Genzler Amplification Club

[svtb15]

Im am going to try the DRIVE channel this week... I do a blues jam tonight and it might just be the ticket... I have not really run that channel on any shows..
BTW. The DI out is great !

 

[Combinator]

I love the Drive channel! That's the Drive channel you hear in the distorted passage of that last video, and I use it in the MG800 demo video as well.
It's pretty cranked in this last video, and I seem to recall set to a more modest gain setting in the MG800 review.

 

[noahw1]

I agree with EVERYTHING Double Agent mentioned and yes there is a little more.
You mentioned you wanted a little grit and yet wanted to keep the big LF bottom that you like. And it is correct that the higher you run the GAIN on the MG-800 DRIVE channel the more overdriven the tone. BUT as well, the higher you set the GAIN control the more that you roll-off the ultra LF and upper HF of this channel. That is so we keep the overdriven and distortion tones more "musical" and smooth and don't create low end "dub-ness" when the signal is distorted.

So as you mentioned you wanted just a little grit and keeping your LF, this is why I suggested you keep the GAIN in the lower ranges. Certainly all of this is dependent upon your instrument, pick ups and preamp but as a general idea, this is a good place to start.
I hope this added info give you a little more insight as you experiment on your own.

JG

Thanks, Jeff, I thought there might be something more behind your comment regarding that setting and you answered it. Knowing this will help out when using the B Contour setting as well to maintain some of the lows that are rolled with that.

 

[svtb15]

i wouldn't use too much DRIVE in any of my situation I do play LOUD but it needs to be mostly clean... . But just a touch of DRIVE to ever so slightly give some harmonic presence might be real nice. ..

 

[Combinator]

It's nice to use as almost kind of a compression effect, set to only hear some grit when you really dig in or play loud transients or big low notes. You may like it like that, too

 

[bizzybass]

I pulled the trigger last night. My MG-800 should be here by Monday. The reason: I'm on my second warranty swap head in 6 months from another company and it began having issues again, so I'm sending it to get repaired and will sell it once it gets a clean bill of health.

After owning a Shuttlemax 9.2 and Streamliner 900, I'm confidant that I will have no issues with Genzler, they have always been rock solid. I wish I would have gone with Genzler initially.

I'm excited. Wondering how it will sound through the GK Neo212 and Bergantino AE410.

You had a GK head unit, didn't you? ...maybe an MB series?

 

[bizzybass]

Hello bherman, Thank you for using the Magellan 800.
Reading a couple of your posts and your desire for a vintage type of tone but with big low end and clarity, I'm wondering if you might want to try this setting:

Drive Channel --- Gain at 10 o'clock, Volume at approx. 2 o'clock. Keeping the Gain lower than the Volume is important for your needs.
Contour A ---- set to approx. noon - 2 o'clock.
Bass EQ ----- Noon to 2 o'clock.
You might want to add in a little low mid bump on the Mid EQ filters.

Using the Drive channel to the above setting should provide a little bit of the grit you mention and the Contour A will offer low end and top end boost with a little mid dip.

You can also PM me and we can go a little deeper into your set up and tone goals.

Thats what I call SERVICE!!

 

[bherman]

Thats what I call SERVICE!!

One of things that always draws me back to Genzler products. These guys have always got your back (aside from making great gear).

 

[Bassworship1]

Had a chance to play my New Genzler 800 and 2-112 Array stack last night again at a place that normally is terrible for bass tone with a all wood ceiling and walls cathedral type church. It was amazing the tone I was getting out int he audience as I walked with my wireless system to see what the house sound is like. By far the best bass tone I've ever gotten in that church. This system continues to amaze me.

 

[Texan]

You had a GK head unit, didn't you? ...maybe an MB series?

Yes, one of the MB series. To be clear, I'm not bashing their product, I love the sound and their customer service is great. But, having 2 separate issues on two brand new heads in less than 6 months makes me weary. I need reliability, I play almost everyday to either practice or with a band. Both issues happened to me at a gig. This has never happened to me in my 25 years of gigging. I'm sure that they will make it right, they are a good company. But given the issues that I have had personally, I have to move on. Back to Genzler family.

 

[bizzybass]

Yes, one of the MB series. To be clear, I'm not bashing their product, I love the sound and their customer service is great. But, having 2 separate issues on two brand new heads in less than 6 months makes me weary. I need reliability, I play almost everyday to either practice or with a band. Both issues happened to me at a gig. This has never happened to me in my 25 years of gigging. I'm sure that they will make it right, they are a good company. But given the issues that I have had personally, I have to move on. Back to Genzler family.

If its bashing then so be it. I call it being truthful. GC told me after my 3rd electronics failure one on the 11th month of the warranty that they've seen and heard of so many issues throughout the chain . As I mentioned my old 70s head which was pushing 20 yrs old when I bought it never gave me an issue and I gigged it ALOT until 4 years ago. I've been using a used GB Streamliner 900 and a Shuttle max 9.2 as a back up for 2 yrs now(I heard they were quality builds). I haven't had to use the back up as of yet.

 

[groooooove]

jeff,

i've noticed most people are cutting the mids and boosting the bass roughly the same amount. is that where this amp sounds the most flat / natural/ best?

i was doing that, but found the lower register of my bass to appear to be much louder than the upper stuff. i shared my rig with another band last night. the other bass player is a really excellent player, who's playing an all original 66 jazz bass. i was really stunned by how full and clear his bass sounded from the back of the room. when i got back on stage i found he had flattened out all the EQ. so, i played my 2nd set that way and was happy.

wondering what your thoughts are on this.

also, i got to use my genzler with 3 12" cabs today at 2.67. loud outdoor festival with a fusion band. the master was right around noon, maybe a little more. sounded great and held up no problem.

while i've been struggling to adjust to this new sound (i really did love my MB heads!) i have noticed that since i switched i've definitely gotten more compliments from musicians on my sound. almost every single musician i've played with has commented specifically on how full it sounds. some of them knew i was trying something new, others diddnt.

 

[svtb15]

Honestly. I never worry about what flat is. It's a Good starting point, where ever it may actually be.. But i will turn the knobs until it feels and sounds right..never worryig about what is right or not.. That said.. I dont need to go to far off 12 o'clock with the Magellan.. its a very easy amp to get a sound on. Quikly

 

[RColie]

jeff,

i've noticed most people are cutting the mids and boosting the bass roughly the same amount. is that where this amp sounds the most flat / natural/ best?

i was doing that, but found the lower register of my bass to appear to be much louder than the upper stuff. i shared my rig with another band last night. the other bass player is a really excellent player, who's playing an all original 66 jazz bass. i was really stunned by how full and clear his bass sounded from the back of the room. when i got back on stage i found he had flattened out all the EQ. so, i played my 2nd set that way and was happy.

wondering what your thoughts are on this.

also, i got to use my genzler with 3 12" cabs today at 2.67. loud outdoor festival with a fusion band. the master was right around noon, maybe a little more. sounded great and held up no problem.

while i've been struggling to adjust to this new sound (i really did love my MB heads!) i have noticed that since i switched i've definitely gotten more compliments from musicians on my sound. almost every single musician i've played with has commented specifically on how full it sounds. some of them knew i was trying something new, others diddnt.

The current issue of Bass Gear Magazine does a great job of reviewing the Magellan 800. If you're into that sort of thing, there are many frequency plots that illustrate how the various controls effect the frequency response of the head.

Bob

 

[tombowlus]

The current issue of Bass Gear Magazine does a great job of reviewing the Magellan 800. If you're into that sort of thing, there are many frequency plots that illustrate how the various controls effect the frequency response of the head.

Bob

Thank you for the kind words! Here is Invalid Link Removed, for those who might be interested.

 

[Jeff Genzler]

jeff,

i've noticed most people are cutting the mids and boosting the bass roughly the same amount. is that where this amp sounds the most flat / natural/ best?

i was doing that, but found the lower register of my bass to appear to be much louder than the upper stuff. i shared my rig with another band last night. the other bass player is a really excellent player, who's playing an all original 66 jazz bass. i was really stunned by how full and clear his bass sounded from the back of the room. when i got back on stage i found he had flattened out all the EQ. so, i played my 2nd set that way and was happy.

wondering what your thoughts are on this.

also, i got to use my genzler with 3 12" cabs today at 2.67. loud outdoor festival with a fusion band. the master was right around noon, maybe a little more. sounded great and held up no problem.

while i've been struggling to adjust to this new sound (i really did love my MB heads!) i have noticed that since i switched i've definitely gotten more compliments from musicians on my sound. almost every single musician i've played with has commented specifically on how full it sounds. some of them knew i was trying something new, others diddnt.

Hey Groooooove-----As many have stated, the Magellan is a pretty quick amp to get an initial tone set up and then "season-to-taste" for room requirements from there. With that said I usually set all EQ to noon and start with the Contour Slope A set to FLAT. Using the CLEAN channel this setting is pretty much flat. By just rolling up the Contour A to approx. 10 - 12 o'clock you should get a pretty natural/classic slight mid scooped tone that is not devoid of mids but that is more pleasing to most ears. I usually don't increase the LF control at all ----especially with the BA12-3 cabs-----especially, especially, especially 3 of them.

Of course any amp settings are dependent upon the players technique, the instrument and any onboard preamps etc.

OK, in short form, I would not be concerned at all to run the LF EQ control at noon.

On another note---I certainly understand that you have appreciated your MB head in the past. Certainly nothing wrong with that, but as players we listen to others when we play and listen to others as we describe our tone and tonal goals. We do get influenced by this interaction and that causes us to stay were we are or experiment and test out something new.... Sounds like you're at the latter stage of trying something new. It requires us sometimes to just get comfortable and to enjoy what we hear with our new gear.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

 

[svtb15]

just found this on the genzler site.. the BA sounds pretty smooth.. i'm assuming the cab was mic'd

 

[Jeff Genzler]

just found this on the genzler site.. the BA sounds pretty smooth.. i'm assuming the cab was mic'd

Yes, you are correct, the BA12-3 cab was mic'd only, no DI.

 

[Bassworship1]

I've got a cool update for a gig I done last night at a church with our band. I took my Genzler 800 and just 1 of my Genzler arrays. Anyways the bassist was an older gentleman that was playing a huge stack when I walked in with all my gear in 1 trip lol. As I was setting up I could see he was checking out my setup and as i was talking to him it was obvious he had never heard of Genzler. Well during sound check he was literally blown away, so much that he brought his bass over and wanted me to play his Warwick Thumb through it. This guy was old school with the 810 and 610 Aguilar and Ampeg cabs. Anyways he told me he couldn't believe the tone and volume my single array and head was putting out and filling the church without house help. He assured me he was going to sale his back breaking gear and get him some. This gear is simply amazing. I had several people compliment me on my playing and tone last night. I loving this setup more each time I play it.

 

[Texan]

I got my MG800 today and I have to say, I'm impressed. I've only had a few minutes with it and it's a keeper. When I opened the box and felt the construction and twisted the knobs, it all feels like a solid amp. My GK felt like a cheap kids toy by comparison. When I plugged it in, set everything at noon and hit the first note, I got that tone that I loved about the GK, but thicker, more articulate and more encompassing. I smiled. Playing with the contour and drive showed some fantastic tonal variations that were easy to find. I was playing through my GK Neo212, have to wait until tomorrow to use my Bergantino.

The feel of the knobs and chassis construction, as funny as it sounds, makes such a difference in the aesthetic pleasure of an amp and this delivers in that department. It looks and feels solid in every way, like the body of a fighter jet.

I won't miss the tone of my GK as I nailed it out of the box with the Magellan. But, given the fact that I went from Flea to Jaco to Duck Dunn to Dusty Hill very quickly and easily, shows the well thought out design and simple versatility of this amp.

There is something special about Genzlers designs.

Jeff, we need swag, decals, hats, coffee cups, band-aids, etc,...