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Can anyone compare the Ampeg B100/200r and Walkabout Scout?

anyonefortennis

anyonefortennis

Supporting Member
Jun 28, 2005
2,422
376
Lincoln, NE
#1
Looking for a good rock/jazz combo and these 15'' combos seem to be what I'm after.

Anyone had a chance to play both? How similar are they?

Obviously the mesa is built better but the price tag is quite a bit larger than the ampegs.

Your imput is always apreciated as usual.
 
#2
I've played both and bought the Walkabout Scout 12" model.

The Ampeg B100 had a nice fat sound, well suited for old school bass parts. In a very small room with a not very loud band it would probably do allright.

The Scout blows the Ampeg away in volume, ability to project into a room and flexibility of sound. Lots of good features too. It has the ability to get a fat, tubelike slightly compressed sound that makes it sound much like the B100. You have to mess with the controls and the adjustable horn, but it's not all that hard. It also can get a very clean but full sound, in my opinion, better than a GK can. The Ampeg can't do that nearly as well, even at low volumes.

In my opinion, it's impossible and unfair to compare the Ampeg and Scout. Just look at the difference in price, quality of components and intended use.

I've used the Scout for over 2 years now and had no problems.

I like the sound of the Ampeg, but it is basically just one sound and has a very limited volume and application. The Walkabout Scout is in a different class. It's also smaller and lighter than the Ampeg at 50 lbs for the 12. I'm not sure what the 15 weighs but you can check the Mesa website.
 
#3
I used an Ampeg B100 last night. I don't own one, but I had two gigs yesterday with only 45 minutes to get from first one to second/set up/sound check/etc. A fellow I know was kind enough to lend me his amp (an Ampeg B100) for the second gig. While I normally don't care for most Ampeg productsthe tone was surprisingly good. Not my normal sound by a long shot but I can't say that I was displeased with my sound at all.

Volume was an issue though. Luckily this show had good FOH and monitors. I probably had as much volume from the monitors as I did from the amp itself. I would want to rely upon this amp for gigging unless you have a regular monitor tech.

Never gigged a scout, so I won't chime in there.

PS: The amp was mic'd (AKG D112), so the sound coming from the monitors was the B100 and not a blend from a DI box.
 

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