Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt 7 - Page 19

azflyman · #**361** 03-05-2012, 04:38 PM

If you need a lot of juice and want it to sound like a WA I have heard the V12 is as close as it gets. Too bad its no longer made. I have never had the need for the juice in the last 20 or so years, thats what they make XLR outs and mains for. I would like to keep what hearing I have left.

az

LeonD · #**362** 03-05-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

As to why is the 700 so much stronger than the Walkabout: You're right, the specs aren't *thaaaat* different. I don't know what the GK has going on that makes it so much stronger, but it is. It's not even a contest.

How's the natural eq of the GK compared to the WA? If the GK is more mid/upper mid heavy, that could explain why it might sound louder.

pfschim · #**363** 03-05-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

As to why is the 700 so much stronger than the Walkabout:
You're right, the specs aren't *thaaaat* different.
I don't know what the GK has going on that makes it so much stronger, but it is.
It's not even a contest.

so you are comparing the 700 through 2 2x12 GK Neo II cabs to the WA through the same cab arrangement ? Forgive me for not going back and looking, but is that a 4ohm total load or 2ohm ?

interesting because we hear so often that you need 2x watts to get that perceptible doubling of volume. Its hard to imagine that the WA does not push just a ton of air in that config. There are a number of TBers who talk about using their WA's through various 4x12 cabs with outstanding results.

Of course, you have long stressed that you are looking for clean, clean, clean tone, and the WA is somewhat squishy (I think of it as warm, deep and full) with the pre pushed very much past 12, and much of that sound comes from the tubes in the pre and the Mesa tube driven mosfet, so maybe you are really not a tube tone guy after all (?).

Personally I like the tube give/squish, but like you, I also do not want any distortion - just what I hear as tube "warmth".

FWIW, I notice that you are planning a TC experiment too. I have been working with a RH450 for a few months now and have got it to work ok (but not great) for my tone goals. I am running the 450 through my 2 Mesa Scout/Radiator 12's, so it may not be the greatest test of the amp.

well, good luck in SS land my friend.

StraightSix · #**364** 03-05-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

The 12/6/1+12sub isn't efficient enough.

I'm interested in these with a Walkabout - do you not like them with the Walkabout head running both cabs for 300W @ 4ohm...?

I'm considering a fEARful build and I'm thinking an Alembic F1X combined with a Crown 2000 XTi or even a 4000 XTi bi-amped into your setup would be pretty epic.

Have you tried these cabs with a biggish power amp or maybe even bi-amped...?

**Chef** · #**365** 03-05-2012, 05:58 PM

"TC"
Naw man, Thunderchild.
TC112 on top of TC115.

Last gig was Walkabout on top og 2xGK212 NeoII, 8 ohm per, 4 ohm load.

The Walkabout is smooth and creamy, the GK700 is raw, crushing power.

I got a pic...hang on...

**Chef** · #**366** 03-05-2012, 06:05 PM

As this is the Walkabout thread, I'll not quite answer all of that; there's a Ff megathread too...

The Walkabout at 4 ohms is 300 watts.
That's about 700 watts shy of driving that pair to where they're really moving well.

I've tried the M9 and 700RB with them, and both drive them better; I prefer how the GK sounds with them better, but, I've not gigged that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightSix

I'm interested in these with a Walkabout - do you not like them with the Walkabout head running both cabs for 300W @ 4ohm...?

I'm considering a fEARful build and I'm thinking an Alembic F1X combined with a Crown 2000 XTi or even a 4000 XTi bi-amped into your setup would be pretty epic.

Have you tried these cabs with a biggish power amp or maybe even bi-amped...?

pfschim · #**367** 03-05-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

"TC"
Naw man, Thunderchild.
TC112 on top of TC115.

Last gig was Walkabout on top og 2xGK212 NeoII, 8 ohm per, 4 ohm load.

The Walkabout is smooth and creamy, the GK700 is raw, crushing power.

I got a pic...hang on...

my bad.
do post the pics.

**Chef** · #**368** 03-05-2012, 08:36 PM

People always walk in front right when you shoot, right?
You'll have to imagine the 700RBII on top for the last two sets.

Jim C · #**369** 03-06-2012, 08:11 PM

Hey,
You over there,
Shhhhhhh.
Anybody able to check on the cook; maybe some sorta brain synapse?
Nobody goes from a dedicated creamy tube lover to "I always wanted to ride the rails on that big ole transistor train" without some sort of life changing misadventure.
Pretty sure he has a tat of a 12AX7 on his bicep.

Perhaps misplaced his medication; nothing to be ashamed of; probably 90% of us here have done that in some manner in the past

pfschim · #**370** 03-06-2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Hey,
You over there,
Shhhhhhh.
Anybody able to check on the cook; maybe some sorta brain synapse?
Nobody goes from a dedicated creamy tube lover to "I always wanted to ride the rails on that big ole transistor train" without some sort of life changing misadventure.
Pretty sure he has a tat of a 12AX7 on his bicep.

Perhaps misplaced his medication; nothing to be ashamed of; probably 90% of us here have done that in some manner in the past

well at least he is showing us the pics with the Walkabout on top of the GK Neo 2x12 cabs and not the durned 700RB II.

Jim C · #**371** 03-07-2012, 06:43 AM

Told Chief I was going to send him about a dozen vintage / rare pre-amp tubes last week for testing but got slammed at work.
Will ship them out today but am afraid that the shock of this much tone in glass could be dangerous. Am headed to London for 10 days and don't want to be responsible for any mental breakdowns brought on by too much tone or the dreaded "but I was sure the new gear change was the right thing".
And again, isn't it something we try to protect our bass playing brothers and sisters from? Kinda like taking the crack pipe away from the teenager....
GK this week / Ampeg PH next / GB the following; must get off this merry-go-round from he11!

**Chef** · #**372** 03-07-2012, 07:18 AM

1) Chef, not Chief...........

2) I hold you 100% responsible for me going mental.

If Mesa would ever give me a Walkabout with M9 equivalent power, this would all be moot.
I love what the Walkabout does: that fat, creamy, 3D organic thing is wonderful.
I don't like overdrive.
The amount of headroom the Walkabout has before it starts doing that is pretty limited, and, just not enough a lot of the time without packing a giant freakin' stack of speakers, and even then it's borderline.

C'mon Mesa....pretty please, and thanks.

NOLA Bass · #**373** 03-07-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

1) Chef, not Chief...........

2) I hold you 100% responsible for me going mental.

If Mesa would ever give me a Walkabout with M9 equivalent power, this would all be moot.
I love what the Walkabout does: that fat, creamy, 3D organic thing is wonderful.
I don't like overdrive.
The amount of headroom the Walkabout has before it starts doing that is pretty limited, and, just not enough a lot of the time without packing a giant freakin' stack of speakers, and even then it's borderline.

C'mon Mesa....pretty please, and thanks.

Is there any doubt that Chef would buy the very first WA900?

lomo · #**374** 03-07-2012, 09:34 AM

I'm kind of in Chef's camp in the sense that I've given up doing my bar gigs with the WA for lack of headroom. It's my favorite tone, form factor, eq and look, but I need more juice to play out. My WA combo and separate head are going nowhere, 'cause I play 'em when alone or for informal, drummerless jams. It remains my favorite head of all, and I'd preorder a Walkabout Stomp 500 (or more ) watter in a heartbeat. I'm also curious about Mesa's next tube offering....

NOLA Bass · #**375** 03-07-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

I'm kind of in Chef's camp in the sense that I've given up doing my bar gigs with the WA for lack of headroom. It's my favorite tone, form factor, eq and look, but I need more juice to play out. My WA combo and separate head are going nowhere, 'cause I play 'em when alone or for informal, drummerless jams. It remains my favorite head of all, and I'd preorder a Walkabout Stomp 500 (or more ) watter in a heartbeat. I'm also curious about Mesa's next tube offering....

You know the WA covers my one band but I must admit if a WA 500 existed, I'd sell my GK 1001 RB II probably. I'd hope it was around 500 as anything much more might be overkill for me and I'd worry it would get pretty durn heavy.

**Chef** · #**376** 03-07-2012, 09:57 AM

There's no reason for it to be weigh much more than an M9.
There's also no reason to stop at 500 horsepower

600, minimum.

lomo · #**377** 03-07-2012, 10:02 AM

1K-watt would be optimal for my 15/6, 12/6 stack, and then I could moonlight in demolition.

**Chef** · #**378** 03-07-2012, 10:13 AM

"snap"

Aladinsane1969 · #**379** 03-07-2012, 01:31 PM

Dang, you guys--really? Not enough power for bar gigs? I'm playing in an Oasis tribute band right now with two guitar players--one through a Marshall JCM900 1/2 stack and the other through a custom-built Hiwatt-esque tube amp and a 2x12. I

Aladinsane1969 · #**380** 03-07-2012, 01:37 PM

Dang, you guys--really? Not enough power for bar gigs? I'm playing in an Oasis tribute band right now with two guitar players--one through a Marshall JCM 900 1/2 stack and the other through a custom-built Hiwatt-esque tube amp and a 2x12--and I've never had trouble keeping up, even with just my 1x12 Scout with the gain at 1:30 and the master at noon. When I run my 8 ohm extension cab (the Scout is 4 ohms), then it's even better. These guys play loud, and the drummer hits hard--too hard, really.

I was finally able to get them to turn down a bit at our last rehearsal, and as a result was able to turn my master down to 10:00! I have the Tele/JAN Philips combo in the head now, and I think I am getting a bit more clean headroom. I did need to boost the 2K on the para a bit, though, as these tubes seem a bit "darker" to me. Don't get me wrong: like all of us, I'd love to have power to spare, but not once since I bought my WA have I thought I'd need to get something more powerful.