Mesa Walkabout - what is the louder version?

[gillento]

Originally Posted by lomo

.... BTW, using the WA as a pre into a poweramp won't quite do it as some of the special sauce comes from the tube-driven MOSFETS.

Is this true if using the post Master DI out into a power amp?

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by gillento

Is this true if using the post Master DI out into a power amp?

someone here on TB (can't remember who) has tried this approach and felt that they got pretty close to the original WA tone. Check for the post somewhere in the massive WA Mega thread.

I have not personally tried this so I can't comment from direct experience.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by joebar

with the WA-add more speakers.
i have run one through a mesa PH 4 12 cab @4 ohms and it is more than enough.
also ran it through an SVT fridge and again, more than enough.
also have run it through 2 12`s @2.67 ohms and it gets plenty loud and stays sweet.

this is a totally true statement, but an issue I have with it is that one of the very attractive features of the WA combo rig is its modest form factor, particularly the 12" version.

So, while moving to double the number of drivers will undoubtedly get the most out of the WA amp, it does somewhat contradict one of the nice features (portability) of the amp to begin with.

several folks have said they get good results with the WA driving a Berg NV610 which is fairly reasonably sized. OTOH, it is also fairly heavy.

[gillento]

Originally Posted by pfschim

this is a totally true statement, but an issue I have with it is that one of the very attractive features of the WA combo rig is its modest form factor, particularly the 12" version.

So, while moving to double the number of drivers will undoubtedly get the most out of the WA amp, it does somewhat contradict one of the nice features (portability) of the amp to begin with.

....

My thoughts!

[derrico1]

Originally Posted by pfschim

someone here on TB (can't remember who) has tried this approach and felt that they got pretty close to the original WA tone. Check for the post somewhere in the massive WA Mega thread.

I have not personally tried this so I can't comment from direct experience.

I've checked this out w/ a Carvin DCM 1000 as the power amp, into a Bergantino AE212 and also (in separate trials) a Schroeder 21012L.


Q: Will it sound like a WA?
A: Yes. The WA DI into a power amp into capable cabs will sound like the WA head's into those cabs, except with as many watts behind it as you need. Note that the cabs will have their own sound.

Q: Is it giggable?
A: With the right cabs, yes.

In a light Gator 4u rack, the WA + DCM 1000 is about 40 lbs. Of course, that power amp alone is ~20 lbs, so one of the crop of light power amps would shave about 12 lbs off the total weight.

You'll need some way to get the DI to FOH. (The DCM's input block offers an XLR link output, so I can send a post-eq DI to FOH from there.)

For me, though, this has stopped at the level of testing in the rehearsal room. At the levels I've needed for gigs in the last couple months, a WA head into either the Berg or the Schroeder covers my stage volume needs. Pushing 1000 watts bridged into either of those cabs doesn't really buy me anything I need.

However, I could see racking the WA with a power amp in two situations:

1. If I were running a fEARful at high SPLs.

2. If I wanted a low-gain WA tone at higher SPLs.

[Green Lantern]

I love the Walkabout amp! It has a great tone and the Eq on the amp provides flexibility. I am not sure if it has enough watts though for larger gigs though which is why I went for the Tone Hammer 500. But I would love to have the Walkabout head for a different sound and option as well.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by pfschim

this is a totally true statement, but an issue I have with it is that one of the very attractive features of the WA combo rig is its modest form factor, particularly the 12" version.

So, while moving to double the number of drivers will undoubtedly get the most out of the WA amp, it does somewhat contradict one of the nice features (portability) of the amp to begin with.

several folks have said they get good results with the WA driving a Berg NV610 which is fairly reasonably sized. OTOH, it is also fairly heavy.

Are you looking for a practice combo or a gig rig?

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

I love the Walkabout amp! It has a great tone and the Eq on the amp provides flexibility. I am not sure if it has enough watts though for larger gigs though which is why I went for the Tone Hammer 500. But I would love to have the Walkabout head for a different sound and option as well.

Not sure you gain much with a 500 watt amp over a 300 watt amp. And, when run at 2 or 2.6 ohms, the WA gets 500-550 watts too. It's all about the spkr cabs, as has been discussed in this thread.

[MuthaFunk]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Not sure you gain much with a 500 watt amp over a 300 watt amp. And, when run at 2 or 2.6 ohms, the WA gets 500-550 watts too. It's all about the spkr cabs, as has been discussed in this thread.

+1 about the gains of the TH over the WA being nil, however I don't believe for a second the WA will ever put out more than 500 W RMS even at 2 ohms and 20% distortion.

Mesa Walkabout Power Output Tests!