GenzBenz Streamliner Pt 8...

[KJung]

Do these amps compliment more hi-fi cabs because of their dark nature, or do they sound equally as good through more vintage/dark sounding cabs such as Ernie Ball Music Man HD212 or Aguilar GS410?

I don't find the Streaminer 'dark' at all. I agree it doesn't have a goosed upper mid response, but it is crystal clear up top. The relaxed mid midrange can result in needing some pretty strong boosting of the midrange with some so called 'hi fi' cabs that are also midrange polite, with deep low end, but you can get there.

That being said, this head seems to be made (just like a real tube head) for use with a big, multi 10, one way sealed cab. I love it with my Berg AE410, which has a bit of that tight, grindy voicing of a more old school cab (I turn the tweeter down to almost off with that cab and the Streamliner).

Interestingly, one of the best combinations I've found is the new Acme FullRange cab, which has super low end extension. However, that cab is also bright and punchy and seems to both make use of the Streamliners amazing low end, and at the same time the upper mid and treble response of the Acme 112 roughs up the top end a bit to make it grind. Pretty cool, especially with a P Bass!

 

[Joe Smithberger]

+1 on dialing in the mids with the switch at 2.5K.

I originally avoided it, because I don't generally want to boost that area. Playing around with my RTA software revealed that because of the preshape on the bass/treble part of the tone stack, the 2.5K setting actually acts more like a conventional mid boost. On most settings, the push it provides is much further down the spectrum.

There's more info on the tone control primer thread, and there will be still more, once I can get some scope traces up.

Steve's measurements are pretty useful. It's not real intuitive to boost 25K and cut treble, but with a lot of cabs, that works really well with this amp. The treble and mid controls are very wide and the treble is centered relatively low.

 

[reasonbass]

reasonbass and sunbeast: my bad. reasonbass asked about Mesa M-Pulse 600.
I responded with a walkabout thread. ...must be the pain meds.

No worries Larry. It was nice to read about the walkabout/streamliner threads.

Sunbeast, thanks for the comparisons.

 

[reasonbass]

Yes. The Streamliner is much closer in voicing to the MPulse600 than the Walkabout. The Streamliner has that same, big tubey low end like the MPulse600, but has much more low mid punch and mid clarity, and a much sweeter top end. The Streamliner has a similar 'big, clean tube tone' like the Mpulse600, but is smaller, lighter, louder, and much more articulate through the midrange. IMO, if you liked the MPulse600, you will LOVE the Streamliner.

Per the above posts regarding the Walkabout, that head sounds quite different from both the Streamliner and MPulse600.... warmer, a very present midrange that always has some midrange distortion (in a good way), and more 'brightness' versus that crystal clear tube-like upper treble of the Streamliner. Both are great.

Thank you! That is great to hear. The Mpulse always had a spot in my heart as far as solid state/tube heads. I am more of an all tube amp guy. But I already have a 400+ and the Streamliner would be great to give the 400+ a well earned retirement. The Mesa is going to the grave with me.

 

[boethius]

Just picked up an STM 900...downsizing in weight and size from my SVT2Pro. Is there 1 perfect cab that pairs well with this head? I currently have it in a GS112 and I'm not too thrilled. UB1288 perhaps? (finger groove style mostly with some fusion and folk mixed in, primarily fretless).

 

[Dave W]

Why are you not thrilled with the GS112?

I'm using mine to 2 GS112's and I like it, but I don't have any other cabs to compare right now. I may be in the market for a pair of DB112's once I save up some more gig money though...

 

[flyingfinbar]

Just picked up an STM 900...downsizing in weight and size from my SVT2Pro. Is there 1 perfect cab that pairs well with this head? I currently have it in a GS112 and I'm not too thrilled. UB1288 perhaps? (finger groove style mostly with some fusion and folk mixed in, primarily fretless).

I also have a IIpro and have considered the Streamliner...I'm interested in your thoughts here!

 

[boethius]

My first thought is 7lbs vs 70+. My second thought is that in preamp design it matches pretty well what ampeg has done with V1 being a pure gain stage and V2 and V3 handling the tone sculpting with no solid state tone sculpting in the mix. The tone is very warm and articulate...doesn't have the depth of the 6550's, but nothing does at 7 pounds, and I can live with that. I dumped the 8x10's about 10 years ago and went to a 2x12 and 2x10 combination so I could run it at a 2Ohm load. I want to get down to a single cab (for most cases I have PA support) and I'm trying the GS112, but it seems to be missing a lot of the mid girth that I am used to.
I also will be getting around to rolling the tubes eventually.
Any suggestions on cabs or tubes are welcome!

 

[wateroftyne]

I've owned an MPulse and a Walkabout.. I feel the STL is in the same ballpark as both, but I actually think the STL has a little more in the way of definition.

 

[svtb15]

i use my Streamliner with an 810 back-line rental all the time... it slams well.
That is what i used on the last euro tour i did.. The Streamliner 900 into an SVT AV cab,,

My first thought is 7lbs vs 70+. My second thought is that in preamp design it matches pretty well what ampeg has done with V1 being a pure gain stage and V2 and V3 handling the tone sculpting with no solid state tone sculpting in the mix. The tone is very warm and articulate...doesn't have the depth of the 6550's, but nothing does at 7 pounds, and I can live with that. I dumped the 8x10's about 10 years ago and went to a 2x12 and 2x10 combination so I could run it at a 2Ohm load. I want to get down to a single cab (for most cases I have PA support) and I'm trying the GS112, but it seems to be missing a lot of the mid girth that I am used to.
I also will be getting around to rolling the tubes eventually.
Any suggestions on cabs or tubes are welcome!

 

[boethius]

i use my Streamliner with an 810 back-line rental all the time... it slams well.
That is what i used on the last euro tour i did.. The Streamliner 900 into an SVT AV cab,,

I'm sure it slams well! I just can't carry those things around anymore...210 lbs! I hate sounding old! I just need really good tone in a smaller package. UBER 1288 maybe?

 

[rodl2005]

Wow? I didn't think the 810 Ampeg weighed THAT much!

 

[reasonbass]

I thought they were around 120 lbs?

 

[stingraysvt]

140-165lbs for the 810 SVT cabs

The pro series 810's were 210lbs though if I remember right.

 

[rodl2005]

So about 210lbs WITH an SVT amp on top

 

[stingraysvt]

So about 210lbs WITH an SVT amp on top

Pretty much

 

[Red Planet]

An SVT head is about 90 pounds is it not?

No thanks for me to all of those. Not when I can have my little 50lb ball busting rig.

 

[Red Planet]

According to the Ampeg site the VR rig is 225 lbs.

 

[rodl2005]

Ahhhhh, I'll just go to the gym ;p

 

[stingraysvt]

+1 on dialing in the mids with the switch at 2.5K.

I originally avoided it, because I don't generally want to boost that area. Playing around with my RTA software revealed that because of the preshape on the bass/treble part of the tone stack, the 2.5K setting actually acts more like a conventional mid boost. On most settings, the push it provides is much further down the spectrum.

There's more info on the tone control primer thread, and there will be still more, once I can get some scope traces up.

I really thought I'd be more of a 250hz guy... But 2.5 really opens up the tone. There is soooo much low end on several of my rigs with the Streamliner the lows can be anywhere between 9-1 o'clock, the 250 would just muddy that up...

It is just so well thought out, I'm amazed