Genz Benz - Official Streamliner Amp Thread -NEW !!

[Chef]

Well played

dude: you said "spork!"

I don't know of (m)any who describe the GK sound as especially warm/tubey. The Fusion seems to be "tubey" compared to other GK amps, but that's kind of like saying a Ginsu is sharp compared to a spork.

 

[rodl2005]

Thanks Kirk, That helps a lot! I'd ALSO do what you do- NO WAY I'd stick a light weight amp ina rack... :scowl: Uh uh. Seems to be a 'sailing against the wind' sort've approach that. Apart from my Mesa WA. My only "lightweight" head is a LMII & even that stores in a breifcase-along with it's leads, tuner etc..

But these GB's are drawing me in.........

BTW-- your pic of the 3 amps was/is the most helpful.

IS there much difference between them-apart from the power 600-900 & 1200w isn't it? & I s'pose the FET/Tube channels of the '12 MAX'... Do you find you BLEND the FET & tube or stick to one?

Thanks again


Oh & this AINT OT... I'm getting the lowdown on these - so I can choose between one of these Shuttles OR a Streamliner

The Shuttle max has an additional FET preamp channel that feeds the power amp.
So you have a TUBE channel and a Solid State Preamp in one unit.
The MAX has an additional semi Parametric MID EQ per Chanel.Y It has Bass, Low Mid semi Parametric, Hi MID semi Parametric, and High per preamp. So with the MAX you have a separate Low mid and Hi mid Semi parametric per preamp channel.
You can also run each preamp separately or combine the two together at the same time for an all new sound

The MAX has a HIGH gain button to adjust input gain and allow you to overdrive the first gain stage if you want distortion in your sound.
In addition , with the MAX, you are able to vary the degree of emphasis that the Presets have on the signal when those presets are activated.

Photo Comparisons . Sometimes it easier to just see the two side by side ..
Shuttle MAX front panel photo Invalid Link Removed
Shuttle Front panel photo Invalid Link Removed
And photos of my amps for comparison [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Mine travel in the Genz Benz gig bags all the time.. Its a light weight amp, and i don't want to put a lightweight in a 10 pound rack unit.. just my way of doing it.

 

[OhulahanBass]

I don't know of (m)any who describe the GK sound as especially warm/tubey. The Fusion seems to be "tubey" compared to other GK amps, but that's kind of like saying a Ginsu is sharp compared to a spork.

A while ago Master Kjung had schooled me on the spectrum of company signature tones with GK at the high fi extreme. However the wise Tom from Bass Gear started a fascinating GK fusion vs Walkabout thread. It seems flat they have comparable warmth departing from the common GK tone (I assume having never owned GK).

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=711498&highlight=fusion+walkabout

"For my first round, I wanted to keep them both fairly clean sounding, so I left the EQ controls on both heads at "noon" (which of course is not necessarily the most "flat" setting for either head), set the Master to noon, and kept the Gain well below noon on each head. Initially, I left the various settings on the Fusion (Presence, Deep, Limiter) off. The overall tone of these two heads is certainly fairly similar (both are warm yet very clear)..." -just a bit from Tom's thread

I don't doubt the the streamliner is a different or even more to my liking when I here it, its just not the first 6 stage warm tube pre loud micro out there. I'm interested in hearing of other differences similar to the different eq methods. Its a class of 1 GK and 2 GB as soon as the streamliners hit the market. So far seems:

Streamliner 900 may have more headroom, intuitive eq, GB quality, engineering, service and much more to learn.

GK fusion has switchable gain stages,limiter, bass extend/boost, sparkle, 4 band eq and much more from Toms review.

What does the rear interface have to offer?

 

[KJung]

A while ago Master Kjung had schooled me on the spectrum of company signature tones with GK at the high fi extreme. However the wise Tom from Bass Gear started a fascinating GK fusion vs Walkabout thread. It seems flat they have comparable warmth departing from the common GK tone (I assume having never owned GK).

Hello! Just to be clear, most of the GK amps have a very signature tone, which IMO is taken to the extreme with their small MB heads... very deep, VERY bright up top, and lots of character/distortion (i.e. in the midrange 'grind area). Not sure if I would call it pure hi fi due to that GK grind and grit and aggressive, quite goosed voicing, but it is an EXTREMELY modern tone to me due to that huge low end and massively sizzly top end.

I have not played the MBFusion, but virtually everyone who has views it as a relatively minor tweak to the MB500, versus anything that most would call 'old school' or quite frankly, particularly tubey in the Mesa sense. I would think the Streamliner would be much different, and again from the reports I've gotten o the MBFusion (and from peers who are using this head), it is more in line with the typical 'modern voicing that happens to have a tube pre', versus any design goal to make it something 'unique' in the line.

I'm not a particular fan of the extreme voicing of the small GK heads myself, and am still a bit underwhelmed with the quality of construction, and at least on the MB500 and MB2-500's I've played, the noise/hiss, etc. Not my thing!

 

[lbwdog]

IMO, it seems what is intriguing us about the Streamliner is the ability to achieve an SVT type vibe as well as a super clean, modern sound (if I am reading it right). After using G-K for over twenty years, I still like an SVT sound for certain styles, so I'm seriously considering one. I had made up my mind to get an MB Fusion for the tube aspect, but we'll see in the next few months.

 

[Red Planet]

As the Streamliner 900 will be the same as the 9.0 in wattage, it is safe to say one of the major pluses with these is the 500 watts at 8 ohms.

I still literally blow peoples minds with one tiny 8 ohm 1x12 cab and the 9.0. They are not expecting the kind of wallop that can come out of that.

And to that, I've not seen nor heared another competitors amp that can do what this power section can.

 

[svtb15]

You're welcome.

I am glad the photo helped.. That is the easiest way at times.
Yes there are slight differences between all three.
One being that the 9 sounds bigger to me in the bottom than the 6 or the 12 when all knobs are pointing 12 oclock north.
The 9 has become my workhorse..
The 12 has that added FET preamp for a super clean tone.
Not that the others (shuttle6 or 9) are not super clean. They can be too...
But there is a slight sonic difference between the Tube Pre and the FET on the 12 max.
The Tube pre has a little more low mid in its sound.. Which if driven harder can also compress . .Or distort like a old fender bassman on 11 if the gain switch is pushed in to Hi Gain position.
There are other subtle differences between all three but I am not super good at explaining that .. It is better left to trying them out in person if you can..
All three are rock solid stable.. and i am fairly rough on my gear too..with my travels.. and I never a failure. or a hiccup.
I expect the streamliner will be as resilient and have its tone... Looking forward to hearing it..

Thanks Kirk, That helps a lot! I'd ALSO do what you do- NO WAY I'd stick a light weight amp ina rack... :scowl: Uh uh. Seems to be a 'sailing against the wind' sort've approach that. Apart from my Mesa WA. My only "lightweight" head is a LMII & even that stores in a breifcase-along with it's leads, tuner etc..

But these GB's are drawing me in.........

BTW-- your pic of the 3 amps was/is the most helpful.

IS there much difference between them-apart from the power 600-900 & 1200w isn't it? & I s'pose the FET/Tube channels of the '12 MAX'... Do you find you BLEND the FET & tube or stick to one?

Thanks again


Oh & this AINT OT... I'm getting the lowdown on these - so I can choose between one of these Shuttles OR a Streamliner

 

[KJung]

You're welcome.

I am glad the photo helped.. That is the easiest way at times.
Yes there are slight differences between all three.
One being that the 9 sounds bigger to me in the bottom than the 6 or the 12 when all knobs are pointing 12 oclock north.
The 9 has become my workhorse..
The 12 has that added FET preamp for a super clean tone.
Not that the others (shuttle6 or 9) are not super clean. They can be too...
But there is a slight sonic difference between the Tibe Pre and the FET on the 12 max.
The Tube pre has a little more low mid in its sound.. Which if driven harder can also compress . .Or distort like a old fender bassman on 11 if the gain switch is pushed in to Hi Gain position.
There are other subtle differences between all three but I am not super good at explaining that .. It is better left to trying them out in person if you can..
All three are rock solid stable.. and i am fairly rough on my gear too..with my travels.. and I never a failure. or a hiccup.
I expect the streamliner will be as resilient and have its tone... Looking forward to hearing it..

Just to add a couple things... the biggest difference between the Shuttle and Shuttle Max heads to me (besides the FET pre channel) is the really superior EQ of the Max heads. The variable voicing filters (bass boost, mid cut, and treble boost) are very, very useful versus the IMO relatively extreme on/off of the 9 and 6, and the second semiparametric mid band is a VERY good thing. In additional, the Shuttle Max 6 has a more meaty, full low end versus the original Shuttle 6, and the input gain is a bit hotter (as you mention above), letting those with less than super hot instruments to really hear that tube break up a touch.

Of course, you pay for all that extra EQ, etc. with a much bigger box, but the weight is still very lightweight. So far, the Shuttle Max 6 is my favorite Genz head by a pretty big amount. IMO there... lots of different flavors.

 

[tombowlus]

A while ago Master Kjung had schooled me on the spectrum of company signature tones with GK at the high fi extreme. However the wise Tom from Bass Gear started a fascinating GK fusion vs Walkabout thread. It seems flat they have comparable warmth departing from the common GK tone (I assume having never owned GK).

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=711498&highlight=fusion+walkabout

"For my first round, I wanted to keep them both fairly clean sounding, so I left the EQ controls on both heads at "noon" (which of course is not necessarily the most "flat" setting for either head), set the Master to noon, and kept the Gain well below noon on each head. Initially, I left the various settings on the Fusion (Presence, Deep, Limiter) off. The overall tone of these two heads is certainly fairly similar (both are warm yet very clear)..." -just a bit from Tom's thread

I do feel that the MB Fusion is a highly relevant comparison to the Streamliner. Both use three preamp tubes (and all six valve stages). Both appear to be running similar plate voltages to the tubes. Both are SMPS/class-D amps. That being said, it'll be difficult to make a tonal comparison before we've had a chance to hear a Streamliner.

I will say that I don't view the voicing on the GK MB series heads as being quite as "extreme" as it sounds like Ken does, but they do sound like GK heads. The MB Fusion does have more harmonic richness and a bit more warmth than its solid state brethren, and I'd be at more than somewhat surprised if the Streamliner wasn't the more round/vintage sounding of the two.

However, I do think that it's a natural comparison (MB Fusion vs Sreamliner 6/9), and I definitely look forward to trying them out, head to head, when I get a chance.

 

[adivin]

I do feel that the MB Fusion is a highly relevant comparison to the Streamliner. Both use three preamp tubes (and all six valve stages). Both appear to be running similar plate voltages to the tubes. Both are SMPS/class-D amps. That being said, it'll be difficult to make a tonal comparison before we've had a chance to hear a Streamliner.

I will say that I don't view the voicing on the GK MB series heads as being quite as "extreme" as it sounds like Ken does, but they do sound like GK heads. The MB Fusion does have more harmonic richness and a bit more warmth than its solid state brethren, and I'd be at more than somewhat surprised if the Streamliner wasn't the more round/vintage sounding of the two.

However, I do think that it's a natural comparison (MB Fusion vs Sreamliner 6/9), and I definitely look forward to trying them out, head to head, when I get a chance.

Even though it's a different animal, comparing it to the RH 450 would be interesting, aesthetics aside.

 

[DaveKirkpatrick]

So.... Are there any new cabs coming out to pair with this new amp??
Maybe a vintage voiced sealed cab design?.... do tell.....Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[KJung]

Even though it's a different animal, comparing it to the RH 450 would be interesting, aesthetics aside.

+1 That's the comparison I am interested in, and will be doing that comparison hopefully in about 6 weeks

 

[svtb15]

No sealed cabs . At least not yet. But there is a New Uber 115 that they just released along with the new Uber 1288T 3-way cab.
The 115 could be a cool sounding cab..

So.... Are there any new cabs coming out to pair with this new amp??
Maybe a vintage voiced sealed cab design?.... do tell.....Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[adivin]

+1 That's the comparison I am interested in, and will be doing that comparison hopefully in about 6 weeks

What cabs are you going to use for the comparo? I wonder how the RS cabs match up?

 

[KJung]

What cabs are you going to use for the comparo? I wonder how the RS cabs match up?

I'll definitely do a true A/B with the RS210. I love that little cab!

 

[Joeykun]

So.... Are there any new cabs coming out to pair with this new amp??
Maybe a vintage voiced sealed cab design?.... do tell.....Inquiring minds want to know!

I asked Jeff if he had a cab in mind for this amp. His reply....8 10"'s!

 

[adivin]

I asked Jeff if he had a cab in mind for this amp. His reply....8 10"'s!

An 8x10 with a micro amp? Good thing the amps portable.

 

[MikeBass]

I asked Jeff if he had a cab in mind for this amp. His reply....8 10"'s!

An 8x10 with a micro amp? Good thing the amps portable.

hehe!!!
Love these pics!

 

[svtb15]

I use my Shuttle 9 on 810 back line often.. and my own 910 at times.
It does a great job at it..
The 9 has more headroom, louder and smaller than the good ole SVT for my needs. .Love that photo above.. I have my photo somewhere. .need to post it too.

An 8x10 with a micro amp? Good thing the amps portable.

 

[LilRay]

Nice bass Mike. But the rig reminds me of the old console TV days. Little TV on top of big TV.



God Bless, Ray