- Nov 29, 2007
- 3,641
- 13
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- Endorsing artist GENZ BENZ/HERCULES STANDS/XSonics
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Genz Streamliner 900 and TC RH450 Comparison
- Thread starter KJung
- Start date
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svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
There you said it better than i did.. Im behind the curve 
Yeah it's not the fall that kills amps. It that sudden stop....
All I can say is have any of you ever been to a UPS or FedEx hub around 3 or 4 in the morning? I have, many, many times. If you haven't seen it first hand, it can be a struggle to really understand what these boxes can go through. Imagine 30 or so guys in various places around a conveyor belt. Some of them are slinging boxes off the large transfer trucks on to the belt. They slam and knock against other boxes. Some of them drop and land squarely on hard surfaces with a sudden forceful stop. Then they go down the belt and get picked up and tossed back down as they pass several local delivery trucks. Finally, when it reaches the truck it's supposed to be on, someone throws it onto the back of the truck, where someone else grabs it and shoves on some shelf on the truck. It's a brutal scene. Both FedEx and UPS play the odds with shipping damages. It's cheaper for them to treat the boxes poorly but efficiently in order to get them delivered quickly than it is to take care with the packages. I would dare to say that the brutality experienced by a UPS/FedEx package in just a few days is more than what most of our amps (touring musicians aside) would experience over the course of a year. As for a touring group, at least the equipment would most likely be in a shock rack.
I've had my own issues with tubes over the years. No, they aren't what I would consider fragile, but I've had way more failures in tubes alone than I've had in any other solid state device. I'm hesitant to trust a tube head myself for this reason, which is why I always have a solid state backup with me whenever I gig. It's not hard for me to imagine at all that Ken was the victim of lightning striking the same place twice. I understand his position completely, but honestly I wouldn't have expected otherwise. In my line of work (enterprise IT consulting), smart clients pay HUGE amounts of money to cover their arses in the event that the unlikely failure may happen. It seldom does, but it sure is money well spent when Murphy comes knocking. Until Genz tells me otherwise, I'll believe this was Murphy paying Ken a visit, and that the problem was just a typical tube failure of some sort.
I've had my own issues with tubes over the years. No, they aren't what I would consider fragile, but I've had way more failures in tubes alone than I've had in any other solid state device. I'm hesitant to trust a tube head myself for this reason, which is why I always have a solid state backup with me whenever I gig. It's not hard for me to imagine at all that Ken was the victim of lightning striking the same place twice. I understand his position completely, but honestly I wouldn't have expected otherwise. In my line of work (enterprise IT consulting), smart clients pay HUGE amounts of money to cover their arses in the event that the unlikely failure may happen. It seldom does, but it sure is money well spent when Murphy comes knocking. Until Genz tells me otherwise, I'll believe this was Murphy paying Ken a visit, and that the problem was just a typical tube failure of some sort.
Totally Understand that Jason. Another reason why I hope it all gets sorted. If it IS this sorta thing happening.... then shame on the 'handlers' If it's poor quality tubes, ??
I wait patiently.
I wait patiently.
Since this thread has turned into more of a discussion on the Streamliner reliabilty I'll just say i've now had my 900 over a week with zero issues. I've played it every day, multiple times most days, and all it does is produce some of the best bass tone I've ever heard.
I concur. Most of the time with shipping you come out OK but occasionally it hits the fan and it dopes happen.
I got a cab shipped UPS that ended up with a hole in the side completely through the cab. The hole was about the size of a quarter. I also had a rare guitar that was totaled, as in destroyed by UPS. I had a Crest CA-9 that FedEx tried to use for recreational entertainment. It had to go to the shop after they got finished with it and there is more ..........
Makes it sound like Ken got the only 2 shipped... these thngs have been sent everywhere and, so far, it sounds like Ken had the only issues (I certainly could have missed something somewhere). Probably more like 2 outta 500-1000
Hey guys. Give them a day or two. The heads were overnighted back yesterday (Monday), so they should have them sometime later today. I would again be a bit surprised if it just wasn't something funky with a tube or two in each one.
My guess is, the 'final answer' on this will be that basically, I am a 'tube pu***'
Stuff happens in shipping, and a super lightweight head in a relatively lightweight package will probably result in a few issues from time to time.I'm sure Roger will post up here in a couple of days when they have had a chance to check it out. Sounds like everyone else is having a great experience with these, so, my guess is this was just a strange, strange 'double wammy' of bad luck.
Again, for those coming into this thread late and only reading the drama, check out the clips I posted on the first page (or just click on my youtube channel link in my sig). Very impressive sounding amp IMO.
+1 ... got to admit, I remember my SVT head taking a 5 foot fall onto a cement loading dock ... never looked the same, but ran flawlessly ...
Hey guys. Give them a day or two. The heads were overnighted back yesterday (Monday), so they should have them sometime later today. I would again be a bit surprised if it just wasn't something funky with a tube or two in each one.
My guess is, the 'final answer' on this will be that basically, I am a 'tube pu***'
I'm sure Roger will post up here in a couple of days when they have had a chance to check it out. Sounds like everyone else is having a great experience with these, so, my guess is this was just a strange, strange 'double wammy' of bad luck.
Again, for those coming into this thread late and only reading the drama, check out the clips I posted on the first page (or just click on my youtube channel link in my sig). Very impressive sounding amp IMO.
Ken, thanks for all your feedback and videos, despite the final outcome.
If this were a brand new luxury car with a bad transmission, twice over, no one would blame you for returning the vehicles.
Much like the man who is afraid to fly, we all know the day he's on that plane is the day of misfortune, and in your case, two-strikes prior to the date of an actual gig would be more proof than I would need
Cheers!
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
rodl2005 said:
rodl2005 said:
Folks are making statements as though GB won't backup their product.
Hundreds of heads get shipped, ONE GUY gets two that malfunction and guys are jumping ship like GB is the new guy on the scene? All the years of Excellency tossed because of one bad scenario?
Gee whiz I hope folks would be more lenient on me if I start a business. Come on fellas, they've yet to have time to even get the heads back and their integrity is already being challenged as to rather they'll make things right?
Whew!
God Bless, Ray
Folks are making statements as though GB won't backup their product.
Hundreds of heads get shipped, ONE GUY gets two that malfunction and guys are jumping ship like GB is the new guy on the scene? All the years of Excellency tossed because, of one bad scenario?
Gee whiz I hope folks would be more lenient on me if I start a business. Come on fellas, they've yet to have time to even get the heads back and their integrity is already being challenged as to rather they'll make things right.
I would not worry too much, many are still ordering them and those getting them in are very happy. Some people just like a good mystery/drama and to have something to talk about. Soon enough it will be back on the tone and performance of these heads as I know GB will take care of any issues.
If this were a brand new luxury car with a bad transmission, twice over, no one would blame you for returning the vehicles.
Much like the man who is afraid to fly, we all know the day he's on that plane is the day of misfortune, and in your case, two-strikes prior to the date of an actual gig would be more proof than I would need
Those analogies are inaccurate. Amplifier tubes fail, and when they do, they don't risk peoples' lives. The scenarios above are far more serious. Also, a failed tube is easily replaceable by the end user. Transmissions and commercial airplane parts are not.
Fair enough. I stand corrected.
I will instead say "a brand new luxury car with a significant operational problem that one would have no desire of trying to service themselves upon immediate receipt of the vehicle."
I still believe in Genz Benz and I still appreciate Ken's efforts, but his recent bad luck? I sure don't want it!
Lots of talk about tubes, UPS, etc. What I'm wondering is was Ken's cat ever alone with the amps?
Perhaps the cat was afraid the Streamliner would replace the Puma.
Maybe things would have turned out differently if GB had named their new amp the "Feliner"....
Perhaps the cat was afraid the Streamliner would replace the Puma.
Maybe things would have turned out differently if GB had named their new amp the "Feliner"....
Fair enough. I stand corrected.
I will instead say "a brand new luxury car with a significant operational problem that one would have no desire of trying to service themselves upon immediate receipt of the vehicle."
I still believe in Genz Benz and I still appreciate Ken's efforts, but his recent bad luck? I sure don't want it!
Guess we differ... as I don't consider the prospect of replacing a defective tube to be much of an inconvenience. Then again, I'm generally chomping at the bit to pop the lid off of a new piece of gear and see what's inside....
No doubt that carriers can be quite careless with packages.
I wonder if every Chinese-sourced Genz amp tested after it's landed in the U.S. Not picking on Genz, I assume the answer is yes.
I wonder if every Chinese-sourced Genz amp tested after it's landed in the U.S. Not picking on Genz, I assume the answer is yes.
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