Finally got a chance to 'open up' my amp and GFlex

[Shotgun]

Had the house to myself tonight, and finally got to open up my amp (XXX) with its new cab: a Genz Benz that arrived seven days ago from Tetsuo.

My hands were bothering me today (the weather? the two hours I spent this morning boxing up my 5150 for SeventhSon, when I would have sworn that I was nearly finished boxing it already?) so I knew it was going to be nothing but sloppy: so instead of finesse, I opted for the SG and its 'big' 10s.

After about a 1/2 hour of warming up, the sun finally went down and I started to feel like getting some real volume. So I started working the master up, playing another 15 minutes or so, then working it up some more.

Finally, I really felt like I had the top down: amp and cab were really breathing, window and door glass was rattling, and I was at the edge of my ears' unprotected comfort level. And bad hands be damned, the stuff was coming out of me, you know?

When I was done, I went through my normal shut down routine and went to get something to eat. Later, I thought, "hey, I never saw how high I turned up the amp" so I went to turn on the light and check.

What would I find? Five? Probably, I thought. Six? Maybe. Seven or Eight? I really didn't think so, but who knows?

The last time that I really let loose with it was in a much smaller room through the 5150 4X12, and by five (1/2 way) I a) needed hearing protection, and b) needed to pick my modest yet serviceable penis up off the floor and go to the ER to have it reattached.

So, what did I find tonight?

Three and 1/2. Four, maybe, depending on the angle you looked at the knob. But a solid 3 1/2.

[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and GFlex

I had my Marshall #2210 on 8 a few days ago through my 4 x 12 cabinet. It was pretty loud. Stuff was rattling off of the walls.

[sevser]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and GFlex

Axe; I have a xxx too and was wondering what was your channel volume on? I assume 3 1/2 was you master. I have been thinking of the G-Flex too.

[Shotgun]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Yes, I meant the master was 3 1/2... sorry about that. I have both the crunch and ultra volumes betweon 7 and 8.

I'm happy with the G-flex so far, but so far isn't much: this really was the first time that I could turn it up and hear it. At lower levels, with all other settings unchanged from the prior cab (a straight 5150), the Benz is muddier IMO - less presence, less definition. But obviously that is without tweaking the amp to the cab. And I know this combination isn't meant to be a bedroom level rig.

At tonights levels, I didn't notice the muddyness. the Gflex has as much or more punch as the 5150, which is great to me because I likes my chunka chunka.

And the clean (though who thinks clean when talking about the xxx, except maybe me?) is seriously better with the Flex. In fact, tonight I heard the clean tone I always wanted to hear, but never had. (Not on the SG, though, but on a strat copy's Quarter Pound in the neck position.)

[noodlesatf]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

I've got a XXX myself, and it generally stays with the channel volumes at 7 (clean), 9 (crunch, used for lead) and 7 (ultra, used for rhythm). We are a five-piece with a really heavy handed drummer, and I play through a Marshall 1960AV. I still don't see master volumes past five, because it is a loud amp. In comparison, our other guitarist was setting his B-52 tube series, through a 5150 straight 4x12, at 9!

You don't even know what it sounds like until the power tubes start kicking in around 4. I had it up to eight once, and my drummer just completely disappeared from the mix.

[sevser]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Thanx Axe! The 5150 and the G-Flex are two cabs (along with the xxx cab)I was looking into.

[Tetsuo]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Trust me the Genz likes a beating... I would agree Keith that at lower levels it can be Muddy... but bring it up a little and you get great bass push and good high end serperation... Loud cab for a 2-12 aye? And I have had 2-12 Mesa Vertical cabs which are loud [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Shotgun]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Yessir, it is a loud cab. And a damn fine sounding one, at that.

Dave, seems more than a few guys at the peavey forums like 5150 cabs with the xxx. Fewer seem to like the xxx cab. I always wanted to give the xxx cab a try, but haven't.

Noodles, I'll bet that Marshall cab kicks butt with it, too.

Brad has a xxx also, but (Brad, where are you?) I can't remember now what cab he uses. Oh, I bet I know where he is - he finally got his new recording gear up and running. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I really really wanted to try a Mesa vert 2x12, but like most (all?) things Mesa, there is a premium attached to the gear. Not saying it isn't worth it, don't really have an opinion either way, but Tetsuo was generous enough with the sale of his G Flex that I couldn't pass it up.

Besides, I always thought the G-Flex looks kick ass, and the way that I play, looks count - 'cause the talent sounds like ass. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Oh, and it's a Lynch sig, and I like George.

Dave, what cab are you using now? Keep us posted on what route you take...

[Tetsuo]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

I have had 3 2-12 Mesa cabs... The Vertical black shadow metal grill (best) the vertical recto (2nd) horizontal Recto. I think the Genz is better than any of them... IMVHO

[Shotgun]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

What heads, Tetsuo? Just curious. Glad to hear it!

[ElwoodBlues]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Brad is out of town at the moment. But, he has a XXX head and the XXX slanted cab.

I've heard it on 3 it was all I could stand in that room. It's not hurting for power nor sound.

[Shotgun]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Glad his proxy could show up! [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] One of these days I'm going to get over to his place and hear it myself... prolly in the summer though. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[ElwoodBlues]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

Yeah, he is a better one to describe it than me. He has quite an array of instruments that he can play thru it and gets a variety of sounds.

Just keep us in the loop on the visit.

[Wayniac]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

I had an old style Mesa 2x12 vertical with the metal grate, half back, open w/ a celestion and an EV... farted out with my 7 string, no matter how much I dropped the bass in the EQ (when I used a MK IV). Switched to the Benx G-Flex 2x12 with an ENGL Savage 120, and I cannot get it to fart out even if I try!! The only drawback to them (at volume) is that the voice coils in the 12" speakers seems a little ... I dunno, - "Brittle" ?? - to me - too tinny and high, without much "voice" to them... I have to EQ the amp differently than if I play through a 4X12 with Celestions - they are warmer, but do not have the "THUMP" that the Benz has when I go to muted chunky riffs on the low B at volume
I do notice a slight tone difference in the old (squared off) G-flex vs the new (angled handles) cab
Also curious if anyone here has tried the G-Flex 4x12? I heard them on the tour where Fates Warning played with Queensryche and Dream Theater, and i was pretty impressed with the tones...

[Tetsuo]

Re: Finally got a chance to \'open up\' my amp and G

[ QUOTE ]
What heads, Tetsuo? Just curious. Glad to hear it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Mesa Recto
Zinky Mofo
Marshall 6100LM
Marshall Jubilee
Flextone 2
Vetta
Bogner Triple giant with VHT 2150
etc....