Mesa Walkabout 12 - can't carry the rehersal space...

[pudgychef]

Hello all,

I picked up a used Mesa Walkabout 12 (like 3mths used) about 7 weeks ago. Day after I got it my guitarist hurt his hand so no band practice until a couple weeks ago.

Once we start practice I have to almost dime it to be heard...and even then its barely audible over a medium hitting drummer and a single guitarist playing a dot through a Fender Hot Rod combo in a 15x15 room. So I tried different placements, different basses and even a different room last two practices....unless I run to the PA I just couldn't hack it. After practice tonight my 2 bandmates gave me the 'get your amp together talk'

I am thinking maybe I was sold an 8ohm version? I asked the salesman that day to clarify that it was a 4ohm speaker receiving the full 300w...I have gigged on these heads and combos before and always had a TON of power.....

Did I buy a $1000 150w combo?

Going to call in tomorrow...but its a Long and McQuade (Canada's guitar centre...but way sneakier) and I already know it will be a run around....so any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Adam

[pudgychef]

PS I should have said - the sound coming out is good/warm/clean...but it has to be pushed way into driving to be heard...

[MJ5150]

I thought the combo only came in 8 ohm anyway?

-Mike

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Standard configuration is 4 ohm, actually.

[Crabby]

the difference in volume between a 4 ohm and an 8 ohm cabinet would barely be noticeable. The Walkabout is pretty much my favorite amp of all time but its still only a 112 combo. Not many people would expect a 112 to keep up with a full band mix.

[Herbie 80's]

I use to play with a hard hitting drummer, two guitarists, and a vocalist through a 100 watt 1x15 bass combo. I can never understand why people with 100+ watts can NEVER be heard at practices. When I played with this combo, I was almost too loud sometimes, so when people say that they can't hear themselves with 300 watt amps, 500 watt amps, or what have you, I can never believe what I'm reading. You guys must practice REALLY loud.

Anyways, I love Long and MacQuade. I go to the one in Winnipeg, and I always get great customer service. So if you do a bit of research on the combo (whether it is sold as 4 ohm or 8 ohm), you should expect great service. Why not add an extension cab?

[pudgychef]

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

**SNIP** You guys must practice REALLY loud.

Anyways, I love Long and MacQuade. I go to the one in Winnipeg, and I always get great customer service. So if you do a bit of research on the combo (whether it is sold as 4 ohm or 8 ohm), you should expect great service. Why not add an extension cab?

No, the point is we don't play loud and still the combo doesn't keep up.

I did research it quite a bit and don't want to add a cab - it is designed to be a 4ohm STANDALONE combo - hence the passive rad in the bottom of the cab.

8ohm versions are special order - I am wondering if DESPITE my research and direct questioning of the sales person, I was sold a previously special ordered 8ohm one...

[pudgychef]

Originally Posted by Crabby

the difference in volume between a 4 ohm and an 8 ohm cabinet would barely be noticeable. The Walkabout is pretty much my favorite amp of all time but its still only a 112 combo. Not many people would expect a 112 to keep up with a full band mix.

really? Even though with an 8ohm cab the head only puts out 150W vs the 4ohms 300?

I don't know...in the past when a scout was the provided backline I had tons of power....with two guitarists or a piano player + guitar...here in a not loud trio its drowned out by a Fender Hot Rod combo on 3? seems odd is all....


I guess its all worthless keystrokes anyhow...nothing can be solved till I take it in.

[::::BASSIST::::]

perhaps its defective?

[Krügmeister]

It sounds like something is wrong with it, I have one and it is very loud for it's size

[mikeddd]

What bass are you playing into it? If the signal from your bass is very low, the amp has nothing to work with. I.E. weak in = weak out. Try a preamp type pedal in front of the amp. It really sounds like that would help.

[lomo]

It's loud for a 12, but it's a 12. Try boosting mids or get an ext cab. It's true-there won't be much volume difference between 4 and 8 Ohm versions. The 15 version, however, is much louder and the difference between 8 and 4 in the 15 will be even greater.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by pudgychef

Hello all,

I picked up a used Mesa Walkabout 12 (like 3mths used) about 7 weeks ago. Day after I got it my guitarist hurt his hand so no band practice until a couple weeks ago.

Once we start practice I have to almost dime it to be heard...and even then its barely audible over a medium hitting drummer and a single guitarist playing a dot through a Fender Hot Rod combo in a 15x15 room. So I tried different placements, different basses and even a different room last two practices....unless I run to the PA I just couldn't hack it. After practice tonight my 2 bandmates gave me the 'get your amp together talk'

I am thinking maybe I was sold an 8ohm version? I asked the salesman that day to clarify that it was a 4ohm speaker receiving the full 300w...I have gigged on these heads and combos before and always had a TON of power.....

Did I buy a $1000 150w combo?

Going to call in tomorrow...but its a Long and McQuade (Canada's guitar centre...but way sneakier) and I already know it will be a run around....so any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Adam

You would hear very little difference between the 4ohm and 8ohm version of that combo, since the power of the Walkabout head at 8ohms is sufficient to drive that little 112 to pretty much full performance.

GREAT combo, but as mentioned above, it is only a 112 and will only get so loud (appropriate for small gigs and less dense mixes). If you dig the tone of the Walkabout head, you might want to consider keeping the head and getting a larger cab. Adding a second Scout 112 really opens things up, but running the Walkabout at 2ohms is 'questionnable' (although a few do it). If you do have the 8ohm version (you probably don't.. that's a 'custom order' as far as I know), then adding a second 8ohm Scout extension cab will IMO take care of your volume issue nicely.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by KJung

You would hear very little difference between the 4ohm and 8ohm version of that combo, since the power of the Walkabout head at 8ohms is sufficient to drive that little 112 to pretty much full performance.

GREAT combo, but as mentioned above, it is only a 112 and will only get so loud (appropriate for small gigs and less dense mixes). If you dig the tone of the Walkabout head, you might want to consider keeping the head and getting a larger cab. Adding a second Scout 112 really opens things up, but running the Walkabout at 2ohms is 'questionnable' (although a few do it). If you do have the 8ohm version (you probably don't.. that's a 'custom order' as far as I know), then adding a second 8ohm Scout extension cab will IMO take care of your volume issue nicely.

I thought it was the other way around. The 8 ohm version was standered and the 4 ohm version was special order...

[KJung]

Originally Posted by HMZ

I thought it was the other way around. The 8 ohm version was standered and the 4 ohm version was special order...

Nope... at least, I've never seen an 8ohm Walkabout Scout. Might just be how the dealers order them. You can specify either, but again, of the 15 or 20 I've seen on dealer floors, they have all been 4ohm.

Edit: Here are the basic spec's from the Mesa Website:

Walkabout Scout™FORMATS:

WalkAbout Scout™ *1x12 Combo

12" Neodymium Speaker

8" Passive Radiator

Player Control™ Network featuring: Selectable 3-point Crossover (3k/4k/5k), Premium Horn Attenuator & Instant Reset Horn Protection

4 Ohm

[Slowgypsy]

Something is not right. Your group is a 3-piece playing in a small rehearsal space and even if it's a 150 watt 8 ohm rig, that's enough fire power to be very heard. Some thoughts...

1- Call Mesa directly. Give them the serial # and they'll be able to tell you whether it's 4 or 8 ohm.

2- What amp/cabinet were you using before you tried the Walkabout Scout?

3- What instrument are you playing? Have you tried a different instrument through the Mesa cabinet?

[lomo]

Originally Posted by HMZ

I thought it was the other way around. The 8 ohm version was standered and the 4 ohm version was special order...

No-4 Ohm is std. An 8 ohm replacement from Mesa is 139 and takes 5 min to install, but it won't solve your volume problem per above posts.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by KJung

Nope... at least, I've never seen an 8ohm Walkabout Scout. Might just be how the dealers order them. You can specify either, but again, of the 15 or 20 I've seen on dealer floors, they have all been 4ohm.

Edit: Here are the basic spec's from the Mesa Website:

Walkabout Scout™FORMATS:

WalkAbout Scout™ *1x12 Combo

12" Neodymium Speaker

8" Passive Radiator

Player Control™ Network featuring: Selectable 3-point Crossover (3k/4k/5k), Premium Horn Attenuator & Instant Reset Horn Protection

4 Ohm

Ok, Its confusing on the Mesa web site because its posted as
300 watts @ 4 ohms and (165 watts @ 8 ohms).
Its should say 165 watts @ 8 ohm for special order...

Is it safe to run this amp @ 2 ohms?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by HMZ

Ok, Its confusing on the Mesa web site because its posted as
300 watts @ 4 ohms and (165 watts @ 8 ohms).
Its should say 165 watts @ 8 ohm for special order...

Is it safe to run this amp @ 2 ohms?

A few TBErs do this with no problem. I wouldn't personally (and Mesa doesn't recommend it), but it seems to work OK.

[pudgychef]

Originally Posted by mikeddd

What bass are you playing into it? If the signal from your bass is very low, the amp has nothing to work with. I.E. weak in = weak out. Try a preamp type pedal in front of the amp. It really sounds like that would help.

tried and Epi Jack Casady, Fender MIM P, Gibson T-Bird and Squier Custom Vibe P all same. Tried a Sans Amp as well as a compressor in front.

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

Something is not right. Your group is a 3-piece playing in a small rehearsal space and even if it's a 150 watt 8 ohm rig, that's enough fire power to be very heard. Some thoughts...

1- Call Mesa directly. Give them the serial # and they'll be able to tell you whether it's 4 or 8 ohm.

2- What amp/cabinet were you using before you tried the Walkabout Scout?

I was using a Tubeworks 300w hybrid head into 2x10 and 1x15 as well as a Yorkville 400BM combo. Also had GK 800rb and piles and piles of backline provided at hundrers of gigs...agreed that even a 150 should carry it.
3- What instrument are you playing? Have you tried a different instrument through the Mesa cabinet?

Originally Posted by HMZ

Ok, Its confusing on the Mesa web site because its posted as
300 watts @ 4 ohms and (165 watts @ 8 ohms).
Its should say 165 watts @ 8 ohm for special order...

Is it safe to run this amp @ 2 ohms?

Mesa says not adviseable and would void any warranty