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Opinions on Shuttle 12.0

davidjbass

davidjbass

Sep 2, 2006
3,113
1,039
Massachusetts
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I am thinking about buying a Genz Benz Shuttle 12.0 so I am looking for opinions from people who own them and how they liked them. I would like to hear about how they perform in live situations. Do they have the balls to cut through and fill the bottom. I plan on using it with one 8 ohm SWR Golight 410 and a custom made 4 ohm 215. Thanks.
 
#2
I've been playing through one for the past six months or so and have no complaints. Lots of positive feedback from the rest of the band when I first got it (classic rock, some country, etc.). In spite of using Acme cabs (somewhat inefficient, but sound fantastic), I've never felt a need for more power; even outside. The eq is very flexible and both FET and tube channels sound great! Oh, and the weight (or lack thereof) is just icing on the cake.

FWIW, there have been a boat load of comments on the GB Shuttle series amps posted on the forum. If you haven't already done so, a search could give you at least a few hours of reading material.
 
#4
I have my 12.0 only for a few weeks and I absolutely love it.

It is light, sounds great and is loud as hell.

I did a gig last week with it through a Sadowsky SA410 cab and Fender J and P basses and I was blown away with how the 12.0 cut through. It was amazing.

Last night I did a 5-6 hour jam with a bunch of friends and went direct to the board thru my 12.0 (no cabs)... again, sounded stellar.

I think I like my SVT-CL a bit more, but the SVT is 85lbs and the 12.0 is under 7. I will likely be using the Genz Benz for most gigs and rehearsals in the forseeable future.

I also have played this head through an Ampeg 4x10 and my other setup consists of Ampeg 1x15 and 2x10 cabs.... yup, sounded great!

Recently I have owned a Traynor all tube YBA-200, Markbass F1 and a GK 800RBII... the Shuttle Max 12.0 blows all of these away IMO. In fact, as soon as I spent 5 minutes with the 12.0, I got rid of the Traynor and GK heads that week.
 
#6
It is completely reliable, it is as loud as you will need, and has an amazing range of tones varying from full-on tube growl, to warm SS and everything in between. Oh and weighs, like, nothing.

Also if you want to get a contact for the best price in the country ($899 plus shipping), PM me.. :)
 
#7
I use my shuttle on quite a few different setting and gigs.. some large rooms with nice PA support to bar gigs and church gigs.. the amp delivers the good in the tone department...
It has plenty of lows and deep low end with equal amounts of mid and top end clarity..
In fact this week i had to dial back the deep lows some.. never thought i would have to do that.. but the room was a rough one.. the semi para mids is very handy as well as the dual channel TUNE of FET.
One of the finest fully featured DI outs too.. Lightweight and easy to carry great community and manufacturer support..
can be used with a large variety of cabs.. iits a loud mutha!
not only indoor gigs but i have used it on a variety of HOT outdoor gigs too.. the amp does Not get hot.. even running three 8 ohm loads.. 2 on one side and 1 on the other side of the dual mono amps.... i am an endorser but i endorse GB because their gear works perfectly for me, and works in extreme conditions and keeps going.. and it sounds great and easy to transport....
 
#8
I ran the Shuttle Max 12 for a while and it was incredible. I had to sell it to help pay for a sons wedding, BUT... I will be replacing it very soon. It works on everything from small venues to outdoor concerts. Just add how-ever many speaker cabs and scale it to your needs. The dual power amps lend a lot of flexability. 375 per side into 8 ohms makes a killer 750 watt rig with just 2 cabs and cuts through the mix like a sharp knife with my 7 piece horn band!!
You also have a built in spare and the deal is under 10 lbs... what part of that doesnt work for anybody????
Yes, I am also an endorser, and you can see why... it is incredible equipment backed by un-matched customer service.
 
#9
davidjbass said:
Thanks vlxyooper. I did do a search and got some info but I really wanted to get opinions from players that have used them on a regular basis. I play out every weekend 1to 2 times so I need to know if this amp is going to be reliable. So opinions like yours are very helpful.
Click to expand...

I don't own an SM12 mostly because it's too much amp for my situation.:) I like simplicity and use a Shuttle 6.0.

But, speaking of reliability, I doubt you could do any better than Genz Benz as a manufacturer and....the SM12 has two power amps so that if one happens to fail, the other keeps on running. I don't think you could match that level of reliability. The SM12 might give a rock a run for the money on reliability.
 
#10
The SM-12 has 2 power amps AND 2 independant power supplies. Either power supply will also operate the preamp if a failure happens to occur, the switchover is automatic and seamless. It works just like the backup power supply on the real pro touring consoles. It's as failsafe/fault tolerant as we can make an amp.
 
#11
davidjbass said:
I am thinking about buying a Genz Benz Shuttle 12.0 so I am looking for opinions from people who own them and how they liked them. I would like to hear about how they perform in live situations. Do they have the balls to cut through and fill the bottom. I plan on using it with one 8 ohm SWR Golight 410 and a custom made 4 ohm 215. Thanks.
Click to expand...

where are you in Mass?
 
#12
The Shuttle Max 12.0 would kill into a 4x10 and 2x15.
The shear amount of power/authority/volume/mega thump would be insane (in a good way).

I have the 12.0 and hooked to a 4 ohm 4x10 and an 8 ohm 2x10 the thing is scary. :eek:
 
#14
Red Planet said:
The Shuttle Max 12.0 would kill into a 4x10 and 2x15.
The shear amount of power/authority/volume/mega thump would be insane (in a good way).

I have the 12.0 and hooked to a 4 ohm 4x10 and an 8 ohm 2x10 the thing is scary. :eek:
Click to expand...

The more I play this amp, the more I love it.

Through my Ampeg 2x10 and 1x15 cabs at a loud rehearsal, I MAYBE had the master volume of the SM12 at 1.5.:bassist:

This is one loud amp! Coming from a guy that used an Ampeg SVT and a 8x10 cab for years (still use the SVT), that is saying something! I honestly, don't think I will ever need to bring 2 4x10's to any sized gig with this head.
 
#15
I have 5 more classes to go for this Master's - then it is goodbye to the Shuttle 6.0 and hello to the 12.0 and another Accugroove Tri-115. Right now, it's not the money...it is the time!

Anyway, the 6.0/Tri rig is great for the Church gigs I'm doing now - but isn't bigger better? I think that the 12.0 and 2x Tri-115's would sound good :D

Dan K.
 
#17
I absolutely love mine as well, I've used it for half a dozen shows in the last few months, and band practice at least every week. Through my two 15" I have enough push to drive the band without going through the PA for practice or for small/medium outdoor gigs that we've done..and that's with none of the gain/volume controls beyond noon! Maybe the master at 1-2 if I really wanted to overwhelm the band or carry through the theater with no PA.
The DI through the PA sounds phenomenal. Small, light, comes with a decent gig bag (although I'll be getting a rack soon for the amount of playing/moving I put it through, any gig bag would take a beating soon).

My only caveat is that it is a very smooth and warm amp, whether you go through the SS or tube pre. Maybe I havent tweaked it enough, but when I compared it to my GK amps I preferred the SM 12.0 because it made my bass sound "alive", rather than "sterile" (and up until that point I had never considered my GK amps to be "sterile"). But if you're looking for a lot of growl or punch like a led sled all SS amp right off the bat I'd warn you to not be let down immediately. The EQ is VERY versatile, I don't have any problems getting a sound I want/like, but its not a GK or mesa amp, so don't expect it to rip your face off or something right away. I could especially see this if you run old school passive basses. The tone is even up and down the fretboard, very dynamic in terms of playing level response, and it looks awesome with the bright LEDs.

I did have sound cut out on me a few weeks ago, and I couldn't diagnose the problem. Normal operating conditions, not over working it or anything. It hasn't done it since in the two band practices, home playing, and another gig at a different place, so I think it was the power supply or something. Nothing to be concerned about, but just letting you know these amps aren't infallible. If I did have a re-occuring problem I have complete faith in the Genz-Benz support staff from their posts here on TB and other member's good experiences.
 
#18
I am not sure an 8 ohm 4x10 and a 4 ohm 2x15 would be the best cab setup but I am sure it would be OK. The reason is (one of the very few things I don't like about the SM12) is that it doesn't appear to have a balance knob for the power amps so you can't dial them in separately.

Either that or a bridge mode on the next one guys, pleeease! :) Or both. *ahem*
 
#20
rpsands said:
I am not sure an 8 ohm 4x10 and a 4 ohm 2x15 would be the best cab setup but I am sure it would be OK. The reason is (one of the very few things I don't like about the SM12) is that it doesn't appear to have a balance knob for the power amps so you can't dial them in separately.

Either that or a bridge mode on the next one guys, pleeease! :) Or both. *ahem*
Click to expand...

1200 watts RMS into 8 ohms is too much power for most cabinets on the market under most conditions IMO and IME. If a player is looking for this kind of power, perhaps a seperate power amp may be a better choice, as this would fall under a specialty application in my book.

The balance control would be more useable I suppose but where to put is is a bigger challenge than you might think. ;)
 

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