Genz Benz Streamliner Part 3!!!!

[aproud1]

To be fair to Genz, I don't think they have done much on the marketing front to whip us up into a frenzy. They've done virtually nothing when you compare it to the likes of TC's recent campaigns, for example.

I think the difference between Genz and GK is that Genz have a proven track record in micro amp design, and people find the idea of a tubey Shuttle quite exciting.

They don't need to do so much marketing with their presence here on Talkbass. They have a direct link with a fair chunk of the market. Not everybody but a lot who love gear.

I think it's great they make better and better products. I'd love to Buy a streamliner. Problem is they just made my GBE600 too great to move on. That is until I have an extra $1k

 

[wateroftyne]

In all fairness, I think it is worth noting that GK was using the "MicroBass" moniker over 25 years ago with their MB150 combos. These certainly have a proven track record.

Cheers, Tom - I should have been more specific and said GB have more experience building amps that use these power modules, and the relevant technology.

 

[tombowlus]

Cheers, Tom - I should have been more specific and said GB have more experience building amps that use these power modules, and the relevant technology.

Point well taken.

 

[hasbeen]

Hi Michael et. al.-
Just a few points:
- we are such a small company with a very small promotional budget. We don't have the resources to create a market. We really don't even have the resources to create "brand pull" via marketing. We can affect brand awareness.
- with that being said, my job is to make sure we are building the right product, at the right time and for the right price.
- this is accomplished by listening to our customers and more importantly, to people that AREN'T our customers. I'll often PM people here that don't like our stuff.
- this is also accomplished by finding a whole in the market that we and/or other's aren't addressing.
- we feel we had very viable product to compete with the "modern" amps in the market. I didn't feel we had an amp for those that desired a more "organic/classic" amp.
- I believe that amps are VERY application specific. So, what will work for one person in one situation, won't necessarily work for another.
- With all that being said, if we don't take care of our customer and address market needs/desire etc., somebody else will.
- We hope that people will be playing their Shuttles for years to come....it is staying in the line. I hope those that didn't care for a Shuttle will give the Streamliner a spin.

Lastly, I gig with the following amps:
* Shuttle 9.0 (in a Shuttle 1x12 combo cab)
* NeoPak 3.5 with 500 watt mod
* GBE750
* Ampeg SVT "Blue Line"
* Sadowsky SA200.

 

[jlepre]

Lastly, I gig with the following amps:
* Shuttle 9.0 (in a Shuttle 1x12 combo cab)

I thought I remember you saying in another thread that using the the Shuttle combo cabs with the 9 was not recommended.

Please hit me over the head if you've already addressed this with me.

 

[hasbeen]

I thought I remember you saying in another thread that using the the Shuttle combo cabs with the 9 was not recommended.

Please hit me over the head if you've already addressed this with me.

I don't recommend it.

 

[Vic]

Some of us regularly play with multiple bands in a wide variety of locations/situations. Part of "being prepared" is having enough power and speaker to cover a sonic worst-case scenario. If 900w buys someone peace of mind then it can be worth it. Value has many different components. How these factors weigh on the final decision is up to the individual.

+1

'zactly.

For me...

The 900 would be worth the extra jack for this exact reason. I may only need the extra juice for a small minority of my gigs, but it's always there if so, so one amp can "do it all."

I think it boils down to this; If you live in a very well-defined gig world, and know for 100.00% sure you'll never ever need the extra power, sure, don't spend the extra money.

But... if you're like me, and you do a lot of set gigs as well as pick-up gigs, including multiple types of bands and styles of music, meaning there's a realistic possibility you might, I'd recommend going for it.

...'sides... you can be "300 cooler" than the SL600 folks...

 

[jlepre]

I don't recommend it.

Now I'm confused...

 

[FuzzBoxVoodoo]

He probobaly prefers the tone from the 9.0 and if anyone should know the limits of a paticular cab it would be him.
And im sure he gets a little bit of a break on his gear.

Now I'm confused...

 

[hasbeen]

He probobaly prefers the tone from the 9.0 and if anyone should know the limits of a paticular cab it would be him.
And im sure he gets a little bit of a break on his gear.

Spot on. Also, I have a 9.0 but I don't have a 6.0. A 6.0 would work fine.

 

[tombowlus]

Lastly, I gig with the following amps:
* Shuttle 9.0 (in a Shuttle 1x12 combo cab)

While I can see why this would not be "recommended," I, too, sometimes swap out the 6.0 head for the 9.0 in my Shuttle 1x12 combo (but at least I typically run the extension 1x12, as well!).

 

[LilRay]

I've been wanting to try a lightweight head/cab setup as I'm disabled and smaller lightweight stuff will allow me to be more physically and in turn spiritually independant.

The Streamliner seems to fit the idea of the tone profile I like, and that hasn't changed much in the 20+ years I've been "trying" to play bass. If I'm able to buy a Streamliner and 60 days from then Genz comes out with a superior product that sounds/performs better, that doesn't neccessarily mean I'm going to rush out and get one. And it DEFINATELY doesn't mean that the Streamliner losing the "it" status causes it to stop working.

I got my current rig for my 18th birthday, and I'll be 33 Saturday.

If I had the money today, I'd more than likely buy a Streamliner because it produces the sound I prefer, and it's got the weight(or lack of) that I'm looking for. Not because the Streamliner is the "it" amp of the day.

Some folks enjoy the trading of the "it" items as much as playing, but to imply that we have some sort of incessant need to do so insults peoples intelligence.

Having said that I hope Genz Benz keeps innovating, so that by the time my Nickels are saved I can buy the million watt SuperUperBootyMovin'Streamliner for the same price you guys are buying the SL 6/9's.



God Bless, Ray

 

[svtb15]

Well first let me say early Happy Birthday on saturday.
I will never part with my Shuttle 9.. it is the workhorse of amps.. just the perfect little machine..
But the Streamliner has that sound that i have heard in my head for a long time..
I am glad that Genz just didnt come out with only another mod to an already proven amp but instead veered into uncharted territory with the SL600 and 900..
We are good for at least a year till next NAMM... then who knows more goodies??

I have had my streamliner on 6 gigs since i got it , and it is a winner... I am using the cleaner sounds and it is a booty mover...

I've been wanting to try a lightweight head/cab setup as I'm disabled and smaller lightweight stuff will allow me to be more physically and in turn spiritually independant.

The Streamliner seems to fit the idea of the tone profile I like, and that hasn't changed much in the 20+ years I've been "trying" to play bass. If I'm able to buy a Streamliner and 60 days from then Genz comes out with a superior product that sounds/performs better, that doesn't neccessarily mean I'm going to rush out and get one. And it DEFINATELY doesn't mean that the Streamliner losing the "it" status causes it to stop working.

I got my current rig for my 18th birthday, and I'll be 33 Saturday.

If I had the money today, I'd more than likely buy a Streamliner because it produces the sound I prefer, and it's got the weight(or lack of) that I'm looking for. Not because the Streamliner is the "it" amp of the day.

Some folks enjoy the trading of the "it" items as much as playing, but to imply that we have some sort of incessant need to do so insults peoples intelligence.

Having said that I hope Genz Benz keeps innovating, so that by the time my Nickels are saved I can buy the million watt SuperUperBootyMovin'Streamliner for the same price you guys are buying the SL 6/9's.



God Bless, Ray

 

[SteveC]

I will never part with my Shuttle 9. it is the workhorse of amps. just the perfect little machine.

It sounds awesome with the QUAD. I wish I could afford.

 

[LilRay]

Well first let me say early Happy Birthday on saturday

Thanks Kirk!

I will never part with my Shuttle 9.. it is the workhorse of amps.. just the perfect little machine..
But the Streamliner has that sound that i have heard in my head for a long time..
I am glad that Genz just didnt come out with only another mod to an already proven amp but instead veered into uncharted territory with the SL600 and 900.....

Lotsa people I respect immensely are running the Shuttle 9. That's where my interest in Genz Benz was piqued.

But I too am glad to see the Streamliner line out. For me I think it will give me the best of both worlds. Modern ingenuity with old school warmth.

We are good for at least a year till next NAMM... then who knows more goodies??

I have had my streamliner on 6 gigs since i got it , and it is a winner... I am using the cleaner sounds and it is a booty mover...

I'm hearing lots of great things about the Quad cabinets too. I'm looking forward to hearing them in April at a GTG.

Keep on truckin, all you guys at Genz Benz. Things seem to be getting better and better each year.



God Bless, Ray

 

[svtb15]

It does sound awesome .. but i tell ya the SL900 is a monster.. and in a good way...
With the Quad , i find it takes EQ very nicely.. And that slight changes on the switchable mid control of the SL900 goes a long way.. and i think it gives me a better idea of what is really going on in the PA. when i have PA support , than guessing about what is going on out there..
Then again i never really care about what is going on in FOH.. its not my job..

It sounds awesome with the QUAD. I wish I could afford.

 

[Jared Lash]

My Streamliner 900 (from Rocket Music) arrived on Monday. I spent most of that night getting a feel for it and then off to band practice last night.

The initial verdict?

Fantastic clean tube tone with a great heft to each note and well chosen EQ points.

A boost at 220 Hz thickens things up nicely while a boost at 2.5K gives a bit more grind. The treble really does work like a passive tone rolloff. With my passive Valenti P5 with flats I leave it straight up at noon but with my Stambaugh (Nordy Fat Stacks with an Audere pre and Hi-Beams) I roll it off a bit to keep the vintage vibe.

Compared to the Walkabout that the Streamliner replaced I'd say the Streamliner is not as mids heavy which was expected but a big part of why the Walkabout worked well in a mix. And the WB has a more powerful EQ, both because of the semi-parametric mids and what seems like greater boost/cut. But the tradeoff is that the lows are big and fat and don't get compressed the way the Mesa did. It stays bigger and more open down low which is exactly what I wanted.

I have about the same opinion of the overdrive on the Streamliner as I did of the Walkabout which is basically "meh". It's buzzy and not at all akin to the real power amp grunt of a real tube amp. With both amps I like having just a touch of grit when I dig in hard but that's about it.

That said, just like the Walkabout, the Streamliner takes dirt pedals very well. Both the aggressive sound of my Darkglass B3K or the really tubey BJFE Blueberry sound great.

In short, I love this amp. It really does what I loved about the Walkabout (clean tube tone with weight behind each note) but with more power and more athoritative low end.

Now I just have to have patience for Don to have time to build my LDS 15/6.

 

[svtb15]

Im not a big distortion guy.. but try turning the tweeter off in your cab. that make the buzzy buzzy thing go away . then its sort of nice....
But im with ya on the clean. that is where i like it too..
Although im doing a gig that requires more tube grindy so that is where i am experimenting now.. its a new thing and im digging it..

 

[Chef]

Bigger low end than a Walkabout would be a lot...

 

[Jared Lash]

Im not a big distortion guy.. but try turning the tweeter off in your cab. that make the buzzy buzzy thing go away . then its sort of nice....
But im with ya on the clean. that is where i like it too..
Although im doing a gig that requires more tube grindy so that is where i am experimenting now.. its a new thing and im digging it..

I'm not a tweeter guy at all. I generally buy cabs without them or defeat them in cabs that do. It's just a matter of not digging that flavor of overdrive. Pushing a tube amp and getting the power tubes to really sweat is just a completely different sound. If anyone gets the chance try a BJFE Blueberry (or the new and far less expensive Mad Professor version) in front of the Streamliner vs the Streamliner's gain knob cranked up. Very different sound and I vastly prefer the former.

But again, that's for my tastes. I DO like just a bit of grit from the Streamliner, just not the full on overdrive.

Bigger low end than a Walkabout would be a lot...

I should be clear. The Walkabout - especially with the low frequency centered between 40-60 Hz and boosted significantly - can get massively bassy. Pretty much unusably so at extreme settings, much like basses I've owned with the Aguilar OBP-3 can. But those lows (to me at least) get boomy and compressed. The Streamliner has very full and open lows that come across far more forcefully and less mushy.

All IMO.