Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 discussion thread

[Dr Funk]

Ha! Looks like David and Goliath... and we know how that turned out.

 

[DJJazzV]

There's some subtle design tricks being used to emulate how the stages of a tube amp operate and overload when driven hard (part of our patent pending PHAT technology). This is why you need to experiment a little with gain structure to find your own sweetspot for each bass you play.

I found this to be excellent advice about the Gain. Tonight I used the below settings through a Mesa Boogie Scout 1x12 combo cabinet. Sounded excellent:
Gain: 3 o'clock
Volume: 9 o'clock + 1 click.
Low: + 2 clicks past 12 o'clock
Mid: 12 o'clock
Mid Freq: 150
High: - 1 click from 12 o'clock
LF Boost pressed in
Mid Scoop pressed in.

I first used a passive Jazz. Sounded great. Then without changing a thing on the Shuttle, I plugged in an 18v active Jazz Deluxe V. Volume barely changed, if anything at all, and that bass sounded even better! That one usually sounds beefier then my other basses anyway, but the Shuttle 9.0 sounded great for both with the same settings. I'm looking forward to blasting it through the Berg HT322 tomorrow!
I was very impressed with the completely silent Mute switch activation, swapping basses without a click, and the volume remaining about the same between an active and passive bass. Excellent!
Well done!

 

[agedhorse]

Often, players forget that there is a range of gain and volume settings that may work better with one type of bass and/or playing style while another range of settings works better with another bass/playing style. An amp (kind of like a girlfriend ) is a dynamic piece of equipment and has "personality". You need to spend a little time with your amp learning the subtle flavors and dynamics, where the tone and feel is for your playingstyle and personal preferences. Every player is different, that's why there are so many different amps on the market, each with their own set of followers.

These comments apply to most amps by the way, not just ours.

 

[SteveC]

Well, I have 2 girlfriends here and I can't decide. I think the 9.0 is great, sounds tight, focused. The Max 12 is more "hi-fi" maybe, more clear. Both are great. I think the 9.0 seems to work better with the Shuttle 112 cab.

 

[Mystic Michael]

An amp (kind of like a girlfriend ) is a dynamic piece of equipment and has "personality". You need to spend a little time with your amp learning the subtle flavors and dynamics, where the tone and feel is for your playingstyle and personal preferences.

Truly, there's nothing quite as enjoyable as a "tubey" girlfriend...

MM

 

[B String]

The 9 gets pretty loud.. It is as Red Planet says goooeyyy. I like that.

You can have a "tubey" girlfriend. I prefer "gooey".

 

[fretster]

You can have a "tubey" girlfriend. I prefer "gooey".

Your girlfriend has nice knobs.

 

[agedhorse]

You can have a "tubey" girlfriend. I prefer "gooey".

 

[Red Planet]

You can have a "tubey" girlfriend. I prefer "gooey".

Is that like " a little meat on the bones"?

 

[DJJazzV]

Question: Since the manual states that the effects loop is also intended as a "Preamp Out / Poweramp In", will the "receive" input work with an external preamp? If so, does it bypass the internal preamp and work as a poweramp only, or leave the internal preamp active as well?

 

[B String]

Question: Since the manual states that the effects loop is also intended as a "Preamp Out / Poweramp In", will the "receive" input work with an external preamp? If so, does it bypass the internal preamp and work as a poweramp only, or leave the internal preamp active as well?

From my understanding the effects return is in series and
lets you bypass the internal preamp if you wish. For me, this
is a good thing. For upright bass I can use a a two channel
blender for mic and pickup, blend the signal into a single out
going back into the effects return which gives me only the
master volume of the 9.0.
For me, it just makes the head more usable. The effects return
lets you go directly into the power amp, and use the master
volume on the 9.0.

 

[B String]

Is that like " a little meat on the bones"?

No! It means gooey. You'll know it when you get it.
My 9.0 is somewhat gooey.

 

[agedhorse]

From my understanding the effects return is in series and
lets you bypass the internal preamp if you wish. For me, this
is a good thing. For upright bass I can use a a two channel
blender for mic and pickup, blend the signal into a single out
going back into the effects return which gives me only the
master volume of the 9.0.
For me, it just makes the head more usable. The effects return
lets you go directly into the power amp, and use the master
volume on the 9.0.

This is correct.

 

[DJJazzV]

As I had hoped for. More options. Excellent.
Thank you very much.

This is correct.

From my understanding the effects return is in series and
lets you bypass the internal preamp if you wish. For me, this
is a good thing. For upright bass I can use a a two channel
blender for mic and pickup, blend the signal into a single out
going back into the effects return which gives me only the
master volume of the 9.0.
For me, it just makes the head more usable. The effects return
lets you go directly into the power amp, and use the master
volume on the 9.0.

 

[agedhorse]

As I had hoped for. More options. Excellent.
Thank you very much.

You are welcome.

The one thing about series effects loops is that they are useable for more applications than parallel loops. Especially for bass players. Comps just don't work in parallel loops.

Effects devices (verb, DDL, chorus) will generally work in series or parallel loops though. In a series loop, the device's onboard (wet/dry) mix control would be used and in aparallel loop, only the wet would be returned and mixed with the parallel loop's return level control.

 

[DJJazzV]

That worked great for testing! I eliminated the GB preamp by using an MXR Bass DI in the return only. Left the MXR effect off, and I could really hear just how dry the unaffected tone was. I then removed the MXR and went back to normal. Huge difference, of course. Since the "Color" button on the MXR is my favorite tone for my Jazz bass, that's my goal on the GB.
Here's close now:
Gain: 1 click past 3 o'clock
Volume: 1 click below 9 o'clock
Low: 2 clicks past 12 o'clock
Mid: 8 o'clock (lots of cut)
Mid Freq: 11 o'clock (varies between 11 and 12 for the cabinet)
High: 2 clicks past 12 o'clock
LF boost in only.

Thanks again.

You are welcome.

The one thing about series effects loops is that they are useable for more applications than parallel loops. Especially for bass players. Comps just don't work in parallel loops.

Effects devices (verb, DDL, chorus) will generally work in series or parallel loops though. In a series loop, the device's onboard (wet/dry) mix control would be used and in aparallel loop, only the wet would be returned and mixed with the parallel loop's return level control.

 

[agedhorse]

No problem. Keep experimenting, you will develop your own flavors as you get more time with it.

 

[B String]

Hey horse!
Can you please give me some info. Is the master volume pot
on the 9.0 linear or is most of the volume had with the pot
at 12:00 or 1:00? I hope I'm phrasing this correctly.

 

[kaiser_sosea]

Which sounds most like the NeoPak; Shuttle 6.0 or Shuttle 9.0?

 

[Red Planet]

Hey horse!
Can you please give me some info. Is the master volume pot
on the 9.0 linear or is most of the volume had with the pot
at 12:00 or 1:00? I hope I'm phrasing this correctly.

The Master Volume on the Shuttle 9.0 is a very smooth transition form zero to dimed. It definately has not a bump in it anywhere. My MarkBass LMIII is wide open at 12:00 and really dosn't get any louder past noon.