GK MB200 or Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0?

[acleex38]

I had both (had two Shuttle 3.0s at one point) and spent time running them right up against each other.

The Shuttles were better made and had better support but the tone of the GK spoke much more to me at the time.

Shuttle 3.0 - cleaner, more versatile, better service/support at the time (probably even now, thanks to Agedhorse's involvement).
MB200 - LOVE the tone, very baked in tone. Suffered electrical death due to ther wrong instrument cable touching the wrong speaker cable. Always had a bit higher noise/hiss.

I struggled to get a sound I loved out of the Shuttle while it came super-easily with the GK.

I still have an Genz 8T extension cab that I use for practice or acoustic sets with my Quilter Bass Block or the Tonehammer at low volumes. Consider it an additional character reference for the quality of work GB was doing at the time. It's awesome.

 

[steelbed45]

I've owned both. My choice would be the Genz-Benz. Mine was dead quiet, which was great for bedroom playing like the OP states. The MB 200 had a fan that was....insistent, no matter the volume.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Such a shame Genz Benz is no longer in existence.

I thought Genzler was what's left of G-B?

 

[Al Kraft]

I thought Genzler was what's left of G-B?

While GB is yet another great brand killed by Fender (in a way reminiscent of the demise of the SWR brand), the entrepreneur behind GB soldiers on with his new company and new and improved products.

 

[RoadRanger]

I thought Genzler was what's left of G-B?

One of the two principal designers at GB went to Mesa:
Mesa Subway Series Bass Amplifiers | MESA/Boogie®
Both make top-notch stuff and are worth checking out.

 

[DWBass]

I've owned the Shuttle 3.0 and now own the GK MB200. The Shuttle sounded really good at 4ohms. At 8ohms, it seemed to compress way too much for my taste. I ended up trading it away. I like the way the GK sounds at either 8 or 4ohms. It can get decently loud for its 200w. Also, for some reason, the pots on the Genz's ( I owned the 6.0 as well) always seemed to get dirt in them and they were constantly scratchy. Annoying.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Such a shame Genz Benz is no longer in existence.

Lets just say that he has updated things. Click this link to check it all out>Genzler Amplification

This one is mine. drool

And I also vote for the Shuttle.

 

[Little Rock]

Thank you all for the great feedback!
Based on what you guys said, i guess the Genz-Benz is the right choice for me, because i am looking for a transparent amp to match the Avatar SB123 I just bought.

 

[agedhorse]

As I implied above I couldn't get my passive basses to OD it. I should give it a go with my active bass (which I didn't have at the time) .

It does presume a bass with high enough output level. It's true that some passive basses (of set-ups) don't have a high enough level to overdrive the preamp. In these cases a boost pedal will help.

Also, the amp ID overdrive pedal friendly. This opens up a lot more tonal overdrive possibilities.

 

[jnewmark]

I think both are fine heads and I own an MB200. That be being said, if I was in your place, for roughly equal money, and with both amps being in equally good shape, I'd take the Shuttle in a heartbeat for numerous reasons. Good luck with your choice!!

Agree. I also have owned both, and now own a Shuttle 6.2. Way more tonal choices with the 3.0. I always felt that the MB200, although a nice little amp that fits in your gig bag, was sort of a one trick pony, as far as tone goes.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I own both and my experience is opposite yours. The MB200 has a nice unique "grind" to it at medium-high rehearsal/gig volume while the Shuttle 3.0 is very sterile sounding with no usable OD. The latter is a great practice amp as it will highlight all of your technique issues - and prized by acoustic players for its accuracy.

KBD's hearing is shot to hell so you can't take anything from his tonal inpressions.

Sorry KBD, but ya know it's true.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

That doesn't factor in here, because I never drove the amp to gig levels, so I never experienced any overdrive with it, and you can't get o/d on it at lower volumes, because there's only one knob for gain & volume.

I guess you're going to chase me around refuting my preference for sound from now on, based on your perception of my hearing.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I have played plenty of gigs with MB200. Much easier to dial in than the Shuttle, with only 4 knobs and defeatable contour to bother with.

Still I think the Shuttle is the better buy by far. I did a backline provided gig with one and it was a really sweet little clean thing with all the buttons off.

 

[Downunderwonder]

That doesn't factor in here, because I never drove the amp to gig levels, so I never experienced any overdrive with it, and you can't get o/d on it at lower volumes, because there's only one knob for gain & volume.

I guess you're going to chase me around refuting my preference for sound from now on, based on your perception of my hearing.

You call it chasing around, I call it institutional memory. You posted a bunch of sound clips that all sounded like a can of wasps and got the pip when we cottoned on to the fact you don't hear very well. If you refrain from tonal judgements there won't be any problems.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Oh, so basically you're just telling me to shut up then, how quaint!

I wasn't judging tone (or timbre), overdrive & tone/timbre are not synonymous.

 

[RoadRanger]

I always felt that the MB200, although a nice little amp that fits in your gig bag, was sort of a one trick pony, as far as tone goes.

Absolutely. Many of us favor that "one trick" over clean - YMMV .

 

[Plutonium244]

I can't speak to the Genz Benz as I haven't had one... looks to have good control, more so than the MB200. But, I CAN say that I have been surprised and impressed by the GK MB200. It sounds naturally very good with all my cabs, and is super small/light. I am thinking about getting a 2nd one to keep in my gig back as emergency backup since I like keeping the first one set up w/ a Barefaced One10 in the living room, tucked in the corner. I also take it to small & cocktail gigs where it performs wonderfully. As far as it being a "one trick pony" -- meaning, I guess, no headphone out, or 2nd output, or parametric mid, or other frills -- that's all valid, but it's a damn good trick, I don't need more than one trick out of my 2 pound wonder.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I thought the MB200 does have a headphone out?

yep, you just have to set the button right for headphones vs. line out

 

[RoadRanger]

Us gigging players have no use for a headphone out .

 

[steve_rolfeca]

The other differences have been pretty well covered, so I'll just throw one more thought into the mix:

Do you down-tune?

I had a Streamliner 900, and I've always appreciated how the Genz heads were engineered. I would gladly own any of them EXCEPT the 3.0.

The higher HPF setting was a deal-killer for me- the difference from the Streamliner and Shuttle 9.0 was immediately obvious on a low B or C.

In that area, the MB200 is the polar opposite, a tiny amp that sounds BIG. It may be limited to only 200 watts, but at lower volumes the low end is almost identical to the MB800 and MBFusion.