Genz Benz Streamliner; Part 4

[jerry]

GB's proposed solution: SMT600/900 bag

Last I heard was mid-February. I don't know if it has been released yet - they have bigger fish to fry at the moment... Maybe one of the GB guys will chime in on the production status of the GB bag.

I don't think the bag has been released yet, I'm still waiting for mine.

 

[svtb15]

If i pushed the SL900 amp.. It is quite possible that I could have blown up the ampeg 810e cab .
The SL900 is more than capable of driving a large cab.. I do it often since many of my gigs are fly dates at certain times of the year.. And the easiest cab to spec out and to get what you request is either an 810 or two ampeg 410s..
And the SL900 can drive them to their limit.. I used my Shuttle 9 for the same gigs with similar results.. Although the Streamliner has a larger bottom than the 9 to my ears.. and a silkier top end too..
Some 810 non tweet cabs seem dark at times so that is why i boosted the 2.5k to poke through.. and it does...
And as i do this over and over, I realize that alot of that clean ampeg SVT sound has to do with that cab design... The cab has alot to do with the SVT type tone..

How did the SL push the cab? No headroom issues? Running the SL through a big cab has been a huge question of mine.

 

[IntrepidCellist]

KJung, how does it sound with the Thunderchild? That's my cab these days due to public transportation, and I do like a bit of grit. I'm torn between one of these, an RH450, and the new Aguilar micro... unfortunately, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to get all three in the same room anytime soon

 

[KJung]

KJung, how does it sound with the Thunderchild? That's my cab these days due to public transportation, and I do like a bit of grit. I'm torn between one of these, an RH450, and the new Aguilar micro... unfortunately, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to get all three in the same room anytime soon

I personally didn't dig the RH450 with the Thunderchild (a bit too dark and wooly). I like the LMII/III with it a lot for fat, warm and clean. I have not hooked up the Streamliner yet, but will later today. Every bone in my body says it would sound great, and I would assume the Streamliner 600 would drive that cab to full volume.

Edit: Just hooked it up with the P. It sounds frickin' glorious. With the very bright and upper mid present AE410, a slight boost of the low mids and a reduction of the treble to about 10 o'clock (with the tweeter at about 9 o'clock) really sounds great. To get a somewhat similar tone with the Thunderchild, the treble goes back to flat, and I boost the upper mids (2K) just a touch (since the TC is so smooth and 'flat' up top). Really nice... very round and articulate, and with the 3.5K gentle roll-off setting, the grind comes through nicely also.

 

[Fekwood]

A couple of people, self included, would like to see how it sounds with the RS210.

Yes please!

 

[KJung]

Sorry for all the posting here. I know I'm overdoing it a bit. I['m really digging the head!

One thing that I notice with the Streamliner that I really like is what I assume is the setting of the hi pass filter down low. My Thunderchild 112 has one of those super duper 3012LF drivers in it, which has that super duper xmax. So, it can really piston out and in a lot if you pump a lot of really low bass into it (and actually reproduce that low end at volume). With the Streamliner, I get a much fuller, rounder, fatter low end than with my LMII with that cab, but the speaker does not travel much at all. Very usable low end that sounds really big without the super low end baggage.

In other words, they have the low end tuned to just wump at a reasonable bass frequency to sound really deep and fat, but they aren't dumping a lot of sub freq's that I hear with some other heads when you crank the low end a bit. As a result, this head results in a louder, deeper tone from my little Thunderchild cab, but I don't feel like I'm going to blow the driver out of the front of the box when I dig in.

 

[Tunaman]

GK Neo 115 III ordered to compliment the SL as the mini-rig to practice, quick setup

My 68 lb 310 & 70 lb rackmount doesn't have to move for EVERY practice\gig.
Now I can move my rig around the house with ease! Its great to have a rig like this & I'm not selling any of it... its just a hassle... you end up going to practice & then not setting it back up because you have practice a few days later.

This should be great... I'll even sell my 10w practice amp...
This is getting expensive!
I sold off my Ibanez SRX 505 for $300, Sansamp RBI $220, GK Backline for $75, MXR 80 for $50, Extra strings $40, won $200 on the Packers & $100 in poker, $60 in giftcards. Been a long trip of selling stuff, reading reviews. Thanks again all.

 

[NWB]

Huh, I just got back here and discovered this in the Pt. 3 thread from SVTB15

"I would NOT say the SL900 is squishy ..
I mean you could make it that way if you want to by driving teh heck out of it.
... But there is alot of headroom up front.. so if you run your input gain lower.The amp has alot of punch..It Is Not A Wimp..
Now depending on your cabs. if you EQ in a little 220hx you can really feel it in your chest..
It responds fast too..
Who started the rumor that if there is a tube in the circuit it has to be mushy or slow.. That is certainly not a fact at all..
The SL900 certainly can do clean too.. The silky type of clean, not a clanky / clicky and abrasive type. ..

TO Paraphrase Ed Freidland .. you would have to work real hard to try and get a bad sound from this amp..

It is punchy and has great attack... or if you Gain it up with the Gain Switch you can dial in tube compression or Gain it all the way and get Distortion.
The best thing is to try one out... This amp really departs from what a micro used to sound like.."

I'm a bit confused here, because most of my stated observations are very consistent with what's note above.

The big point that I was trying to make is that I've had older all-tube amps that were a bit mushy and slow. However, I found the Streamliner to be anything but slow or muddy.

I also said that while you could probably dial in some squishiness, I found a lot of direct and articulate punch in it.
"not a Whimp". Complete agreement there. Heh, heh, not even the slightest touch of wimp in it.

All of the descriptions that I've read, including the one above appear born-out by my short test.

Also, it seems that some of the descriptions of "smooth" might lead a person to erroneously believe (as I briefly did before testing) that punch and articulation could be lacking. Definitely not the case!

 

[KJung]

Ken, Glad to hear! Now, hopefully, you can do a clip with a passive J ar just tell me your opinion. I know you kinda already told me what you thought but you didn't have the Streamliner anymore at that time. I have now raised the funds so I am really close to making a deal.
The goal is the tone I get from a '84 Walter Woods M100-8. It's difficult, at least for me, to describe. It's warm and round with a "blooming of the notes but with clarity. I can get it by cutting the Bass and treble knobs to 10:00, Mid flat, and both Bass and Treble switches on Boost. Walter thinks this kind of setting is on the edge of clipping the preamp section. That is why I can almost get a Tube kind of "Sag" out of it. Of course it doesn't have the power I need for a lot of gigs. Also, the power section must be involved because if I line out to a Shuttle 9.0 for power, it doesn't sound the same.
I realize, you and most others don't have this amp but you have experience with Walters' amps and just may know what I'm talking about. Thanks!
BTW, I'm probably going to buy one anyway but still researching

I am familiar with that particular Walter (my buddy TBer Ric Vice has one, or one that is similar to that). Those earlier models sound WAY different than the later Eletracoustics... as you say, super fat and tubey.

The Streamliner is closer to the earlier Walter than the tighter, brighter electracoustic or the Shuttle amps. The low end of that early Walter is big (too big for me), so the Streamliner isn't identical by any means, but you do get that bit of 'sag' you are talking aobut through the pre, and it is loud enough for anything. Very different from the Shuttle heads, as many have posted.

While no two amps sound alike, the Streamliner definitely has some of what you like with that early Walter, and IMO will sound fatter and punchier on the gig.

 

[MikeBass]

Think I may swing by tomorrow Ken.
You around early afternoon???

 

[ledyard]

If i pushed the SL900 amp.. It is quite possible that I could have blown up the ampeg 810e cab .
The SL900 is more than capable of driving a large cab.. I do it often since many of my gigs are fly dates at certain times of the year.. And the easiest cab to spec out and to get what you request is either an 810 or two ampeg 410s..
And the SL900 can drive them to their limit.. I used my Shuttle 9 for the same gigs with similar results.. Although the Streamliner has a larger bottom than the 9 to my ears.. and a silkier top end too..
Some 810 non tweet cabs seem dark at times so that is why i boosted the 2.5k to poke through.. and it does...
And as i do this over and over, I realize that alot of that clean ampeg SVT sound has to do with that cab design... The cab has alot to do with the SVT type tone..

Great info! thanks man.

 

[Oldtimer]

I am familiar with that particular Walter (my buddy TBer Ric Vice has one, or one that is similar to that). Those earlier models sound WAY different than the later Eletracoustics... as you say, super fat and tubey.

The Streamliner is closer to the earlier Walter than the tighter, brighter electracoustic or the Shuttle amps. The low end of that early Walter is big (too big for me), so the Streamliner isn't identical by any means, but you do get that bit of 'sag' you are talking aobut through the pre, and it is loud enough for anything. Very different from the Shuttle heads, as many have posted.

While no two amps sound alike, the Streamliner definitely has some of what you like with that early Walter, and IMO will sound fatter and punchier on the gig.

Ken, Thanks. I don't know if you recall, but I also have a 2001 Ultra Electracoustic. You're right the earlier Walter is much different sounding than the later.

 

[Saluki]

Also, that 'auditaper' type master volume pot is great... allows for very even, slow, gradual increases in volume, versus, for example, the 'off to stupid loud' tapers of the GK Micros or Mesa M6. Hard to 'make a mistake' and pump a ton of volume in by accident with a smaller cab.

Own both the M6 and GK Micros and that would be one of the first things I would change. I won't get rid of them, but least i will have a SL900 in the near future. Does that make me graduate from kid to professional?

 

[nostatic]

Edit: Just hooked it up with the P. It sounds frickin' glorious.

+1,000,000+

I recently picked up a P-Bass, wanting to mess around with a 4-banger again. I cannot emphasize how damn perfect the P-Bass is with the S900. Like peanut butter and chocolate (unless of course you're allergic to nuts). Now I want a second PJ to go along with it...

 

[INTHEPOCKET69]

Ken....I too have a SL900 on the way...early March I've been told. I have Don at LDS making me up a 15/6.5/6.5 cab and he told me you were bringing one over for him to test. I'll be anxious to hear the audio posting. BTW...when I first called Don to talk to him about my cab I didn't connect with who he was. Turns out he and I were next door neighbors growing up as kids in Mich. I haven't spoken to him in probably 45 years...we spent the first 1/2 hour just catching up! What a small world!

 

[KJung]

Ken....I too have a SL900 on the way...early March I've been told. I have Don at LDS making me up a 15/6.5/6.5 cab and he told me you were bringing one over for him to test. I'll be anxious to hear the audio posting. BTW...when I first called Don to talk to him about my cab I didn't connect with who he was. Turns out he and I were next door neighbors growing up as kids in Mich. I haven't spoken to him in probably 45 years...we spent the first 1/2 hour just catching up! What a small world!

Hello! He told me about reconnecting with you. That is so cool! Yeah, that match-up should be awesome!!!!

 

[KJung]

Own both the M6 and GK Micros and that would be one of the first things I would change. I won't get rid of them, but least i will have a SL900 in the near future. Does that make me graduate from kid to professional?

If you did that, you would be a man that all other men would have to recon with

Hey, here is a new clip with the Streamliner 900, the Audiokinesis Thunderchild 12, and my Alleva-Coppolo LM. So, very different from the P with the AE410. I dig it... clean, crisp, but still warm and fat down low.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N884sZbJGTo

 

[Tunaman]

My P needed some more meatiness at E, F, G & even A. The rest is great. I'm hoping the Streamliner can thicken those notes up for my P. I was surprised the P was hollow there like my Sterling.

 

[KJung]

Think I may swing by tomorrow Ken.
You around early afternoon???

I should be here after 1. Give me a call!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I have Don at LDS making me up a 15/6.5/6.5 cab

Curious why the extra mid driver? The single 6.5 on my 15/6 is padded back.... (sorry for OT!)