Genz Benz Streamliner 900 Vs. Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0

[Byo]

Hi T'bers!

I hope you can help me out on this one

I'm looking for a new amp and I'm really digging GB's heads, I've never tried one but for what I've heard on video reviews, I'm really hooked to their sound.

Here in Spain, the nearest music store that has GB's gear is 4 hours away from where I live , so it's a bit complicated to test both heads with my gear...

From what I know, the Shuttle is more modern sounding amp compared to the Streamliner, (when saying modern I mean more "HiFi").

Both have valve preamps, 1 valve on the Shuttle, 3 on the Streamliner.

I think that the Shuttle is more versatile because it has the option of connecting a footswitch to control the 3-Band Signal Shape Circuit and the mute option.

The Streamliner seems to have the sound qualities that I look for in an amp. I saw Ed Friedland's review on Youtube and it sounded very nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-27szg61bw

I'm confused, I don't really know wich one to pick...

Thanks for your time guys, I hope you can help me on this one!

[KJung]

Lots of info on these heads, but it is hard digging through the mega threads for the information.

The Streamliner is much deeper, fatter and smoother sounding, like an all tube amp. The Shuttle amps are more solid state sounding (bright, punchy, tight) with just a bit of tube 'complexity' to the tone.

From the influences you list in your profile, those players are pretty much 'all tube' guys, with a fat, vintage, traditional tone. That would suggest to me that the Streamliner might really float your boat.

The Shuttle heads will sound more aggressive, bright and grindy... and give you a range that can cop a Marcus Miller tone, a Flea type tone, or a Will Lee type tone. The Streamliner is all about Bob Glaub, Duck Dunn, etc. to me personally... clean, wide, fat, pillowy tube tone. Yes, you can crank the gain and it can snarl a bit, but it is really more about clean tone that brings to mind an audiophile all tube head.

For another data point, I have a few clips of the Streamliner and various cabs and basses on my Youtube channel (link in my sig). The Shuttle amps are a bit more similar to the sound of the F1 and F500 clips on my channel (not exactly, but again, more of that modern, solid state tone).

IMO, and hope that helps.

[JxBass]

Good insight by Ken as always. I have both the Streamliner 900 and Shuttle 9.0, and both of your descriptions are right on, the Streamliner being smoother and fatter, the 9.0 being more hi-fi.

But the 9.0 is still a great amp. Yes, it's more modern sounding than the 900 but it's not night and day, IMO. I got the 9.0 before the SL900 (makes sense) and it sent my smooth sounding Markbass LMII, which was my #1 for quite awhile, into the closet. True, my SL900 has moved the 9.0 to #2, but I still find the 9.0 somewhere in between the LMII and SL900. All IMHO, of course.

[KPO2000]

I have both now as well and think I'll be keeping both...and selling my CA-9 and Alembic F-2B. I think the SL will get the most play though.

[Red Planet]

It's really simple.

Do you like the sound of a tight Solid State head or a Wooly Goosey ol Tube Head.

The Shuttle is Modern Snap the Strealiner is BBQ Ribs.


It is best to own both.

[Tunaman]

Byo- that video says it all.
My philosophy is that you should have both a hi-fi & a tube amp in your stable. Shuttlemax 9.2 or the Streamliner 900? Both
BUT if funds are limited I think the Streamliner is more unique in the way its portable tube tone. There are MANY amps that do hi-fi solid state close to the Shuttlemax 9.2 you could get later on the used market.
That being said if I only had to choose 1 it would be the Shuttlemax 9.2 as I personally like hi-fi cut tone to stand out in the mix...
My Streamliner 900 tube tone compliments a solid state, hi fi GK MB500, RB1001RB, LM III, Eden Navigator, Sansamp RBI, Shuttlemax 9.2.
Do you like a P or a J bass? I like both tones

[KPO2000]

I agree completely. BTW, we're playing the Bleacher Bar at Fenway Park this weekend. I'll be there with SL-900, Berg AE410, and Sadowsky PJ (with flatwounds).

Originally Posted by Tunaman

Byo- that video says it all.
My philosophy is that you should have both a hi-fi & a tube amp in your stable. Shuttlemax 9.2 or the Streamliner 900? Both
BUT if funds are limited I think the Streamliner is more unique in the way its portable tube tone. There are MANY amps that do hi-fi solid state close to the Shuttlemax 9.2 you could get later on the used market.
That being said if I only had to choose 1 it would be the Shuttlemax 9.2 as I personally like hi-fi cut tone to stand out in the mix...
My Streamliner 900 tube tone compliments a solid state, hi fi GK MB500, RB1001RB, LM III, Eden Navigator, Sansamp RBI, Shuttlemax 9.2.
Do you like a P or a J bass? I like both tones

[Byo]

Thanks Kjung!

I'm going to check your clips right now

I do think that the Streamliner is the amp for me, I was worried if it was a "one trick pony"... but for what my ears are telling me, it's pretty versatile.

Thanks again for your help!

Greetings from Spain!

Originally Posted by KJung

Lots of info on these heads, but it is hard digging through the mega threads for the information.

The Streamliner is much deeper, fatter and smoother sounding, like an all tube amp. The Shuttle amps are more solid state sounding (bright, punchy, tight) with just a bit of tube 'complexity' to the tone.

From the influences you list in your profile, those players are pretty much 'all tube' guys, with a fat, vintage, traditional tone. That would suggest to me that the Streamliner might really float your boat.

The Shuttle heads will sound more aggressive, bright and grindy... and give you a range that can cop a Marcus Miller tone, a Flea type tone, or a Will Lee type tone. The Streamliner is all about Bob Glaub, Duck Dunn, etc. to me personally... clean, wide, fat, pillowy tube tone. Yes, you can crank the gain and it can snarl a bit, but it is really more about clean tone that brings to mind an audiophile all tube head.

For another data point, I have a few clips of the Streamliner and various cabs and basses on my Youtube channel (link in my sig). The Shuttle amps are a bit more similar to the sound of the F1 and F500 clips on my channel (not exactly, but again, more of that modern, solid state tone).

IMO, and hope that helps.

[Byo]

Hmmmm, I think I'll try the BBQ Ribs

I guess that the Streamliner is the choice for me. But in the future I will surely get myself a Shuttle too, such great little amps!

Thanks Red Planet!

Greetings from Spain!

Originally Posted by Red Planet

It's really simple.

Do you like the sound of a tight Solid State head or a Wooly Goosey ol Tube Head.

The Shuttle is Modern Snap the Strealiner is BBQ Ribs.


It is best to own both.

[Byo]

Hi Tunaman!

I think the same way, I'd have both amps, but funds are a bit limited at the moment...
Suffering form G.A.S and not having money to spend is a real boomer...

I use mainly a Fender Reggie Hamilton Sig. with a P/J configuration and a JV Squier Jazz Bass, I love both the P & J tones

Greetings from Spain!

Originally Posted by Tunaman

Byo- that video says it all.
My philosophy is that you should have both a hi-fi & a tube amp in your stable. Shuttlemax 9.2 or the Streamliner 900? Both
BUT if funds are limited I think the Streamliner is more unique in the way its portable tube tone. There are MANY amps that do hi-fi solid state close to the Shuttlemax 9.2 you could get later on the used market.
That being said if I only had to choose 1 it would be the Shuttlemax 9.2 as I personally like hi-fi cut tone to stand out in the mix...
My Streamliner 900 tube tone compliments a solid state, hi fi GK MB500, RB1001RB, LM III, Eden Navigator, Sansamp RBI, Shuttlemax 9.2.
Do you like a P or a J bass? I like both tones

[Byo]

Thanks for all your help guys!

I would like to ask you something else...

I was thinking of pairing the head with a GK NEO 212 (8ohm version). I've tried the cab with a GK MB500 and it sounded very balanced and with a nice punch to it. I wasn't using my gear though... It was an active Warwick...

I'm used to 15" speakers + tweeter, but that doesn't mean that I don't like 10's

Thanks for the help!!!

[Red Planet]

No other ribs will do than Buba Q.

[nostatic]

The only solution is one of each. That said, I find the Shuttle a bit more versatile than the S900 and it is a little more forgiving between two disparate basses (eg Rob Allen vs. P-bass). As long as you're not looking for med/hi gain tones, it is easier to make the Shuttle sound like the Streamliner than vice versa. That said, if you like fat you'll love the Streamliner right out of the box while you'll have to fiddle a bit to get that with the Shuttle. If you like more clean/pristine out of the box you'll probably like the Shuttle and have to fiddle with the Streamliner.

fwiw some gigs I use one, other gigs the other. I can say that for whatever reason the S900 + P-bass = sonic heaven.

[ddbassGA]

I have a Shuttle for clean and tube amps for tube sound.

[Deepwoods]

Originally Posted by nostatic

The only solution is one of each. That said, I find the Shuttle a bit more versatile than the S900 and it is a little more forgiving between two disparate basses (eg Rob Allen vs. P-bass). As long as you're not looking for med/hi gain tones, it is easier to make the Shuttle sound like the Streamliner than vice versa. That said, if you like fat you'll love the Streamliner right out of the box while you'll have to fiddle a bit to get that with the Shuttle. If you like more clean/pristine out of the box you'll probably like the Shuttle and have to fiddle with the Streamliner.

fwiw some gigs I use one, other gigs the other. I can say that for whatever reason the S900 + P-bass = sonic heaven.

I sold my Streamliner 600 and picked up a Shuttle 9.0. I had a 6.0 in the past and had read on TB that the 9.0 had a bit more low end which I found to be true. After playing with the STM600 I thought I could get close to that tone with the 9.0 and am happy with my decision to go back to the Shuttle line.

[Tunaman]

Originally Posted by Byo

Thanks for all your help guys!

I would like to ask you something else...

I was thinking of pairing the head with a GK NEO 212 (8ohm version). I've tried the cab with a GK MB500 and it sounded very balanced and with a nice punch to it. I wasn't using my gear though... It was an active Warwick...

I'm used to 15" speakers + tweeter, but that doesn't mean that I don't like 10's

Thanks for the help!!!

I have the GK NEO 412 & love it with the Streamliner, HUSKY123 has the NEO 212 & wasn't a fan through the streamliner, he went to the GENZ Uber 410 instead.

I also have the NEO 115 & like that as well. The Streamliner brings out the best in a lot of cabs & basses. Id agree that if you only can have 1 amp... without hesitation its the Shuttlemax 9.2 NOT the Streamliner... but remember thats the same as saying if you could only have 1 bass a P or a J you must choose the J bass... because of the versatility.

Its all opinions

[FarkusSWR]

FWIW I tried out a SL900 and ended up taking it back for a SM9.2. I use a Lakland Skyline Glaub on the tube channel for the old-school stuff and a MM Stingray 4 HH on the FET channel for the modern-style stuff and I am in bass Heaven. This is the first time in years I am happy enough with the sound I am getting that I am no longer considering other amps. YMMV.

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

I have a Shuttle for clean and tube amps for tube sound.

Aint nuttin wrong with Tube amps, mine just weighs 6.5 pounds.

[maurilio]

Originally Posted by KJung

…….
The Shuttle heads will sound more aggressive, bright and grindy... and give you a range that can cop a Marcus Miller tone, a Flea type tone, or a Will Lee type tone. …..
IMO, and hope that helps.

Ken, you mention MM sound, just curious, how would you dial in his sound on a Shuttle? (of course you'll need a J type bass, ash/maple with '70 pup placement)

Thx

M

[KJung]

Originally Posted by maurilio

Ken, you mention MM sound, just curious, how would you dial in his sound on a Shuttle? (of course you'll need a J type bass, ash/maple with '70 pup placement)

Thx

M

To my ear, with a 70's J and roundwounds, and the right technique, most solid state amps with a rather bright voicing like the Shuttle 9 can generate a very good active slap tone. With my Berg AE410, when Mikebass brought his 9 over, just a smidge of bass boost and a slight cut to the upper mids got me very close to my F500 tone set flat with my A-C LM.

Of course, you can engage that 'mid scoop, low end, high end boost' sort of contour button, but that would definitely be an 'in the basement solo' sort of thing IMO... WAY too extreme.

I have a clip of that bass with my Thunderchild and the Streamliner on my Youtube channel. It sounds good, but just doesn't have that midrange push that defines the Marcus type tone to me... that aggressive mid and upper mid grind, and that pure solid state snap up top. That just isn't what the Streamliner is about, which is why I own and gig both the F500 and the Streamliner for different plaing contexts.

IMO of course.

Edit: How is the new Genz 212 working for you so far?