Walkabout Scout vs. Gwnz Benz Shuttle 6.0-12T vs. ?????

[Ron Plichta]

I'm going to be in the market for a small combo amp soon and wanted some input. I played a Walkabout Scout was very impressed by its tone. I'm a little put off by the price and want to explore some alternatives. The Shuttle 6.0-12T or the 210 dseem to be worthwhile alternatives, especially since both are lower-priced and the reviews I read are are good. So I'm looking for other user experience here.

As the question marks imply, I'm open to other suggestions except Markbass. I've already owned a CMD-102P and wasn't pleased with it.

[KJung]

There is nothing else on the market right now that does the fat, tubey, deep tone of the Walkabout Scout. The small Genz combo's are nice, but they are tight and bright, and not particularly tubey IMO.

[Johnius]

I own a Walkabout Scout 12 and I think that combo is a minor miracle - hybrid tone done right and a great cab with options. I know the price is high, bought mine last August, and Mesa never goes on sale. Maybe look for used one in the classifieds here. They go quickly because you simply can't lose with them.

[Kael]

I've gigged the walkabout scout and used a shuttle 12" combo but never on a gig, so take that into account when reading my comments.

The walkabout is louder. Markedly louder. The walkabout, for me, is about as small a combo as I can get away with gigging. I'd go straight for a 210 if I was using a shuttle. The mesa also has a much warmer tone, thicker tone. The shuttle can be warmed up with the EQ section, but it not to the degree the walkabout can. The shuttle was more "hi-fi" (ie: had more treble/top end response) while the walkabout was more about the mids. The walkabout doesn't really have a lot of true low end, but the low mids do a good job of fooling you into thinking it has more than it does. The shuttle has a tone that sounds like it could get lost in a denser mix but the Shuttle sounds more articulate. If you are after overdriven or tubey tones, the mesa is hands down the winner.

[lomo]

And if you pop your Walkabout out and sit it on a big cab (410, 212, etc)........wow.

[CElton]

Originally Posted by Kael

I've gigged the walkabout scout and used a shuttle 12" combo but never on a gig, so take that into account when reading my comments.

The walkabout is louder. Markedly louder. The walkabout, for me, is about as small a combo as I can get away with gigging. I'd go straight for a 210 if I was using a shuttle. The mesa also has a much warmer tone, thicker tone. The shuttle can be warmed up with the EQ section, but it not to the degree the walkabout can. The shuttle was more "hi-fi" (ie: had more treble/top end response) while the walkabout was more about the mids. The walkabout doesn't really have a lot of true low end, but the low mids do a good job of fooling you into thinking it has more than it does. The shuttle has a tone that sounds like it could get lost in a denser mix but the Shuttle sounds more articulate. If you are after overdriven or tubey tones, the mesa is hands down the winner.

+1...but I take a little exception on the low end comment. It's subjective, but I find there is more than enough. So much so, that I usually use the para eq to cut some at 50Hz. Again, IMO.

[57pbass]

Originally Posted by Johnius

I own a Walkabout Scout 12 and I think that combo is a minor miracle - hybrid tone done right and a great cab with options. I know the price is high, bought mine last August, and Mesa never goes on sale. Maybe look for used one in the classifieds here. They go quickly because you simply can't lose with them.

+ 1 to the above.

I have no expereince with Genz Benz gear so I cannot compare but I have owned a Scout combo for years and it never fails...really an amazing product.

[Kael]

Originally Posted by CElton

+1...but I take a little exception on the low end comment. It's subjective, but I find there is more than enough. So much so, that I usually use the para eq to cut some at 50Hz. Again, IMO.

Fair enough. I guess it depends on your definition of a lot of true low end. My benchmark is my thunderfunk/Epiul410. Compared to that freq's under around 60hz or so (totally earballing that figure) seem a little less present. Probably not fair to compare a 112 to a 410.

I rarely miss subterranean lows when playing an amp without them. I find the lows that are present on the Walkabout scout to be more than adequate also.

[Hnz]

I own a Walkabout Scout 15 but I am very impressed by the sound of the Fender Bassman TV 15 in this video by Ed Friedlander: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A93b2V7ymf8
There is also a 210 model. Over here in Europe the Fender combo's cost about half the price of a Walkabout Scout combo.
Check it out.