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Double Bass Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t combo

#65
I am so happy with my new Shuttle 3.0-10T and STL-10T extension cab.

Haven't used it on a gig yet, but the stack will really shake the house. Sold my GK MB150E and my Polytone MiniBrute-III; I had sentimental attachment to them, but they're no longer needed. Great portability with the Shuttle combo alone, plus a big boost with the extension cab if needed.

I got good prices by buying the combo as a "scratch & dent" from Musicians Friend (looks brand new), and making a "best offer" on EBay for the cabinet. There's been mention about buying a combo and selling off the unwanted piece, but it turns out the bottom of the combo does not equal a STL-10T (no handle, just the top bracket, and no rear panel connectors, just the wire coming out the top that goes to the 3.0). I was originally sent the bottom of a combo as the extension cab, but they reshipped a STL-10T.

With a Full Circle pickup, I find using the HPF-Pre makes an obvious improvement in the sound. Input impedance on the Shuttle is 500K.

Got two Arriba cases, and while they could use more padding and a strap, they're great for the price. Thanks for the tip, Johnny.
 
#67
I just bought a Shuttle 3.0 head. I already had an Ampeg Portabass 112 cabinet (with the wheels and retractable suitcase handle) and the two sound great together! Love the lightweight/portability factor. I use an Underwood and don't seem to need any additional buffer/preamp. The amp has the kind of contour and mid controls that I like. I recorded off of the XLR DI and that also sounded good. I like all of the pre/post, mic/line options. Good product! A little pricey -- paid $499, but I do like it so far.
 
#68
Bobby,

I talked with Andy Moritz (Cadillac Sky) and Mike Anglin (Lonesome River Band) about this amp during IBMA last week. They were both raving about it.

Andy has been using a GK MB150 of some sort with the extension cabinet for his $30,000 German carved bass. He and Anglin both couldn't get over the sound of the Genz Benz with only a 10" woofer.

Have you ever tried the Phil Jones Briefcase and if so, how would you compare the Genz Benz to it?
 
#69
Hey Mike,

I never have tried the Phil Jones amp so I couldn't compare. I do like the Genz Benz. It's small, light and has lots of usable features. I already had an Ampeg Portasound 1-12 cabinet and so I didn't buy one of the Genz-Benz cabinets, just the head. They sound very good together.

I did the showcase with Donna Ulisse at the IBMA on Tuesday of last week. It was fun and we played some of the late-night little rooms too. Actually, on the showcase I was sending a DI signal from the Genz Benz and they switched me to a mic after a few tunes because they were getting some clipping. But they were getting some clipping on the vocal mics too, so I think that there was some soundman stupidity going on. We had to just "plug and play", no soundcheck. The DI has a line/mic level switch, I had it on line but maybe I need to start on mic level in situations like that. You 'd think maybe they'd heard of "attenuation" before :hmm: In any event, the mic worked fine and we had a good set. I had played a gig a few nights before using the same DI levels, there were no problems, it sounded great and the soundman raved about it.

I heard one band there that I really liked, "Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad". I bought their recent gospel CD and there's some great stuff on it! You know, I'm not really a hardcore blugrasser, but I really do enjoy it . I noticed at the IBMA event that some of the bands like Cody Shuler's were more authentic. They're not really "hip"-type people ;) but they can really sing and play. On the other hand, I noticed a lot of acts where they're all dressed like they came off of the set of "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" -- Bluegrass as a fashion statement. But the music is...... hmm....

Just my opinion!
 
#70
If it's not a pro PA rig you are generally better off sending them a mic level. Low end PA mixers may not ba able to handle a +4dBu signal on a mic input. ALL (real) pro consoles can handle this with ease though.
 
#71
After making the switch from BG to DB, the instrumental ska band I play for is whining for more volume out of me. Actually, they're whining for more volume out of my bass. I'm sure they'd prefer that I shut the hell up. Like most TB DBists, I want to preserve as much pure acoustic tone as possible and haul as little gear as I can get away with. So, if my bandmates are constantly asking me to turn up my Shuttle 3.0-10t combo, should I:

(a) Add the Genz extension speaker
(b) Switch to a 4 ohm cabinet like the EA or AI
(c) Tell them to drop their own volume levels until they can hear me

I love the portability of a single small combo - I'm not thrilled about the idea of adding a second cabinet. But I'm also dubious about how much boost I would get by changing to a 4 ohm speaker (the Shuttle 3.0 puts out 175 at 8 ohms; 300 at 4). In the past, I've had more success getting volume gains from additional speakers than from higher output amps.

As for (c), right after someone manages to negotiate an Israeli- Palestinian peace deal they can get to work on the Drummer-Bassist Accords.
 
#73
the shuttle 10t is the bomb. add the extension cab and it's nuclear. frankly, i think it's too much for most gigs with double bass, but what it brings to the party is more volume and deeper, more robust low end. yeah, it's a second cabinet, but it weighs less than a bag of cables.

playing slab through the rig is more fun tho ... lotsa sound in tiny rig that weighs less than the guitar player's fender vibralux.

jeff.
 
#74
Okay gang, I need your help. I'm trying to decide between the 3.0 and the 6.0. I play an NSCR5M and various 5-string EBs (but always play EUB and EB on gigs, using a Bassbone to switch between them).

I'm doing bars, weddings, corporate events and music halls. The bar gigs usually are without PA support. Since I'm always playing five string and sometimes need to get loud for the rock and disco sets, am I better off just going with the 6.0 right off the bat? My current setup is an Epifani PS600 and UL410 and a) the amp just broke so I'm looking for a backup or possible replacement and b) the Epi setup seems like overkill for the bar stuff and for bigger stages I'm in the monitors so I end up turning down anyway. I'm just honestly a little worried about asking the 3.0 to handle the two five strings.

Thoughts? Opinions?

And to think I made it through the first ten years of my bass playing life with a Peavey TKO 80.:D

Thanks,
J.
 
#75
I do a lot of gigs similar to yours with my 3.0. I use it with a 4 ohm 2x12 cab on loud gigs and it handles them fine. I would recomend a 4 ohm cab for the louder stuff. I'm not doing anything extremely loud - no heavy metal in big clubs or anything like that but it keeps up with an 8 piece dance band in a large hall just fine. I play 4 string only. If you like a lot of deep bass with the 5 string you might be pushing it with the 3.0 on loud gigs.
 
#77
h2 recording of greg chaplin playing my rig with jonathan ragonese's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] ... upton hybrid>planet wing>genz benz.

if you don't dig the rig, the music is still sweet.

jeff.


thudfromafar said:
bumping this thread --

i'm considering going with this little guy for my DB (w/ jazz quartet).
does anyone have sound clips of this combo amp? or more experiences, i can't find it locally to try it... :(
Click to expand...
 

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