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Post by morrow on Oct 2, 2020 15:07:50 GMT -5
I've kept my old GenzBenz Streamliner 900 , the LED for the front panel was out but the amp always worked great . After buying a Bergantino Forte it was pretty much sidelined . They are very different amps .
I heard that the designer , the legendary Andy Field , was still servicing them . I contacted him , and sent the amp off . He has a flat service rate unless there's evidence that an unauthorized repair person has messed things up . My amp was unmolested , about a 48 hour turnaround and it was promptly returned .
It's like a brand new amp . He did a factory update , checked everything , found a couple of little things to replace , and I'm really happy that I sent it off to California .
Looking forward to firing it up again at the gig this weekend . And it's amazing that he is continuing to service the older Genz Benz amps . It's funny , the bond you develop with an amp , and now after dealing with the guy that actually designed it , it's that much deeper .
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Post by LTB on Oct 2, 2020 16:10:38 GMT -5
Yes, I had a Genz Benz Streamliner 600 and loved the amp but had wished I had gone for the 900 as playing outside I had to have it at 75-80 percent up. It did fabulous and sounded great mostly thanks to the very sensitive Kappalite 3012HO Neos I had in my two cabs otherwise it might not have made it. I had contacted Andy 3 years ago to insure he still repaired them. Very nice guy! Hated Fender Bought them out and then eventually swept them under the rug. They were good amps. I know Genzler has his own line now but since I was looking for more wattage 3 years ago I ran into something at Guitar Center I could not pass up. Not my favorite color front Panel (lime green) but probably what allowed me to get it so cheap (Not a popular color  ). It was a floor model MarkBass Lil' Ninja 1000 watt RMS at 4 ohms Class D amp head for $485 (if remember correctly). I played it and jumped on it. |
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Post by morrow on Oct 2, 2020 17:37:38 GMT -5
I've been looking at Andy's latest creation , the Mesa TT800 . It would be like having the Liner and my Forte in one box .
I have quite a number of friends that are MarkBass aficionados . They make great gear . Truth is there's a lot of truly wonderful choices we have these days . Genzler and Aguilar are there too . I spent years using happily using GK , Ampeg and Marshall before that .
Have you ever checked out AudioKinesis ? He's not far from Dallas and makes some pretty stunning cabs . Never seen them up this way , but if he was closer I'd hop in the car ...
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Post by LTB on Oct 2, 2020 18:50:30 GMT -5
Oct 2, 2020 17:37:38 GMT -5 morrow said:
Genzler and Aguilar are there too . I spent years using happily using GK
I have used a friends Aguilar at a practice and they are nice sounding amps for sure.
I had a GK 700RBII for several years and it served me well. I finally sold it in 2012 and bought the Streamliner 600 to save my back and would still have it had I not wanted an amp I did not have to turn over 1/2 power outside which is why I bought the MarkBass amp head. Curious, what did or is Andy doing to your GB Streamliner 900?
morrow Avatar
Oct 2, 2020 17:37:38 GMT -5 morrow said:
Have you ever checked out AudioKinesis ? He's not far from Dallas and makes some pretty stunning cabs .
No, haven't but will check them out. Thanks!
Looks like they are on Lake Lavon 30 minutes N.E. of Dallas and about an hour from me.
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Post by morrow on Oct 2, 2020 20:17:23 GMT -5
The front display LED was not working , but the amp itself was working well . I simply decided to invest in the amp when I heard that Andy was still servicing them . And it's about a dozen years old now . Andy said there was a factory upgrade , and a couple of minor things replaced , and checked through the entire amp . ( it was outlined in his service report but I can't put my hands on it right now) Quick turnaround .
So right now it's probably better than new .
And the price was very reasonable , $85 service fee , parts included . Plus shipping .
I was amazed to discover that these older amps were still being serviced by the designer and that they were trying to preserve their legacy . The company was absorbed by Fender and then shut down . They were pioneers of class D technology . Today Genzler continues the tradition , and Andy Field designs the Subway series of amps for Mesa . And the new new TT800 is one amazing amp .
We have such a disposal society , it feels good to get something checked out and fixed .
So if you have an older GB amp , I would recommend having it serviced . (Unless an unauthorized repair person has been in there )
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
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Post by pdf64 on Oct 3, 2020 4:20:34 GMT -5
Fault finding, but especially verifying correct operation, of class D amps and their switched mode power supplies requires specialised competence and resource, probably beyond the scope of most shops.
For owners / users, as with computer equipment, ensuring the free flow of air through the cooling systems is essential, so stick a vacuum cleaner hose nozzle up to any air in/out grilles a time or two annually. And in use, keep some clear space around them, eg avoid drapes, leaning instrument case / cover against them.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Oct 3, 2020 5:11:03 GMT -5
That is fantastic. Hearing stories like this about great customer support gives me hope for the future.
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Post by BluzLvr on Oct 4, 2020 11:57:47 GMT -5
That's great news morrow. I recently pulled my SL600 out of mothballs and loved how much punch it had. Haven't really used it since I got my Fender Rumble 500C. I just might send it to him for a tune-up. Do you have contact info for Andy?
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Post by morrow on Oct 4, 2020 14:53:56 GMT -5
PM'd
They really are great amps and well worth investing in .
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Post by morrow on Oct 5, 2020 17:00:40 GMT -5
Had the amp out to the weekly gig I do , house band blues jam in my favourite dive downtown . It's not real loud so I was just running a single Bergantino 112 . Not going into the PA (just horns and vocals) and an old friend was by to play so I also got out front to hear it . Was using the Eastwood hollowbody . Nicely filled the room , I had a rich , warm , deep old school thump dialled up . It was perfect . My friend often uses an old Harmony H22 and loved the Eastwood . Said the amp was sounding gorgeous .
I'll no doubt be going back to my Forte next week , but I'm really happy to have had that amp rejuvenated . Well worth the investment .
And fun to get her out to the old dive .
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Post by LTB on Oct 5, 2020 17:03:50 GMT -5
Had the amp out to the weekly gig I do , house band blues jam in my favourite dive downtown . It's not real loud so I was just running a single Bergantino 112 . Not going into the PA (just horns and vocals) and an old friend was by to play so I also got out front to hear it . Was using the Eastwood hollowbody . Nicely filled the room , I had a rich , warm , deep old school thump dialled up . It was perfect . My friend often uses an old Harmony H22 and loved the Eastwood . Said the amp was sounding gorgeous . I'll no doubt be going back to my Forte next week , but I'm really happy to have had that amp rejuvenated . Well worth the investment . And fun to get her out to the old dive . Great to hear about amp and new guitar doing well. Do you have any neck dive issues? If so what are you doing to combat it? |
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Post by morrow on Oct 6, 2020 11:14:30 GMT -5
Haven't had any issues with dive , but my arm usually rests on the bass .
Just checked it now and it does drop if I take my arm off , but I usually have my arm on it so it's not been an issue .
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Post by LTB on Oct 10, 2020 1:27:29 GMT -5
Fault finding, but especially verifying correct operation, of class D amps and their switched mode power supplies requires specialised competence and resource, probably beyond the scope of most shops. Yep! Andy Field Designed the Genz Benz Streamliner series. I had one with no issues but had it had some it would have only gone to him. The LED failure seemed to be an issue with several of them and tube socket solder joints because of people pulling a tube and jamming them back in place instead of gently rocking them slightly while pulling (like pulling a tooth LOL) carefully lining the tube doing similar when reinstalling. |
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Post by themaestro on Oct 10, 2020 8:09:13 GMT -5
I have Genz Benz 6.2 and 6.0 Shuttles. They are my current amp and backup. I like them. It is too bad that Fender bought the company and then deep-sixed the brand.
Andy Field is active over on the Talkbass forum, where he goes by the name Agedhorse. He is a well-loved hero over there, always willing to explain amp stuff to experts and beginners alike.
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Post by LTB on Oct 10, 2020 20:18:24 GMT -5
Andy Field is active over on the Talkbass forum, where he goes by the name Agedhorse. He is a well-loved hero over there, always willing to explain amp stuff to experts and beginners alike. That's where I have corresponded with him. Glad you mentioned Agedhorse so others will know where to locate him. |
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). It was a floor model MarkBass Lil' Ninja 1000 watt RMS at 4 ohms Class D amp head for $485 (if remember correctly). I played it and jumped on it. 
