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Walkabout Scout VS Ampeg V4BH

slapstick13

slapstick13

Supporting Member
Feb 5, 2010
576
199
#1
Currently have a V4BH with 2 svt115e cabs. Love the sound, but lugging around everything is wearing me down as I play out every weekend, going up and down 2 flights of stairs to my practice space is also killing me. I tried using the V4BH with just 1 of the 15's at a show and it just doesn't cut it volume wise. Been looking at the Walkabout Scout 12" and would consider using it with the extenstion cab.

My question is would the 12" walkabout scout with 12" extension cab get me close volume wise to the v4bh with 2 15's?? Im thinking of going this way and on smaller gigs I could just leave the extension cab behind and rock the 1 12" combo so Id gain some versatility here as well. I really hate to sacrifice tone and volume for portability so I wanted to make an informed decision with your guys help. Thanks!
 
#2
Not trying to change subject matter, Mesa Walkabout combo is not the loudest combo for its size. Sounds fantastic, I wouldn't call it loud ( not any louder than any other combo for its size) though. My BG250 is louder than the Walkabout I had and about as loud as the 212 M-Pulse 600 combo I had. Or I should say, perceived stage volume loudness.

Adding another Walkabout cab to it is another story or just the head on another cab.

I put my Walkabout head on an Avatar 410 cab and then an Avatar 212 cab. It was much better in terms of tone and loudness compared to the combo.

Edit: I no longer own the head and downsized.
 
#3
You definitely won't sacrifice tone with the Walkabout, they sound fantastic. I can't say how they compare to the V4's though.

I'm not really a fan of the Scout cabs though, so I use my Walkabout head with my other cabs. Is it an option to use it with your SVT15E's?
 
#4
I find my walkabout is never loud enough with the stock 12" cab at least for my tone. If I'm ok with significant fur no problem. I rock a divided by 13 4x12 with the scout head and it sounds fantastic!
 
#6
FYI, Ampeg's got a new V4B coming out that weighs 41 lbs and has the sound of the old 70's V4B's. Not quite the weight reduction of the Scout ;) but it's all-tube.
 
#7
I've owned the V4BH and Walkabout at the same time. Both are awesome amps. Problem in this case is, going from 2 15" cabs to 2 12" cabs. I'd skip the WA Scout combo, but get the amp head, and pair it with a lightweight 2x12 and see if that's loud enough. It is for me most of the time, and I went from V4BH paired with a 215 to the WA head on a 2x12. Sometimes I need to add a 3rd 112 to get the volume I need, where the 2x15 was always enough. But tonally, the WA will get you almost all the Ampegs tubey goodtimes, playing clean.
 
#8
Going from 2x115 to 2x12 is a big downgrade in terms of cone area.

The Walkabout for me is "glorious tone; and, just short of enough horsepower if you have to play really loud." This can be gotten around with more cone area. Like 2x15, or 610, or 3x12/4x12.
 
#9
Yea I def wanted to get away from luggin around 2 15" cabs. Cost is also a factor for me. Have to basically sell what I have to fund new gear. I had the Ampeg 410he and it was def pretty good volume wise, but I reallly liked the tone more out of the 2X15s so went that route and sold the 410.
 
#10
Also I don't play 'really loud' in my band, its just that 1X15/ 200 watt cab with the 100watt V4BH was just not enough volume. I found an Aguilar GS212 on craigslist near me;

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Any experience/ expectations with this cab? Guy is asking $400...Could sell both 15's and get this 212.
 
#17
I have exactly the rig you are thinking of, a Walkabout 1x12 with a 1x12 extension cab. I don't play as often as you do but let me tell you I did an outdoor gig with it and people were floored by the sound! A guitar player come on stage and did a jam with us and asked me while on stage, " Is your sound coming out of those two little boxes...!"
 
#19
My main rig is a Walkabout with 212 Scouts. This rig gets me as close to the tube tone/volume I need, all the while keeping me out of the chiropractor's office from lugging around heavy gear.
 

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