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Genz Benz Streamliner Part 9

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#961
georgestrings said:
It works out for me because I'm primarily a pick player that likes alot of low end in my tone - in fact, the Streamliner, ShuttleMax, M-pulse 600, and 700/1001 rb-II heads are some of the very few that put out enough low end for my taste, without having to work too hard at it...


- georgestrings
Click to expand...

I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
 
#963
willsellout said:
I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
Click to expand...

Turning up the Gain will tighten up the lows. Based on the output of your bass, you may have to turn down the channel volume to compensate for gain going up. Then use Master volume to taste.
 
#964
willsellout said:
I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
Click to expand...


It's probably a combination of my basses, pick choice, technique, and cabs - although sometimes I have to keep an eye on it... These days, I mostly gig a pair of MIA Jazz basses(pups in series) and a Sterling 5 HS - they're fairly bright to begin with, and fairly mid voiced...

In certain venues we play, I have to cut my lows more than I would normally, because I'm booming out the other side of the stage, or causing problems with the FOH... I'm usually "right on the edge" of pushing too much low end, hahaha!!! Despite the lows I'm pushing, I can still hear note definition all the way down to my low B...


- georgestrings
 
#965
---Quote (Originally by willsellout)---
I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
---End Quote---

I suggest you make sure you cab has enough insulation. Not enough can cause some weird frequency osculations.

Also, you might want to check out TBr fdeck's HPF-Pre. It keeps the low end tight, protects your speakers and is adjustable for different venues. It's getting a lot of good reviews lately.
 
#966
I find the gain button makes a huge impact regards the lows and needs to be used with caution, I always roll the bass back when I switch it on, having said that, it is an awesome feature on this head :bassist:
 
#967
willsellout said:
I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
Click to expand...

Do you have the stock tube in V1? If you do swap, it for a 5751 variety. The 5751 has 30% less gain than a 12AX7, but don't worry there is still plenty of gain on tap. The swap also tightens up the bottom end and gets rid of the boominess. Well worth it. I use a JAN PHILLIPS 5751 that I got from Tube Depot. Ran me about 40 bucks shipped.

Highly recommended swap.
 
#968
TinIndian said:
Do you have the stock tube in V1? If you do swap, it for a 5751 variety. The 5751 has 30% less gain than a 12AX7, but don't worry there is still plenty of gain on tap. The swap also tightens up the bottom end and gets rid of the boominess. Well worth it. I use a JAN PHILLIPS 5751 that I got from Tube Depot. Ran me about 40 bucks shipped.

Highly recommended swap.
Click to expand...


OK, I'm trying to understand this - instead of swapping out the stock tube for a 5751, why can't you just reduce the gain with the knob to accomplish the same thing??? Not trying to be a jerk, I just don't want to spend the $$$ on that tube, only to find out that I could accomplish the same thing by turning the Gain knob down...


- georgestrings
 
#970
steve_rolfeca said:
People are doing this for the tonal difference, not the gain reduction.
Click to expand...

I get the motivation behind the swap - I was just wondering if the same thing could be accomplished by simply turning down the Gain knob... I hear "30% less gain" - so, could the same tonal goals be reached by simply reducing gain by 30% via use of the Gain knob???


- georgestrings
 
#971
The swap does reduce the gain by 30% true. Yes you could turn the knob down or turn the gain button off and get less gain, true. The real advantage is that it does tighten up the bottom end and help the mids a little. If you do not have a problem with the bottom end being boomy or flabby in your set-up then this would not be a swap you would need to do.

For me there was a definate improvement by going with the lower gain tube. I like the JAN Phillips 5751. It is a MIL Spec tube, but that is my preference. There are other 5751 tubes from other manufacturers out there that are cheaper and would be worth trying. I think a SOVTEK tube was mentioned earlier and it would probably work just fine.
 
#972
A little more info, as I remember from the tube rolling thread the V1 also controls or has some influence on the lower frq's in this and that is where the improvement comes from. Not from the reduction in gain in regards to the overdrive. JohnK did quite a bit of experimentation on this and has a lot of information in the thread.

Here is the link to the thread if you haven't already read thru it. Cheers!

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-streamliner-tube-rolling-796088/
 
#973
TinIndian said:
...as I remember from the tube rolling thread the V1 also controls or has some influence on the lower frq's in this and that is where the improvement comes from...
Click to expand...

I don't think that it's so much a function of the V1 position, as it is the inherent tonal qualities of a 5751. A 12AY7 (an even lower-gain tube) in V1 didn't produce the same effect.

To be fair, the difference is noticeable, but it's not massive...
 
#975
steve_rolfeca said:
I don't think that it's so much a function of the V1 position, as it is the inherent tonal qualities of a 5751. A 12AY7 (an even lower-gain tube) in V1 didn't produce the same effect.

To be fair, the difference is noticeable, but it's not massive...
Click to expand...

That's interesting. Hadn't heard of anyone trying a 12AY7 there and am a little surprised it didn't do anything other than lower the gain.

And yes, I agree the difference is not massive but I found it very noticeable and I don't have a great ear for nuance's like that. :hmm:
 
#976
TinIndian said:
That's interesting. Hadn't heard of anyone trying a 12AY7 there and am a little surprised it didn't do anything other than lower the gain.

And yes, I agree the difference is not massive but I found it very noticeable and I don't have a great ear for nuance's like that. :hmm:
Click to expand...

If I remember right from the tube rolling and control setting threads, tube swaps generally made almost zero difference to the frequency response when actually hooking the amp up to a scope.

Just for fun, I tried putting a 12AY7 into mine. I didn't hear much of a difference compared to just turning down the gain with the stock tube it there. Maybe by ears are defective. :D
 
#977
TinIndian said:
Do you have the stock tube in V1? If you do swap, it for a 5751 variety. The 5751 has 30% less gain than a 12AX7, but don't worry there is still plenty of gain on tap. The swap also tightens up the bottom end and gets rid of the boominess. Well worth it. I use a JAN PHILLIPS 5751 that I got from Tube Depot. Ran me about 40 bucks shipped.

Highly recommended swap.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've read about this and my guitarist has a bunch of them sitting around and offered to let me try one out. I'm going to give it a few more practices to see if I get used to it before I change anything. Once I get the amp dialed in it sounds great, so I'm confident it's probably something I'm doing wrong.
 
#978
willsellout said:
I do prefer a more midrange tone and less low end but how do you keep the low end tight? I turned the bass up a tad on my head the other night and the guitarist immediately noticed how boomy it was. I guess I'm still working through this head and figuring out what works and where to set things. Coming from Eden to Streamliner is quite a change...
Click to expand...


I used the Streamliner 900 last night with 2x210xst(probably not the best combination for this head) speakers and a passive MIA pbass..This is the first time I've tried this head..I started with some of the suggested settings from TB,and started the first song and I was'nt there at all...It was a tough room,but I did manage to find a usuable sound as the night went on.

I found that with the 'gain' switch off,that I ran out of headroom fairly quick..is this normal?..I did not think my cabs would be that greedy.With the 'gain switched engaged I managed to find a sound.I did not have a problem with boominess ,just trying to find a pillowy/thick/clear(not articulate) sound.Particuarly my "E" string.

I'll be back at it again tonight with another venue.
 
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