Genz Benz Shuttle 6 or 9 ?

6stringbassist · #1 10-02-2010, 10:09 AM

It's new amp time..again.

I'm really interested in the Shuttles 6 and 9.

I'm a professional bassist, and need versatility. I play everything from rock covers to jazz and funk. Some gigs have full P/A support but others it's just me and my amp.

I love the Marcus Miller kind of sound, but most of my playing is using a slightly more traditional and warmer but still bright sound.

I had a Shuttle 3 a while ago, but it was lacking in volume really.

Is the Shuttle 9 just a louder version of the 6 ?

Do they have the same power section ?

I'm thinking of getting either a Bag End 2x12 or a Bergantino 2x10.

The price difference between the two heads is quite a lot - £140, which is a third of the price for either cab.

Aaron_D · #2 10-02-2010, 10:15 AM

No PA? Id go with the 9 and more speakers than that. At least a 4x10 if not 2.

I have the shuttle 6.0 with the STL-210's x2 stacked vertically and it isnt enough for an outdoor show, but it can handle any indoor stage. For outdoor shows I bring my 4x10 and 1x15 (I would bring two 4x10s, but I only have one) and I can get by with that, but if I had the 9, I think I would be sitting pretty rather than stressing my amp to its limits.

That said, for small rooms, Ive done a single 2x10 + 6.0 and been fine. It all depends on the room. As a general rule...with no PA support, I would definitely go for the 9 and at least a single 4x10.

**JxBass** · #3 10-02-2010, 10:19 AM

I owned the 3.0 but not the 6.0. I now own the 9.0 and it has become my #1 amp - fabulous! Take a look at the Shuttle 9.0 Appreciation Thread for more comments and reviews from owners.

There are a few comments suggesting Genz tweaked the EQ on the 9.0 to account for the larger cabs for which it would likely be used. Again, I didn't own the 6.0 but I agree with the statement based on the tone I had with my 3.0, which was very clean but lacking in low end for my taste. Not so with the 9.0.

6stringbassist · #4 10-02-2010, 10:30 AM

I should add that I don't play really large venues without full P/A support, mostly just your normal wedding reception/birthday party function room sort of place.

mongo2 · #5 10-02-2010, 10:57 AM

I worked with the 6 and moved up to the 9. I have no regrets about the change.

**JxBass** · #6 10-02-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6stringbassist

I should add that I don't play really large venues without full P/A support, mostly just your normal wedding reception/birthday party function room sort of place.

IMO the 9.0 still has the advantage. Even if you only need 500 watts

into a single 8 ohm cab I think the tone and portability are still worth it.

John Bigboote · #7 10-02-2010, 11:04 AM

I bought a 6.0 and returned it, later bought a 9.0 and am completely satisfied. Also, I think the 9.0 through a BE 212 would be monster loud for just about any indoor gig.

-jb

6stringbassist · #8 10-02-2010, 11:10 AM

Thanks for your replies guys.

I'm being swayed towards the 9. I was probably going to get the 9 anyway, it's just that there's a 6 for sale on Basschat with rack ears and a gigskinz bag for a good price.

Pilgrim · #9 10-02-2010, 11:46 AM

I have the 6.0 and it has done everything I have asked, but if I were in doubt I'd go for the 9. It has a slightly different voicing (see the many posts by Agedhorse in the forum) and should be able to push anything you EVER need to push.

I don't think you need the 9, but buying a bit more power than you actually need is seldom an error.

Bmorefoozler · #10 10-02-2010, 12:30 PM

From the outside looking in, two big advangtages of the 9 over the 6 is wattage into an 8 ohm load for large 8 ohm cabinets, and the fact that it has a lower High pass at the bottom. The 9 should produce a lot more down low.

KsPiNeSh · #11 10-02-2010, 01:12 PM

Shuttle 9, if only because I prefer to have more power available than I might technically "need"

**jlepre** · #12 10-02-2010, 01:34 PM

The 9 isn't just a 6 with more power. It has a different sound as well. More "tubey" if that makes any sense.

Mr-Bassman · #13 10-02-2010, 03:22 PM

I've had a 6.0 for a few weeks now and have done 3 shows with it. Love the tone but pushed it to the safe limits of operation and left me wanting for a bit more. Twice at a LOUD large club with full PA and once at an outdoor fest, not really fair test but learned the limits which is nice to know.

Been running through a GK neo212@375watts and it's not nearly as loud as the 1001RBii@460/50 watts biamped. Just picked up an Avatar B210 this week to pair with it which I hope to be a light and sufficent combo for most gigs.

Kwesi · #14 10-02-2010, 05:19 PM

If a tone similar to Marcus Miller is what you're after I don't think you should be considering the Genz-Benz Shuttle series. I've owned a 3.0 and 6.0 and neither of them catered to a tone like that very well. I would strongly suggest Markbass, GK, Aguilar or Thunderfunk. Of these, I've had the most experience with Markbass (had a LittleMark II, currently own an F500) and they can nail that tone and warm it up to any degree that you might like. The GB shuttles sound nice but the shuttles in particular aren't really good at that kind of tone, imo. The GB GBE series could do it though. Have you considered running another micro head with a poweramp?

Verminaard · #15 10-02-2010, 06:27 PM

Can you run the shuttle direct into a power amp? I'm strongly considering getting the shuttle 9, shouldn't need to plug it into an external power amp, but it would be cool if I could.

John Bigboote · #16 10-02-2010, 06:45 PM

You can run it into a power amp, but the only time that would ever make any sense is if you're running a load lower than 4 ohms.

Like this: Another TBer is selling a pair of NeoX 212s. The 9.0 can only run one. Pity, that; two of those would sound like the hammer of god...

-jb

Verminaard · #17 10-02-2010, 06:53 PM

Exactly what I was thinking. For instance, you could run 1 or 2 fEarful 15/6 cabs with one, but if you had the money and the space, imagine running 4 of them at 2 ohms!! Damn!!

6stringbassist · #18 10-02-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

If a tone similar to Marcus Miller is what you're after I don't think you should be considering the Genz-Benz Shuttle series. I've owned a 3.0 and 6.0 and neither of them catered to a tone like that very well. I would strongly suggest Markbass, GK, Aguilar or Thunderfunk. Of these, I've had the most experience with Markbass (had a LittleMark II, currently own an F500) and they can nail that tone and warm it up to any degree that you might like. The GB shuttles sound nice but the shuttles in particular aren't really good at that kind of tone, imo. The GB GBE series could do it though. Have you considered running another micro head with a poweramp?

Marcus's sound is what I like, but unfortunately not very often what I'm able to use lol.

I guess warm, clean and articulate is what I'm after.

6stringbassist · #19 10-02-2010, 07:10 PM

I just thought, but my favourite ever sound that I had was a few years ago. I used an Alembic F1-X preamp with a power amp.
If I could get a tone similar to that then I'd be so happy, especially with the size of this thing compared to a rack.

Jim Carr · #20 10-02-2010, 08:47 PM

I have played about a dozen gigs (may be a few more) with a 6.0. If you are super loud and have 8x10 or maybe 4x15, and want a ton of low bass, the 6.0 is what you want. If you need more, get it, and then feel sorry for your mates.