Genz Streamliner 600/900 tone control primer

[steve_rolfeca]

Thank you. For a supposedly simple, "streamlined" amp, the SL600/900 needs a thread like this, far more than most.

I am lovin' the G-K, but I'm not sure I'm ready to leave the Genz fold yet. I've got my eye on a ShuttleMax as a backup/alternative at the moment- you just can't beat that Genz Benz customer service...

 

[bassman2]

Thank you. For a supposedly simple, "streamlined" amp, the SL600/900 needs a thread like this, far more than most.

I am lovin' the G-K, but I'm not sure I'm ready to leave the Genz fold yet. I've got my eye on a ShuttleMax as a backup/alternative at the moment- you just can't beat that Genz Benz customer service...

+1 on the thread for sure Steve.....great to know when you twist a knob....just exactly what it's doing.....the amp of endless combinations!! lol I did use a GK700 RB for years.....and before that Ampeg SVT for more years than I care to count...got to be a weight thing.....my first class D power here.....I am finding soooooo much difference power wise....but loving the light weight....meets my needs.

 

[LoveThatBass]

+1 on the thread for sure Steve.....great to know when you twist a knob....just exactly what it's doing.....the amp of endless combinations!! lol I did use a GK700 RB for years.....and before that Ampeg SVT for more years than I care to count...got to be a weight thing.....my first class D power here.....I am finding soooooo much difference power wise....but loving the light weight....meets my needs.

I had a GK 700 RBII for a few years and nothing sounded better to me, that is until I got my GB Streamliner 600. This little box totally blows me away in tone and amazement. I get lots of compliments on it's tone and abilities.

 

[PeterF]

just acquired a STM 600, 1st rehearsal last night. I was jamming along at 11, 1.5 and 1.5. Vol at gain at noon, vol at 1.5. Tone was nice, nothing too exciting, then a tiny bump up in the gain, down on the volume and WHOAAA!. There it is that thick, warm tone that just sits perfect in the mix! Wasn't any louder, just present. Thanks Steve, thanks TB, if I hadn't read this thread, I would have been fiddling with the EQ. I will take a pic of this setting and post. It seems like the GBE600 with the tube and SS pre has similar sounds and they are easier to find, but it just doesn't have the same tube presence as the STM. So, STM as main, GBE as back up!

 

[Gab124]

I have been happy with this amp longer than any other in my life so far. I tweak it to the room or band and then don't look back at it again until the music is over. Simply and great for me and my needs.

 

[Rockin Mike]

Streamliner 600...
It is a weird little amp.
Every knob affects everything else.
I roll the lows down to zero and max out the 250 mids, and run the gain up around noon.
No other amp would I play at such extreme settings

Alone at the house, it's not my favorite.
Why is it at the club when my Eden sits at home?
I can't explain it. In the mix, it just works.

 

[svtb15]

This streamliner 900 may be the best little amp that i have ever played.. For a simple BMT tone control setup, i constantly find new and different tones in this box ..

 

[Honkycat]

I've been using a pbass with the 900,with great results....(using kjungs settings as a basic starting point..600hz)....I was used a jazz at last nights gig and in the second set thought I'd try the SVT setting.(2.5 hz)worked out really well.two thumbs up.!!

 

[Texan]

My streamliner 900 has me thinking of selling my shuttlemax 9.2 and buying another streamliner as a back up. I love the tone with my active and passive basses.

 

[Tunaman]

Damn Texan, my shuttlemax 9.2 has me thinking of selling my Streamliner & getting another 9.2max as a backup!

ha ha!

 

[Texan]

If I decide to make a move, I'll let you know, we may be able to make a swap. I rarely use the fet channel and the tube channel is close but no cigar to the streamliner.

 

[macribas]

No, I am using the same settings as I used to, it just isn't loud as it used to be. I will try replacing the V1 tube when I have a chance.

Just wanted to report that I solved the problem.
This week I finally got around to buy a tube and try swapping them. At first, as suggested, I replaced the V1. No improvement. I kind of gave up and even took it to a rehearsal.
Then a couple nights ago, I took the cover off and replaced V2. Nothing. Almost hopeless, I replaced V3 and BAM! There came my volume.
This is not tube rolling for the search of tone like on the other thread, that's why I posted it here. I thought it would be interesting to confirm that a faulty V3 can indeed affect the overall volume.

 

[mikezimmerman]

Just took my newly-acquired STL900 to its first band practice. I too started with kjung's baseline tone settings--what a great tone! With just as much warmth but a little more punch and girth than I was getting with the Eden, in a tiny package...can't wait to hear it on next week's gig!

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I have started using the mid freq switch a lot on my STM900, it is a fantastic tool, I generally leave the settings as below;

Gain button - selected (of course !)
Gain - 12 o clock
Volume - " "
Bass - 9-12 o clock
Mid - 3 o clock
Treble - 12 o clock
Master to suit - usually 12 o clock at most

The mid switch gives three amazing tone changes, 2.5K for most songs we play, more middley cleaner sounds - think Credence,Beatles,Stones,Skynnrd,Elvis, Trex,Poppy rocky stuff, switching to 220 gives a lovely deep heavy rock tone with a sizeable jump in loudness, great for Deep Purple, Sabbath, Clash, Who and generally louder rock songs, the 600 setting sits nicely in between, I have a 5 way mid switch on my Ampeg PF500 which does not seem to do much unless the mid EQ is maxed out and even then its very subtle but the switch settings on the STM 900 are incredible, also the volume control has a big affect on the EQ settings, it opens the amp up immensely, I find it amusing that GB call it `Streamliner`because this amp has so much hidden away - go find
I now have my favourite 3 tones with the flick of one switch .
I also had the `peak` light flashing the other day for the first time, I usually play passive with my P DLX MIA and no flashing but using it in `active` made it blink like crazy, quite a difference beween passive and active and we were getting a bit `excited` .

 

[mystic38]

Its only been a couple of days so I am still learning this amp, but so far am in complete agreement with its tonal flavours (and even better i go to pick up my Uber Quad tomorrow!).. but already noticed that if you take a view that it is mid scoop response rather than a bass & treble hump.. then just setting the mid to 600Hz and 3pm goes a long way to flatten this out...not flat, flat..but the last thing imo you need for a bass is a hifi amp...
..
back to playing..and did i say i cant wait until tomorrow?.. STL900 & Uber Quad should be Uber fun!

 

[Not yet]

JFYIs, Been using some new settings in Blues-Rock Trio that have been bringin on a new appreciation of the 900. Filled a fairly large room last nite w/o FOH (just monitors for Guitar/singer) and soundman was as complimentary as I was enjoying it

As said, this takes a lot of knob turning in ways most have never done before, but once you get past the strangeness of it this thing is amazing

Gain button - out
Gain - 10 o-clock
Volume - 5
Bass - 9
Mid Freq- 600
Mid - 12
Treble - 2-5 depending song
Master - Never above 10, spent most of nite at 9

 

[woolysock]

If you set the mid knob at 12 noon it won't matter what frequency center you choose... it's neutral ;-)

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

That mid knob is a fantastic tool with the mid EQ maxxed out, as good as a pedal IMO, you can go from a full punchy clear tone to a deep, smooth bass filled heavy tone in an instant

 

[noahw1]

I've had my Streamliner (with a Jan Philips 5751 in V1) for about two years now and usually have my settings at:
Gain button - On
Gain - 2
Volume - 11
Bass - 10
Mid - 2
Mid Freq - 600
Treble - Noon
or I've used the SVT settings but after reading this post I started messing around and found a new setting that I'm really digging.
Gain Button - On
Gain - 9
Volume - 3
Bass - 10
Mid - 2
Mid Freq - 600
Treble - 11 - Noon
Master to taste

It's really clean but keeps that great roundness and punch. It really works with my Jazz and P. Sometimes my J gets "lost" with the Streamliner but this setting is great for it.

It's amazing the number of great tones this amp possesses.

JFYIs, Been using some new settings in Blues-Rock Trio that have been bringin on a new appreciation of the 900. Filled a fairly large room last nite w/o FOH (just monitors for Guitar/singer) and soundman was as complimentary as I was enjoying it

As said, this takes a lot of knob turning in ways most have never done before, but once you get past the strangeness of it this thing is amazing

Gain button - out
Gain - 10 o-clock
Volume - 5
Bass - 9
Mid Freq- 600
Mid - 12
Treble - 2-5 depending song
Master - Never above 10, spent most of nite at 9

 

[Jim C]

I bought a TH500 in an effort to get the SVT vibe, which to me means clear, clean, punchy, warm, and with a wide 3-D soudstage
I just sold it because it had a bit too much wool for my tastes and a dark voicing(although a great amp).
For those X-SVT users that didn't go for distortion, is the Streamliner a good next try?
The other alternative is to replace my lead sled power amp with a lightweight and use my SVP-CL pre which would still be way heavier and bigger than I want to carry for most gigs.