NAD: Christmas Came Early!

[LowEndMan2112]

So, I bought a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 off the classifieds here (thanks Joebone!) and it came in on Thursday! Sadly, I don't have a cab to pair with it yet and it's tough to see some new gear arrive and not be able to try it But I got out to one of the local stores today and tried it out. I was running it with an Ampeg SVT210AV that is often paired with the Micro VR head as the little mini SVT. I have to say, it sounded GREAT!

At about 27-28 lbs and just under half my height (I'm 5'11) the 2 of them, this little rig packed serious punch. I personally loved the mix of the modern, hifi GB head paired with the sealed, more classic if you will, sound of the Ampeg cab. I'd read here that these cabs can struggle in the low end department, but at about 2 o'clock with the gain + master on the Shuttle and the LF boost on, this pair was pounding. Definitely rehearsal volume capable for my louder funk band with horns! I can definitely see myself getting one to begin with, and picking up a second to cover virtually all the gigs I'll be doing anytime soon. Overall, this mini rig was versatile, loud enough for my purposes but I would've loved to have a chance to run my upright through it, but that'll have to happen another time. I may have picked the cab up if it weren't for the fact that I'm scheduled to try my buddy's EA CXL 112s (x2) and want to do so before making any purchases. My only qualm would be that on the top of the cab there are spots for the feet of a Micro VR head, and that got a bit in the way of my head feeling stable up there, but this could be easily solved by just making a little platform to mount my head on.

Yes, I know, there are no pictures! Will be sure to get some up of the head once the family-packed next few days pass by. EDIT: Pictures are just down the page.

[rodl2005]

Congrats on the GREAT li'l amp mate. I've a Shuttle 6.0, but I think the 3.0 would be similar. Yeah, plenty of lows in there, just dial 'em in !
Merry X-mas & enjoy the amp. Headphones...... ? until the cab

[JimmyM]

Good score, dude! It's not that the 210av's struggle in the low end...it's there...but it can use a little help from the EQ. When I use my 210av's, I tend to give it a little extra bump on the low end than when I use my other cabs. Not much, though. I've used two of them with a 5-string and thought it was just fine for low end content.

[LowEndMan2112]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Congrats on the GREAT li'l amp mate. I've a Shuttle 6.0, but I think the 3.0 would be similar. Yeah, plenty of lows in there, just dial 'em in !
Merry X-mas & enjoy the amp. Headphones...... ? until the cab

I hadn't thought of that! Will try that out tonight.

I personally prefer the 3.0's FET preamp to the single tube of the 6.0, but I wouldn't mind a 9.2 if I ever have the cash to spare. That kind of gets the best of both worlds

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Good score, dude! It's not that the 210av's struggle in the low end...it's there...but it can use a little help from the EQ. When I use my 210av's, I tend to give it a little extra bump on the low end than when I use my other cabs. Not much, though. I've used two of them with a 5-string and thought it was just fine for low end content.

Thanks Jimmy! It was actually a lot of your posts that got me looking into those cabs. I agree about the low end, it definitely doesn't struggle, but I like the fullness and the more robust low B with the boost in the lows. Like you, I only had it around 1 o'clock, nothing too serious. That cab really did impress me, if I don't fall in love with the EA stuff I'm seriously thinking of picking one of the 210AVs up to start, and a second later on! EA stuff is pricy and I would have to go used here, and shipping is expensive.

[LowEndMan2112]

Quick picture with the new cell phone (I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised by the quality of the photo) This is long overdue, and will get a rig family photo once I get around to picking up a cab!