TC Electronic or Genz Benz

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Tc amps do not sound like the mp3 version of a tube amp...

Your opinion, your ears.

Imho when I played the TC amps they sound chincy to me through my cabs.

[lowfreqguy]

Dr Pepper and Assti3k: I haven't made it to a GTG in the past, but am available on both 12/1 and 12/8. Let me know the details and is be glad to bring my stuff to the space for some A/B/C? testing. Thanks again.

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by lowfreqguy

Dr Pepper and Assti3k: I haven't made it to a GTG in the past, but am available on both 12/1 and 12/8. Let me know the details and is be glad to bring my stuff to the space for some A/B/C? testing. Thanks again.

Will let you know, Adrian. Thanks.

[Not yet]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

A

EDIT: - I also tried to dial in low mids, mid mids, etc... to fill in the drop off in fullness from the D & G string... no matter what I did, the E & A string sounded much more full. The Streamliner is well reported on by many here to have uneven string to string output.

Three gigs this weekend and last two had this problem. P bass, one Neox 12t one nite, two next.

Any suggestions how to resolve? Had to change out G string on Thomastik rounds lighter gauge to hear it come thru.

[sgiacomo]

If it helps, for my portable rig I had a TC 250 and now have a GB Shuttle 3.0. Not the same exactly but somewhat smaller versions of the ones you ask about to some extent. IMO Genz Benz sound quality is much better than the TC. Cool Tone Print for effects on the TC but it just didn't sound as good. Too bad you can't find a way to try them. I've not needed GB customer service but see their engineers and techs out here, have heard good things, just my $.02. Good luck.

Originally Posted by aasti3000

I'm a newbie bass player and have been practicing fairly regularly since June. I have the bass I want and now I have enough money saved up for an amp. The 2 that sparked my interest are the TC Electonic RH450/RH750 or the Genz Benz Streamliner 900.

The only problem is there is no place for me to test these amps. I've only been reading about them since no music store in my area don't have either on display. I like the way the sound on YouTube but I know that isn't a good way to hear the amp at work. Any suggestion on which two is a best bet or rather give me your opinion of either to help me decide?

Thanks in advance.

[Munjibunga]

I have a Shuttle 9.0 and an RH750. I prefer the Shuttle because I like clean, accurate sound. The RH750 can be made to sound like that, but it takes some heavy tweaking on its esoteric EQ system. The RH750 is more "wooly," so if you like that vintagey kind of tone, it'd be a good amp for you. Don't let the 236-watt thing bother you. The RH750 is hella loud, if you like that. BTW, mine is for sale in the ads.

[Blair101]

It's gonna be your ears that make that final call. I've played through the BH500, RH750 and the GB Shuttlemax 9.2. I liked the the TC stuff, although I thought some of the sound coming from them was a little tinny and digitally layered. Nice features, the compressor is great and the contour feature on the BH was very much like the Pre shape on a Trace. I thought Tube Tone was very software-ish sounding and no amp should have RCA jacks, but still very nice amps. I loved the Shuttlemax 9.2, crazy amount of configurations, three effects loops, being able to mix the two preamps, the eq sections are impressive and tonal characters can be easily changed. I didn't feel like the over all tone character changed that much on the TC products. And the Shuttlemax 9.2 is the same price as the RH750.

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by Not yet

Three gigs this weekend and last two had this problem. P bass, one Neox 12t one nite, two next.

Any suggestions how to resolve? Had to change out G string on Thomastik rounds lighter gauge to hear it come thru.

Get rid of the head. You'll forever deal with it with that head.

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Get rid of the head. You'll forever deal with it with that head.

I've not had this problem at all. Both of my basses sound fine through it.

If I'm having string response issues I'd be looking at the bass before I'd be looking at the amp.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Get rid of the head. You'll forever deal with it with that head.

The SM head has a Fender style eq. Many don't understand that.

[Modern Growl]

To address the two post above mine - the Streamliner - without a doubt exhibited a drop off in fullness on the higher strings.

I was doing an ABC test between the STL, RH750, & Tone Hammer 500 - all with the goal of replacing my Aguilar DB751 with something in the same ballpark of warm tone, but more portable.

No matter what I did with the Streamliners EQ (flat, mids boosted, high's cut, lows boosted, etc... I tried everything) - the D & G sting just didn't have the same "body" as the E & A.

Meanwhile my Aguilar DB751 and the RH750 & TH500 all sounded very even string to string. My basses are all set up properly using a 1/64th inch String Setup Tool. It's not my basses.

I was so suprised by this issue - only to see it well reported on here on TB. Back it went.

[Not yet]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Get rid of the head. You'll forever deal with it with that head.

Not happening. Anyone else, Aged Horse?

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by Not yet

Not happening. Anyone else, Aged Horse?

Try bass at 9:00, mid at 3:00 and highs around 11:00.

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by Not yet

Not happening. Anyone else, Aged Horse?

If you have concerns, shoot him a PM and I'm sure he'll get back to; I know he responded quickly to my inquiry.

I would be interested to hear his take on this. Although it was stated that this is well reported, this is the first I've read about it on here and I'm sure he'll want a chance to confirm, explain, or expel this issues legitimacy.

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Try bass at 9:00, mid at 3:00 and highs around 11:00.

My settings are fairly similar. A little less on the mids @ 600, and a little more treble. I do know that if I had the bass up too high, things sounded "off"...it also sounded like crap in a live situation

[Not yet]

Keep bass at 9, Mids normally 11, did boost to 1 last nite and it helped some. Give 3 a shot, thanks

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by Not yet

Not happening. Anyone else, Aged Horse?

I can't say that this is something that I am familiar with either. The amp has a somewhat flavored voicing that may or may not fit with your personal taste.

That said, you might tilt the cabinet up about 10 degrees and see if what you are experiencing is due to midrange loss from positioning.

[Not yet]

No issues w flavored voicing, right in my wheelhouse. The strange string dropoff is the challenge

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by Not yet

No issues w flavored voicing, right in my wheelhouse. The strange string dropoff is the challenge

The voicing and texture may conflict with your bass of personal playabity.

[aasti3000]

Well, tested the Genz Benz a couple of days ago and that thing sounded PRIMO! Love the tone (I'm starting to understand this 'tone' thing). Nice warm low end...didn't sound digital. Can't remember the cabinet the guy was using who let me test it but overall quality sound was A+. Tested the TC Electronic RH750 yesterday. That amp sounded just as nice. Even had a tube tone knob. Very warm as like the GB. Both gave a variety of different tones in their own unique way. Tough choice......and the winner was:



RH750

And as an added bonus:



RS212 cabinet