effects loop, and a DI. Genz Benz also
included an auxiliary input for a
CD or MP3 player, a Tuner Out, a
Headphones jack that you can use
without a speaker load, and a voltage selector for the world traveler.
Wielding the Hammer
My initial impressions of the
Streamliner 900 were based on a
comparison with its counterpart, the
Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0. Setting both amplifiers flat and pairing them individually with
a 4x10 cabinet, it was immediately clear
these two amps were very different animals.
The Streamliner 900 provided a thick tone
and solid attack, and with each pull of the
strings I could feel the weight of each note.
The Shuttle had a more modern sound
with clarity and response, but it couldn’t
quite match the warmth and heft of the
Streamliner. As a sonic weapon, the Shuttle
is more like a sword, while the Streamliner
is definitely a war hammer.
I used four basses to assess the versatility
of the Streamliner 900—a 1964 Fender Jazz
bass, a 5-string Music Man StingRay, a Bill
Nash P-style with flatwound strings, and
a carved German upright with a Fishman
BP- 100 pickup. I paired the Streamliner
with a variety of 4x10, 1x12, and 1x15 cab-
inet configurations. After setting the Gain
and Volume knobs to minimize peaking, I
played the basses with the EQ set flat. Then
I tested how various adjustments to certain
frequencies enhanced the basic sound.
Krautster
The Krautster totally nails the sound
and sheer power of raw music.
Its design and craftmanship,
meanwhile, demonstrate massive
scope and breathtaking ambition.
Disguised as a plain, down-to-earth
guitar, the Krautster comes proudly
stripped of everything but the very
essence of Rock!
www.nikhuber-guitars.com
