Genz Benz Shuttle series reliability?

[OzzyGreg]

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Guys,

I am currently looking to buy a Genz Benz STL MAX 12.0.

I've never owned a Genz Benz product before.
Have there been any problems with these amps?

If I do it I will probably be buying it online, with no warranty. (GB USA won't warrant an amp bought from outside the USA/Canada.)

Any input greatly appreciated.

Greg
(Australia)

[faulknersj]

I have a Shuttlemax 6 that was gigged 5 nights a week for about a year and a half without ever having any issue at all. The Shuttle series are as reliable as any amp you could ever own imo and if there are ever any issues, the guys at Genz Benz will personally trouble shoot any issue and help you to resolve it to the best of their ability...even without a warranty. The Shuttlemax series is just a phenomenal piece of gear.

[schmig]

Gigging mine (STL max 6) about 12 months couple of times a week, constantly being rattled around in the back of a van etc, not a single problem yet.

[The Reff]

I own a shuttlemax 12.0 - no problems so far. Gigged it for roughly 5 months. If I should buy one today though, I would go for the shuttlemax 9.2

[OzzyGreg]

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Thanks for the responses guys. You have put my mind at ease.

If I should buy one today though, I would go for the shuttlemax 9.2

.... Why is this the case?

[The Reff]

Originally Posted by OzzyGreg

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Thanks for the responses guys. You have put my mind at ease.





.... Why is this the case?

Headroom i guess - I find the shuttlemax 12.0 a bit underpowered when I use 8 ohm cabinets (1x12's). The STL 12.0 is 2x600 W (4 ohm) the 9.2 is 2x900 w (4 ohm). As I remember they're priced pretty much the same anyways - so i would go for more power :-) and the 9.2 is newer as well

[Blue_Whistle88]

Originally Posted by The Reff

Headroom i guess - I find the shuttlemax 12.0 a bit underpowered when I use 8 ohm cabinets (1x12's). The STL 12.0 is 2x600 W (4 ohm) the 9.2 is 2x900 w (4 ohm). As I remember they're priced pretty much the same anyways - so i would go for more power :-) and the 9.2 is newer as well

Sorry, this isn't quite correct. The SM 9.2 is 900 watts @ 4 ohms and 500 watts at 8 ohms, whereas the SM 12.0 is effectively just 600 watts @ 4 ohms and 375 watts at 8 ohms, BUT has the key difference of having TWO 600 watt power amp modules. This means that if you run two 4 ohm cabs, you can get two lots of 600 watt, 4 ohm outputs, whereas the SM 9.2 can only run a single 4 ohm load (just like the SM 6.0).

The SM 12.0 technically has the most power overall but only if you run two cabinets; if you run a single (which most people do) you get more power from the SM 9.2, AND more power if you're running two 8 ohm cabs. The 12.0 does have the most power but overall the power amp configuration of the 9.2 is more conducive to most setups, plus it has two different gain settings which the 12.0 doesn't.

[KsPiNeSh]

Originally Posted by Blue_Whistle88

... plus it has two different gain settings which the 12.0 doesn't.

Everything posted above is accurate except for this - both amps have the high gain switches.

[Blue_Whistle88]

Originally Posted by KsPiNeSh

Everything posted above is accurate except for this - both amps have the high gain switches.

Ah right, thanks dude, I'll remember that in future. I think I've had it in my head that the gain switches were only a very recent addition to their amps since the Steamliner 900 came out, must have been why. Personally I have the Shuttle 9.0 and I love it.

[modulusman]

I have four shuttle amps including the 12.0. Never had any issues.

[Edword]

Been using a 12.0 since '09 with no problems.

[Thornton Davis]

I've had my ShuttleMAX 12.0 for 18 mths, and never had a problem with it.

If you buy one and experience any kind of problem, Genz-Benz customer service is outstanding!

TD

[The Reff]

Originally Posted by Blue_Whistle88

Sorry, this isn't quite correct. The SM 9.2 is 900 watts @ 4 ohms and 500 watts at 8 ohms, whereas the SM 12.0 is effectively just 600 watts @ 4 ohms and 375 watts at 8 ohms, BUT has the key difference of having TWO 600 watt power amp modules. This means that if you run two 4 ohm cabs, you can get two lots of 600 watt, 4 ohm outputs, whereas the SM 9.2 can only run a single 4 ohm load (just like the SM 6.0).

The SM 12.0 technically has the most power overall but only if you run two cabinets; if you run a single (which most people do) you get more power from the SM 9.2, AND more power if you're running two 8 ohm cabs. The 12.0 does have the most power but overall the power amp configuration of the 9.2 is more conducive to most setups, plus it has two different gain settings which the 12.0 doesn't.

I stand corrected - It would make sense to make it with two amp modules @900 W each though. Apart from the eq section - it's the same as the Shuttle 9.0 I guess ? I would like a STL 12.0 with more headroom

[OzzyGreg]

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Thanks a million for all the responses guys!

You have put my mind at ease and I will be going ahead and buying a Genz Benz amp fairly soon.

I love the tone they get on the sound-bites I've heard so far online.

Cheers,
Greg

[OzzyGreg]

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I've pulled the trigger and bought one.

I sniped a cheap one on fleaBay.

I was tossing up between a Peavey IPR 3000 (to go with the BBE B-Max pre-amp I already own) or buying the Genz Benz.
The cheap price on the GB swayed me, couldn't pass it up, that and the fact that I'd have had to get the Peavey converted to 240 volt if I imported one. The GB is switchable .... easy peasy.

Now i just have to wait for it to arrive from the US.

(Oh, by the way, I got it for $US773 shipped to Oz.)

Greg

[thudfromafar]

You'll be happy with it. GB are very solid. I've had my shuttle 3.0 for something like 2 years, used for lots of gigs and I use it at home all the time (probably every day).

And the CS is best in the biz as you can read from everyone on this forum.

[acleex38]

I have been running a Shuttle 3 since mid-2008, and got a second one last year. No problems at all except for dirty volume knob in need of cleaning. And the cs really is phenomenal.