|
Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 - It's Doin' The Job!
Ken Smithites,
Just picked up a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 210T yesterday at Century Music Systems here in San Antonio. I'm excited, because the unit is light, packs plenty of punch (375 watts @ 8 ohms, 600 @ 4 ohms), and sounds really, really nice. For the most part, I play at churches in small to medium venues, so this should be what the doctor ordered. If I have any problems, or have any unusually great reports, I'll let you know! I'll post a photo ASAP. |
Congrats on the new rig Ronson, now groove hard.
|
New Developments - Small Light and Loud - Competition!
It seems this topic has gone silent. I believe it continues to a viable topic of discussion. As of March 2009. I see new "head" developments.
The GK MB2 - is a 500 watt feather weight amp that is a real contender. The Genz Benz Shuttle with 600 watts! The Eden WTX 360 is now pumped up to 500 watts! Now the WTX500. My personal favorite is the LMKII, which now upgraded to the LMKIII with 800 watts at 4ohmns. My last gig I used my smith + LMKII + 2 4x10 Bagend cabinets! There was a crushing low tone throughout the gig!. I cannot say enough about the full range tone of this setup. My question for the forum is: What are your experiences with the above heads and your Ken Smith bass? |
Ken Smith Tone
I am still awaiting the experiences of other Smith bass owners with these new "lightweight" amps with ample power; 500 or better watts.
I believe this is a viable topic of discussion, since your rig, Head+cabinet, is a part of the sound that your Ken Smith bass produces. Guitar players seem to understand this concept, but us bass players rarely discuss this connection. I hope to hear your experiences. I am currently using 2 4x10s on stage, with a 500 watt head. |
My rig is anything but lightweight so I really can't comment.
|
I play through an LMK and I absolutely love it. I am in tonal heaven when combined with my Smith.
|
I've been waiting for th Eden WTX500; but the delivery date keeps being pushed back. Because of some upcoming gigs, I will probably go with the Shuttle6.0 because of the tube pre. I will post results later.
|
The Shuttle 6.0 arrived today. I used it at a gig this evening and it was awesome! I used it with an Ampeg 410hlf which of course is a 4 ohm cab; so 600 watts of power was available. The Ampeg cab has nice bottom end; so the sound was nicely balanced with the amp set flat and the gain at 12 o'clock. There was more than enough headroom. The drummer and keyboard player were amzed at the tone, volume and the ability to cut through the mix. Now I need to locate a light weight cab with acceptable lows. I am open to suggestions. So come on and give some responses.
|
Response.
Quote:
|
Good Ideas, Gentlemen!
Quote:
I was going to invest in the Genz Benz 12" extension cab, but I must go ahead and do the Eden 210XST as I had originally planned. Great bottom and, at 8 ohms, I can run it with the Shuttle alone like mentioned above! Question: What's a good, functional application for my Eden Traveler Plus? Do I also need to consider investing in a good 4 ohm cab as well (and possibly get rid of my beloved SWR Goliath III to make room?) |
Tim,
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll go to Atlanta bass gallery and check out the Eden 210XST tomorrow. I normally use an Ampeg SVT-4pro; but I have been enjoying the shuttle.More follow up to come..... |
8 or 4?
Quote:
Stick with 8 ohm cabinets always. Again, this is where you will recognize significant coverage differences because you can always add more 8 ohm cabinets than you can 4 ohm cabinets. Simply put: 2 - 8 ohm cabinets running parallel is a 4 ohm load and will pull whatever the 4 ohm indicated output level of the amp is, BUT, because you have more speakers, you'll recognize significant volume coverage. BTW the difference you hear between 1 4-ohm cabinet and 1 8-ohm cabinet individually running from the same amp is nominal. AB it and see for yourself. Another case for sticking with 8 ohm cabinets. The best way for you to hear this put to the test is do this: Scenario 1: Hook up a quality 4-ohm cabinet (ex. 1 210XST(4)) to the amp (assuming the amp can handle a 4-ohm load). Then play and listen. Scenario 2: Hook up 2 quality 8-ohm cabinets (ex. 2 210XST(8)'s) to the same amp. Then play and listen. You WILL hear the difference from Scenario 1 above and realize a significant increase in coverage. NOTE: Under Scenario 2 and if the amp can handle a 2 ohm load, you can still add 2 more 8 ohm cabinets for even more coverage!!! If you haven't heard this, you must try it one time in your life. : ) Granted, you may not need the additional coverage, but WHY limit yourself??? |
Ampeg SVT-4 Pro???
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Thanks, Tim!
Quote:
I really, really appreciate that response! I've had my SWR Goliath III for a long while. When I first acquired my Eden Traveler Plus, I used it to power my SWR for quite a while (sounded great to me!). I was speaking to a sales guy when I bought the Shuttle, informing him I had the SWR. He told me that, at about 350-400 watts feeding into the SWR from the Eden, it was a wonder I hadn't damaged my SWR a long time ago, as I was under-powering the cab. He said the Goliath III needed a minimum of 600 watts to run efficiently. I was a little shaken after that conversation, as I did not want to "tear up" my Goliath! However, as I mentioned before, I had apparently been "under-powering" my Goliath for a long while (according to the sales guy), with no obvious adverse effects at all. I started running the SWR Golith III (8 ohms) with my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 & 210 GB cab (8 ohms) at church three weeks ago (the Shuttle pumps 600 watts at 4 ohms). All I can say is, it sounds great and, so far, so good! |
Quote:
What you really need to try is adding another 8 ohm cabinet. Most cabinets are wired parallel, so, all you would need to do is run out of one cabinet into the other. Remember, connecting 2 8 ohm cabinets to your amp will increase the load to 4 ohms. Provided your amp can handle a 4 ohm load, you won't have any issues. You will hear a huge difference in output and have all the coverage you will most likely need. Try it and see. Also....... You can NEVER have TOO MUCH headroom. My PLX-3602 will put out 3600W :eek: :D :). Will I ever need or use that? Maybe, maybe not. But it sure is nice to know it's there IF I need it. ;) |
Quote:
Thanks for your suggestion. The Eden cabs sound great. The WT-550 sounded great. If the WTX500 sounds anything like the WT-550, it will be a real contender. |
Yep!
Quote:
|
MB SD800 & Schroeder
Hello all,
Schroeder Mini12+ 4o " 1210R 4o " 410L gen II 4o Eden 210XL 8o (not very often) I've been using a MarkBass SD800, with any of the listed cabs, at different sized gigs for about a year with great results. The Mini12+ and the SD nake a truely "mini-rig" and works very well for small to med sized gigs. The 410L is just a monster!!!! It weighsjust 56# and is a very east load-in. The rig works very well for the med-to large sized gigs. I tilt the cab back with a 2X4 and never have an issue with hearing just what I put into it. Most of the medium-sized gigs get the 1210R. The EQ on the SD is easy to work with and the power is just about amazing!! The could easily push two 410's or a couple of 810's!!!! YIKES!!!!!!! Thanks for moment of your time, Kirk |
Eden WT-405...
My newest favorite Eden head is the WT-405. Wow! It may not be the lightest head on the market, but the flexibility and options are well worth the extra weight. I'm glad I purchased this amp while it was still made in the U.S. Now, Eden is sending their stuff to China :mad:. Because of this and going forward, I won't be sending any $'s to China to support their booming economy. Fortunately, I have all the Eden gear I'll need going forward: U.S. made and proud of it!
|
Just because I got a notification of Tim Bishop's newest post this came to mind: A fellow who goes by the moniker "Greenboy" over on'Talkbass.com' (I know, a site of some notoriety around here!) has come up with what is reported to be a stupendous design inroad for a front-firing, small, potent, bi-ampable cab. See the humongous , 2-part thread on it to get the lowdown. It's a DIY, but you can probably find a cabinet-maker in your area to build you one. I can also build it, but I'm not advertising myself- just saying.
Heads... there are a million of 'em! GK's MB502 (or something like that) gets the newest raves. |
TecAmp + Epifani
Just got my TecAmp Puma 1000 !!!!
2*500 Watt / 4 Ohm at 2,8 kg !!! Seems to have a Powersoft DigiMod Module in it. Recently I paired it with two Epi UL cabs on stage and the sound with my BMT Elite V floored everyone in the house. I play soul and funk in a VERY loud soul band and I had no problems to cut through. Other basses deliver also their unique characteristics through that amp without any discoloration. Normally I play an Epifani 902C (also light and loud and a perfect match for Smith basses !) or a Glockenklang HeartRock through an Epi 410/212 UL pair. The TecAmp Puma delivers just a similar tone - creamy, clear and deep low end and tons of attack and .... LOUD ! - unbelievable ! |
Markbass
Well, I guess it's time to speak. I have had the opportunity to play practically every brand of amp out there. I currently use an SWR rig ( grand prix preamp) carvin DCM 1000 pwr amp, SWR Triad cab. But I must say, I took Mr. Chris Rhodes' advice and tried the Markbass LMK II w/ the 2X10 cab............. I played my custom Burner 6 through it. I experienced the most incredible sound from that thing! The clarity, tone , bottom end, was just amazing! I sat in GC for 2 1/2 hour just playing with the knobs and I just didn't want to stop playing, My friends had to drag me out of there. I'll sell every piece of gear I own to get one of these amps. Hands down the most incredible clear true tone I have ever heard!
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Have you tried a TC ELECTRONIC RH 450 ?
With the RS 212 cab seems to be a great amp... 8,8 pound for the head and 450 W ! |
Eden WTX-500
Eden's newest head is the WTX-500. 4 lbs. and 500W at a 4 Ohm load!
|
Little Mark 800 & Little Mark Tube 800
The new Little Mark's now are 800 watts with a 4 Ohm load!
6.5 lbs Smith Bass (MD7 or BMT 6/with new smith strings) + LMKII + Bag End cabinet = superior sound. |
Really?
Quote:
What is more noteworthy is it appears the LMT800 utilizes a 6205 tube in the pre-amp stage. This gives you the tone dynamic of mixing tube and solid-state. Theoretically, this should provide for some really nice tone. This is what Eden has been doing for years in their WT Series Amps: A Hybrid Bass Amp design. The newer Eden WTX Series utilize the Golden Ear Chip to accomplish the same. |
Agreed - More cabinets means better sound
Tim,
I agree. More Cabinet means more volume; coverage; etc. I generally run two 4x10 bagend cabinetsm or two 1x15 cabs. This means better coverage and volume for me. Especially in large venues, I setup on the hi-hatt side of the drummer. Those speakers are heavy, but they sound so good to my ear. I gonna try one of these wtx heads, we the opportunity presents itself. I seem to prefer light-weight heads, but I like heavy speakers - vice the light neo cabinets. Crazy! |
Quote:
|
light rigs
Thought I'd update my input on this. I got back into gigging bands about 18 months ago and having back issues, after much trial and error, this is the rig i use;
For small rooms- Eden WTX260 260 watt @ 4 ohms (discontinued but now a Nemesis head) with an Avatar 2x10 Neo cab which handles 500 watts @ 4 ohms Bigger rooms-Eden E300T 300 watt @ 4 or 8 ohms all tube monster head and same Avatar 2x10 Neo. The WTX260 has plenty of beef for a small room with great tone and weighs 4.3 lbs and fits in the pocket of the gig bag! :) The E300T weighs just 42 lbs probably due to toroidal transformers. Avatar claims their Neo 2x10 also weighs 42 lbs but I think its closer to 48 according to my back LOL! I do load ins in three relatively easy trips with the tube head and two relatively easy trips with the micro head. If i can figure out how to keep my wife from killing me, I'm gonna upgrade to an Earcandy 2x10 Neo at some point with the Cabbiecab luggage system. Why is it that women who know NOTHING of gear can instantly figure out you upgraded even if something mostly looks the same? LMAO! |
Nice!
Quote:
|
Lol!
Quote:
|
I haven't really been around, but got an update via email and thought I'd chime in.
I found an old Trace-Elliot AH250SMX head in some disrepair, fixed 'er up and it's sitting atop 2x Bag End S15 D cabs. In the band mix, which I learned about by standing out front while someone else played my rig on a jam-nite we host 2x a month, the sound is punchy, sweet, articulate with a pleasant 'bloom'. No mud, not an overbearing lashing of "that Trace-Elliot sound" after you get the EQ dialed in and decide if/when to use the Pre-Shape feature. This rig is a relatively easy load in/out, and sounds great. Plenty of bottom and can get plenty loud. TE tend to under-rate their wattage numbers. I landed this rig for a total of about $650, through bottom-feeding Craigslist and being picky. |
Small, light, and loud?
Roger, you should try some of the newer lighter amps that are out there now-days. I'm sure you would be impressed with the right set-up. I'm talking amps in the 3.5 - 4.5 pound range and putting out 500W+. ;)
|
Quote:
Maybe after my new working band starts pulling in some bread I'll go venture out into the Small World! I'd love to carry half my rig in my bass' gig-bag. |
Yes!
Quote:
|
Ampeg PF-500 & PF-210
1 Attachment(s)
Attachment 2859Just wanted to see if you guys think that this combo would be a good rig? I currently have a Fender Rumble 150.
|
Possibly....
Quote:
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:56 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)