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Genz Benz Streamliner Pt 7.....

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#964
Musicman20 said:
Too large unfortunately, otherwise id have a SMax 9.2....and id have to buy a new bag, the works.

The LM3 has that really crisp flat clarity...which I now miss having owned one for a year and selling it.
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As we discussed through email, I like your plan. It is a similar logic to what I (and a few others have done). Fill your more classic, tubey needs with one head (for me, that is the Streamliner900, for you, it seems that is the RH750) and then a more neutral 'modern' need with another head (in my case, the F500, in your case, the LMII/III... others use a Shuttle 9 or whatever).

Nice combination that covers just about anything you will need to do. The actual product choice (e.g., for tubey,the Streamliner, a Mesa head, the RH750, the Orange Terror, etc.) is a matter of tonal preference, output need, etc. (similar to the choice of a Shuttle, one of the Markbass heads, one of the GK heads, etc., etc. for a more solid state vibe).
 
#965
KJung said:
As we discussed through email, I like your plan. It is a similar logic to what I (and a few others have done). Fill your more classic, tubey needs with one head (for me, that is the Streamliner900, for you, it seems that is the RH750) and then a more neutral 'modern' need with another head (in my case, the F500, in your case, the LMII/III... others use a Shuttle 9 or whatever).

Nice combination that covers just about anything you will need to do. The actual product choice (e.g., for tubey,the Streamliner, a Mesa head, the RH750, the Orange Terror, etc.) is a matter of tonal preference, output need, etc. (similar to the choice of a Shuttle, one of the Markbass heads, one of the GK heads, etc., etc. for a more solid state vibe).
Click to expand...

Ah, thou speak somewhat wisely, methinks. Kinda the direction I'm heading in, just want to see what the GK MB800 brings to the table.

Maybe he should off the RH750, it probably has only 368 watts anyways... :hiding:
 
#967
adivin said:
Personally I think the STL can handle any situation.
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+1 Any decent player can use any amp for anything. However, for those of us who play in a wide variety of contexts, it is kind of nice to have a good version of each of the two 'classic' sort of overall voicings... all tube, and solid state.

There are enough differences in feel and tone between these two classes of amp that I have a more enjoyable playing experience when I use one or the other with different basses, depending on whether I'm slapping 70's funk (which rarely happens anymore), or doing a more neo soul type thing, or (heaven help me) more classic rock or whatever.

+1 to your general comment though. Having two heads representing what I feel is the 'best' of each 'voicing' is definitely a wonderful luxury.
 
#968
Musicman20 said:
The one thing that worries me is this mid-dip that I keep hearing about. Is there a mid-dip?! Is this why some are struggling with some cabs?

What I struggle with is if I bump the mids to 2/3, there isnt much left on the dial mids wise..
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On a scope, the SL has a big low end, a broad valley in the mids, and a mild peak in the treble.

The mid scoop is broader than most amps I've bench-tested, which may be why some don't hear it as such. But the proof is in the fact that you can nearly dime the mids at 600Hz, without it sounding like it's got a clothes-pin on it's nose. Ironically, most amps with active EQ are at the opposite extreme: you can't dime the mids, because it sounds gross.

I suspect that most satisfied SL owners have come to the same conclusion- Use Your Ears. As long as the Streamliner has enough mids and a tight enough low end to suit your cabs, who cares whether the controls are at 8 o'clock or 4 o'clock?
 
#974
Musicman20 said:
Too large unfortunately, otherwise id have a SMax 9.2....and id have to buy a new bag, the works.

The LM3 has that really crisp flat clarity...which I now miss having owned one for a year and selling it.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% about it being big, way bigger than I thought & certainly not a micro. I'd rackmount mine for the wireless & tuner... but KJUNG is wise... Just like I need a P bass or a J bass, I need a Streamliner or a hi-fi clean amp as well

Theres TONS of choices for hi-fi clean but less tubey warmth amps as KJUNG points out above.

Just like a lot of us own way more than 1 bass, I think its great to have 2 amps if you can swing it.
 
#975
Musicman20 said:
The problem is...mids at 3 is almost no more mids. Didnt Genz say they would not release a mid shy amp?
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Remember, it is the huge low end of this amp that can make it sound a bit mid shy when set neutral (tone controls at noon). Bass at 11 and mids at around 2 o'clock set at 600hz, and it is very even. The EQ on this amp is VERY different from the Shuttle or the Markbass heads. More similar to the Mesa MPulse line (and of course, some classic all tube heads). The EQ is very interactive, and works with the gain settings to give you either super fat and smooth, or nice and growly and articulate.

One thing this amp doesn't have is a bright upper mid thing baked in, which makes the treble sound very sweet and tubey and 'vintage'.

I dig it, but as we've all talked about, it is not a pure 'set it at neutral and play' sort of amp.

IMO and a lot of IME at this point.

If you listen to some of the clips I posted, the EQ is not set to extremes at all, but it sounds full and fat but still articulate with a bit of grind.
 
#976
KJung said:
One thing this amp doesn't have is a bright upper mid thing baked in, which makes the treble sound very sweet and tubey and 'vintage'.
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY why a lot of people are returning it... you really can't dial this out easily, if this is what you NEED in an amp this will disappoint you... just as a Solidstate hi-fi amp won't get the tubey upper mids of the Streamliner

I think its almost impossible to do both in 1 amp, you wind up with mediocrity in both. So Streamliner for tube warmth & have your pick for hi-fi...

Oh lets do it all again on part 8 :cool:
 
#978
Musicman20 said:
The problem is...mids at 3 is almost no more mids. Didnt Genz say they would not release a mid shy amp?
Click to expand...

I followed Tunaman's advice tonight, and cut the mids back to about 9:30 at 220Hz. With the bass at 9:00 and the treble to taste, it sounded surprisingly quick and modern. But it still had the Streamliner character.

I'd have to see it on a scope to be sure, but it sounds like cutting the low mids as well as the bass, finally tames that over-ambitious low end, and gets you closer to Shuttle territory. Lots of upper mids, and no shortage of definition.

It seems like cutting what I DON'T want, works better than boosting what I DO want with this amp...
 
#979
Tunaman said:
This is EXACTLY why a lot of people are returning it... you really can't dial this out easily, if this is what you NEED in an amp this will disappoint you... just as a Solidstate hi-fi amp won't get the tubey upper mids of the Streamliner

I think its almost impossible to do both in 1 amp, you wind up with mediocrity in both. So Streamliner for tube warmth & have your pick for hi-fi...

Oh lets do it all again on part 8 :cool:
Click to expand...
Ive been fiddling with one of these I borrowed and i think its a solution to dial in the best of both worlds. Not 100% certain, but Im liking it as you can help dial in almost anything you want.
 
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