Genz Benz GBE100 115T 115 Combo

Portable, well made combo
100 Watt Output
Active/Passive Input
Signal Input LED
Tuner Out
Shape Circuitry with Variable Mid-Scoop
Active 3 Band EQ with Parametric Mids
RCA CD Input
Headphone Jack
XLR Direct Out
Internal Fan Cooling
Attractive Black Vinyl Protective Metal Speaker Grille

When I found this amp used in the music store, I was about to buy a new Fender Bassman 150 and I realized that the Genz Benz tone was superior to my ears and the price was right. I play rock and classic rock and the guys in my band noticed how much better we sounded with this amp. The tone is deep and round but tight enough to provide that thump without being flubby. The eq controls give me a good range of sounds and the volume was plenty enought to keep up with the rest of the band at gigs.

The amp developed a problem with the power output section but once fixed it works fine.

One day the amp crapped out. I called Genz Benz in Arizona and even though it was used, they treated it as under warranty. I sent it to Genz Benz and when I followed up by phone a couple of days later, Mr. Genzler himself was working on it and told me that he replaced the output section of the amp and was returing the amp to me in perfect condition. I was very impressed by the experince and by the company's committment to it's products.

I am a 40+ year guitar player and moved to the bass to years ago and the GBE100 was a real step towards the pro sound I am trying to achieve. I love the sound of the amp and at about 60 pounds, it's very portable. It's great for small to medium gigs and love how it fills the room like a bigger amp. I also appreciate the phono jack input for my CD player which is so handy in practice sessions.

Follow up from my previous review.

2007 model
4 channel EQ
Contour
Gain
XLR DI out
Headphones socket
Speaker off switch (ideal for quiet practice)
CD in (RCA sockects)
Passive/Active Switch
and even a Tuner-out socket
The speaker can also be disconnected from the amp module and an external cabinet plugged in.
How good is that!
Castors should be standard on units of that size up though (thank you Fender) but for a few bucks you can add a set of lockable ones yourself. (Lockable castors have been screwed on, very helpful)

Follow up from previous review.

Great tone for a relatively cheap unit. Keeps up with a loud snare and kick drum easily with the volume at 12 o'clock.
Can even get a nice jazz bass kinda growl out of it. Very bright and nice for slap and pop. Sounds brighter but warmer than the Fender Rumble. Can get down deep on the B-string when called upon.

This is where it failed the first time around. The repaired unit started its old scratchy sounds again after a few days. This time I dealt with a different sales person who was genuinely more understanding and his boss. They both agreed that the unit was faulty from factory and replaced it for a NEW STRAIGHT AWAY. I have since been using it on a weekly basis in place of the trusted Fender Rumble. There have been no trace of scratchy sounds or hums since. I have pushed it over 12o'clock over longer periods of play time and it has responded very well. I can get really nice sounds out of the shape potentiometer that suits all the styles that our band is playing

Now, I am impressed and very pleased!

Back at the shop, it took a different salesperson (Thanks Jerome) and his boss (Thanks John) to recognize and deal with the issue. This is great customer service, not because the unit was replaced by a new one but in the way the issue was attended To and resolved.

If you get it right the first time around, spend a lot of play time on this unit with different types of basses. You will find higher end passive basses will suit it very well. The yamaha bb615 suits it very well as well as a nice Fender Jazz Bass standard or a Squier std Jazz Bass. Effortlessly gets down low with a Fender or squier p-bass but get more bite out of active axes.

Good enough for a small gig or loud rehersals and could suit a larger gig with the DI plugged in straight to the main console.

2006 model
4 channel EQ
Contour
Gain
XLR DI out
Headphones socket
Speaker off switch (ideal for quiet practice)
CD in (RCA sockects)
Passive/Active Switch
and even a Tuner-out socket
The speaker can also be disconnected from the amp module and an external cabinet plugged in.
How good is that!
Castors should be standard on units of that size up though (thank you Fender) but for a few bucks you can add a set of lockable ones yourself.

Great tone for a relatively cheap unit. Keeps up with a loud snare and kick drum easily with the volume at 12 o'clock.
I have used an el'cheapo 4 string passive bass and a 5-string active Yamaha BB615 with it.
The combination of the onboard EQ as well as the 615 EQ, you can get a great variety of tones to please the most difficult of us.
With the EQ flat, the sound is very bright though.
Great compact unit, a jewel to own.............until the speaker gave up on me 3 weeks after buying it! Never even played past 1 o'clock on the volume dial

Physically, the unit is a solid block. The amplifier module is receeded from the box edges and protects all the controls and connectors should the unit fall over.
A nice solid mesh grill also protects the main 15in driver as well as the horn.
As mentioned above, the unit keeps up easy in a 3 piece band in a small gig. Don't even have to push the volume past 12o'clock.
However, the main driver started crackling at low volumes after 3 weeks only. I took the unit straight back to the shop and that's where my problem started.

Genz Benz is imported and sold by Billy Hyde in OZ. I was extremely disappointed by the level of service I received AFTER I purchased the unit!
It was all smiles, discounts, hints and tips before I spent my dollars. The smiles quickly disappeared when I brought the unit back and started chasing up for a warranty repair. To cut the story short, even though the wait to get the unit back was "only" 3 weeks, it was just the way the repair process was handled that got to me.
In desperation rather than spend more on rentals, I ended up back at my local shop, Rajen Music where the guys ALWAYS provide terrific service before AND after the sales and bought a Fender Rig, they even carried the unit to my car for me. I'll review that unit later, maybe in 3 weeks time :-)

To the guys who import this brand, learn from Genz Benz themselves, check the review of Genz Benz GBE100 210T 210 Combo! That's Service!

This unit is potentially a great amp and maybe I just happened to pick the unlucky one OR maybe this whole range of amps is poorly put together and quality controlled somewhere in Asia. The even poorer customer service and repair process here in OZ is what make it deserve a low rating, at least in this case.
I would be mindful buying Genz Benz products in OZ unless the importers find themselves a better repairer.