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Quick Question to Streamliner 900 Owners.

R

REDLAWMAN

Jun 14, 2010
257
1
59
Cornwall, England, UK
#1
I'm struggling a bit to get my Streamliner to play loud at the really clean settings.

I'm clearly doing something wrong and I wonder if experienced users could perhaps help me out, please?

Gain button isn't engaged; tried the Gain between 9-12 O'Clock and the Pre-amp volume sort of balanced against it (so, say, 12 O'Clock- 3 O'Clock).

With the Gain like this, I have to crank the master volume right up to pretty much full and I'm playing in my house!

Also, when the Pre-amp volume gets over about 1-2 O'Clock, my speakers start to get noticeably 'hissy'. (Berg NV412).

It only gets really, really loud when I engage the Gain button.

Does all that sound normal and as it should be, please?
 
#3
+1 on that. The gain and pre-amp volume controls have a massive effect on the overall tone and inherit volume possible at the master control. I have found that I like the tone and dynamics better when I utilize the gain switch and put the gain control at 11 o'clock and pre-amp volume at about 2.5 o'clock. I have never been wishing for more volume and I do play LOUD.
 
#4
Ah, right: so how I set it, the master volume is supposed to be significantly lower?

So putting the gain up to, say, noon, (or depressing the Gain button) won't make me lose the clean tone a bit then?

Daft question maybe, but how do I know when it starts clipping on this? On the Littlemark, it was simple because the blue light would come on intermittently if I plucked quite hard.
 
#5
Hi. Just use your ears. I never trust lights! Also, just keep experimenting with all three gain controls and you'll find your desired setting. I tend to like a bit of grit, so I have the initial gain a bit higher than you might. But for sure, get that gain setting higher so you don't have to peg the master control. Of note: You'll find that the amp gets inherently more top-end once you move the pre-amp gain past 2 o'clock. You might find that helps with obtaining the tone your after. Also - pull back the mids at 220Hz - somewhere between 7 and 9 o'clock should help to obtain a clear/clean more "modern" tone as well.
 
#7
I'll give that a go; thank you everyone.

I wasn't looking for a modern sound; more a clean, vintage-tube.

I was just following what I thought were Ed F's settings at the start of his video and found it a bit surprising that it wasn't much louder, given that the Littlemark rarely if ever needs to go above half-throttle to rattle the windows and that's 500 as opposed to 900 Watts!
 
#8
REDLAWMAN said:
I'll give that a go; thank you everyone.

I wasn't looking for a modern sound; more a clean, vintage-tube.

I was just following what I thought were Ed F's settings at the start of his video and found it a bit surprising that it wasn't much louder, given that the Littlemark rarely if ever needs to go above half-throttle to rattle the windows and that's 500 as opposed to 900 Watts!
Click to expand...

The gain structure on the Streamliner is totally different than the LMII/III. The LMII/III (LOVE that head.. gigged on for years), reaches its peak volume MUCH earlier in both the pre gain and master volume taper range than the Streamliner. Also, there is much interaction between the pre gain and secondary volume on the Streamliner. Don't be afraid to turn the knobs.

The Streamliner master volume is particularly well designed, and seems to have an audiotaper volume pot. This means that it has a much more even, wider range of travel than most heads, and it really doesn't start to crank until you get that master to noon with clean pregain settings.
 
#10
REDLAWMAN said:
Oh right, I didn't realise Ken.

Just out of interest and I'm working from memory, but on one of your video clips with the pale blue VP Nordy 5, didn't you have the gain at 10 O'Clock for a clean tone though, Ken?
Click to expand...

There are a lot of ways to get to a loud clean sound with the Streamliner. My Nordy VP5 is my highest output bass, so that setting of around 10 o'clock on the gain and 1 or 2 o'clock on the post volume results in a very pure tone. I've been cranking the gain a bit more and backing the secondary volume off for a more 'clean but warm' tone. LOTS of sound in that gain control. Don't be afraid to crank it a bit. Use your ears on this one, since there is not 'optimum' setting like on a solid state preamp, or a hybrid that isn't designed to be as 'tubey' (like the Eden, etc.)
 
#12
REDLAWMAN said:
I didn't realise that, Ken: I was extrapolating to my passive Fender Precision and wondering just why everything was so quiet relatively.

I think it's time I got off here and started twiddling some knobs....

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

+1 The VP5 is really hot. Crank up the gain and be happy! Amazing head with a PBass. Also, the treble control on the Streamliner is just wonderful... almost acts like a passive tone control, just softening the 'click' without sucking out anything else.

Depending on your cab, you will most like prefer a slight cut on the bass knob, and a moderate boost on the mids, and with a P, a slight cut on the treble. You will have to experiment with the midrange frequency center, since that really depend on the cab and room.
 
#13
REDLAWMAN said:
I'm struggling a bit to get my Streamliner to play loud at the really clean settings.

I'm clearly doing something wrong and I wonder if experienced users could perhaps help me out, please?

Gain button isn't engaged; tried the Gain between 9-12 O'Clock and the Pre-amp volume sort of balanced against it (so, say, 12 O'Clock- 3 O'Clock).

With the Gain like this, I have to crank the master volume right up to pretty much full and I'm playing in my house!

Also, when the Pre-amp volume gets over about 1-2 O'Clock, my speakers start to get noticeably 'hissy'. (Berg NV412).

It only gets really, really loud when I engage the Gain button.

Does all that sound normal and as it should be, please?
Click to expand...

Really??? I've read the comments and everyone is right, you have to play a little bit with the three gain knobs (gain, volume, master), but, sincerely, I'm not able to explain why your volume is lacking with the button disengaged. The STM 900 is pure old.school power and loudness, even with tubey hi-fi clean settings. Be sure that your bass is ok (battery? other), and consider to check another STM for comparative purposes. If you were playing with a single little cab, ok. But, man, in a 4 x 12...the loudness would be massive...
 
#14
sratas said:
Really??? I've read the comments and everyone is right, you have to play a little bit with the three gain knobs (gain, volume, master), but, sincerely, I'm not able to explain why your volume is lacking with the button disengaged. The STM 900 is pure old.school power and loudness, even with tubey hi-fi clean settings. Be sure that your bass is ok (battery? other), and consider to check another STM for comparative purposes. If you were playing with a single little cab, ok. But, man, in a 4 x 12...the loudness would be massive...
Click to expand...

With a relatively weak output passive bass, and the gain setting very low, it is quite possible that not enough signal is hitting the power amp, even with the master cranked.
 
#15
KJung said:
With a relatively weak output passive bass, and the gain setting very low, it is quite possible that not enough signal is hitting the power amp, even with the master cranked.
Click to expand...

as I said previously, everyone's opinion could be the correct one. Our friend has an apparent problem and my post was sent to bring attention even at the least obvious possibility. In the spectrum of all the possibilities, there is also a technical issue. My suggestion was simply to check all the variables involved.
In all honesty, even if I understand the good and aknowledged points of Kjung and many others, I still feel embarrassed when considering a maxed out STM 900 + NV412 + in house playing = not enough volume (and not: "very loud when maxed..."). I own high output basses and also basses with a very weak output, but I never felt the STM 900 lacking in volume in "clean mode", even with smaller cabs and even without engaging the gain switch...how many of us has played a > 900 watts amp before playing trough a STM? maybe a few...the STM 900 is a quiet amp? Not sure. The NV412 lacks sensitivity? Big doubts.
If the problem is only to twist a knob, it's super ok for me, and most important, for our friend that has only to learn how to set the gain chain.
 
#16
sratas said:
as I said previously, everyone's opinion could be the correct one. Our friend has an apparent problem and my post was sent to bring attention even at the least obvious possibility. In the spectrum of all the possibilities, there is also a technical issue. My suggestion was simply to check all the variables involved.
In all honesty, even if I understand the good and aknowledged points of Kjung and many others, I still feel embarrassed when considering a maxed out STM 900 + NV412 + in house playing = not enough volume (and not: "very loud when maxed..."). I own high output basses and also basses with a very weak output, but I never felt the STM 900 lacking in volume in "clean mode", even with smaller cabs and even without engaging the gain switch...how many of us has played a > 900 watts amp before playing trough a STM? maybe a few...the STM 900 is a quiet amp? Not sure. The NV412 lacks sensitivity? Big doubts.
If the problem is only to twist a knob, it's super ok for me, and most important, for our friend that has only to learn how to set the gain chain.
Click to expand...

+1 We are making the same point. The first thing to do is crank that gain and see if the amp comes to life but still stays nice and clean. If it doesn't, you are correct, something might be wrong. However, at the low gain setting he is using at the moment, I have a feeling he will be fine, and still have the 'clean tube tone' he is looking for, with, as you say, more volume than most would ever need.:)
 
#17
sratas said:
as I said previously, everyone's opinion could be the correct one. Our friend has an apparent problem and my post was sent to bring attention even at the least obvious possibility. In the spectrum of all the possibilities, there is also a technical issue. My suggestion was simply to check all the variables involved.
In all honesty, even if I understand the good and aknowledged points of Kjung and many others, I still feel embarrassed when considering a maxed out STM 900 + NV412 + in house playing = not enough volume (and not: "very loud when maxed..."). I own high output basses and also basses with a very weak output, but I never felt the STM 900 lacking in volume in "clean mode", even with smaller cabs and even without engaging the gain switch...how many of us has played a > 900 watts amp before playing trough a STM? maybe a few...the STM 900 is a quiet amp? Not sure. The NV412 lacks sensitivity? Big doubts.
If the problem is only to twist a knob, it's super ok for me, and most important, for our friend that has only to learn how to set the gain chain.
Click to expand...

MMMH, I quote myself. I red again all the posts...and in effect maybe there is some more to learn about how to use individual gain setting of an amp...
 
#20
Joe Louvar said:
Please keep me updated - I’m trying to decide between the Streamliner 900 and Shuttle 9.0. Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Whenever I see a post like this, it worries me a bit. Those are SUCH different sounding heads that the choice should be very clear. Totally different feel, tone, controls, low end, mids, top end... everything.

The volume of the Streamliner will exceed the Shuttle 9, but the tonality and feel are SO different that I would do a bit more homework on what tone you are going for, what cabs you own, what bass, and what type of music you play.

Again, think of the Streamliner as an all tube amp and the Shuttle 9 as a nice option within the standard micro amp line-up, and the decision gets quite a bit easier.
 

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