Genz-Benz Streamliner Part 6

[woody357]

How would this head sound with a Epifani PS 410? I have been thinking about getting a new head. At the moment I have a WT550 and a GK 800rb. I play R & B, Pop, and Jazz the Eden is my main amp. I am asking because I can't try before I buy.

 

[adivin]

The crazy thing is, with an Uber Quad I'm cutting mids.

 

[wateroftyne]

+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...

This was, almost word-for-word, my first experience, too...

 

[ErnieD]

The crazy thing is, with an Uber Quad I'm cutting mids.

I thought this might be the case. I tried the 600 with the 1288T solo, then added the Uber 115 that was below it at my local store, no 900 in stock that day. Got two very distinctive tones.

I left feeling I prolly could not use the 1288T as stand alone in any of my bands but did not want to have to buy the 115 too. Maybe two 1288's?

I recently bought a STM-900. Works real nice with my Neox 212T cab. I'm wondering if a Uber 1288T added to one of my 8 ohm, UL-410 or RS210 cabs might work well or not with the 900. But again, mayb two 1288's? I'd have to cut double the mids then?

 

[Saluki]

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.

Can you put one of these on my Mesa M6?

 

[KJung]

This was, almost word-for-word, my first experience, too...

+1 Great post and right on the money. It is actually why I love this head so much with my P Bass, where the 'quick, tight, bright, immediacy of a more transparent all solid state head doesn't make quite as much sense. The girth down low and the very organic, tubey top end just sings with a P Bass.... authority, bigness, and GROWL, while still giving you the note articulation in a mix that many all tube amps seem unable to provide IMO and IME.

 

[adivin]

I thought this might be the case. I tried the 600 with the 1288T solo, then added the Uber 115 that was below it at my local store, no 900 in stock that day. Got two very distinctive tones.

I left feeling I prolly could not use the 1288T as stand alone in any of my bands but did not want to have to buy the 115 too. Maybe two 1288's?

I recently bought a STM-900. Works real nice with my Neox 212T cab. I'm wondering if a Uber 1288T added to one of my 8 ohm, UL-410 or RS210 cabs might work well or not with the 900. But again, mayb two 1288's? I'd have to cut double the mids then?

I am also wondering if the Quad was the best choice for me. I have to elevate it about a foot to hear it like I want. Maybe I should have gone with the Uber 212.

 

[Darkstrike]

I'm playing pickstyle more then ever, utterly loving what this head does to a bass being picked.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

...I love this head so much with my P Bass, where the 'quick, tight, bright, immediacy of a more transparent all solid state head doesn't make quite as much sense. ...authority, bigness, and GROWL, while still giving you the note articulation in a mix that many all tube amps seem unable to provide IMO and IME.

An interesting sidenote from my acoustic gig: We needed a mic on our side for the MC, and there was no wireless. So I plugged an ART mic pre into the SL900's Aux in, and had a decent small PA through my 3-way cab. When I did this with my Eden, it sounded a little tubby.

So clearly, the SL900's output stage is capable of bright, hi-fi sounds. Which means that you can throw an SS preamp pedal in your gig bag, and have the best of both worlds. Add an AB or ABY switch, and you could even switch on the fly...

 

[Smallequestrian]

I thought this might be the case. I tried the 600 with the 1288T solo, then added the Uber 115 that was below it at my local store, no 900 in stock that day. Got two very distinctive tones.

I left feeling I prolly could not use the 1288T as stand alone in any of my bands but did not want to have to buy the 115 too. Maybe two 1288's?

I recently bought a STM-900. Works real nice with my Neox 212T cab. I'm wondering if a Uber 1288T added to one of my 8 ohm, UL-410 or RS210 cabs might work well or not with the 900. But again, mayb two 1288's? I'd have to cut double the mids then?

Just for another point of reference, I'm using an UberQuad and a Streamliner 900 with what might be considered a couple of mid emphasized basses. I am most certainly not cutting the mids. I'm still experimenting with with the EQ, but I keep coming back to Bass 10, Mids 2, Freq center point at 600hz and treble to taste. I play in a loudish 3 piece rock band and have plenty of volume.

 

[adivin]

Just for another point of reference, I'm using an UberQuad and a Streamliner 900 with what might be considered a couple of mid emphasized basses. I am most certainly not cutting the mids. I'm still experimenting with with the EQ, but I keep coming back to Bass 10, Mids 2, Freq center point at 600hz and treble to taste. I play in a loudish 3 piece rock band and have plenty of volume.

Do you keep the Quad on the floor or do you elevate it? Its such a short cab, that I do loose a lot of mids when it's on the floor, and I don't care for the sound. Bringing it a foot of the ground makes a big difference to my years. Higher then that and the mids from the 8s smack you in the face. I am now second guessing my decision on the Quad for the 212.

 

[Platypus_Bass]

So clearly, the SL900's output stage is capable of bright, hi-fi sounds. Which means that you can throw an SS preamp pedal in your gig bag, and have the best of both worlds. Add an AB or ABY switch, and you could even switch on the fly...

In my quest to get some high end 'sizzle' from my SL600, when using a Celinder Update, I plugged my Glockenkland Bass Art pre into the Streamliners return and I too was pleased by the bright hi-fi like tone available. Was wondering if a Sadowsky Outboard pre, plugged into the Streamliner return, might work for those occasions. No issues using the Streamliner with any other bass.

 

[Aussie Mark]

How would this head sound with a Epifani PS 410? I am asking because I can't try before I buy.

My SL900 sounds great through my Epifani UL610 and UL210. People say the UL cabs are very middy, but to me they're just great all round rock cabs and are well suited to the "old school" classic rock and blues tones I prefer. I do dial the tweeter off and use flats though.

 

[ErnieD]

One reason I'm considering a Uber 410 or 1288T or now a AE410, cab is that I've had a issue and seems others state as well, the in my case, UL-410, does not have enough or any mids with the STM-900.

At least with my P5 w/flats that I like to use in a couple bands, I had abit of an issue cutting thru the mix. I do find that I can better tweak the 900+UL410 with my modern basses, active EQ on those. But I have learned the amp more since using it with other cabs/basses. I have a gig that I'll try the P5 w/UL410 at and see if I've learned it enough to make that setup work. Again, just wondered if you did mean to say "middy"?

 

[John D Harris]

My SL900 sounds great through my Epifani UL610 and UL210. People say the UL cabs are very middy, but to me they're just great all round rock cabs and are well suited to the "old school" classic rock and blues tones I prefer. I do dial the tweeter off and use flats though.

I've heard more people say that the UL cabs are somewhat scooped sounding (or low end & treble prominent).

 

[Hollow Man]

I've heard more people say that the UL cabs are somewhat scooped sounding (or low end & treble prominent).

+1, that's been my experience with the UL410.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've heard more people say that the UL cabs are somewhat scooped sounding (or low end & treble prominent).

In that case I must have read/heard wrong, so I stand corrected.

In the 6 or 7 gigs I've had so far with my two UL cabs I've noticed no prominent scoop at all. Perhaps my use of flats and dialling out the tweeter is the reason for that - the cabs certainly have a ton of low end and have no trouble cutting through in the bands I play with. I did boost the mids a little on the Streamliner at a wedding gig I did with the UL210, but that was because the cab was sitting directly on a concrete dance floor so was overly muddy.

 

[adivin]

I thought this might be the case. I tried the 600 with the 1288T solo, then added the Uber 115 that was below it at my local store, no 900 in stock that day. Got two very distinctive tones.

I left feeling I prolly could not use the 1288T as stand alone in any of my bands but did not want to have to buy the 115 too. Maybe two 1288's?

I recently bought a STM-900. Works real nice with my Neox 212T cab. I'm wondering if a Uber 1288T added to one of my 8 ohm, UL-410 or RS210 cabs might work well or not with the 900. But again, mayb two 1288's? I'd have to cut double the mids then?

ErnieD, I also thought of pairing my RS210 with the Quad, but realizing that the RS210 is rear ported and the Quads 12 is front, and the 8s are sealed, this could end up with strange results when stacked. One way to find out I guess.

 

[dave_bass5]

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 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...

Despite my moaning about levels over the past few days i have to agree, the Streamliner has elevated me to the front of the mix, without me dominating it.
Its almost like its helped clean the mix up and brought everything together.
Each note has the sort of punch i couldn't get from my MB heads (or at least never managed to).
For me its like ive got some of my Jazz bass articulation in my P bass, without loosing the P bass character. A bit more growl and a clearer, but punchier tone on the upper notes.
I also feel my pick tone is now a bit closer to finger playing, ive lost a certain part of my pick playing tone that used to bug me.

 

[wateroftyne]

the Streamliner has elevated me to the front of the mix, without me dominating it.

It's a beautiful thing, eh?

That's pretty much what I meant in my post earlier where I said it had redefined what I wanted from a bass tone.