• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Genz Streamliner 900 and TC RH450 Comparison

Status
Not open for further replies.
#21
svtb15 said:
Can you pop the top off to be certain the tubes are seated properly?
Click to expand...

I'll wait to hear from the Genz gang before I start taking apart a one day old amp!

The pre warmup tube check 'passes', so might be something else. No big deal, it happens, and if it does happen, it is usually within the first hour. Much better than being on the gig.
 
#23
Bummer about the tube. Thankfully I still have a Mesa 12ax7 in the house from my long-ago guitar days ;)

One thing on construction. I found the build of the Streamliner to be top-notch, and they securely mount their high quality pots to the faceplate. I wasn't crazy about the feel of the pots on the RH450, and iirc others have complained of some issues (with the plastic shafts?). Of course I'm overly sensitive to this design point for a variety of reasons :p
 
#24
OK, here's the RH450/Streamliner comparison, with both set a little more 'fat and warm' versus my original clip. On this one, I focus a bit more on boosting the low mids a touch on the Streamliner, which puts it a bit more in line with the default RH450 voicing.

Both sound very nice to me! I will hopefully just swap a tube and be back in business.... with some J bass clips and different cabs next!

K

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiojzcIWt9E
 
#25
The amps sound great! Your voice sounds like crap - get some vitamin C, some chicken soup, and some rest!

Nice demo. Nice comparison.
 
#26
kesslari said:
The amps sound great! Your voice sounds like crap - get some vitamin C, some chicken soup, and some rest!

Nice demo. Nice comparison.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Genz did a very good job with this one.

And yes, I am heading into 'crud' land... fading fast! Glad I got a couple of clips up for the gang. When I get that tube replacement or whatever and feel better, it will be 'Jazz Bass' time:bassist:
 
#27
KJung said:
OK, here's the RH450/Streamliner comparison, with both set a little more 'fat and warm' versus my original clip. On this one, a focus a bit more on boosting the low mids a touch on the Streamliner, which puts it a bit more in line with the default RH450 voicing.

Both sound very nice to me! I will hopefully just swap a tube and be back in business.... with some J bass clips and different cabs next!

K

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiojzcIWt9E
Click to expand...
Interesting... you mentioned you don't hear as much of the tubey top end in the RH... I wonder if that's due at least in part to that darned LPF.
 
#28
Vic said:
Interesting... you mentioned you don't hear as much of the tubey top end in the RH... I wonder if that's due at least in part to that darned LPF.
Click to expand...

That could be part of it, but I think it is a bit of a voicing and maybe a 'real tube' difference. Not sure though. They both sound very good to me.

The RH450 is kind of cool, and I think you can hear it a bit on my little clip, in that it kind of does a whole 'vintage rig' sort of voicing, making that very 'modern' AE410 sound a bit grunty and rough. The Streamliner is more of a 'tube sounding head' without having any sort of vintage cab emulation that smooths a tweeter and even the upper mids of many neo loaded cabs.

Both make sense to me. The Genz head sounds like a tube amp to me. The RH450 sounds like an entire 'classic rig' if that makes any sense.
 
#32
Genz rocks. Andy (Agedhorse) already contacted me and we did a test. The amp works with the bass plugged into the effects return, which means it is just a tube that probably got damaged in shipping.

Called Genz and talked to Jeff... and even though I'm sure just replacing a tube would have taken care of it, they are shipping a new amp to me for Saturday delivery, just so they can check out the unit.

Really top notch (as many know already).

Great amp, and my guess is, other than the typical tube going to hell in shipping, these will be solid as a rock.

Funny how you can be more pleased with a company that fixes a minor problem quickly than if nothing had even gone wrong.:)

Look for couple J Bass clips later this weekend.
 
#34
KJung said:
Genz rocks. Andy (Agedhorse) already contacted me and we did a test. The amp works with the bass plugged into the effects return, which means it is just a tube that probably got damaged in shipping.

Called Genz and talked to Jeff... and even though I'm sure just replacing a tube would have taken care of it, they are shipping a new amp to me for Saturday delivery, just so they can check out the unit.

Really top notch (as many know already).

Great amp, and my guess is, other than the typical tube going to hell in shipping, these will be solid as a rock.

Funny how you can be more pleased with a company that fixes a minor problem quickly than if nothing had even gone wrong.:)

Look for couple J Bass clips later this weekend.
Click to expand...

I know it's been said time and time again but they really are great. I bought a shuttle 6.0 shortly after they came out and had a power supply problem with it. They shipped me a replacement next day and Jeff called to make sure it was working correctly a few days later. The replacement has been flawless and I wouldnt consider replacing it......although this streamliner looks nice......;)
 
#36
KJung said:
Genz rocks. Andy (Agedhorse) already contacted me and we did a test. The amp works with the bass plugged into the effects return, which means it is just a tube that probably got damaged in shipping.

Called Genz and talked to Jeff... and even though I'm sure just replacing a tube would have taken care of it, they are shipping a new amp to me for Saturday delivery, just so they can check out the unit.

Really top notch (as many know already).

Great amp, and my guess is, other than the typical tube going to hell in shipping, these will be solid as a rock.

Funny how you can be more pleased with a company that fixes a minor problem quickly than if nothing had even gone wrong.:)

Look for couple J Bass clips later this weekend.
Click to expand...


Wow, just wow. That is the best really. I have to admit, I felt a little nervous about my amp when I heard you had a problem. But with that kind of customer care I feel much better. I have never had a tube amp, so is it a good idea to keep a few extra tubes on hand, or do these pre amp sized rarely have problems?
gab
 
#38
Gab124 said:
Wow, just wow. That is the best really. I have to admit, I felt a little nervous about my amp when I heard you had a problem. But with that kind of customer care I feel much better. I have never had a tube amp, so is it a good idea to keep a few extra tubes on hand, or do these pre amp sized rarely have problems?
gab
Click to expand...

Preamp tubes are typically rock solid... most issues are like mine... who knows how banged around the box got in shipping (there was actually a hole punched in the box when it arrived, but didn't make it through the protective material in the box, so when the amp came on, I figured all was well. However, that could have been the result of a big drop or whatever.

Don't sweat it.. unless you drop it, you should be good.

I again have had to replace Mesa tubes after shipping, not that unusual.
 
#40
Vic said:
I think this depends GREATLY on the amp design. Not all preamp designs containing one or more tubes run the tube(s) at the most typically recommended 150 or so volts. Depends on what the tonal design goals are for the tube(s).
Click to expand...


Most good tube amps/preamps will have a B+ supply rail for the preamp that is in the 300 V range (which is what is generally referenced in the literature); this will drop into the 150 V range after passing through each stage's anode resistor.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back