Mesa Scout 112....Genz 6.0-12....or Audiokinesis 112 cab - NEED HELP!!!!

g4string · #1 01-21-2011, 10:01 PM

Ok, so a rig shake up is in the works and I need your help to tell me what to get. Currently, I have a Puma 500 and a Tecamp S212. Let me start by saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this setup. Tone wise, it is as good of a setup as I have ever had. My only concern, and the reason for the shake up, is the cab is too big for my current needs. I need something more portable. I am striving for a true one-arm, one-trip load in. The S212 is a little on the bulky side....thus making a one-arm carry awkward and near impossible. You need a cart for this cab if you want to make it a true one-trip load in. I hate carts! I feel using a cart with this cab will eventually put some wear on the cabs delicate covering. It also feels awkward on the cart....like it wants to tip off. Additionally, the initial set-up onto the cart leaving the car is a PITA. Also, trying to maneuver in deep snow sucks with a cart.

Here is what I am looking at....

1) Mesa Boogie Scout 112
2) Genz Benz 6.0-12T
3) Audiokinesis 112 (using with Puma 500)

Basically, I feel I need a good solid 112 combo -or- keep my Puma and get a more portable cab. I am looking for the easiest load in possible.....like - plug in amp, unzip bass, plug in cord, tune, and play!! Getting a smaller cab will add more steps (and gear) to this process, but on the overall scale - its not that big of deal. I feel a good combo would be ideal....however, I dunno?? That's why I need your help.

FWIW, I need to sell some gear to make this happen. If I get either one of the combos, I will need to sell my entire Puma rig (to help fund the purchase). If I go the way of the Audiokinesis 112, I should be able to get by with only selling the Tecamp 212.

Also worth mentioning is the cost factor. FWIW, I can get a new GB 6.0-12T for about $1050 (local)......I would need to order the Audiokinesis or Mesa. The Boogie combo is selling for $1500 online. That puts the difference in price between the two combos at almost $500! Is the Boogie worth the $500??? Either combo will force a sale of the entire Tecamp rig (in order to fund the purchase of either combo). The AK 112 (from what I can recall) sells for about $700. I should be able to get $600 for my S212, leaving me a difference of $100 between the cabs.....no big deal. To be honest, I am real tempted by the Benz....I really like that little guy! However, I need your opinion..............................

kosmicwizard · #2 01-21-2011, 10:15 PM

I voted as I did because I feel that you may come across a venue in the future where the 112 won't be enough. I think it is better to be safe than sorry, keep the 212 and IF you ever need it you will be thanking me. Cheers.

jnewmark · #3 01-22-2011, 07:42 AM

The way KJung raves about the thunderchild, it seems a no brainer , to me. You want tone, power, and reasonably low in a one hand grab? Thunderchild.

g4string · #4 01-23-2011, 05:50 PM

bump.....

Joebone · #5 01-27-2011, 09:43 PM

The GB 6.0 12T will go loud, but I'm confident it will neither cover nor penetrate in the way the audiokinesis/puma combo will.

naturalkinds · #6 01-27-2011, 10:29 PM

Had the GB Shuttle 3. Had the Puma. Have the Scout.

I'd get Duke's box. If you don't like it, I'll trade you my Scout cabinet plus cash for the Thunderchild.

: )

Never thought much of the TecAmp cabinet I had with my Puma combo. Light? Sure. But ick.

4Mal · #7 01-27-2011, 11:55 PM

Thunderchild... Lee Barker brought his to our last GTG and I thought it was pretty darned impressive... There aren't many 'commercial' cab's that can keep up with the truly boutique...

**JxBass** · #8 01-28-2011, 04:28 AM

Having owned the Mesa Boogie Scout 112 and the AudioKinesis 112, I greatly prefer the AudioKinesis. I haven't tried the Genz Benz 6.0-12T but I'm a big fan of Genz Benz and I'm sure it would sound pretty sweet. The Thunderchild would beat the pants off it in volume though, IMO.

I thought Ken mentioned not liking the Puma/Thunderchild pairing that much. I could be wrong though.

KJung · #9 01-28-2011, 04:36 AM

Get a good small cart and be happy. I recommend the kart-a-bag Super 600 for that cab.... simple, folds up to nothing on the gig, and the super light weight and small size of that wonderful s212 makes it easy to even get up stairs with the kart-a-bag stair walkers.

The little Shuttle 112 won't even be in the same universe as the wonderful s212. The Audiokinesis is a great 112, but at 34 pounts and just a bit smaller than the s212, I still use a cart with it.

The Scout is a nice 112, but not even in the same universe as the Thunderchild regarding even tone, absolute volume and useable low end on the gig.

mrpackerguy · #10 01-28-2011, 06:34 AM

My $0.02. I recently started gigging again with my Walkabout Scout 12 combo. I have not had a combo, or even a cab/head combo that was a pretty easy loadin-load out, that sounded so darn good, was plenty loud, and could cover most even medium sized rooms on its own. I have been using PA support, but the combo just sounds so darn good. The Walkabout head is one of those good'ns, especially if your preference is a pure tube sound, as mine. Suprisingly, it is beating out lately a combination I had absolutely fallen in love with, my Schroeder 212BMF + Markbass F1 or EA Micro 550 or Mpulse600. And the latter, talk about your lightweight rig - 37# on the 212BMF, just more bulky than the Walkabout Scout. I wouldn't run the Walkabout combo if I was playing a 5'er all night though - it doesn't extend deep enough for me. But I'm not playing much country any longer and am back to 4 bangers exclusively.

I can't speak to the others you listed.

BBQV · #11 01-28-2011, 12:00 PM

I've had the Scout 112 for almost a year and I still don't know what it can't do! On the heavy side of portable, built like a tank, sounds fantastic, plenty loud and allt he controls you'll ever need. Well worth the extra $.

RickenBoogie · #12 01-28-2011, 06:09 PM

+1 to keeping what you have. It's a good solid rig, and cutting it in half by swapping it for a 1x12 will be a big disappointment, imo. You can turn a big rig down if it's too loud, but it doesn't work the other way 'round.

GRoberts · #13 01-28-2011, 06:19 PM

I have gigged with a Mesa Walkabout Scout 1x12 for several years. Truly a GREAT sounding Combo amp (IMO). It gets some vintage/classic tube tone that I don't often hear from the micro heads. (I have a Markbass LMII and I owned a Shuttle 6.0 for a while)

I agree the walkabout scout 1x12 is on the heavy side of 'portable.' In a venue where it has enough volume to cover the gig it is a great combo. But I did a gig on an outdoor patio last night with a drummer and two guitarists. IMO, the Scout lacked authority and punch at drum-volume. I asked some friends out in the crowd how it sounded and they said it was fine. But I walked around with my wireless and I thought it was a bit thin and lacking low end punch. (This is a large patio by the way.) The Walkabout Scout sounds great up to its useable volume threshold, but once you hit that threshold point, turning up the input gain and/or master volume only makes it creamier. I find the input gain at 11-12 o'clock is about right. Master Vol up to Noon. above those levels, it does not get louder or punchier. Just gets squishier. (not good when you need more) Here is my Walkabout scout. *(Vanilla bronco tolex)

SactoBass · #14 01-28-2011, 06:23 PM

Just to throw another idea out on the table for consideration:

I have a Markbass Jeff Berlin combo (300 watts into an 8-ohm B&C 15" speaker), plus the matching NY151 extension cab which brings the amp to 500 watts output. Very portable. The combo is 47 pounds and the ext cab is 37. Small gig? Use the combo only. Larger gig? Use both. This rig sounds great!! Here's a pic:

SactoBass · #15 01-28-2011, 06:26 PM

GRoberts: That's the nicest looking Walkabout combo I have ever seen!

GRoberts · #16 01-28-2011, 06:26 PM

Nice rig! Like your idea of portability and flexibility!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Just to throw another idea out on the table for consideration:

I have a Markbass Jeff Berlin combo (300 watts into an 8-ohm B&C 15" speaker), plus the matching NY151 extension cab which brings the amp to 500 watts output. Very portable. The combo is 47 pounds and the ext cab is 37. Small gig? Use the combo only. Larger gig? Use both. This rig sounds great!! Here's a pic:

GRoberts · #17 01-28-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

GRoberts: That's the nicest looking Walkabout combo I have ever seen!

:-) thanks SactoBass. Looks just right in that Tolex doesn't it? Way better than basic black. Harder to keep clean, but I love the vibe. I was thinking about getting a matching extension cab to make a stack out of it. But then it gets so big and heavy, I just use my Bergie AE410 and Markbass LMII head.

I should add this however. ....I used my Mesa Walkabout head with my 4 ohm Bergantino AE410 and that combination made some seriously glorious sounds! The Bergie is so efficient that I got very useable volume and punch. Only gigged that way once, but I am tempted to do it again. Sorry for the derail, but it was 'walkabout' related right?