- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
I got kicked off for a few days for using that "A" word about 8 years ago... I guess its now safe.. Boy, times have changed... Back to the Genzler AMP talk.
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Genzler Amplification ! New Genz Benz ?
- Thread starter svtb15
- Start date
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
I actually sold a 9.2 in favor of the Mesa D-800 primarily for the reason of focus and thickness in the lows, but solid state vs. tube pre always seems to shake out that way (for me anyway) I never owned a Mesa product previously so cannot attest to the "Mesa sound" but the voicing control really tunes the character of overall tone in a way that I find usable and not gimmicky. Do I miss that 9.2? Still do which is why I'm keeping an eye on this new offering.
Getting back to the tone and feel of the amp, comparisons were made with previous Genz Benz heads. I'm assuming that's more with the GB micros in mind. I had a Shuttlemax 12.0 and still have a GBE 1200. There was a period of overlap when I had both. They are different animals. The Shuttlemax was nice, but I wasn't all that impressed with its behavior when pushed. The GBE has more clarity, more grind, more grunt down low, and, when you stop a note, the speaker stops moving. With the Max, there was a small but audible amount of overhang to the note. Pushing a big cab in a band setting, the GBE is unquestionably more muscular and immediate. Some of that is probably due to the 1000 Watts into 4 Ohms of the GBE vs. 600 Watts of the Max (running into a single, big cab, I could only take advantage of one side of the Max, but I think there's more to it than that). Regardless of the reason, and sidestepping arguments about the inherent properties of different topologies, the GBE made a compelling enough sonic and visceral argument that I elected to keep its 50-odd racked pounds over the 12.0's six or so pounds.
The GBE, at least through a cab with a lot of low extension, is audibly high-passed, but I find that dialing in the LF Extend (which drops the HPF frequency) to 1:00 or 2:00 gets me where I want to go, there. (The low end of the GBE still feels tighter than a lot of amps, even with a good dose of LF Extend).
So, to anyone who's played both the GBE 1200 (or GBE 750, for that matter) and the Magellan, can you comment on the tone and feel of this amp vs. the GBE? (For my own use, I'd be thinking primarily of the clean channel -- if I end up digging the overdrive, that's icing on the cake). Please feel free to be as detailed as you like.
The GBE, at least through a cab with a lot of low extension, is audibly high-passed, but I find that dialing in the LF Extend (which drops the HPF frequency) to 1:00 or 2:00 gets me where I want to go, there. (The low end of the GBE still feels tighter than a lot of amps, even with a good dose of LF Extend).
So, to anyone who's played both the GBE 1200 (or GBE 750, for that matter) and the Magellan, can you comment on the tone and feel of this amp vs. the GBE? (For my own use, I'd be thinking primarily of the clean channel -- if I end up digging the overdrive, that's icing on the cake). Please feel free to be as detailed as you like.
I got to meet Jeff Genzler yesterday at NAMM. I got a good pace through in with the 800 watt head and 2x12 cab. MAN, it handled the low B with zero problems and was super rich and deep, but clear and no farting. I can definitely recommend the cabs I heard yesterday. The one with the 4 smaller speakers in the middle "bass array" was very clean. Everyone standing around looked impressed with both cabs.
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I met Jeff G. on Friday. Very personable and took time to chat with me about his move from Az to NYC. What a change!
The Magellan is quite impressive. From what I could tell (competing with -- what I measured to be -- 100 dB of ambient "noise"), it's definitely more versatile than my Streamliner.
Scott Andres (the designer) assisted in showing me how to get the STM tone and then showed what variations could be achieved by adjusting the "contour" control.
For me personally, I don't need more than the STM, but I could see how someone in a cover band, especially, could use the flexibility of Magellan; without breaking the bank (or one's back) and still have great tone.
From what I could tell the 12-3 cabs were very good, great even. Very responsive with serious punch from the 3-stack. (Okay, so I guess I helped contribute to the 100 dB...)
But again NAMM is not a great place for discerning nuances in gear.
Cheers!
The Magellan is quite impressive. From what I could tell (competing with -- what I measured to be -- 100 dB of ambient "noise"), it's definitely more versatile than my Streamliner.
Scott Andres (the designer) assisted in showing me how to get the STM tone and then showed what variations could be achieved by adjusting the "contour" control.
For me personally, I don't need more than the STM, but I could see how someone in a cover band, especially, could use the flexibility of Magellan; without breaking the bank (or one's back) and still have great tone.
From what I could tell the 12-3 cabs were very good, great even. Very responsive with serious punch from the 3-stack. (Okay, so I guess I helped contribute to the 100 dB...)
But again NAMM is not a great place for discerning nuances in gear.
Cheers!
Jeff's bass cabinets are very good, his GB Uber 410 remains my favorite 410, built like a tank and great tone.
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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).
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).
Got to quickly try mine. Let's get one thing out of the way. I have been spoiled by using rigs with well over 1000 watts and you just aren't going to replicate the feel that all the extra headroom gives you. Also, if you have good cabs, they will most likely handle way more than your current amp can put out.
Anyway, this is a really nice amp. Clean and flat. The low and high sound like they are voiced lower and higher than the shuttle and the mid is about the same Awsome bit, goes higher. I think that I may actually prefer the shuttle tube front end, but this is a good fet design. I really liked contour B and think it will kill with my barefaced bt2, if I ever get it. The overdrive channel is ok bit, it won't replace any of my pedals. It seems to have about as much power as the gk mb fusion 800 and mesa shuttle amps. I think this genzler easily sounds better than both though. I probably would always use this amp with contour B engaged.
Anyway, this is a really nice amp. Clean and flat. The low and high sound like they are voiced lower and higher than the shuttle and the mid is about the same Awsome bit, goes higher. I think that I may actually prefer the shuttle tube front end, but this is a good fet design. I really liked contour B and think it will kill with my barefaced bt2, if I ever get it. The overdrive channel is ok bit, it won't replace any of my pedals. It seems to have about as much power as the gk mb fusion 800 and mesa shuttle amps. I think this genzler easily sounds better than both though. I probably would always use this amp with contour B engaged.
Played one at NAMM and obviously that is anything but a controlled environment. Contour B let me cut through the 110 db of ambient noise there which leads me to believe I'd LOVE it with the rock band.
This is an interesting perspective on power.
I feel that both my 9.2 and MB800 have the same amount of slam as my 1500 lead sled / Ampeg tube pre route.
I do feel that the thickness of the notes are different on the class D’s especially on upper strings but believe this is more a function of HPF than brute power.
I have found that 800 watts is enough for my Neox 2x12 for clean and clear with plenty of headroom.
Maybe the quality of my power amp isn’t as potent as yours?
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
I liked a little bit of Contour B .. That's more my thing .. and the amp doesn't have a boxy tone like you said.. . Its real nice.
I just sold my SM9.2 and looking at some new stuff too
I just sold my SM9.2 and looking at some new stuff too
Yes, I'm digging on Contour B as well. Still playing with all the options. At first I wasn't into the drive channel but I'm finding some cool tones with a touch of drive and little bit of the B contour.
I've tried quite a few of the new crop of class D's (Mesa, Trickfish, Berg) and this one is a stand out. The only two I've been able to really dial the lows and mids the way I liked have been the Genzler and the Berg. My Shuttlemax eq was great but I love how fast I can dial in the mids on the Magellan.
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
The Magellan is great..
Like you said there are many amps out there now.. That new Peavey mM is quite nice as is the new Form Factor 1000. So many new amps recently . Lots of people chatting about it .. I like the 2.67 ohm setting on the Genzler. Have fun with yours.
My friend has the trickfish. they call it a 1k but i don't think is is really 1000 watts. I know the Form factor 1000 watts is as well as that new Peavey that came out
Like you said there are many amps out there now.. That new Peavey mM is quite nice as is the new Form Factor 1000. So many new amps recently . Lots of people chatting about it .. I like the 2.67 ohm setting on the Genzler. Have fun with yours.
My friend has the trickfish. they call it a 1k but i don't think is is really 1000 watts. I know the Form factor 1000 watts is as well as that new Peavey that came out
Haven't tried either of those but the Peavey was out because I wanted 2.67ohm capability for my 212/112 stack.
The difference between my rack rig and carvin b2000 compared to any of these micro amps is simply undeniable. The newer ones all sound good, but at gig vole, if you turn up some low end, the big headroom amps just pour it on, while these smaller amps compress and get soft. Ford escort vs dodge ram. The magellan is a great sounding amp though, and easily the best micro so far.
I don’t see how the B2000 could be that much different from the Magellan spec wise as it is still Class D with a switching power supply and 1300 watts at 4 ohms.
Perhaps the extra 500 watts makes a difference?
Did you mean to type “B1500” which is 1250 watts @ 4 ohms and the 35 lbs. suggests class A/B?
B2000 Specs
- OUTPUT POWER: 8 Ohms: 700w, 4 Ohms: 1300w, 2 Ohms: 2050w
- OUTPUT MODE: high efficiency CLASS D technology
- POWER SUPPLY: high frequency switching
- REQUENCY RESPONSE: +/- 1 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz amplifier section
- DAMPING FACTOR: >300
- PREAMP: 3 stage CLASS A
- PREAMP TUBE: 12AX7 switchable in/out
- INPUT IMPEDANCE: >200Kohms
- ACTIVE/PASSIVE Input Jack: 10 dB gain switch - accommodates all basses
- ACTIVE TONE CONTROLS: +/-12dB @ 40Hz, 100Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 2kHz, 6kHz
- DI OUT with Pre/Post swtich: -50 to +4 dBu adjustable, DC isolated XLR output
- EFFECT LOOP: -10dBV, buffered
- FS22 FOOTSWITCH: Controls Graphic EQ on/off & MUTE on/off
- SOFT START: gradually turns the amp on to prevent surges that can trip circuit breakers
- PROTECTION: speakers, over current, under voltage and thermal
- AC VOLTAGE: 120V 60Hz (230V 50 Hz "-E" models available) - Power Requirements: 600VA
- DIMENSIONS: 2U rackmount, 19" wide x 10.5" x deep 3.5" high
- NET WEIGHT: 14 lbs net (5.2 kgs)
- WARRANTY: 1 year parts and labor
- MADE IN THE USA
B2000. That's a lot more power and it makes a big difference. Output wise, it stomps all the micros. Its not even close. Maybe it's the power supply. I can't debate any of that but, I've owned pretty much everything and speak from real use and experience. I personally found the ampeg svt7 pro to be kind of mushy compared to my svpcl and carvin 3800lx rack. I didn't think my shuttlemax 9.2 was weak until I got a good power amp. Now, the difference is glaring, even annoying.
I played the Genzler Amplification Megellion 212T at the Bass Place in Peoria, Arizona and it was amazing! I chose to buy a Boom Bass Cabinets Tank 212 instead. The Genzler Amplification Megellon 212T was just a bit to big in form factor for my needs. Awsome product the Magellon 212T.
