Not happy with my Genz Benz/Ampeg rig.

DK Gray · #1 08-22-2011, 11:50 AM

My old setup was a SWR SM900 and an Ampeg 610. I really liked the punch and clarity of the SWR but it had a few issues and I was worried about reliability, so I bought a Shuttle 9.0.

Wow, these are very different sounding amps. The shuttle does not have the same punch as the SWR but is more even sounding in that the upper register notes are fuller. The Shuttle has a more mellow tone.

I have played with the mids quite a bit but I am still looking for a more aggressive sound.

I am committed to the shuttle for now, and I am considering replacing the Ampeg cab.

Any suggestions? 2- Genz Benz UB 1X15 or UB 410?

I play a Spector Euro 4 with EMG P-J pickups, finger style, Rock music.

bigfatbass · #2 08-22-2011, 11:52 AM

Have you tried lighting up that input tube a little more?

scowboy · #3 08-22-2011, 12:55 PM

SWR and GB are apple and oranges. Also your going from a traditional amplifier to a class D amplifier. There will be some tonal differences on that alone. I just switched back to a Shuttle 9.0 from a traditional amp and it's taken some getting used to. I ended playing with the EQ on the Shuttle more than I used to and when I played out yesterday I came home pretty darn happy with my decision. Going into yesterdays gig I was NOT happy with my Shuttle. The point is give it time. The SWR and the GB are just very different from each other.

PWV · #4 08-22-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfatbass

Have you tried lighting up that input tube a little more?

+1 You can dial in quite a bit of that ss "grind" with this.

DK Gray · #5 08-22-2011, 02:03 PM

Thanks for reply SCOWboy. I will say that I like the tone better each time I use it, but it just seems to be missing the grind that I thought I might be able to get back with different speakers. I really want to love this amp. It is very cool in every other way.

DK Gray · #6 08-22-2011, 02:10 PM

I find that when I playing without the band, turning back the tube gain helps but I when I adjust the gain while playing with the band I can't hear much change.

T. Alan Smith · #7 08-22-2011, 02:23 PM

Sometimes, your just an SWR guy regardless of the fads going on here. I found that out recently after employing a MarkBass LMII for the past few years and reacquiring a vintage SWR head a few weeks back. It inspired me to play in a way the LMII never did.

DK Gray · #8 08-22-2011, 02:34 PM

T. Alan Smith, you may be right. I just don't want to admit it after spending $600.

u84six · #9 08-22-2011, 02:35 PM

The same thing happened to me when I went to some stores and tried out different varieties of GBs and MBs. All really high wattage and very lightweight. The problem is that my ears couldn't get into it (or understand the sound). Even the old SWR combo I had for a little while sounded so much better to my ears. These types of amps are just different so I guess it takes time for some people to "adjust".

Col Pruse · #10 08-22-2011, 02:41 PM

Ed Friedland has some good videos on youtube of the Genz benz amps. Might be able to get some eq tips there.

This probably doesn't help you much but I play a GB Streamliner thru two ampeg 15s and think the sounds I get are pretty badass.

DK Gray · #11 08-22-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col Pruse

Ed Friedland has some good videos on youtube of the Genz benz amps. Might be able to get some eq tips there.

This probably doesn't help you much but I play a GB Streamliner thru two ampeg 15s and think the sounds I get are pretty badass.

Yea, I watched the vids when I was researching the Shuttle. I couldn't find an amp in the area to try out so those played into the decision to buy.

If I was in a blues band this rig would be great.

noahw1 · #12 08-22-2011, 03:38 PM

I went from an SWR SM400 to a Shuttle 6.0 afterr playing with the SWR for about 15 years and at first I was a little discouraged but I think my ears were accustomed to hearing my "sound" from the SWR after such a long period of time. However, the more I played it the more I began to like it and eventually loved it.

What are your current EQ settings? There are a number of Shuttle 6.0 Setting threads on here that you may want to look into but also realize your ears may be used to your swr sound and could take some time to adjust.

OzzyGreg · #13 08-22-2011, 03:48 PM

.
I'm a brand new Genz Benz owner (Shuttlemax 12.0 arrived yesterday).
I couldn't be happier with the sound through both my fEARful 212 and Eminence 1x15 cabs.
In fact I'm absolutely stoked in it!

Horses for courses of course, but the rolled off mids suit me perfectly. Its something I have always done with pretty much every bass amp I've played through's EQ anyway!

Greg

jeff7bass · #14 08-22-2011, 03:53 PM

"I am committed to the shuttle for now, and I am considering replacing the Ampeg cab".

Any suggestions?

THIS ---> UB 410

HolmeBass · #15 08-22-2011, 04:04 PM

I say the UB 212. I love mine. Using a Mesa through it right now, but it sounds good as an adjunct to my Eden Metro and with the Eden WTX-260 micro amp.

randysmojo · #16 08-22-2011, 04:07 PM

Strange, but I'm playing through an Ampeg SVT-3pro head into a Genz Benz NeoX-212T and although in general it sounds good, it is missing something. It seems a little too "slow" to me if that makes sense. I was thinking about going to a GB Shuttle 9.0. Maybe a NeoX-212T might work for you. Lord knows it can get plenty loud!!!

DK Gray · #17 08-22-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

"I am committed to the shuttle for now, and I am considering replacing the Ampeg cab".

Any suggestions?

THIS ---> UB 410

I was thinking mabe a UB 410 would be a good match with the shuttle considering their both GB.

In gereral, is the Ampeg 610 a more tubey sounding cab than other cabs like fearful, GB, berg...

DK Gray · #18 08-22-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahw1

I went from an SWR SM400 to a Shuttle 6.0 afterr playing with the SWR for about 15 years and at first I was a little discouraged but I think my ears were accustomed to hearing my "sound" from the SWR after such a long period of time. However, the more I played it the more I began to like it and eventually loved it.

What are your current EQ settings? There are a number of Shuttle 6.0 Setting threads on here that you may want to look into but also realize your ears may be used to your swr sound and could take some time to adjust.

As far as the EQ, all the preset switches are out, the bass is at +3 , mids +3 at about 600hz(I've adjusted this alot), and treb flat (but boosted on my bass).

Your not the first to say that it may take some time to get used to the sound. You may be right.

Epidrake · #19 08-22-2011, 05:18 PM

You absolutely must look up some of the Shuttle settings postings here at TB. I thought the Benz was a muddy mess when I first got it, now I LOVE IT. I second the advice of cranking the pre-amp tube! At 3PM it sounds just a bit grindy turn it up if you want it really grindy. I cut the mids according to the room.

Epidrake · #20 08-22-2011, 05:19 PM

I don't think you are getting used to the sound, I think it's getting used to how to set the knobs. PLAY AROUND, don't be shy.