Double Bass Ed Friedland plays DB through GB Streamliner

[Jazzdogg]

In this video, Ed Friedland (aka The Bass Whisperer) demonstrates the Genz Benz Streamliner900 amplifier and 1x12 Focus cabs.

He plays electric bass for the first 3:42.

At 3:43, he discusses the amp and cab before playing DB.

At 4:46, he plays bluegrass slap bass on a plywood bass with gut strings;

At 5:21 he plays the same plywood bass with gut strings, finger-style;

At 5:44 he plays a carved bass with steel strings, finger-style.


I know it can be challenging to judge bass sound on the basis of a Youtube video, but what's your impression?


Genz Benz Focus Cabs Pt. 2 - YouTube

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I'll preface this by saying my experience with upright is limited to 4 years worth of wind ensemble and jazz band back in high school - that said, I think it sounds very lovely. I actually saw this video a few days ago and remember thinking how much I'd love to get an upright sometime in the not too distant future

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I own a Streamliner 900 and love the clean tube sound with my Fender Aerodyne Jazz bass. Acoustic bass sounds good, too, through the Streamliner, but to my ears acoustic sounds better through my EA Micro. The Streamliner adds a particular color to the tone. The EA Micro is clear tone, which seems to be the preference of many for acoustic bass.

 

[edfriedland]

I've been using this setup a lot lately, I'm in the middle of a string of upright gigs, on both my steel and gut stringed instruments. I'm using the Streamliner and Focus 112 cabs with a Gage Realist and Crown Mic going through my Fishman Blender. I've been VERY happy with it. Yes, the Streamliner does have more coloration than say a Shuttle head - I have no gig experience with EA heads, but I would agree with the poster about it being less colored. However, the eq curve of the Streamliner/Focus rig seems to be working for me. I think it sounds even better live than in my recent demo. Naturally, everyone will have their own preference, but for me to be this happy with my amplified tone on so many gigs... well it's unusual, let's just say that. I'm spending less time tweaking the tone, and more time just digging the sound. Your results may vary.

 

[Staccato]

Great demo, and as for the DB section of the video, the gut strings sounded very nice to my ears.

 

[Jazzdogg]

From what I heard on your video, those cabs are fairly bright sounding, which could compensate for inherently dark sound of the Streamliner. As much as I appreciate your videos, I guess I'll have to make time to hear you play DB through this rig in person the next time I'm in your neck of the woods, Ed.

 

[dfp]

love the gut string sound.. and Ed's facility on gut is great too. what brand of guts is Ed using? very even and clear sounding.

 

[kerrycares]

http://youtu.be/JA8K-UXuAh4

this is Ed on the Shuttle 6.2 and shuttle 12 cab.
my rig is the Shuttle 9.2 and shuttle 12 cab.

I got the Shuttle because the Streamliner was too boomy for my electric and just got lucky with my upright.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I use a Streamliner 600 with one or two GB Shuttle 112s which are 375 watts each. I play slab and double bass, and this rig has the best tone (for me) in 35 years of gigging and just about every brand of amplification. In fact it's so good I do little or no eq adjustment between the instruments. For the first time in my life I am gas-free ......

 

[Don Sibley]

I've found that the Realist works well with amps intended for BG. I think it was designed to do so. The Erhlund on the other hand seems to require a flatter response.