Genz Benz ML200-112T M-Line Bass Combo

I bought it brand new in 2002, so I'm sure it was made in 2002 or 2001.

It's a single (input) channel bass amp, with "dual output design" with 1 12 inch conical woofer, compression bullet tweeter, 200 watts in a rear ported, tilt-back style enclosure. Active/passive input switch, variable input gain control, 3-band eq with parametric mid range, low boost, mid scoop and signal attack, master volume and a tuner output. The rear panel has effects loop, direct out and 3 speaker/cabinet outputs: Amp A (4 ohm 100 watt), Amp B (4 ohm 100 watt) and the default, Mono-Bridged (8 ohm 200 watt).

It is definitely more than versatile enough for what I use a combo for... writing, recording and some jamming with a drummer or guitarists.

I did try the effects send as a possible headphones jack. Didn't work well. It was mono (left ear) and far to low in volume, plus the effects send is after the signal shape yet pre eq. This also cut way down on the volume sent to the speaker. I stuck the headphones into the tuner jack too (without expecting it to work), and of course, no sound. I was going to try the direct out with an appropriate adapter for a headphones jack, but the direct out is pre volume and pre eq. This is ok though, considering earphone amps are readily available.

This really is a bass combo that was not skimped on at all. It does have all the usual necessities that bass amps have, understanding that the mid and high powered heads/combos don't commonly have headphones jacks anyway. The ML-200 head is to be considered "fully loaded" and the enclosure/speaker is awesome too.

I'll talk about the great sound next, but this black cabinet with the speaker & tweeter mounted on a gray slab with the metal honeycomb grill looks tough as nails. I'm also psyched about their other front ported 2x12 XB2 cabinets built in a similar style. I've wanted some great all 12" bass cabinets for 13 years now.

I've read about other 100 to 200 watt combos overheating often. The documentation does not mention a fan, but there is one in there! I hear a fan and I feel the draft back around the speaker jacks. I haven't opened it up to see where it is, but I'm confident they put the fan in a critical and useful spot.

The main bass I play through this amp is a 5-string Dean with unknown stock pickups, 18v Aguilar onboard preamp, all new control pots and fully shielded with shielding paint even in the pickup cavities and inside the internal wiring holes. I kind of expected to get no noise whatsoever with this bass, and that is in fact true.

The one and only thing I was not looking forward to before I bought this amp was having to use an external compressor, but this does have some sort of subtle compression sound. It's the compression I wanted afterall. This also is not mentioned in the little 2-page documentation, so I don't know exactly what it is. Just take it that it sounds like very conservative compression that adds the perfect punch. If you want some massive squash though, you'll have to use an external compressor.

Don't worry about this 1x12 combo not handling a low B. It does. I get the same useable low end from this as I did from two of my old 1x18 and 2x10 stacks. I mean, this amp and the stack has more than enough clear, low end response. What's great about this is when this 12" is mic'd, everything is coming through that speaker. Stage hands and recording engineers often skipped micing my 1x18 cabinet when I used a hybrid cabinet stack setup, so mics were only picking up my crossed over 2x10 signal.

It's great all around for tonal versatility. From bright, tin sounds like Les Claypool to growling, snapping Steve Harris, to smooth, vintage and full John Paul Jones. It's everything I'd expect without effects.

I haven't had any distortion problems at high volume. I don't really ever dial it over 7 though. It's loud enough at 7 for the situations I use this amp... the situations is was designed and built for.

I've only had it for 2 months at the time of writing this review, but it has had no problems whatsoever, anyway. I know some amps are shot almost as soon as you get them. This one has been functioning perfectly. Some equipment I just have no faith in, but I just have that feeling I can count on this one.

I haven't needed customer support from Genz-Benz. I find out everything I want to know right on their web site.

I've been playing since age 12, which was in 1985. I've had Sonic cabinets, Carvin cabinets, a Peavey combo, Carvin power amp and pre amp, a Hartke head and a Crate combo. This amp is more "me" than any of those. This is definitely my #1 choice for a single speaker combo to haul around or jam on alone. I sure would buy it again if it was stolen.

12" bass combos aren't common to begin with, so being a 1x12 is a big reason I love it. It's also 40 watts more powerful than the Carvin PB200-15. The PB200-15 has a reputation for overheating problems since it has no fan. The PB200-15 also is not a tilt back enclosure. Hartke makes a similar combo, but it's overpriced and if the woofer dies, you're likely to have to use some non-Hartke speaker that does not match the cabinet design. And of course, Crate... the Crate 1x15 I used to play through was totally absent of any significant sound or feature whatsoever, and it's amp was capable of causing way too much distortion in the stock 15" that came in it.

I shopped around before buying a combo this time. This purchase was the SUCCESSFUL result of quite a bit of studying all the new bass combos.