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Genz Benz Neo Pak 3.5
- Thread starter i_got_a_mohawk
- Start date
I recently purchased a Neo-Pak 3.5, and thought this thread would be a good place for my mini-review.
To cut to the chase - I am blown away by this amp! It really is the perfect marriage of analog and digital technology. I would compare it to an Eden 400/450 sound-wise. Like the Eden, its got the tube pre-amp for warmth and richness, but the Neo-Pak is faster and punchier, with a better defined low end and mids. Ideal for funk and fusion - slap or finger style. It can also produce awesome jazz or blues tones with the tube pre-amp.
Thanks GB for keeping things simple on this head! Love the three "signal shape" buttons. So far, I can make most of the changes I need with my sound/playing styles with just these buttons. (Check out GB's video for slap style playing with the Neo-Pak - notice that all three signal shape buttons are engaged in the demo - Invalid Link Removed .) The limiter and mute buttons are also nice. The EQ section is straighforward and very sensitive - I generally keep these at 12 o'clock.
The Blue (and red) LED status indicators not only look cool, but really make it easy to determine the status of all your settings/output with a quick glance.
Its hard to believe the sound that comes out of this 8.5 pound box. The 225/350 W power rating is very conservative, IMO. Plenty of power for the vast majority of my gigs (small to medium size clubs).
The only thing I would have added in terms of features is a headphone jack.
After 30 years of playing, I think I've finally found my amp. Great job Genz-Benz!!
To cut to the chase - I am blown away by this amp! It really is the perfect marriage of analog and digital technology. I would compare it to an Eden 400/450 sound-wise. Like the Eden, its got the tube pre-amp for warmth and richness, but the Neo-Pak is faster and punchier, with a better defined low end and mids. Ideal for funk and fusion - slap or finger style. It can also produce awesome jazz or blues tones with the tube pre-amp.
Thanks GB for keeping things simple on this head! Love the three "signal shape" buttons. So far, I can make most of the changes I need with my sound/playing styles with just these buttons. (Check out GB's video for slap style playing with the Neo-Pak - notice that all three signal shape buttons are engaged in the demo - Invalid Link Removed .) The limiter and mute buttons are also nice. The EQ section is straighforward and very sensitive - I generally keep these at 12 o'clock.
The Blue (and red) LED status indicators not only look cool, but really make it easy to determine the status of all your settings/output with a quick glance.
Its hard to believe the sound that comes out of this 8.5 pound box. The 225/350 W power rating is very conservative, IMO. Plenty of power for the vast majority of my gigs (small to medium size clubs).
The only thing I would have added in terms of features is a headphone jack.
After 30 years of playing, I think I've finally found my amp. Great job Genz-Benz!!
Are you using it with the Mesa 2x10's you list in your profile?
I'd be interested in how that combination works out for you.
Yes - I'm using the Neo-Pak with a pair of Mesa Boogie 2X10 Wedge cabinets - basically a 4X10 set-up in modular form.
For small room jazz gigs and rehearsals I can get away with a single 2X10 cabinet, but I usually use the pair. These cabinets produce the tightest bass I've ever heard.
Not many people know about these cabinets. Do you have one? I think Mesa stopped making them about 15 years ago.
For small room jazz gigs and rehearsals I can get away with a single 2X10 cabinet, but I usually use the pair. These cabinets produce the tightest bass I've ever heard.
Not many people know about these cabinets. Do you have one? I think Mesa stopped making them about 15 years ago.
Well my NeoPak just arrived in the mail. I plugged it into my EA Wizzy cab and used my Zon to try it out. Sounds pretty good but I'm going to have to play with the knobs to see what this can do.
I'll also try it with my Epi UL110 and PS112 to hear that.
I'll probably make arrangements with Hasbeen to send it in for the upgrade since I know that I may want to run two cabs (possibly a Wizzy and M-Line Wizzy which are both 4 ohms)
Any suggestions on the settings from those that are already using this amp?
I'll also try it with my Epi UL110 and PS112 to hear that.
I'll probably make arrangements with Hasbeen to send it in for the upgrade since I know that I may want to run two cabs (possibly a Wizzy and M-Line Wizzy which are both 4 ohms)
Any suggestions on the settings from those that are already using this amp?
Well, the head is pretty straight forward, so not a whole lot of hidden secrets I don't think. It's a fairly articulate head, even for a tube preamp, with a little more upper end clarity than some tube players might like. If that's you, you can try rolling the highs down to about 11 o'clock, and boosting the lows to about 1 o'clock. This seems to give the more typical warm sound that most tube guys like. That's a minor EQ change if that's your style.
If you've played with a semi-parametric EQ before, then the mid sweep should be a no-brainer. If not, I suggest you spend some time playing with it. Even better, have a friend play your bass while you fiddle with the EQ. For more tubey sounds, try adding some low mids with the mid boost, around 250 - 550 hz.
As for the global shaping, just turn them on or off and see if you like it. I prefer to engage the LF and HF switches for slap, rather than the scoop.
Oh, and turn up that tube gain for some grit, but be sure to roll the channel volume down a bit to compensate for the increased volume.
Other than that, just enjoy it! As with any new head, give it a few outings to really get to know it. Any head can seem really different at first. Personally I bonded with the GBE 1200 and the Neo-Pak almost immediately. But I've loved other products that had very rough starts.
I really really really want one of these, but dont know if ill be able to afford it 
But im sure i can sell off some stuff . . . hmm!
But im sure i can sell off some stuff . . . hmm!
Hey Freddels!
as per your quote "I'll also try it with my Epi UL110 and PS112 to hear that",
I would be very interested in your review,
I have the older T110 and T112, and was planning on getting
either a Markbass LM2 or this amp for my small system.
I do use a Sansamp Para DI to get some tubey sounds
Thanks!
Phil
as per your quote "I'll also try it with my Epi UL110 and PS112 to hear that",
I would be very interested in your review,
I have the older T110 and T112, and was planning on getting
either a Markbass LM2 or this amp for my small system.
I do use a Sansamp Para DI to get some tubey sounds
Thanks!
Phil
Chef
In Memoriam
NOT MINE, and delete if y'all find it inappropriate, but here's a used one iff'n anyone's interested:
Link Removed
Link Removed
So far I'm really liking this amp. I ran it with my Wizzy cab and it sounded full, deep, and warm. Then I ran it with my Epi UL110 and PS112 and it really sounded nice.
I'm not much of a knob twiddler but it's fairly easy to dial in a nice sound. Depending on which bass I'm using (passive or active) I need to make slight adjustments.
I haven't hooked it up to the GB NeoX212 yet but I'm sure that it would sound great with that cab too.
I don't have any gigs lined up so it'll be a little while before I get to play it out. Maybe I can setup a jam session in a few weeks and give it a whirl.
I'm not much of a knob twiddler but it's fairly easy to dial in a nice sound. Depending on which bass I'm using (passive or active) I need to make slight adjustments.
I haven't hooked it up to the GB NeoX212 yet but I'm sure that it would sound great with that cab too.
I don't have any gigs lined up so it'll be a little while before I get to play it out. Maybe I can setup a jam session in a few weeks and give it a whirl.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,042
- 5
- 220,986
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
My Neo-Pak now has a little sticker over the rating, indicating it goes down to 2 ohms. This past weekend, I had an outside gig where I used the 1200, Neox-212 and Neox-112. I caried the Neo-Pak as a backup, and I hooked it up for a little while just for fun. It handled the 2.66 ohm load just fine, but of course it didn't have the headroom of the 1200. Still, I could have played the gig just fine with the Neo-Pak. Sunday morning, I carried the Neo-Pak and Neox-212 to church, and it was just overkill. Plenty loud, lots of thump, and power to spare. I love it.
I'm waiting on UPS to decide to bring me my Neo-Pak! It's showing as having had the arrival scan in Knoxville, but it should have moved to "Out for Delivery" by now. I may not get it until tomorrow.. it's making me crazy! 
The Neo-pak is very good at pushing the NeoX-112. Lots of volume. With the 212, the sound just gets even bigger. Now that it can run both cabs together, I might just use it for that sometimes, too. The 1200 stays inside for all but the biggest gigs where I need lots of power, or the flexibility of the dual channels and footswitch.
One happy camper here...
One happy camper here...
I will send you the tracking number in a few minutes.
You are gonna love this amp!
You are gonna love this amp!
I have to say, I'm glad you went that route!
Alright! After a few days' experience with my new Neo-Pak 3.5, I'm ready to report in.
What a quality feeling, and sounding, head!
It is probably just right on the form factor. It's lightweight, but it's not tiny and dinky, as I'm afraid some of the micro amps are or will be. The mini form factor is very compact, but it sits on top of smaller cabinets fine without hanging over the sides. Looks great on top both my M-Line Wizzy 12 and my Bag End 15's. The knobs are full-size, metal, substantial, and detented, they feel GREAT to the touch. Very nice.
The lights truly are bright.. but I haven't had the head out on a gig yet to see if that is a problem. With the way the Neo-Pak sounds, I probably won't care, anyway!
And now- the sound. It's superb. It is very detailed and accurate. Tight, tight transients, with little or no flab. Connected to the Bag End S-15's, the Neo-Pak maintains complete control even with a lot of bass boost dialed in. It is really punchy. I can dial in more harmonics via the tube gain, turn down the preamp volume to compensate for the volume increase, and I have a beautiful tube tone. Dial back the tube gain, turn up the preamp volume, and now I have a clean tone that still has tube details in it. I really like the tube gain/preamp volume/master volume control structure.
I like the presets for low boost, mid scoop, and high attack. All three are useful for different music styles. The nice thing about the presets is that they do not change the gain structure, so you can engage them and disengage them without changing the channel volume. Although you do have to change the channel volume if you adjust the EQ, it's a trivial thing to do. The EQ is designed well, with the shelving points set just right on the bass and treble controls. Both work well with a variety of basses. The mid is a good, standard semi-parametric and is musical.
I can't comment on the live performance of the Neo-Pak yet, but I must say it sounds marvelous in the home studio.
I'll get a picture going sometime this week and add it either here, or in the Mini-Rigs of Doom thread.
What a quality feeling, and sounding, head!
It is probably just right on the form factor. It's lightweight, but it's not tiny and dinky, as I'm afraid some of the micro amps are or will be. The mini form factor is very compact, but it sits on top of smaller cabinets fine without hanging over the sides. Looks great on top both my M-Line Wizzy 12 and my Bag End 15's. The knobs are full-size, metal, substantial, and detented, they feel GREAT to the touch. Very nice.
The lights truly are bright.. but I haven't had the head out on a gig yet to see if that is a problem. With the way the Neo-Pak sounds, I probably won't care, anyway!
And now- the sound. It's superb. It is very detailed and accurate. Tight, tight transients, with little or no flab. Connected to the Bag End S-15's, the Neo-Pak maintains complete control even with a lot of bass boost dialed in. It is really punchy. I can dial in more harmonics via the tube gain, turn down the preamp volume to compensate for the volume increase, and I have a beautiful tube tone. Dial back the tube gain, turn up the preamp volume, and now I have a clean tone that still has tube details in it. I really like the tube gain/preamp volume/master volume control structure.
I like the presets for low boost, mid scoop, and high attack. All three are useful for different music styles. The nice thing about the presets is that they do not change the gain structure, so you can engage them and disengage them without changing the channel volume. Although you do have to change the channel volume if you adjust the EQ, it's a trivial thing to do. The EQ is designed well, with the shelving points set just right on the bass and treble controls. Both work well with a variety of basses. The mid is a good, standard semi-parametric and is musical.
I can't comment on the live performance of the Neo-Pak yet, but I must say it sounds marvelous in the home studio.
I'll get a picture going sometime this week and add it either here, or in the Mini-Rigs of Doom thread.
