Characterizing my statements as "generalizations" is probably saying that some players need more capabilities than the majority. I know that is the case. You should also know that most players here on TB usually follow the lead of the most outspoken ones here on Talkbass- people like Tom Bowlus, Ken Jung, Greenboy, and others - and the most outspoken ones do not necessarily represent the majority, as far as real-world needs.
When I see fit, I can be equally outspoken, although I won't attract a similar cult of personality. I feel it's okay to ask if 600 watts will work, vs. 900 watts. That's a very fair question, and dang, it's a pretty trivial question at that. Not everyone just says, $150- no problem, heck yes, I want the additional 300 watts.
However, you know- $150 is $150! If you can afford it, or if you choose to spend it, that's your business, but not everyone is in that position these days. But there are a lot of seriously bigger issues out there.
I speak from my own experience, from that of dozens of other bassists of my category whom I personally know, and from what I have been reading here on Talkbass since 2004 when I first joined. I have a Shuttle 9.0. I bought it because I thought, because of reading stuff here on Talkbass, that I wanted more power than the Shuttle 6.0 had. I wanted it, but as it turned out, I did not need it. That is always the difference we all have to keep in mind. If you just want more power, and you can afford it, then heck yes, buy it. Buy anything you want. Buy a $6000+ bass if you want. That's not the same as needing gear that costs that much, which is the point. Most of us can get by with much less expensive gear. Point hopefully made, it has been discussed here on TB countless times as of the present.
If and when I buy a Streamliner, whether it's a 600 or a 900, I'm sure it will also be a fabulous amp. Roger, Jeff, and Andy are all guys who know their stuff and they stand behind their products. They are constantly trying to build something better. But at some point, how much better does a working stiff, poor bass player need? Most of us cannot keep on with the 1-2 year iterations of product innovations that Genz is doing. I've done it since 2006. I don't want to keep turning over my Genz amp at a loss every year to keep up with these iterative innovations. If a lot of TB'ers want to do it, then great. It's just hard on people who want to invest money on something stable. If you buy a Streamliner now, and it will be old-hat technology in 2 years- then that is actually a disincentive in the longer-term to buy it.
I love Genz-Benz amps, but the company is positioning themselves that they cannot stay in business unless they can keep churning the amp market and convincing us that we have to have their latest products. Somebody tell me that the majority of us guys who aren't making a living off playing music could not gig the Neo-Pak 3.5. That was, and is, a wonderful product which would work for a lot of bass players with the gigs we have. I would have to say that discontinued amp would work for probably 90% of us out here. I could still do any gig I'm doing now with that amp.
This is affluent America. Genz was not making crap in 2007. They aren't making crap now. They make damn good amps, and I'll be the first to say so.
We have to always look at what is good enough for the masses, versus what do the the affluent bass players - who either have top gigs that 90% of us don't have, or who are wealthy outside of playing music, or players who don't have the money buy gear on credit- buy when they have to have something new. This is an actual issue for all us bass players who aren't wealthy enough to stay on top of the ongoing product churn.
Now, to take the opposite tack (I've edited this post about 10 times already!) I can also see that Genz is, inadvertently or otherwise, making it possible for a lot of players to buy and play used premium-quality amps for low dough. These are all terrific amplifiers, and if a kid in high school can afford a Neo-Pak for say, $200, then hey, the curve is making possible for players at all levels to play Genz-quality amplifiers. How could any of us argue with that?
I love Genz-Benz amps. Did I say that already? Yep, I did. They are very progressive in terms of innovation, and there is a trade-off with that as far as market stability with their past products. I like that they are doing what they are doing- compare it to what SWR has done in the same time frame.
However, kids- fellow Talkbass readers and Genz-Benz employees here - there is a price to be paid either way. Consider.
This isn't all bad. So I'm sorry if I'm raining on the Streamliner parade with some "generalizations". I'm just not sure about keeping up with the GB Joneses at present.
Spring will be here soon!
When I see fit, I can be equally outspoken, although I won't attract a similar cult of personality. I feel it's okay to ask if 600 watts will work, vs. 900 watts. That's a very fair question, and dang, it's a pretty trivial question at that. Not everyone just says, $150- no problem, heck yes, I want the additional 300 watts.
However, you know- $150 is $150! If you can afford it, or if you choose to spend it, that's your business, but not everyone is in that position these days. But there are a lot of seriously bigger issues out there.
I speak from my own experience, from that of dozens of other bassists of my category whom I personally know, and from what I have been reading here on Talkbass since 2004 when I first joined. I have a Shuttle 9.0. I bought it because I thought, because of reading stuff here on Talkbass, that I wanted more power than the Shuttle 6.0 had. I wanted it, but as it turned out, I did not need it. That is always the difference we all have to keep in mind. If you just want more power, and you can afford it, then heck yes, buy it. Buy anything you want. Buy a $6000+ bass if you want. That's not the same as needing gear that costs that much, which is the point. Most of us can get by with much less expensive gear. Point hopefully made, it has been discussed here on TB countless times as of the present.
If and when I buy a Streamliner, whether it's a 600 or a 900, I'm sure it will also be a fabulous amp. Roger, Jeff, and Andy are all guys who know their stuff and they stand behind their products. They are constantly trying to build something better. But at some point, how much better does a working stiff, poor bass player need? Most of us cannot keep on with the 1-2 year iterations of product innovations that Genz is doing. I've done it since 2006. I don't want to keep turning over my Genz amp at a loss every year to keep up with these iterative innovations. If a lot of TB'ers want to do it, then great. It's just hard on people who want to invest money on something stable. If you buy a Streamliner now, and it will be old-hat technology in 2 years- then that is actually a disincentive in the longer-term to buy it.
I love Genz-Benz amps, but the company is positioning themselves that they cannot stay in business unless they can keep churning the amp market and convincing us that we have to have their latest products. Somebody tell me that the majority of us guys who aren't making a living off playing music could not gig the Neo-Pak 3.5. That was, and is, a wonderful product which would work for a lot of bass players with the gigs we have. I would have to say that discontinued amp would work for probably 90% of us out here. I could still do any gig I'm doing now with that amp.
This is affluent America. Genz was not making crap in 2007. They aren't making crap now. They make damn good amps, and I'll be the first to say so.
We have to always look at what is good enough for the masses, versus what do the the affluent bass players - who either have top gigs that 90% of us don't have, or who are wealthy outside of playing music, or players who don't have the money buy gear on credit- buy when they have to have something new. This is an actual issue for all us bass players who aren't wealthy enough to stay on top of the ongoing product churn.
Now, to take the opposite tack (I've edited this post about 10 times already!) I can also see that Genz is, inadvertently or otherwise, making it possible for a lot of players to buy and play used premium-quality amps for low dough. These are all terrific amplifiers, and if a kid in high school can afford a Neo-Pak for say, $200, then hey, the curve is making possible for players at all levels to play Genz-quality amplifiers. How could any of us argue with that?
I love Genz-Benz amps. Did I say that already? Yep, I did. They are very progressive in terms of innovation, and there is a trade-off with that as far as market stability with their past products. I like that they are doing what they are doing- compare it to what SWR has done in the same time frame.
However, kids- fellow Talkbass readers and Genz-Benz employees here - there is a price to be paid either way. Consider.
This isn't all bad. So I'm sorry if I'm raining on the Streamliner parade with some "generalizations". I'm just not sure about keeping up with the GB Joneses at present.
Spring will be here soon!
...Just a matter of how you look at it. I personally believe 500W @8ohms is the right amount of headroom ...even at lower volumes. (for my needs and tonal goals)
