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Post Genz-Benz: Amp lineup?
- Thread starter RocketMusic
- Start date
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
To any and everyone leaning Aguilar. If you're thinking about buying somewhere else, please contact me before you do. If I can, I'll match whatever deal you can find out there. If I can't, then I'll wish you well as you buy elsewhere. No harm, no foul. I just want the chance.
Man it's sad to know that players that willingly fork over major coin for basses, will bottom dollar amps. What's the line for "decent" profit for you vs MF cut throat? I'd guess 10-15%?
The Bump's gotta have sammidges too.
Personally, I would think that expanding on Aguilar a little more would make a lot of sense. The only other brand that, IMO, would be worth messing with, might be Mesa, partly because you can carry both guitar and bass amps from them (and their bass amps and cabs kick major ass, IMHO).
I agree with what others have said----stay away from what the big box stores carry. It'd be tough to compete with the discounts and return policies that they are able to offer, as well as the inventory they are able to keep on hand.
^^I agree 100%^^
But a quick question, Are there any makers out there who require minimal store stock and drop ship?
I've heard EA is similar on dealer pricing as those the box stores carry, but Pacman's sure sounded great.
Is it silly that I like the name because of the show The Big Bang Theory?
God Bless, Ray
To any and everyone leaning Aguilar. If you're thinking about buying somewhere else, please contact me before you do. If I can, I'll match whatever deal you can find out there. If I can't, then I'll wish you well as you buy elsewhere. No harm, no foul. I just want the chance.
Once we get this bass deal done, I will probably be giving you that chance. I am seriously considering a TH500 and a pair of GS112's...........
I like the way that Rocket's line up leans toward the niche high-end market at least for bass gear. And I think TecAmp would fit in well. I certainly don't know about the logistics of being a dealer or the market economics for something that high-end and specialized but will say that I will probably buy a TecAmp Puma soon. And I'd prefer to buy it from Greg.
Not to bash Aguilar as I dig there stuff but Im still not sold on this amp. Even listening to Jimmy Haslip play through them live I wasnt overwhelmed and even saw him tweaking a bit to find his tone.
Maybe its just me...
Thanks! That's some useful info! Tecamp is one of the few ideas that has a chance of making sense for me. I need to look at their pricing a little closer, just to make sure it's not way out of whack. I carried EBS for a little while, but as an import they were priced fairly high. EBS is really great stuff, but I never sold a lot of it. I always chalked that up to the price, although it could have been some other reason(s).
I've got to get somewhere to try one out again before I would take the plunge. I *wish* I could justify another DB750/751, as I consider that to be THE best sounding amp I have ever owned, or tried. But I just don't need that sort of horsepower. My Eden setup is such overkill, since I always have PA support, that I've finally come to the realization that I need to go smaller.
I know for a fact that I love the Aguilar GS series cabinets, much more than the DB cabs (every DB-series cab I have tried or heard has sounded a bit honky in the mids to me). But I am genuinely curious as to how the TH500 pairs up with the GS cabs. If it works well, it'd be a pretty cool, very portable, setup. We'll see.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,410
- 9,869
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
I have to agree with the LightGroove. At the Roscoe hang last year, we did pair the TH500 with the GS112s, and I was thoroughly underwhelmed. I believe the phrase being tossed around was "Tone Hamster", and I have to agree. The 750/751 is, far and away, the best bass amp I've ever heard, but sadly, the TH stuff doesn't measure up in my book.
Hmmm. I thought it was DB cabs that were being used when we were at Rocket Music. I honestly didn't remember seeing the GS cabs there, oops! But then, I didn't even pay attention to the Aggie stuff on that side of the room too much that day, I was more captivated by Greg's Berg gear on the other side of the room.
Well, if the TH doesn't capture at least some of the vibe of the DB750, then I am already losing interest.........Hell, maybe I just need a pair of GS112's and a DB750 or 751. I guess maybe there isn't a substitute....
Hell, maybe I just need a pair of GS112's and a DB750 or 751. I guess maybe there isn't a substitute....
There ya go. I don't want to crap on the tone hammer stuff, it's good and lots of folks like it. But it's got nothing on a DB-751!
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,410
- 9,869
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Hmmm. I thought it was DB cabs that were being used when we were at Rocket Music. I honestly didn't remember seeing the GS cabs there, oops! But then, I didn't even pay attention to the Aggie stuff on that side of the room too much that day, I was more captivated by Greg's Berg gear on the other side of the room.
Well, if the TH doesn't capture at least some of the vibe of the DB750, then I am already losing interest.........Hell, maybe I just need a pair of GS112's and a DB750 or 751. I guess maybe there isn't a substitute....
I could be wrong on the cabs, but I was pretty certain we had some GS stuff that day.
And really, a 750/751 and two (or three) GS112s. Seriously, perfection!
I know I had both the DB's and the GS cabs in stock during that GTG, but I don't remember which was out that day. Might have been both, might have be one or the other... Jerry's photo archive would tell us, I'm sure.
Two GS112's were there, but I can't remember what we ran through them during our noise making....certainly could've been a Tone Hamster.
Ryan, strictly one guy's opinion here, so please filter accordingly. If you had no luck with the Genz Benz small heads, you will not be happy with the Hamster. At low volumes it sounds great, although to my ears it's more amplified OBP-3 than it is 750/1. At high volumes, it just can't compete. In fact, it takes the TH-500 running at 4-ohms (i.e. two GS112s...perfect) to cover even moderate volumes. Again, this is just my experience, but as much as I wanted to love the small Aggie stuff, I was really disappointed in the output.
Jon covered it. The GS112, IMO remains an industry benchmark. A DB750/1 feeding two (or more...a la Gary Willis) of 'em? Oh. My. FWIW, I've actually grown to like the DB410 (which is what Jimmy ran through during the clinic, if that gives you a live sonic reference), but the 12's don't do a lot for me. Fans will tell you they're mid-happy. I'll suggest they're just mid-ugly.
In terms of amplification, if you don't mind the heavy lifting, it gets no better in life than running through a DB head. The closest I've gotten, given my love of all things light, is the GB Steamer, but if I needed the oomph...and had easy load-ins/outs, I'd be all over a DB. I hope that helps a little...
Yeah, the TH was probably just wishful thinking on my part. I really *want* to like the small, lightweight stuff.
The problem is, I'm always just left feeling "meh". Even when I try to convince myself I like it.
One of, if not THE, dumbest gear selling moves I have made was selling my DB750........That head, through a GS410, was heaven.
Oh well. I'm in no hurry, I gotta sell this Eden monstrosity before I move on anything else.
The problem is, I'm always just left feeling "meh". Even when I try to convince myself I like it.One of, if not THE, dumbest gear selling moves I have made was selling my DB750........That head, through a GS410, was heaven.
Oh well. I'm in no hurry, I gotta sell this Eden monstrosity before I move on anything else.
Yeah, the TH was probably just wishful thinking on my part. I really *want* to like the small, lightweight stuff.
One of, if not THE, dumbest gear selling moves I have made was selling my DB750........That head, through a GS410, was heaven.
Oh well. I'm in no hurry, I gotta sell this Eden monstrosity before I move on anything else.
The TH500 is a hammer. Amazing low end punch, fat meaty low mids, impressive volume at 4 ohm and even more impressively at 8 ohms.
With the db112 or CN 112 stack, it can handle virtually any gig.
Rock solid, very little compression when really pushed. Quite impressive.
Very different from the tight and bright Shuttle amps, and much more control of the mids with with similar volume as the Streamliner.
Yeah, I love Jimmy, and have heard him live maybe 7 or 8 times. Not sure why, but was always unimpressed with his live tone, hard to make a Roscoe sound muddy and lack clarity,but unfortunately, he found a way.
Love his recorded tone.
You should hear what Felix Pastorious does with that amp live in a small venue with no front if house!
Yeah, the TH was probably just wishful thinking on my part. I really *want* to like the small, lightweight stuff.
I was thinking of trying something different (my little Genz Benz mini stack sounds fine but) like a TH500 or some other small head but it seems that if I really want something other than the perfectly useable (even if it isn't super deep or loud) sound I get now I'd have to go to something much bigger and heavier. Not what I need for jazz background gigs. I'm thinking I'll probably just stick with what I have.
That didn't add much to the discussion, other than a long winded way of saying it's either a small "meh" amp that's good enough or something bigger that kicks - like a big old DB head and a 410. Think I'd get some looks at the bistro jazz gigs.
Two GS112's were there, but I can't remember what we ran through them during our noise making....certainly could've been a Tone Hamster.
Ryan, strictly one guy's opinion here, so please filter accordingly. If you had no luck with the Genz Benz small heads, you will not be happy with the Hamster. At low volumes it sounds great, although to my ears it's more amplified OBP-3 than it is 750/1. At high volumes, it just can't compete. In fact, it takes the TH-500 running at 4-ohms (i.e. two GS112s...perfect) to cover even moderate volumes. Again, this is just my experience, but as much as I wanted to love the small Aggie stuff, I was really disappointed in the output.
Jon covered it. The GS112, IMO remains an industry benchmark. A DB750/1 feeding two (or more...a la Gary Willis) of 'em? Oh. My. FWIW, I've actually grown to like the DB410 (which is what Jimmy ran through during the clinic, if that gives you a live sonic reference), but the 12's don't do a lot for me. Fans will tell you they're mid-happy. I'll suggest they're just mid-ugly.
Man, I continue to just be amazed at what you hear. The TH500 sounds ABSOLUTE NOTHING like the OB-3, even though the basic electronic framework of the pre is similar. The OB-3 has some of the most sparkling highs and super extended lows of any preamp I've ever heard (actually, dislike it quite a bit.... the OB-1.. dig that). The TH500 is all about low end grunt, punchy mids, and a very, very relaxed organic top end.
+1 though that the DB's and GS's are in the product line-up for a reason. Even though they use the same drivers, crossovers and tweeters, the tuning is very different, and they would appeal to different players. I dislike the somewhat scooped tone of most of the GS cabs, and also that huge hole between the top of the driver and the tweeter. However, for those that dig the GS's, I TOTALLY understand that the DB's (especially the 10" loaded DB's) would be way too midrange voiced. The CN112's are IMO a 'better DB112' in the midrange presence is moved down from the mid mids to the low mids, which is so key to a great live tone for many of us, and of course the transition from the top of the driver to the very smooth, papercone sounding tweeter is about the best you are going to hear IMO. Of course, the Berg HD112/212 is in that line-up for a reason also... wider, more mid relaxed, a bit more of a dip in the upper midrange, and IMO 'similar but superior' to the GS 12's.
Smart company.
That beings said, while the DB750 can surely hammer harder with a large rig, with 2 112's, forget about it. The TH500 ALL THE WAY. MUCH better control of the midrange (that was always the DB's Achilles heal IMO), and more than enough low end and power to bring most 112 x 2 stacks to their knees.
Ken, it's worth noting the DB751 does not use the same preamp/EQ as the DB750 did, which is one of the major changes. Rather than the passive cut only tone stack with a bit of a scoop, the 751 has all the control you could want.
+1. I understand mid control on the current db751 is much improved. Have only messed eth one briefly though.
