Genz Benz Streamliner Tube Rolling

[Wasnex]

IME, the LPS tubes can become very microphonic in bass applications.

I believe the reissue Mullard ECC83 has almost the same gut and plate structure as the Sovtek 12AX7LPS. I.E. both are long plate designs. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mullard develops problems under hard gigging or touring conditions as well, but I haven't had any trouble with mine, possibly because all my amps are basement queens.

The reissue Mullard CV4004 is a short plate design, so it should be a bit more robust. But it doesn't have the big fat low end of the ECC83.

 

[DanoesqBass]

IME, most players preferred the factory stock tubes when they didn't know what was in there (ie. double-blind testing). Only when they went down the road of rolling their own did they "prefer" their choices, in large part I suspect due to confirmation bias)

The factory tubes were selected for the combination of tone, low microphonics, low noise and long term reliability.

The challenges of NOS tubes with regard to microphonics, noise and reliability is a well documented one, as well as outright counterfeit parts that masquerade as NOS vintage parts. Buyer beware.

I am still loving my 2 900's 5 years later!

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

After tube rolling last week, I believe I found what will work for my application. I replaced V1 from a Sovtek 12AX7A-LPS to a NOS 12AX7A Raytheon tube. I kept what I believe to be stock Ruby’s in V2 and V3.

Rehearsed with it Friday night for 2 hours, and gigged Saturday out of town for about a 2.5 hour show.

I was running through a Tech 21 410 at rehearsal and a TecAmp M210 for the gig. Both 8 ohm cabs.

I have gigged my SM 9.2 for the last 7 years and had a good gig comparison with this head against it.

The STL definitely has a big round weighted low end and I noticed for the first time the 3DPM kick in at certain times creating a tube compression squash that reminds me of my all tube amps. I never experienced that 3DPM compression in my SM.

I noticed at the gig the peak LED illuminate when I would dig in really hard on the E string. That’s when I believe the compression happens. The peak LED would look like a guy coming down a tunnel with a flashlight, illuminating soft and far and then rise to full illumination for a sec or two. I never paid attention to my SM’s peak LED, so I found this to be a bit of a surprise. I was running a fDeck series 3 at the 30Hz cutoff (I am usually around 80Hz)

One other thing I noticed, this amp stays really cool, so does my SM, but I thought with high voltage tubes that it would get warmer than it did at the gig. Crazy it was on for at least 3 hours and played non stop for about 2.5 hours and the amp was just a little warmer than room temperature all over the entire chassis. Fan was running like it would be at home practice.

The bottom line is I love all tube amps, this of coarse is not, but I feel it is pretty darn close. I was able to get a tight punchy sound out of it that was close to my SM 9.2, but with a nice weighted low end that reminded me of my Super Bassman. The STL is a nice amp that falls between my SM and Super Bassman. Got a gig this Saturday and plan to test it out some more. So far I like it and have wanted one for a long while. Glad I got one, although I believe I am the 5th owner, it is staying with me. I have way more amps and cabs than I have Basses, I wonder if there is a term for us guys with a higher amp to bass ratio.

Pic or it didn’t happen.

 

[jnewmark]

Doesn't the SL have a built in HPF like the Shuttles ?

 

[ahc]

Doesn't the SL have a built in HPF like the Shuttles ?

Yup. Fixed at about 30 Hz.

 

[agedhorse]

Doesn't the SL have a built in HPF like the Shuttles ?

Yes, a little lower but the voicing of the amp down low is quite different compared with the Shuttle.

 

[jnewmark]

Yes, a little lower but the voicing of the amp down low is quite different compared with the Shuttle.

So adding another fixed at 30 hz brings you to where ?

 

[agedhorse]

So adding another fixed at 30 hz brings you to where ?

Depends on the filter type/alignment, but probably in the neighborhood of 35-38Hz.

 

[blowinblue]

Pic or it didn’t happen.

I've tried a few different tubes, but always ended up putting the stock tubes back in. Bought my Streamliner 600 new in 2011. It's not going anywhere. Liked it so much I spent some extra dough to have Studio Slips make a custom bag for it.



M. M.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I've tried a few different tubes, but always ended up putting the stock tubes back in. Bought my Streamliner 600 new in 2011. It's not going anywhere. Liked it so much I spent some extra dough to have Studio Slips make a custom bag for it.

View attachment 3685362 View attachment 3685383 View attachment 3685384

M. M.

I think I am the 5th owner and I don’t have the stock tube for V1, but I might give it a shot back to stock.

However, my backlight blue LED’s doesn't illuminate, and the tubes in there now glow gloriously natural, and looks cool as well.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

So I ordered a JJ ECC83-S from Sweetwater to replace my NOS Raytheon in V1. I wanted to try the STL in stock format.

Sounds great at bedroom levels, have a gig Saturday night, I will put it through it’s paces with my Uber 410 at the gig.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Gig report with the JJ ECC83-S and Uber 410.

Loud and proud, this time I had my settings with gain at 3, volume at noon, bass at 10, mid at 2 @ 600HZ, treble at 11, and master around 8:30.

It had a really sweet full round bottom with punchy mids and smooth highs. I will definitely keep the stock tubes in place for a while. It really did remind me of playing through my Super Bassman. Love Genz.

 

[Wicked G]

I think I am the 5th owner and I don’t have the stock tube for V1, but I might give it a shot back to stock.

However, my backlight blue LED’s doesn't illuminate, and the tubes in there now glow gloriously natural, and looks cool as well.

If you are willing to spend the money agedhorse will replace the LEDs and go over the entire amp to make sure everything else is ok. All for only $80.

The Streamliner looks awesome with the blue LEDs shining through the window and of course the tone is mahvelous.

 

[wayshot]

The backlight LEDs have gone dark on my Streamliner as well, but I think they should stay that way. I'm not a fan of overly-bright blue LEDs everywhere.
Speaking of tubes: Mine is equipped with a JJ 5751 in V1, stock Chinese in V2 and the V1-stock JJ in V3. I used to have a Telefunken smooth-plate ECC83 in V1 for some years - until I started getting noise on the DI output now and then after being on for a few hours. The problem ceased when I replaced the Telefunken with the JJ 5751, and I can't tell if there's any noticeable difference in tone.
A soundguy once commented that my bass sounded awesome, running through the Streamliner DI output. It was the first gig after putting that Telefunken in V1, and I hadn't told him about the tube swap.

 

[hennessybass]

It really did remind me of playing through my Super Bassman.

Love that.

I used mine on a gig this past Friday. Got in the room, and changed my settings up... sounded great. Kept my gain lower thank normal. Been running it at about 2:00, but took it down to about 10-11:00, made up volume with the volume. Also cut my mids a bit (2.5), where I have been giving them just a tiny boost.
I liked the effect.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

If you are willing to spend the money agedhorse will replace the LEDs and go over the entire amp to make sure everything else is ok. All for only $80.

The Streamliner looks awesome with the blue LEDs shining through the window and of course the tone is mahvelous.
View attachment 3692703

Not a bad idea at all, however I don’t want to give it up right now as I am loving this amp a little too much. I don’t mind the LED’s not working because the fire and glass behind the window look dope as hell.

 

[SamTheButcher]

New/Old Streamliner Amp Day today!

Long story short, I had (and sold) a Genz-Benz Streamliner 600 about 5 years ago...reason being I also had the GB Shuttle 6.2 12T combo, and since the 6.2 Shuttle was made to be with the 6.2 12T cab I was using...., I kept the Shuttle combo intact.

Anyways, I found I miss the Streamliner tone, so I just bought another Streamliner 600, got it online from GC. As before, will be playing thru the GB 6.2T Shuttle cab.

With the current pandemic climate we live in today, I had very limited contact with GC, only 2 auto generated emails confirming the purchase, and when it shipped. I wanted more info on it (called and emailed), but that never happened. I get it.

It arrived today, plugged it up and it seems to work fine (except for the blue LED's not working), but I have a few questions.

It showed up with a big Tung-Sol sticker on top of it, so I felt pretty sure someone changed up the tubes in it.

I took the top off of it, just to confirm, and the V1 (first position on the left) has what looks to be a Tung-Sol ECC803S 12AX7 tube in it.

The other two are: Ruby Tubes 12AX7AC5 in the V2, and Ruby Tubes 12AX7A 7025SS in V3.

I don't know exactly what tubes came from GB stock with this amp, Though I feel the Tung-Sol might be a replacement, and have heard that the Ruby's in 2 and 3 may be what it came with.

If true, how does the Tung-Sol in V1 alter the Streamliner tone?

Are the 2 Ruby's stock? I would prefer to have the original tubes the amp came with.

Would also like to have the blue LED's working again. I've read above that TB member agedhorse can preform this, along with going over the amp...(I think I would like that as well).

Any help, thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Wasnex]

New/Old Streamliner Amp Day today!

Long story short, I had (and sold) a Genz-Benz Streamliner 600 about 5 years ago...reason being I also had the GB Shuttle 6.2 12T combo, and since the 6.2 Shuttle was made to be with the 6.2 12T cab I was using...., I kept the Shuttle combo intact.

Anyways, I found I miss the Streamliner tone, so I just bought another Streamliner 600, got it online from GC. As before, will be playing thru the GB 6.2T Shuttle cab.

With the current pandemic climate we live in today, I had very limited contact with GC, only 2 auto generated emails confirming the purchase, and when it shipped. I wanted more info on it (called and emailed), but that never happened. I get it.

It arrived today, plugged it up and it seems to work fine (except for the blue LED's not working), but I have a few questions.

It showed up with a big Tung-Sol sticker on top of it, so I felt pretty sure someone changed up the tubes in it.

I took the top off of it, just to confirm, and the V1 (first position on the left) has what looks to be a Tung-Sol ECC803S 12AX7 tube in it.

The other two are: Ruby Tubes 12AX7AC5 in the V2, and Ruby Tubes 12AX7A 7025SS in V3.

I don't know exactly what tubes came from GB stock with this amp, Though I feel the Tung-Sol might be a replacement, and have heard that the Ruby's in 2 and 3 may be what it came with.

If true, how does the Tung-Sol in V1 alter the Streamliner tone?

Are the 2 Ruby's stock? I would prefer to have the original tubes the amp came with.

Would also like to have the blue LED's working again. I've read above that TB member agedhorse can preform this, along with going over the amp...(I think I would like that as well).

Any help, thoughts would be appreciated!

Here is a link that lists the original tubes. Genz Benz Streamliner Tube Rolling
From the link

All are Ruby Tubes

V1= 12AX7-CZ
V 2 and V3 are 12AX7-AC5 tubes
​

The Tung Sol is a very highly regarded tube. It ha plenty of highs and lows and is very punchy. It's a little to hard and aggressive in the upper mids for my taste.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

New/Old Streamliner Amp Day today!

Long story short, I had (and sold) a Genz-Benz Streamliner 600 about 5 years ago...reason being I also had the GB Shuttle 6.2 12T combo, and since the 6.2 Shuttle was made to be with the 6.2 12T cab I was using...., I kept the Shuttle combo intact.

Anyways, I found I miss the Streamliner tone, so I just bought another Streamliner 600, got it online from GC. As before, will be playing thru the GB 6.2T Shuttle cab.

With the current pandemic climate we live in today, I had very limited contact with GC, only 2 auto generated emails confirming the purchase, and when it shipped. I wanted more info on it (called and emailed), but that never happened. I get it.

It arrived today, plugged it up and it seems to work fine (except for the blue LED's not working), but I have a few questions.

It showed up with a big Tung-Sol sticker on top of it, so I felt pretty sure someone changed up the tubes in it.

I took the top off of it, just to confirm, and the V1 (first position on the left) has what looks to be a Tung-Sol ECC803S 12AX7 tube in it.

The other two are: Ruby Tubes 12AX7AC5 in the V2, and Ruby Tubes 12AX7A 7025SS in V3.

I don't know exactly what tubes came from GB stock with this amp, Though I feel the Tung-Sol might be a replacement, and have heard that the Ruby's in 2 and 3 may be what it came with.

If true, how does the Tung-Sol in V1 alter the Streamliner tone?

Are the 2 Ruby's stock? I would prefer to have the original tubes the amp came with.

Would also like to have the blue LED's working again. I've read above that TB member agedhorse can preform this, along with going over the amp...(I think I would like that as well).

Any help, thoughts would be appreciated!

Ruby’s are stock, and when I inquired about my ST900, I was told the original V1 was a JJ ecc83s. So that’s what I bought.

It seems most owners wanted to tame the low end and swapped V1 with other tubes.

I, like you, prefer to have it stock, and it sounds beautiful that way.

 

[BassPilot]

New/Old Streamliner Amp Day today!

Long story short, I had (and sold) a Genz-Benz Streamliner 600 about 5 years ago...reason being I also had the GB Shuttle 6.2 12T combo, and since the 6.2 Shuttle was made to be with the 6.2 12T cab I was using...., I kept the Shuttle combo intact.

Anyways, I found I miss the Streamliner tone, so I just bought another Streamliner 600, got it online from GC. As before, will be playing thru the GB 6.2T Shuttle cab.

With the current pandemic climate we live in today, I had very limited contact with GC, only 2 auto generated emails confirming the purchase, and when it shipped. I wanted more info on it (called and emailed), but that never happened. I get it.

It arrived today, plugged it up and it seems to work fine (except for the blue LED's not working), but I have a few questions.

It showed up with a big Tung-Sol sticker on top of it, so I felt pretty sure someone changed up the tubes in it.

I took the top off of it, just to confirm, and the V1 (first position on the left) has what looks to be a Tung-Sol ECC803S 12AX7 tube in it.

The other two are: Ruby Tubes 12AX7AC5 in the V2, and Ruby Tubes 12AX7A 7025SS in V3.

I don't know exactly what tubes came from GB stock with this amp, Though I feel the Tung-Sol might be a replacement, and have heard that the Ruby's in 2 and 3 may be what it came with.

If true, how does the Tung-Sol in V1 alter the Streamliner tone?

Are the 2 Ruby's stock? I would prefer to have the original tubes the amp came with.

Would also like to have the blue LED's working again. I've read above that TB member agedhorse can preform this, along with going over the amp...(I think I would like that as well).

Any help, thoughts would be appreciated!

Yes, AgedHorse does all the support for these and I believe all Genz Benz amps. He repaired my blue LED's and went through the entire amp for one flat fee. I don't remember what the price was but it wasn't much and well worth it.