+1 It's more of shift than a scoop. I'd definitely use that contour. It really expands what you can do with just a few knobs.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- May 20, 2002
- 1,384
- 1,225
- Disclosures
- Provided content for Genzler Amplification
Absolutely.
What I really love about this amp is it's range of tones and how it responds to what it's given.
Just got my tracking # from Bass Strings Online for the 800. I'll post my impressions when it shows up.
I received a shipping notice for mine as well. Right after I got the email a friend and fellow bassist that's at NAMM text me that he had just heard it and wasn't impressed. A couple minutes later he text me back to tell me that he was joking and the amp really sounded great. Not funny.
Not a fan of overdrive on bass but that sounded damn fine. It all sounded real fine. Good for now on amps but that's definitely going to get a good hard look next time I'm in the market.
I heard it yesterday at NAMM as well and was as impressed as one can be at NAMM in the din. FWIW, I heard two other heads that struck me as very cool - the Trickfish and the Bergantino, but if I was buying today, I'd pick up the Magellan
Last edited:
These demo's are great. I asked a question regarding the Mesa subway models and someone mentioned these. The sound and features of this are more to my liking. I love forums and youtube reviews. Saves me having to buy and re-buy. This amp and cab line are much more in line with what I'm looking for.
The bad weather is going to hold up delivery but, that's ok because I'll be working doubles and not have time to try it anyway.
Sorry to hear that but at least now I don't have to listen to you brag about how awesome it is while I'm waiting for mine to show up Thursday.
Sitting on pins and needles.Here's some more amp porn while we wait. Swaéli M'Bappé and his father Étienne M'Bappé at NAMM jamming at the Genzler booth. Borrowed this from the Genzler Facebook page.
Great demo on the cabs as well as the head! Very nice bass playing and variety of technique!
Between the demos and everyone else's personal reviews, the amp and cabs are looking to be the top contenders in the bass marketplace. I'm beginning to think I may have to get my hands on the new amp and possibly the new array cab. The specs look great on both and I'm very curious to hear in person the low extension of the cabs (Not to mention how much lighter they are vs my Uber cabs and lately I'm slepping gear at least twice a week).
Questions to Jeff Genzler
Care to comment on a comparison of sound (spl's/frequency range/etc) of two 12-3 arrays vs an Uber15 and Uber Quad?
The same on the Magellan 800 vs a 9.2 SM (depth/tube drive emulation/etc)?
Thank you!
Jeff
Between the demos and everyone else's personal reviews, the amp and cabs are looking to be the top contenders in the bass marketplace. I'm beginning to think I may have to get my hands on the new amp and possibly the new array cab. The specs look great on both and I'm very curious to hear in person the low extension of the cabs (Not to mention how much lighter they are vs my Uber cabs and lately I'm slepping gear at least twice a week).
Questions to Jeff Genzler
Care to comment on a comparison of sound (spl's/frequency range/etc) of two 12-3 arrays vs an Uber15 and Uber Quad?
The same on the Magellan 800 vs a 9.2 SM (depth/tube drive emulation/etc)?
Thank you!
Jeff
Posted this in the other Genzler thread. Figured I'd put it here to as well.
So this showed up today, two days early –
Haven't had a lot of time to play with it but so far so good. Nice and clean, both of the contours are really cool. A little of contour A goes along way with me and contour B has been fun to mess with this well.
Definitely feels bigger than my Shuttlemax. Whatever they did to the preamp compared to the Genz really has improve the highs to my ear; more smooth and slightly more glassy where the Shuttlemax always sound too crispy and kind of boxy (sorry I lack a better description).
So this showed up today, two days early –
Haven't had a lot of time to play with it but so far so good. Nice and clean, both of the contours are really cool. A little of contour A goes along way with me and contour B has been fun to mess with this well.
Definitely feels bigger than my Shuttlemax. Whatever they did to the preamp compared to the Genz really has improve the highs to my ear; more smooth and slightly more glassy where the Shuttlemax always sound too crispy and kind of boxy (sorry I lack a better description).
Jeff Genzler
Commercial User
- Feb 9, 2007
- 1,819
- 11,893
- Disclosures
- Currently GENZLER AMPLIFICATION / Formerly GENZ BENZ
Hey Jeff
Sorry for the delay but doing a lot of catching up after the NAMM show and getting back to the East Coast.
Regarding a comparison of the UBER stack (115 & Quad) to the Bass Array. Well I'll say that that particular UBER rig has always been one of my personal favorites. Comparing it to a Bass Array stack (2 pcs) I'd say that in a live setting your going to fill the room in an entirely different way. The will be vastly different not only in their weight (UBERs at 112 lbs and the BA's at 68lbs) but in how they project.
Certainly their is a great amount of depth in the 15" UBER but the 12" Bass Array (loaded with Faital's) is incredibly deep and articulate in the low end--most especially for its size. I would also say that the UBER QUAD is a for-runner to what we have achieved with the Array design in the Bass Array. Now using the 4 x 3" cone driver array stack offers exceptional detail to all frequencies from approx. 800 Hz and above. But the smoothness and projection is what makes the BASS ARRAY cabs so different. Overall, the BA cabs will certainly provide a more even dispersion of all frequencies across the stage AND the audience.
The thing that was so evident during our NAMM demos was how the BA cabinets responded with so many different player's techniques and different types of basses. Nearly every player responded with the same comments, along with being exceptionally smooth in their response all along the finger board, these cabinets projected into the room in their own unique way---unlike any conventional cabinet design, even our former UBER cabs, which I still love.
And talk about projection, we became very good friends with the NAMM sound police (good guys doing a hard job). We measured the ambient din of noise in the room at approx. 93 - 95 dB (without any direct amps playing). And when we did do our demos (between NAMM sound police visits) these cabs easily cut through to the extent that you could hear all the detail and clarity from a long distance away.
So what I'm explaining is that for the UBER vs BASS ARRAY in SPL, FREQ RESPONSE, The BA's (a much smaller rig) will give you everything you're currently getting BUT in a different way, with more projection and smoothness than you're currently hearing, and with a much lesser schlep.
Regarding the ShuttleMAX and Magellan 800 comparisons, as others have stated, the MG-800 is a "heftier" amp in it's depth of the note and attack. This is due to our new approach to the preamp design and feature set along with the new generation of power amp module and our implementation.
I don't think I'm out of line at all to say that the performance of this NEW generation of ICEpower amp modules is a direct result of our former teams experience, understanding and integration of previous ICEpower modules over the past 9 years.
Regarding the preamp the differences are also apparent in our clarity and top end response as well. The entire Active EQ has also been addressed to be even more selectively responsive either in the mids or Treble response.
Even though the Magellan 800 is an all analog design compared to the ShuttleMAX, in our MG 800 DRIVE channel we've captured the detail of the harmonic character and feel over previous tube preamps. Blending this circuitry with the Contour B features versatility, opens up an entire new range of feel and dynamics.
As an overview, as I've stated before, in both cabinet and amplifier designs, we feel we've taken our background (which we remain extremely proud) and moved it forward into a new generation. Sorry if I'm long winded here but your comparisons are very valid and I hope I've addressed them.
Regards,
Jeff
Jeff,
Thank you for your impressions and comparison!
From most of the reviews I assumed the arrays are something very special and the shlep factor is a considerable point. But the sound is always most important and I'm extremely excited to know my prayers have been answered!
You will hear from me this year when I purchase direct from you!
Thank you
Thank you for your impressions and comparison!
From most of the reviews I assumed the arrays are something very special and the shlep factor is a considerable point. But the sound is always most important and I'm extremely excited to know my prayers have been answered!
You will hear from me this year when I purchase direct from you!
Thank you
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
IMO.. Yes I can sound like a streamliner if you tweaked it.BUT it can do SO MUCH MORE.. its not a one trick pony. It does about 4 or 5 tricks that i was able to find in a short time. All of which were similar to the ShuttleMAx, and Streamliner but MORE. In a good way.
And each note has heft to them . And a Heft that is Not EQ'd in.
It has a different feel in note delivery and decay than the Shuttle or streamliner. That was noticeable right out of the gate by the end of the first measure.. I also did less knob twiddling .
SO in that way its different ..In a Good way..
And each note has heft to them . And a Heft that is Not EQ'd in.
It has a different feel in note delivery and decay than the Shuttle or streamliner. That was noticeable right out of the gate by the end of the first measure.. I also did less knob twiddling .
SO in that way its different ..In a Good way..
I was impressed with what I heard at the Genzler Amplification booth at NAMM last weekend, and was excited to see the Magellan 800 head at the music store Monday. I played the Magellan 800 through a Magellan 212T cabinet. I wanted to use two Bass Array 12-3 cabs, but they only had one left in stock. Everything is well laid out and easy to use. I like the size and weight of the head as it is light enough to be portable but it is not too light to be easily pulled off the top of a cabinet (when the guitarist trips over your instrument cord). The controls make sense and it’s easy to dial in a sound you are looking for. Plenty of smooth bottom end, and plenty of top end zing if you want it. The note definition and clarity allows the personality of the bass you’re playing to come through. With the EQ set flat, the Clean channel sounds good, not overly voiced. Again, with the EQ set flat, the Drive channel sounds like the bottom end is rolled off a little. This makes sense, as the when Gain knob is turned up, the bottom end does not get muddy. Nothing muddy about this amp. The bottom end is big, smooth, and pleasant. It is not overemphasized. The combination of that with articulate upper mids and top end clarity is what I like about the Magellan 800. Everything just keeps getting better when you start making EQ adjustments. The A and B curves are both very usable voices, and the Contour knob allows a wide range of adjustment within each curve. Quick adjustments between songs are possible with a push of the A/B curve button, or a twist of the Contour knob. Where I would have to adjust four knobs on my Streamliner, the Magellan 800 does it with one Contour knob. I could play a nice Jazz Bass through the Clean channel A curve all day long smiling...then select the B curve and smile all night. The A/B Curve and Contour knobs are functional with the Clean or Drive channels. A very versatile setup. These are all features that I wished were on my Streamliner. My wishes have been answered.
Last edited:
Agreed on all points. Having owned most of the Shuttle line and the Streamliner several times over the Magellan seems like the logical evolution. It has the punch of the Shuttle with the massive feel of the streamliner. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the EQ section. The range of the active eq is super useful and musical, where you can twist knobs and set them with your ear, even if your knob positions end up looking a little funky afterwards!
Previous micros I've owned in addition to the above Genz products: GK MB series, Aguilar Tone Hammer, Markbass LM series, Orange TB heads, Mesa walkabout and a few others I can't remeber at the moment. More to come as I spend some time with it, so far I'm a very happy owner!
