Genzler Amplification Club

[svtb15]

In my opinion. YES.. It is a variable preset EQ curve. All the way CCW (Counter Clockwise)= no effect. It takes the EQ contour OUT of the signal chain..
The further CW you turn the Contour knob the more effect it has on the overall signal.
BLUE LED Contour "A" ads a mid scoop..But not un usable as many classic mid scoop presets have been in the past. It is very usable.. Even in extreme settings..
"A" may boost bass too.. I'm Not 100% sure about the actual properties.

Contour "B" Yellow/Orange LED sort of Rolls off Deep Lows and upper Treble.
Full CW ( clockwise) = MAX Effect on both "A" and "B" contours. I have used the "B" contour setting on some boomy or troublesome stages with fine results..
To me, contour "B" can mimic some properties people associate with a SEALED or UN-Ported Cab.

Hey, folks, just got my Magellan 800. Only spent a few minutes with it, so far,loving it, but a question about the contour. I’m trying to understand what, exactly, it does. Is it basically an adjustable preset EQ curve that comes before the regular EQ? It certainly seems that way.

Thanks. Can I join the club, now?

 

[Wicked G]

In my opinion. YES.. It is a variable preset EQ curve. All the way CCW (Counter Clockwise)= no effect. It takes the EQ contour OUT of the signal chain..
The further CW you turn the Contour knob the more effect it has on the overall signal.
BLUE LED Contour "A" ads a mid scoop..But not un usable as many classic mid scoop presets have been in the past. It is very usable.. Even in extreme settings..
"A" may boost bass too.. I'm Not 100% sure about the actual properties.

Contour "B" Yellow/Orange LED sort of Rolls off Deep Lows and upper Treble.
Full CW ( clockwise) = MAX Effect on both "A" and "B" contours. I have used the "B" contour setting on some boomy or troublesome stages with fine results..
To me, contour "B" can mimic some properties people associate with a SEALED or UN-Ported Cab.

I agree with everything except "All the way CCW (Counter Clockwise)= no effect. It takes the EQ contour OUT of the signal chain.". I have noticed that with the knob all the way CCW, when I switch from Contour A to Contour B I can definitely hear a difference. I can hear the Bass roll off on Contour B and when I switch back to Contour A there is more apparent Bass and percussiveness.

Not a bad thing at all, just an observation of mine. I tend to run mine with Contour A on and the knob all the way CCW because I love how it hits at that setting. If I switch to Contour B and leave the knob at all the way CCW, I loose some of its forcefulness. Although when cranked, that amp is forceful anyway so there is that. Anyway, what an awesome piece of engineering.

 

[lordradish]

Thanks. I'm still finding a few different sweet spots. To really simplify what I've heard from the short amount of time tweaking it is to me, A sounds a bit more hifi/modern, B, more vintagey. As I play around with it more, I'm sure I'll be more descriptive.

 

[lordradish]

One thing I'm hoping I can figure out with the contour is a setting for when I'm running through my big pedalboard rig. I need to restore a bit of the clarity at the end of the chain.

 

[svtb15]

Fair enough.. Ill tell you Your hearing is WAY better than mine.. I dont detect a change when my contour is full CCW...
But like i have said. i am getting Old. ha

I agree with everything except "All the way CCW (Counter Clockwise)= no effect. It takes the EQ contour OUT of the signal chain.". I have noticed that with the knob all the way CCW, when I switch from Contour A to Contour B I can definitely hear a difference. I can hear the Bass roll off on Contour B and when I switch back to Contour A there is more apparent Bass and percussiveness.

Not a bad thing at all, just an observation of mine. I tend to run mine with Contour A on and the knob all the way CCW because I love how it hits at that setting. If I switch to Contour B and leave the knob at all the way CCW, I loose some of its forcefulness. Although when cranked, that amp is forceful anyway so there is that. Anyway, what an awesome piece of engineering.

 

[Wicked G]

Fair enough.. Ill tell you Your hearing is WAY better than mine.. I dont detect a change when my contour is full CCW...
But like i have said. i am getting Old. ha

Nah, I'm not going to say my hearing is better than yours, but not only do I hear it I can definitely feel it. It thumps harder on Contour A even with the knob at full CCW. Could be that mine and yours react differently, IDK. All I know is that I am very happy with the way mine is right now.

Edit: Hmm, now I'm curious? I wonder what others have to say on this including @Jeff Genzler?

 

[svtb15]

Im going to try and listen closer to see if I notice it.. I may have to use headphones.. My two cabs are an older Genz Uber 115 or my Genzler 212.
I never noticed a change.
HOwever. I have been using Contour A more often than anything ..

Nah, I'm not going to say my hearing is better than yours, but not only do I hear it I can definitely feel it. It thumps harder on Contour A even with the knob at full CCW. Could be that mine and yours react differently, IDK. All I know is that I am very happy with the way mine is right now.

Edit: Hmm, now I'm curious? I wonder what others have to say on this including @Jeff Genzler?

 

[Wicked G]

Im going to try and listen closer to see if I notice it.. I may have to use headphones.. My two cabs are an older Genz Uber 115 or my Genzler 212.
I never noticed a change.
HOwever. I have been using Contour A more often than anything ..

Only thing about headphones is that you can't feel the difference. I can definitely feel it with either 2 TCE RS210 cabs, a GK NEO 410 4 ohm cab as well as 2 TCE K212 cabs. It hits a lot harder on Contour A, although I am curious on what you find with the headphones.

 

[thumbslapper]

Few questions for you genz experts out there:
- is the 12-3 ported? if so in front? I couldn't quite figure out from pics
- the 12-3 has a lower freq range in specs vs the 210-3 (32hz vs 45hz) - is this measured at -3db? Anyone notice a big difference on a open B string between the 2?
- How do you mic a 12-3 or other array in the studio to get a balanced sound? slightly off axis of the 3" array? right in front? Do you have to back up a few feet for it to sound natural?

I'm thinking about a Magellan 800 w/12-3 for home use, then bring them to the studio/gigs and plug in more cabinets.

last one: what about fan noise on the 800? Does it only come on when needed? Anyone find it distracting?

-ts (thx WickedG for answering more q's on this rig in other threads)

 

[SteveC]

Mostly contour a/blue at about 11 o’clock for me.

 

[Loring]

Few questions for you genz experts out there:
- is the 12-3 ported? if so in front? I couldn't quite figure out from pics
- the 12-3 has a lower freq range in specs vs the 210-3 (32hz vs 45hz) - is this measured at -3db? Anyone notice a big difference on a open B string between the 2?
- How do you mic a 12-3 or other array in the studio to get a balanced sound? slightly off axis of the 3" array? right in front? Do you have to back up a few feet for it to sound natural?

I'm thinking about a Magellan 800 w/12-3 for home use, then bring them to the studio/gigs and plug in more cabinets.

last one: what about fan noise on the 800? Does it only come on when needed? Anyone find it distracting?

-ts (thx WickedG for answering more q's on this rig in other threads)

The arrays are ported triangular in shape and camouflaged

Dont have the 210 but the 12-3 sounds great wit the low B

I would use multiple mics and bkend to suit. Sp fairchild did some you tube soynd samples you may want to check tgem ou to see how he mic'd them.

The fan is on but very quiet. Quieter than my laptop fan.

 

[AMJBASS]

I'm using contour A at about 9:00 pretty consistently. Even though I have the 350, it hits pretty hard. I have about 7 gigs on mine since I bought it, and I freaking love the thing. It just sits so nicely in the mix. Clear, fat, and warm. The thing I like about the contour(both A and B), is that they are fairly subtle when you just turn the knob up a bit. The slope is very musical.

 

[SteveC]

I'm using contour A at about 9:00 pretty consistently. Even though I have the 350, it hits pretty hard. I have about 7 gigs on mine since I bought it, and I freaking love the thing. It just sits so nicely in the mix. Clear, fat, and warm. The thing I like about the contour(both A and B), is that they are fairly subtle when you just turn the knob up a bit. The slope is very musical.

I should have said my Contour A (Blue) at 11 o'clock is on a 350 Combo. I've only gigged mine a couple times but it's making me think twice about needing a 2nd BA10-2 cab. Even just one cab kept up just fine with a drummer (sticks) guitar and keys doing standards and funk in a medium room at a pretty decent level. Small, light, portable, takes my Roscoe B...no choosing 2 of the 3 (light/loud/low) here. Everything in one package.

 

[AMJBASS]

Well, its always nice to have the option of a second cab. Its far better to take a bit too much to a gig rather than wish you had more when you need it

 

[Jeff Genzler]

Nah, I'm not going to say my hearing is better than yours, but not only do I hear it I can definitely feel it. It thumps harder on Contour A even with the knob at full CCW. Could be that mine and yours react differently, IDK. All I know is that I am very happy with the way mine is right now.

Edit: Hmm, now I'm curious? I wonder what others have to say on this including @Jeff Genzler?

About the Contour circuit in the full CCW position, technically the circuit is out of the signal chain at this point. BUT your using a mechanical pot to make this selection and there is always a variance of some percentage when using a pot--- could be 5 - 10%, thus this might be what you're hearing in this CCW position. Since we don't have an OFF selection with the switch this is one artifact. This is just how it works.

 

[Jeff Genzler]

Few questions for you genz experts out there:
- is the 12-3 ported? if so in front? I couldn't quite figure out from pics
- the 12-3 has a lower freq range in specs vs the 210-3 (32hz vs 45hz) - is this measured at -3db? Anyone notice a big difference on a open B string between the 2?
- How do you mic a 12-3 or other array in the studio to get a balanced sound? slightly off axis of the 3" array? right in front? Do you have to back up a few feet for it to sound natural?

I'm thinking about a Magellan 800 w/12-3 for home use, then bring them to the studio/gigs and plug in more cabinets.

last one: what about fan noise on the 800? Does it only come on when needed? Anyone find it distracting?

-ts (thx WickedG for answering more q's on this rig in other threads)

Thumbslapper, I see Loring responded too (thanks) but here is a little more info. Yes all BA cabs are ported, the BA12-3 has 2 triangular ports in the lower corners of the baffle. The BA210-3 has a square shelf port in the front baffle.
The 12" does "go lower" and that depth is one of the major differences, where the 2 x 10" has more punch and "gut-slap" that you'd expect from dual 10's. NOT to say that the BA210-3 cannot support your B string with authority and heft, it certainly will.
Micing these cabs does come with a little more experimentation than a traditional cab. You certainly want to get out front of the array and a little off axis as well but this is a place to season the mic location to your taste and your mics parameters too.

The Magellan 800 uses a variable speed fan for cooling. It is ALWAYS on but is whisper quite when at idle or under bedroom use. It ramps up pretty fast when demand on the amp ramps up too. Our fan circuit design is one place we spent a lot of time designing just for questions like yours. We have experienced no issues from customers regarding fan noise OR thermal capacity when the amp is driven hard. This is always a balancing act between keeping the fan speed quite for those settings BUT ramping up and staying ahead of the thermal curve of the amp and all of its circuits as you drive the amp hard on a hot stage. We've learned a lot over the years of designing amps in this regard and many times this part of the design gets overlooked. Thanks for the question.

Hope this info is helpful.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Few questions for you genz experts out there:
- is the 12-3 ported? if so in front? I couldn't quite figure out from pics
- the 12-3 has a lower freq range in specs vs the 210-3 (32hz vs 45hz) - is this measured at -3db? Anyone notice a big difference on a open B string between the 2?
- How do you mic a 12-3 or other array in the studio to get a balanced sound? slightly off axis of the 3" array? right in front? Do you have to back up a few feet for it to sound natural?

I'm thinking about a Magellan 800 w/12-3 for home use, then bring them to the studio/gigs and plug in more cabinets.

last one: what about fan noise on the 800? Does it only come on when needed? Anyone find it distracting?

-ts (thx WickedG for answering more q's on this rig in other threads)

Well, I can’t quite compete with Jeff Genzler for knowledge and explanation of his products, but I took these pics (to show the ports) so I’m gonna’ post ‘em!!!

 

[SteveC]

Well, its always nice to have the option of a second cab. Its far better to take a bit too much to a gig rather than wish you had more when you need it

Sure. And if I find I need one I'll get one but I play very few gigs that require an amp these days so until I have a gig where I wish I had more (or I fall into a few hundred extra dollars) I'll stick with one.

 

[flyingfinbar]

The fan sound has never even registered to me...then again, I’m used to an SVT 2pro, which sounds like a jet engine when it gets fired up,