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- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Very good! After I make a run to a music store to buy a couple speakon cables today, I'll be jamming out rest of the day on the Magelkan 800. How long did you have it for? I'm in Columbus right now for a few days. Are you close by?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I am two hours north, near Lake Erie. I had it for a fairly short time, but it was definitely a lot of fun! We should be getting a production unit in for a full review in Bass Gear Magazine.
Ok, this is my first impressions of the prototype Genzler Magellan 800 connected to 2 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs. For the Demo I'm playing my Spector NS-2 with onboard active 9V HAZ preamp, DR Pure Blues round wound strings, both cabs connected to amp with speakon cables. Bass is drop tuned BEAD. Finger style playing only. Next Demo I'll use a pic.
Ok...after 3+ hours of putting thru the paces the Genzler Magellan 800 & 2 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs I must say...HOLY FREAKING COWS!!!!!
IMHO, this is the do all, sound all amp and cabs! If you want dirty, select the drive channel and add gain to taste & its separate vol, if you want to change your sound i.e. to P bass, J bass, MM tones select A/B Contour and dial flat-Max knob to taste, if you want a clean tone just deselect all of the above and go with just the clean channel and it also has its own separate vol control seperate from the master vol control. The 3 band EQ is just amazing, it responds to the slightest of adjustments in a big and great way and your overall tone WILL change.
At first I put my onboard bass EQ with all control knobs set flat and only used the Magellan 800 controls. I started with the Clean channel vol at half or 12:00, Pad selected as my Spector NS-2 has an active 9V HAZ preamp, Drive deselected & Contour A, EQ set to all flat, master vol at 9:00(All thru my testing today I never dialed the master vol past this setting.) The sound was JUST INCREDIBLELY AMAZING!!!!! The bottom end (B string) was just Full, round, smooooth, clear with no muddiness, low mids are big, punchiness, growly, clear, articulate sounding, it'll tell on your finger technique, high mids are punchy, growly, clear, full and articulate sounding, highs really quite surprised me, not sizzling but piano like but with fullness, articulate, clear tone and surprisingly I spent a great amount of time at first playing on the D string all the way down to the 24th fret. This is NOT my normal playing area at all but the tones that I was getting made me WANT TO play in the highs more and more because of the fullness and piano like clarity/articulate, difference compared to ALL other amps/cabs that I've played thru in the past. I went from the D string to the A,E,B, all up and down the fretboard just enjoying being immersed in the amazing tones coming from the Genzler BA 12-3 cabs. IT WAS INTOXICATING in itself! Tomorrow I will get into the various settings that I selected today. Before starting today I told myself that I would right down on paper each and every setting that I did but excitement over came me!
Sorry! Plus we just got back yesterday afternoon traveling from the West coast, a bit tired yet.
The Bass Array cabs are really amazing in their clarity and lateral projection is amazing! I walked several feet around from front to side to side back and forth and the dispursment is just amazing! I could hear clearly whether I was on the right or left side, you'll definately hear your finger playing technique and muting technique if you're a little or a lot on the sloppy side. But, with the right adjustments on the Magellan 800 amp you can yet cover up those technique inconsistencies.
With just the smallest of increase of the bass control of my onboard preamp at 25% the loudness level was pretty overwhelming. And I did not increase the Magellan 800 master volume level during all the time that I was playing today. The Magellan 800 amp and Genzler BA 12-3 cabs are just that much sensitive to your bass onboard EQ adjustments. Did I mention mind blowing AMAZING?!?!
My wife was in the 2nd story of the house working while I was playing. I asked her how/what was the sound/tone like to her? She commented that it was like nothing else that she has EVER heard before. Nothing like my home bass rig, Ampeg B-15T Portaflex Fliptop 100W. Even the 2800Watts that I pushed thru my old Ampeg SVT "Fridge", PR-410HLF and B-115! My wife said that EVERY note is defined, every time that I fingered a different note the note change was heard as solid, defined, articulate, clear, clean and she commented, "yeah, I even heard when your fretting fingers were not quite clean playing in their movement". OPPS! Lol She says this Magellan Amp and Genzler BA 12-3 cabs are definately keepers! Once the Magellan 800 cabs are available at the Genzler dealers my current bass rig WILL BE my second place rig. I DO NOT need a 15" cab any longer, not with these 2 BA 12-3 cabs. I can only imagine what 3 of these BA 12-3 cabs connected to the Magellan 800 will sound like because I WILL purchase a 3rd cab! Our daughter and son-in-law were VERY impressed with the sound as well.
They said it sounded fantastic!
I WILL PURCHASE one of these Magellan 800 amps when they become available middle of next month, when they arrive at the Genzler dealer with no doubt! I'm really glad that I'll have this prototype for another 1-2 weeks! Next week I'll be putting it thru it's paces with my band. Until then, I'll be playing these AMAZING Genzler bass equipment every day! Just one more thing, in the clean, drive, or Contour modes the cabs really allow the true tone of your bass to come thru. I've NEVER heard my bass like this before! So full, round, punchy, clear and AMAZING!
GET YOURSELF A Genzler Magellan 800 and 2-3 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs!
More to come tomorrow!
Ok...after 3+ hours of putting thru the paces the Genzler Magellan 800 & 2 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs I must say...HOLY FREAKING COWS!!!!!
IMHO, this is the do all, sound all amp and cabs! If you want dirty, select the drive channel and add gain to taste & its separate vol, if you want to change your sound i.e. to P bass, J bass, MM tones select A/B Contour and dial flat-Max knob to taste, if you want a clean tone just deselect all of the above and go with just the clean channel and it also has its own separate vol control seperate from the master vol control. The 3 band EQ is just amazing, it responds to the slightest of adjustments in a big and great way and your overall tone WILL change.
At first I put my onboard bass EQ with all control knobs set flat and only used the Magellan 800 controls. I started with the Clean channel vol at half or 12:00, Pad selected as my Spector NS-2 has an active 9V HAZ preamp, Drive deselected & Contour A, EQ set to all flat, master vol at 9:00(All thru my testing today I never dialed the master vol past this setting.) The sound was JUST INCREDIBLELY AMAZING!!!!! The bottom end (B string) was just Full, round, smooooth, clear with no muddiness, low mids are big, punchiness, growly, clear, articulate sounding, it'll tell on your finger technique, high mids are punchy, growly, clear, full and articulate sounding, highs really quite surprised me, not sizzling but piano like but with fullness, articulate, clear tone and surprisingly I spent a great amount of time at first playing on the D string all the way down to the 24th fret. This is NOT my normal playing area at all but the tones that I was getting made me WANT TO play in the highs more and more because of the fullness and piano like clarity/articulate, difference compared to ALL other amps/cabs that I've played thru in the past. I went from the D string to the A,E,B, all up and down the fretboard just enjoying being immersed in the amazing tones coming from the Genzler BA 12-3 cabs. IT WAS INTOXICATING in itself! Tomorrow I will get into the various settings that I selected today. Before starting today I told myself that I would right down on paper each and every setting that I did but excitement over came me!
Sorry! Plus we just got back yesterday afternoon traveling from the West coast, a bit tired yet.The Bass Array cabs are really amazing in their clarity and lateral projection is amazing! I walked several feet around from front to side to side back and forth and the dispursment is just amazing! I could hear clearly whether I was on the right or left side, you'll definately hear your finger playing technique and muting technique if you're a little or a lot on the sloppy side. But, with the right adjustments on the Magellan 800 amp you can yet cover up those technique inconsistencies.
With just the smallest of increase of the bass control of my onboard preamp at 25% the loudness level was pretty overwhelming. And I did not increase the Magellan 800 master volume level during all the time that I was playing today. The Magellan 800 amp and Genzler BA 12-3 cabs are just that much sensitive to your bass onboard EQ adjustments. Did I mention mind blowing AMAZING?!?!My wife was in the 2nd story of the house working while I was playing. I asked her how/what was the sound/tone like to her? She commented that it was like nothing else that she has EVER heard before. Nothing like my home bass rig, Ampeg B-15T Portaflex Fliptop 100W. Even the 2800Watts that I pushed thru my old Ampeg SVT "Fridge", PR-410HLF and B-115! My wife said that EVERY note is defined, every time that I fingered a different note the note change was heard as solid, defined, articulate, clear, clean and she commented, "yeah, I even heard when your fretting fingers were not quite clean playing in their movement". OPPS! Lol She says this Magellan Amp and Genzler BA 12-3 cabs are definately keepers! Once the Magellan 800 cabs are available at the Genzler dealers my current bass rig WILL BE my second place rig. I DO NOT need a 15" cab any longer, not with these 2 BA 12-3 cabs. I can only imagine what 3 of these BA 12-3 cabs connected to the Magellan 800 will sound like because I WILL purchase a 3rd cab! Our daughter and son-in-law were VERY impressed with the sound as well.
They said it sounded fantastic!I WILL PURCHASE one of these Magellan 800 amps when they become available middle of next month, when they arrive at the Genzler dealer with no doubt! I'm really glad that I'll have this prototype for another 1-2 weeks!
Next week I'll be putting it thru it's paces with my band. Until then, I'll be playing these AMAZING Genzler bass equipment every day! Just one more thing, in the clean, drive, or Contour modes the cabs really allow the true tone of your bass to come thru. I've NEVER heard my bass like this before! So full, round, punchy, clear and AMAZING! GET YOURSELF A Genzler Magellan 800 and 2-3 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs!More to come tomorrow!
Last edited:
Ok, this is my first impressions of the prototype Genzler Magellan 800 connected to 2 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs. For the Demo I'm playing my Spector NS-2 with onboard active 9V HAZ preamp, DR Pure Blues round wound strings, both cabs connected to amp with speakon cables. Bass is drop tuned BEAD. Finger style playing only. Next Demo I'll use a pic.
Ok...after 3+ hours of putting thru the paces the Genzler Magellan 800 & 2 Genzler Bass Array 12-3 cabs I must say...HOLY FREAKING COWS!!!!!
IMHO, this is the do all, sound all amp and cabs! If you want dirty, select the drive channel and add gain to taste & its separate vol, if you want to change your sound i.e. to P bass, J bass, MM tones select A/B Contour and dial flat-Max knob to taste, if you want a clean tone just deselect all of the above and go with just the clean channel and it also has its own separate vol control seperate from the master vol control. The 4 band EQ is just amazing, it responds to the slightest of adjustments in a big and great way and your overall tone WILL change.
At first I put my onboard bass EQ with all control knobs set flat and only used the Magellan 800 controls. I started with the Clean channel vol at half or 12:00, Pad selected as my Spector NS-2 has an active 9V HAZ preamp, Drive deselected & Contour A, EQ set to all flat, master vol at 9:00(All thru my testing today I never dialed the master vol past this setting.) The sound was JUST INCREDIBLELY AMAZING!!!!! The bottom end (B string) was just Full, round, smooooth, clear with no muddiness, low mids are big, punchiness, growly, clear, articulate sounding, it'll tell on your finger technique, high mids are punchy, growly, clear, full and articulate sounding, highs really quite surprised me, not sizzling but piano like but with fullness, articulate, clear tone and surprisingly I spent a great amount of time at first playing on the D string all the way down to the 24th fret. This is NOT my normal playing area at all but the tones that I was getting made me WANT TO play in the highs more and more because of the fullness and piano like clarity/articulate, difference compared to ALL other amps/cabs that I've played thru in the past. I went from the D string to the A,E,B, all up and down the fretboard just enjoying being immersed in the amazing tones coming from the Genzler BA 12-3 cabs. IT WAS INTOXICATING in itself! Tomorrow I will get into the various settings that I selected today. Before starting today I told myself that I would right down on paper each and every setting that I did but excitement over came me!
The Bass Array cabs are really amazing in their clarity and lateral projection is amazing! I walked several feet around from front to side to side back and forth and the dispursment is just amazing! I could hear clearly whether I was on the right or left side, you'll definately hear your finger playing technique and muting technique if you're a little or a lot on the sloppy side. But, with the right adjustments on the Magellan 800 amp you can yet cover up those technique inconsistencies.
My wife was in the 2nd story of the house working while I was playing. I asked her how/what was the sound/tone like to her? She commented that it was like nothing else that she has EVER heard before. Nothing like my home bass rig, Ampeg B-15T Portaflex Fliptop 100W. Even the 2800Watts that I pushed thru my old Ampeg SVT "Fridge", PR-410HLF and B-115! My wife said that EVERY note is defined, every time that I fingered a different note the note change was heard as solid, defined, articulate, clear, clean and she commented, "yeah, I even heard when your fretting fingers were not quite clean playing in their movement". OPPS! Lol She says this Magellan Amp and Genzler BA 12-3 cabs are definately keepers! Once the Magellan 800 cabs are available at the Genzler dealers my current bass rig WILL BE my second place rig. I DO NOT need a 15" cab any longer, not with these 2 BA 12-3 cabs. I can only imagine what 3 of these BA 12-3 cabs connected to the Magellan 800 will sound like because I WILL purchase a 3rd cab! Our daughter and son-in-law were VERY impressed with the sound as well.
I WILL PURCHASE one of these Magellan 800 amps when they become available middle of next month, when they arrive at the Genzler dealer with no doubt! I'm really glad that I'll have this prototype for another 1-2 weeks!
More to come tomorrow!
View attachment 761978
That's a fantastic review. Nothing like having your wife give her honest opinion on how it sounded to her.
Jack; How does my new amp and cabinet sound? Linda; Turn it down, it's too loud.
Wow, just checked the specs on the Genzler Bass Array. The frequency response and weight are a big selling point to me.
Power Handling: 350 Watts
Frequency Response: 32-15KHz
Weight LBs. : 34
Power Handling: 350 Watts
Frequency Response: 32-15KHz
Weight LBs. : 34
That's typical for wives, so I hear, but not my wife.
Thank you Jack!
Want to trade...LOL. Just kidding, even though she doesn't back me 100% with the music, she's still a keeper.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Gonna have some fun tonight...
Link Removed
Link Removed
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
You cray!
Interesting combo. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
I have a 12/3 inbound sounds like I'll like it.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Okay, finally awake and back among the living! Now, for the gig report...
The BA12-3 cabs paired up really well with the Peavey head. I had previously played them with the Magellan head, and they really seem to be made to each other. It seems that the natural tendencies of the Magellan pair up almost perfectly with the tendencies of the BA12-3's. Namely, the head is very present in the middle to upper mids, and has a bit of growl to it, while the cabs come across as being smoother in the middle to upper mids (but probably because of the excellent low mids to upper bass response).
With the Peavey head, I found myself dialing the two bands of semi-parametric mids to sound a bit more like the Magellan (I'll have to look at my settings, but I used a moderate boost to the upper mids and a mild boost around 800Hz), and that worked out really well. The Bass Array cabs really do a great job of covering a broad area with "ideal tone," due to their excellent off-axis performance. In fact, my guitar player came over from the other side of the stage to tell me how great the bass sounded!
I've played this room many times before, with a variety of rigs, and the MM just killed. I was coasting along on the Gain/Vol earlier in the night, and when things got louder during the last set, it had PLENTY of headroom left. This rig had a very impressive sense of "immediacy," and every note was quick to form and nicely full. Some of my basses have a nice bit of growl to them when you dig in, and this came through very well in this rig.
I definitely came away impressed with both the MiniMega and the BA12-3 cabs.
The BA12-3 cabs paired up really well with the Peavey head. I had previously played them with the Magellan head, and they really seem to be made to each other. It seems that the natural tendencies of the Magellan pair up almost perfectly with the tendencies of the BA12-3's. Namely, the head is very present in the middle to upper mids, and has a bit of growl to it, while the cabs come across as being smoother in the middle to upper mids (but probably because of the excellent low mids to upper bass response).
With the Peavey head, I found myself dialing the two bands of semi-parametric mids to sound a bit more like the Magellan (I'll have to look at my settings, but I used a moderate boost to the upper mids and a mild boost around 800Hz), and that worked out really well. The Bass Array cabs really do a great job of covering a broad area with "ideal tone," due to their excellent off-axis performance. In fact, my guitar player came over from the other side of the stage to tell me how great the bass sounded!
I've played this room many times before, with a variety of rigs, and the MM just killed. I was coasting along on the Gain/Vol earlier in the night, and when things got louder during the last set, it had PLENTY of headroom left. This rig had a very impressive sense of "immediacy," and every note was quick to form and nicely full. Some of my basses have a nice bit of growl to them when you dig in, and this came through very well in this rig.
I definitely came away impressed with both the MiniMega and the BA12-3 cabs.
so... I've been living with this cab for 2 months now... my first impressions were at posts 1 & 8. I'm happier with it now than I was at the beginning (and I liked it a lot then) and as I've learned how it responds, it really is becoming part of my sound.
FYI, my head is a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0. I have one BA12-3 and place it on an amp stand, about 18 inches off the floor and slightly angled up. My primary bass is the fretless Beebass in my avatar, active but I tend to just leave the controls flat. For the head, I also tend to leave the tones flat although I have been engaging the bass boost. I play weekly in a church band and occasionally with singer/songwriters and with a guitar based pop band.
As I said earlier, one cab has met my needs completely so far and that hasn't changed. Two would be nice and would look more impressive but I haven't felt a need beyond want for two let alone three. I have a louder gig coming up in a few weeks that may stress things, but I don't think it will. Tight, punchy, articulate, and present continue to be the descriptors I would use. The cab just works so well with my fretless, any fretless I think... although that clarity and articulateness does cause any technique problems to be more obvious and intonation issues are right out front. That is both a good and a bad thing. With the array, the mids are stellar and I really really like the smooth highs vs. what one gets with a horn. Nothing sticks out anywhere in the frequency response. Earlier on there was some discussion about the possibility of a woofer only cab for underneath the 12-3... I'm not sure I'd want that as it would change that wonderful smooth frequency response. As has been said numerous times, the dispersion is wonderful and the rest of the performers hear me better than ever before.
Concerns? Just little things... The shape makes it a little less convenient to carry than one might like and if you sit it on the floor, it really is a long way away from your ears... but that is what it is and can't be changed without impacting everything else. Those are really easy trade-offs. The side handle works, but I'd like feet on the opposing side as well as the bottom and I'll probably add them one of these days depending on what I do for a cover.
Knowing what I know now, compared to the other options at this level of cab - Accugroove, Greenboy, Barefaced, Baer, etc - I'm really glad that I made this choice and, not knocking any of those other options, I would choose this one again without question. And who knows, one of these days I may add a second.
FYI, my head is a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0. I have one BA12-3 and place it on an amp stand, about 18 inches off the floor and slightly angled up. My primary bass is the fretless Beebass in my avatar, active but I tend to just leave the controls flat. For the head, I also tend to leave the tones flat although I have been engaging the bass boost. I play weekly in a church band and occasionally with singer/songwriters and with a guitar based pop band.
As I said earlier, one cab has met my needs completely so far and that hasn't changed. Two would be nice and would look more impressive but I haven't felt a need beyond want for two let alone three. I have a louder gig coming up in a few weeks that may stress things, but I don't think it will. Tight, punchy, articulate, and present continue to be the descriptors I would use. The cab just works so well with my fretless, any fretless I think... although that clarity and articulateness does cause any technique problems to be more obvious and intonation issues are right out front. That is both a good and a bad thing
. With the array, the mids are stellar and I really really like the smooth highs vs. what one gets with a horn. Nothing sticks out anywhere in the frequency response. Earlier on there was some discussion about the possibility of a woofer only cab for underneath the 12-3... I'm not sure I'd want that as it would change that wonderful smooth frequency response. As has been said numerous times, the dispersion is wonderful and the rest of the performers hear me better than ever before.Concerns? Just little things... The shape makes it a little less convenient to carry than one might like and if you sit it on the floor, it really is a long way away from your ears... but that is what it is and can't be changed without impacting everything else. Those are really easy trade-offs. The side handle works, but I'd like feet on the opposing side as well as the bottom and I'll probably add them one of these days depending on what I do for a cover.
Knowing what I know now, compared to the other options at this level of cab - Accugroove, Greenboy, Barefaced, Baer, etc - I'm really glad that I made this choice and, not knocking any of those other options, I would choose this one again without question. And who knows, one of these days I may add a second.
Many thanks for the update, RR. I was the person suggesting some kind of smaller footprint option and I realize it goes against the cab's design and goals. I'm thinking the only way to achieve a smaller footprint and taller design would be in a 2x12 rather than 2 112s. Taller, skinnier, with drivers closer to the top and ports at the bottom. Mr. Genzler, are you listening? Someone with Photoshop, put together a picture for us!
Someone with Photoshop, put together a picture for us!
I'm pretty sure Jeff G. has chosen the parameters that he believes work best for the product he's designed.Many thanks for the update, RR. I was the person suggesting some kind of smaller footprint option and I realize it goes against the cab's design and goals. I'm thinking the only way to achieve a smaller footprint and taller design would be in a 2x12 rather than 2 112s. Taller, skinnier, with drivers closer to the top and ports at the bottom. Mr. Genzler, are you listening?
You're free to post your opinions - I'm sure he is listening (in fact, I'm pretty sure he addressed this earlier after you 1st brought it up), I'm just curious, have you actually tried the cabinet?
Looks to me like the dispersion should be very good - much better than most implementations, but then I haven't tried one yet (either?).
What I've been posting in this thread are questions and speculation about whether a similar result could be obtained in a cab with a smaller footprint. I'd love to try the cabinet but since it wouldn't serve my needs (extremely cramped space for weekly gig) there's no point.
Here are more questions and speculation--do the mid/high drivers need to be clustered as closely together (they appear to be touching edge to edge) to achieve the array effect or could they be spread apart a bit to accommodate a taller format? In other words, use the same closed back mounting system in front of the woofer but the top and bottom drivers would be above/below the woofer. Sorry if these questions are totally ignorant--the concept is very attractive to me if the physical format could be modified to some extent.
finally, an actual photo of mine (it really does exist)
Received my 12/3 last night. Got to play it a bit this morning. Just in my basement alone and tired. Powering with a GK700RBII. It sounds great with all five basses I played. Each bass sounded like itself. I practice through a hi fi stereo/computer interface. So I usually notice bass cab limitation when playing through cabinets. Didn't miss anything with the 12/3. Each bass sounded the way I like them too. So far so good.
Seems like a good match for my GK 700. I didn't feel like I was tweaking any weird frequency's out of the cab or working around some limitation. Something I've dealt with everything I've used up to this point including my beloved Bag End D12B. Just finally felt like I was working with my setup vs around it.
Saturday I take it out for a spin with a new band I'm working with. Likely powered by my Epifani Piccolo 600. Can't wait.
Seems like a good match for my GK 700. I didn't feel like I was tweaking any weird frequency's out of the cab or working around some limitation. Something I've dealt with everything I've used up to this point including my beloved Bag End D12B. Just finally felt like I was working with my setup vs around it.
Saturday I take it out for a spin with a new band I'm working with. Likely powered by my Epifani Piccolo 600. Can't wait.
