Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt 7 - Page 13

Jim C · #**241** 02-28-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phyzzbin

Jim C,
Sooooooo James... What're you puttin' in V1? Cause that's a pretty good definition of "better."

If you search, I've posted a tube shout out in WA forum twice before. Short version is:
Telefunken is my favorite - Can be bought as Dynaco branded
Mullard is great - also rebranded as Eico
Amperex - also great

LeonD · #**242** 02-28-2012, 07:40 AM

When I first got my Walkabout, I did the tube testing with what I had around the house. Most of the differences were VERY subtle. Differences you'd never hear on a gig.

The one change that was huge however was the way a Telefunken tightened up the bass. It was noticeable to the point where I actually changed my eq.

BBQV · #**243** 02-28-2012, 11:54 AM

Voilá!

Handles and some kind of logo and I'm ready to go!

Aladinsane1969 · #**244** 02-28-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQV

Voilá!

Handles and some kind of logo and I'm ready to go!

Wow, that looks really nice!

rodl2005 · #**245** 02-28-2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQV

Voilá!

Handles and some kind of logo and I'm ready to go!

Great! Looks like an old '70's tube head like a Holden or similar.
How about a Marshall logo

Aladinsane1969 · #**246** 02-28-2012, 02:05 PM

Man, I am SO GASsing for a black-face Walkabout now... .

MuthaFunk · #**247** 02-28-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aladinsane1969

Man, I am SO GASsing for a black-face Walkabout now... .

I'll trade ya faces too!! LOL! Just kidding.

Aladinsane1969 · #**248** 02-28-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuthaFunk

I'll trade ya faces too!! LOL! Just kidding.

Bwahahaha!!!

sunbeast · #**249** 02-28-2012, 05:54 PM

This black era of Mesa stuff definitely looks classy, but I think even the older Walkabouts are pretty darn attractive compared to most amps on the market. Mesa definitely has the aesthetics down (although I hate the look of the metal-grilled Triple Rectifiers on the guitar end for some reason)!

Aladinsane1969 · #**250** 02-28-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunbeast

This black era of Mesa stuff definitely looks classy, but I think even the older Walkabouts are pretty darn attractive compared to most amps on the market. Mesa definitely has the aesthetics down (although I hate the look of the metal-grilled Triple Rectifiers on the guitar end for some reason)!

Yeah, that diamond plating does NOT do it for me--too 90s... .

Phyzzbin · #**251** 02-28-2012, 09:14 PM

Sorry Jim C, After I posted I remembered the Tele's were your favorite. My bad.

Jim C · #**252** 02-29-2012, 06:23 AM

No worries!
I am curious as to how the reissue Mullard or Tungsol's sound.
I am assuming that these tubes are nothing special based on pricing, but am not really sure.
What would be special (to me) is if they were either made from, the same drawings (with no shortcuts), same materials, same factory, etc.
Anybody try these yet?

Rual1 · #**253** 02-29-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

No worries!
I am curious as to how the reissue Mullard or Tungsol's sound.
I am assuming that these tubes are nothing special based on pricing, but am not really sure.
What would be special (to me) is if they were either made from, the same drawings (with no shortcuts), same materials, same factory, etc.
Anybody try these yet?

I've had Tungsol reissues and JJs in the first two slots of my Mesa guitar amp. The Tungsols sounded tighter, brighter and gainier when pushed.

I have JJs in my WAS now and I like them there better than I did in my guitar amp - smooth, solid and even, but it can sometimes get a tad farty at high gain. Soon I'll get some more Tungsols and put them in the WAS and I'm anticipating a tighter, brighter sound there as well. I could be wrong though.

**Chef** · #**254** 02-29-2012, 12:39 PM

Tighter, brighter, and more gain with later breakup is what I'd like.

If the tungsol reissues are better than the JJ's, that's fine for me.
Which JJ's, there are at least 4-5 variations...

Rual1 · #**255** 02-29-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

Tighter, brighter, and more gain with later breakup is what I'd like.

If the tungsol reissues are better than the JJ's, that's fine for me.
Which JJ's, there are at least 4-5 variations...

The JJ's were 83s. I still have to try the Tungsols in the Walkabout to see if there is later breakup, but I do expect them to be tighter and brighter. My guitar amp which has the Tungsols is in the pawnshop right now so I can't make the comparison right away.

**Chef** · #**256** 02-29-2012, 01:54 PM

bassgod0dmw · #**257** 02-29-2012, 04:18 PM

Quick and dumb question: Can I run my Walkabout without a speaker load? As in use the DI only?

Thanks!

MuthaFunk · #**258** 02-29-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Quick and dumb question: Can I run my Walkabout without a speaker load? As in use the DI only?

Thanks!

Yes. No problems.

Aladinsane1969 · #**259** 02-29-2012, 04:29 PM

I got my replacement JAN Phillips tube from Doug's Tubes on Monday and dropped it in last night. He asked me again what I'd be using it for, and when I told him, he seemed to choose a special one for that particular use (driving the MOSFETS). The combo of it and the Tele sounds killer now--nice and warm and tight. I haven't tried turning the gain up past where it usually is (about 1:00), but I'm going to try cranking it up a little tonight at rehearsal and seeing what happens. I'm still not sure that my lame ears can tell that much difference between what I had in there before (a Mesa tube in the preamp slot and a JJ ECC83 in the driver slot), but the money is spent, so that's what I'm running!

Jim C · #**260** 02-29-2012, 06:27 PM

Glad the vendor treated you right.
Here's to hoping you can hear a positive difference with all the racket from the guitards and drummist!