Mesa 400+

[Dave W]

Are there any new Genz heads left?

[drbassman]

I would think they are all gone now after the fire sales.  I'm wondering if I even need a 3rd. amp.  I'm very happy thus far with the Orange and the Scout that's coming is a known entity and I am very pleased with how it performs. Maybe I'll just use those two for a bit and see how things shake out.

[Pilgrim]

There are used Genz heads around places like TB and Ebay.  I confess I haven't owned any other heads than the Shuttles, but they're fantastic and have a tube preamp that adds character.  I think from what Bill has said that either a ShuttleMax or Streamliner would fit him.

They do seem to be selling promptly in the $550-$650 range on TB.

ShuttleMax 9.2 thread: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/shuttlemax-9-2.1102360/#post-16373253

[Dave W]

Yeah, I checked eBay, just about the only new Genz Benz listed are the Contour 1x15 combos. One dealer is selling them for $359 which is way below what they originally sold for. Good deal but not what you're looking for.

[Pilgrim]

I think a bit of patience would turn one up.  They seem to be moving through the market yet.

[drbassman]

The Mesa Scout arrives today.  We'll see how I feel about my amps after using it at practice on Wednesday.

[the mojo hobo]

But then, Rahock and I have drunk the Kool-Aid on Genz amps.

As have I. So much so that I sold my Sunn 300t with 215 bottom and when the guy came to pick it up I turned it on and was amazed at how good it sounds.

[slinkp]

I've drunk that kool-aid too.  Although in fairness, my points of comparison before I got the Shuttle are a long succession of clean sounding solid-state heads*, none of which I miss at all; I probably would've been much happier tone-wise with a big heavy tube amp, but when I was gigging I had neither the money to buy one nor the will to carry it around.

* The two other amps I ever owned with tooooobs were an Eden WT-300 and Eden WT-500, and that single tube in the Eden preamp circuit is not really there for overdrive purposes.  I'm not actually sure what purpose it serves! They're really nice clean-sounding heads, but I don't know why it took me so long to figure out I didn't really want a clean-sounding head for my basic sound.  The other amps I owned were, in order, Roland Cube 60, Peavey TNT-130, Randall something-or-other, GK 400RB,  Eden WT-500, Eden WT-300, Acoustic Image Clarus, Acoustic Image Focus, Thunderfunk 440 (?), Acoustic Image Focus III.  Not a dirty-sounding amp in the lot. Well, you could theoretically turn up the gain on the Peavey, but I recall that being pretty horrible.  The gain on the Shuttle works great for me.

[Nocturnal]

I haven't tried to lightweight stuff, but my GBE600 is a fantastic sounding head that seems to give me any sound I am trying to find. I have been abusing an old Ampeg SVT100 for most of this year so the Genz isn't getting the love it deserves, but I still use it and love it.

[Pilgrim]

Ah...the Genz club emerges from the woodwork here......

[Aussie Mark]

Ah...the Genz club emerges from the woodwork here......

I'm another one.  My Streamliner 900 is hidden inside the fake Ampeg head.  Sound engineers love the DI in the Streamliner ....

[gearHed289]

The two amps I ever owned with tooooobs were an Eden WT-300 and Eden WT-500, and that single tube in the Eden preamp circuit is not really there for overdrive purposes.  I'm not actually sure what purpose it serves!

I think it was more about marketing than tone.

[drbassman]

Two things:  the Orange amp and Trace pedal performed well together tonight.  Really nice bass tone and range.

The other surprise was the Mesa Scout amp.  It sounded great too!  I have come full circle and now realize just how good the Mesa hybrid amps are.  Wow does it sound great paired with the two Scout 15" cabs.  It's been a long journey but I've just developed a new appreciation for the Scout amp.  I thought I wanted the old school tone of a tube amp but the cleaner deep bass of the Scout is right on the money.  I feel a little dumb, but I feel good to have arrived at a good tone place at last.

I feel I can use either the Scout or the Terror/pedal and get just what I want.  This is such a good place to be at last.

[Dave W]

Good. I know you've been searching for quite a while. Sometimes it just takes patience to find what clicks for you.

OTOH, you don't need an excuse to buy more gear. 

[rahock]

I keep waiting for Bill to try a Genz ShuttleMax or Streamliner.  Hybrids don't come any better.

But then, Rahock and I have drunk the Kool-Aid on Genz amps.

Agreed. Pass the Kool Aid please
Rick