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Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 Appreciation Thread

#561
I put a Penta 12AX7M in a couple of weeks back. I understand this tube is similar/same as a Shuguang 9th generation. It sounds great, but as others have noted, it sounded good before with the original Ruby tube. I can't be sure without a/b-ing the two tubes, but I think the Penta might be a little deeper & warmer and doesn't break up as quickly as the Ruby (good for me, since i prefer a cleaner, more hi-fi tone).

Fun experiment, but unless I get ambitious and a/b the two tubes I'm not sure I've made any significant change. Put either tube in a live mix and...well....you know.
 
#562
Me too, had a box of 12AX7s and tried ABing a few of them. I didn't have anything very high end, but I noticed very little difference from one to the next. If anything the Ruby may have sounded slightly better and most likely had less hours on it than the rest of my tubes, so I put it back in.
 
#563
I believe that the Shuttle 9 and the shuttle series in general are designed to be able to take a WIDE variance of parameters within a tube, as to not affect the overall tone of the amplifier an any major way..
To me that is a good thing..
The new Streamliner 900 by Genz i am not sure about.. It has 3 12ax7s ( 6 stages of class "A" ) tube gain.. so im not sure about that.. We will see as soon as it is released..

But the Shuttle should not really have that much difference with regard to tone with any tube swaps.
I tried a few different tubes in mine and found that the stock Shuttle 12ax7 was just as good as any $$$ tubes that i have here...
 
#565
Munjibunga said:
Thanks for your response. I've shaken the crap out of it, and nothing rattles, and I've been playing it this morning with no mishaps. I was too dumb to think about just sliding the retainer back, but I sure will do it next time.

I did put the Telefunken tube in it and I'd like to say it tightens the sound up a little but, to be honest, I can't tell if it made a difference ... I do not have "the golden ear." It sounds excellent either way, but I'll leave the Tele in there for now, just to say it's in there. Bottom line, if there was an improvement, it wasn't enough to justify running out and dropping $100+ on a preamp tube. I just happened to have one lying around.
Click to expand...

if you PM me your name and shipping addy, we can mail you another washer.
 
#566
rpsands said:
Quickie question... got my 9.0 and to get enough volume I am hitting the limited pretty regularly. Not constantly and only on some note attacks. Is that a big deal?
Click to expand...

I thought that this is just an indication of the tube drive thing kicking in ?
 
#568
rpsands said:
Quickie question... got my 9.0 and to get enough volume I am hitting the limited pretty regularly. Not constantly and only on some note attacks. Is that a big deal?
Click to expand...

hmm....we have people playing on some darn loud stages without a problem.

To answer your question though, no....hitting the limiter is no problem; I wish we could start a sticky on this.

However, I can help you further if you give me LOTs of details;
* what are all your amp settings in o'clock format.
* how efficient is your cab
* how many ohms
* what bass do you use
* passive or active and how do you run the controls if active
 
#569
rpsands said:
Quickie question... got my 9.0 and to get enough volume I am hitting the limited pretty regularly. Not constantly and only on some note attacks. Is that a big deal?
Click to expand...

Short answer = this is normal, pay no attention to when the light starts coming on. Play as loud as you like as long as you like and enjoy. :)
 
#570
hasbeen said:
hmm....we have people playing on some darn loud stages without a problem.

To answer your question though, no....hitting the limiter is no problem; I wish we could start a sticky on this.

However, I can help you further if you give me LOTs of details;
* what are all your amp settings in o'clock format.
* how efficient is your cab
* how many ohms
* what bass do you use
* passive or active and how do you run the controls if active
Click to expand...

Everything flat but +4db at 200hz or so.98 Db cab at 8 ohms. Dingwall abz passive. Medium compression from bhramaputra optostomp. Sometimes lots of bass and or distortion from an mxr m 80 set flat with color depressed.
 
#571
rpsands said:
Quickie question... got my 9.0 and to get enough volume I am hitting the limited pretty regularly. Not constantly and only on some note attacks. Is that a big deal?
Click to expand...
Limiting on the preamp or on the Output stage?

I have seen posts like this maybe once before, but am amazed that someone seems to be maxing out the amp and not getting enough. There are no bands where I have been able to get my Output past 11 o'clock without getting dirty looks from the rest of the band, and that includes some borderline too loud acts. Each to their own, but I would not personally play in a band that this amp could not cover.
 
#572
bucephylus said:
Limiting on the preamp or on the Output stage?

I have seen posts like this maybe once before, but am amazed that someone seems to be maxing out the amp and not getting enough. There are no bands where I have been able to get my Output past 11 o'clock without getting dirty looks from the rest of the band, and that includes some borderline too loud acts. Each to their own, but I would not personally play in a band that this amp could not cover.
Click to expand...


I am hitting the output limited. Keep in mind I am in a loud three piece and my cab is less sensitive than the average 410.
 
#573
rpsands said:
Everything flat but +4db at 200hz or so.98 Db cab at 8 ohms. Dingwall abz passive. Medium compression from bhramaputra optostomp. Sometimes lots of bass and or distortion from an mxr m 80 set flat with color depressed.
Click to expand...

Bbe not bhramaputra. Lol at Droid. Also gain and vol 1 o'clock master 2 o'clock.
 
#574
Not a gig this amp could not handle. This is one loud amp.

I have never had the Master on mine past 3/4 for fear of hurting myself, others, and my cabs. :eek:

The limiter light does seem to confuse some folks though. I only concern myself with setting the input gain right to where (for clean) the input overload light just comes on and I back it back down so as there is zero distortion.

Now for those occasions when I play rock I'll dime the input gain, crank the channel level pretty good and set the master about half way. Can you say cranked tube amp?:bassist:
 
#577
OhulahanBass said:
Why don't you add another 8ohm cab for a big step up in volume?

At 4 ohms that amp should have plenty of headroom with your setting, IME.
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Because I have plenty of volume now and don't want to carry two cabs. I have enough volume with ny mb500 so the 900 should be fine. It hits the limiter but sounds fine. Just making sure I am safe.
 
#579
OhulahanBass said:
How do you like it thus far compared to the mb500?
Click to expand...

Since it will never spend six weeks at field services a lot better. I find them to sound similar. Little grittier for the shuttle and a smidge less naturally bassy. Shuttle feels like it is a bit more dynamic maybe.
 
#580
The output limit LED just indicates that you are entering the output tube emulation limiter. It's like the GR LEDs on a compressor except that there is 1 LED and the circuit does many things like compression, limiting, harmonic generation, etc.

Go ahead and hit the limiter, nothing wrong with doing so and that gets you into the more power-tubish kind of overdrive sound (and especially feel). The only thing I would caution agains is where the LED is on more than it's off. If that's the case, you need more rig for the gig.
 

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