Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

If you are reading this and have been to the Genz website and looked over the PDF owners manual than you should be aware of all the features. I use this amp in my band and for studio recording with the 2x12 G-Flex cab.

I use this amp with a Strat w/Floyd Rose with Pearly Gates and an ESP Viper Baritone. I was recording with an amp modeler studio unit and almost bought a modeling amp for live use. I am so glad I did not. Tubes do sound better I'm a believer after being on both sides of the debate I???m sold. No going back now.

It took me a few days to get familiar with this amp. I can see how someone in a hurry who did not spend some time seeing how this thing handles in the curves might give it a bad review. (don???t let the kid who drives a Scion behind the wheel of your Ferrari) I want to point out some things on this beast and try to explain some of the controls and offer some insight to someone who may be tone questing to get the most of a demo session with this amp. If you demo this amp in the HOT channel start with all tone controls at 12:00 and get somewhere that you can get the Master at 3 or above then work form there. Change tone settings one or two clicks at a time they are VERY responsive and you can take a wrong tone turn easy if it is new to you. Reset to 12:00 if you get lost and start over. You cannot set the Master to 1 or 2 and dime the Pre Gain and expect to have great tone. This is not a practice amp for your bedroom. EL34 are meant to be opened up into their operating range to really deliver the best tone. Work your way up to full gain from the classic settings. Get a good cruch.

First IMO this is a Marshall amp that has been super hot-roded and has some of those "mods" that people pay big bucks for put right at your fingertips. Also being from the Marshall EL34 family this amp does not start to come into its own unit you hit about 3 or above on the master volume (If you cannot live with that get a Koch Load Box or a Hotplate). It says this more or less in the manual too that best tone is from 3-7.

The "Global Attack" IMO is like "how much Marshall-ness do you want?" Dial in a nice crunch tone you like and kick the global attack on and listen to how "Plexi" like this amp starts to get. I was floored, like getting free Plexi in the package. Nice job Genz!

The Tube Contour control is sort of a "brown sound" control. Dial it to the left for more brown and fuzzy less in your face-ness or to the right for tight low tuned tight mayhem. Having the Global attack on while low tuned chugging my not be a good idea try it both ways. You may be shocked at how brown this thing can sound too!! It's all over that! It sounds browner than a 6505 that???s for sure.

The Compression switch does just that. It' like having an onboard Tube Screamer! No external pedal needed for harmonically rich blooming lead tone. It compresses very well and with the right settings this amp reminded me of my old Boogie Mark 3 with the EQ "V" curve. Lows remain tight and snappy too. Notes linger on even with lower gain settings.

The tone controls are active and are very sensitive. When dialing in a recording tone for my Baritone one click could shift my mids significantly. BTW I love the click detents makes it easy to zero in on the correct setting, you can look away (dial tone in with your ears not your eyes) two clicks this way two clicks that way, it???s like an eye doctor appointment A or B LOL!!

It has that Fender clean sound and the reverb is lush and thick.

I have been playing over 20 years and recording. My first impression was maybe I made a mistake. This soon passed once I got familiar with the controls. The demo on Genz website shows how this amp can have it's own sound. However they did not really showcase how this amp could deliver a nice Marshall like tone or a tight focused Baritone sound. IMO the demos while nice do not do this amp full justice. It's a tone machine. It's like the moded Marshall from hell (El Diablo get it?) that can cover low tuned ground as well.

Recording low tuned layered guitars it???s not about gobs of gain anyway! If you need or want more gain well go get

The thing that really jumped out at me is the build quality. Even the knobs are front panel bolted! and machined aluminum. Chassis mounted tube sockets. This thing screams rugged quality. I for one really like the grab handles. I can carry the head with only one handle and a guitar in the other when I have to and the weight is better than trying to carry a tube head with a center handle and the transformers making it dump to one side.

I think their support and Jeff's feedback form customers speaks for it's self. This amp is not getting the props it deserves and it is one of the best American tube amps to come along in a while (ok parts are made in Korea) but I hear it still gets it's final at the Benz factory in AZ. Plus Jeff answered my email question in one day.

I've been playing 20 + years and owned a Mesa MK 3 and a Marshall. If it were lost or stolen I'd cry and then fork out the cash for a new one.

This amp has everything you need, and some you dont. The coolest featur is the Tube bias switch. you can switch between el34 and 6l6 by just flipping a switch! I run mine on 6l6's, makes the amp have more output and more clarity. also there is a bias pot and test point right on the back of the amp. havn't used the loop yet. the only thing i don't like is the footswitch been a 5 pin connector, because if you dont have the footswitch your out of luck, minor thing.

many different (and unique) sounds to be had on this amp. Active seperate EQ for each channel, so little tweaks make a difference for once. knobs are etched so you feel a click as you turn, helps keep knobs in place too.

Clean channel: an amp of its own. Every clean sound you could want is there, with TONS of headroom, it doesn't break up if you roll back the gain a bit, it barks (with the attack on). it jumps out of the speaker at you, very clean and punching. had that 69' twin clean shimmer to it if its turned up. Reverb compliments this channel well. (oh there is independent reverb control, as well as a master, this is a first for me!) there isn't much crunch to this when you turn up the gain, but just enough, because the lead channel picks up where the clean leaves off.

HOT channel: again, a separate amp from the first channel. many tones here, classic break up to certain metal. this amp does not do the heaviest stuff all that well, for one major reason, NOISE! this amp sends harmonics and feedback EVERYWHERE. i bought this amp to play metal and hardcore, on top of whatever im feeling like playing, so i bought it for its much talked about versatility. it is versitile. anyways, like i said, this am has a bit of noise to it. it has a very high pitched feedback "squeal" if the gain and attack are set to high. this can be toned down by backing off the gain and attack, unfortunetly, by backing off the attack it does take out some of the highs, which i want in my sound. i have played this out once so far, and i had it louder than at practice, which resulted in more noise and having to reset all my settings to fit the room, so some tweaking is neccesary for each new room. i will say i do like this amp, but it is not the ultimate amp for me, i feel like im still missing something with it, so im not done looking, but i will hold on to it, as it will cover many styles well and is a great amp to have in the arsenal!

had it three weeks, put probably 60 hours on it, nothing yet! BUILT SOLID!!!

i would play it before buying, its a different sound. if you cant find one to try, give it a shot! you will find something you like about it

The other kids have already taken the time to discuss the features of this amp, so I won't bother. I'd rather just discuss the one I like/dislike etc. Bought my amp in 2005. I'm so chuffed, got the head and G-Flex 4x12 for R12 000 ($2000), a rare feat since a bog standard JCM 900 head and cab costs you around R20000 here in South Africa. And we only really get Peavey, Fender and Marshall here (and some other ones, but no real selection).

Just like everyone else, I like the blue LED's, but the open design kinda worries me...What if some moron spills a beer on it? I like the footswitch, it looks pretty rugged, hope I never have to replace it. I only really use the channel switch button, I can't be arsed to mess with the other ones yet.I think the footswitch creates this impression that one has "a world of choice at your feet", but I think most people will find a sound they like on the amp itself and not rely too much on the footswitchable compresser and "attack" circuit. It's nice that they give you the option though.

I like the 50/100w switch at the back, although I can never figure out which setting is50 and which is 100. And the separate effects loops for each channel are pretty cool too.

In general I'd say this amp is pretty well stocked on features. Check out the website and these reviews, then decide for yourself if the features are what you need.

My musical style varies with every passing day, which SUCKS...I can't afford to get kitted out for every single style of music. I play some jazz, love Wes Montgomery-style jazz sound. I like metal along the lines of In Flames, Soilwork, The Haunted, Metallica. Y'know, ballsy, chuggy kind of stuff with cool solos. Between these extremes I usually end up playing hard rock along the lines of Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zep, Hendrix.

At the moment my setup is:
Ibanez RG 7-string (Seymour Duncan JB7 in bridge)--> Crybaby --> Digitech Whammy --> Ibanez TS-9 reissue
I've also got a GT-6, but I mainly use that with my Peavey Bandit.

I was amazed at what a change the knobs on this amp make. You DEFINITELY need to spend a little more time with this baby. The different tonal varieties offered by the two channels should ensure that everyone should be able to find at least ONE sound they like. I started out with a high-ish gain sound, with bass up full, mids low and treble around +1. Turned up the volume and nearly blew up my house.

I've since grown up a little.

This amp's clean sound is REAL nice, especially with some chorus, or a tube screamer for that SRV sound. But if you were really looking for a "clean" sound, you'd go check out a Fender Twin or something. The clean channel has two variants, the one is clean clean clean, while the other one breaks up a little bit when you turn up the gain. I really find that some light chorus, reverb and maybe some delay can really make your clean sound shine. But it all depends on what you play, doesn't it? I'm an ass.

Despite all the different settings in the manual, I suspect this amp (especially with the G-Flex cab) is voiced for a metal player of Scandinavian descent. It's got BALLS, especially for someone who plays a 7-string or uses dropped tuning. It's pretty damn brutal at its most extreme settings. It scares me sometimes...

I've seen a lot of metal bands live, though, and the "no-midrange" chuggy kind of amp settings usually sound great in the bedroom, but get TOTALLY lost in the mix live. That being said, I have used the amp live with a similar setting live and the band said my sound was real beefy! I think the Global Attack circuit really helps. I set it to about 4 o'clock and just leave it on. Whenever i turn it off it just feels and sounds *wrong*. I use a ts9 for boost, so i don't need to use the attack switch for that. Maybe someone else will.

I've recently been listening to a lot of QOTSA, so I'm currently using a LOT more midrange on my hot channel. It cuts through the mix a lot more, and it gets me ever closer to that holy-grail Josh Homme lead sound. Aural sex, I'm telling you. That thick buttery solo on "You can't quit me baby"!! OMG. Anyway, i digress...

Sound-wise, I would say this amp is capable of a great many different sounds, but it is probably more suited to a hard rock or metal player. I tried plugging my hollowbody jazz guitar into this beast, but feedback becomes a problem, and in this town you don't rock up at a jazz gig with a 4x12 stack :) I can recommend those little Roland acoustic amps for that kind of scene.

It's so nice to have a tube amp again, I really feel like my sound has character again. Those GT-6 distortions were really horrible...

I wouldn't say this amp was noisy at all, but if there were any noise I'm sure a NS-2 or something would sort it right out. The nice thing about this amp is that you DON'T have to turn all the knobs to 10 to get a good sound. You really need to sit down with this amp and check out the different combinations of settings.

A final note: the type of pickups you use and the tone control on the guitar make quite a difference to the sound (well, at least mine do), so play with them too. You might be surprised.

This thing is built like a tank. I'm kinda worried about the open design, but at least the amp comes with a nice cover. And those carrying handles make ALL the difference when you finally leave your bedroom.

No problems yet. I'd gig without a backup, simply because I can't afford another one. Are there really people who gig with a backup for every piece of gear? I don't play for Metallica yet, so one stack is fine :)

Jeff Genzler really does answer even the most mundane questions about this amp. For me living here in South Africa, it's real nice to know that far far away in the States, the head of the company actually gives a rats ass about my thoughts. Customer service like that is absolutely priceless these days. Much love.

I've been playing for about 9 years, getting my degree in jazz studies this year. I have to note that this is my first 4x12 stack. I have owned a Marshall JCM 800 50w combo so I'm not a complete dunce when it comes to tube amps. I just thought I'd mention it that it's my first stack, since some of these cats seem to buy a different Mesa or Bogner every week...

If someone stole my Diablo, I'd catch the bastard and forcibly remove his nuts with a blunt object.

I'd been playing with a Peavey Bandit and a GT-6 before i bought this amp, and I was really unhappy with my tone. Right now I'm so happy that I'm actually taking time out to tell other people about it. Once again, it's important to consider my perspective. You cats in the States can pick and choose between legions of amps, and since all that cool gear is made right there in the good ol' US of A, y'all can actually afford it. Down here, we have to pay massive import charges and crap so, without the discount, this genz would've cost me almost the same as my car (it's a Mazda, but that's not the point). I feel like I've got the coolest amp I'm likely to ever have, considering what's available, and what I paid. Maybe you've got the option of buying a Mesa or a Bogner or a whatever instead of this one. Maybe those amps are better. Maybe not. I wouldn't know. Use your ears, take your time and twiddle those knobs. Tone is a journey that takes many years, and in the end your guitar and pedals and amp are all just tools. I'm just real glad that I've got an El Diablo in my toolbox.

2005 El Diablo 60/30 ? Standard. Not the Tribal Series model which I am told is the same amp but with some cosmetic differences.

Serious Wow. This amp has a huge wow factor going. I special ordered it unheard based on reviews and the general vibe of the manufacturer?s product line. I liked the descriptions on how the amp was designed with a blend of modern and classic features including a simple to use Pentode / Triode switch and the other tonal features built in to the amp such as the footswitchable Global Attack, Classic/High Gain, and Compressed/Dynamic Texture.

Basically this is a two channel amp. For both channels there is a variable footswitchable ?Attack? control that introduces an upper mid range boost with emphasized harmonics. Very useful for lead breaks, melodic runs and emphasizing chords and notes.

Both channels have a channel master volume control with a master amp volume control. Nice. Makes switching from 60 Pentode to 30 Triode watts easy while maintaining overall amp volume levels with a turn of one knob. As well, there is similar volume configuration for reverb.

The hot channel has three extra tonal features going on. A tube contour knob accentuates the overall mids ? seems like it serves as a master variable mid cut/boost. Also on the hot channel are footswitchable Classic/High Gain, and a Dynamic/Compressed settings. The high gain setting gives a huge oomph and mid range bark to the tone, the compressed provides a scooped modern sound with increased bottom and highs. When both are engaged, it kicks into a searing lead zone with a lot of gain. Punch in the Attack and be careful ? tons of harmonics and feedback in easy reach.

The sound quality is interesting and somewhat unique. As noted in other reviews this amp has a different sound to it. I couldn?t quite place how or why it sounded different until I gigged out with it at a 4th of July Festival. Before the gig, had rehearsed and A/B/C/D?d this amp with three others I usually play out and record with ? Mesa DC5, Fender Pro Reverb, and a Music Man 150 through 4 and 2x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion GT75?s and Vintage 30?s. The El Diablo sounded brighter with an increased level of articulation and crunch. Not buzzy, squashed, fizzy, mushy or pushed ? but tight and controllable ? thanks to the high degree of shaping available with the tone controls.

On stage I A/B?d the El Diablo with the Mesa with my usual pedals each with hard-wired bypasses. I try to keep my sound pure with let the guitar and amp work their magic together as much as possible.

Once we got rolling, and loud, the El Diablo started to show what it was made of. The texture and quality of the tone in each of the settings allowed my guitar to leap and soar above the mix. This was not just a case of being louder or with over the top highs ? this was a different kind of sound. Best way I could describe it was that the voicing and harmonic content of the notes is more complete, expanded and fully defined than the other amps, which allowed me to step in and out of chordal changes, single note runs, triads, and leads with more control ? and more confidence in the sound. The configuration of footswitchable features allowed me to easily cycle through the various gain and tone stages on the fly, in the midst of the songs structure. This is was I was hoping and looking for in the amp and it did not disappoint.

My other guitarist, who is truly gifted and able to cop many styles and sounds, was beside himself. The audience sensed something special was going on as well. By the second set, I had the Mesa off stage and the El Diablo running the 2 4x12s. Needless to say, I was pleased to finally have these tones in easy reach.

This particular band is a classic cover project playing Led Zep, Allman Bros., Pink Floyd, Stones, Petty, Pretenders, Golden Earring, Deep Purple, Bad Co., Hendrix, and many more. Guitars are Strats, Les Pauls, and Tele?s. Usually bring 3-5 to each gig.

I?d say overall that this amp provides an element of modern high gain feel to classic amp tones so that they sound fresh and exciting. I?ll continue to gig out with this as my main amp, and based on the response from the band and others in the audience, I think this amp has a special quotient that will allow me to take my playing to higher levels.

I agree with the other reviews that the amp is picky about speaker cabs. It took a few hours to figure out that the tone controls really need to be exercised to find the sweet spot for each type of cab. Since I play through Fender Showman and Marshall 4 and 2x12?s it is now easy to dial in the right sound for each.

I had problems from day one with the amp that I first got. The sound was lifeless, and completely unsatisfying. On day three it started to squeal and hiss uncontrollably. I was able to trace it to a bad V1 socket that set off tube microphonics and weird preamp distortion. Just touching the amp chassis near the socket would set it off.

I contacted Crossroads Music who had ordered the amp for me and explained the situation. They made arrangements to have another amp shipped directly from the factory. I was able to swap out the first amp for the new one within the week. No problemo.

So far, the amp is running great.

I think that the other reviewers that were unsatisfied with the tone of their amp may have gotten ones from a similar production run as my first amp ? without the tube socket problem. I?m not sure ? but I do know that with the first amp, I was stricken with the sense that I got a dud, and was seriously upset that I may have bought a bad product. Not the case now.

Crossroads Music and Genz Benz were a delight to work with. Jeff Genz responded directly to my emails about availability and ordering. Warranty for three years is great, and based on the service and response I would have no hesitation in buying more products from Genz Benz.

I?ve been playing for about 30 years and have a medley of guitars and amps. One of my hobbies is rebuilding and modding tube guitar amps - so I have an appreciation and feel for amp design and circuitry.

I had hoped that this amp would deliver on the sales and marketing message about the caliber and uniqueness of the El Diablo 60/30 and it has. I wholeheartedly agree with the other satisfied reviewers - this amp is a winner and Jeff Genz hit a home run with this design and model. The configuration of 60 and 30 watts in Pentode and Triode mode is an idea that should have been available years ago to everyday guitarists, and now it is here in an affordable amp. Blues, classic rock, and modern music are all within reach with this amp. Well done!

2004 Tribal Series model.
Very versatile amp.
2-channels. Warm (clean) and Hot (distortion)with seperate EQ's. The hot channel features selectable Classic or High gain, and Dynamic or Compressed Tube Texture.
Master volume head.
Each channel has reverb, and there is a master reverb.
There is also an Attack switch with level control.
Effects loop, direct line out.
Selectable ohms- 4, 8, or 16.
Can use El34's (factory) or switchable to 6L6's.
Amp is 60 watts in Pentode mode or 30 watts in Triode mode (switchable on the back).
Includes a 4-button footswitch.
Short head, very light wieght.

I play everything but country and death metal. This amp produces some great tones, from classic blues/rock to modern nu-metal. I mostly play 2-humbucker guitars.

You basically have 3-distortions on the Hot channel. First you have Classic gain, then you can switch to Hot gain (more gain and bite), and then you can kick in the Compressed switch and add some instant low mid/more bass sound. Very cool. The Attack switch can be used as a lead boost which comes in very handy. It's also switchable between 60 watts and 30 watts. In 60 watt mode (pentode), you get an agressive sound with full cleans and high gain. In 30 watt mode (triode), you get a fuller, fatter, more vintage tone.

Now, let me say that I owned this head about 4 months and just traded it in. Why? For one thing, it seemd to be very picky on what cabs you play it through. I started with Marshall 2x12 cabs loaded with the G75's. It sounded pretty descent. I then played it (at the store where I bought it) through the matching Tribal Series cab. It sounded awesome through this cab. I ended up buying a Genz Benz G-Flex cab, and the head sounded horrible through this cab?!?!? Still don't understnd that one. My biggest complaint though, is that really I have been wanting a truly versatile 3-channel head. While this head is extremely versatile, I found myself constantly having to turn around and tweek it to get the sounds of the music I was playing. When I play, I like to tweak a channel once and be done.

Sadly to say, another reason I traded it in is because this amp is for those who want to sound different and completely original from anything or anybody else. I thought I was one of these people, but I guess I have become used to certain standard tones like several others. We all know how most amps are based off Boogie's and Marshall's!

I think it would be a very dependable amp. Great quality.
I would gig it without a backup.

Never dealt with Genz Benz.

I've been playing 16 years, and I traded this head for a Peavey JSX. The JSX is the first TRUE 3-channel amp I have found, and this is what I prefer. A great clean sound, a 2nd channel with tight medium gain, and a 3rd channel with all the gain I could ever want. The El-Diablo 60 can get these tones, but I had to dial them in seperately, couldn't just switch between them.

If a great 2-channel head is all you need, and you want something truly original, pick one of these up. I see this company reaching boutique status within a couple years. There are some really great tones in this head. Oh, forgot to mention, all the pots are "notched so they click as you adjust them, which means you don't lose you settings when you move the head around. Why can't everyone do this???

Oh my God this amp is a winner. Ships with Ruby Tubes EL34's. Bias port on back for biasing.Also, you can flip a switch on the back and run 6L6 tubes. This runs in triode and pentode modes which is like two amps in one. Wide open back for tube breathing and mounting a fan if need be to keep the tubes cool. global Effects loop(present in warm and hot channel) and line out. Also has global Boost for kicking it up and getting edgy. Also comes with a nice foot pedal. The clean channel is great and loves pedals. The hot channel is bad-ass. I'm not going into all the features because there are tons. Hot channel has Contour for cutting or adding mids, and ACTIVE 3 band EQ's! What I really love about these are the fact that you can set them in the middle at 0 so it's flat... then you can CUT or BOOST each EQ(treb/mid/bass)!!!! This is Fking great! I like the built in compressor because my comp pedal is too freaking noisey. Has master volumes on each channel and finally a MASTER MASTER VOLUME over the entire amp. Pre-amp distortion EASY created thanks to master volumes and a gain control. I have not tried out THD yellow jackets on this amp yet, but I did realize you *HAVE* to get the short version or it won't fit. THE LEDS ON THIS ARE BLINDING! I have this hooked up to a Gflex 212 and usually sit on the floor to play so the LED's are at eye level. You get used to it. Also, almost forgot that the controls on the amp are like notched or something... you can feel it as you turn them. You can estimate where you are at easier.. at least for me.

I'm using a crappy guitar I stripped and rebuilt and waiting for my Ernie Ball Steve Morse to get built. Anyhow, I put in all new pots and pickups. Had a dimebucker installed. The clarity is freaking great. It cleans up well when backing off. This amp is very dynamic! The distortion channel is a tone gold mine. I will follow up with this review later on after I have a full feel for it. You can easily get Metallica and such. Baritone guitars on this would kick ass. Anyhow, I don't have any issues with the sound of the amp. There is alot to be explored.

I've contacted customer service many times and they were always helpful and cared. Answered emails the same day or sometimes within hours.

Other tube amps I had in the past and no longer have unless noted: Peavey XXX, Fender Hotrod(for clean), crate V58(still own for backup), Gibson GA-15(expensive rip-off, Soldano Astroverb(fking great but only one channel an a ton less features than the diablo), THD univalve(honestly I did not like it -> the hotplate is VERY unnatural feeling and notes are delayed.. on top of that the thing is goddamn noisey...also has a buzzy sound... changing tubes helps, but overall I was totally depressed over it. The rock channel on it to mean could of been labeled "clean 2". I was like where the F is the distortion? Anyhow, for clean the THD is great.. no master vol or gain control makes for a disabled tube amp unless you like clean and vintage power tube dist sound. Out of all of these the setup and sound is great!