Compare? - GK MB Fusion 550 to Mesa Walkabout

pfschim · #1 10-27-2010, 02:15 PM

I am seriously looking for a very portable, tube pre equipped amp to take overseas for a few years.

I have a plan to get a used Walkabout rewired for euro-voltage, but I have noticed some of the newer micro amps with serious 12AX7 equipped pre's, like the GK Fusion 550.

Has anyone here A/B'd a Walkabout with a GK MB Fusion 550 ?

I am totally in love with the Walkabout tone, and I'm looking the clean side of tube tone warmth, but if I could find an amp that weighed 4lbs instead of the Walkabouts 18lbs, I would seriously consider it.

vin*tone · #2 10-27-2010, 04:28 PM

Getting a W.A on 240V is not easy. You actually need to replace the transformer to Mesa spec.

Took me about a year to stumble across this hand-wound beastie...

A few people have said they can get w.a. tone from an RH450.... and is voltage friendly.

pfschim · #3 10-27-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Getting a W.A on 240V is not easy. You actually need to replace the transformer to Mesa spec.

Took me about a year to stumble across this hand-wound beastie...

A few people have said they can get w.a. tone from an RH450.... and is voltage friendly.

well, I have a petty nice way already worked out to get the WA re-wired if I want to go that route.

I have also been looking at the RH450 as a lightweight alternative to the WA.

I don't think of the traditional GK sound as being even close to the Walkabout, but perhaps this one, with its 3 12AX7 equipped pre (I know that the number of tubes don't mean anything by itself) can deliver the tube tone goods in that small package.

Like a lot of manufacturers, GK may be getting that there is a sizable group of bass players who want the choice of real tube flavor in their tone. And with the advent of well designed class D power amps, a 4lb hybrid is totally possible.

it's a very cool development in my book.

ishouldbeking · #4 10-27-2010, 05:49 PM

can't comment on the tone or anything, but you might look at the SWR amplite as well. got a tube in the pre and haven't read anything bad about them (so far?). EDIT: I mean the SWR headlite. the amplite is an add on power amp if you need more juice, my bad.

pfschim · #5 10-27-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishouldbeking

can't comment on the tone or anything, but you might look at the SWR amplite as well. got a tube in the pre and haven't read anything bad about them (so far?). EDIT: I mean the SWR headlite. the amplite is an add on power amp if you need more juice, my bad.

thanks, I'll look at that as well. The real question is not just, does it have a tube in the pre, it's how close to the Walkabout tone will it get. This may be an impossible question, but I have seen many good comparative reviews here on TB, and I'm hoping one of our bass playing brothers has had the opportunity to compare some of these lightweight, tube pre hybrid amps to the Walkabout.

MIJ-VI · #6 10-27-2010, 08:09 PM

MB Fusion

--------

Fusion 550

vin*tone · #7 10-27-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfschim

well, I have a petty nice way already worked out to get the WA re-wired if I want to go that route. ...

Really? How?

I busted my chops trying to find a way round that one!

felixxx · #8 10-27-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Really? How?

I busted my chops trying to find a way round that one!

No need to rewire.

You need something like this:

http://www.tortech.com.au/stepdown.html

pfschim · #9 10-27-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by felixxx

No need to rewire.

You need something like this:

http://www.tortech.com.au/stepdown.html

thanks, but I am trying to stay away from step transformers.

The GK is a switching amp, so I think all it needs is a jumper reset for 220/240.

pfschim · #10 10-27-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

MB Fusion

--------

Fusion 550

cool, thanks for the clarification. So, I want to look at the Fusion, not the Fusion 550.

GregC · #11 10-28-2010, 01:12 AM

Hey pf,

Hope all's well with you, man. The Walkabout is only 14 lbs., IIRC. Are you sure it's worth the hassle of trading amps (and probably trading down from your preferred tone) to save 7-10 lbs?

pfschim · #12 10-28-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

Hey pf,

Hope all's well with you, man. The Walkabout is only 14 lbs., IIRC. Are you sure it's worth the hassle of trading amps (and probably trading down from your preferred tone) to save 7-10 lbs?

Hey GregC, thanks for the reply, all is well on my end. Too much to get done, and limited amounts of brainpower and time with which to get them done with are my main challenges at the moment.

as for the tone vs weight question - perhaps I am over working the issue. I certainly love the WA, but I am working on making all aspects of my impending move as easy (and lightweight) as possible. Buying a new (or even better, used) micro amp that was even 10lbs lighter, physically much smaller, and tonewise, similar enough to the WA, fits into that objective.

I am keeping my options open, but my dates are coming up pretty quick and i need to pick a solution and go with it soon.

I still have not heard from anyone who may have been able to compare these amps ? anyone ?

RickenBoogie · #13 10-28-2010, 05:27 PM

I have not played (or even seen) the little MB Fusion, but I did test drive the Fusion 550 when it first came out, and I don't think that one comes anywhere near the sweet tone of the Walkabout. So, if the little GK sounds anything like the bigger one, it's not gonna do.

pfschim · #14 10-29-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I have not played (or even seen) the little MB Fusion, but I did test drive the Fusion 550 when it first came out, and I don't think that one comes anywhere near the sweet tone of the Walkabout. So, if the little GK sounds anything like the bigger one, it's not gonna do.

RB - thanks. I know you are a fellow WA lover, so I appreciate your perspective here. I am going to go and try out a Fusion (not the 550), as well as a TC Electronic RH450 this weekend and see if either one will work for me.

newbold · #15 10-29-2010, 03:40 PM

You're not going to get the WA tone anywhere but in a WA.

You 'could' get close enough with a VT Bass and a good clean micro head but even then it's a different beast.

The only combination that's had me town is a RC Staccato (tube tone rolled off) with a VT bass on big fat SVT tone.

The compressor in the TC made all the difference to me.