Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 discussion thread

[Ler]

The more time I spend with the 9.0, the better it gets. It's just my opinion and ultimately you would have to hear it for yourself but I'd say go for the 9.0. FWIW the Ampeg is 11 lbs. heavier (not that it's heavy) but if lightweight is also something you're after and not to mention being able to put the 9.0 is a gigbag or whatever, you can't go wrong with Genz Benz. The Ampeg will need to be racked, it's rather bulky for a lightweight head.

 

[Eublet]

Larrison,

Thanks for the input. I am in the market for one of these lightweights and can't decide between the two.

I used to have a Shuttle 6.0 and an SVT3-pro. Similarly rated but the Shuttle seemed to have more power. I liked both heads, but they were VERY different at a gig. The Shuttle did what it did very well. The Ampeg was totally different and just had the certain mojo you only seem to get from an Ampeg. I generally favored the Shuttle personally, but if I was in the mood for the Ampeg thing, the Shuttle just didn't do it. I'm certain the Shuttle 9 and SVT 7 would be the same type of thing. You really need to know what you are after when deciding between these two heads.

 

[kaiser_sosea]

So I ended up going with the felt "furniture feet" from my local hardware store, just stuck them to the feet already on the 9.0 and it clears the handle fine now. FWIW I loved my NeoPak but GAS bit and I ended up selling it for a 6.0 and then a 9.0. I can't see myself moving away from this amp, the same tone as my NeoPak but with tons more HP. It is an amazing little tone machine and I've been smiling from ear to ear on every gig. Once I get my second NeoX-112T I'll be set for any gig thrown at me. I've really whittled down my gear to what works (for me) Lakland Skyline DJSonic 4 string, a few staple pedals, Shuttle 9.0 and NeoX-112T x 2. I have no need now for the other gear I had been hanging onto for years.

 

[Eublet]

So I ended up going with the felt "furniture feet" from my local hardware store, just stuck them to the feet already on the 9.0 and it clears the handle fine now. FWIW I loved my NeoPak but GAS bit and I ended up selling it for a 6.0 and then a 9.0. I can't see myself moving away from this amp, the same tone as my NeoPak but with tons more HP. It is an amazing little tone machine and I've been smiling from ear to ear on every gig. Once I get my second NeoX-112T I'll be set for any gig thrown at me. I've really whittled down my gear to what works (for me) Lakland Skyline DJSonic 4 string, a few staple pedals, Shuttle 9.0 and NeoX-112T x 2. I have no need now for the other gear I had been hanging onto for years.

Those dual 112's will just kill under the 9.0 I bet. I loved the Neopak myself more than the Shuttle 6.0. If the 9.0 is like a more powerful Neopak, it would be one great head.

 

[Mastermold]

The more time I spend with the 9.0, the better it gets. It's just my opinion and ultimately you would have to hear it for yourself but I'd say go for the 9.0. FWIW the Ampeg is 11 lbs. heavier (not that it's heavy) but if lightweight is also something you're after and not to mention being able to put the 9.0 is a gigbag or whatever, you can't go wrong with Genz Benz. The Ampeg will need to be racked, it's rather bulky for a lightweight head.

Same here, I'd recommend the Shuttle 9.0 to anyone. Wonderful amp all the way around, great tone, easy to use, easy to transport, priced very reasonably, and the best customer service I've ever had has been from GB.

 

[Burlington]

Mine will be here on Friday!! Sunday will be my first gig with it. Can't wait!

 

[B String]

One thing with my 9.0 is that I've had to make myself use the
amp differently than I usually would. I normally would have no
use for any of the boost buttons and would never use them.
With the 9.0 the more I experiment, the more (usable) sounds
I get.

Depending on the boxes I use, Lowering the bass control and
engaging the bass boost is VERY useful. It seems to boost
both below AND above the eq point.

 

[Mastermold]

One thing with my 9.0 is that I've had to make myself use the
amp differently than I usually would. I normally would have no
use for any of the boost buttons and would never use them.
With the 9.0 the more I experiment, the more (usable) sounds
I get.

Depending on the boxes I use, Lowering the bass control and
engaging the bass boost is VERY useful. It seems to boost
both below AND above the eq point.

I actually don't use the boost buttons much, but I do make much use of the EQ knobs to color my tones. Either way, however, the amp is very easy to use.

 

[Bluesy Soul]

Calling agedhorse !

I am really enjoying my Shuttle 9.0. I, too, normally don't use boost or cut, button-type tone shaping controls; but I've already found a couple of good uses for the bass boost. I know its a shelf-type boost from 38-67 Hz, but what is the amount of boost?

Thanks in advance.

 

[agedhorse]

Calling agedhorse !

I am really enjoying my Shuttle 9.0. I, too, normally don't use boost or cut, button-type tone shaping controls; but I've already found a couple of good uses for the bass boost. I know its a shelf-type boost from 38-67 Hz, but what is the amount of boost?

Thanks in advance.

It's not just a "boost" button as much as it's a low frequency extension with compound asymmetric filters. It's designed for when you are playing with larger cabinets that have better LF response. There is a very small amount of boost (depending on how the eq is set, maybe a dB or two) but it's more the topology of the entire LF Extend network, including the HPF, that defines how this function works.

 

[Bluesy Soul]

It's not just a "boost" button as much as it's a low frequency extension with compound asymmetric filters. It's designed for when you are playing with larger cabinets that have better LF response.

Thanks. Using the cabs I have with comparatively extended low-range response are precisely the situations in which I've found it helpful.

There is a very small amount of boost (depending on how the eq is set, maybe a dB or two)

The description in the manual, and its name, do make it sound like it's a shelf-type boost.

but it's more the topology of the entire LF Extend network, including the HPF, that defines how this function works. (emphasis added)

Is it possible to expand on this and avoid electronic hyper-technicalities and engineer-speak? (No sarcasm or disrespect intended. I've appreciated your explanations in the past.) It sounds as if it lowers the HPF point.

In any event, thanks again.

 

[mcr23]

It's not just a "boost" button as much as it's a low frequency extension with compound asymmetric filters. It's designed for when you are playing with larger cabinets that have better LF response. There is a very small amount of boost (depending on how the eq is set, maybe a dB or two) but it's more the topology of the entire LF Extend network, including the HPF, that defines how this function works.

Talk dirty to me


I can't wait until my 9.0 arrives!

I've heard really good things about this and the GW video review sounded great!

 

[Mastermold]

Talk dirty to me


I can't wait until my 9.0 arrives!

I've heard really good things about this and the GW video review sounded great!

Speaking of that video, consider pairing your 9.0 with a GB Uber 410-4 (same cab Ed Friedland used for that demo). I've found it to be perfect match for what I was looking for, great tone, easy cab to move, and it makes full use of all 900 watts.

 

[mcr23]

Speaking of that video, consider pairing your 9.0 with a GB Uber 410-4 (same cab Ed Friedland used for that demo). I've found it to be perfect match for what I was looking for, great tone, easy cab to move, and it makes full use of all 900 watts.

thanks! I'll look into it.


I was thinking of eventually adding an Avatar 500W 112 with the ceramic magnet underneath the 210.

 

[B String]

It's not just a "boost" button as much as it's a low frequency extension with compound asymmetric filters. It's designed for when you are playing with larger cabinets that have better LF response. There is a very small amount of boost (depending on how the eq is set, maybe a dB or two) but it's more the topology of the entire LF Extend network, including the HPF, that defines how this function works.

It was totally unexpected, but when I use this feature at low
volume with my Bergantino HT112, the box sounds much
more broad and big. I wouldn't want to push it much but the
combination sounds so much bigger than it looks.
I had a similar experience with the earliest version of the
GK mb500 head. A killer match with the Berg HT112.

 

[MikeBass]

OT, but check out the GBE1200 about 6:40 or so in.
And then towards the end there is a wide shot and those blue LED's are shining on through!

 

[agedhorse]

Is it possible to expand on this and avoid electronic hyper-technicalities and engineer-speak? (No sarcasm or disrespect intended. I've appreciated your explanations in the past.) It sounds as if it lowers the HPF point.

I'll give it a try...

Many modern bass amp designers have discovered that high pass filtering is very important to the sound and feel of an amp, and to the longevity of speakers... ESPECIALLY as amps get more and more powerful. Speaker mechanical power handling is not a simple number as the specs might lead one to believe. It's a series of numbers that generally decrease as frequency decreases. A speaker rated at say 500 watts (mechanical limits) at 1kHz might take 450 watts at 100Hz and 400 watts at 40Hz and 200 watts at 30Hz. Each cabinet/driver combination has a different set of numbers depending on the driver and the tuning/interaction of the driver with the cabinet.

It's up to the designer to consider these limitations and to be responsible to the player to avoid unintentionally overdriving the speaker (within reasonable conditions) with the proper application of compression/limiting and high pass filtering.

This is something that us pro audio designers learned years ago (that's the industry I cut my teeth on and still work in somewhat as a designer) and is standard on just about every system processor and amp on the market today. Otherwise there would be a heck of a lot more blown drivers out there.

So, for bass guitar players, the high pass filter must be somewhat adaptable to situations where both large cabinets (with extended low frequency loading) and the new sub-compact cabinets (less low frequency extension) are used somewhat interchangably. The LF Extend filter network on the Shuttles allows a small shift in the high pass network (LF Extend engaged lowers the HPF corner frequency) but also changes other parameters in the filter's response since it is not just a HPF. It's part of the feel of the amp and contributs to the voicing and playability on a wider range of cabinets. It's not uncommon for a player, for instance, to take a 6.0 and play it on a 410 or 810 at a large venue but then take it to church and play it with the STL-10 compact cabinet. Much better results will be experienced with the 810 using the LF Extend engaged as the full(er) low frequency response of the amp will be available to the cabinet that will benefit from the lower response.

I am reluctant to go into any more detail because things tend to get confusing and then taken out of context.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bluesy Soul]

I'll give it a try...

Many modern bass amp designers have discovered that high pass filtering is very important to the sound and feel of an amp, and to the longevity of speakers... ESPECIALLY as amps get more and more powerful. Speaker mechanical power handling is not a simple number as the specs might lead one to believe. It's a series of numbers that generally decrease as frequency decreases. A speaker rated at say 500 watts (mechanical limits) at 1kHz might take 450 watts at 100Hz and 400 watts at 40Hz and 200 watts at 30Hz. Each cabinet/driver combination has a different set of numbers depending on the driver and the tuning/interaction of the driver with the cabinet.

It's up to the designer to consider these limitations and to be responsible to the player to avoid unintentionally overdriving the speaker (within reasonable conditions) with the proper application of compression/limiting and high pass filtering.

This is something that us pro audio designers learned years ago (that's the industry I cut my teeth on and still work in somewhat as a designer) and is standard on just about every system processor and amp on the market today. Otherwise there would be a heck of a lot more blown drivers out there.

So, for bass guitar players, the high pass filter must be somewhat adaptable to situations where both large cabinets (with extended low frequency loading) and the new sub-compact cabinets (less low frequency extension) are used somewhat interchangably. The LF Extend filter network on the Shuttles allows a small shift in the high pass network (LF Extend engaged lowers the HPF corner frequency) but also changes other parameters in the filter's response since it is not just a HPF. It's part of the feel of the amp and contributs to the voicing and playability on a wider range of cabinets. It's not uncommon for a player, for instance, to take a 6.0 and play it on a 410 or 810 at a large venue but then take it to church and play it with the STL-10 compact cabinet. Much better results will be experienced with the 810 using the LF Extend engaged as the full(er) low frequency response of the amp will be available to the cabinet that will benefit from the lower response.

I am reluctant to go into any more detail because things tend to get confusing and then taken out of context.

Hope this helps.

Yes, it does help. Thanks very much.

I won't ask you to try to explain the intricacies of a compound asymmetric filtering system; but I think you've confirmed that, among things, the Bass Boost button does lower the HPF corner frequency rather than add any real EQ boost in the lowered frequency range--though a little bit of boost may occur as a byproduct of engaging the entire system.

To me, that helps explain why it enhanced the low-end tone and response from my extended range cabs, rather than just add boominess. Thanks again.

 

[agedhorse]

To me, that helps explain why it enhanced the low-end tone and response from my extended range cabs, rather than just add boominess. Thanks again.

Exactly.

 

[lindseyp]

How are those isobaric cabs tone wise...?
They look interesting. So small.yet handle huge amounts of watts.

It could suck up that amp and dish out the sounds quite well, but part of me realized it was using two 10-inch speakers; I can't explain that part, but it was still the hardest thumping box with two 10s that I've heard. We were feeding it with a P-bass. I don't know large a room that box can fill but I'd still like to hear the 212 version.