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Genzler Amplification MG800 Magellan head - video

Combinator

Combinator

Oct 23, 2005
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1,378
Seattle
www.combinatormusic.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, Bartolini, Genzler Amplification, GHS, Tsunami Cables, Sonic Nuance
#1
Hello everyone!
Ah, I've just had my morning caffeine fix and have that (albeit fleeting) buzzy cheerfulness thing happening. Here's my video demo/review of the new MG800 amp! Feel free to ask me anything and everything. I'll be at the Genzler booth at NAMM off and on doing some demos, so if you're going to be there definitely stop by and say hi! Hall C, booth 4158.


 
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#4
bobcruz said:
Nice review, thanks! Here's a question for you--is the drive channel touch sensitive, cleaner when you play lightly and dirtier when you dig in (like the tubes in my Streamliner)?
Click to expand...
I can answer that. Yes it is very touch sensitive and tracks very well to the dynamics of your personal technique. A lot of research and "past experience" went into the design of this channel.
 
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#6
Thanks guys! Just like Jeff said above - yes indeed, it is input level-dependent. The Warwick with its hotter output drove the Drive channel more (although with the Gain all the way up both basses sounded equally gritty), and it does bark more on transients when I used some peaky effects with that channel (envelope filter), so it does react like a tube channel would and should.
 
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#7
Jeff Genzler said:
I can answer that. Yes it is very touch sensitive and tracks very well to the dynamics of your personal technique. A lot of research and "past experience" went into the design of this channel.
Click to expand...

Very cool, thanks. I've never liked solid state distortion that's either always there or not. I'm spoiled by the touch sensitivity of my Streamliner. :thumbsup:
 
#10
This amp gives me GAS more than any other classD offering of late. That's fer sho! :banghead: Damnitt!!!!!!!!!

Great vid review. .Thanks. Nice to see/hear a review that plays "real" bass lines. ....Such as that might be used in a song. ...At a gig for example. Too many seem to show a lotta slappity slap and stuff that's too dang fast to actually HEAR the tone
 
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#12
@Jeff Genzler can you speak to how you engineered the drive channel? I'm addicted to 2 channel amps (Fender SB300, Mesa Titan, etc) and love to have that option on gigs especially if it can be volume-matched and doesn't require a bunch of knob fiddling. Currently, my Super Bassman is really getting it done for me as it can go from a nice soft clip purr to full on distortion. Is your Magellan able to get into the full-on OD territory?

Did you just distort a certain band of mid frequencies and leaves the lows and highs clean? Very impressive demo and can't wait to try it at NAMM.
 
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#15
This is great!

I can't see myself switching amps just because.. not for a little while, but this I'd love to try it out sometime soon and compare it to my aguilar th500. I've loved the streamliner in the past, which this definitely takes some looks from.. I hope there is some homage more than just looks.
 
#16
5544 said:
Why was the clean demo through the 12-3 cabinet and the drive demo through the 212T cabinet?
Click to expand...

Mainly due to time constraints. I had shot almost 2 hours of video, but hey, who wants to see that!
Seriously though, in the end choices always have to be made in editing. It's just the way it worked out this time. But that MG212 sure does sound meaty!
 
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#17
Wow.I was able to hear differences between these two basses easy and clearly,i mean passive vs active (if i am not wrong?),on my crappy pc speakers.
It is sounds clear and warm to me,especially through the bass array 12-3.Very nice.I think i heard what i am looking for.:D
 
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#18
husky123 said:
@Jeff Genzler can you speak to how you engineered the drive channel? I'm addicted to 2 channel amps (Fender SB300, Mesa Titan, etc) and love to have that option on gigs especially if it can be volume-matched and doesn't require a bunch of knob fiddling. Currently, my Super Bassman is really getting it done for me as it can go from a nice soft clip purr to full on distortion. Is your Magellan able to get into the full-on OD territory?

Did you just distort a certain band of mid frequencies and leaves the lows and highs clean? Very impressive demo and can't wait to try it at NAMM.
Click to expand...

Regarding the DRIVE channel. It is a separate channel (footswitchable) and thus can be easily set to match the volume of the CLEAN channel as you describe how you like your amp set. As for the circuitry design, we spent a lot of time researching and testing (based on what we'd designed in the past) and where we wanted to take this type of channel feature.
The DRIVE channel has its own pre-shaped tonality which consists of a higher HPF (very gentle slope) and a somewhat tapered top end. The unique design of this channel is that as you increase the DRIVE control you raise the HPF and gently taper a little more top end. Most of the top end is attenuated in the first 1/3 of the DRIVE control and not much more past that but the low end continues to gently roll off as the DRIVE is increased.
We found this to be the most musical performance while providing a great feel and versatility to this channel.
Achieving our distortion and various harmonic content across the frequency band is done with a "soft-knee" type of clipping circuit (not harsh square waves). The amount of range from driven tone, to overdriven tone, to heavy distortion is completely dependent upon the output level of your instrument, the DRIVE control setting and INPUT PAD engagement.
Actually what this channel excels at is the overdriven tones in the soft-purr range of harmonic content. Now add to that the variations that the Contour A and B Curves offer will further accentuate the response.
I hope this info is helpful.
Jeff
.
 
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