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Genzler Amplification Club

#8,781
SCB said:
When shops open again here in the UK I will have to try the options. I did try the 12-3 and the MG12T with the MG 350. I like the smooth top end of the bass array and it had a lot of depth, the 12T-V had more punch to the sound, more top end, but less depth, but this may have been where they were positioned in the shop. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to really compare the 2 options, so I am looking forward to trying them out again when possible.

Thanks for the comments, please keep them coming. I have played guitar for too many years to mention and had a chance to help out a friend’s band on bass at a ball a couple of years ago. I was hooked and joined the band permanently at the start of last year. I was ready to do my first bass gig just before lockdown. It never happened, aaaaagh. Consequently, I have my guitar rig sorted out after many years of loosing money, changing gear, I am now trying to avoid the same process and get the rig right first time. So, your comments and recommendations are really helpful to this relatively new bass player. SCB
PS, ShadowskySteve, avatar fixed with my 'new' old Warwick 2003 Streamer, and yes it is snowing here in the UK, you must be psychic. Cheers from another Steve
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Cheers brother! Good news you can't go wrong either way! I single cabbed it with the BA12 and loved it! My previous rig was a Dave Eden 410XLT (at 105lbs - 7.5 stones) switched for the weight and never went back. I added the 2nd 12 after a talkbass gettogether where we put two of them together and was blown away. The 12's are very punchy and after learning how to dial in the contour and eq you can get what ever you want vintage through to very modern. BTW, my single cab gigs will be with the 15. It is very sweet.
 
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#8,783
berman3313 said:
You’ve come to the “right” place!
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SCB, I went through a similar journey a few years ago after playing guitar for decades - mostly acoustic - moving to bass and falling in love with the instrument.

I’m a true believer in the bass arrays. I have one of the first 50 signed BA12-3’s and a 10-2. They do play together nicely and each brings its own thing to the mix. The 12 is bigger in every way and if I had to pick between the two, I’d keep it without any question. It has always been enough on its own for any gig I’ve played. I was using both cabs together for a series of outdoor church gigs in the summer and fall and appreciated having to cabs for the outdoor spread. I use the 10-2 at home for practice and have used it for a few small or acoustic gigs.

I have also owned both heads. I do not use the 2nd channel and the 350 is more than enough power for my needs so if I was purchasing today, I’d go with the 350. It is stout and loud with all of the muscularity I hear in the 800. That said, when I retired, she who must be obeyed said I had to get rid of some gear and I sold the 350. While the 800 is more than I need and likely always will be, I decided that if I was only keeping one, I should keep the big boy. FWIW, to my ears, at the same volume, they sound the same. The 800 obviously goes louder, has the effects loop, and 2nd channel so if those features are important to you, go with the 800. If the 350 is enough... it is enough... saves you a few bucks while retaining top tier quality and pro sound.

No bad choices... only dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate and both keep the dementors away.
 
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#8,784
Joeykun said:
Fun is a good way to put it!!
View attachment 4146600
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JAY-sus! I bet that sounds freakin' glorious!

(And I hope you're using hearing protection.)

Some of you guys must be playing loud. I've played moderately loud outdoor gigs numerous times, with FOH support, with my 2x10-2 stack. More than enough.

Old man rant over. Now get off my lawn!!
 
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#8,785
After trying the Mesa SW115 and both the Genzler BA15-3 and BA10-2, I believe I have found the right match for my WD800. The MG-112T-V hits the sweet spot for me. Switching the WD to the 2 ohm position gets me 300 watts for a single 8 ohm cabinet. It sounds amazing and the Tall boy 112 really slams. Remarkable little cab. Too much fun not to add a second, or possibly an MG210 if that becomes a reality. Have to wait and see what Jeff has in the works. I am cool with just the one for now....Have a good day!
20210211_100052.jpg
 
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#8,788
SteveC said:
Is this true of any amp or is that a thing with the Mesa? The MG350 has a switch for 4/8 ohm and 2 ohm operation. Can I get the full 350 watts into the 8ohm MG12T-V? You can't just flip that switch can you? Isn't that dangerous?
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I dunno let me have my tech test it.
 

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#8,790
SteveC said:
Is this true of any amp or is that a thing with the Mesa? The MG350 has a switch for 4/8 ohm and 2 ohm operation. Can I get the full 350 watts into the 8ohm MG12T-V? You can't just flip that switch can you? Isn't that dangerous?
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If you switch the MG350 to the 2.67 mode and play it into an 8-ohm cabinet like the MG12T-V, you're actually reducing the output of the amp to something below the normal 175 watts. I know the Mesa heads can do that with no problem since many folks have posted that it works fine; @agedhorse also confirms it's ok, but as mentioned above, I'd check with Jeff first. One application might be if you're running the MG800 into the BA10-2, putting the MG800 in the 2.67 mode would theoretically reduce the power to the speaker, making it safer. Again, check all this out first with Jeff.
 
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#8,791
SteveC said:
Is this true of any amp or is that a thing with the Mesa? The MG350 has a switch for 4/8 ohm and 2 ohm operation. Can I get the full 350 watts into the 8ohm MG12T-V? You can't just flip that switch can you? Isn't that dangerous?
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He’s reducing output not increasing... otherwise he’d get 400w into 8ohms.

your 350 is 175w into 8oms - flipping the switch would be about 115w into 8 ohms...
 
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#8,795
SCB said:
When shops open again here in the UK I will have to try the options. I did try the 12-3 and the MG12T with the MG 350. I like the smooth top end of the bass array and it had a lot of depth, the 12T-V had more punch to the sound, more top end, but less depth, but this may have been where they were positioned in the shop. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to really compare the 2 options, so I am looking forward to trying them out again when possible.

Thanks for the comments, please keep them coming. I have played guitar for too many years to mention and had a chance to help out a friend’s band on bass at a ball a couple of years ago. I was hooked and joined the band permanently at the start of last year. I was ready to do my first bass gig just before lockdown. It never happened, aaaaagh. Consequently, I have my guitar rig sorted out after many years of loosing money, changing gear, I am now trying to avoid the same process and get the rig right first time. So, your comments and recommendations are really helpful to this relatively new bass player. SCB
PS, ShadowskySteve, avatar fixed with my 'new' old Warwick 2003 Streamer, and yes it is snowing here in the UK, you must be psychic. Cheers from another Steve
Click to expand...
Can't really go wrong with Genzler. Whatever you do get something that won't leave you feeling lacking in the volume or frequency departments. I think that's likely to be where most people wind up making mistakes and needing to start over.

Bass players (myself included) I think get a little too precious about our amps. When you play anything other than the smallest venue, we wind up going direct to the board anyhow. Genzler is a great choice because it represents really strong value, $800-900 new for an MG800, or maybe 500-600 used, is a great deal. The cabs are a touch more expensive but still really nice. Genzler is a very neutral sounding amp. Ampeg, Mesa, GK, etc. all have much more identifiable sonic signatures, IMO. You can play hard rock with Genzler, but it might not be my first choice, just like you could play jazz with an ampeg, but it might not be my first choice either. Genzler does the round, hi-fi-ish sound perfectly, and that's a very versatile sound. But at the end of the day, bass is not as harmonically rich as guitar based on the frequency range involved. The difference between a fender and a marshall amp are much bigger than the difference between a genzler and a bergantino, for example. And those differences show up when you put a mic in front of them, in a way the audience will not experience when running through a direct box. I sure do love plugging into my rig in my home studio and jamming along to my favorite tunes tho, sounds great and great fun!
 
#8,796
3bc said:
Can't really go wrong with Genzler. Whatever you do get something that won't leave you feeling lacking in the volume or frequency departments. I think that's likely to be where most people wind up making mistakes and needing to start over.

Bass players (myself included) I think get a little too precious about our amps. When you play anything other than the smallest venue, we wind up going direct to the board anyhow. Genzler is a great choice because it represents really strong value, $800-900 new for an MG800, or maybe 500-600 used, is a great deal. The cabs are a touch more expensive but still really nice. Genzler is a very neutral sounding amp. Ampeg, Mesa, GK, etc. all have much more identifiable sonic signatures, IMO. You can play hard rock with Genzler, but it might not be my first choice, just like you could play jazz with an ampeg, but it might not be my first choice either. Genzler does the round, hi-fi-ish sound perfectly, and that's a very versatile sound. But at the end of the day, bass is not as harmonically rich as guitar based on the frequency range involved. The difference between a fender and a marshall amp are much bigger than the difference between a genzler and a bergantino, for example. And those differences show up when you put a mic in front of them, in a way the audience will not experience when running through a direct box. I sure do love plugging into my rig in my home studio and jamming along to my favorite tunes tho, sounds great and great fun!
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you need to try the drive channel and the b contour. I think you’ll find the 800 can cop many of the amps you mentioned including GK and Ampeg - maybe into Marshall territory if you really crank the drive...

And yes it also does hifi really really well!
 
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#8,797
Loring said:
you need to try the drive channel and the b contour. I think you’ll find the 800 can cop many of the amps you mentioned including GK and Ampeg - maybe into Marshall territory if you really crank the drive...

And yes it also does hifi really really well!
Click to expand...

New guy here, but drive channel and contour B you say? This is my go to for rounding out my aggressive Dingwall/Darkglass rig and its perfect. I've had problems with other amps not taking pedals well and becoming icepicky/clipping but the Magellan 800 handles it perfectly and is so fat and clear. I'd love to try some of the bass array cabs in the future and maybe buy them if I like them.
 
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#8,798
RColie said:
If you switch the MG350 to the 2.67 mode and play it into an 8-ohm cabinet like the MG12T-V, you're actually reducing the output of the amp to something below the normal 175 watts. I know the Mesa heads can do that with no problem since many folks have posted that it works fine; @agedhorse also confirms it's ok, but as mentioned above, I'd check with Jeff first. One application might be if you're running the MG800 into the BA10-2, putting the MG800 in the 2.67 mode would theoretically reduce the power to the speaker, making it safer. Again, check all this out first with Jeff.
Click to expand...

This is correct, running an 8 ohm cab with amp Impedance Selector switch reduces the power output slightly. You won't hurt anything but that is the outcome to expect.
 
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#8,799
Loring said:
you need to try the drive channel and the b contour. I think you’ll find the 800 can cop many of the amps you mentioned including GK and Ampeg - maybe into Marshall territory if you really crank the drive...

And yes it also does hifi really really well!
Click to expand...
You can use a wrench as a hammer. In a pinch it will do the trick, but it’s not the ideal tool for the job.

The MG800 can cop a lots of tones, the benefit of a very neutral bass tone that mostly just projects the tone of the wood and pickups. Not trying to rag on it by any means. It’s my favorite head and I’ve owned a few. Though part of its favorite status is the fact that it weighs like 6 pounds and fits in a tiny little bag!
 
#8,800
I can and do run my WD at 4/8 ohm setting. By setting it at 2 ohm you get a different tone because you are pushing the amp more. As was stated, I would never try this unless I could confirm that it was okay with my amp. I literally got this information from the horse's mouth. Just like I wouldn't try it on a Genzler amp without the okay from Jeff
 
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