Another amp advice post

[bigdaddybass12]

Yeah yeah, I know. Opinion needed, I am looking for a 250 watt amp. Looking at the Markbass little mark 250 watt head. I also read where it is suggested to get Genzler MG 350. I see them used on GC website. I play at a small low key gig, Hartke HD 1x12 cab or a 2x10 cab. Oldies. Here is my question, get a new Markbass or a used Genzler MG?
Be kind to me.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Yeah yeah, I know. Opinion needed, I am looking for a 250 watt amp. Looking at the Markbass little mark 250 watt head. I also read where it is suggested to get Genzler MG 350. I see them used on GC website. I play at a small low key gig, Hartke HD 1x12 cab or a 2x10 cab. Oldies. Here is my question, get a new Markbass or a used Genzler MG?
Be kind to me.

I have specific gear for specific types of venues and for small venues such as brewpubs, I've been using an Eden TN-226 amp (225-watts rms) and an Eden EX-112 cab. I also have a couple of 800-watt amps, my Eden WT500/800 and my DNA-800. The Eden amp is the actual amp that David Nordschow used to design all the Eden cabs from1999 until he left Eden in 2009. I bought it from him in 2010. It's a great amp at 800-watts bridged into 8Ω, very versatile, and it has the clear, clean, and warm sound for which Eden is known for. It's a class AB amp and weighs 37½-lbs in its rack. It has a hybrid preamp using a 12ax7 tube in the impedance matching section of the preamp operating within specific parameters to generate that warmth.

I was worried when I bought the TN-226 from a friend that it would not have that warmth to the sound. I was very pleasantly surprised the first night I gigged it through my Eden EX-112 cab. It didn't have a tube in it and yet sounded just as warm. clean and clear as my big Eden amp. It uses a Golden Ear chip (THAT-4103) in the preamp that, among other things, emulates tube warmth very nicely - literally just as warm as my WT500-800. It's a great sounding amp.

My big Eden amp has three semi-parametric controls that lets you select any frequency between 30Hz and 12 KHz. It also has a Bass EQ that shelves at 30Hz and a treble EQ that controls everything from about 2.2KHz up. You can get amazing sounds out of it. The EQ on the TN-226 has the same bass EQ and then two semi-parametric controls that allow you to address any frequencies from 30Hz up to 2KHz. So slightly fewer EQ choices but really, more than enough. Another thing that it has is a really good auto-compressor. The Auto-Compressor on my big Eden WT amp is not nearly so good. It works great for slap but, in my opinion, is too abrupt for anything else. It's a hard knee compressor so it clamps abruptly and releases abruptly. It's great for slap.

The auto compressor in the TN-226 on the other hand is a much more musical compressor as I found out one night when our 5-pc group got too loud in the small brewpub and I saw my power clipping light start flashing. That's a very bad thing because if you clip the power very much, the auto-protect turns you off. The Bass EQ sucks up a lot of power so the first thing I did was turn the Bass EQ down - didn't fix it. Then I turned the master down. That fixed it of course, but you couldn't hear me. Finally I decided to engage the auto-compressor. Surprise, surprise, I could play at the level that was causing the amp to clip earlier, and I didn't seem to lose any of my dynamics. It was basically compressing the peaks from the way I had it set, and let everything else through. I could play at a level I shouldn't be playing at in a small venue and my amp wasn't clipping and it sounded great. That's a real plus in my book.

Now the bad news is that they are only available now days used. There are two different models that Eden made when I bought mine - the TN-226, which is 225-watts rms into 4Ω and the TN-501, which is 500-watts into 4Ω. The TN-501 is of course more versatile but I already had a couple of amps I could use for medium-sized venues, so I got the 225-watt version. They both have the exact same preamp. My EX-112 cab is a very compact cab because it uses a whizzer cone for the high mids and highs instead of a separate tweeter horn. I can carry the amp in its shoulder bag over one shoulder, my gig bag over the other shoulder, grab my bass in one hand and my 112 cab in the other (has a Neo speaker) and carry everything in or out in one trip. AND that small venue rig just sounds great. Original prices in the US were $499 for the TN-226 and $649 for the TN-501.

Oh yeah, one other cool thing is that when you turn it on, the Eden Logo lights up (backlit). At Eden, that was known as "the Porch Light".

Here's my small venue rig. Notice how nicely it all fits in a chair? And as you can tell by the "porch light" the power is on.

 

[JimChjones]

Both of them seem to have a good number of fans, so it comes down to personal choice. I don't think either is a bad idea.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Simple version:
if you're located in the US portion of "earth"; Genzler.

Simple reason:
Genzler is 1 of 2 manufactures that come to mind with unbeatable support and service.

MarkBass? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

--------------------------------------------------
Otherwise: IME
You can get all the opinions you want and make an "informed" choice, but you'll never really know until you try the (amp, cab, bass) for yourself.
Since it's on GCs site - I'd start with the Magellan.
If it doesn't do it for you - you can return it.;

 

[McFarlin]

Yeah yeah, I know. Opinion needed, I am looking for a 250 watt amp. Looking at the Markbass little mark 250 watt head. I also read where it is suggested to get Genzler MG 350. I see them used on GC website. I play at a small low key gig, Hartke HD 1x12 cab or a 2x10 cab. Oldies. Here is my question, get a new Markbass or a used Genzler MG?
Be kind to me.

Why 250 watts?

 

[Chris Chong]

Definitely genzler mg350

 

[Gervais Cote]

For electronic devices, I always prefer new.

In your situation, I would give a try to your Markbass and also a Traynor SB 200H.

 

[sheesh]

/* rant on */ trying for yourself only works if the thing is available in your area, or your friend has one, or somebody in an open mic you go to has one, that's why people ask here for help /* rant off */

Yeah yeah, I know. Opinion needed, I am looking for a 250 watt amp. Looking at the Markbass little mark 250 watt head. I also read where it is suggested to get Genzler MG 350. I see them used on GC website. I play at a small low key gig, Hartke HD 1x12 cab or a 2x10 cab. Oldies. Here is my question, get a new Markbass or a used Genzler MG?
Be kind to me.

ok oldies? so low and bloomy? What oldies? 50's do-wap, 60s folk? 60s rock, 70s folk? 70s rock? now people around here think 80s is the oldies.



you said the question was one or the other so I won't recommend other amps unless that is also what you are looking for, so here are two threads that talk about the amps you are interested in:

S

Thread 'Markbass Little Mark 250 experience?'

May 26, 2006

Anyone here who've tried the markbass little mark 250? I'm kinda interested in a rig setup (my first) so I'm wondering if this amp's any good. And in case it it, what would be a good and realatively cheap cab to use with it. I play everying from jazz to standard bassthumping so it needs to be a allround rig. The cab sould not cost more than approx. 500€

• Stuggi
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

Thread 'Genzler Magellan 350 - Thoughts?'

Nov 27, 2019

I didn't need another amplifier head........but I bought one anyway.

I just purchased a brand-new Genzler Magellan 350 from a major instrument retailer. I haven't had the opportunity to try one yet, but it seems like all things Genzler are reviewed very favorably. I had considered the Trace Elliot Elf, but ultimately decided on a little more headroom and more tone shaping controls.

I currently have/use a Carvin BX250 (neutral and almost sterile) and a Markbass Little Mark II (rather neutral but significantly warmer). My cabs are a Fender Rumble 210 and a pair of...

• tubatodd
• genzler magellan 350
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

• 

Ironically the first post in the Genzler thread brings up the Trace Elliot ELF which is what I was going to recommend . . .

. . . Oh and look - he had a Little Mark II at the time of his inquiry about the Genzler 350 . . .

 

[agedhorse]

I ALWAYS recommend trying an amp to see if it suits a players personal tastes, even if it’s harder to do.

A forum can’t know what a player’s tastes are, and even the player might not know unless they hear a few options.

IMO, there’s no need for a rant on good suggestions or information either.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Yeah yeah, I know. Opinion needed, I am looking for a 250 watt amp. Looking at the Markbass little mark 250 watt head. I also read where it is suggested to get Genzler MG 350. I see them used on GC website. I play at a small low key gig, Hartke HD 1x12 cab or a 2x10 cab. Oldies. Here is my question, get a new Markbass or a used Genzler MG?
Be kind to me.

I don’t think which one matters other than making sure the amp doesn’t generate more wattage than the speaker cab’s RMS rating. Just keep in mind, GC will accept returns if you are not happy. I would make sure you note GC’s conditional rating and make sure when it arrives its condition matches their rating. If it doesn’t and it is not as advertised and you want to keep it, take it to an actual GC and ask for some store credit or you are going to send it back.

 

[bherman]

I've owned both and would take the Genzler over the MB without a moments hesitation. Higher quality, better sounding (in my opinion), way better customer service. As many have suggested try both if you can first before deciding, but I am in the situation myself where that is almost always not possible, so I fully understand the enquiries here on TalkBass.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

For electronic devices, I always prefer new.

In your situation, I would give a try to your Markbass and also a Traynor SB

Yeah you are right Markbass has made the 250 for 10-15 years. So buying a used one I may be buying an old amp. Not sure how long Genzler has made the MB.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I ALWAYS recommend trying an amp to see if it suits a players personal tastes, even if it’s harder to do.

A forum can’t know what a player’s tastes are, and even the player might not know unless they hear a few options.

IMO, there’s no need for a rant on good suggestions or information either.

Yes, you are correct. I live in a smaller city. Not a lot of options. If I was buying a $2000+ amp I would road-trip to look at it.

 

[SJan3]

The ONLY negative regarding a used Genzler is no warranty. There's a warranty available for purchase from GC or MF.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

The ONLY negative regarding a used Genzler is no warranty. There's a warranty available for purchase from GC or MF.

Yeah. That is my hold back on a used amp. It could be 10-15 years old. I have a peavey amp that is about 20 years old.

 

[bherman]

Yeah. That is my hold back on a used amp. It could be 10-15 years old. I have a peavey amp that is about 20 years old.

If I recall, the Magellan has been out for about 6 or 7 years. One suggestion (and something that I always try and do if buying used gear) is to wait and buy it from a TalkBass member, here in the TB classifieds. In my experience, a very high percentage of members are credible and trustworthy, and you have a better chance of buying used gear that has been treated well. I have never had a bad experience buying gear here, and I have had alot of transactions over the years.

 

[SJan3]

If I recall, the Magellan has been out for about 6 or 7 years. One suggestion (and something that I always try and do if buying used gear) is to wait and buy it from a TalkBass member, here in the TB classifieds. In my experience, a very high percentage of members are credible and trustworthy, and you have a better chance of buying used gear that has been treated well. I have never had a bad experience buying gear here, and I have had alot of transactions over the years.

Yes, supporting members are held to a higher standard. I've had nothing but positive transactions here.

 

[agedhorse]

The more premium the amp, the more likely there will be an easily accessible service program.

Genzler still services everything that they have ever built, and at a reasonable cost.

If serviceability is important to you, verify it for the amps you are considering.

 

[mikeynets]

Yeah. That is my hold back on a used amp. It could be 10-15 years old. I have a peavey amp that is about 20 years old.

Someone more knowledgable please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you can find the year of manufacture on some amps with some sleuthing. From everything I've heard about Genzler, Jeff the owner is very helpful and responsive and could possibly zero in on the date if you pinged him with S/N or other markings on a used amp.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

I picked up a Traynor SB500H for nothing, like 300/ shipped, just as a backup. Now I use it most of the time, great amp! At 8 ohms is right around your power needs.