Old genz benz vs new class d

[Wicked G]

Since this is becoming a Genz Benz appreciation thread, my Streamliner is my favorite GB while the NEO PAK is not far behind.

But the Mesa TT800 is also awesome.

 

[ezstep]

I honestly believe that my favorite all-time amp was the GBE600. Awesome. Not a Shuttle, though. But, having said that, I will never let go of the D800+. Apparently, near 12 years later, I am not letting go of the Shuttle 6.0 nor the 2x10 Shuttle cab, either.

 

[baxter_x]

it's ironic in some regards that most of those early doubters are now some of the biggest manufacturers of class D bass amps today.

I guess everyone did like me..... Trying to figure out who those manufacturers are....
I suspect GK.

 

[baxter_x]

Correct.

The ShuttleMax 12.0/12.2 is the only model with 2 power amps and a backup power supply for the preamp.

That looks like some extremely reliable price if gear! With backup and redundancy everywhere!

 

[Todd Hamby]

Oh how I love Genz Benz

 

[darren1970]

My Streamliner and Uber 2x12 are about 10 years old and still going strong.
Genz Benz gear is built to last.

 

[neddyrow]

I've got a Shuttle 9.0 and love it!

Small and light but still has a tube preamp to give that extra character when needed. I normally play upright and use the GB for my electric gigs but, every once in awhile, I'll plug my upright into it and it sounds just as good as my AI amps.

Highly recommend. Almost bought a shuttle 6.0 with matching 2x10 cab on reverb....still kicking myself for not pulling the trigger.

 

[msb]

When I heard agedhorse was still servicing Streamliner amps it was not long before mine was off to the spa . The LED’s were out but the amp seemed to be working well .
It was well worth investing in , it’s like a new amp now . They have a well deserved legacy . Looking back they were miles ahead of the curve , and today Class D heads and lightweight cabs have become standard .

 

[TinIndian]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and track down the Shuttlemax 9.2 I've been kind of wanting.

 

[jnewmark]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and track down the Shuttlemax 9.2 I've been kind of wanting.

For Sale - Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 | TalkBass.com

 

[TinIndian]

For Sale - Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 | TalkBass.com

That was fast!

 

[mambo4]

The ShuttleMax is still quite current, and still has factory support in North America.

One more reason I love GB. The company was bought and shut down but the people still stand behind the products.

i have a streamliner 900 i don't even remember when i bought, probably when they first came out. has worked perfectly from day one. i haven't tried anything more current but still very happy with it.

Ditto. once I got my STL 900, it basically stopped all amp related GAS.

I honestly believe that my favorite all-time amp was the GBE600.

Hah that as my first "real" amp! I bought it to replace my SWR Workingman's 15 Back in the 00's. I loved the switchablility of it. Ran it through a Berg 310 and It was too much for most venues I played LOL. It went on the fritz once, and I contacted GB directly at @agedhorse 's suggestion. This was before the fender buyout. They were friendly and helpful, found me a local approved shop to fix it up. It was aa fantastic experience which earned my brand loyalty. Quality product backed by quality people deserves props!

 

[Jeff Genzler]

If I could complain about my Mesa Subway cabs... it would be that they lack the kick stand. Andy??? lol Seriously, I use it all the time on the Shuttle 2x10 cab. I thought it was frickin' genius on someone's part. Certainly not an after-market product.

We actually designed that kick-stand at the time with TCH Hardware. Not an off the shelf part back then.

 

[sotua]

The Shuttle 6.0 + 2 lightweight 1x12" cabs was hands down the best bass rig I've ever owned, and I miss it.

(then I remember I don't play live anymore, and don't need any rig at all, but still miss it a bit)

 

[noeinstein]

This is a good point. While the player world was very wary of class D amps and neo speakers (because there were some dreadful early examples from other companies), I have been designing around these parts in the pro audio world for a few years already and saw the REAL potential when the designs were executed well. The fact that they have held up as well as they have for close to 15 years now suggests that the technology was ready for prime time way before the bass industry was.

The challenge with being a leader (and in this regard, Jeff recognized the potential very early on and actually put his money where his mouth was by going forward and committing to this technology rather than making excuses about how it couldn't possibly work like our competition did), is that there are elements of inventing a new and better wheel rather than reinventing and rehashing the same old mediocre stuff. The pro audio world was a good predictor of where the future of amplification was headed, it's ironic in some regards that most of those early doubters are now some of the biggest manufacturers of class D bass amps today. Of course, some were unable to make the transition (it was not easy because there weren't a lot of examples to copy from) and are no longer in business or are simply a brand name with new corporate ownership unrelated to the old brand.

Andy, I hope you write a memoir one day

 

[SteveC]

I had so much Genz Benz stuff. I left SWR for it. I don't know if I can even remember it all. I know I started with the Shuttle 3.0-10T Combo. I was blown away by the sound, size and weight of it. Amazing. After trying all kinds of GB stuff - Shuttle 6, Shuttle Max 12, Neo-Pak (loved that amp) GBE600, a bunch of cabs - I ended up using the Shuttle 3.0-10T with an additional 10T cab for a killer mini stack. No surprise I started my Genzler run with the MG350 Combo. Also tried the MG800, a BA12-3, and am now loving the MG350/12T-V combo. I just don't need a big amp as I only do jazz quartet type gigs with an amp. Everything else is DI/IEM. I sometimes wish I needed a big rig as there are so many great Genzler products from which to choose.

I am also wondering if there will be a Genzler version of the Streamliner at some point. I like the tube warmth of my REDDI for DI/IEM gigs and would like to have that for my little combo amp. I'm tempted to get an old Streamliner.

 

[ELG60]

View attachment 4606836 Oh how I love Genz Benz View attachment 4606835

 

[baxter_x]

View attachment 4607207

Do you still play the Aguilar? The GB is way lighter and with more features.
Just asking as I own none of these. I tried both the DB 750 and 751. Didn't like at all the 750, really liked the 751.
But way too heavy and noisy.

 

[ELG60]

Do you still play the Aguilar? The GB is way lighter and with more features.
Just asking as I own none of these. I tried both the DB 750 and 751. Didn't like at all the 750, really liked the 751.
But way too heavy and noisy.

I usually bring a Mesa WD-800 or D-800+ with a GK 800 fusion as back-up. I haven't found the need for the horsepower of my DB750 or Strategy Eight 88 ( or old SVT for that matter. )

 

[baxter_x]

I usually bring a Mesa WD-800 or D-800+ with a GK 800 fusion as back-up. I haven't found the need for the horsepower of my DB750 or Strategy Eight 88 ( or old SVT for that matter. )

Right, but the Mesa class D amps are in the same ballpark as the Aguilar in terms or power, isn't it?