Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

[DankStar]

I tried to like it, but unless something dramatically changes when you crank them up and really tweak the knobs, I didn't find the gain channel pleasant hardly at all. But, I was in a store and couldn't crank it up. The cleans sounded just fine, and even the low-overdrive stuff was OK. But max-ed out gain was just unpleasant. Not sure how to describe it...kind of muddy and not tight. Maybe buzzy would be the word? Just odd. In a band setting, the game changes, so who knows. It definitely seemed like it had lots of headroom to spare. At any rate, it's off my list of amps I wish I had.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Man, I love my Ed Diablo 60C (Combo). They have an active eq not poassive. You also need to know what tone you want and whether you are running it in pentode or triode mode. Did you try the example settings in the manual?

Dale

 

[DankStar]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Man, I love my Ed Diablo 60C (Combo). They have an active eq not poassive. You also need to know what tone you want and whether you are running it in pentode or triode mode. Did you try the example settings in the manual?

Dale

oh no, it was just one of those grab-an-Ibanez-and-plug-and-go type things. I pretty much tweaked every knob on the front of the unit. I'm sure I could make it work for my needs if I spent some time, but off the cuff it didn't call out to me. I thought I'd plug right in and it would make me want to start playing some metal, but I ended up playing blues riffs out of it.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

I read the write up on these in Guitar One about a year or so ago & wanted one....until I played the accompanying CD. The sound clips were

:barf: :earl:

I've never even seen one, but it isn't anything I've been seeking out.

Too bad...they look cool & seem cool on paper :dunno:

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

I would not think of it as a metal amp really. The name may suggest it, but is a clean to hard rock amp I would say. It will do some Santana type things but it is not a metal amp in my book.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Yeah, but the name & look of the El Diablo Tribal (?...is that right?), I was thinking blues-blues rock kinda thing.....didn't sound like it though.

Dr P, glad it works for you though....I'd try one if I saw it:bigthumb:

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Buzzy is the last general complaint people tend to have about that amp, but each of us has our own taste! If you twisted the knobs much at all it would really not sound decent, much more than a number or 2 from center and you are REALLY boosting or cutting the frequency. Also, there is a setting for tuning the head to the cab (or room) (Labled Tube) and if that is not set for the cab it will sound just as you descibe, either very dull or very harsh.

I would not say the El Diablo is any more metal than the Hellhound was metal.

But play what you like! I know I have one and love it. I have a number to choose from and it is one I go to when I am getting serious. My only complaints ... you have to tweak it (it is not plug & play) and I could use a 3rd channel.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

I reviewed this amp for Guitar Player a while back and i was really impressed, although it took just a little getting used to. Here's the link:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=6&storycode=4741

Here's the part of the review that seems to go to the question here:

"The footswitch buttons add different flavors of punch and grind. Switching from Classic to High Gain makes everything thicker, louder, and crunchier. Going back to Classic Gain and activating Compressed Texture provides an alternate form of distortion that, despite its name, is still very dynamic. Turning that switch off and launching a preemptive Global Attack makes the tone louder and punchier.
Combining these functions two at a time, and all three together, produces tons of gain and sustain, but with an articulate, clear voice that cleans up amazingly well when you roll off the guitar volume or ease up on your picking attack. Dense chords could still speak without the overtones clashing, and single notes sound big and full, with none of the thinning out that can accompany high-gain settings. And that was on the bridge pickup of a Strat!

Most of the tones described here were created with moderate gain and EQ settings. Turning the Gain all the way up on the Hot channel made every note sing with feedback (se habla Santana) while chords remained focused and defined. And if you need a slashing, jackhammering, scooped-mid metal tone, El Diablo’s EQ allows you to dial in the requisite insane lows and unreal highs. It’s worth noting that the fairly large, tall cabinet makes this amp sound bigger than a standard 1x12, and the 2" opening in the upper back of the closed cabinet acts as a port to keep the low end tight and full.

Hope that's illuminating!

 

[fuzz+strat]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

I've been chasing after the combo ever since I saw a review in both G1 and GP. There was a video review on the G1 disc and it sounded really warm and compressed. Which I like.

Hey Matt B., do you work at GP or are you a contributor? I'm writing a review of a local blues/rock band that I'll send in to GP sometime soon. I don't know how many times I read that review for the Diablo!

 

[DankStar]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Thanks for adding more positive input.

I'm sure I was just not using the right axe, or allowing the head to achieve its full potential turned down. It's not like the company makes a million different heads like some amp companies. They apparently rely on a few well-thought out designs. I hope no one uses my negative lil' reviews as a basis for their decisions on purchasing.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Everyone has to try an amp on for size. No amp is right for everyone.

Me? I have found it the most versitile 2 channel amp I have ever owned or tried. Again, my complaint is that it does not have 3 channels is all.

Something I just thought about as well. Another aspect of this amp that really can make or break it for folks is that is is articulate to an extreme. It took some adjustments to my technique to adjust to the articulation this amp had compared to my Fenders/Clones and Carvin.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Test Drove a Genz Benz El Diablo 60 Head

Hey Matt B., do you work at GP or are you a contributor? I'm writing a review of a local blues/rock band that I'll send in to GP sometime soon. I don't know how many times I read that review for the Diablo!

I'm no longer at GP or Frets after taking my Seymour Duncan gig, but I'm still friends with all those guys (and girls) and I still love the mags.
GP doesn't exactly do local band reviews but you can send them your write-up just the same. You never know--they're expanding web coverage all the time.

Glad you liked the review. I got some of my best jokes in there along with the facts. That was a fun one.