Product: Genz Benz GBE 100
Price Paid: USD 230
Submitted
05/18/2009
at
06:53am
by
Bob
Features
:
10
The GBE 100 is a solid state 100 watt amp with 2x10" speakers and a tweeter of some sort.
This amp has all of the basic features you would want for a practice amp.
Preamp: Active and Passive selection switch
Gain knob
Tuner Out
Direct Out: XLR with ground lift option
Shape: Countour sound shaping - basically dries out the sound
and boosts the mids for slapping.
EQ: Low, Mid Low, and Mid High, High
Out: Main Out Volume, Phones.
The amp also has an option to turn off the the power to the speakers to practice just with head phones.
Basically for the $230 I paid, this amp has more options than any other amp in this price range; ex. the 4 band EQ, the 2x20's with tweeter.
Lacks: The amp does not allow you to attach an external cabinet.
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
Overall the bass amp sounds pretty good. I have used it for practice and probably will only ever use it for practice. This is because I am a semi-pro drummer who is learning bass to record song ideas and play with my son who is learning drums.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I am pretty happy with the amp and it's sound. The low E thru B flat is somewhat lacking no matter how I EQ the amp or adjust the tone on my EMG equipped P-Bass. I know it is not my bass because when I play at church through a 80's Ampeg B-15T the sound is incredible. The problem appears to be the speakers in this Genz Benz unit, since when recorded via the XLR out or listened to via headphones, the sound is full and does not lack in the low E to B flat range.
Also there is plenty of power in this amp to get really loud and play in a band, however the aformentioned lack of bottom end becomes worse at higher volumes.
Overall if this is all you could afford, it's great especially for a practice amp. But if you are looking to play live in a high volume band spend more and look elsewhere.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I have had this amp for about 2 1/2 months and it has performed flawlessly. Also this is a very amp and is somewhat large for its wattage.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
I have been playing bass for about 6 months, mostly through my studio monitors. However, I have been playing drums with great bass players for 17 years and know good bass sounds and equipment.
