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.
Genzler Amplification ! New Genz Benz ?
- Thread starter svtb15
- Start date
Why do you all need so much power? 2,000 watts? If you need that kind of volume, wouldn't you start using some PA support at some point? I mean, 2,000 watts?
My regular amp is 3,000 watts. That would be a micro for me.
Why do you need any amplification at all? You could just use a sand up bass.
Good for him. I've never owned a Genz amp but he seems like a great, down to earth type of guy.
It will be nearly impossible to top the 9.2max ... It would take something VERY special to force me to sell the MB800 or Streamliner 900. Something like the Shuttlemax would be the only thing I'd be interested in personally but it appears I'm more rare. I posted a thread about Andys (I think it was him) move to Mesa Boogie & many people preferred a Walkabout simple layout than a complicated Shuttlemax like Mesa.
As for cabs... I think the only way to go would be a USA like Barefaced or a mass produced Fearless setup. Throwing out more 410s like the Focus cabs wont be terribly interesting.
As for cabs... I think the only way to go would be a USA like Barefaced or a mass produced Fearless setup. Throwing out more 410s like the Focus cabs wont be terribly interesting.
Tell you what, I would be interested in a micro that has a pre amp like my Classic 400 has. Dirty Fender style side, clean to gritty ampeg style side. Foot switchable and blend-able. Each channel needs minimal knobs.
I like lots of knobs on my amps... less knobs on my basses. More knobs on my amps lets me adjust for cab voicing... for example my GK NEOs are too much high mids, needs some treble, needs more low mids and sometimes less lows... try doing that will minimal knobs!
What I loved about GB Shuttle series is very few adjustments.
I'm a set it and forget it kind of guy. The thing I look for is how do my G&L 2500s sound with every ting flat? I want to hear my bass not what the amp makes my bass sound like.
my shuttle 6.0 with 2x12t cabs or my Contour 500 2x10 combo give me just that.
The ability to just plug in and go. No tweaking needed.
I know many out hear like to fiddle with each dial every time they plug in I'm just not that guy.
Thank you Jeff Genzler.
Duke
I'm a set it and forget it kind of guy. The thing I look for is how do my G&L 2500s sound with every ting flat? I want to hear my bass not what the amp makes my bass sound like.
my shuttle 6.0 with 2x12t cabs or my Contour 500 2x10 combo give me just that.
The ability to just plug in and go. No tweaking needed.
I know many out hear like to fiddle with each dial every time they plug in I'm just not that guy.
Thank you Jeff Genzler.
Duke
I'm not trying to start anything, I'm really curious. I can't imagine when you'd need all that power. Don't you ever use a PA?
My needs are my own. They are different from your needs, and that is ok.
Unless you are talking about chemicals you put into your mouth for fuel or air into your lungs the word "need" gets really gray really quick. I think people *need* the things that makes life beautiful for them. For some that's gigantic amps. 2k watts is a great start!
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,083
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
'Need' to accomplish what though? ;-)
To make music, as a solo player or with a group, at any typical/reasonable venue (given that the larger the venue, the larger the pa provided in anything but atypical scenarios), at volumes practical to not do any personal physical or property damage? I'd estimate that 500 watts with enough speakers will be more than adequate for any situation (in my experience playing everything from a coffee house to arenas and outdoor ampitheaters).
To level the woodshed in your backyard or irreparably blow out your singers eardrums? I dunno, maybe 5000 watts? (I don't have any experience with 'stunt audio') ;-)
To impress your peers or otherwise just have the biggest toy on the block? I guess you need the most wattage available with modern technology!
All that hootenany aside, I look forward to Jeff's original ideas moving forward! Genz' was a real innovator in the past. I'd hate to see his creative energy get focus-grouped to a point of homogenization.
To make music, as a solo player or with a group, at any typical/reasonable venue (given that the larger the venue, the larger the pa provided in anything but atypical scenarios), at volumes practical to not do any personal physical or property damage? I'd estimate that 500 watts with enough speakers will be more than adequate for any situation (in my experience playing everything from a coffee house to arenas and outdoor ampitheaters).
To level the woodshed in your backyard or irreparably blow out your singers eardrums? I dunno, maybe 5000 watts? (I don't have any experience with 'stunt audio') ;-)
To impress your peers or otherwise just have the biggest toy on the block? I guess you need the most wattage available with modern technology!
All that hootenany aside, I look forward to Jeff's original ideas moving forward! Genz' was a real innovator in the past. I'd hate to see his creative energy get focus-grouped to a point of homogenization.
Better having lots of Watts and not using them
than needing lots of Watts and not having some.
than needing lots of Watts and not having some.
I'm no techie but IMO, those 1200 watt ICE modules JGR uses in his custom amp(s) seems to have a little sumtin-sumtin extra vs a standard 500w module. A little more "grunt" if you will? Again IMO, what ever Genzler Amplification brings to light should be very interesting to say the least.
The Walkabout was nice but the 300 watts was not enough for clean with cabinets with less than 4 drivers (meaning less effecient).
Now that I think about it, the Shuttlemax gets closer to the Walkabout than any other amp I've owned (tonaly & EQ wise).
There are 100 threads about how the WA would be better with more power but it doesn't look like that this is in the Mesa marketing or sales plan.
For you guys that have never used big power:
It's not about volume but rather the tone whle playing studio clean.
The heft and depth of the note is different; I bought a MB500 and then returnd it for an MB800.
I didn't need more power but rather the clarity, depth, and 3-D soundstage.
If you like distorted bass, power is not much of an issue other than for SPL.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,083
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
The highest wattage amp I ever toured/gigged with was a 1200 watt SUNN 1200s (Fender era). I usually ran it at 4ohms, so I know I was getting less than 1200 watts (maybe 800 to a thousand at that load?). I don't think I ever utilized a fraction of that output! I know that knob position has no reliable correlation to output power, but consistently running the rig with the master on '2' and preamp gain under '5' - I doubt I was even beginning to tax the output section! The few times I did actually "see what this baby can do" created scary, truly unusable volume.
I've found the same to be true with classic, 300w tube SVT's. At only 300 watts, an SVT and 8x10 produces more volume (and yes, even clean headroom) than I could possibly ever need. It is capable of just plain burying even a loud drummer!
I understand headroom issues and wanting to be prepared for a gig, that's totally relevant! Does anybody actually begin to use all the available watts from a 1000 watt head in an actual performing situation? Even peaking out a slapped low B? It seems like bass amp designers and manufacturers have promoted power far beyond the consumers realistic needs for decades now. Guitar amp manufacturers (and guitarists, for that matter) seem to 'get it' more readily these days in my opinion. I mostly see 15, 30, or occasionally 50w guitar amps on most stages these days. The comparatively few times I see a 100 watter out - it has a power soak on it or is being used by a player who is totally overkilling their venue environment!
Different strokes for different folks, naturally! I have no "problem" with a consumer wanting 1000, 2000, 10,000 watts -whatever. It's all good! At this point in my music and gear journey, I just don't see a practical gigging 'need' though. Reliability and tone are my first criteria. I wonder if the bass amp power trend will change?
I've found the same to be true with classic, 300w tube SVT's. At only 300 watts, an SVT and 8x10 produces more volume (and yes, even clean headroom) than I could possibly ever need. It is capable of just plain burying even a loud drummer!
I understand headroom issues and wanting to be prepared for a gig, that's totally relevant! Does anybody actually begin to use all the available watts from a 1000 watt head in an actual performing situation? Even peaking out a slapped low B? It seems like bass amp designers and manufacturers have promoted power far beyond the consumers realistic needs for decades now. Guitar amp manufacturers (and guitarists, for that matter) seem to 'get it' more readily these days in my opinion. I mostly see 15, 30, or occasionally 50w guitar amps on most stages these days. The comparatively few times I see a 100 watter out - it has a power soak on it or is being used by a player who is totally overkilling their venue environment!
Different strokes for different folks, naturally!
I have no "problem" with a consumer wanting 1000, 2000, 10,000 watts -whatever. It's all good! At this point in my music and gear journey, I just don't see a practical gigging 'need' though. Reliability and tone are my first criteria. I wonder if the bass amp power trend will change?Yup, just like a GK 1001RB vs a 700RB... the 700RB is LOUD but its not CLEAN like the 1001RB as that same db level. I've got a GK NEO 412 that gets paired with my GB 9.2max... 900w is the minimum I would do as even that amp gets pushed into some unclean tone at times.
Watts isn't just about volume. If you want to go very low with authority or capture all of your transients in crystal detail then you need a big amp. How big? That's for you to decide.
