Genz Benz vs markbass

smgleitch · #1 03-10-2011, 04:14 PM

Just curious. Your thoughts on difference between shuttle 6.0 and lmII.

BigOldHarry · #2 03-10-2011, 04:17 PM

I know I like GB
I know I don't like MB

Mostly on the cabs... A buddy had a LMII and liked it until he sold it for GB...

Isn't the GB a bit more $$$?

DiabolicLow B · #3 03-10-2011, 04:25 PM

Tried both in store and in live situations and went with the Shuttle 6, love the tone, nice and clear with a crisp top end and plenty of volume.

A selling point for me was the Genz Benz D.I which I use every gig, much better sounding than the MB IMHO.

smgleitch · #4 03-10-2011, 04:30 PM

Thanks that helps. I have played on a mb but never seen a gb. Going to buy one site unseen tonight or tomorrow. Have heard a lot of good about both just never seen them compared.

NWB · #5 03-10-2011, 04:30 PM

I tried both heads and ended up with the Shuttle 6.0.

I thought the tone was more articulate than the MB.

I've had it a few years now and it's been a very solid performer for me. It's definitely a very high quality unit.

**nostatic** · #6 03-10-2011, 04:31 PM

GB is a great company - after going through a couple different micros I now have Shuttle 9.0 and Streamliner 900. I had a MB, won't buy one again but ymmv.

NWB · #7 03-10-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smgleitch

Thanks that helps. I have played on a mb but never seen a gb. Going to buy one site unseen tonight or tomorrow. Have heard a lot of good about both just never seen them compared.

I think GB is about the only amp that I'd ever consider buying sight unseen.

greenboy · #8 03-10-2011, 04:34 PM

I'd buy whichever one was flavor of the moment. Then I'd sell it when everybody else sells theirs.

Jeez. You'd think how well I did in the SAT I'd be less a herd animal.

KJung · #9 03-10-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smgleitch

Just curious. Your thoughts on difference between shuttle 6.0 and lmII.

Very different amps.. The LMII is fat, warm, smooth. The Shuttle 6 is bright, tight, and a bit aggressive in the upper mids. I personally greatl prefer the LMII versus the Shuttle 6. Both are quality pieces of gear that just sound very, very different. I like the F500 much more than both of them, and like the Shuttle 9 much more than the 6!

Chrisk-K · #10 03-10-2011, 04:38 PM

I love Genz's crisp, transparent tone. Plus, I love the parametric mid eq. It's such a powerful tone shaping tool. The only thing that I don't like about Genz is retina-scorching blue LEDs!

Marty Forrer · #11 03-10-2011, 04:39 PM

I went from MB to GB. I'm a doubler, and the GB gives a better upright sound. Crisper is a good description.

GrowlerBox · #12 03-10-2011, 04:39 PM

The DI on the LMIII is much improved over the LMII.

The Shuttle and LM are pretty different amps though. I don't think either is a bad choice, and I don't think either is flavour of the moment, so greenboy's tip may not be that helpful. You're lagging behind the herd, man, just waiting to be taken down by the next lapsed craze!

Edit: as usual, KJung's beaten me to the main point!

neurotictim · #13 03-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Tried the Shuttle 9, liked it, but liked the LMT800 far more. I know that's not really what you're asking, but I figured as an MB fan I had to chime in.

+1 to KJung - I thought the MB was a lot warmer and fuller, while the GB sounded rather sterile, comparatively.

BigOldHarry · #14 03-10-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

I'd buy whichever one was flavor of the moment. Then I'd sell it when everybody else sells theirs.

Jeez. You'd think how well I did in the SAT I'd be less a herd animal.

Didn't you get the memo? Only herd animals do well on the SAT...

WJGreer · #15 03-10-2011, 04:49 PM

I've got a Markbass F1 and a Shuttle 9 now, and I sold a LMII last year after using it in pretty heavy gig rotation for a couple of years.

They're all pretty good amps - of course the LMII and F1 are both solid state designs while the Shuttle Series amps have tube preamps. You can't dial in a really gritty tone with the Shuttles, but you can get some nice warmth with substantial gain motion. No such effect is possible with a LMII - it's a clean amp all the way.

At flat EQ, the Markbass seems to project a more assertive midrange, giving it a very punchy character. To my ears, it is a little dead up high, not at all sparkly or zingy. The Genz-Benz sounds slightly more scooped at flat EQ, but the parametric midrange EQ is highly musical, and it is easy to add a useful midrange bump if you want one - check out Ed Friedland's 9.0 review at the 3:15 point to hear and see how he does it. I was in a rehearsal with an unfamiliar group last week, in a boomy auditorium. I was having trouble hearing the bass and tried that trick with very positive result.

Volume-wise, my sense is that the Markbass amps seem to sound a little louder, although that may be because of the voicing they use.

I'm using the Shuttle on gigs now because it sounds a little sweeter on the high end to my ears and seems a better match for the Eden cabinets I've got now. My F1 is in the studio.

If you can swing the additional $, I'm not sure why you wouldn't move into a Shuttle 9 rather than a 6, though. How much more is a 9 than a 6?

Edit: I just read Ken's post above. It's funny that we each like the opposite amp for the opposite reasons. I've never found the LMII to be really warm, and the F1 less so.

**pacojas** · #16 03-10-2011, 04:53 PM

LMIII is the best amp i've ever used. (so get one)

**JxBass** · #17 03-10-2011, 04:54 PM

I owned and very much liked my LMII for quite awhile. I preferred it over the Shuttle 6. Then I got a Shuttle 9 and the LMII went into backup mode. I added a Streamliner 900 and the LMII got sold.

smgleitch · #18 03-10-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

I'd buy whichever one was flavor of the moment. Then I'd sell it when everybody else sells theirs.

Jeez. You'd think how well I did in the SAT I'd be less a herd animal.

Maybe my post was misleading. I am buying the gb not because everyone else says i should. I am buying it because I want to try something new. I asked the question to see what the differences between the two are because I have played on a lmII. So I know how that sounds. I owned one and sold it, it was a great amp and have thought about buying another but something keeps me from doing it. I think I need to try something new. Been looking for a good new cab as well. I ask these questions not because I want to do what everyone else is doing but in hopes of figuring out what might work for me. I live in one of those areas where if you want a gk or ampeg you are all set but anything else is so hard to come by. I have heard a gb with a berg cab in person and very much liked it. I hope this head will be what I am looking for.

KJung · #19 03-10-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

I'd buy whichever one was flavor of the moment. Then I'd sell it when everybody else sells theirs.

Jeez. You'd think how well I did in the SAT I'd be less a herd animal.

That's helpful to the thread

. I wish I was as 'all knowing' as you so that I could just make fun of these reasonable questions. These amps are both great, and both sound VERY different. I just try to help since I've actually spent time playing them

Koog · #20 03-10-2011, 05:05 PM

Have only played GB in music stores. Didn't care for them. Have played MB and Ampeg extensively in show situations and prefer the MB....lightweight and just as much tone and power for my use.

It's all very subjective, however. Do what your ears tell you.

Koog.