Musicman20

Roqsolid cover arrived. What a fantastic company! These guys put a lot of our Brit companies to shame. Excellent service and great cover.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1384547336' post='2278117'] Mine used to break up if I went anywhere past 9 o`clock on the gain, using a regular US Precision. Doesn`t sound right to me, being able to get to 2 o`clock - I`d expect to out-Lemmy Lemmy on that setting. [/quote] Plus 1, something isn't right.

[quote name='michinho' timestamp='1384517476' post='2277585'] ahh cool thanks. Well when I use the overdrive i'd like to get louder anyway so I guess it isn't too much of a problem. Is there a problem using bass OD pedals with a single tube inside infront of a bass amp with a tube pre such as the streamliners? What i'm getting at is, would the tube OD in the pedal still effect and "heat up" the tubes in the pre on the Genz? Again I hope that made sense LOL [/quote] Probably will It will push your gain into the amp if the pedal is set up with a hot output No problem putting a pedal into a Streamliner.

[quote name='michinho' timestamp='1384516513' post='2277560'] Thanks Can you have the gain switch on and set to clean with a little bit of dirt and then use an overdrive pedal to push it? Or alternatively have the gain switch off and do the same thing? having a high gain signal going into it. Would this be like having the gain switch turned on? I hope that made some sort of sense... [/quote] You could but the overall volume would increase

[quote name='michinho' timestamp='1384514566' post='2277527'] What tubes are used in the Streamliners? Has anyone replaced there's for different results? Would like some nice tube grind to my tone if possible. [/quote] Mine are stock. For pretty gnarly tube grind: Have the gain button pushed in; Lower the volume (left hand volume) to almost off; DIME the gain. Then, bring the left hand volume up a touch, and use master for the actual volume. If you don't have the left volume down, it may be incredibly loud!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1384510079' post='2277451'] Got mine set to 12 o'clock at the moment... haven't had a full volume test yet though, I'll have a tweak around with it when I get the chance. [/quote] I'm finding just a touch sounds great! Very clear tone. Despite the odd issues with screws, I still think these are exceptional cabinets.

How much are you guys dialing the tweeter in?

I have never played in anything that is purely 'metal', as I always have and always will much prefer anything that is punk/hardcore orientated when it comes to more aggressive music. One of the things that I really dislike about most the metal bands I've heard is the guitar sound. QOTSA are by no means a metal band, at all, but a good idea of what I think a heavy guitar sound should be...eg not totally overdriven, warm, crunchy, and I guess more traditional. The poor reception bass players get in metal is probably why I much prefer modern punk, (see Rancid, A Wilhelm Scream, NOFX).

I feel quite lucky that I don't see any of that on mine. Mind you, the foam material is not an issue...

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1384449294' post='2276879'] I want a single H now , in lieu of a Stingray Classic. If I could get a nice Stingray Classic that weighed 9 pounds or less then I would snap it up , but I think I am unlikely to be that lucky , so my next best choice would be a Bongo H . How long before you get the same urge, Gareth ? [/quote] HAHA! I know. I eventually got a Classic 5er H from Promenade Music....the neck is incredibly pretty. Very good price as well. The single H Bongo has me thinking. It's actually significantly cheaper than the HS and HH, and it is justified as the tone is different. They have all rosewood neck options at the moment for an extra £150 or so. Imagine a Bongo H in Tangerine Pearl with an all Rosewood Neck??!?!

No issues whatsoever with any Genz amps. I've had two for quite some time.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1384445023' post='2276809'] I think the Bongo looks great, and they sound unique . Definitely my favourite EBMM bass, by far. [/quote] Agreed. I bought one, then bought another as I liked it so much. One of the most radical and interesting bass designs in the past 10 years or more. Funnily enough, it has been said that the Bongo wouldn't last. Funny that, but its eventually infiltrated the lives of most Musicman owners that I know. The build quality is absolute perfect on mine....nice weight, beautifully carved/machined body shape, perfect paintwork, and a killer sound. That is exactly what they wanted, a killer tone. They absolutely nailed it.

[quote name='jimbobothy' timestamp='1384435668' post='2276628'] Just a wonder, GAK replied saying all of the cabs they get through now are MIM. So are the ones from Bass Direct USA ones or have some random old stock USA ones been sent out from the dusty store cupboards lol? Also just wondering CamdenRob how do the MIM and USA built cabs compare in the finer details? Asking out of interest tbh, I'm sure they sound great whoever made them! Afaik the covers are made in Batley, West Yorkshire. [/quote] Mine was the very first one GAK got in from the shipment...about a week before the rest. It's extremely well made and finished very well. I need to double check the date but to be honest, it is flawless so I'm not bothered. The prices on these did drop from £750-760 to about £710 about 12 months ago. Might be a cheaper labour reflection?

As BF state about their cabs, same applies here. It might take time for to EQ the cab how you like it. Conan - Is your amp the Fender style EQ, eg mids are flat when mids boosted to max? I'd lower the bass to 12, (or lower...it doesn't make much difference but saves you wattage!), keep the mids flat (or boost if possible) and keep the treble fairly flat or boosted as the tweeter has a fair amount of high freq information!

[quote name='Adee' timestamp='1384430656' post='2276545'] I've been using the slightly older NeoX212t for two or three years now and love it and I paid £450 used for mine !!!! What I'm looking forward too is when these cabs all flood into the used market place and you kind people let them go for shall we say .... errrrrr £200 yeah that will do : ) [/quote] Haha! i think anyone wanting to sell soon would be best waiting to see what Fender make in its place. The next cab could be equal/re-branded or lesser, who knows! I really think Fender could miss a trick if they don't use the Genz engineers knowledge and previous products to make a monster lightweight Fender branded bass amp. I've waited for this type of cab for years, so mine will be kept for a very long time!

Yes, if you think about it, the cab handles don't actually (unless I'm mistaken) enter the area where the speakers are situated. If they did, they would have to redesign for the changes to sound/performance, etc. I used to have the TC RS212 (still have the RS210s) and I sold the RS212 to get the old NeoX212....but moving house etc got in the way and I never bothered. Now, I have the upgraded NX2 for less than what I originally sold the RS212 for! The RS212 was a really nice, full/fat/low mid kick type cabinet. It was however heavier than the NX212 and could not handle as much wattage. It was very awkward to lift with the handles being where they were.

This might be just me, but I HATE lifting cabs to the chest area. I think its a potentially dangerous way to carry them as you can't see for a start! I always lift, when possibly, with two people. I have a decent trolley I used when I moved house that can also double as a gear mover for getting to a car. At 47lbs or whatever it is, its ok to lift by yourself, but I think its much safer and easier to use the top handles and get two people on it. The Genz amps are put together in Taiwan - always have been. However, they are inspected and finished in the USA (might not be in a few months though!). The QC on my amps is very very good. Much better than the last Markbass amp I owned.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1384415868' post='2276315'] Same here. So it is a year old. No big deal really. Had Fender bought GB a year ago? I just kind of assumed that GB gear was US made. Again, not a dealbreaker, but it would have been nice if they'd advertised that fact. The "screws-protruding" thing is just odd. OK, you have to actually [i][b]look[/b][/i] to see it (i.e. shine a torch into the port), but it's a simple lazy error of using screws that are twice as long as the plywood is thick! Why would they do that? Anyway, I used it at rehearsal last night. It is certainly a solidly constructed box! Not the easiest to man-handle up a twisty set of stairs! I thought I would like the top-mounted handles, but I actually don't. Makes it impossible to hug the cab to my chest when carrying it up and down stairs. Not sure what the advantages are meant to be? I guess it is a bit easier to move short distances on the flat, but then again the wheels make that operation a doddle. Maybe the handles are positioned there to make use of the wheels easier? Sound-wise? Well, there is no shortage of volume! But you would expact that. Tone-wise I found it rather scooped - especially after my Compact which has a beautiful, full midrange. To be fair, using a J bass with both pickups full-on makes it's job more difficult - as does using the BDI21 pedal - but the Compact managed to still have a full midrange under these conditions. I had a play about with my graphic pedal, which helped, but this will take a bit more research... I did find that I kind of disappeared in the mix last night Again, I think it is just something that I am going to have to play around with until I get the tone I like, but it is something that I hadn't anticipated. Just shows that impulse buys aren't always sound investments!! Overall I am pleased with it. At £379. If I had paid nearly £800 for a Mexican-made cab with QC issues (admittedly minor) I think I would have been somewhat disgruntled! But it is my first brand new cab since 1986, so that in itself was fun! [/quote] What QC issues does your cab have? Or is your cab ok? I am definitely not hearing any scooped tone in the NX2...in fact I'd say there is a bump in the low mids which makes it punchier. You are also going to get a lot more high end and probably more volume with the NX2. The top handles are, IMO, better than side handles on a cabinet like this. Lifting it to your chest means bending your knees and lifting it high. I've tried these handles and it means two people can carry it, and then it really does feel light! The wheels I suspect aren't for rolling around on rough concrete but will work in venues for getting near where you are playing. The faital drivers in the cabinet are quite expensive! So yes, it is a bargain.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1384423834' post='2276445'] I can see your point. Yes, we got it for £380, but it is an £800 cab. And at that price point (as people regularly say about BareFaced cabs) you have a right to expect a top quality fit and finish. [/quote] Mine is exceptional. Maybe I got lucky? I do find it odd that there are now Mexican versions...it MUST be part of the change to Fender as they bought KMC (which included Genz Benz) quite some time back. Definitely WELL over a year ago. It would make sense, if Fender have now taken on the ex-Genz engineers, that some of the products will be made in Mexico along with a lot of the other Fender amps. It will still, I assume, be the same parts. Re: BF - I can't comment on the latest ones (as in seeing them in the flesh) but the NX2 I have is superb and looks and feels more solid than the Compact I tried out.

How bizarre! Great looking rig anyway! I still think it's a massive bargain no matter where it was made. I think mine says Dec 12 as date of manufacture.

I bet some of these are the last Genz-turning-into-Fender cabs. Mine doesn't have the Mexico sticker though.

[quote name='jimbobothy' timestamp='1384375399' post='2275987'] Yup, all factory sealed so thinking about it I guess it's from moving it about in the factory but I did notice the box had extra sets of old staple holes in the top of it. So either it's been taken out at some point after packaging for some reason or a return repackaged in it's original box. Who knows and even if I did send it back I wouldn't get another one as they're kinda out of stock now! I guess I'll never know, a bit odd though [/quote] That should be ok. Yeah mine was restapled. Guess they check them or repack. Mine is definitely brand new.

[quote name='jimbobothy' timestamp='1384373083' post='2275938'] Got it, now need a lead. I get what was mentioned above Re quality. The screws for the handles protrude through the inside of the ply and the foam inside the cab (acoustic stuff I guess) is a bit rough. However saying that I'm sure it'll sound great and hopefully worth the spends! mmm, also after looking at it with a beady eye the 2 of the corner protectors have a few slight scuffs etc on them. Hope it wasn't a repackaged return lol!! Also didn't realise they were made in Mexico, not that that matters anyhow I guess [/quote] The corner scuffs is odd. Did it come in a sealed box, in a big sealed bag with packaging around it? Does the serial on the box match the cabinet? My cab says Scottsdale, AZ, USA. Made by Genz Benz. Nothing about Mexico. The screws don't pertrude through. The foam is hidden. Are we sure some of these aren't now being made by Fender (Mexico)???? That would make sense as they are potentially rebranding everything! I'd be interested to see the Mexico sticker.

[quote name='shemeckfrac' timestamp='1384343791' post='2275434'] I realize it's part of the [b]design[/b] and I do agree the [b]design[/b] works great ! It's attention to detail in the build I am talking about. Yes, they are painted black so unless you look hard and won't stick your hand too far into the port on the opposite side of the handles you won't see anything and scratch your hand on the screw. I may stick some pics latter on. [/quote] Yeah sure thing, good idea. We can all take a look see if its similar to ours. I am an absolute pain when it comes to satisfying my need for perfect QC, so I'm intrigued about this.

[quote name='shemeckfrac' timestamp='1384341180' post='2275406'] I was referring to my impression of the quality of the build of [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]NX2-212[/size][/font][/color]. By no means the cab arrived defected, but how it's been put together by Benz Genz. My quality benchmark are the Markbass cabs where all littlest details are taken care of. Perhaps this just relates to the design; the NX2-212 has vertical gaps where one can see the "stuff" (foam, screws from handles) inside, whereas with other cab design the "stuff" is hidden inside. In any case I'm not discouraging anyone from getting NX2-212 ! [/quote] Those 'vertical gaps' are ports and are part of why the cab works so well. Even the speaker/cab gurus seem to think its a well designed cabinet. I must admit, looking into the ports I can't see a thing. They are painted black...