- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,963
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- 220,653
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
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GenzBenz Streamliner Pt 8...
- Thread starter Chef
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This interests me as I have (for now anyway) a Rob Allen Mouse and a Sadowsky (arriving Wednesday) MV5. I have one amp. If I keep the Mouse, I think I'd go with either a 2 channel (Shuttle Max) head or more simply, add an EQ pedal to use with the Mouse.
At my jazz gigs I use both basses. Do you never play both basses on a gig? If you did would you use both amps?
At my other gigs I'll use just my Sadowsky, so it's only the jazz gigs where I have special needs.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,963
- 5
- 220,653
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Sorry, missed that.
Under some conditions, you may hear the wiper fingers as they slide across the taper junction on the pot's resistive element. It would be audible only while playing AND turning the pot, and will be well under the regular signal (IIRC, it's about 40dB down, or 1/100th the level of the signal). It's the combination of the available gain (the Streamliner has a lot more gain available internally than most bass amps), gain staging and the way the taper is written into the pot element. IIRC, it occurs mostly in the lower 1/3 of rotation. Under no signal conditions (unplug your bass), it should just barely be audible in the noise floor. It also tends to improve with use as the taper burnishes and breaks in.
Hope this helps. If you need more help, feel free to PM me and I will get you more info.
^^^
Thx for that.
My Aguilar AG500sc does that too and I often wondered why. Now I know. Thank you!
Thx for that.
My Aguilar AG500sc does that too and I often wondered why. Now I know. Thank you!
It is a hassle setting up both amps at a gig, but not more so than hauling pedals.
The ShuttleMax head w/built-in tube preamp won't sound anything like the Streamliner (I previously owned a ShuttleMAX). But you can thicken its tone for an approximation of SL tone with a good pedal. I used a SIB Fatdrive with a Euphonics Audio iAMP Pro and Micro amps, and they sounded great, not the same as SL but very nice nonetheless.
If you're using a preamp/EQ, you will get more versatile results if the amp has a clean, flat response. The SL is a character based amp and by definition will restrict tonal options. The ShuttleMAX FET will be perfect w/ a pedal.
Also, the ShuttleMAX has two power supplies, which answers the backup issue.
Sounds to me like you need a ShuttleMAX.
I don't know about need, but I have debated a Shuttle Max 6 with an Uber Quad cab. I've never been a real tube guy so the Streamliner probably isn't my thing. The tube channel of the Max would be plenty for me - run the Sadowsky there - and use the FET for the Mouse. Foot switch for channels, mute, mid scoop for slapping, etc. would be handy.
A little more than I need at most gigs, but they have both pieces locally and I could probably get a great deal.
Still, I love the portability of my little stack and no one is complaining about the sound or volume right now. That's why I'm thinking a little EQ pedal to fine tune the Mouse might be all I really NEED at this time - especially as I'm not 100% sure I'm going to keep it.
If I knew I was only going to play the Sadowsky (no Mouse) I think I'd go Shuttle 9 and Uber 410. That would rock...or swing...or whatever.
I noticed this on my SL900, bought it new this spring. Just does it abit while I dial it up/down either way. I also just read Agehorse' reply to your question. I'll keep an eye on it, nothing urgent, as I don't fiddle with that knob alot. All other knobs move cleanly/quietly.
Hi i have noticed the same thing with my amp...usually when u play a sustained note with yr bass..as you tuen the volume up and down..its like static on a AM radio thats off station or build up of oxide on the pot..ive turned the knob back n forth for a bit but doesnt seem to make any difference
Leslie
Leslie
I dont see it as a major problem.i was going to bring it up and its good to see that it isnt a defect
Leslie
Leslie
I only get the crackle from the Volume knob occasionally, was trying to get it happening last night and couldn't!
Anyway, once I get the gain and volume set for the tone I want, I only use the Master to adjust my volume on the gig, so it really doesn't matter to me.
Much more important than an occasional minor come-and-go control noise, is that the Mute button be absolutely silent, and that there be as little background hiss or hum from the amp as possible. In this area, the Streamliner outperforms my last amp (Eden ENX260) in spades.
Anyway, once I get the gain and volume set for the tone I want, I only use the Master to adjust my volume on the gig, so it really doesn't matter to me.
Much more important than an occasional minor come-and-go control noise, is that the Mute button be absolutely silent, and that there be as little background hiss or hum from the amp as possible. In this area, the Streamliner outperforms my last amp (Eden ENX260) in spades.
Just picked up a GK MB500 & will test it out as my ANTI Streamliner today. Having 2 different amps is like having 2 different basses & 2 different cabs. I like the variety. The Streamliner is probably the most unique of the mix in the fact that its rare to get such tube warmth from the small package
Damn. SL900 arrived today, I placed it on top of my new GB Uber410 for a test drive, plugged in the power, then realized that it ONLY takes speakon speaker cable. I'll have to wait a little longer to hear it...
GK MB500 vs Streamliner
Polar opposites... variety is great. Having just played the Streamliner for the last few months plugging in a hi-fi amp is pretty wild. Glassy highs, sizzled upper mids. Cut through the mix in your face tone! I'd get slapped in the brain if I brought the GK to Catholic mass
Streamliner polite round tone is MUCH better for my needs right now... but it sure is fun to visit the other spectrum of bass amps as well. They are in completely different tonal universes its really apples to oranges & a waste of time to compare them. hi fi sizzle vs tube warmth pretty much sums it up.
Direct Outputs both very quiet.
In lieu of the dream amp Shuttleliner not coming anytime soon keeping both a hi-fi head & a Streamliner is the way to go for me.
Polar opposites... variety is great. Having just played the Streamliner for the last few months plugging in a hi-fi amp is pretty wild. Glassy highs, sizzled upper mids. Cut through the mix in your face tone! I'd get slapped in the brain if I brought the GK to Catholic mass
Streamliner polite round tone is MUCH better for my needs right now... but it sure is fun to visit the other spectrum of bass amps as well. They are in completely different tonal universes its really apples to oranges & a waste of time to compare them. hi fi sizzle vs tube warmth pretty much sums it up.
Direct Outputs both very quiet.
In lieu of the dream amp Shuttleliner not coming anytime soon keeping both a hi-fi head & a Streamliner is the way to go for me.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
Well I ordered a second Uber115... One is pretty loud and able to do 95% of all gigs that do... I even used the 115 in a large festival gig recently... The FOH loved it onstage with my Streamliner and thought it would be a good idea to put an EV RE20 on it.... I liked that alot!
So im getting a second Uber115... Never thought i could gig a 15 cab.. But this is different.... and with the streamliner, it rocks Old School real well ...and with the Shuttle it does clean in a huge way..
So im getting a second Uber115... Never thought i could gig a 15 cab.. But this is different.... and with the streamliner, it rocks Old School real well ...and with the Shuttle it does clean in a huge way..
Another data point regarding the idea of a head with the Streamliner's full-tube front end, but with added ShuttleMax-style EQ:
I've been trying to sort out a minor quibble with the combination of my Streamliner and an AudioKinesis Thunderchild. In the process, I ended up inserting four bands of digital parametric EQ in the effects loop.
The results were pretty interesting. For one thing, there's a huge difference between boosting 600Hz with the SL900's old-school tube EQ, vs a more modern sounding, narrow-band filter. Some more fiddling with frequency and bandwidth, pulled some positively Jaco-like midrange tones out of my bass, which has EMG P-bass soapbars!
Removing a bit of girth with a narrow cut at around 50-60Hz and adding a broad boost centered anywhere from 2.5 to 4KHz, put a bunch of snap back into the Streamliner. I wouldn't say it had quite the zing of the Shuttle 9.0 that I auditioned the day I bought my 900, or what I've heard of the Max's FET channel in clips. Still, it got QUITE aggressive.
I found the combination of modern tones and Streamliner warmth pretty addictive, and I can see it being attractive to a lot of bassists. Sadly, as the Genz-Benz guys have already pointed out, whether it would sell in large enough numbers to be profitable in today's crowded amp market, is another question entirely.
EDIT: I'm not a fan of distorted bass sounds, but it just occurred to me that having even a couple of bands of parametric EQ AFTER the tubes would be very cool for shaping the Streamliner's built-in overdrive!
I've been trying to sort out a minor quibble with the combination of my Streamliner and an AudioKinesis Thunderchild. In the process, I ended up inserting four bands of digital parametric EQ in the effects loop.
The results were pretty interesting. For one thing, there's a huge difference between boosting 600Hz with the SL900's old-school tube EQ, vs a more modern sounding, narrow-band filter. Some more fiddling with frequency and bandwidth, pulled some positively Jaco-like midrange tones out of my bass, which has EMG P-bass soapbars!
Removing a bit of girth with a narrow cut at around 50-60Hz and adding a broad boost centered anywhere from 2.5 to 4KHz, put a bunch of snap back into the Streamliner. I wouldn't say it had quite the zing of the Shuttle 9.0 that I auditioned the day I bought my 900, or what I've heard of the Max's FET channel in clips. Still, it got QUITE aggressive.
I found the combination of modern tones and Streamliner warmth pretty addictive, and I can see it being attractive to a lot of bassists. Sadly, as the Genz-Benz guys have already pointed out, whether it would sell in large enough numbers to be profitable in today's crowded amp market, is another question entirely.
EDIT: I'm not a fan of distorted bass sounds, but it just occurred to me that having even a couple of bands of parametric EQ AFTER the tubes would be very cool for shaping the Streamliner's built-in overdrive!
What about Empress EQ pedal in Streamliner FX loop? Has anybody tried it?
Feature-wise it should satisfy all freq tweakers and its price here is almost same as difference between Shuttlemax and Streamliner.
Michal
Feature-wise it should satisfy all freq tweakers and its price here is almost same as difference between Shuttlemax and Streamliner.
Michal
msmucr said:
At least one TB'er has done that, and liked at. I think I may be headed in that direction.
I like the chewy feel of Genz's 3DPM, so the other Max models are out, at least in my case. Street price on the feature-packed Max 9.2 and simplified SL900 are the same in the States at the moment (according to MF), so a Streamliner and a ParaEQ actually come out about $300 more expensive, and about 12oz heavier. And with the two discreet channels, the Max is almost like having TWO Empress pedals, footswitchable.
Still, I'm leaning more toward the Streamliner. Last night, the sound of the Streamliner with some added EQ was literally bliss.
For me personally, the telling factors are these:
- My tonal priorities are about 80/20 on the Streamliner side of the fence. I don't think that a Max 9.2 set to do its best emulation of a Streamliner, would meet my needs as well as a tweaked SL900.
- My Streamliner's already paid for. Also, it may be stoopid as heck, but I just like having those tubes in there...
- Fixed-bandwidth semi-parametrics never seem to have the Q I'm looking for at the time. Even if I had a Max with all those knobs, I might still be jonesing for the ParaEQ.
- Channel switching doesn't particularly interest me.
- It's only a few extra inches, but the Max won't fit in my favourite laptop bag. Meanwhile, I've got room for the Empress in my string pouch.
- I can use an outboard parametric for other things, like recording vocals, shaping electric and acoustic guitars, etc.
Of course this stuff is highly personal. Your mileage may (and very likely WILL) vary...
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