I struggled with mine also, but found using the gain boost solved a lot of the 'punch' issues. It is a much different amp than I have ever used.
Mark
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Genz Benz - Streamliner + Focus LT 112's
- Thread starter VroomVroom
- Start date
I struggled with mine also, but found using the gain boost solved a lot of the 'punch' issues. It is a much different amp than I have ever used.
Mark
Mark, I appreciate your feedback on this. You mind sharing the specifics on what works for you? I haven't played with that gain button, but if you've had good results with it dialing out some of the "wool," I'm definitely intrigued. There are things I like (a lot) about the amp, so aside from the wallet sting of selling it, I'd love to put it to use on gigs.
That said....I had two gigs and a long album rehearsal/pre-pro meeting this weekend. Three different basses into the trusty Shuttle 9.0 and a single Focus 112. No tone complaints whatsoever (everything flat), and the Roscoe in particular just sounded amazing. It's hard to look elsewhere when this just works so well...and is even smaller and lighter than the Steamer.
That said....I had two gigs and a long album rehearsal/pre-pro meeting this weekend. Three different basses into the trusty Shuttle 9.0 and a single Focus 112. No tone complaints whatsoever (everything flat), and the Roscoe in particular just sounded amazing. It's hard to look elsewhere when this just works so well...and is even smaller and lighter than the Steamer.
I was having trouble cutting through the mix in my classic rock band, which plays loud and I seldom have P.A. support. I engaged the gain boost, set the gain and volume at noon and used the master for overall volume, usually no more than noon or one o’clock. This totally changed the voicing and ‘feel’ of the amp, in a good way. It is still clean, no distortion, but the mids cleared up.
I run the eq most of the time all straight up at noon, but sometimes a small boost @ 600 and sometimes boost the highs depending on the room. I am very pleased with how it sits in the mix right now. It’s worth a try before getting rid of the amp.
Mark
I run the eq most of the time all straight up at noon, but sometimes a small boost @ 600 and sometimes boost the highs depending on the room. I am very pleased with how it sits in the mix right now. It’s worth a try before getting rid of the amp.
Mark
Cool - thanks for the info, Mark! I'll definitely be giving that a try.
I just received a Wren & Cuff "Box Of War" pedal, and I'll be experimenting with it through my rig this afternoon. This pedal is an amazing fuzz for bass that Adam (chaosmic) turned me onto this past weekend. It's got a big, phat, clean low end with the fuzz seeming to happen just in the midrange. I'd never heard a fuzz this thick before, but this one kicks some serious booty.
I just received a Wren & Cuff "Box Of War" pedal, and I'll be experimenting with it through my rig this afternoon. This pedal is an amazing fuzz for bass that Adam (chaosmic) turned me onto this past weekend. It's got a big, phat, clean low end with the fuzz seeming to happen just in the midrange. I'd never heard a fuzz this thick before, but this one kicks some serious booty.
VroomVroom said:
It's hard to beat a Shuttle and the 9.0 is a great little head. I have been happy for a long time with my Shuttle 3.0 Combo - especially with the 110 extension cab.
I'm curious how my Roscoe will sound through such a "minimal" amp. I'm a little afraid for the GTG as I'm sure I'll be using some sweet rigs.
Hey - that actually helped quite a bit. How strange. Before, I was usually running the gain at 9 o'clock and the volume at 3 o'clock with the gain knob pushed in. So adjusting those to both be at noon, I was able to cut the mids down (from 4 o'clock to around 11 o'clock or noon), and I cut the bass back to 10 or 11 o'clock. It seems fuller and flatter, but who knows?!? Some days I trust my ears, some days I don't...
The Box of War, by the way, is 100% badass. Holy cow, I've gone from not liking fuzz at all to now thinking "I could probably leave that pedal on a lot of the time". I'm sure that'd be an automatic dirty eyeball generator from others on the bandstand, but there'd be some serious nasty coming off the stage!
Jerry, have you had a chance to play through a 410 yet. Ed F. has had nothing but good things to say about.
I have, Dave...and it's a great sounding cab. I haven't used a 410 in easily five or six years, so I'm somewhat out of the loop....although, the Berg remains the benchmark for me. For me, a 410 is one of those cabs where I focus solely on sound - portability becomes a bit relative at that point. However, for someone who really goes after that sound, but doesn't want a boat anchor...I'd certainly recommend checking it out. There's a GK lightweight 410 that sounds very surprisingly good as well.
Quick Steamer update...
Used it on last night's gig. Experimented with the gain boost button, but found that it generated a nasty hiss, even with the gain & vol knobs close to Noon. So - killed that, and boosted the knobs to 2 o'clock. I brought the bass EQ down to 9 o'clock, and set mids & highs @ Noon. Ka-ching.
This was a pretty lively room, and I was using my alder Roscoe J sixer, so obviously this wasn't a controlled experiment. Nonetheless, the tone has convinced me - for now at least - to keep the Steamer. For J fans, biasing the bridge pickup when running through this amp is just something to behold. The default low/low-mid grunt of the Steamer works nicely with the burpy grind coming from the bass, and the result is just smiles and smiles.
Used it on last night's gig. Experimented with the gain boost button, but found that it generated a nasty hiss, even with the gain & vol knobs close to Noon. So - killed that, and boosted the knobs to 2 o'clock. I brought the bass EQ down to 9 o'clock, and set mids & highs @ Noon. Ka-ching.
This was a pretty lively room, and I was using my alder Roscoe J sixer, so obviously this wasn't a controlled experiment. Nonetheless, the tone has convinced me - for now at least - to keep the Steamer. For J fans, biasing the bridge pickup when running through this amp is just something to behold. The default low/low-mid grunt of the Steamer works nicely with the burpy grind coming from the bass, and the result is just smiles and smiles.
Well, the final components are in place...
Gotta' love those cables...they tie the whole rig together.
Another shout-out for these cabs. They really are terrific. In fact, on a few occasions now I've been in my local store to catch some cats hearing them for the first time. They're on display next to some heavy hitters, and the responses are fun to watch. "Wait. Could you go back to that one? That's the Focus? How much does it cost?!?"
The amp... Even with the lows dialed down to 9-o'clock, I'm amazed at the low & low-mid presence of this thing. On my last coupla' gigs with this setup, I've been playing a J-bass with the bridge pickup soloed. With all other EQ set @ Noon/center, the tone is still full of fat bottom, with that burpy growl cutting through nicely. Not perfect for everything, but in that vein, it's really something special.
Gotta' love those cables...they tie the whole rig together.
Another shout-out for these cabs. They really are terrific. In fact, on a few occasions now I've been in my local store to catch some cats hearing them for the first time. They're on display next to some heavy hitters, and the responses are fun to watch. "Wait. Could you go back to that one? That's the Focus? How much does it cost?!?"
The amp... Even with the lows dialed down to 9-o'clock, I'm amazed at the low & low-mid presence of this thing. On my last coupla' gigs with this setup, I've been playing a J-bass with the bridge pickup soloed. With all other EQ set @ Noon/center, the tone is still full of fat bottom, with that burpy growl cutting through nicely. Not perfect for everything, but in that vein, it's really something special.
^ Yup, er...ditto. Jerry and I played many Roscoe (and Zon, BC Rich \M/ 
) at Gelb Music into these cabs. Sound was tremendous. I have no local place to try the Genz Benz products out 
, so when I am traveling and have the opportuninty I really pay attention.
Good stuff. The cables, not too shabby their either.
Yes, they do "tie the whole rig together", just don't Roll on the Shabbas!
) at Gelb Music into these cabs. Sound was tremendous. I have no local place to try the Genz Benz products out , so when I am traveling and have the opportuninty I really pay attention. Good stuff. The cables, not too shabby their either.
Yes, they do "tie the whole rig together", just don't Roll on the Shabbas!
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
OK! Quick question, If you were choosing one rig with it being Genz Benz current lineup, would you choose
A: The rig in this thread or
B: A 9.2 (either version) with ONE Berg 112?
Bang vs tone for the Buck?
God Bless, Ray
A: The rig in this thread or
B: A 9.2 (either version) with ONE Berg 112?
Bang vs tone for the Buck?
God Bless, Ray
This may sound blasphemous, but I do not like the HD112. Mr. Bergantino can say it sounds nearly identical to the old HT112ER, but not to my ears.
Picking new today, it'd be the Shuttle 9.2 up top. Below? Probably two Aggie GS112's, based on the notion that tone...and headroom...trumps all. The Focus 112's come awfully darn close, though, and they certainly win on cost and weight.
I am still 100% in love with my HT112ER's, though. In fact, my ear remains close to the ground in hopes of picking up two more.
Picking new today, it'd be the Shuttle 9.2 up top. Below? Probably two Aggie GS112's, based on the notion that tone...and headroom...trumps all. The Focus 112's come awfully darn close, though, and they certainly win on cost and weight.
I am still 100% in love with my HT112ER's, though. In fact, my ear remains close to the ground in hopes of picking up two more.
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
VroomVroom said:
Cool deal Jerry. I was thinking, at the price point the Focus cabs You almost get two for one and wondering rather two Focus cabs trumps one high end cab?
99% of my playing is done at home for the time being and one 112 would be more than enough for that, BUT If I save enough loot to buy from our man Greg, Where might I put said loot best? .
Just thinking aloud
God Bless, Ray
I am definitely buying a pair of these. I'd love to have a pair of Berg HD112s but my budget is really tight right now. A pair of these is about the same price as one Berg HD112.
I just got my Focus 112 today (thanks, Greg!). So far I've only tried it out in the house at pretty low volume, but I'm really impressed with the fullness of the low end. Handles the B string in the Roscoe very well!
To my ears the mids are a bit lacking, but the sound when combined with my Epifani UL-110 is wonderful. Full and clear without any harshness. Interestingly the Focus is the same width as the UL110, making it easy to stack. Jerry, you'll be happy to know that GB has moved the handle to the side of the cab now. This combination sounds great with the upright too. I can't wait to try it out on a gig next weekend!
For the record I'm driving this with an Ashdown ABM 500 (original pre-EVO British model) and an Avalon U5 preamp for the upright.
To my ears the mids are a bit lacking, but the sound when combined with my Epifani UL-110 is wonderful. Full and clear without any harshness. Interestingly the Focus is the same width as the UL110, making it easy to stack. Jerry, you'll be happy to know that GB has moved the handle to the side of the cab now. This combination sounds great with the upright too. I can't wait to try it out on a gig next weekend!
For the record I'm driving this with an Ashdown ABM 500 (original pre-EVO British model) and an Avalon U5 preamp for the upright.
Attachments
Nice, Oren....congrats.
I've become so accustomed to the Steamer/Focus combo that I had trouble adjusting a coupla' weeks back when I took my Shuttle 9/Berg to a gig. Weird.
Side note....many posts back we briefly chatted about the GK Fusion, and the fact that their MB Fusion 800 was coming to market. Total FWIW/IMO/IME here, but... I got to spend an hour playing through the prototype, trying different basses & cabs, and A/B-ing against the Steamer. Personally....I walked away disappointed. For having three 12AX7's in there, the only phrase that kept popping in my mind was, "solid state." To my ears, it sounded like...well...GK. On one hand, I was kinda' bummed, since I did like the MB Fusion 500 quite a bit more. On the other hand, I was relieved since there shall be no temptation. Good amp for some, but not me. Especially as I've found a happy place with the Steamer.
I've become so accustomed to the Steamer/Focus combo that I had trouble adjusting a coupla' weeks back when I took my Shuttle 9/Berg to a gig. Weird.
Side note....many posts back we briefly chatted about the GK Fusion, and the fact that their MB Fusion 800 was coming to market. Total FWIW/IMO/IME here, but... I got to spend an hour playing through the prototype, trying different basses & cabs, and A/B-ing against the Steamer. Personally....I walked away disappointed. For having three 12AX7's in there, the only phrase that kept popping in my mind was, "solid state." To my ears, it sounded like...well...GK. On one hand, I was kinda' bummed, since I did like the MB Fusion 500 quite a bit more. On the other hand, I was relieved since there shall be no temptation.
Good amp for some, but not me. Especially as I've found a happy place with the Steamer.
