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Mesa Walkabout vs. M6 Carbine 2x12" combo

#21
:bassist:

Now, that's what I'm talking about...sample from ALL the good stuff!

I'm going to start with the Carbine M6, and if I ever have the need for a micro-rig, I may add a Walkabout Scout with the extension 1 x 12" cab to my collection.

There's just NOTHING bad about this kind of planning!
 
#23
someone pm'd me about my M6 combo recently and this was my response if it helps... and to add, i have only spent about 5 minutes playing thru a WA combo and reallycan't make a fair comparison. as mentioned above the M6 stays clean no matter what it seems so an OD pedal has become necessary when i'm looking for a little dirt...

previos PM response:

"the tone is awesome, imo, clean, clear, and precise. i can hear every note i play in the mix, regardless of what bass i am using. i use an OD pedal with it on occasion and it sounds great again. there is no shortage of volume. in fact, that's one curious thing about the volume curve.. it goes form nothing to stupid loud almost instantly. i usually run the gain at about noon or 1 o'clock and i've never had to turn the master beyond 9 o'clock. there's plenty of headroom. i run the eq flat most of the time with the bass knob pulled out occasionally for a boost. i like a lot of low end and it gives me what i need. i haven't found a venue yet it couldn't handle but i play mostly small bars to mid size clubs."

i'll add for this post that i really don't find it uncomfortable to handle/move on my own. the casters make it a breeze and placing it in the back of my SUV without assistance is pretty easy. feel free to PM me if you have anymore direct questions.
 
#25
I purchased the Carbine M6 2x12" combo today - that amp is MASSIVE. Not just in sound, either. It's almost as deep as it is wide - like a 3-foot cube.
The weight doesn't bother me; I almost couldn't fit it in my car! No big deal there, though. The sound of this amp is absolutely amazing!
I'm glad I finally made a decision and stuck with it - I will love this amp for a long time to come.
 
#27
owned a walkabout head, then went to an m6...
now i'm back with the walkabout head. (not combos)
i'm not a fan of the scout cabs at all...
both spent a lot of time with a bergantino nv 215, among others.
both amps run 2 ohms all day long.
never wanted for more volume with either one.
the m6 was much more powerful of course, lots of eq options... but i had a hard time trying to get the variation in the sound of the initial gain stage that i was looking for... changing the tube or driving the input did nothing to very little.
imho, it's voiced very rock(not a bad thing) and has eq options which are in line with that, with the 5 band mid voicing filter and fixed eq points. much more power than the walkabout, but once again, i don't come near to needing more than either can provide...
the walkabout is the exact opposite with the front end, you can really dial in some extremely musical variations in tone with gain, as well as roll through different tubes.... the tone in this amp depends directly upon the tubes in the front end. initially wide and pillowy as it is known for, changing to the right tubes tightens things up considerably and steps away from the inherent rock voicing (imho again) it also initially has. a much more versatile eq than the carbine, 3 bands of semi parametric (you gotta love being able to select all the way down to 30 hz specifically) as well as the hi/low/ mid fixed points.
add in the tube drive stage, and you've got a really true hybrid...
i always wanted my tube pre/ ssl power amp rigs to react the way
this amp does.
so, i suppose i'm more into "the unique tweak" than "turn on and decapitate".
wow, that was long winded....
 
#28
I own both. They are totally and tonally different animals as has been noted here.

The M6 Combo slightly pushes the limit on "combo" criteria. It's rather easy to move around...until you need to negotiate stairs or tight spaces. It's very bright, clean, punchy, and deep.

The WA 12 Combo alone is a freak of nature. Something that little should not sound so big, but it does. However, it is only a single 12 and has it's limits. I've pushed it to it's limits and it hasn't let me down yet. I prefer the tone of the WA so I added a 12" extension cab. I run it at 2 ohms with no problems. In this configuration, it can get very loud, deep and punchy and is somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 watts.

The M6 is just a beast, and to me, it feels like it could make the 212 cab cry for mercy before it even got close to running out of steam. I've used the head with other cabinets and it has always sounded great. I use the combo when I need more horsepower.

My first grab is usually the WA plus extension cab. Very modular, plenty of volume for most gigs, and I absolutely love the EQ. I've tried the WA head with the 212 combo cab and it sounded wonderful. Plenty of usuable volume, but not really close to the headroom.

Sorry for the long post, but the I think the OP made the right decision for his gig situation.

The M6 really won't do the darker, tubier give thing that the WA can do. The WA can get closer to the M6 tone than the M6 can get to the WA if that makes any sense. Of course, the M6 will spank it in volume and headroom.

All in IMO...:smug:
 
#29
Am thinking of grabbing a WA. Here in Aus they'refew & far between & DAMN pricey!! There are a few options tho.
A cuppla questions- IF a choice- is it 'better' to grab just a head & use my Berg AE112?? Or is a lotta the 'magic' in the WA cabs??? Do ppl prefer the 12" or the 15"?? i LIKE BOTH - woops...caps...
So I'm thinking the WA combo & there's one near me available- it's a 4 ohm 12'' But also there's a WA head by itself- a fair bit cheaper & I DO have a good 12" cab & a good 15" cab.........
Any opinions????? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#30
rodl2005 said:
Am thinking of grabbing a WA. Here in Aus they'refew & far between & DAMN pricey!! There are a few options tho.
A cuppla questions- IF a choice- is it 'better' to grab just a head & use my Berg AE112?? Or is a lotta the 'magic' in the WA cabs??? Do ppl prefer the 12" or the 15"?? i LIKE BOTH - woops...caps...
So I'm thinking the WA combo & there's one near me available- it's a 4 ohm 12'' But also there's a WA head by itself- a fair bit cheaper & I DO have a good 12" cab & a good 15" cab.........
Any opinions????? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I personally love the WA cabs (both 12 and 15) but even among the Walkabout devotees there is variablity as far as love for the cabs goes. Many use the head alone with other cabs. Because of the passive radiator the WA 12 cab is tuned lower than most 12s-not better but likely different from your Berg. I'd get the combo but use your ears and check it out. The magic is truly in the head, rather than the cab IMHO, and it will sound great through your Berg 12, but I suspect not quite as deep-maybe another who has also used that Berg cab can chime in.
 
#31
Thanx for the reply. Hope a few more ppl reply also.
I see re the cab's tuning etc... I HAVE a Good Mark bass HR151 (1x15") cab & an old EV TL606 1x15"(w/ no tweeter) so.... tempted to grab the head alone. BOTH these items are out of my state-which is an ISLAND state- so I cannot try them B4 buying :-/ Based on YOUR comments, I'm surely tempted to go for just the head.
Do YOU know of any comparisons between the WA head & a Mark Bass LMII- which I own at present. So I DON'T NEED a WA amp, just LIKE the idea of the WA- based on the reports of it's lovely tone. WAS initially interested mainly in a combo- for the "magic' of the cab-with it's passive radiator etc... & the fact it'd be an nice easy option for our jass/blues/soul gigs( piano, bass & drums & vox)
Do you think the WA head- with say a dececnt 12" & a 15" cab would get me good amount of headroom??
I don't think I'd let go of the MB LMII, but MAY....MAY.....-reluctantly- sell my Ampeg V4BH- as this'd PAY for the WA & I'm not using it much now I have a Traynor YBA200- which sounds VERY similar to the V4BH & has a fair bit more headroom, while not weighing any more!!!! Dilemma/decisions!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!
 
#32
rodl2005 said:
.
Do YOU know of any comparisons between the WA head & a Mark Bass LMII-
Do you think the WA head- with say a dececnt 12" & a 15" cab would get me good amount of headroom??
I don't think I'd let go of the MB LMII, but MAY....MAY.....-reluctantly- sell my Ampeg V4BH- as this'd PAY for the WA & I'm not using it much now I have a Traynor YBA200- which sounds VERY similar to the V4BH & has a fair bit more headroom, while not weighing any more!!!! Dilemma/decisions!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I owned an LM2. Good head, but not as sweet or tubey as the WA, not by a long shot. Sold my LM2. The WA head is not as powerful as the LM2 at 8 or 4 Ohms but is plenty loud for most applications. Headroom depends on your unique situation. IME in a loud rock setting (2 loud guitars and heavy-handed drummer) the WA blooms with 2x12 or larger cabs. The combo on top of the MB15 would likely kill and be loud enough for anything sane. Don't fret the impedance. The 4 Ohm WA12 and 8 Ohm MB15 should balance well, volume-wise, and milk around 400 watts from the head.
 
#33
lomo said:
I owned an LM2. Good head, but not as sweet or tubey as the WA, not by a long shot. Sold my LM2. The WA head is not as powerful as the LM2 at 8 or 4 Ohms but is plenty loud for most applications. Headroom depends on your unique situation. IME in a loud rock setting (2 loud guitars and heavy-handed drummer) the WA blooms with 2x12 or larger cabs. The combo on top of the MB15 would likely kill and be loud enough for anything sane. Don't fret the impedance. The 4 Ohm WA12 and 8 Ohm MB15 should balance well, volume-wise, and milk around 400 watts from the head.
Click to expand...

Great- thanks for the reply & info etc!! Appreciated! I'm wondering if the WA head with MY AE112 &/or my MB15 would be good. The Head by itself is FAR more in my $$$ range. & IF the cab isn't 'quite' as important as the amp for 'the' WA's tone... I'd LIKE this to be my option.
AWWWW I dunno- the 4 ohm combo- as you say, with the MB15 or AE112 would be good too?!?!?!?:help::help::help:
I also have a Bergantino NV215(4ohm) ..... :( woindering if the head might be my best option...???
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaghghghghghghgghhg!!!!
DAmn it's hard when I can't try these beasties in person.:bawl:
 
#35
The WA combo is amazing for it's size, but it sounds like you have plenty of very nice cabinets to mix an match with. I would suggest looking into the head only since you've found a good price. It will sound great with any of those cabinets. I would love to hear it paired with the NV215. Talk about big and round!
 
#37
I own a Walkabout and an LMIII and have recently compared them. The LMIII is a very good amp, its dead quiet, super light and has lots of power and good usable volume. Having said that, it still leaves me a cold. I would probably love the LMIII a lot more if I didn't have the Walkabout to compare it to.

The Walkabout head is warm and fat but with such a gorgeous tone that it makes the LMIII sound thin and 2 dimensional in comparison. The Walkabout's front end is so responsive to playing technique and can go from nice and clean to smooth overdrive that kicks the crap out of any overdrive pedal I have ever tried.

The real magic of the Walkabout in my opinion is finding the sweet spot in the input level where all the tube harmonics and glorious warmth are shining through but the tone is still clean. Once I set the input level to suit the bass I'm using, the rest of the amp can be dead flat and its absolutely sublime!

Its really hard to get excited about the sound I get from other setups hearing the Walkabout. My Carbine is another monster but in a different way.
 
#39
The combo is an 8 ohm 12" WA Scout combo... I could pair it with my 12" or 15" cab, but I'd like to be able to run it as a single unit- for ease sake, often. Would it be loud enough for gigs with a 'regular' level/volume drummer- as an 8 ohm 1x12' combo???
Oh decisions!!!
I SO wish I could try this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#40
Whoever said the WA distorts when pushed, well DOH, its supposed to. You can make it clean by running Master all the way up, and pre at 1/2 throttle.

Anyway, I am glad to hear that many have the same impression of the WA. I dig it. Went from a 15 to a 12" cab. and now run it with a 2X10 Hartke along side live.

BTW, I've never had a volume issue yet, as at all the big venues, they almost always run it to the board.
 

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