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Genz Benz Streamliner Part 3!!!!

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#663
It has oomph in spades. In fact, I've struggled a bit with all that oomph. I think I've somewhat figured it out though. This amp certainly cannot be all things to all people - no amp or product can be. But I think it totally nails what it was trying accomplish. As for the oomph, a couple of things that I've noticed:

cab location matters - while this is the case with all heads, with the S900 it has so much oomph if you're in a corner it can be too massive for my taste.

don't be afraid of the bass control - if you're used to an amp with active/sensitive tone controls, you might not twiddle the knobs enough to get the desired effect. I have ended up rolling off more bass than I would have thought, down to around 9-10:00 depending on the instrument (eg Rob Allen).

don't be afraid to mess with the gain - the combination of the gain knob, gain switch, volume, and master give you a lot of oomph fine tuning. It isn't only about overdrive but also oomph and character that changes. Also the touch sensitivity changes with as well.

This reminds me of my old guitar days when I picked up a Bogner. At first I was on the fence about the tone. Then I finally got hip to the fact that a good tube amp is an instrument, not just a volume knob. It needs to be worked with. One thing that all the years of SS amps have done is give bass players "instant gratification" with tone - you dial up and setting and pretty much no matter how you play you get that sound. I find tubes to be more reactive to the playing input, so they take more attention to work the sound.

Well, except that of course tubes are all snake oil and modeling rules :D






yeah, like i believe that....
 
#670
nostatic said:
It has oomph in spades. In fact, I've struggled a bit with all that oomph. I think I've somewhat figured it out though. This amp certainly cannot be all things to all people - no amp or product can be. But I think it totally nails what it was trying accomplish. As for the oomph, a couple of things that I've noticed:

cab location matters - while this is the case with all heads, with the S900 it has so much oomph if you're in a corner it can be too massive for my taste.

don't be afraid of the bass control - if you're used to an amp with active/sensitive tone controls, you might not twiddle the knobs enough to get the desired effect. I have ended up rolling off more bass than I would have thought, down to around 9-10:00 depending on the instrument (eg Rob Allen).

don't be afraid to mess with the gain - the combination of the gain knob, gain switch, volume, and master give you a lot of oomph fine tuning. It isn't only about overdrive but also oomph and character that changes. Also the touch sensitivity changes with as well.

This reminds me of my old guitar days when I picked up a Bogner. At first I was on the fence about the tone. Then I finally got hip to the fact that a good tube amp is an instrument, not just a volume knob. It needs to be worked with. One thing that all the years of SS amps have done is give bass players "instant gratification" with tone - you dial up and setting and pretty much no matter how you play you get that sound. I find tubes to be more reactive to the playing input, so they take more attention to work the sound.

Well, except that of course tubes are all snake oil and modeling rules :D






yeah, like i believe that....
Click to expand...

Great post! :D
 
#672
So, those of you with them, can they get that super clean tube sound? I'm so not into grindy/dirty tube stuff from the amp.
I haven't read through all the posts as of late so I may have missed something.
 
#673
MikeBass said:
So, those of you with them, can they get that super clean tube sound? I'm so not into grindy/dirty tube stuff from the amp.
I haven't read through all the posts as of late so I may have missed something.
Click to expand...

Hey Mike. Clean tone is off the hook with the Streamliner. Without the 'boost' engaged, there is a WIDE range of totally clean to 'moderately tube warm' tones with this amp. Plenty of room in the gain structure to keep the front end clean, even with very hot output basses and/or strong technique. Very impressive, and the best 'tube top end' tone (i.e., that sweet treble response) of any hybrid I've experienced. Quite a few clips of the 'clean to moderately pushed' tone of this head with a P Bass on my Youtube channel).

For context, I am one who didn't hear a lot of 'tubiness' in the Shuttle amps, at least not the kind of tubiness that most 'tube amp guys' are looking for. The Streamliner is a TOTALLY different deal from the Shuttles (in a good way for me).

Whether the amp performs at the '900 watt' level in an absolute sense is kind of a moot point. PLENTY of volume and power for almost any setting IMO, and at the high end of absolute volume compared to other micro's. No issue there, although IMO there would be very little reason to get a 600 unless you know you were going to always play at low volumes, or were really on a budget. Plenty of control of the absolute volume with the very smooth master volume control (nice 'audio taper' type design.... not jumpy at all like many other amps).

The gain control is the most powerful 'tone control' on this amp, as it should be given the design goal, and similar to a 'real' tube amp.
 
#674
Hey Ken, PM me if you get a chance. or email. I wanted to ask about comparative low end punch and slam of the SL900 in your recollection versus a Mesa M6/M9 type of punch. As you know, I've been using an LMII/AE410 rig for a couple years. Always happy ..until I heard the Mesa M6 punch and slam the crap out of the LMII (IMO) The LMII sounded kind of congested and nasal and creamy in contrast ...not a terrible thing. But the M6 blew me away as I've said in this thread and others. But the SL900 size/weight/features are compelling and very interesting to me!

PS: Yes, I am aware of the thread comparing the M9 to SL900 etc. Just wanted your take on it. Thx!

KJung said:
Hey Mike. Clean tone is off the hook with the Streamliner. Without the 'boost' engaged, there is a WIDE range of totally clean to 'moderately tube warm' tones with this amp. Plenty of room in the gain structure to keep the front end clean, even with very hot output basses and/or strong technique. Very impressive, and the best 'tube top end' tone (i.e., that sweet treble response) of any hybrid I've experienced. Quite a few clips of the 'clean to moderately pushed' tone of this head with a P Bass on my Youtube channel).

Whether the amp performs at the '900 watt' level in an absolute sense is kind of a moot point. PLENTY of volume and power for almost any setting IMO, and at the high end of absolute volume compared to other micro's. No issue there, although IMO there would be very little reason to get a 600 unless you know you were going to always play at low volumes, or were really on a budget. Plenty of control of the absolute volume with the very smooth master volume control (nice 'audio taper' type design.... not jumpy at all like many other amps).

The gain control is the most powerful 'tone control' on this amp, as it should be given the design goal, and similar to a 'real' tube amp.
Click to expand...
 
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