Genz Benz Streamliner; Part 4

[KJung]

FWIW, I would never sign off on an amp tha was scooped. We worked hard to soften some high mids that could lead to "gank". We also worked hard on the highs to make them "pleasing". Rest assured though, that there is plenty of mid content in the amp. Plus, there are mid controls.

+1 That is what I'm hearing... more of a smooth upper mid thing versus any lack of 'real midrange'. And, as with most well designed EQ circuits, a touch of reduction of the bass control results in the perception of low mid punch to really peak. REALLY impressive EQ circuit... the definition of 'usable and musical'.

 

[hasbeen]

Just when I thought I was in....hearing that it sounds like the Orange makes me think "no way this thing has enough top end extension for me."

KJ's clips seem pretty contradictory to the Orange tone; to me.

No disrespect to the poster...or, to my esteemed competitors, but the Streamliner "should be" on the opposite end of the spectrum to the Orange.

 

[JxBass]

We did a brief A/B with the Streamliner and my Puma500. In clean mode, the Streamliner and Puma are MUCH more similar than the Streamliner and Shuttle 9. The Puma amps are unusually round and creamy for all solid state amps. However, that Puma low end is SO much bigger than the Streamliner, and IMO, not in a good way. It is that hi pass filtering that the Genz boys use. The Puma extends so low that it feels like you are going to blow the drivers out of the front of the cab (beautiful at lower volumes though). The Streamliner feels super fat and deep, but the low end extension stops prior to causing a problem.

I lusted after a Puma for some time but held off because of its cost and potential cross-continent service issues. I'm glad I did; the Streamliner achieves the tone goals I was searching for at a lower cost and with unquestionable serviceability and support.

 

[KJung]

I lusted after a Puma for some time but held off because of its cost and potential cross-continent service issues. I'm glad I did; the Streamliner achieves the tone goals I was searching for at a lower cost and with unquestionable serviceability and support.

While not sounding absolutely identical, those who like the tone of the Puma (that super fat low end, smooth mids with very little distortion, and crystal clear by not overly sizzly top end) will IMO LOVE the Streamliner run clean. Good call! I'm keeping my Puma (it is a 'special' head, and for some contexts, it is simply amazing), but I surely wouldn't recommend someone in the US to buy one at this point (I think they sell for $1,400 now!).

I think the fans of the older Epi heads would like the Streamliner quite a bit, although I feel the Streamliner sounds much better. However, it does, again, have that big, round, warm low end like the Epi502 (although the mid control of the Streamliner is much better).

 

[lomo]

Nothing for me to add here, other than a sincere hats off to GB. This is a wonderful product in all respects, in spite of the Kool-Aid y'all seem to be drinkin'

 

[Saluki]

Plus, there are mid controls.

This made me . Guitar player that I play with just bought a Nuno model washburn and it has one knob. I know GB is looking for areas where the holes in the market, so when are you coming out with the bass amp that has a power switch and a volume knob? If you can get rid of the on/off so it just comes on when you plug in, it may help some who don't like to adjust anything. Oh and just make sure the volume label goes to 11.

 

[hasbeen]

While not sounding absolutely identical, those who like the tone of the Puma (that super fat low end, smooth mids with very little distortion, and crystal clear by not overly sizzly top end) will IMO LOVE the Streamliner run clean. Good call! I'm keeping my Puma (it is a 'special' head, and for some contexts, it is simply amazing), but I surely wouldn't recommend someone in the US to buy one at this point (I think they sell for $1,400 now!).

I think the fans of the older Epi heads would like the Streamliner quite a bit, although I feel the Streamliner sounds much better. However, it does, again, have that big, round, warm low end like the Epi502 (although the mid control of the Streamliner is much better).

I've really liked the 502....probably even posted to that fact here before. It is a very "sweet" sounding amp.

 

[hasbeen]

This made me . Guitar player that I play with just bought a Nuno model washburn and it has one knob. I know GB is looking for areas where the holes in the market, so when are you coming out with the bass amp that has a power switch and a volume knob? If you can get rid of the on/off so it just comes on when you plug in, it may help some who don't like to adjust anything. Oh and just make sure the volume label goes to 11.

All joking aside, the amp market is very tough these days. Many players want to hear "their" sound with everything straight up. Obviously, we can't accomplish that. It does make us strive though, for the most intuitive and musical eq we can design. It's an ongoing and evolutionary process.

 

[KJung]

I've really liked the 502....probably even posted to that fact here before. It is a very "sweet" sounding amp.

+1 With the Streamliner running clean, I would put all three of those amps (502, Puma500, Streamliner) in what I call 'the same tone universe'... fat, big low end, clean mids without a lot of distortion (i.e., creamy and smooth), and a very 'sweet' clear top end. Of course, the Streamliner can be gritted up also, which is cool.

I put the Glock HeartRock/Soul into that 'tone universe' also.

 

[KsPiNeSh]

FWIW, I would never sign off on an amp tha was scooped. We worked hard to soften some high mids that could lead to "gank". We also worked hard on the highs to make them "pleasing". Rest assured though, that there is plenty of mid content in the amp. Plus, there are mid controls.

As someone that may have contributed to the "scooped" term being used, I will agree with this completely. I am one who likes prominent mids, and after playing Warwicks and my 1200 for years "softened" to me might feel as drastic as "scooped" to others. There is no shortage of mid-frequency response in this amp. Softened or not, between the gain structure and the mid knob I can bring everything right where I want it with minimal fuss, and the mid frequencies are very well selected to offer some distinct sounds. Fantastic execution of an active-type EQ in a, to my ear, more "traditionally-voiced" amp.

 

[MikeBass]

+1 Just a very, very slight roll off of the low end (11 o'clock at the most), and a similar slight bump of the mids at 200hz and the AE212 should just sing.

The EQ on this amp is fabulous... again, much more musically voiced for me than the Shuttle 9. This became clear when Mike and I were A/Bing three VERY different cabs:

Berg AE410... tight but full low end, very aggressive upper mids....

Bag End 15x (the little cube).... low end attenuated and LOTS of mid mids, sweet top end

Thunderchild 112... deep low end, extremely flat and even top end.

While all the cabs obviously sounded like what they sound like, Mike and I (who enjoy a similar tone with our J's) could get each cab to work wonderfully with just slight EQ changes:

AE410... flat other than a moderate cut at 2K using the mid control

Bag End..... cut at 600hz (to remove the nasal mids) and a very slight low end boost.

Thunderchild.... slight low end cut, slight boost at 2K

Really powerful and musical EQ. Again, to my ear, much more powerful and useful EQ than the Shuttle 9, and significantly more clean low end and absolute volume. VERY impressive head.

I will say out of the three cabs the AE410 was the standout with the SL900 (with the Sadowsky).

The Thunderchild, as it did sound good, it almost was "too much of a good thing" to me. A few gigs would tell really. But at least with the SL900, it was too extended in the low end.
I don't recall plugging my Shuttle in to it, so that may be a totally great combo with an amp that doesn't have the type of lows the SL900 has.

Not sure, maybe I missed it, but question for Roger...what are you thinking in a Genz cab with the SL heads? what would be your preferred cab with one?

 

[hasbeen]

I will say out of the three cabs the AE410 was the standout with the SL900 (with the Sadowsky).

The Thunderchild, as it did sound good, it almost was "too much of a good thing" to me. A few gigs would tell really. But at least with the SL900, it was too extended in the low end.
I don't recall plugging my Shuttle in to it, so that may be a totally great combo with an amp that doesn't have the type of lows the SL900 has.

Not sure, maybe I missed it, but question for Roger...what are you thinking in a Genz cab with the SL heads? what would be your preferred cab with one?

That's a tough one. On a personal level, I'm very much a 4x10 player. I love the way they sit in the mix and how punchy they are. I like tight, tight, fast response and don't want a pillow below my tone.

Having said that, I heard a guy at NAMM that tested our Streamliner. He had a P bass and had boosted the upper mids on the amp, dialed in some tube grit and started doing the John Entwhistle thing like nobody's business.

I immediately unplugged the amp from the Uber Quad and plugged it into and Uber 8x10 with the tweeter rolled all the way off.

The bassist looked at me and smiled. He was definetly looking for the Lemmy, John, Cliff Burton thing.

In the end, we didn't really want this amp to be a "one cab" amp. .....I think that's my point.

 

[chris lykins]

+1 in that the HT322 (I had the modular version) is a bit of a scooped cab, and the yin yang of the Streamliner (also, as you say, smooth in the mids, deep down low, and nice and pure and airy up top) flat would not be a good thing. A slight roll-off of the low end and a bit of a boost at 200 should sound pretty nice with that cab.

I always found the HT322 quite fussy with head match-ups, and enjoyed the tighter voicing of my MB F1 or my Walter Woods with that cab.

And yes, the match-up with the AE410 is one of the best match-ups I've ever heard... perfect yin yang of a tight, bright, punchy cab, and a fat, warm, smooth head!

Thanks for the advice on the HT322. And I may have overstepped my bounds on the orange comment as I only played on one once at low volume with my Roscoe. But the main thing was I really liked it and almost bought one but was steered away by reports of the Oranges low headroom. Still getting used to the gain, volume, and master interactions. And for a reference, my favorite head up to this point is my Mesa titan. Its just a bit much to hall to jam sessions, its more a leave at rehearsals and take to the gig weightform.

 

[ko stradivarius]

STM 900 in the house today!!
Tried headphones today- would agree mids are polite. Nice defined top end. Can't wait to crank her up(a little!) through my GB NeoXT212 tomorrow.
well built. easy to dial in - all controls make sense.

I'm curious to read what you're thoughts are of this head and cab.

KsPiNeSh, or anyone else that's used/has the SL900 with the neoX 212T, can you comment on the two? Maybe I missed a review in a previous thread.
I just sold my GBE1200 to pay for a SL900.

 

[MikeBass]

That's a tough one. On a personal level, I'm very much a 4x10 player. I love the way they sit in the mix and how punchy they are. I like tight, tight, fast response and don't want a pillow below my tone.

Having said that, I heard a guy at NAMM that tested our Streamliner. He had a P bass and had boosted the upper mids on the amp, dialed in some tube grit and started doing the John Entwhistle thing like nobody's business.

I immediately unplugged the amp from the Uber Quad and plugged it into and Uber 8x10 with the tweeter rolled all the way off.

The bassist looked at me and smiled. He was definetly looking for the Lemmy, John, Cliff Burton thing.

In the end, we didn't really want this amp to be a "one cab" amp. .....I think that's my point.

I kinda figured that was the case. But thought I would ask anyway!

As was evident by the extremely different cabs Ken and I ran it through, and it sounded great with any of them.

 

[Chef]

Did you play it thru the AE212?

 

[Musicman20]

Righty! Order is being made today. I have sold my LM3 and luckily its Birthday time so family have put the rest towards

Im hoping that in 6 months time, once my finances balance out, ill be after an Uber 212/410 or Neo x 212T.

We shall see

For now, the SL900 will be used with either Orange cabs, Aguilar DB212, or TC RS cabs.

 

[MikeBass]

Did you play it thru the AE212?

No, Ken just had his AE410. I think he said his 212 in in St. Louis.
The 410 did sound wonderful!

 

[Saluki]

No, Ken just had his AE410. I think he said his 212 in in St. Louis.
The 410 did sound wonderful!

As it always does!

 

[adivin]

I bet this thing kills with a NV610 or NV412. Just when I try and get out, they pull me back in.