Genz Benz GBE 1200 vs. Shuttle 9.2

Big Joe · #1 12-22-2011, 08:16 PM

Just played a gbe 1200 at GC used for 599.99.

LOVED it. The tone is to die for. Loved the quickness, the flexibility, was able to get some good grit and grind from the tube channel. Great heft to the weight of the notes. Everything sounded great through it. So loud I actually got yelled at by the general manager to turn down through just the upper half of an ampeg 810.

I can definitely manage the weight but I'm also wondering how close the 9.2 shuttlemax gets to it in terms of speed, articulation, weight and heft of notes and that amazing bright presence and grind.

Never played a 9.2 and unfortunately don't have any way to trial one locally.

Thoughts on that price as well?

sad_katz · #2 12-22-2011, 10:46 PM

That's basically half the price of a new GBE1200 (o_0)

Never played either but I do know they sound very different. Something like GK 1001-ii RB vs MB500 kind of different. Sorry can't help much

If you don't mind the weight and like to play loud with big cabs, I say go with the GBE.
I'd love to own a GBE someday, but I'm a wuss and afraid of heavy gear

Isotonic · #3 12-23-2011, 12:39 AM

I bought a 1200 after trying a variety of Digital amps including the Genz Benz lines. Digital amps simply don't have the heft of old school amps. The 1200 was much better in my opinion.

JimiLL · #4 12-23-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sad_katz

That's basically half the price of a new GBE1200 (o_0)

Never played either but I do know they sound very different. Something like GK 1001-ii RB vs MB500 kind of different. Sorry can't help much

If you don't mind the weight and like to play loud with big cabs, I say go with the GBE.
I'd love to own a GBE someday, but I'm a wuss and afraid of heavy gear

A new GBE costs close to $1600

Dan Knowlton · #5 12-23-2011, 01:14 PM

I've seen a few on the amps for sale section of this forum for $800 is good shape.

Dan K.

NWB · #6 12-23-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Joe

Just played a gbe 1200 at GC used for 599.99.

LOVED it. The tone is to die for. Loved the quickness, the flexibility, was able to get some good grit and grind from the tube channel. Great heft to the weight of the notes. Everything sounded great through it. So loud I actually got yelled at by the general manager to turn down through just the upper half of an ampeg 810.

I can definitely manage the weight but I'm also wondering how close the 9.2 shuttlemax gets to it in terms of speed, articulation, weight and heft of notes and that amazing bright presence and grind.

Never played a 9.2 and unfortunately don't have any way to trial one locally.

Thoughts on that price as well?

There's your answer right there. You love the 1200, get it!

Big Joe · #7 12-23-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWB

There's your answer right there. You love the 1200, get it!

I did.

4-string · #8 12-23-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Joe

I did.

And....?

Big Joe · #9 12-23-2011, 03:22 PM

Cops haven't shown up to my house yet which is somehow disappointing.

This thing sounds amazing!

JimiLL · #10 12-23-2011, 03:34 PM

Yes the GBE series doesnt get a fair shake I feel because of the size and weight.

The thing is a tonal sledgehammer for sure

JimiLL · #11 12-23-2011, 03:35 PM

Does anybody know if these pre's are voiced the same??

Tunaman · #12 12-23-2011, 03:47 PM

I love the 9.2, haven't tried the 1200 though

4-string · #13 12-23-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Joe

Cops haven't shown up to my house yet which is somehow disappointing.

This thing sounds amazing!

Big Joe · #14 12-23-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiLL

Yes the GBE series doesnt get a fair shake I feel because of the size and weight.

The thing is a tonal sledgehammer for sure

It really is. It's very flexible. It's loud as balls. it sounds big but not mushy with plenty of detail. At 40 lbs. and a rack, it's not too too bad.

I've tried some micros/semi-micros in the 500-1000 watt range and I guess you really can't go heavy without literally going heavy.

Not that the micros don't usually sound great but the lighter amps just don't add the same heft and texture as the lead sleds and the all-tubers.

A streamliner 900 with different voicing and more than one midrange control would probably be pretty cool based on the 600 I had but still... It's hard to stop a wrecking ball when it's moving.

agedhorse · #15 12-23-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiLL

Does anybody know if these pre's are voiced the same??

Similar, but not identical.

sad_katz · #16 12-24-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Joe

It really is. It's very flexible. It's loud as balls. it sounds big but not mushy with plenty of detail. At 40 lbs. and a rack, it's not too too bad.

I've tried some micros/semi-micros in the 500-1000 watt range and I guess you really can't go heavy without literally going heavy.

Not that the micros don't usually sound great but the lighter amps just don't add the same heft and texture as the lead sleds and the all-tubers.

A streamliner 900 with different voicing and more than one midrange control would probably be pretty cool based on the 600 I had but still... It's hard to stop a wrecking ball when it's moving.

Congratz on the purchase! Sounds like a winner to me.

Now I'm itching to try a GBE1200

fishtx · #17 12-24-2011, 08:36 AM

I own both the GBE1200 and the SM9.2, and am sorry to say, I haven't really sat down and done a side by side between the two. I have been using the SM9.2 for everything since I got it...Mainly because of my back...lol...but still love the GBE1200!

Joe - Nice score on the GBE1200!

svtb15 · #18 12-24-2011, 08:55 AM

I really love my 1200.. But my Streamliner 900 gets all my gigs now... I have never done an A/B test.... Its just that when i do fly dates i can take my 900 with me in a gig bag... Would love a 1200 @4 ohms Streamliner or 9.2... I would be done forever...

JimiLL · #19 12-24-2011, 10:45 PM

Id like to see a lead sled based on the Streamliner front end. mmmmm..... Ampeg Killer!

Big Joe · #20 12-25-2011, 07:30 AM

I found with a lot of amps that if you can crank them up they take on a different character and take up more space in the mix with very usable tone. For me, I like having more control over the mids for use at lower volumes where you aren't filling that space otherwise. I liked the overall tone and feel of the streamliner but the bigger bottom was hard for me to control and I really wished it had two midrange controls. Even with the semi para mids, if I boosted the low mids I found myself still needing to control the other bands as well.

That said, I can definitely see the stl being a great head for use with a neo can that has that strong neo voicing. Not my thing per se but good fit none the less.