Bass combo amps

[Pilgrim]

Hey Pilgrim,
Let's hear a little more about Genz Benz. Dammit , you've got me curious
Rick

I had a long answer written and then nuked it.  DAMN!

The Shuttle 6.0 combo has an amp that weighs 3.75 pounds docked on a 12" speaker, and the package weighs 32 pounds total. It's made as a combo with a speaker cable already attached to the 12T speaker where the amp docks - just plug it in.  The 12T sensitivity is 97 dB, which is decent - it puts out a LOT of sound.

See: http://genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2258&sid=610&cid=95

I replaced a Sunn Coliseum-300 amp and Peavey BX115 cab with this.  The Genz sounds a bit more clear, and dialing up the preamp provides tube OD on the 12ZX7 preamp tube. the result is a sound with plenty of bottom, but better note definition than I got before.

I bought the Shuttle with a pair of 12" (12T) speakers, but I'm selling the second speaker because someone traded in a 2x10 Shuttle cab (32 pounds) at my local dealer and I really like it.  As you can see in my earlier post, the 12T combo stacks perfectly on top of the 210T cab.

The power rating on the Shuttle 6.0 is 375W / 8 ohms, 600W / 4 ohms, but that's peak power, not RMS.  However, I can tell you that I wouldn't hesitate to play a hall that held 700+ people with this cab and no other speakers.  It is capable of great volume!  Some folks like the Shuttle 9.0 better because it's voiced a bit deeper and is rated 500W/ 8 ohms and 900W / 4 ohms.

The Genz warranty is 3 years when bought from a registered dealer, and they monitor the amp threads on Talkbass and provide a ton of info in response to all questions.  Their reputation for support and service is absolutely stellar.

Shuttle 6.0:


Shuttle 9.0:


There are long threads about the 6.0 and 9.0 on Talkbass...here are just a couple:

6.0:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-shuttle-6-0-appreciation-thread-713786/

9.0:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-shuttle-9-0-discussion-thread-594562/

[Psycho Bass Guy]

The GB stuff is incredible. It actually lives up to most of the hype AND you can buy it from Pete at Baddass.

[rahock]

Thanks for all the info I'm looking to power a 2 12   Emenince/tweeter Avatar cab that's rated at 500watts , so this GB should more than do the trick. I have to look around for a local shop that handles them. I noiced a lot of talk about swapping the stock 12AX7 for a beefier tube. What do they come with, and what if anything would you recommend as an upgrade?
Thanks again ,
Rick

[Psycho Bass Guy]

There's a new ultralight they make that sounds more "SVT" from the get-go, the Streamliner. I imagine the Shuttles come with some sort of Sovtek and you'd have to see what, if anything, you'd like to change in the amp's tone before I could suggest a certain tube.

[Pilgrim]

My recommendation would be "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  I'll bet you'd be perfectly happy with the stock tube - whatever it is.  I like the sound enough that I've never needed to look.

And thanks to PBG for the vote of confidence in Genz-Benz.  Very high quality stuff with high quality performance.  I admit in public that I'm really a believer!

I searched TalkBass but didn't find any info on what tube is in there.  These Shuttle amps have been discussed at length, and the G-B guys have provided quite a bit of info - although probably more about the 9.0 than the 6.0.  I wouldn't be surprised if both had the same tube...whatever it is.

About their customer service - read this short thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/genz-benz-customer-service-1-a-768242/

[dadagoboi]

What makes the Genz Benz better sounding than a MarkBass?  How have they solved the inherent problems of a class D power amp?

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Genz Benz amps have better supply regulation and an outright beefier power supply to start out with. They design in a bit of headroom, where with most class D amps, what you get is what you get. The amp still won't last as long as us old farts are used to seeing, but it's a quantum leap above Markbass.

[dadagoboi]

Genz Benz amps have better supply regulation and an outright beefier power supply to start out with. They design in a bit of headroom, where with most class D amps, what you get is what you get. The amp still won't last as long as us old farts are used to seeing, but it's a quantum leap above Markbass.

So, the usual suspects again.

[birdie]

The GB stuff is incredible. It actually lives up to most of the hype AND you can buy it from Pete at Baddass.

What are your impressions of the Orange 500 w Terror bass? i tried it alongside a GB and found the sound much more to my liking!

[Pilgrim]

I yield to PBG on that one. I've seen the Orange heads but never tried one.

[leftybass]

I use Orange and Marshall combos for one band:

And Ampeg for the other:

[Psycho Bass Guy]

What are your impressions of the Orange 500 w Terror bass? i tried it alongside a GB and found the sound much more to my liking!

I've never seen one in person.

[Aussie Mark]

What makes the Genz Benz better sounding than a MarkBass? 

The three tubes in the GB Streamliner make a heck of a difference.  I don't have any beef with Markbass, their gear has served me well, but my Streamliner 900 is an amazing little head.

[rahock]

Hmmm.......Streamliner has three preamp tubes and costs considerably more. Do those other two tubes make that much difference?

I have no immediate plans to dump my Avatar 2 12 cab but I am curious as to how their GNX speakers compare to Eminence.

Rick

[Aussie Mark]

Hmmm.......Streamliner has three preamp tubes and costs considerably more. Do those other two tubes make that much difference?

If you like to be able to dial up tubey overdrive at will, yes.