qHg8GweBmDEA

Gearhead17 · #5 11-26-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroBass

. I'm only interested since yesterday when I saw The Revivalists in concert, good band btw. The bassist was using one and it sounded pretty decent.

I can not comment on the amp itself. Did you see the band live at a large venue? How do you know for sure what you are hearing was the GBE 1200? There could have been multiple channels, DI boxes, tube pre-amps, and who knows what else. It's hard to say what the bass player was playing through.