NAD

johnk_10 · #1 02-01-2012, 04:49 PM

i had been thinking about getting one of these for quite some time now, so just picked this one up today from a fellow TB member (a Genz Benz streamliner 900). i installed an NOS GE triple mica 5751 in the first gain stage, and two NOS Amperex 'Bugle Boy' 12AX7's for the other two. IMO, these are one of the better sounding hybrids available today. here's a pic of it:

i must admit that i've grown to be very spoiled of the SVT VR sitting below it, but for those gigs that either there isn't enough room in my car to fit my SVT with it's ATA case, or my back isn't up to the task of schlepping it that day, i'll be taking this one with me.

Crystalman85 · #2 02-01-2012, 04:51 PM

Looks pretty cool. is it a hybrid amp?

johnk_10 · #3 02-01-2012, 04:53 PM

yup. it's an all tube front end with a SS poweramp. and it does the 'grind thing' very well if you're into that ( & it can be very clean too).
there's already a zillion threads on them, and alot of people have done some tube rolling with them (myself included).

Alex1984 · #4 02-01-2012, 04:55 PM

Yes. The streamliner is a hybrid. Congrats John! Have you tried the WalkAbout before? Any comparisons you can offer in terms of other hybrids?

JimmyM · #5 02-01-2012, 04:56 PM

Yet another new amp, eh John? Nice! GB and Ampeg make the only micros I can stand to look at

Crystalman85 · #6 02-01-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

yup. it's an all tube front end with a SS poweramp. and it does the 'grind thing' very well if you're into that ( & it can be very clean too).
there's already a zillion threads on them, and alot of people have done some tube rolling with them (myself included).

Okay cool...I take it that when you've mentioned the grind thing, it has a distortion channel.

BurningSkies · #7 02-01-2012, 04:58 PM

I just installed a set of the RCA Blackplate triple mica's 5751's in my Kern...They sound FANTASTIC.

I also ended up with some rebranded bugle boy 12AU7's for 99 cents...but the AU7 slot is filled with a lovely NOS GE that sounds wonderful too.

My housemate and I spent an afternoon trying out a variety of old tubes (mostly AU7's) in my 65 VibroChamp, which is my favorite test bed. The RCAs came out tops, with the older GE's coming in close seconds. The Amperex were good but not our favorites.

johnk_10 · #8 02-01-2012, 05:02 PM

yeah, i like the streamliner alot, but i still like my SVT's quite a bit more. SVT's just have a certain transparency, depth and touch response that is very hard for me to do without nowadays. i can get the ST900 to sound pretty close 'tone-wise', but it doesn't really 'feel' the same when you play thru it, and it's a little bit more veiled than an SVT.

johnk_10 · #9 02-01-2012, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

Okay cool...I take it that when you've mentioned the grind thing, it has a distortion channel.

it doesn't have a distortion channel, but has a gain knob where you can push the front end alot harder.

Crystalman85 · #10 02-01-2012, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Yet another new amp, eh John? Nice! GB and Ampeg make the only micros I can stand to look at

How about the gallien-krueger mb-series bass heads? I know you're an ampeg guy, JimmyM, but any thoughts on the gallien-krueger MB fusion 500?

Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion 500W Tube Preamp Ultra-Light Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

johnk_10 · #11 02-01-2012, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Yes. The streamliner is a hybrid. Congrats John! Have you tried the WalkAbout before? Any comparisons you can offer in terms of other hybrids?

Hi Alex,
i've tried a couple of walkabouts and for some reason none of Mesa's amps do it for me, and i feel alot more 'at home' with this particular model of a genz than any of the Mesas.

Alex1984 · #12 02-01-2012, 05:10 PM

John, have you tried the SVT 7 Pro yet? I've been curious for comparisons.

Crystalman85, I've heard good things about the MB Fusion, though I haven't tried it myself. But in general I found GK amps to not have as much body as tube SVTs, it's got grind, but it's different, and felt quite compressed even comparing to tube amps.

JimmyM · #13 02-01-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

How about the gallien-krueger mb-series bass heads? I know you're an ampeg guy, JimmyM, but any thoughts on the gallien-krueger MB fusion 500?

Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion 500W Tube Preamp Ultra-Light Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Well I'm not going to bash GK..they're a well respected company that makes great amps that don't speak to me but they speak to many. But I still stand behind what I said about the looks of micros

will33 · #14 02-01-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

How about the gallien-krueger mb-series bass heads? I know you're an ampeg guy, JimmyM, but any thoughts on the gallien-krueger MB fusion 500?

Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion 500W Tube Preamp Ultra-Light Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

For me, the knobs are so close together, I'd never fit my fat fingers between them. I like my 800rb, no idea what that one sounds like.

As far as "stand to look at", most of these new amps look like some sort of robot to me. Either too many lights, or they're way too bright.

Crystalman85 · #15 02-01-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

John, have you tried the SVT 7 Pro yet? I've been curious for comparisons.

Crystalman85, I've heard good things about the MB Fusion, though I haven't tried it myself. But in general I found GK amps to not have as much body as tube SVTs, it's got grind, but it's different, and felt quite compressed even comparing to tube amps.

I've seen a youtube clip on that amp and it sounded pretty cool. I personally like gallien-krueger amps.

Crystalman85 · #16 02-01-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Well I'm not going to bash GK..they're a well respected company that makes great amps that don't speak to me but they speak to many. But I still stand behind what I said about the looks of micros

I take it that you're saying that gallien-krueger makes great amps, but it's not your kind of bass amps. that's cool. many people have personal taste in certain amplifier brands. I'm personally a GK guy. I've tried out a couple different amps, but I personally like gallien-krueger the most.

Crystalman85 · #17 02-01-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

For me, the knobs are so close together, I'd never fit my fat fingers between them. I like my 800rb, no idea what that one sounds like.

As far as "stand to look at", most of these new amps look like some sort of robot to me. Either too many lights, or they're way too bright.

That's cool. I have a gallien-krueger 700rb-II bass head and it sounded pretty cool.

JimmyM · #18 02-01-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

I take it that you're saying that gallien-krueger makes great amps, but it's not your kind of bass amps. that's cool. many people have personal taste in certain amplifier brands. I'm personally a GK guy. I've tried out a couple different amps, but I personally like gallien-krueger the most.

Nothing wrong with that!

will33 · #19 02-01-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

it doesn't have a distortion channel, but has a gain knob where you can push the front end alot harder.

Anything out there similair you could compare it to? Most say it's one of the tubier sounding hybrids out there but I've read everything from "high-fi type tubey" to "wooly" which are at opposite ends of the spectrum in my imagination. Different gain settings I suppose. Is it really so bass oriented as some say it may not be a good match for bassy, deep cabs?

Crystalman85 · #20 02-01-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Nothing wrong with that!

Nope...not at all.