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Double Bass Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t combo

#21
glenfong said:
Ed,

Are you using the Genz 12" that has the amplifier bracket on top? I'm thinking of changing my current rig (EA iAmp800 and EA M-Line 12", also have a Wizzy 10" that's a keeper)

Do you find the Genz Shuttle to be fairly neutral sounding with the upright and Fishman? My initial thought with the Genz 6.0 is that it might be too 'warm' sounding.

Cheers, Glen
Click to expand...

Glen,
Yeah, that's the one. It's not as neutral as an AI Focus, it does add some color, but I like it. I think with my bass it sounds better with a Realist. I like to drive the tube a little to get some grit, it's nice! What I haven't done yet is play upright with the Shuttle head through my Bergie HT112, that has been my main speaker setup for 6 years, but since I got the combo... it's just so dang light and convenient to have in one piece, and... it does sound great, so.... I need to break out the Berg.

I'm fighting with the Fishman's tone on my rig. It's real thumpy and the beginning of each note when pizz'd aggressively seems to 'clip'? a bit even with the input gain fairly low.
Click to expand...


This doesn't sound good. It could be the pickup itself is damaged, or improperly installed. Have you tried a different amp? Different cable? If it's not the pickup, then it could be an input sensitivity issue. Have you tried a buffer preamp? Go through the signal chain and isolate the problem, it could have a few different causes.
 
#25
Well, I also have the PJB Flightcase, so...

The Shuttle 6.0 is not as neutral sounding as the PJB or AI, but it does sound great with upright. I've used it with two basses, both with Realist pickups, and found the amplified tone to be natural sounding, but not neutral if that makes sense. The PJB and Genz are two completely different animals, so they aren't a straight comparison. The PJB is 150 watts, the Genz is 375 (into the attached cab). The Genz is WAY louder than the PJB for sure. The Genz has a tweeter, the PJB has 5" drivers. The PJB works more in the environment, it's more of a "surround sound" thing than a directional amp like the Genz.

Frankly, I like them both, and use them for different situations. The Genz is great for outdoor gigs, louder bands, anything where I need the upright to have a punchy, directional sound. The PJB is great for small rooms, and gigs with drummers that have small jazz kits. The PJB is at a disadvantage outdoors, or on a stage where you don't have a back wall to work with. It is designed to couple with the floor, and bounce off the back wall - while sending the tone to your ears with the upwards firing speakers. It works great there, however because not every gig fits that description, I'm really glad I have the Genz too. And... it kicks ass for electric bass, while the PJB has a very sensitive front end, I find I have to play very lightly on electric or I push the input too hard. The basic tone is great, but even my passive Fenders can clip the input if I hit it too hard (which I sometimes do).

What will be interesting to see is the new PJB SUPER Flightcase! It's 250 watts, and has 4 front facing speakers and 2 up facing ones. It's also not a class D amp, though still with Neo drivers. I'm getting one in for a Guitar World review very soon, so I'll have a chance to compare it against the original Flightcase and the Shuttle.

I remember trying the Super at NAMM and thinking the front end was WAY more robust than the smaller model. It also has a handle and wheels attached, but it's still relatively light, like... 30lbs I think.
 
#26
Another great gig with the Shuttle combo. This was with my main band, Scotch Hollow. Noisy room, crappy pa and nearly nonexistant monitors. Last time we played there I made the mistake of running the bass through the PA, and I was very distorted through the speakers, which are - get this - about 6 or 8 studio monitors mounted high on the walls. Soooo ... tonight I just used the 3.0-10t combo on its own. As I was dialing in my eq, the sound guy (who is pretty good actually, in spite of the crappy pa!) turned toward me and said "That sounds great man!" Carried the room with no problem, and we could all hear me very well on stage also.

I've started messing around with a Golden Bullet mic and the K&K two channel Trinity preamp to blend the mic with my Underwood. Still learning my way around and messing with the infernal ... errr, internal ... trim pots on the preamp. But I'm already starting to get some nice, more realistic tones, and blend in the Underwood as needed. It's working very well with the Shuttle combo so far.

Cheers
 
#27
junglebike said:
...I'm interested in hearing more comparisons to the Acoustic Image contra ...
Click to expand...
My contra was the Series I.

The Genz is capable of delivering a more colored sound, the AI is pretty flat no matter where you set the knobs. The GB knobs have a much larger sweep. I'm about to come to the conclusion, I don't want completely flat, and the GB allows for this.

The shuttle 3.0 was significantly louder than the AI contra Series I, the AI bottom end farted out way earlier. But I don't think the GB goes as low, but what it does have holds together better. If that makes sense. I guess you'd say it's tighter and punchier.
 
#28
Okay, After trying in vain to find a 3.0-10t to try out nearby I went ahead and pulled the trigger via MusiciansFriend for my new (to me) Schuster! Excited to hear if it lives up to the hype! I find music store try-outs are usually not very valuable anyway. Now the question is: a 2nd GB 10" cab, or one of their 112 NeoX? If I'm lugging two cabs it's gotta be two trips anyway, so I'm thinking it may be worth getting the extra size in case I need it (probably for an electric gig).
 
#29
junglebike said:
Okay, After trying in vain to find a 3.0-10t to try out nearby I went ahead and pulled the trigger via MusiciansFriend for my new (to me) Schuster! Excited to hear if it lives up to the hype! I find music store try-outs are usually not very valuable anyway. Now the question is: a 2nd GB 10" cab, or one of their 112 NeoX? If I'm lugging two cabs it's gotta be two trips anyway, so I'm thinking it may be worth getting the extra size in case I need it (probably for an electric gig).
Click to expand...

It depends on your needs, really. I am loving the STL10t extension for slab gigs, and will probably start using it with db once we add a drummer. I do have the Neox112t, and the combo is superb sitting on top of it. The Neox is very deep, rich and authoritative. And with the Shuttle sitting on top, you can use the kickback stand to angle the combo up for better monitoring.

However, the little ministack with the STL10t extension cab has been my go-to combination lately, and on slab it hangs with a pretty loud blues band easily. The band has a Stevie Ray / Hendrix style guitarist / vocalist, a Fender Rhodes, drums and bass.

We haven't been playing large venues, though ... typical small to medium clubs around Nashville.

Good luck!

Cheers
 
#30
Can the 3.0-10t compete with a jazz drummer? Wondering if it would work for small club/restaurant jazz gigs with drums - not loud but sometimes 'energetic'. I'm using a GK microbass combo now so any comparions to that would be nice.
 
#31
I've used mine on one gig so far, got it a week ago today. It worked better than I hoped it would. I used my Engelhardt swingmaster w/ gut/innovation mix and an Underwood. Sounded great. Straight in the shuttle, no pre or nothing, not even my boss pedal tuner, just straight in.

After the gig the guitarist quoted on how my bass had never sounded better, and I pointed to that little shuttle. He said, "all that sound came from that thing". He said I sounded tighter and punchier than normal, more defined, less "resonance" (whatever he meant by that? he liked it).

The week before I had used a LM2 and an ampeg portbass 1x10 cab. The week before that a Contra.

We have a drummer that uses only a snare w/ brushes, and we are a low volume outfit. I had both the gain and the master well less than half way up. This amp is capable of WAY more volume than I was pushing.

I think the fact that the cab only goes down to 50hz is good thing for DB. Helps clean up a lot of mush.
 
#33
Got my 3.0-10t combo today from Musicians Friend! I thought the shipping box was empty it's so light!

Messed around with it in my living room for a while and it sounds fantastic with my Schuster hybrid and a Fishman full circle. I love the parametric -- I was able to quickly dial out a bit of nasal-y piezo quack. Can't wait to try this thing out in a combo. I can't believe the combination of size, weight, and volume!
 
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#35
edfriedland said:
Well the PJB has a very sensitive front end, I find I have to play very lightly on electric or I push the input too hard. The basic tone is great, but even my passive Fenders can clip the input if I hit it too hard (which I sometimes do).
Click to expand...

I too have the PJB Flightcase
I am always overdriving the input and have to very careful how hard I play. Did you find anything that helps ?
Found that if I keep the limiter off it has a little more headroom


Thanks

Robert
 
#36
:cool:
I've had a 3,0 10T combo for a few weeks.

Just got the extension cab.

I loved this amp before I got extension cab.
But, with it, it's the bomb.

Great with a drummer, punchy, tight, with a five string.
Very good low B.

This micro-rig kills.
 
#37
Mojo-Man said:
:cool:
I've had a 3,0 10T combo for a few weeks.

Just got the extension cab.

I loved this amp before I got extension cab.
But, with it, it's the bomb.

Great with a drummer, punchy, tight, with a five string.
Very good low B.

This micro-rig kills.
Click to expand...

Did you mean to post this in the electric bass amp forum? I mean, I agree with you totally, and I love this combo with both double bass and slab ... it just seems that your comments might be regarding 5 string electric ...

Best Regards,
Liam
 
#38
Rvl said:
I too have the PJB Flightcase
I am always overdriving the input and have to very careful how hard I play. Did you find anything that helps ?
Found that if I keep the limiter off it has a little more headroom


Thanks

Robert
Click to expand...

Robert,
I talked with Phil Jones about this, and he mentioned a change made to the input sensitivity on the Flightcase to help with this issue. In fact, I've sent mine back to have it done. I don't know if there is a way to find out if your amp is pre or post mod, but it sounds like it's pre. Maybe you can contact them with the serial number and they can tell you. I have a prototype of the BG300, the Super Flightcase at home right now, and it has much better input headroom, so I think it will be worth it to look into this.

Ed
 
#39
edfriedland said:
Robert,
I talked with Phil Jones about this, and he mentioned a change made to the input sensitivity on the Flightcase to help with this issue. In fact, I've sent mine back to have it done. I don't know if there is a way to find out if your amp is pre or post mod, but it sounds like it's pre. Maybe you can contact them with the serial number and they can tell you. I have a prototype of the BG300, the Super Flightcase at home right now, and it has much better input headroom, so I think it will be worth it to look into this.

Ed
Click to expand...

I have a BG-300 on order but I needed something to play now
So I picked up the Flightcase until the BG-300 comes available
I have to say the Flightcase is the purest amp I have played
The character of each bass really shines through
I brought 4 other amps into my local shop and put them on sale

I am interested in getting a Genz Benz and tryng it out
Outdoor festival season is coming up and I need something that is compact, light and really pumps

Thanks

Robert
 
#40
Rvl said:
I have a BG-300 on order but I needed something to play now
So I picked up the Flightcase until the BG-300 comes available
I have to say the Flightcase is the purest amp I have played
The character of each bass really shines through
I brought 4 other amps into my local shop and put them on sale

I am interested in getting a Genz Benz and tryng it out
Outdoor festival season is coming up and I need something that is compact, light and really pumps

Thanks

Robert
Click to expand...


I agree about the PJB, it has a very natural sound. The BG300 has a lot more power (250 watt class A/B amp) and better input headroom. The larger box and two additional speakers also contribute to a much bigger sound. These amps work best in an indoor setting IMO, they are designed to work within an enclosure. I think the BG300 would do much better than the Flightcase for an outdoor gig, but you still might want something with more power for that type of gig. The Shuttle 6.0 ROCKS!
 

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