Genz Benz Streamliner, Part 10

[Wicked G]

I had so much fun gigging my Streamliner 600 Friday night that I had to play with it again this morning.

It sounds so good with the TC RS210's, UBER QUAD/UBER 115 stack and GK NEO 112's that I usually have a hard time deciding which cabs to take out with it. Just throwing this out there for the Streamliner fans since this thread seems to have lost some traction.

 

[HutHutHuda]

Hello, just bought a Streamliner 900, looking for a good cab to match. Does the Markbass NY122 pair well? Thank you.

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

I can't help with that, but I found having the boost engaged made my two Bergantino 2X10's come to life in a big way, and I don't mean just by volume. My STL 900 is one of the pieces of gear I've owned over the years that I wish I never sold. Wonderful amp!

 

[rigorous bass]

I had a Mesa Strategy88 for about a minute before I exchanged it due to reliability issues.
This amp (SL900) sounds a lot like the Strategy with the same ease of dialing in the mids and greater portability.
Really digging this amp.

View attachment 3131443

What Berg cab is that and how do the two like each other? Just picked up a SL 900 and was thinking about pairing it with a Berg 212. Thanks

 

[Mastermold]

What Berg cab is that and how do the two like each other? Just picked up a SL 900 and was thinking about pairing it with a Berg 212. Thanks

I use mine with an Ampeg 212 and it's great. The Berg would be too I'm sure. Great amp!

 

[BassPilot]

I use mine with an HDN210, a CN112 or both. The HDN-210 is a fantastic cab and my favorite/first choice. Paired with the CN112 they are magic as they compliment each other across the spectrum we play in.
I also have an AE410 but haven't had a chance to gig that with the SL900 yet (the 210/112 fits the bill for me ever time so far).
I think a SL900 would sound fantastic with Berg 212 as well.
One thing I've found a great addition to the SL900 is a HPF (high pass filter). I have the Broughton HPF/LPF and it's a great unit - the only "pedal" I use. I don't leave home without it (except in this picture).

 

[rigorous bass]

I use mine with an Ampeg 212 and it's great. The Berg would be too I'm sure. Great amp!

Good to know! I’ve always wondered about the Ampeg 212. Thanks

 

[rigorous bass]

I use mine with an HDN210, a CN112 or both. The HDN-210 is a fantastic cab and my favorite/first choice. Paired with the CN112 they are magic as they compliment each other across the spectrum we play in.
I also have an AE410 but haven't had a chance to gig that with the SL900 yet (the 210/112 fits the bill for me ever time so far).
I think a SL900 would sound fantastic with Berg 212 as well.
One thing I've found a great addition to the SL900 is a HPF (high pass filter). I have the Broughton HPF/LPF and it's a great unit - the only "pedal" I use. I don't leave home without it (except in this picture).

View attachment 3440545

Killer looking rig! I also use a LB 100. So seeing your post really excites me and gives me good expectations! Thanks for your post!

 

[BassPilot]

Killer looking rig! I also use a LB 100. So seeing your post really excites me and gives me good expectations! Thanks for your post!

Yeah, this is kinda the trifecta:

1. The LB-100 is the only bass I play anymore besides my G&L JB. The LB-100 is just so freaking great - I always compare any other bass I play to it and they never make muster!
2. The SL900. Wow, just Wow. This is what an amp should be.
3. The Berg HDN-210 is, well, see my post above. Plug the Streamliner into it and turn it up. You'll know exactly what I'm talking about. And add a CN112 or HDN112 and BOOM!

Enjoy your new rig!

Dave

 

[InnerBass]

What Berg cab is that and how do the two like each other? Just picked up a SL 900 and was thinking about pairing it with a Berg 212. Thanks

Sorry - just saw this.
It’s an HD210 and I liked it so much I got another. There’s something about the combo of ceramic and birch that I really dig. They’re ported cabs but not overly “woofy”.
But the SL also sounds great with sealed cabs too. An NV212 and a NV610 are what I chose for that “vintage-ish” vibe. I use the SL 900 and it’s a tone beast in a bag.

 

[hennessybass]

Well, after years away, I'm back. Got a great deal on a used, but great condition, STL 900 a couple months back.

I had a STL 600 WAY back in the day and remember some good gigs with it. At the time I was playing mostly tube amps and landed on a '77 Bassman 100 as my fav and main amp. I ended up trading off the STL600 for a TH350. I wanted something really small that could be a back up for the Bassman 100 out on the road, and the TH350 fit that bill at that time.
Later I started using a TH 500 for many years, alongside the Bassman 100. Some other amps too. But the Bassman was still my favorite tone (and FEEL), and I've always kind of been chasing that, but smaller box, DI, 4/8ohm capable, and more headroom / volume.

I have to say, after quite a bit of practice, and a lot of time spend dialing knobs, I have to say that I am really impressed with the STL. What an amp. Great feel and response.

Using a 60's jazz with flats, and I feel I've got more play in my pickup blending with the STL than I've ever had before. Some amps can kind of choke off your tone. The pick up is kind of on or off and thats all you get. Better amps allow some blending, like turning one volume pot down 1/4 can give you a very distinct different tone. But past that, not much change. With the STL, I am hearing some vey distinct tone changes throughout much more of the volume pot.

So much on this thread about cutting bass, but @hasbeen had a setting called the "fat J tone" or something like that where the bass and the mid @ 220 were all the way up. I tried that, and it was a great tone. I know the amp was not designed to only cut bass, so after playing with boosting the bass, I settled on this setting and love it.

Gain button: Out
Gain: 10
Vol: 1
Bass: 1:30
Mid: 2-3 @ 2.5
Treble: 9

Nice. I was able to crank up the treble to 12 for one or two songs and get that supper glassy top end.

Super happy with the STL900 so far.

 

[Wicked G]

Well, after years away, I'm back. Got a great deal on a used, but great condition, STL 900 a couple months back.

I had a STL 600 WAY back in the day and remember some good gigs with it. At the time I was playing mostly tube amps and landed on a '77 Bassman 100 as my fav and main amp. I ended up trading off the STL600 for a TH350. I wanted something really small that could be a back up for the Bassman 100 out on the road, and the TH350 fit that bill at that time.
Later I started using a TH 500 for many years, alongside the Bassman 100. Some other amps too. But the Bassman was still my favorite tone (and FEEL), and I've always kind of been chasing that, but smaller box, DI, 4/8ohm capable, and more headroom / volume.

I have to say, after quite a bit of practice, and a lot of time spend dialing knobs, I have to say that I am really impressed with the STL. What an amp. Great feel and response.

Using a 60's jazz with flats, and I feel I've got more play in my pickup blending with the STL than I've ever had before. Some amps can kind of choke off your tone. The pick up is kind of on or off and thats all you get. Better amps allow some blending, like turning one volume pot down 1/4 can give you a very distinct different tone. But past that, not much change. With the STL, I am hearing some vey distinct tone changes throughout much more of the volume pot.

So much on this thread about cutting bass, but @hasbeen had a setting called the "fat J tone" or something like that where the bass and the mid @ 220 were all the way up. I tried that, and it was a great tone. I know the amp was not designed to only cut bass, so after playing with boosting the bass, I settled on this setting and love it.

Gain button: Out
Gain: 10
Vol: 1
Bass: 1:30
Mid: 2-3 @ 2.5
Treble: 9

Nice. I was able to crank up the treble to 12 for one or two songs and get that supper glassy top end.

Super happy with the STL900 so far.

Congratulations on a very nice amp. I also tried those settings when I first saw it and while it sounded really good at home, it was mud city with my band. Of course it all depends on the band, bass, cab, etc. No one can ever say that a Streamliner lacks in low end, that's for sure.

 

[hennessybass]

Congratulations on a very nice amp. I also tried those settings when I first saw it and while it sounded really good at home, it was mud city with my band. Of course it all depends on the band, bass, cab, etc. No one can ever say that a Streamliner lacks in low end, that's for sure.

Ture. No lack of low end. IME, most tube amps have a pretty big low end, and the STL as a "tube style" amp pretty much matches that experience. The low end is nice and controlled though. (Some HPF action going on?).

Seems a little like one of those tube amps where you can crank the EQ, and lower the gain to make up for it. Seem like many users tend to crank the gain and cut the eq. I've found some nice tones doing the opposite.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Just got a Streamliner 900 today. All I can say is holy , this thing sounds awesome. I was a bit worried due to previous posts saying it was not a good fit with the Epifani UL410 cabs. They were wrong. It sounds amazing through my UL410. Tons of low end and amazing mids. I was an Eden guy, but this is like an Eden with a fatter and punchier tone. I'm looking forward to playing with the controls to see what all it is capable of. Hopefully this thread stays alive. Learned a lot from it.

 

[InnerBass]

These amps rule - my fave class D by far.

 

[hennessybass]

Just got a Streamliner 900 today. All I can say is holy , this thing sounds awesome. I was a bit worried due to previous posts saying it was not a good fit with the Epifani UL410 cabs. They were wrong. It sounds amazing through my UL410. Tons of low end and amazing mids. I was an Eden guy, but this is like an Eden with a fatter and punchier tone. I'm looking forward to playing with the controls to see what all it is capable of. Hopefully this thread stays alive. Learned a lot from it.

Nice & Congrats on you new amp.
I'm loving mine.
This thread is great... but like over 10K posts with all the parts.
Another cool thread... Genz Streamliner 600/900 tone control primer
Pretty much, dial the knobs till it sounds good, and don't be scared to turn the knobs way up or way down... hard to make it sound bad.

These amps rule - my fave class D by far.

I agree. It's a standout in the Class D group.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Nice & Congrats on you new amp.
I'm loving mine.
This thread is great... but like over 10K posts with all the parts.
Another cool thread... Genz Streamliner 600/900 tone control primer
Pretty much, dial the knobs till it sounds good, and don't be scared to turn the knobs way up or way down... hard to make it sound bad.


I agree. It's a standout in the Class D group.

Yep, been reading that thread and the tube rolling thread for the SL. Both are very informative. Need to get some time to play around with the EQ. So far I'm liking the gain switch in, gain at 3, bass at 12, mids at 3 at 220 and treble at 12. Cab tweeter at 50%. Warm and punchy. I am not a fan of distortion and was surprised how clean it still is at these settings. Maybe a tiny bit of growl. It will be interesting to see where my settings end up. Traded 2 killer amps (GB Neopak & Eden WT300) for this and it looks like it was well worth it.

 

[BassPilot]

Yep, been reading that thread and the tube rolling thread for the SL. Both are very informative. Need to get some time to play around with the EQ. So far I'm liking the gain switch in, gain at 3, bass at 12, mids at 3 at 220 and treble at 12. Cab tweeter at 50%. Warm and punchy. I am not a fan of distortion and was surprised how clean it still is at these settings. Maybe a tiny bit of growl. It will be interesting to see where my settings end up. Traded 2 killer amps (GB Neopak & Eden WT300) for this and it looks like it was well worth it.

Cool - so many tonal options on this amp!
Play with Gain/Volume/Master combinations - they open up a ton of sonic options. The makeup volume from the Volume knob is really powerful!
Another thing you may want to add is a HPF to your chain. The SL900 can be really big on the bottom and you can keep that big bottom while chopping it off at the heel (not the soul, brother) with a HPF.
Have fun exploring!!!

 

[Thumpin6string]

Cool - so many tonal options on this amp!
Play with Gain/Volume/Master combinations - they open up a ton of sonic options. The makeup volume from the Volume knob is really powerful!
Another thing you may want to add is a HPF to your chain. The SL900 can be really big on the bottom and you can keep that big bottom while chopping it off at the heel (not the soul, brother) with a HPF.
Have fun exploring!!!

Yep, I run an Fdeck HPF3, so got that covered. I want to also see how this amp handles my Markbass Compressore. Hopefully not too many tubes.

 

[Thumpin6string]

So I have been playing with this head for a few days. I have a question for my fellow Streamliner users. Does this head have a tendency to run warm. I was practicing with it using headphones for about an hour and when I went to turn it off, the fans were running and it was pretty warm to the touch. My previous amps (Eden WT300 and Genz Neopak) took some major pounding to get warm, but they didn't have 3 tubes. So is this normal?