Genz Benz - Streamliner + Focus LT 112's

[Robear22]

How loud have you gotten these cabs? Can they compare to a single 15 or 410? I am about to get a modular rig and right now it is between these, the Hartke HX112, and the GS112 by Aguilar. I have had the Aggies before so I know what it can do but no one carrries these around me so I just want your opinion.

 

[SilkyStrings]

I'm wondering how these would sound with my TH500 (I use a Sadowsky RV5). I'm still debating which way to jump on a new modular rig too. The Aggie head just sounds too muddled through my Accugroove TRi115, or else I'd just pick up another used.

BTW that's a great crack on that bass trombone your doubling in the beginning of your recording! (I used to play one). I really like your bass tone too, it's burpy but still fat, very nice.

 

[VroomVroom]

How loud have you gotten these cabs? Can they compare to a single 15 or 410? I am about to get a modular rig and right now it is between these, the Hartke HX112, and the GS112 by Aguilar. I have had the Aggies before so I know what it can do but no one carrries these around me so I just want your opinion.

Pretty darn loud - I've been quite impressed. The drivers are only rated @ 200w, which is a back-of-the-mind concern, but these things seem to get plenty loud. Large, open outdoor setting, no reinforcement, driving a full big band, if that helps with a bit of context.

IMO/IME here, but.... I can't speak to the Hartke, but the GS112 is a totally different animal. Hits harder, goes lower, and certainly offers more headroom. It remains my benchmark in the world of 112's....just a great cab. Some folks insist it's mid-scooped. I won't argue, but to my ears it's just more deep and open down low. If you play boomy rooms, this can be a liability, but otherwise, it's certainly nice having the horsepower at your disposal. The Focus cabs, for me, remain my go-to for "working" situations. They sound darn good, they're light, and I won't cry if I ding one. My Berg HT112ERs remain the choice when I really want to ensure "my" sound is conveyed.

What does all that mean? If tone is your biggest goal, I'd lean toward the GS112, especially if you're familiar with it and like it.

I'm wondering how these would sound with my TH500 (I use a Sadowsky RV5). I'm still debating which way to jump on a new modular rig too. The Aggie head just sounds too muddled through my Accugroove TRi115, or else I'd just pick up another used.

BTW that's a great crack on that bass trombone your doubling in the beginning of your recording! (I used to play one). I really like your bass tone too, it's burpy but still fat, very nice.

Hmmm.....right up front, I'm generally the wrong guy to ask about the TH. I love the pre stage, but I find the amp to be really light in the loafers when it comes to pushing low end, and certainly when the volume goes up or any level of headroom is required. That said, in low volume settings, it's terrific, and driving two 8-ohm 112's is the perfect match as it allows you to extract every last drop of available power.

So, whether the Focus is the right cab....good question. I'd have to hear that combo, but my guess is it'd be awfully mid-happy. (A nice way of saying there's no booty. ) Perfect for upright players who just want some cut thru the mix, but not good for us electric folk. Good luck with the hunt.

Thanks for the kind words, and for mentioning that bone player. This is really too funny - just a short while ago I was chatting with Jon (Pacman) about how much I love that guy's playing. Not only does he play the bass bone with passion, groove, and intensity, he also plays it in-tune. Gasp.

Finally...not sure if his helps or muddies the waters further, but here's a clip from last night. Alder/rosewood Lull J bass, Steamer amp, and my Bergantino cabs. Just bass & drums, the two of us goofing around before the rest of the band arrived. Hopefully it'll offer some contrast from the other clips in this thread.

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[LilRay]

Finally...not sure if his helps or muddies the waters further, but here's a clip from last night. Alder/rosewood Lull J bass, Steamer amp, and my Bergantino cabs. Just bass & drums, the two of us goofing around before the rest of the band arrived. Hopefully it'll offer some contrast from the other clips in this thread.

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Jerry, You say the Steamer is "woofy" with the Bergs, but it still sounds like you. You telling tales? I guess it's situational but you my brotha are a CDO enigma.

I guess if I wanna "be like Jerry" I gotta go get everything, play everything, shave my head, and be as indecisive as a 12 year old girl.

You're makin' it tough.



God Bless, Ray

 

[VroomVroom]

Jerry, You say the Steamer is "woofy" with the Bergs, but it still sounds like you. You telling tales? I guess it's situational but you my brotha are a CDO enigma.

I guess if I wanna "be like Jerry" I gotta go get everything, play everything, shave my head, and be as indecisive as a 12 year old girl.

You're makin' it tough.



God Bless, Ray

Ray, you definitely don't want to be like me. Haven't we discussed this? See the error in my path and make corrections, young fella!

You're right. I was very wishy-washy with the Steamer and the Bergs. But, I've come to terms with that amp - essentially yanking the bass EQ knob down to somewhere between 9 and 10 o'clock. That keeps the "tube" sound - warm and thick - but takes away that tubby/woofy thing that is really emphasized with the Berg cabs.

The other variable in that sound clip... the rig was off the ground.

Now, I won't go into the argument over floor coupling, other than to say that I drink that kool aid. My ears hear a difference. When those Bergs are on the floor, the bass EQ on the Steamer is definitely at 9 o'clock, and sometimes I'll yank down the low mids as well.

Bottom line (heh)....you called me out nicely. I used to really dislike the combo. But, I've come to dig having that Steamer tone (I'm convinced you can't do better without carrying aroud the heavy cargo...an old SVT or an Aggie DB750/1) with the amazing Berg clarity across the spectrum. Especially so on fingergstyle tone with the bridge pickup biased. (That's what you hear in that clip...all EQ flat on the bass, btw.)

Does that help, or am I still a 12-year-old with no hair?

 

[LilRay]

Ray, you definitely don't want to be like me. Haven't we discussed this? See the error in my path and make corrections, young fella!

You're right. I was very wishy-washy with the Steamer and the Bergs. But, I've come to terms with that amp - essentially yanking the bass EQ knob down to somewhere between 9 and 10 o'clock. That keeps the "tube" sound - warm and thick - but takes away that tubby/woofy thing that is really emphasized with the Berg cabs.

The other variable in that sound clip... the rig was off the ground.

Now, I won't go into the argument over floor coupling, other than to say that I drink that kool aid. My ears hear a difference. When those Bergs are on the floor, the bass EQ on the Steamer is definitely at 9 o'clock, and sometimes I'll yank down the low mids as well.

Bottom line (heh)....you called me out nicely. I used to really dislike the combo. But, I've come to dig having that Steamer tone (I'm convinced you can't do better without carrying aroud the heavy cargo...an old SVT or an Aggie DB750/1) with the amazing Berg clarity across the spectrum. Especially so on fingergstyle tone with the bridge pickup biased. (That's what you hear in that clip...all EQ flat on the bass, btw.)

Does that help, or am I still a 12-year-old with no hair?

Well I'll throw one back atcha. I wonder if Ed has one of the newer Shuttle combo 112's (just the cab) and if you have tried it with the Steamer? Throw another iron in the fire.

You're a bottom line man....(Think Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond).

1. I like tubey and I'm tubby. but I don't want the aggressiveness of the Standard taken away.

2. I need light (probably at some loss of tone), seeing as I want to be able to move my gear myself. (Independance)

3. I wish I were as cool as you.

4. My hair isn't far behind. And I'm still in my terrible two's



God Bless, Ray

 

[VroomVroom]

Well I'll throw one back atcha. I wonder if Ed has one of the newer Shuttle combo 112's (just the cab) and if you have tried it with the Steamer? Throw another iron in the fire.

You're a bottom line man....(Think Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond).

1. I like tubey and I'm tubby. but I don't want the aggressiveness of the Standard taken away.

2. I need light (probably at some loss of tone), seeing as I want to be able to move my gear myself. (Independance)

3. I wish I were as cool as you.

4. My hair isn't far behind. And I'm still in my terrible two's



God Bless, Ray

I've not heard the new Shuttle, but I have heard the Steamer with neo cabs. I don't like it. At all. Honestly, I've kinda' sworn off neo cabs, period. No offense to those who dig 'em. IME they choke pretty quickly, and really compress leading up to that, and they don't have the low presence (ok, I'll say it....booty) of the heavier stuff. The only exception I can point to is the now extinct Berg AE212...but that cab is not really light or easy to manage. So, by way of numerical response...

1. I'm with ya', brother. We can toast over carnitas burritos to the fact that your bass would sound ferocious through a Steamer and one or two Focus 112 cabs.

2. I've preached it over four pages of this thread, but the Focus totally qualifies. It weighs so close to a neo cab that you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference, and with some EQ tweaking to your tastes, I really think you'll be pleased at the tone.

3. You've got me beat to the extent I'll never catch up. The only area I trump you is in our choice of NFL teams, but I understand that we have to remain loyal to our traditions.

4. Bask in your youth! For me it became a choice of looking like Phil Collins meets Pillsbury Dough Boy, or Uncle Fester on a bender. Obviously I chose the latter. Sometimes it really is the lesser of two evils.

 

[Robear22]

Pretty darn loud - I've been quite impressed. The drivers are only rated @ 200w, which is a back-of-the-mind concern, but these things seem to get plenty loud. Large, open outdoor setting, no reinforcement, driving a full big band, if that helps with a bit of context.

IMO/IME here, but.... I can't speak to the Hartke, but the GS112 is a totally different animal. Hits harder, goes lower, and certainly offers more headroom. It remains my benchmark in the world of 112's....just a great cab. Some folks insist it's mid-scooped. I won't argue, but to my ears it's just more deep and open down low. If you play boomy rooms, this can be a liability, but otherwise, it's certainly nice having the horsepower at your disposal. The Focus cabs, for me, remain my go-to for "working" situations. They sound darn good, they're light, and I won't cry if I ding one. My Berg HT112ERs remain the choice when I really want to ensure "my" sound is conveyed.

What does all that mean? If tone is your biggest goal, I'd lean toward the GS112, especially if you're familiar with it and like it.


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Thanks for the response. I haven't heard back from the Aggie guy so I may go with the Focus.

 

[RocketMusic]

Thanks for the response. I haven't heard back from the Aggie guy so I may go with the Focus.

I don't stock these cabs, but I can get them very easily. Genz-Benz has a substantial amount of all of the Focus cabs (112, 115, 210 & 410) in stock, and I could have them drop shipped straight to you.

So let me know if/when you're ready to make a move, and I'll get you a price quote on whatever you want!

 

[VroomVroom]

Speaking to the Focus cabs in a high volume setting, last night's hit certainly qualifies. VERY large ballroom, very big band - three vox, six horns, full rhythm, and no reinforcement for the bass. I'd planned on using my Bergs for this one, but I got an offer to carpool (two hour drive) and couldn't pass it up. The rig performed beautifully - I can't really imagine getting any louder, and the tone was terrific.

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[mwbonsall]

Sounds Great Jerry! Great tone and rock solid groove. These cabs have been tempting me for a while…

Thanks for posting.

Mark

 

[Bart Lee]

Wanted to thank everyone on this thread, especially Jerry. It pushed me over the edge on these cabs and I couldn't be happier. I was able to get the two Focus cabs for the price of the Aggie cab I was gassing over. Plus the TH-350 and ended up not that far north of a grand.

I keep one cab at home and one at the practice space and just shuttle the head and mono bag back and forth. Havent gigged, but I am optimistic. "Nice bass tone", as my usually quiet drummer said... Guitarist (BL): "yes, new bass tone is Awesome!" I'm a lifetime musician, but noob on bass, and I'm really digging the way these all match up.

 

[rimbaud]

Hi Bart and everyone, I'm planning on getting those cabs. Just bought a used Markbass Little Mark II (350€--> 450 $, yep... sadly it is a nice price for us in Europe on the second-hand market , the new LM III cost.... 700€ brand new !!), think I'll have to connect them only with jacks, how do you proceed with your TH350 Bart ?

 

[J2Kbass]

Hey Jerry- sorry for going off topic -

What's the string spacing on that nice lull you have posted?

 

[VroomVroom]

What's the string spacing on that nice lull you have posted?

18mm. Mike's basses are fantastic, to say the least.

 

[nostatic]

I concur. I used to hate JJ basses. And I never have been an ash/maple fan. A Lull M4V changed all that.

Jerry, glad to see I'm not the only heretic playing with their cab on cart

Said Lull at the same gig

 

[Freddels]

Hi Bart and everyone, I'm planning on getting those cabs. Just bought a used Markbass Little Mark II (350€--> 450 $, yep... sadly it is a nice price for us in Europe on the second-hand market , the new LM III cost.... 700€ brand new !!), think I'll have to connect them only with jacks, how do you proceed with your TH350 Bart ?

With the Markbass head, you can either run one speakon (or 1/4" since it's a combo jack) from the amp to the first cab and then daisy chain the cabs together or you can run the second cab from the 1/4" connector on the back of the amp.

 

[J2Kbass]

Thanks. I've been wanting to try out a lull. I want something with an easy to play neck and I've heard lull necks are butter.

 

[rimbaud]

With the Markbass head, you can either run one speakon (or 1/4" since it's a combo jack) from the amp to the first cab and then daisy chain the cabs together or you can run the second cab from the 1/4" connector on the back of the amp.

Thanks ! I've always used "old school" amps, as Red Head with a 15" or SM 400 with 4x10 + 15, and always connecting them with jacks, so I must say this kind of connection sounds weird to me

I 've been looking for cheap class D bass heads, and I knew that I needed at least 2 speaker outputs. The LMII wasn't on the list, more the LM250 (less powered, less risky for the focus cabs 12") but it came by a pure coincidence while looking at many announces and it was cheaper... happy coincidence anyway, cos' if I need more power in the future, I won't have to replace all the rig...I'll just have to be very, very carefull with the cabs.

Totally off-topic, I got to try an Ampeg Portaflex 410HF yesterday (so...with ceramic drivers, as the Genz' cabs) with an Eden amp and I'm very confident about that kind of drivers, it really sounds good !

 

[Robear22]

Thanks Jerry for your info. I finally picked up one and I really love it. It is just how you described. Nice tone that plays what you give it. Thanks again for your review!!!!