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GenzBenz Streamliner Pt 8...

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#561
jnewmark said:
Yeah, I was using a J bass with that cab, but I'll soon be getting a P bass. I still would like to get a cut through tone, though, not really looking for that fat pillow sound. Some guys are swapping out the tubes in the Streamliner to knock the huge " cloudy " ( their term, not mine ) low end down a little. It's an interesting thread, check it out. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-streamliner-tube-rolling-796088/
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What I'm finding - and this may just be me - is that the STL900 and a J Bass work best with 10" speakers. Again my opinion only, but guys who are using 110, 210, and 410 cabs seem to be a little more content. I'm searching for an Epifani 310 cab to check out, I suspect that might work too, so far can't find one. Also, cabs loaded with mid drivers seem to be working with J Basses and the STL. This is by no means definitive info, but does seem to be a bit of a trend.
 
#562
jnewmark said:
Yeah, I was using a J bass with that cab, but I'll soon be getting a P bass. I still would like to get a cut through tone, though, not really looking for that fat pillow sound. Some guys are swapping out the tubes in the Streamliner to knock the huge " cloudy " ( their term, not mine ) low end down a little. It's an interesting thread, check it out. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-streamliner-tube-rolling-796088/
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I may be reading too much into a few paragraphs, but based on your comments about the NEOX 212 and your J-bass, I think the Streamliner is probably not your best bet.

The SL900 is great for rounding out what might otherwise be harsh, spikey tones. "Cutting through", is kind of the opposite of what it does best.

As has been illustrated over on the tone control primer thread, reducing the Streamliner's built in "pillow" uses up most of the mid control's range, leaving you without the extra knob you'd need to dial in some bite. Unless you're going to use an external parametric EQ in the effects loop, I think you'd do better with an amp that had more upper-midrange drive, like a Markbass F1, or a Shuttle Max.
 
#563
I've had second thoughts about my last post, overnight.

Some people feel that keeping a Streamliner as well as a "faster" amp like a Shuttle or Markbass is a great way to go, as it gives them two different, but complimentary flavours. Some of them even go so far as to carry the second amp with them to gigs, so they have a backup head. Given the light weight of current micros, that's pretty do-able.

Others have let their Streamliners go, because it didn't have enough tonal flexibility.

I think there's another choice, that not enough people are exploring: A small parametric EQ like the Presonus or the Empress only takes up a few square inches in your gig bag, and costs much less than a second head. Ditto for a preamp pedal, like the Eden WTDI or the Aguilar Tonehammer.

People say that they don't want the complication of adding a pedal for additional tone-shaping. But I think it makes eminent sense. If you love your Streamliner with your P bass, but it doesn't quite float your boat with your Jazz or your fretless (or vice-versa), why abandon it? If all it takes is a single pedal to get you the rest of the way there, I say go for it!

I have already used the power amp section of my Streamliner to power a small PA, and it packs a beautifully effortless, even brutal punch. So to my thinking, carrying a $100-$200 pedal seems like a small price to pay for adding another, more SS-sounding tone to my arsenal. Whether used as an alternative front end via the power amp input, or for additional tone shaping as an insert in the effects loop, it seems like a great way to extend the SL's capabilities.

I know there are at least a couple of guys that are already doing this, and the next time I have a couple of hundred bucks kicking around, I plan to give it a go myself...
 
#565
ErnieD said:
not sure its cool to say exacts but I got my 900 for under $700, free ship way back this past spring. That low price was main reason why I decided to try it out sight unseen/heard.....so glad I did. Best bargain I've gotten this year. Def keep your eyes on Ebay for some good deals.

Though I can say that I'd prefer to try it- then buy it at local store when I'm buying new amp heads. Always check online store' seller status and the like. Good return policies almost a must when buying online.
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Thanks man. Appreciate the detailed answer.
 
#569
lesliegl said:
Ive been using a Zoom B2 and using the amp models in that ....amazing sound..i just put thru the front with a patch lead

Leslie
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I've actually done the opposite lol. I love the Streamliner sound so much I've stopped using the amp models - for cleaner sounds anyway.

Re: the J bass with Streamliner discussion, I was surprised at how boomy my Sadowsky UV70 5'er was through the Streamliner, even without using the Sadowsky's onboard pre. But I've managed to tame it by rolling back the pre gain to 9 o'clock, pre volume up to 3 o'clock, gain button off, bass rolled back to 9 o'clock, mids boosted to 2-3 o'clock and treble flat.
 
#570
maxgroover said:
...Re: the J bass with Streamliner discussion, I was surprised at how boomy my Sadowsky UV70 5'er was through the Streamliner...

...I've managed to tame it by rolling back the pre gain to 9 o'clock, pre volume up to 3 o'clock, gain button off, bass rolled back to 9 o'clock, mids boosted to 2-3 o'clock and treble flat.
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There's quite a bit of change in the amount of low end as you move between 9 and 11 o'clock on the bass control. A lot of people seem to find their sweet spot between those values, but it all depends on the rest of your signal chain.

IME, the bass knob seems pretty touchy with some cabs, and not so much with others. I guess it depends on how they're voiced down low.

A lot of people seem to be using values between noon and 3 on the mids, with the Freq switch set to taste. Once again, it depends on your touch, the rest of your gear, and the tone you're after.
 
#571
I rolled my bass down to 9:00...maybe even a little further is it really tightened things up. Still a ton of low end, but I think that's got something to do with GS112's being low end heavy as well.

The GS's pair up ok, but when I've got my gig money saved up I'll be springing for a pair of DB112's. Mainly just because I really need a 2nd set of cabs these days.
 
#572
Another fantastic night with the P Bass, the AE410 and the Streamliner. Large room, no PA support... fat, articulate, with a nice low mid growl.

One of the most impressive things about the Streamliner to me is the total lack of compression/clamping when digging in at high volumes (slapping, digging in, whatever). It snarls nicely, but that big open low end just stays with you no matter what (at least within a cabinet's mechanical capability, which is not an issue with the AE410).:bassist:
 
#573
bassgod0dmw said:
I rolled my bass down to 9:00...maybe even a little further is it really tightened things up. Still a ton of low end, but I think that's got something to do with GS112's being low end heavy as well.
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How do you find the GS112's get along with the Streamliner's prodigious power output?

I had one a few years ago. Nice tone, but it farted out so easily on my b-string, that it soured me on 12" cabs for a while.
 
#574
KJung said:
Another fantastic night with the P Bass, the AE410 and the Streamliner. Large room, no PA support... fat, articulate, with a nice low mid growl.

One of the most impressive things about the Streamliner to me is the total lack of compression/clamping when digging in at high volumes (slapping, digging in, whatever). It snarls nicely, but that big open low end just stays with you no matter what (at least within a cabinet's mechanical capability, which is not an issue with the AE410).:bassist:
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+1, and it's the first micro head I've used which doesn't clamp and compress when the going gets tough - a fatal flaw in the RH450, IMO.

Again, IMO, the Streamliner can hold its head up alongside the lead sleds.

Incidentally, six months in, I've generally been rolling the bass off and pushing 220.. the kick this gives is a marvelous thing.

Recently though I've taken to rolling the bass & treble back to 9o'clock, and giving 600 a push instead. Much more present and woody, and a different kind of 'great!'. I love this head with J and P.

I just love this head.

Did I say I love this head?
 
#575
wateroftyne said:
+1, and it's the first micro head I've used which doesn't clamp and compress when the going gets tough - a fatal flaw in the RH450, IMO.

Again, IMO, the Streamliner can hold its head up alongside the lead sleds.

Incidentally, six months in, I've generally been rolling the bass off and pushing 220.. the kick this gives is a marvelous thing.

Recently though I've taken to rolling the bass & treble back to 9o'clock, and giving 600 a push instead. Much more present and woody, and a different kind of 'great!'. I love this head with J and P.

I just love this head.

Did I say I love this head?
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+1 Same thing with my beloved F500. I LOVE that head, but I have reached its limit in rare situations of, for example, doing a slap passage at high volumes. With the Streamliner, it just keeps going.

Interestingly, that actual power module is not that different from some other lower power rated heads (and actually identical to a couple others at least), but the magic of the Genz proprietary power management, and I assume the way that have the heat management design and the wonderful design of the limiting system results in a head that is way beyond any other micro (and most 'full weight heads') that I've played.

It continues to impress, although like any other piece of gear, the voicing might not be for everyone.
 
#576
steve_rolfeca said:
How do you find the GS112's get along with the Streamliner's prodigious power output?

I had one a few years ago. Nice tone, but it farted out so easily on my b-string, that it soured me on 12" cabs for a while.
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They handle the power totally fine. I've actually never had them fart out on me no matter what head I was using...and they all push around 1Kw. I also like to boost the bass a little on whatever head I'm using, and usually on the bass as well (actives). My GK 2001 RB just slams through them, and my band plays LOUD.

I'm just not sure they match up that well as far as EQ goes. A bass heavy head + bass heavy cabs = a lot of low end...and I like a lot of low end but this might be too much. Once I rolled it down they seemed to work much better together. I think I had the bass around 12:00 before, and despite having the volume & master at 12:00 or above, I wasn't very audible in the mix.
 
#577
steve_rolfeca said:
Alex Claber is on TB. Why not ask him if he has any Streamliner-toting customers?
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post-1762-0-02929600-1319899951.jpg


There's one! ;)
 
#578
alexclaber said:
post-1762-0-02929600-1319899951.jpg


There's one! ;)
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I bet that sounds totally killer. Alex, assume that is a 3012 'non LF' based design? If so, that would seem to have some of that 'low end tightness and upper mid brightness' like the AE410 that seems to work particularly well with the Streamliner to me. And, those high end drivers can take the big low end of the Streamliner without even thinking about it. Very nice!:bassist:, especially with the additional voicing of a nice P Bass for growl!
 
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