Genz-Benz Streamliner Part 6

[gillento]

...

I really suggest that you look at getting at least a 212 or 410 cabinet (4 ohm) for your needs. ...

My Aguilar db212 (4ohm) is a perfect match my SL600

 

[Red Planet]

Maybe so, but after today's experimentation it seems clear that there are sonic benefits too. BTW, do you mean reliability as in longevity, or durability, or both?

Yes, there are definitely sonic benefits as well.

Both.

 

[ErnieD]

At gig tonite I layed a cloth towel on top of my Neox212T cab, directly next to STM-900 amp. After a set or so, I reached around and touched top of my amp, just cause, not sure why. Top of amp was pretty dang hot, I then realized I had place the towel directly over the intake fan of the GB head, DOH! sheesh.

The head was not extremely hot but just pretty hot to the touch more than ever before. I supposed had I not noticed the towel, it mighta gone thermal but sure didn't, it just went trudging along besides my DOH! moment. I removed the towel and went right along jammin.

NOTE: when we got there we were told this friggin honky tonk was having AC issues...as in NONE! So the room was way hotter than usual to add to my towel against fan gaff.
Just saying...Great little amp. "I'm diggin-giggin it".

 

[dave_bass5]

Not in this case. 600 watts and hitting limiting is really too much power for a single 12" cabinet.

This is a 2x12 cab with horn, rated at 850watts although I know that's just figures and wouldn't expect to put that much through it.

The cab has been used for the past few years with a SA450 and never gone over halfway on the master.

I think I just need to get used to the tone. It was certainly cutting through but as I normay use a BDDI with my MB head I think I was probably trying to get that low end.
The tone I had was great and I had no problems being heard at the back of the tent so I think it's just a case of getting used to the new tone. It was great hearing all the notes clearly. It made a nice change from the slightly thicker but less focused tone I normally have.

And all this is based on one venue that I haven't done before. I'll get a better idea once I do a few of our regulars.

Still very happy with the head.

 

[dave_bass5]

I should add that I was a bit tired last night when I started my posts so i want to clafify what i meant.
My issue isn't lack of volume as such, it's more that it worried me that the peak LED came on when the master wasn't even at half way.
I've also found that I'm using the gain button to help get the level up and this seems to be causing the DI out to be very hot.

As to putting 600 watts through the cab, I can't see me ever doing that but I do feel a 900 will allow me to get a cleaner tone with just as much volume as I have now without the amp peaking.

 

[hasbeen]

This is a 2x12 cab with horn, rated at 850watts although I know that's just figures and wouldn't expect to put that much through it.

The cab has been used for the past few years with a SA450 and never gone over halfway on the master.

I think I just need to get used to the tone. It was certainly cutting through but as I normay use a BDDI with my MB head I think I was probably trying to get that low end.
The tone I had was great and I had no problems being heard at the back of the tent so I think it's just a case of getting used to the new tone. It was great hearing all the notes clearly. It made a nice change from the slightly thicker but less focused tone I normally have.

And all this is based on one venue that I haven't done before. I'll get a better idea once I do a few of our regulars.

Still very happy with the head.

the position of one amps master compared to another has nothing to do with headroom. Many amp manufacturers use pot tapers that make the volume increase pretty early. We use tapers that make the volume come on much more gradual. The volume knob spins all the way to the right for a reason.

 

[dave_bass5]

Yes, I'm aware of the position not being an indication of how loud the amp is, but if the peak LED is coming on at 11 o'clock I can't possibly see how I can go all the way to the right with the input settings as I have them set.
I guess I need to juggle the two input knobs and see what I come up with.

A silly question but what causes the peak LED to come on? Is it too hot a level going in to the power stage or the Power stage running close to max.
Will I do any damage to the head if I do get the LED on regularly?

Ive just listened back to some of last night recording and its a great tone. The SL is definitely going to work out for me, i just need ot get used to it.

Going back to my comment about it cutting out last night. I was going on the assumption that, like my MB heads, it will cut out to protect itself. After thinking about this and reading the manual am i right that if this does happen its going to take 15-20 secs to come back on? If so then it definitely didn't cut out as the gaps were only 5-10 secs at the most. I have a feeling i just knocked my transmitter, something i used to do only on one particular song in the past.

Oh, one more thing. I noticed that when i used my normal power cord (not one i have been using with the 600 at home) it wobbled about a bit and took a bit more effort to seat properly so it does show that some power leads seem to fit better than others.

 

[agedhorse]

The reason why there is more range on the controls than you are likely to use is because different basses and different playing styles generate different output levels, they can vary by a factor of 10 between basses and styles. When designing an amp, we have to accomodate a wide range of bass output levels, and if you have a hot bass and hard playing style yo uwill end up using less "rotation" and a low output bass with a light playing style will need more.

The peak light gives a visual indication that you are beginning to reach the rated output of the amp on peaks. and while there is nothing wrong with flashing the LED, it's good to know where you are operating with a visual confirmation. You do not want the LED on more than it's off however, at that point, the amp is delivering more average power than it (and many speakers) are safely rated for.

Regarding the power cord, we use an IEC receptacle and connector that has a little more agressive contact so that under vibration it does not come loose. We have learned that with the lightweight amp products, tight contacts work better in the long run. This means that you have to be diligent in seating the connector firmly. There are some pro audio products that I have seen recently that use the same contact arrangement, I assume for the same reason, as it's not uncommon for IEC connectors to loosen in a rack on the road.

 

[Eublet]

I wish everyone would start using Neutrik Powercon connectors, but very few do. Even in the IT industry I'm in, lots of issues with those IEC plugs working loose. Of course, people would complain about non-standard plugs if you did.

 

[Platypus_Bass]

Only time I came across Neutrik Powercon connectors was on my Berg IP. Have to agree they do seem a better way to power an amp

 

[rodneyat]

I wish everyone would start using Neutrik Powercon connectors, but very few do. Even in the IT industry I'm in, lots of issues with those IEC plugs working loose. Of course, people would complain about non-standard plugs if you did.

Maybe someday..they are very common in the broadcast and video industry..not in audio. Oh well.

 

[dave_bass5]

Thanks agedhorse.

I could definitly feel a good conection in the power socket with certain leads.
I guess some companies use cheaper leads that aren't quiet as good and I definitely have one of those so I'll make a point of not using it.

For what it's worth my bass is only a passive Squier with a standard Fender pup so it's not really a hot output. The LED only flashed on when I was really bashing the strings with my thumb, normally I play quite moderately with a pick.

I still think a 900 will be better for me but I'm happy to try the 600 at a few indoor gigs first. I'm sure it will work well enough.

 

[agedhorse]

If you have a 212, you would probably be ok with the 900. I think I misunderstood your orignal post that you had a 4 ohm 112.

 

[Red Planet]

My Passive Fender P Bass has one of the hottest outputs I've ever run across combined with my aggressive playing style.

I found with a MB amp I would clip the input section with the gain level set at anything past the 3rd dot and the amp would stay in limit mode at anything past 12:00 on the master. Unfortunately with those amps that is not a good sound.

I most appreciate the way Genz has done their tapers to be more of an even keel rather than everything up front.

I have noticed with the Streamliner if you have the input section cranked you can get the amp pretty loud by 11:00 on the master. When I have been rocking and dime the 1st level all the way, set the second at 12:00, it starts getting very loud by 11:00 on the master. Anything much louder than that and I would not want to be my cabs.

As in anything, one should use a little discretion.

I can see how the little Schroeder cab would not give up the amount of thump desired even when running at 4 ohms.

Take two 8x10's and call me in the morning.

 

[bandl]

Has anybody out there tried the SL 900 with a Henry 8X8?
I think that might be a cool combination.

 

[kaiser_sosea]

this is just a general post regarding "volume" issues with the 600. I just has rehearsal with a single GS112 and the SL600 and had plenty of volume. We're a loud rock and roll band. The master was set at 10 oclock or so but I think people forget or don't realize there is a ton of volume on tap at the front end of the amp. Depending how you adjust the gain, volume, and gain switch in addition to the master this amp is LOUD..

 

[3wavylines]

I had earlier been interested in the Streamliner, but decided a while back based on the YouTube videos and what people were saying about the mids that it probably was not the amp for me.

Well, I got to play AJ Brown's Streamliner 600 through an AudioKinesis 1x12 cab at the New England GTG this past Saturday. That's got me interested in the amp again.

I'm not sure I can say exactly what it is about the sound that I like. I can't say if I thought it was too this or too that eq-wise, or if it was just right. It was more like "Hey, I like the way this plays, and I like the way it sounds when I play through it."

There was a lot of bass playing going on at the same time, so I didn't get to hear the amp isolated at all. I'm going to be looking for another chance to give a Streamliner a closer listen sometime.

Looks like I am going to be resubscribing to this thread.

 

[willbass44]

Another post about volume. Just played a gig with an SL900 & a Bergantino 112 ............all I can say is incredible!!!! I love this amp. All the volume, bottom & clarity I needed. Room filling sound from a 112. Killer!!!!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

...I'm not sure I can say exactly what it is about the sound that I like. I can't say if I thought it was too this or too that eq-wise, or if it was just right. It was more like "Hey, I like the way this plays, and I like the way it sounds when I play through it."

+1.

Just came back from my first gig with my Streamliner 900. It was a quiet acoustic duo, so not much of a test for the SL900's headroom. Still, the hall is an acoustic nightmare, and I normally have trouble getting a distinct sound there without being too loud.

Not tonight. Every note stood out with authority, like it was in 3D.

I don't know why. It's not an EQ thing, exactly- compared to the fast, snappy-sounding solid state and single-tube hybrid heads that I'm used to, the SL900 sounds downright dark and pillowy.

But as others have pointed out, somehow it projects through a mix without the bark and bite that we often associate with an amp being "articulate".

I'm still figuring out the EQ, and finished the night feeling like the low end was still a little too flubby. But despite having minor quibbles at this point, I have to admit that I've never sounded this good at a gig.

I think the Streamliner could be the amp equivalent of a P-bass with flats. Deep down, you'd really like something flashier, yet you can't argue with the results as you command the driver's seat of the rhythm section...

 

[husky123]

+1.
I think the Streamliner could be the amp equivalent of a P-bass with flats. Deep down, you'd really like something flashier, yet you can't argue with the results as you command the driver's seat of the rhythm section...

Well said. Well said indeed.