MESA Walkabout pre amp tubes???????

rodl2005 · #1 05-17-2010, 09:46 PM

Having nealy got my 2nd hand Mesa WA scout 12" (8ohm model) & it being near 10 yrs old, I was wondering what are some popular choices for preamp tubes in it?

The one's in it are the original ones-so no doubt MESA branded, but, As I'd like to have a spare set on hand & - if the tone is lacking at all - wouldn't mind swapping out the Mesa 12AX7's for some others.

Anyone recommend any specific 12AX7's for the Walkabout???

I"VE USED JJ"S (ARRRRRR caps!!??

) IN THE PAST & liked them, but was wondering if any WA owners have any experience with swapping the pre tubes around & what results they may've had?

Thanks,
Rod

pmcd · #2 05-17-2010, 10:07 PM

http://bowlusblog.blogspot.com/2005/...walkabout.html

Waxhead · #3 05-17-2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Having nealy got my 2nd hand Mesa WA scout 12" (8ohm model) & it being near 10 yrs old, I was wondering what are some popular choices for preamp tubes in it?

The one's in it are the original ones-so no doubt MESA branded, but, As I'd like to have a spare set on hand & - if the tone is lacking at all - wouldn't mind swapping out the Mesa 12AX7's for some others.

Anyone recommend any specific 12AX7's for the Walkabout???

I"VE USED JJ"S (ARRRRRR caps!!??

) IN THE PAST & liked them, but was wondering if any WA owners have any experience with swapping the pre tubes around & what results they may've had?

Thanks,
Rod

G'day Rod,
I'm from Newcastle NSW and have owned & played many tube guitar & bass amps over 20 yrs. Best place to get advice on tube swaps IMO is to email Doug at
www.dougstubes.com
and ask for his recommendation for preamp & power tubes for your Walkabout. Give him your your amp details and what tones you're trying to acheive.

Every recommendation I've got from Doug has been spot on and he doesn't try to flog his most exy tubes either.

Then check out the prices on his tubes and you'll see they're about 25% of what you pay in Asutralia for inferior tubes. His 12ax7's are in the US$7-12 range. Doug ships to Australia for about $20 via US Postal Service and I've had over 10 sets delivered here without having a single broken tube.

I own a Mesa Exxpress 5:50 too that I've retubed. The stock Mesa tubes are just ordinary quality Chinese tubes. Not crap but not great either and the price Mesa charge for em is a joke IMO. With a set of high quality Russian tubes your Walkabout will likely have greatly improved tone and less amp hiss

rodl2005 · #4 05-18-2010, 12:25 AM

WAXHEAD- yeah thanx for the info re DOUGSTUBES I DO buy any tubes via USA as I've experienced the AUS $$ mark up 1st hand yrs ago :-/ But I've usually gone with JJ's from EUROTUBES & from the link above supplied by pmcd to BOWLUSBLOG etc... looks like JJ's might be a good choice again.
Is the "V1, V2" positioned tubes marked as such in the WA head?

vin*tone · #5 05-18-2010, 02:06 AM

Tung Sol long plates seem to be a popular choice in the WA mega thread.

rodl2005 · #6 05-18-2010, 02:16 AM

Ahhhh sooo!!! hadn't got that far thru that thread as yet. LOOKIN forward to getting this li'l beastie, I can tell ya!!!!
Are the tung-sol long plate a longer/taller tube??? Wondering if they'll fit in place? Seen a few makers of a 'longer' type 12AX7 & am wondering whether or not they'd fit in to my amps. Hmmm thanx Mr *Tone BTW Will be passing thru "Balla" or is it "the rat" ;-) in a few weeks- gonna stay a cuppla days!

Waxhead · #7 05-18-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

WAXHEAD- yeah thanx for the info re DOUGSTUBES I DO buy any tubes via USA as I've experienced the AUS $$ mark up 1st hand yrs ago :-/ But I've usually gone with JJ's from EUROTUBES & from the link above supplied by pmcd to BOWLUSBLOG etc... looks like JJ's might be a good choice again.
Is the "V1, V2" positioned tubes marked as such in the WA head?

I don't usually go all one brand of tube in every V position.
I've found using different brand tubes in each position provides better results which is why I ask Doug for his recommendations on which tubes are best for which V position in each amp. JJ makes an excellent high gain tube for V2 I've used often on guitar amps, but that's not really important for bass. Good luck with it

Krügmeister · #8 05-18-2010, 08:32 AM

I use a JJ ECC83s Gold in pre spot, and a JJ ECC803 Gold in the Mosfet driver spot.
I like it MUCH better than stock and better than any Tung Sols, EH,Sovek, Mesa configs I have tried so far.
As always, your ears are different than mine so listen for what you like... I like a thick dirty tubey sound, with plenty of bite and warmth.

afroman · #9 05-18-2010, 10:39 AM

With an Aguilar DB750 I much preferred the TungSol re-issue than the JJs. The TungSols were warmer and closer to the Aguilars' stock sound but with a tighter and less wooly low end.

The JJs were super tight, clear but a little clean and bright for me. It made my DB750 sound very different.

I think those are 2 great choices from what I've read for the Walkabout too.

rodl2005 · #10 05-18-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krügmeister

I use a JJ ECC83s Gold in pre spot, and a JJ ECC803 Gold in the Mosfet driver spot.
I like it MUCH better than stock and better than any Tung Sols, EH,Sovek, Mesa configs I have tried so far.
As always, your ears are different than mine so listen for what you like... I like a thick dirty tubey sound, with plenty of bite and warmth.

Sounds like my idea of a good sound KRUG

So U say a JJ ECC83S Gold in pre amp spot & a JJ ECC8 '0' 3 Gold in mosfet driver spot? IS it easy to find which is which in the WA ???????
I should be getting it by the w/end!!!

rodl2005 · #11 05-19-2010, 01:31 PM

I Mean sent by the weekend- have it next week hopefully

rodl2005 · #12 05-19-2010, 07:17 PM

It's here!!!!!! The guy sent it B4 I even sent him all the $$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn- I didn't bring a bass to work to try it out!

Krügmeister · #13 05-19-2010, 11:29 PM

LOL? wonderful.
looking at the front of the amp facing you (with the cover removed) you will see 2 tubes
almost side by side.
The one on the outside right is the pre tube, and the one that is more in the middle is the mosfet.
Let us know what you think

rodl2005 · #14 05-19-2010, 11:38 PM

THANX HEAPS KRUG!!!!! That helps me heaps!!! Appreciate it! Will definately let y'al know my thoughts. Cant wait to get home & try it out. It powers up & red jewel light comes on & I can see 'A' tube in there glowing!!!!!!!!!! All good signs!! :-)

xsubs · #15 05-20-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krügmeister

LOL? wonderful.
looking at the front of the amp facing you (with the cover removed) you will see 2 tubes
almost side by side.
The one on the outside right is the pre tube, and the one that is more in the middle is the mosfet.
Let us know what you think

I think you mean outside left, if you are facing the front panel. No?
Like so...

tombowlus · #16 05-20-2010, 11:46 AM

That layout is a bit different than mine, but mine is a 1st Gen Walkabout, and it looks like they slightly changed the MOSFET output section (and the driver tube location). But it certainly does look like the outside tube is your V1 tube.

Krügmeister · #17 05-20-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsubs

I think you mean outside left, if you are facing the front panel. No?
Like so...

Whoopsie... thanks for the correction

Poon · #18 05-20-2010, 12:55 PM

Tube Choices for the walkabout have been discussed a few times, for some useful reading (including my own comments), look at these threads.

Replacement tubes for a Mesa Boogie Walkabout

Looking for old thread: Walkabout preamp tubes

Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

alfaBAT9 · #19 05-20-2010, 01:05 PM

Am I the only one that likes the stock tubes? I swapped them out with a few sets of other 12AX7's and found that they still sounded the best. Still using them to this day and I've had my Walkabout for about 3 years.

Poon · #20 05-20-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfaBAT9

Am I the only one that likes the stock tubes? I swapped them out with a few sets of other 12AX7's and found that they still sounded the best. Still using them to this day and I've had my Walkabout for about 3 years.

That's what I still have in mine...