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Top Combo Amp
- Thread starter Funkhaus
- Start date
i replaced my ampeg svt and 2x15 setup with a walkabout 12"combo.
the venture is the same amp but 600 watts instead of 300 like the walkabout...they make the walkabout in a 15 version which i have also owned...it was just too much....the 12" is awesome, i play in a band with two guitarist, one has a mesa nomad 2x12 and the other uses a fender twin....i have no problem keeping up....if you have not tried one you are missing out...i almost got the venture but it was just too heavy...you can also run an external cab with the walkabout...
the venture is the same amp but 600 watts instead of 300 like the walkabout...they make the walkabout in a 15 version which i have also owned...it was just too much....the 12" is awesome, i play in a band with two guitarist, one has a mesa nomad 2x12 and the other uses a fender twin....i have no problem keeping up....if you have not tried one you are missing out...i almost got the venture but it was just too heavy...you can also run an external cab with the walkabout...
I have the Walkabout Scout combo; the 12" version. It's very loud for it's size and sounds wonderful. If you're expecting to get the same huge sound as your current big rig, you won't get it with a combo. Even the Venture doesn't have the speaker compliment to do that.
However, the Walkabout has been my gig amp for almost 3 years now and I'm very happy with it. It can handle some pretty big loud gigs if it has to and the DI is excellent. The 15" model sounds even bigger, pretty huge actually, but is getting up there in terms of weight and portability for me. The 12" Scout combo is 50 lbs. The 15" combo is about 10 lbs more I think.
The Walkabout 300 watt head is the biggest 300 watts I've heard. It drives other cabinets with ease and will give you a nice tubey overdrive it you set it to do so. It also plays nice and clean. The EQ has more flexibility than you'll ever need. I usually have everything set flat and just use the EQ and semi parametric if I need to tweak for the room.
I tried one Venture combo in a store and it was very nice, but the weight and price scared me off. Other high powered combos may sound good too but are equally heavy.
I've played a lot of other combos but I haven't found anything that I like as much as the Walkabout..
However, the Walkabout has been my gig amp for almost 3 years now and I'm very happy with it. It can handle some pretty big loud gigs if it has to and the DI is excellent. The 15" model sounds even bigger, pretty huge actually, but is getting up there in terms of weight and portability for me. The 12" Scout combo is 50 lbs. The 15" combo is about 10 lbs more I think.
The Walkabout 300 watt head is the biggest 300 watts I've heard. It drives other cabinets with ease and will give you a nice tubey overdrive it you set it to do so. It also plays nice and clean. The EQ has more flexibility than you'll ever need. I usually have everything set flat and just use the EQ and semi parametric if I need to tweak for the room.
I tried one Venture combo in a store and it was very nice, but the weight and price scared me off. Other high powered combos may sound good too but are equally heavy.
I've played a lot of other combos but I haven't found anything that I like as much as the Walkabout..
thanks for the feedback - I came very close to bringing the Venture home today but I am having a difficult time with the price. I have tried the Scout 12" and it was great but I am somewhat weary of constantly pushing the amp (volume @ half or above). At what setting on your master o/p do you have to at be to consider moving up in power?
I can't tell you that. The master would be at different levels depending on if I was trying to overdrive the output stage.
I would consider going up in power when you are clipping the amp and have no headroom. I can tell you though, that the speaker in the Scout cab, and virtually every single 12 or 15 cabinet on the mearket for bass, would be distorting and showing audible signs of being overdriven, before you ran out of power from the Scout head. The speaker is rated for 300 watts. That's the maximum power it's designed to take. It won't play cleanly at that power nor will most other single 12s or 15s. Myself, I usually have enough clean volume with the Scout alone. I've used an extension cabinet in a few rooms, or PA support, You may want to get the matching scout extension for those situations and go with the 15" model.
If that won't do it for you, then stick with your current rig.
The Scout is the loudest little combo I've heard for its size and power, but it does have it's limits. There's just one speaker in there. I suggest you go try that Scout again and add an extension and see what it will do. See if you can take it to the parking lot and crank it for a minute.
The Venture will be a louder amp of course with its 2 speakers and double the power.
I've been looking for a combo lately. I've tried the Nemesis 210 and just a couple days ago one of these 1x12 Walkabout Scout combos and I really like it. The dealer was asking $1199 for it. I have read on other discussions that the fan is too loud. Has that been an issue with you? I occasionally play with a quartet (bass, drums, guitar, singer). Do you think this combo would work for me? I want to go ''light''.
Carlo Tanori
Bryan R. Tyler
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I owned an Epifani 1x12 combo- by far the best combo amp I've ever played through, although they're a bit pricey.
Large combos... Wow, there's a subject. Hmm, I've seen an Aguilar 2x12 combo (with the 500 watt head) in the local store, probably the same size as the Venture, and around the same price I would imagine ($1600 +?).
GK has their 1001RB-II head in a 2x12 Neo-equipped combo, which is probably quite a bit less expensive than those discussed already.
There's the Hartke VX3500 combo, the 3500 head in the VX410 cabinet.
Eden has a bunch (not including the Metro): The Nemesis line has the 4x10 (NC410, I think). Then the CXC line has a 1015 (yeah, a coax 10" plus 15"), and I think there's a 2x12" version as well.
Carvin used to have the amp (RL 1015?) some called the "Cyclops," with their R1000 head (older ones have the R600 head) in a cab with 2x8" speakers and tweeter, along with a 15", bi-amped. Now their largest combo is the BRX212, and it gets pretty good remarks around here.
This is an interesting class of amps. Someone ought to do a "shootout" type of article about them (Hey Bass Player!!).
GK has their 1001RB-II head in a 2x12 Neo-equipped combo, which is probably quite a bit less expensive than those discussed already.
There's the Hartke VX3500 combo, the 3500 head in the VX410 cabinet.
Eden has a bunch (not including the Metro): The Nemesis line has the 4x10 (NC410, I think). Then the CXC line has a 1015 (yeah, a coax 10" plus 15"), and I think there's a 2x12" version as well.
Carvin used to have the amp (RL 1015?) some called the "Cyclops," with their R1000 head (older ones have the R600 head) in a cab with 2x8" speakers and tweeter, along with a 15", bi-amped. Now their largest combo is the BRX212, and it gets pretty good remarks around here.
This is an interesting class of amps. Someone ought to do a "shootout" type of article about them (Hey Bass Player!!).
I went and looked at the Venture online. My first thought was "hey, its a BRX212". I wonder how the Carvin would compare. Clearly the Mesa has more tone shaping capability, as well as "better mojo" if you're into that. That said, all the stuff I've read about the BRX sez it is a world class amp in its own right. If it were me, I'd buy the BRX, then take it to the store and compare directly with the Venture, and if/only if the Venture completely knocks the BRX out in terms of tone/ volume/something other than "coolness", return the BRX and get the Venture.
HTH,
Lee
HTH,
Lee
Peavey Bam 2x10 Combo
375 watts @ 4 ohms
500 watts @ 2 ohms
Headphone Jack
Wonderful combo with built in effects. They are selling all day between $400.00 - $500.00 used. This was my main giiging combo for a couple of years.
Fender Bassman 250/115 or 200/210
Both versions are 250 watts @ 4 ohms. Internal speaker can be disconnected from the rear to plug in an external speaker.
I was really impressed with this combo when I played through one @ Guitar Center. Really big sounding combo with semi-parametric eq & compressor.
I really liked the 250/155 combination.
Selling for $550.00 new, and a lot less used.
375 watts @ 4 ohms
500 watts @ 2 ohms
Headphone Jack
Wonderful combo with built in effects. They are selling all day between $400.00 - $500.00 used. This was my main giiging combo for a couple of years.
Fender Bassman 250/115 or 200/210
Both versions are 250 watts @ 4 ohms. Internal speaker can be disconnected from the rear to plug in an external speaker.
I was really impressed with this combo when I played through one @ Guitar Center. Really big sounding combo with semi-parametric eq & compressor.
I really liked the 250/155 combination.
Selling for $550.00 new, and a lot less used.
