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Genz-Benz Streamliner Part 6
- Thread starter Kelly Lee
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Changing the subject a bit, is anyone using a BDDI on front of this amp?
P for me as well but only coz that's my main bass at the moment.
P for me as well but only coz that's my main bass at the moment.
My Ray with fingers, low mids bumped, bass at 12, treble cut, and the 3EQ set with treble cut, mids flat and bass slightly bumped sounds MASSIVE. Such a big sound! Think that true old Ray fat punch.
Then, plectrum, treble boosted, mids boosted a touch, bass at 12, and the 3EQ set with treble boost, mids and bass flat. Push the gain button, raise the gain, lower volume, adjust master to requirements = Ray grind heaven. Pure aggression!
Then, plectrum, treble boosted, mids boosted a touch, bass at 12, and the 3EQ set with treble boost, mids and bass flat. Push the gain button, raise the gain, lower volume, adjust master to requirements = Ray grind heaven. Pure aggression!
No offense, but that seems somewhat odd. The SL has a great tube preamp. Why mess with putting a DI/preamp in front of it?
No offence taken at all.
I dont use the BDDI to get a tube tone, i use it for the EQ.
I like the mid scoop it gives and the extended low end.
Hey guys. I got a chance to try the Streamliner 600 and 900 at Hoffman's Music in Spokane yesterday. I want to make it clear I am in no way attempting to purposefully rain on anyone's parade, but I came away feeling underwhelmed.
I was pretty disappointed actually. I've been around long enough to know that you can't form a complete opinion based on one encounter, there are too many variables and most of the negative impression could very well be the result of user error, but it did discourage me from considering a purchase. But anyway, just bear in mind, this was only an initial impression, and I am still willing to give these amps another whirl.
They had the 600 running an Uber 210, and the 9 running an Uber 15. Hoffman's has carried GB stuff for a while, and I have tried several of their amps through an Uber 410 and 15 before, and I have really liked the cabs in the past.
I fooled around with both amps with an American Fender five string and a nice little Ibanez SGR with a good setup.
I liked the tone with everything flat, and the mid selector switch was a really nice touch. From this initial little trial run, I wasn't sure what was up with the whole gain knob and gain structure. It seemed like an attempt to get some tubey grit or grind into the sound, but for some reason, it didn't translate with me. Frankly I thought it just didn't sound good.
This brings me to my main letdown- the volume and whump factor. How do you get these heads to open up? I really felt the amps ran out of headroom way before i thought they should. I also heard some distortion when I cranked the amps that could have been something to do with the gain, or the cab giving up a little (which would surprise me). Anyway it wasn't exactly pleasant to the ear, which could very well be my playing as well!
Again, I like the basic tone, but have you guys heard a real tube amp even at 300 watts getting worked? Seems like night and day to me. Anyway, I apologize in advance if I offend anyone with this post. Not my intent, and I really do feel like I'm left with more questions than conclusions from my test drive, which makes me question my own intelligence since I thought one of the big pluses for the Streamliner was to make things simple!
I was pretty disappointed actually. I've been around long enough to know that you can't form a complete opinion based on one encounter, there are too many variables and most of the negative impression could very well be the result of user error, but it did discourage me from considering a purchase. But anyway, just bear in mind, this was only an initial impression, and I am still willing to give these amps another whirl.
They had the 600 running an Uber 210, and the 9 running an Uber 15. Hoffman's has carried GB stuff for a while, and I have tried several of their amps through an Uber 410 and 15 before, and I have really liked the cabs in the past.
I fooled around with both amps with an American Fender five string and a nice little Ibanez SGR with a good setup.
I liked the tone with everything flat, and the mid selector switch was a really nice touch. From this initial little trial run, I wasn't sure what was up with the whole gain knob and gain structure. It seemed like an attempt to get some tubey grit or grind into the sound, but for some reason, it didn't translate with me. Frankly I thought it just didn't sound good.
This brings me to my main letdown- the volume and whump factor. How do you get these heads to open up? I really felt the amps ran out of headroom way before i thought they should. I also heard some distortion when I cranked the amps that could have been something to do with the gain, or the cab giving up a little (which would surprise me). Anyway it wasn't exactly pleasant to the ear, which could very well be my playing as well!
Again, I like the basic tone, but have you guys heard a real tube amp even at 300 watts getting worked? Seems like night and day to me. Anyway, I apologize in advance if I offend anyone with this post. Not my intent, and I really do feel like I'm left with more questions than conclusions from my test drive, which makes me question my own intelligence since I thought one of the big pluses for the Streamliner was to make things simple!
I can't see wanting to try and extend the low end into the front of the S900 but depends on what you're going for. The bottom is huge out of the box...
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
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- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
"You know what, this amp ISNT all about Ps. "
Of course not! - it's all about J's!
From what I've heard it's all about the B's. Big Fuzzy Wuzzy low slung dragging B's.
God Bless, Ray
Like nostatic said...Extended low end is definitely NOT a problem for the Streamliner. I find myself cutting the bass, at times. Mid scoop...maybe. But, that IMHO, you can accomplish that with the EQ on the Streamliner quite well. But, if someone wants to give it a shot..why not. If you like it, go with it.
I've seen 1000's of posts over the years about people using a BDDI with all sorts of amps, i dont see why the SL is any different.
After 3 gigs with my 600 the low end is certainly different to what im used to, and while i know the 600 sounds different to my SA450 ive been using a BDDI with the SA450 for the past 6 months and its been working really well with my 1212L
I guess i shouldn't have used the word "extended". What i meant was "different". I too am finding im backing off the low knob but i have a feeling the BDDI will be operating at a different freq, and this might help thicken up the low end that seems to be missing, or at least, not what im used to.
Anyway, it was a question to see if anyone was doing it, and it seems not. Ill report back after my next gig and tell you how many walls came down and if i need to repair my cab ;-)
After 3 gigs with my 600 the low end is certainly different to what im used to, and while i know the 600 sounds different to my SA450 ive been using a BDDI with the SA450 for the past 6 months and its been working really well with my 1212L
I guess i shouldn't have used the word "extended". What i meant was "different". I too am finding im backing off the low knob but i have a feeling the BDDI will be operating at a different freq, and this might help thicken up the low end that seems to be missing, or at least, not what im used to.
Anyway, it was a question to see if anyone was doing it, and it seems not. Ill report back after my next gig and tell you how many walls came down and if i need to repair my cab ;-)
There is a lot of variability in volume on these heads between the gain button, gain and volume knobs, and the master volume. When I first rehearsed with this I too thought it seemed to lack a bit in the volume department based on having the master around noon. But I only had the gain at noon and the volume at 9oclock with the gain switch off. Once you start playing around with and boosting the preamp volume a bit (don't worry, you can still get it as clean or hairy as you like) the volume really opens up.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
Yeah.. I have no idea where that P-bass only thing started, that's just silly talk..
The SL900 works great with a J and my '77 stingray just Kills with this amp..
... Glad you got that issue worked out....
The SL900 works great with a J and my '77 stingray just Kills with this amp..
... Glad you got that issue worked out....
Musicman20 said:
My Stingray-ish Ibanez ATK is a blast with the SL. So is my EMG-equipped coffee-table bass.
SL 900 on the way. For portability reasons would shuttle series cabs be a good match? Specifically two 1X12T. I am sorry if this combo has been asked about, I didn't see it.
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