Genz Benz Streamliner Part 9

[nutdog]

Can you elaborate on the intonation problems you had with the amp?

I may have to rethink my decision to try out stand up comedy.

No amp problems. In fact, this is my favorite amp I've ever owned, although a Fender PA135 I picked up on a whim is growing on me, as long as I don't have to carry it anywhere.

Intonation problems come from the player (i.e., me) and/or the instrument. It was a line from a Frank Zappa song "Joe's Garage", from an album of the same name, an all-time classic IMO. However, if you choose to google it, many of the other songs on the album are not suitable for work or recommended for listening in the company of your mother or spiritual adviser.

 

[repoman]

I may have to rethink my decision to try out stand up comedy.

No amp problems. In fact, this is my favorite amp I've ever owned, although a Fender PA135 I picked up on a whim is growing on me, as long as I don't have to carry it anywhere.

Intonation problems come from the player (i.e., me) and/or the instrument. It was a line from a Frank Zappa song "Joe's Garage", from an album of the same name, an all-time classic IMO. However, if you choose to google it, many of the other songs on the album are not suitable for work or recommended for listening in the company of your mother or spiritual adviser.

Hahaha....Ok, now I'm thinking maybe I should take a humor pill or something.... I've got Joe's Garage (who doesn't) but totally blew right by me.

Glad to hear you're digging this amp though ....

 

[nutdog]

That's OK. You've saved me from a fatal career move. I guess I'll stick with Walmart greeter.

 

[f.c.geil]

That's OK. You've saved me from a fatal career move. I guess I'll stick with Walmart greeter.

Absolutely, because that's a career with staying power...

 

[Tunaman]

Streamliner... MIA Fender J 2012 Standard

Straight buttah !!!

Sadowsky, Alleva who? What great tone from the good ole original! Can't wait to run through the 9.2max as well!

Streamliner gives the Jazz a ton of low end that is controlled & still tight while the upper mids have a ton of character but with warmth. Wow, I'm really happy with it 5 minutes in ! ha ha ha !

 

[godblender]

Just used my Streamliner at band practice for the first time tonight...love it. I ran it through a GK Neo212 with a Tronographic Rusty Box in front. Wow. I had actually planned on selling the Rusty Box as I found it didn't sit well when used with my ss amp. Through the SL however it's absolutely amazing...even the guitarist and drummer commented on good the rig sounded. With gain on the SL set to 3:00, and Rusty gain at noon (in the high input position) I get a totally tube-like breakup sound...thick and edgy but warm and very full. I found that by dialing the gain back just a bit on the Rusty Box the notes have a great weight to them, with just the right amount of fuzziness around the edges. Still I prefer my sound a little more grit with this band.

...still can't believe there are people who feel that the SL doesn't cut through. I'm playing in a post-hardcore band, fast tempos and loud. The SL held its own damn well. Can't wait to use this setup for the show next weekend.

 

[Dave W]

...still can't believe there are people who feel that the SL cuts through.

I have no problems with it cutting through the mix.

 

[dubstylee]

I feel like it sits just right in the mix.

 

[Dave W]

^^^ Exactly

 

[bassjam]

++3-I have no trouble with mine in a full band mix.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I have no problems with my Streamliner 900 in a live gig context. The phrase "cut through the mix" is kind of amusing. If you're "cutting," there no longer is a "mix." If your goal is to cut, you've become just as annoying as a lead guitarist who dimes his volume knob on every song. I suppose cutting might be valid for a bass solo, but if you are being show cased, the rest of the band should stand back and let you shine. For me, the tube nature of the SL makes it intrinsically blend with the band in a very musical, good way.

 

[kai_ski]

...still can't believe there are people who feel that the SL cuts through. I'm playing in a post-hardcore band, fast tempos and loud. The SL held its own damn well. Can't wait to use this setup for the show next weekend.

Based on the context, I think this must be a typo.

I have no problems with my Streamliner 900 in a live gig context. The phrase "cut through the mix" is kind of amusing. If you're "cutting," there no longer is a "mix." If your goal is to cut, you've become just as annoying as a lead guitarist who dimes his volume knob on every song. I suppose cutting might be valid for a bass solo, but if you are being show cased, the rest of the band should stand back and let you shine. For me, the tube nature of the SL makes it intrinsically blend with the band in a very musical, good way.

I think "cut through the mix" is another way for many to describe "presence." I think most people want to be heard, not buried, yet balanced with the group. Using the streamliner I think it's really about cab choice. When I was using my Epi UL410-2 with the streamliner, I definitely felt that I was buried by the kick drum and keys in a loud mix. With one GK Neo 212 I definitely have more presence in the the same situation than I ever did using the STL and UL410.

 

[KJung]

I have no problems with my Streamliner 900 in a live gig context. The phrase "cut through the mix" is kind of amusing. If you're "cutting," there no longer is a "mix." If your goal is to cut, you've become just as annoying as a lead guitarist who dimes his volume knob on every song. I suppose cutting might be valid for a bass solo, but if you are being show cased, the rest of the band should stand back and let you shine. For me, the tube nature of the SL makes it intrinsically blend with the band in a very musical, good way.

I think 'cutting through the mix' has more to do with being able to clearly define the initial note attack, and also the upper midrange response of the instrument, as that term is used on TB. For many music contexts, that is key, and as much as I love the Streamliner, that isn't its thing. Plenty of amps do that.

As you suggest, the Streamliner is more of a 'put a pillow under the band' sort of vibe. I still get plenty of note definition, but it is more of a 'round tone center' sort of thing, versus a more immediate front end of the note attack that more mid present amps provide. I continue to consider it my 'Bob Glaub' or 'Duck Dunn' amp... that beautiful, fat, round, warm, bass tone on so many recordings. Not a particular edge to it, not burpy, and more round than punchy, but still plenty of note definition!

I assume that is why Genz makes the Shuttle line and the Streamliner. They both are 'tops in class' IMO at doing what they do... fat, warm, round, full versus 'punchy, cutting, bright, immediate.

 

[svtb15]

I also get plenty of definition of note from my Streamliner.. And i play mostly Alleva P4 and P5 basses..Every now and then i play my sadowsky nyc PJ5... And i get Great note point as well as the pillow down below it all....I was only able to get similar results many years ago with a rack pre and a heavy crown power amp...

 

[godblender]

Based on the context, I think this must be a typo.

It was. Corrected.

 

[f.c.geil]

I have plenty of definition, even though I'm playing a P Bass with flats. I've eliminated the tone and volume circuits, though, so I'm sending a fuller signal (more treble/high mid) to the amp, and getting more definition than I suspect others would with a P Bass and flats.

However, with my setup, gain at 12.30-1.00, volume at 12.00, mid selector on 2.5k, everything else on 12.00... wow! Serious creamy goodness. Well-rounded, defined, thick, rich [and chocolate? ], warm, full, etc. If I need a little more definition, I turn up the mids to about 2.00, and feel every bit of the attack.

 

[Killens84]

I did a search on this and couldn't find anything, so I apologize if this has already been addressed...
But the blue light on the inside of my Streamliner (the one that lights up the tubes) has gone out. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if it's just one light in there that I can replace myself. I don't want to ship it to be fixed, and have to be without it for a while, if that's something simple that I can fix myself. I know it's just cosmetic and still works fine, but I like the way it looks with the blue light going.
I'm also curious about what could've caused the light to go out in the first place.

 

[johnk_10]

IIRC, it's not just one light, it's two or three blue leds, and leds rarely burn out, so i'm guessing that they're not getting any voltage to light them.

 

[Vandy]

. . . if that's something simple that I can fix myself. I know it's just cosmetic and still works fine, but I like the way it looks with the blue light going.

Apparently, Aged Horse ("TB'er" > Genz Benz) feels that it's a DYI project & GB will send you a "light" . . .
I hope that it's true for you . . .
Can't address the "why" . . .
P.S. some folks (on the other hand) are taping over "the beacon" for some live situations . . .

 

[Limeman]

I did a search on this and couldn't find anything, so I apologize if this has already been addressed...
But the blue light on the inside of my Streamliner (the one that lights up the tubes) has gone out. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if it's just one light in there that I can replace myself. I don't want to ship it to be fixed, and have to be without it for a while, if that's something simple that I can fix myself. I know it's just cosmetic and still works fine, but I like the way it looks with the blue light going.
I'm also curious about what could've caused the light to go out in the first place.

My STL900 did the same thing. I sent it back to GB and they repaired it promptly under warranty. No big deal. PM Agedhorse (he's an engineer/designer for GB) and he can work you through the steps to get it repaired if you want. As for why, the LEDs are wired is series (if I'm not mistaken) so if one fails, they all go out. As far as impact to the actual functionality of the amp, they have no impact at all to the performance/integrity/tone of the amp.