Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 300watt 1x12" Combo amp, tiny little thing and 300watts.
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Biggest bang from the smallest combo?
- Thread starter GBassNorth
- Start date
I have the TC 2 X 8 model. Please keep in mind that what I write is relative because 99% of the time, I am using a Tecamp Puma 900 connected to a Barefaced Cry Baby II. The 2 X 8 sounds good for the size but quite frankly after playing higher end amps I am not all that pleased. The EQ is very intelligent and I assume that when you turn one dial, the electronics compensate the input by bringing up/down the other dials automatically. I believe this happens because TC knows that some combinations of the EQ is just too horrible to be used. This is great but at the same time, this could be the reason why my monocoque carbon fiber bass just can't get a good tone out of the TC.
Tone Print is useful too. I have the pedal and supposedly it adds another Tone Print to it, but I never use the pedal so I can not confirm this.
All that said, about 6 months ago, my TC crapped out. I got a floor model in return and this is the main gripe about these combos. If your head craps out, you have to send the entire unit back. There is no way I can just separate the head from the cabinet and use the cabinet with another cheap head. The store ate the shipping cost but if I had to send the thing on my expense, those extra pounds would cost me an additional 20 buck or more.
Because of this, I can not honestly recommend any combos. More so because class D amps are getting lighter and lighter. A Tecamp Puma 500 is not much more weight than a 900 and it is stupidly light, weighing in at 2.6kg. Combine this with a C4 from Phil Jones, @ 11.9 kg, it becomes not much more difficult to justify the TC 208 which comes in at 11.9kg. So for an extra 2.6kg , you get a separate head that you can attach to anything you prefer. I am sure you get my point, a cheap head plus light cabinet would be my choice.
You could go with the Ibanez Promethean P3110, which is actually a pretty good amp, and you can detach the head. This is really a great feature and I don't know why more companies don't offer this. Promethean 10 inch won't move air like a 12 or 15 inch but the sound is clear. It won't make any distortion even with the gain up but that's just the nature of the head. I think this is a hidden gem. I would have gotten this if there were a voltage switch.
Anyway TC is great, but only realtively speaking. It has a built in tuner, ext out, etc etc and all of these are useful features. The size won't move a lot of air but you can always add an extension on this particular model. But for 500 bucks price limit, I would consider the Promethean too.
I have played one of those and it certainly is an over achiever for its size. Unfortunately it's priced even more insanely than the Markbass 121. She is a sweet one though with some really nice features.
I hear ya on the separates and in fact I went that way for my large gig rig (SVT-VR/Berg NV610) and my small to medium rig (Musicman HD-150/Berg HT322). I also have a couple of combos (Ampeg BA115 and GK MB212) for practice and jam sessions that work just fine and are dead reliable. I'm just lusting after something ultra compact that still sounds good. Right now I'm using the Markbass 121 combo as the benchmark sound and size wise with a goal of around $500 new or used. Someone pointed out that GC has run the Markbass on sub $600 super sales in the past, so I'll keep my eyes open for that special. In the meantime the Fender Rumble 100 is looking good but a bit bigger than I wanted. I'll have to look into the Ibanez combo, it sounds interesting.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I've been through countless amps and combos. I used to think the greatest bang for the buck came from Peavey (which is used to, for me), but since picking up some Carvin gear I've changed my mind. I've become a GK hater, and for the life of me can't understand all the love. I've owned 3 of their combos, 2 micro combos and a 2x12 with an rb700 that they no longer make. They all rattled, farted and put out little to no bottom. Anyhow... Carvin is a lot less expensive than other gear of equal wattage and size, and does the job wonderfully. My current setup is an BX700 with 2X15 mbe extensions. I also own a 1X10 combo. I'd check out all their stuff, read lots of reviews, and see what fits you best.
+1
The GK MB110 is a great amp. I use mine as a stage monitor, next to a heavy handed drummer. I prefer it to the shuttle 3.0 10T - to my ears, it has a warmer, more rounded tone. I also used it, stand alone, with a 4-piece band (drums, keys, guitar & me) in a small room that holds about 35 - 50 people & it worked well. It would do the trick for you. That being said, I do prefer something bigger for gigs or loud practices without PA support. I also play through a Bergantino AE112, Crazy 88 and Thunderchild 115.
In summary, try the 110 but also consider the GK MB112.
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I tried one... was great with a PA + professional sound guy... farted out quick with my 7 string (low B)...
I was hoping for better... and don't play loud (let the PA do it) or keep it quiet.
The line 6 110 was about an equivalent - and wouldn't suggest that one either.
I imagine a Markbass would do you well, they seem to pack a punch in a small footprint.
Side note if you ever wanna sell the GK, hit me up!
If you can find one of the Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T used, it would fit the bill perfectly. I kick myself for selling the one I had. 18 pounds and was perfect for rehearsal. Stack on top of another cab and really pushes some air.
The problem with the lead sled big power amp heads is that they struggle at lower volume levels. The problem is trying to dial them down low enough in a bedroom / front room context and that puts quite a strain on them. The problem with smaller powered practice combos is that in a larger room the amp can't dampen the cone enough and they sound indistinct and lost, they just can't project or push through. Some of the newer class D amps seem to be better at doing lower sound levels than the big rigs of old and they seem good at the high power stuff too. So my advice is to seek a decent class D combo. I would seriously look up the new Ashdown Evo Rootmaster range. The new 1x12 looks very capable. At 500w and 14kgs...it should be top of your list. I've been running a 420w head since Christmas and it's astonishing how well is caters for bedroom practice levels and "fill a 200 seater" situation with relative ease. Naturally, add a 2nd cab (again the new Ashdows 1x12 is looking good) to get the most spl / wattage out of this class D amp and you have a very capable rig / combo that can do most things before needing PA support in larger venues.
I've also been amazed at the MarkBass CMD 121P, it's a small and powerful package but running a class A/B power amp. It's smaller than the Ashdown and I don't know if it can handle the lower volume levels as well as the Ashdown...but it's reputation is mustard (as they say in London) and probably more available state side. My only criticism of the Markbass is that i don't like the tone of their speakers. The Ashdown sound is far more my thang. But your mileage might vary.
I've also been amazed at the MarkBass CMD 121P, it's a small and powerful package but running a class A/B power amp. It's smaller than the Ashdown and I don't know if it can handle the lower volume levels as well as the Ashdown...but it's reputation is mustard (as they say in London) and probably more available state side. My only criticism of the Markbass is that i don't like the tone of their speakers. The Ashdown sound is far more my thang. But your mileage might vary.
I used to own a Shuttle 3.0-10T...punchy...not as big sounding as my Rumble 100 though. The Shuttle can take an extension cab for a much bigger sound, but for an amp like this, I wanted complete portability/all-in-one.
I run mine with a Overton 110 and play a 5 string ( low B) without any issues.
I'm sorry it didn't work for you.
About a month ago I grabbed the EBS Session 60 for cheap, I'm impressed so far. DI works good too. Yes it's only 60w, but I use it as a wedge and send the signal to the PA. Great for recording too.
But the Rumble has to be the lightest of all, and it sounds good. I was going for a Rumble but the price I got on the EBS was better.
But the Rumble has to be the lightest of all, and it sounds good. I was going for a Rumble but the price I got on the EBS was better.
This is pretty much the case with any combo, one notable exception being TC's Bass 2.0 Concept combos, which really consist of a separate head and a cab with room for it inside. The TCBG250 2x8 LOOKS like it has a separate head but really doesn't, so it is in fact a true combo, with everything that entails.
+1 at 22 pounds and $300, the Rumble 100 is a killer choice. Handles a low B with ease, and has a tremendous amount of bottom end grunt. 100 honest; clean, continuous D-class watts into a custom designed ceramic-ferrite driven Eminence 12. You can spend $1,000 or more on other 1x12 combos and not get better. Different, yes, but better? Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. The choice is yours.
really digging my carvin mb 210 combo.
i play it with my BG and DB (with an fdeck) and really like it. loud. punch.
when we play small bar gigs, that's all i use - no PA support. still projects well.
i play it with my BG and DB (with an fdeck) and really like it. loud. punch.
when we play small bar gigs, that's all i use - no PA support. still projects well.
If you like your GK 2-12, then why not buy one of their smaller 1-12 units? They seem pretty capable. I'm intrigued by their modular approach - the 1-12 is 200 watts, the extension cabinet - if you want to go 2-12, includes a self-powered 200-watt slave. I've seriously contemplated selling my higher-end stuff (Audiokinesis/Thunderfunk), getting those two and calling it a day…
Also, note on the little 1-12 MarkBass combo….great concept, love that 500-watt head, but I find the cabinet boxy-sounding and unsatisfying.
Otherwise, your best bet may be copping a used Genz Benz 3.0-10T shuttle. Used, they hover around $500. 19-pounds, 175 watts into a minuscule 10" cabinet with a smart rear-port system, an integrated kick-back stand, and 300 watts if you use an extension. I've had mine for 5-6 years, mostly with 5-string use, and have been thrilled with how effective it can be. I wouldn't bring it to a rock setting with a slamming drummer, but have used it successfully for rehearsals with a 5-piece electro-acoustic lineup and a tasteful drummer. (But after we added a percussionist and the drummer kicked it up a notch, I started bringing a 1-12). I've had it side by side with the 2-6" mark bass product - no contest. It also won in a side-by-side with the venerable GK MB150 - those are amazing units, and were way ahead of their time, but for electric bass use I preferred the GB, largely based on how the porting helped couple with the room and make that little sucker sound bigger than it is, and for being so darned small, light, and just plain fun.
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