Genz Benz El Diablo 60TS Head

The Genz Benz website will be better for checking out the features (I think you can download the manual), so I won't go into massive detail, just what I like and don't like.

Firstly, although it's a two channnel amp, the various options of gain/compression/mid boost make it just as versatile as some four channel amps I've played.

There are plenty of tonal options available. The eq knobs really do make a huge difference in terms of sound, especially compared to many Marshalls I've played where you can barely tell the difference between an eq knob being fully down or fully up. It's a really tweakable amp. The added tube contour knob and all the aforementioned switching options give you so much scope in terms of sculpting the sound you need.

One thing I don't like is that the reverb isn't footswitchable. I don't really use reverb much, but I probably would if I could switch it in and out when I wanted to. Other than that, I don't think I've ever wished it could do anything else.

I use it with three main guitars, each quite different from the others. A G&L SC-1 with large MFD single coil, Fender Aerodyne Tele w/DiMarzio Super Distortion T in the bridge, Squier Super-Sonic, wiith DiMarzio Air Zone in the bridge.

The amp sounds great with all of them. It also really lets the sound of each instrument come through.

I play loud noisy rock I suppose (www.myspace.com/voltageplayers). I like to be able to go from a very slightly dirty clean to a fat, dense, saturated dirt sound. The El Diablo does this. It is INSANELY loud too. I use it with the matching 2x12 and I've never been in a rehearsal or played a gig where I've come anywhere close to taking it as far as it can go. Our drummer hits very hard, using other amps I've really had to fight to cut through his cymbals, not any more though.

The drive channel can get pretty noisy if you push the preamp volume and gain too much, but find me an amp where this doesn't happen. I've used a noise gate for several years anyway so I'm used to dealing with it.

It takes pedals really well too, especially dirt. I use a Zvex Box Of Metal for a lot of dirt sounds, the combination is just...staggering. The sort of sound that just makes you laugh because it's so ridiculous. I use a bunch of pedals including an EHX POG, Poly Chorus, MXR Flanger etc etc.

The two modes, 60w/30w, are really quite different from each other which leads me to the most important thing I can say about this amp...

This amp needs to be played loud.

There.

This particular model and the 100w version have been panned over on the forums of this site. The El Diablo 60 really shines when you get the master volume above 2-3. If you try it out in a shop or just play it in your bedroom you really aren't seeing what it can do. In fact it can sound quite weird. I'm quite tired of seeing people slag this amp off. I've played dozens of different amps at a decent volume; Marshalls (loads), Fenders, Laneys, Line 6, Vox, the list goes on.

This is flat out the best amp I have played, as blasphemous as that may sound to many. The other guitarist in my band uses a custom made Matamp, I genuinely prefer my El Diablo.

I've used it with a number of different cabs too, it's always sounded great.

One of the tubes started making a funny noise after a couple of months, but after I removed it then put it back in, I had no further problems. This was a tube error rather than the amp itself.

I'm a little bit concerned that the knobs could be damaged by a flailing guitar or something due to the design of the enclosure, but until that actually happens I can't call it a real problem.

The stitching on the handle started to come unthreaded recently, which was annoying, it was more than made up for though by the customer service...

I have never had service like this from any company of any type.

I emailed Jeff Genzler at 11pm UK time on a bank holiday Monday to ask for some advice about getting the strap fixed. 36 hours later a replacemment arrived via UPS, totally free of charge. That's amazing.

When a switch stopped working on my old Marshall footswitch it took Marshall 3 weeks to send me an incorrect replacement footswitch, then a further 3 weeks to send the right one.

Compare those two experiences. Jeff responds quickly, he's really nice and he gets stuff done. Incredible.

I've been playing since I was 13 (now 31). I've owned this amp for nearly two years. If I can ever afford it, I plan to get a second El Diablo head and 2x12 to run a stereo set-up.

It's a great amp that deserves to be more widely known about.

Prepare for a long one:

On the front panel, it's already easy to see that it packs a bunch of features (cool ones marked with an asterisk.)

On the FRONT panel from left to right:
-One Input
-Clean Channel: Preamp Gain, Preamp Volume, Bass/Mid/Treble knobs, Reverb Level
-Channel Select Button: Clean/Dirty
*Gain Select button: High/Classic
*Texture Select button: Compressed/Dynamic
-Dirty Channel: Same as clean, has something special with it:
*Tube Contour knob
*Attack button: On/Off
*Attack Level knob
-Master Reverb control knob
-Master Volume
-Standby switch & Main Power switch

On the BACK, you have a couple more things than just the standard stuff:
-DIN Connect footswitch (not sure if it's aka MIDI)
-Serial FX loop In and Out
-Line Out (unbalanced)
-Two Speaker jacks
-Ohms switch (4/8/16)
*Power Mode: Pentode mode (60 watt) or Triode Mode (30 Watt)
*Tube Selector: EL34 or 6L6
*Bias Adjust
*Bias posts (pos & neg)

-Tubes: 3 preamp, 2 Power

What really makes this amp shine features-wise is that each channel has separate ACTIVE EQ controls, and there are a few buttons and knobs not found on the majority as you can see from the asterisked list. The Active EQ imo is awesome.

Aesthetically, while the amp is turned off it may not catch the eye that much. It's not as flashy as it's 100W counterpart...at least until you turn it on and activate every button! The brown pepper grille cloth gives it a vintage type look, but it definitely hides the beast that this amp can become. Btw, blue LED's are bright as hell!

What I find lacking of the manual but makes up once you figure it out is that the front panel is held on by what looks like thick plastic comb teeth. It's kinda hard to push to remove the panel if you don't know what they are, but I'm fine with it being very snug. It also doesn't mention that the preamp tubes are being held on by a "halo" type ring that's held by a philips screw. It's not that it's actually being held on like that, it's just you need to find a very short and thick philips screwdriver to fit in that space because the reverb tank is right "under" them (the tubes hang upside down)

I'm using a couple different guitars, but the one I like that sounds the best no matter what I plug it into is my Electra X260 Invicta. The body is made of Ash and it's neck-thru. It also has Seymour Duncan SH6 which sounds the best in Ash.

This amp is definitely very versatile.

I play high gain metal, but I don't like the scooped tone that some do. I love upper midrange but this amp can do both.

It only gets noisy if you dime the preamp on the dirty channel, which is expected on every high gain amp. But in order to achieve some cutting high gain, this amp can be quiet. I've owned a 5150 and 5150ii and those are seriously noisy monsters. In fact, I traded a 5150 for this. The previous owner said that this doesn't have enough gain (which I've seen in many places on the net while I was researching before I did the trade). I don't know what he was talking about. He brought it over to my practice space and I immediately dialed in a high gain tone within seconds. I had the preamp at 6. The guy looked like he had 2nd thoughts about the trade for a minute.

My high gain settings:
-Gain: 6 (1 O'Clock)
-Volume: 4
-Bass: -3, Mids: +6, Treble +9
-Gain button: High
-Texture button: Compressed
-Tube Contour knob: 6
-Attack button: on
-Attack Level: 7
-Master Volume: 5

I think I've talked enough about the dirty channel, so next is the clean. It can get very clean. Not Roland-Jazz-Chorus-clean, but it gets VERY close and glassy. At high volume, it gets jangly with some breakup, but doesn't distort. Only an original Fender Twin Reverb can get more jangly.

Clean settings:
Gain: 3
Volume: 5
Bass: -3
Mid: -6
Treble: +6

A previous review mentioned that this would be better if it had a Presence knob. It actually does... well sorta. The Attack Level acts very much like a Presence but has more of a parametric adjustment than just straight highs.

As for tubes, this came with a JJ in V1 and Ruby's in V2 and V3. The power tubes are Mesa EL34's which I will soon change to Svetlana's because I love MIDS.

I also haven't had a chance to try this with multiple modded Tubescreamers yet. I don't think I'll need one again unless I change amps.

I've only had this amps for a few weeks, but it seems to be built like a tank. I often check for loose screws and its overall reliability with my gear and everything seems snug.. Since it was a trade, I'm not sure how old it is.

I emailed Jeff Genzler and he replied personally within a day! The closest service dealer is a tad bit far away, but I think that if a company has great communication with their customers, it will help in taking care of things.

I give this amp 9's instead of 10's because there is no such thing as a perfect amp. When years go by, your tastes change. This amp has definitely satisfied my G.A.S. for now.

This thing may have too many features if that's possible. lacking only a presence control which is great for gigging. One feature highlight is the triode/pentode switch, this is a great option for a tube IMHO. Because of this complexity, it is not a plug and play type amp, as such I give it a 7.

Here's where things are really too subjective to opinionate. I've played for about 35 years now, in the past with some greats. I've been in and around the big time long enough to have a very valid opinion, but refuse to do so and will only state the facts. One other thing, not even a cranked '68 plexi deserves a 10 or even 9 until a pro studio gets ahold of it.
I was hoping for an all-in-one amp for sounds without modeling, this is not it. I have a Blackface Fender, a '81 JCM 800, a 90' JCM 900, an Orange Rockerverb, and had a old Vox and many other classic's including numerous Plexi's and Metalface's. In spending one night of tinkering, the closest I could get to any of these was a clean tone like an older Marshall can get and a great scouped-mid metal sound, otherwise I need much more time to play with it.

Here's where things shine better. This thing is built great, shy of hand wiring. A 3 year transferable warranty to boot.

This the best area. Jeff Genzler personally responds to questions and issues almost immediately. It's obvious this business owner is serious and takes pride in his product.

Summing up what I have so far, I need to give it some more time to give a rating here, as this I know this amp is capable of producing more than you can get in messing with it for one night, so "I'll be Back!"

2 actual channels but with the high gain switch along with the Dynamic attack and compression switch its almost (not quite because you don't have full control over the levels on the compression)like a 4 channel amp. It also has the 30 watt Triode and 60 watt Pentode so that almost adds another 4 channels. This amp is by far the most versitile amp in its catagory or any other for that matter. I wish it had a footswitchable effects loop but you can't have everything.

Would have got a 10 but the 60 watt side lacks a little bit in the tone department to my ears. The 30 watt side is unbelievable though (but is a little lacking in clean headroom).

No problem's yet. Would and have gigged many time without a back up.

This is where this company shines. There can be no better in the world no matter what the product is. Jeff Genzler replies to all e-mails personally (how much better can it get when the owner of the company takes care of the small things like e-mails).

Again it would have been a better score but the 60 watt sides lacks a little in the tone area and the 30 watt side doesn't have enough clean headroom.