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Got 1k to spend on a combo. Your choice? (Updated)

#21
Couple of points. First, the Mesa M3 combo is definitely heavier than the Walkabout 12 combo, unless you lifted a unicorn (which is possible due to varying wood weights). Also, the Walkabout eq section is a unique thing of beauty and takes time to get to know. Having said that, the WA is more old school and the M3 more modern; maybe that's the rub. Lastly, I hear you regarding the bargain of buying a combo. However, the cost is flexibility down the road and IME that'll cost you more in the long run (ie-you want to change the cab, but have to dump the whole combo, or some similar situation).
With your budget, a used Markbass LM2 or Shuttle 6 head and a nice Epi or GB cab are within reach and IMHO will faaaaar exceed what you'll get in a new combo. Just my .02
 
#23
Strat-Mangler said:
The Walkabout Scout... ...was very loud and compact, but farty and I wasn't even pushing it. ...I also found it to be very aggressive-sounding. Dare I say trebly.
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I'm with you on the trebly part. It's very bright and scooped with the tone controls set flat. I think it's a Fender tone stack, though, so you might want to audition it again with the mid control dimed. Seems counter-intuitive, but that's the closest to flat with that tone control circuit...

But I'm surprised that the one you tried was breaking up. The 15 that I sampled was a monster, with a distinctive clarity and a beautiful, pillowy low end.. Unless there is a big difference between the 15 and the 12?

Another option in Canada is Markbass. If I can get them here in London, they can't be hard to find. They scare me, partly because I'm prejudiced against Italian electronics, but also because they are on an overseas exchange basis for some repairs.

Still, despite another quirky tone control setup (one filter has to be dimed, and the other all the way off, in order to get the flat setting), they give you the best of both worlds. They can sound very fast and modern, but with a twist of the high pass knob, they can give you some pretty nice old-school tones, as well.

I tried the Fender recently, and thought it sounded cool, but I couldn't live with that much weight. If you've got to use a cart to move the damn thing around, why not go for separates?
 
#24
Just tried it again in store #1 and even dimed (gain & volume), standing 4 feet away, it wasn't that loud. It would be easy for a guitar & drums to overpower it. That was very disappointing as these things are supposed to be 350 watts, but I'm guessing it's because they're not all tube that it's not the same as a 350 watts tube head.

If the TV 15 had been more powerful, I would have bought it right then and there. Had cash in hand and was ready to buy today. :(

After all this, I think I may have to bite the bullet and simply go head/cab instead. And that opens up a whole slew of other questions for me. Since I love vintage tone, I was told a Mesa 400+ would be perfect as it's loud and has a vintage vibe in spades (that's what I read, anyway). Wonder which YouTube videos I should watch that demonstrate a regular 400+ tone. All I can find is slapping which I'm not interested in.

JimmyM said:
i'd wait and see what those b-15 hybrids look like in january.
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What are you implying? Is Fender coming out with something in January or are you saying there could be a price drop after the Holidays? Don't be shy to explain. :)
 
#25
Strat-Mangler said:
"Just tried it again in store #1 and even dimed (gain & volume), standing 4 feet away, it wasn't that loud. It would be easy for a guitar & drums to overpower it. That was very disappointing as these things are supposed to be 350 watts, but I'm guessing it's because they're not all tube that it's not the same as a 350 watts tube head."

"If the TV 15 had been more powerful, I would have bought it right then and there. Had cash in hand and was ready to buy today. :("



You've got to remember that the output transformer is pushing only a portion of the 350 watts into one 15". Speakers are rated to only handle so much power each. To get the full 350 you'll need an extension cab. Not a bad idea: practice with just the cab, gig with cab and speaker.



"What are you implying? Is Fender coming out with something in January or are you saying there could be a price drop after the Holidays? Don't be shy to explain." :)
Click to expand...

Jimmy was mentioning the fact that Ampeg is releasing a new version of the B15 early next year. Might be too expensive from what has been ventured about here. He does bring up another idea - just get a used B15N. Your budget will handle it and that will give you the vintage sound.
Whatever you land up with - enjoy it!
 
#27
f64 said:
You've got to remember that the output transformer is pushing only a portion of the 350 watts into one 15". Speakers are rated to only handle so much power each. To get the full 350 you'll need an extension cab. Not a bad idea: practice with just the cab, gig with cab and speaker.
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From what I read, you cannot add an extension cab to the TV15.
I believe JimmyM mentioned that the TV series' lack of expandability is what made him avoid them... which brings up an interesting question.

I wonder if the 2x10 config would automatically move more air (and therefore be louder) than the 1x15 config.
 
#30
Where are you located? Markbass is sold at Long & McQuade and also Cosmo Music (in GTA), and also at club bass. In the GTA Genz-Benz is sold at The Arts Music Store in Newmarket.

So if you're in the GTA.. plenty of places to try out Markbass/Genz Benz. If not... then if there is a L&M nearby they should have Markbass.
 
#33
OP: you might want to take a look at the Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp. It has a Markbass LMII amp head (300 watts) into a B&C 15" 400 watt rated 8-ohm internal speaker. No tweeter. 46.5 pounds.

And down the road, you could add a perfectly matching Markbass NY151 8-ohm 15" extension cab to bring out the full 500 watts from the amp head. 37 pounds.
 
#35
Fello Canadaian here, MarkBass and Genz-Benz are infact available in Canada. I am not sure where you are located in this great country of ours, but I suggest going to a major city or if you have a Long & Mcquade where you are ask them to bring in what you are interested in playing and go from there. Another great option is to see what is on the TB classified, many people on here in the states are willing to pay half the shipping and it isn't as bad as you would think. Cheers.

P.S. I would try to get a MESA/Boogie Buster as my combo!

Strat-Mangler said:
Both stores were in open spaces and in store #2, their TV15 was about 1/3 of the volume. Definitely something wrong with it.

I'd be open to trying other brands like MarkBass & Genz Benz, but those are not carried in Canada.

Eden is, but I do wish to stay with the combo format since it's cheaper than a head/cab most of the time.

And considering we Canadians pay about 1/4 in taxes on top of the price of the item *&* the much more expensive shipping, you can guess that it's a costly and risky thing to order online a heavy/big & expensive item you've never played before. So that makes me want to stick to whatever is available up here, unless I have the chance to play/hear in person that particular gear. :(
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#36
If you go the head/cab route you are opening a whole new can of worms. I love my MESA/Boogie 400, and while you can get it for under a grand if you are lucky, you won't be able to afford a cab.

In regards to the is there anything coming out question ... I think JimmyM was referring to the Ampeg Heritage B-15 that is due out soon. But I also hear that they are going to cost $5000.00 so I don't think that is feasible. Cheers.
 

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