Author Topic: Mesa Boogie Walkabout 12? (Read 358 times)

flpete1uw · « **on:** July 27, 2012, 06:43:12 PM »

I'm looking for a small amp that will compliment my Alembic Basses. I'm not in my 20's anymore so lugging around equipment is just not my thing anymore. I'm not doing any large venues mostly playing at my Church. The one thing I've been seeing is that small combo amps are being made that sound really Great!! With surprisingly good low end. I'm leaning towards the Walkabout but the its not cheap and price fixed with almost no deals new or used. So is it worth it? Or are there any comparable options?

Thanks For any input

dlbydgtl · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2012, 08:04:56 PM »

Carvin has the best low end combo for the buck, Sounds great with my Alembics, plenty of low end with the 15 inch combo. I bought the new Orange combo hasn't performed as I thought it might. Have a Trace Elliot1215 that I love but, use it for practice because it's heavy. But,my wife did get me a hand Cart not too long ago.

tncaveman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2012, 09:10:50 PM »

I have the GK Microbass amp (MB150) and speaker. It's no longer available as a separate head though. I found mine used and bought the extension speaker. I use it at church, and it sounds great, especially for the size. Plus the direct out is nice. This is a very quiet amp. I just played in our family life center and used it and a 4x10 GK cab and it sounded awesome.

I just looked at the GK site, and it's looking like they aren't making this combo anymore.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/gallien-krueger-mb150s-112iii-150w-microbass-combo-amp?src=3WWRWXGP

The new ones are around $700 or so (+/-) Mine has the stereo chorus built in and a few other features that the combo doesn't have.

Stephen

sonicus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2012, 09:26:03 PM »

I have the GK MB150 as well . It is truly an amazing unit . I recently replaced the speaker in it with a correct replacement from GK. The original one needed the surround replaced which I also did and kept it as a spare.

flpete1uw · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2012, 04:54:15 AM »

Wow,GK MB150 is 1/2 the price and almost 1/2 the weight compared to the Walkabout 12. I never had a tube amp before the Mesa has a tube Pre amp the GK is all solid state. I have tried the Mesa and it's a worthy amp. I will be trying out the GK for its glowing reports here. I would like to make this my last small combo small gig/practice amp. Any comments on tube/tubeless? Or have designs pretty much overcome most of the issues?

Again Thank You for all your input,
Pete

briant · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2012, 09:33:58 AM »

I have a Walkabout 12. It's my home practice amp and it occasionally gets used on small gigs. It's a fabulous amp. I really can't say enough good things about it. It is simply the best small combo amp I've ever played through; and I've tried a vast quantity of them.

I've also used the head portion to drive my Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15's at a few gigs. It had no problem driving those cabs all night at fairly absurd volumes.

briant · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2012, 09:37:11 AM »

Oh. Nearly forgot. If you fancy some overdriven preamp tube growl (to full on distortion) the Walkabout will not disappoint.

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2012, 02:18:45 PM »

Vouching here for the GK small combos. I own an older MB200 which I absolutely love. Those are not in production any longer, but I guess you can find a used one for cheap. Mine performs absolutely great with both my traditional style basses AND my Alembic and other active basses (just adjust the input gain properly), has a compressor, 4 band eq and stereo chorus and a nice patching section on the back to connect it to/with anything you can think ok! (SFX Loop, 1/4 a Mono XLR DI out, a ST/Mono switch for both the 1/4 like out AND a couple more XLR DI out for going stereo)... a real beauty!

ajdover · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2012, 02:23:27 PM »

I use a Walkabout 12 combo, which I love. Great for small, even medium venues. And you can't beat the power in such a small package - 200 watts at 4 ohms. Anyone considering one should keep that in mind - if you want more than just the combo, and want an extension cab, get the 8 ohm version in both the combo and cab so you can run at 4 ohms and get the most out of it.

I've also used a GK combo in Korea, which was good until somebody at the club we played blew it up. Really, you can't go wrong with either amp.

sonicus · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2012, 03:09:29 PM »

I also have the GK MB200 as well as the newer model MB 150. A major difference from a service prospective is access for speaker removal /repair. The MB 150 is MUCH more easy because of the simple front mount access to the speaker, In the MB200 it is required to disassemble the metal enclosure . Reassembly requires it's design to be quite air tight and rattle free. I vote for the MB150 although both units are great. The MB150 is easier to service .(I have serviced both my self)

flpete1uw · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2012, 07:16:53 PM »

Thanks guys, it looks like the contenders are the GK MB150 vs. the Walkabout with John suggesting to look at Carvin. I have tried the Mesa and it is an outstanding Amp. However the ringing endorsement of the GK with its price to weight ratio is hard to ignore. I'll be planning a trip to the local Guitar Center to give it a whirl. I truly value the opinions of you all.

Pete

pauldo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2012, 12:41:42 PM »

I have the Carvin MB15 and find it has plenty of power for smaller gigs, and weighs about the same as my bass in its case. Amp in left hand, bass in right and I am balanced!

Prior to buying the Carvin I looked at alot of different small combos. Really close to getting the Spellbinder - prior to purchasing anything I called and e-mailed all of the company's - Carvin gave me a warm fuzzy feeling with their response/ customer service and they are made in the USA.

GK's were a close second choice for me. My 'arena rig' includes an 800RB which is bullet proof.

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2012, 07:14:55 PM »

Well, there is also the ultra small head with a small cab option, if you like it. SWR has something called the MicroHead or something like that, and TC Electronics has also a very small, high-powered little head that seems to go pretty well along with their own cabs (they have several options here as well). I only tried SWR's once in a store with a Hartke 2x12 cab, and I must say I liked the sound, but it is not the same as having one on stage and giving it a proper test drive.

LMiwa · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:00:45 PM »

Check out the Phil Jones combo amps as well. Not cheap, but huge sound for their size.

http://www.philjonespuresound.com/products/?c=9

LMiwa · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:21:14 PM »

duplicate post - sorry

(Message edited by LMiwa on July 30, 2012)